Chad Gable has given an extensive look back at the shoulder injury that sidelined him for the back half of 2025, revealing on Chris Van Vliet’s Insight Podcast that he actually worked through the Money in the Bank ladder match despite already being hurt.
Gable told Van Vliet he first injured his arm in a match against El Hijo del Vikingo at Worlds Collide, and that the injury worsened from there before he pushed through the Money in the Bank ladder match on an already compromised shoulder. Describing the experience, Gable said, “I don’t know that I’ve ever felt that level of fragility,” referencing how precarious his body felt during that stretch of matches, according to F4W Online.
Scrapped Plans for El Grande Americano
Gable also detailed what WWE had originally mapped out for the El Grande Americano character before the shoulder injury forced a change in direction. According to F4W Online, following Rey Mysterio’s own injury that had already impacted his planned WrestleMania match with Gable, the plan was for El Grande Americano to continue targeting lucha libre talent as his rise in the company continued. That trajectory was interrupted once Gable’s shoulder injury sidelined him for the second half of 2025.
Reaction to Mask vs. Mask Praise
Separately, Gable addressed fans and media members labeling his mask vs. mask match with El Grande Americano as a potential Match of the Year, per NoDQ. The interview did not include specific match details or outcomes beyond the acknowledgment of the praise itself, and Gable’s full response on how that recognition has landed with him was part of the broader Van Vliet conversation.
