Chad Gable Discusses the Evolution of His Approach to Storytelling and In-Ring Performance

During an appearance on Good Karma Wrestling, Chad Gable addressed the perennial debate over whether storytelling or technical match quality is more important, reflecting on his recent high-stakes mask versus mask match as El Grande Americano. Gable, renowned for his technical proficiency, admitted that his perspective on the craft has shifted significantly over time.

Early in his development, Gable believed that technical execution was the sole priority. “My answer to that has probably changed over the years,” he explained. “When I was growing up, it was always about the match—the technical wrestling. I grew up on All-Japan, New Japan, and the early 2000s indie scene. To me, that was the essence of wrestling. But as you evolve and mature, you begin to appreciate other elements.”

He recalled a formative childhood memory that highlighted the power of emotional storytelling. “The first time I remember feeling emotional about wrestling was watching Macho Man and the Ultimate Warrior at WrestleMania. When Macho hoisted Miss Elizabeth onto his shoulders and I saw people in the crowd crying, I was only six or seven years old, and I was crying too. As a child, you can’t always process those emotions, but it was affecting me in a way I couldn’t explain.”

Gable believes his recent mask versus mask encounter finally captured that same essence. “Looking back, I realize that the ultimate goal of what we do is to make the audience feel something. That became incredibly clear to me that night; so many people told me they were moved emotionally in a way they hadn’t been in a long time. To me, that was the highest compliment. The fact that people truly felt something made it special. I believe you need both—the technical skill and the story. You have to have both.”

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