What has El Grande Americano brought to the table? Quickly.

WWE has a plethora of questionable in-ring characters, but at least they are, typically, somewhat able to wrestle. El Grande Americano is a shocking exception to that rule, as his performance against Dragon Lee on Monday’s episode of “WWE Raw” has shown us. Americano took on Lee in singles action, and the match was what could only be described as…arguably a match!

It’s surprising that Americano sucks this bad, because Ludwig Kaiser (I know Kaiser is under that mask — I would recognize that raspy voice anywhere) is typically good, bordering on great when he’s in his element. When he’s forced to don this mask, however, he becomes a bumbling fool in the ring. During his match with Lee, he was noticeably clunky in the first act of the match, and while he improved towards the end, Lee was the one carrying the contest, no questions asked. Kaiser could barely hop back on his feet after reversing some athletic offense from Lee — you want me to give this fake “luchador” my time of day? I’m not saying we should have more controversial gimmicks, but if you’re going to have a wrestler with an insensitive character, you better make sure they are in tip-top ring shape. It’s bad enough that I have to watch El Grande Americano on a Monday night. It’s worse that I have to watch a guy who cannot keep up with even the most underutilized of WWE’s luchadors.

Kaiser simply cannot go toe-to-toe with other luchadors — which is understandable, because he is not a luchador! Americano exists in the skin of a luchador, without any of the substance within. Of course, it works when you have this ragebait character (because that’s all Americano’s gimmick is and will be: ragebait), but when you use this ragebait character to bury legitimate luchador talent, it’s pretty upsetting. If you want a ragebait character, have him ragebait literally anyone else. Don’t even risk conflating whatever El Grande Americano’s shtick is with legitimate, hardworking, paid-their-ring-dues luchadors. If you want to use luchadors, don’t stick with the generic brand to save money. There’s a reason that lucha libre has made an indelible mark on the entirety of the professional wrestling scene — luchadors are incredible athletes who, in every Hurricanrana, Tope Suicida, and Moonsault, bring honor to Mexico and other Latin American countries. There are generations of history imbued in every mask. There is a reason that lucha libre is as cool as it is. It is because lucha libre is unapologetically Mexican.

Americano does nothing to withhold that honor. Even if you don’t care for lucha libre’s heritage, Americano does nothing to withhold honor, period. He cannot hang in the ring with legitimate lucha libre masters. He cannot hold a candle to wrestling’s most interest gimmicks. In the words of a true American-themed wrestler, no fan has ever left a show thinking of El Grande Americano. He just started, but he is indisputably washed.

Written by Angeline Phu