The WWE is in hot water with some of its fans, and it's water that seems to be causing the issue. Or an entire body of water, as the case may be. That's because a new WWE wrestler, billed as "El Grande Americano," debuted on "Monday Night Raw," listing the "Gulf of America" as his hometown.
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Love it or hate it, the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico into the Gulf Of America (an executive order by President Donald Trump in January) is here to stay. It's already replaced the Gulf of Mexico in many institutions. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis cited the new name in a winter storm directive. Google Maps and the Federal Aviation Administration updated their references accordingly.
Now, it's even invaded our pop culture as well. The WWE and Raw are the latest to wade into the debate. But even before El Grande Americano made his wrestling debut, you could find "Gulf of America" on merchandise like bumper stickers or T-shirts.
Imagine Donald Trump on a beach with a beer, and tropical vibes, with Gulf of America in bold.
You don't have to use your imagination, just check it out here.
Gulf Of America Is Here To Stay
One just needs to look online at meme culture to see how entrenched the terminology has already become in the American lexicon. Many feature Trump's own smiling mug like the aforementioned shirt above. That's to term's support and detriment in American culture.
As with anything Trump does, there are supporters and critics. In February, the White House excluded The Associated Press from Oval Office and Air Force One access after the news outlet declined to adopt the "Gulf of America" name. Wikipedia retains "Gulf of Mexico" as the primary label but acknowledges Trump's order and the dispute. But the push from the federal government to adopt the term along with this early adoption over the past few months suggests the term is here to stay.
As for the wrestling of it all, El Grande Americano entered the ring in Glasgow, Scotland, this week, marking the first of his likely ongoing appearances.
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For starters, WWE fans have speculated that the masked wrestler may be Chad Gable -- though a recent storyline segment showed Gable distancing himself from the costumed figure. That said, there's been nothing resembling an official confirmation. During the debut, El Grande Americano wore a red, white, and blue outfit, complete with a luchador mask and matching leotard.
That's all fine. But the trouble began when ring announcer Alicia Taylor introduced the wrestler as hailing from the Gulf of America. The WWE has rarely ventured into political territory historically, but current events suggest a shift. For instance, commentator Pat McAfee recently criticized Canada, calling it "terrible" after Toronto fans booed the "Star-Spangled Banner" ahead of a pay-per-view event.
McAfee later addressed the backlash. "Some Canadians said things I respect because of your passion for your country -- which I hope you understand I was showing for mine," he said. "You booed my country."
Either way, El Grande Americano's debut aligns with this ongoing debate. His patriotic costume and announced origin reflected the renamed gulf. Whether El Grande Americano remains on WWE, the Gulf of America is here to stay for the foreseeable future.
