WWE has people backstage lobbying to give Chad Gable a prominent spot at SummerSlam, and the location makes the push obvious: the two-night event runs from US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Gable’s hometown.
As per Wrestlevotes Radio on Fightful Select, several people in WWE are pushing for Gable to have a presence at the show. There is no word on exactly what kind of presence is being pushed, and nothing has been confirmed about whether the effort will produce results.
The timing tracks with Gable’s elevated standing on Raw. He returned to television following his mask vs. mask loss to El Grande Americano at AAA Noche de Los Grandes, which led to him being unmasked.
Since coming back, Gable picked up a win over Rusev and joined forces with Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee. He has been involved in a storyline alongside Mysterio, Lee, Rusev, and Ethan Page over the last couple of weeks.
Chad Gable In Title Picture
WWE Intercontinental Champion Penta has also been revolving around the story, with both Rusev and Page targeting that title. That keeps Gable close to championship-level programming heading into the summer.
The hometown angle adds an emotional and commercial layer to the conversation. A SummerSlam moment in Minneapolis would be a natural payoff for the momentum Gable has built, and others in the company have already noticed it. AJ Styles recently demanded WWE capitalize on Gable’s momentum, while a WWE legend predicted big things in Gable’s future.
The mask vs. mask match that triggered the unmasking remains the inciting event behind everything happening now. WWE SummerSlam takes place on August 1st and 2nd.