Two pro wrestlers—both named El Grande Americano—will have a mask vs. mask match this Saturday at AAA Noche de Los Grandes in Monterrey, Mexico. Despite being stylized as luchadores, neither performer—Chad Gable nor Ludwig Kaiser—is actually Mexican. But the buildup to the match has been both surreal and electric, earning overwhelming praise from fans and critics alike.
A match of such magnitude would have made sense on one of WWE’s monthly Premium Live Events (PLEs) on ESPN’s streaming service. Having built nearly a year’s worth of anticipation, the match would have fit right in on WrestleMania, WWE’s biggest show of the year.
And yet, the first clash between the Grande Americanos will air on YouTube, where WWE has been putting all of its content from AAA, the Mexican promotion it purchased in April 2025. To many, the idea of giving away such a long-awaited event for free might be surprising. But WWE’s recent track record shows that YouTube has become a key component in how WWE builds interest around its biggest storylines
Digital Push
The main WWE YouTube channel, which was launched nearly 20 years ago, has 113 million subscribers. For most of that time, the channel served as the pro wrestling giant’s primary platform for showcasing clips, show recaps, old matches, and exclusive content.Over the last couple of years, however, WWE has been building out new channels, including ones for its WWE Vault, WCW, NXT, and several individual talents such as Cody Rhodes, Stephanie McMahon, and The Undertaker, as part of a podcast partnership with Fanatics. All told, a WWE rep told Front Office Sports that its YouTube channels cumulatively had more than 12 billion views over the past year.
