Popular WWE Star Could Return As Soon As First Raw Of 2026 In Brooklyn

An injured WWE superstar could be making a comeback on the first Raw episode of 2026.

Chad Gable is a former 3-time WWE Tag Team Champion who has been part of the company for the past 12 years. While Gable has yet to hold a major singles title in WWE, he did hold the “coveted” Speed Championship prior to getting injured in June.

In July, Chad Gable confirmed he had surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff injury. At the time, he was appearing regularly on WWE television as Gable, but also as El Grande Americano while denying that he was Americano.

Since Gable has been off-screen, Ludwig Kaiser has assumed the El Grande Americano gimmick, while announcers tend to mention that he looks a lot taller than he did. This version of Grande is also joined by Rayo and Bravo Americano, portrayed by Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate, respectively.

The good news is that Gable is ready to make a comeback, according to PWInsider. They noted that there are people in WWE, who expect Gable to return to television as soon as the January 5th one-year anniversary episode of WWE Raw on Netflix in Brooklyn.

That report from PWInsider also noted that Gable has been back at the WWE Performance Center training for his return.

Meanwhile, Fightful Select also reported the same thing about Gable appearing at the WWE PC in recent weeks, looking ready to make a comeback. Fightful added that Gable could be back “very soon” while adding that Gable is likely to return by the Royal Rumble (January 31st), or perhaps before that.

As for the El Grande Americano gimmick, Fightful added that WWE plans to address the fact that it was given to Ludwig Kaiser.

Since Gable has been away, his American Made stable with The Creed Brothers and Ivy Nile haven’t been featured much on Raw, although Nile did recently lose to Maxxine Dupri on Raw.

First WWE Raw Of 2026 Will Feature Three Title Matches

In addition to Chad Gable possibly returning on the January 5th episode of Raw at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, there are three huge title matches set for that episode of Raw.

• World Heavyweight Championship: CM Punk vs. Bron Breakker
• Women’s Tag Team Championships: Kabuki Warriors vs. Rhea Ripley & Iyo Sky
• Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Maxxine Dupri vs. Becky Lynch

There are also rumors that Chris Jericho could make his WWE return on the January 5th Raw in Brooklyn, but that hasn’t been confirmed yet. Tune in to find out.