American Made goes after WWE Legend: 5 ways to make Chad Gable a major star
Chad Gable appeared to be on the rise in 2024, having show-stealing performances in pursuit of the WWE Intercontinental Championship. However, he ends the year stuck in the mud, spinning his wheels in a stale storyline with Alpha Academy and seemingly going nowhere.
Gable seemed to be on the verge of taking his career to the next level during the first half of the year, but he couldn't win the IC Title from Sami Zayn, and his momentum as a singles competitor has greatly declined. Chad lost during all three of his PLE matches this year, and he's no longer a contender for any championship on the red brand.
Nonetheless, the 38-year-old superstar is supremely talented and has proven his abilities both in the ring and on the microphone. He's become a Triple Crown Champion in WWE's tag team division, yet he still has plenty more to achieve before he's positioned as a top talent in World Wrestling Entertainment. Without further ado, let's look at five ways to make Chad Gable a major star.
#5. WWE should move Chad Gable and American Made from RAW to SmackDown
A fresh start on the blue brand would give Gable and American Made a new crop of talent to compete against. A brand switch for the faction would also open the door for future opportunities, such as Chad challenging for the United States Championship, Ivy Nile competing for gold in the women's division, and The Creed Brothers going after the WWE Tag Team Titles.
Gable and his group appear to have been lost in the shuffle in recent months on the red brand. SmackDown is set to switch to a three-hour format this Friday, and a stable like American Made could capitalize on this change. By moving to the blue brand during SmackDown's three-hour shift, Gable and his cohorts could be given more TV time and new rivalries. The company could simultaneously provide a reboot for the blue brand and American Made.
#4. Chad Gable and American Made attack former WWE Champion Kurt Angle
Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle is a beloved icon of professional wrestling. The most recent edition of Survivor Series marked the 25th anniversary of Angle's televised WWE in-ring debut. The company didn't celebrate this milestone at the 38th annual Survivor Series. However, if it ever plans to hold an in-ring segment celebrating Kurt's legendary career, American Made would be the perfect group to interrupt him.
Gable could recover much of his lost heat by disrespecting and assaulting the 13-time World Champion. An attack on Angle could also boost the careers of The Creed Brothers, positioning Brutus and Julius Creed as ruthless villains looking to make a name for themselves by brutalizing a beloved legend.
Angle has previously stated that he will not come out of retirement to wrestle another match. However, he is still open to taking bumps and potentially working with Gable and American Made in a managerial role. Kurt's last match happened in April 2019, taking a loss to Baron Corbin at WrestleMania 35.
Despite what Kurt has said about staying retired, many wrestling fans worldwide would love to see Angle come out of retirement to wrestle Gable. If a one-on-one match with Gable is too much for Angle in 2025, perhaps the company could book a six-man tag team match, pitting American Made against the Olympic gold medalist and Alpha Academy's Otis and Akira Tozawa.
#3. Chad Gable wins the WWE United States Championship
In 2023 and 2024, Gable couldn't win the Intercontinental Championship on the red brand. Perhaps he'll have better luck going after the United States Title on SmackDown. Despite coming up short during his chase for IC gold, he provided show-stealing performances and got the audience invested. Chad has proven himself worthy of adding mid-card singles gold to his résumé. Gable has yet to win singles gold in his WWE career, but maybe that could all change in 2025.
With a jump from RAW to SmackDown, Gable and his group would be given fresh opponents and new opportunities to chase. This brand switch would open the door for Gable to go after the United States Championship, currently held by "The King of Strong Style" Shinsuke Nakamura. Chad may also have to fight with other top contenders, including LA Knight and Andrade.
The WWE United States Championship is a belt that perfectly fits the persona of American Made. Winning this title would be a crowning achievement of Chad's career, a moment perhaps best served at WrestleMania. During his reign as U.S. Champ, Gable could start referring to himself as 'an American hero' much like Kurt Angle did during his first WWE run.
Chad could take a page out of Chelsea Green's book by holding a US Title celebration on SmackDown after being crowned champion.
#2. Chad Gable has a strong showing at Royal Rumble 2025 and/or Elimination Chamber: Toronto
A strong showing in either the Men's Royal Rumble or Men's Elimination Chamber match would be one more step towards superstardom for Chad Gable. Whether he wins or loses, Chad could still walk away from each event with increased momentum if he were to steal the show.
Gable and Alpha Academy didn't participate in the 2024 Men's Royal Rumble match despite previously being announced for the bout. WWE could right this wrong by booking Chad as a standout talent in the 2025 Men's Rumble. He likely won't win the 30-man battle royal, but that won't stop him from showcasing his phenomenal in-ring abilities, especially if given ample time in the match.
Chad participated in the 2022 and 2023 Men's Royal Rumble matches. He also competed in 2018's 50-man "Greatest" Royal Rumble. However, Gable has never competed in an Elimination Chamber match. A strong showing at 2025's PLE in Toronto would certainly boost the in-ring stock of the 2012 Olympian.
#1. Kurt Angle becomes the manager of Chad Gable and American Made, potentially leading to the faction turning on the legend
The 1996 Olympic gold medalist spoke during a virtual signing for K&S WrestleFest and showed interest in potentially managing American Made.
“If the money was right (I would come back to manage a faction)… The spot (matters too), yeah, definitely. I think Chad (Gable) and his gang that he has right now, that would be a great idea. I wouldn’t mind doing a spot here and there. But, if you’re gonna ask me to do a wrestling match, it’s just not gonna happen. Yeah, I could take some bumps.” (H/T - Ringside News)
Pairing Angle with American Made would predictably lead to renewed fan interest regarding the red, white, and blue stable. The former four-time WWE Champion is a pro wrestling icon beloved by millions. As the group's ringside manager, Kurt could guide the faction to newfound successes. However, there's also the chance that the group's current leader, Chad Gable, could become jealous and distrustful of Angle. Gable and his group may end up stabbing Kurt in the back.
As previously mentioned, American Made would predictably receive massive heat if they were to attack someone as beloved as Kurt Angle. WWE could build towards this betrayal by booking Angle as the group's manager, leading to weeks of tension before the stable turns on him during a televised event.
