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Rumored WrestleMania 42 Match Moved to AAA
The anticipated El Grande Americano vs. Original El Grande Americano match will no longer take place at WWE's biggest event.
Apr. 1, 2026 at 12:38am
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According to reports, the highly anticipated match between El Grande Americano and Original El Grande Americano that was expected to happen at WrestleMania 42 has been pulled from WWE's biggest event and will instead take place at an AAA show. The rivalry between the two characters has been a major storyline on WWE's SmackDown brand in recent weeks, but the decision has been made to save the mask vs. mask showdown for the Mexican promotion's platform.
Why it matters
This is a significant shift in direction for a storyline that had been building toward what many expected to be a major mask vs. mask conclusion on WWE's grandest stage at WrestleMania. The decision to move the match to AAA rather than WrestleMania is notable, though it makes sense within the context of WWE's cross-promotional relationship with the Mexican promotion, where the El Grande Americano character has already made appearances.
The details
According to Wrestling Observer Live host Bryan Alvarez, the El Grande Americano vs. Original El Grande Americano match has been pulled from WrestleMania 42 and will instead take place at an upcoming AAA event. The rivalry has centered on identity and legacy, with Chad Gable returning as the Original El Grande Americano and clashing with the current masked version tied to Ludwig Kaiser. The feud has produced some of the more chaotic and memorable moments on SmackDown in recent weeks.
- The match was originally rumored to take place at WrestleMania 42, which is scheduled for April 18-19, 2026 in Las Vegas.
- The decision to move the match to AAA was revealed on March 31, 2026 during Wrestling Observer Live.
The players
El Grande Americano
The current masked wrestler associated with Ludwig Kaiser, who has been involved in a rivalry with the Original El Grande Americano character.
Original El Grande Americano
The unmasked version of the character, revealed to be Chad Gable, who has been feuding with the current El Grande Americano.
Bryan Alvarez
The host of Wrestling Observer Live, who reported the news that the match has been moved from WrestleMania 42 to an upcoming AAA event.
What they’re saying
“What happened to El Grande Americano vs. Original El Grande Americano at WrestleMania 42? Well, apparently the El Grande vs. El Grande match is going to happen for AAA. They've got a date booked for that match, so they're not doing a mask vs. mask match between those two guys at WrestleMania — they're saving that for AAA.”
— Bryan Alvarez, Host, Wrestling Observer Live
What’s next
The match between El Grande Americano and Original El Grande Americano is expected to take place at an upcoming AAA event, though the specific date has not been announced.
The takeaway
This decision to move the highly anticipated mask vs. mask match between the two El Grande Americano characters from WrestleMania 42 to an AAA event highlights the growing relationship between WWE and the Mexican promotion, and gives the rivalry a broader platform to play out on the AAA stage.
