Chad Gable Backed for A “Prominent Presence” at SummerSlam 2026

Chad Gable is expected to have a meaningful presence on this year's SummerSlam card.

Chad Gable Backed for A “Prominent Presence” at SummerSlam 2026

Chad Gable (via WWE)

Chad Gable is at a crossroads in his WWE career at the moment. He could make the leap into the upper-mid echelon of the stars in the company and possibly find himself in the main-event scene one day if booked to his potential. The early signs are promising, and it appears as if the machine is finally getting behind the former US Olympian.

As per WrestleVotes Radio via Fightful Select, several within WWE are pushing for Gable to be featured in a prominent capacity at this year’s SummerSlam in his hometown of Minneapolis. The fans have been clamoring for the 40-year-old to win the Intercontinental Championship since he dropped the guise of the mask that made him El Grande Americano.

Gable put the mask on last year to mock the Lucha Libre tradition following his inability to overcome the luchadores. Since losing the Mask vs. Mask match at AAA Noche de Los Grandes, Gable has made it his priority to make amends with every luchador he disrespected along the way. He started off with Rey Fenix and kept it going by tendering an apology to Penta a few days later.

After that, the erstwhile Shorty G owned up to his mistakes in front of Rey Mysterio. ‘The Master of 619’ forgave Gable and told the latter that his Mask vs. Mask showdown with Ludwig Kaiser‘s version of El Grande Americano was “true Lucha Libre.” The same night on Raw, Chad Gable saved Mysterio from the onslaught of Rusev and Ethan Page.

Gable consequently earned more respect in the eyes of the WWE Hall of Famer with his act. This past Monday on Raw, the former Alpha Academy leader defeated Rusev. Gable, however, got ambushed afterwards by Page. The heels used the numbers against the Minnesotan, but the arrival of Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee made Rusev and Page retreat.

The luchadores extended their arms for Gable to stand in unison with him. With Gable now totally in the good books of the luchadores, he knows whom he needs to apologize to next. It’s none other than his former Alpha Academy stablemates, viz., Otis, Akira Tozawa, and Maxxine Dupri.

The former women’s Intercontinental Champion had a brief staredown with her former mentor while Gable was passing through the hallway to head out for his match on this week’s Raw. Dupri was chatting with Austin Theory, and it wasn’t her first interaction with him.

In fact, she’s been spotted having numerous covert conversations with Theory of late, which many fans believe would lead to her association with the Vision. It would be interesting to see how Dupri will react to Gable’s attempt at making amends with her and the rest of the Alpha Academy.

RELATED
Roman Reigns Inducts Jacob Fatu Into The Bloodline as Eric André Endures Savage Beatdown

Could Chad Gable win the Intercontinental Championship at SummerSlam?

The amends-making spree of Chad Gable is just a step in the right direction in a much bigger chapter of his wrestling journey. The kind of momentum he has right now could very well catapult him to the next level with some sensible booking from WWE. ‘Master Gable’ has yet to win the Intercontinental Championship, and he would love to get it around his waist sooner than later.

Chad Gable
Chad Gable [via- WWE]

When he failed to capture the title from Sami Zayn in 2024, Chad Gable outright blamed Otis and the rest of the Alpha Academy for it. He badmouthed his former stablemates, including Maxxine Dupri and Akira Tozawa. It would be so poetic if Gable first apologizes to them and then goes after the IC title.

Not only would it give closure to his past deeds concerning the Alpha Academy, but it’d also prove that Gable has finally learned from his mistakes and wants to do things the right way now. It was only after his loss to Penta in the latter’s WWE debut match last January that Gable went rogue.

Beating the former AEW star for the title at SummerSlam would be something the fans will welcome with open arms. However, at this point, it appears like the Intercontinental title picture will have a multi-man presence with Ethan Page and Rusev in the mix as well.

Also Read: