I’ve been driving around listening to the radio during work, and one song has stuck in my head more than anything else: New Politics–Comeback Kid. If there’s one superstar that this song represents, it’s Chad Gable.
Gable is currently in the middle of a career resurgence, and he’s proving all the doubters wrong with his all-star performance in the 2019 King of the Ring Tournament. In 2017, Gable’s tag team partner Jason Jordan from American Alpha was added to the Raw roster (named Kurt Angle’s adopted son).
With no partner, it seemed as Gable lost his identity as well until he found a new tag team partner in form of Shelton Benjamin. The two ran through the SmackDown Live tag team division, but fell short of dethroning The Usos and becoming the SmackDown Tag Team Champions.
On April 16, 2018 episode of Raw, Gable joined the Raw roster via the Superstar Shakeup. After a handful of singles matches, Gable was placed in yet another tag team this time with “The Glorious” Bobby Roode.
On the December 3, 2018 episode of Raw, Rodde and Gable would win the Raw Tag Team Championships from AOP and their Manager Drake Maverick in a Three-on-two Handicap Match.
On the February 11th episode of Raw, Roode and Gable would lose the Tag Team Championships to The Revival. Gable would be drafted to SmackDown Live via the 2019 Superstar Shakeup, but he would make a detour to the cruiserweight division.
On the June 11th episode of 205 Live, Gable made his debut on the purple brand (sporting a brand-new look with shorter hair and black wrestling trunks) and delivered a show-stealing performance against Jack Gallagher. The match would end in a double-count-out, and the two would face off a week later in which Gable scored a huge win.
On August 12th WWE announced the return of the King of the Ring Tournament, where sixteen competitors eight from Raw and SmackDown Live will battle it out to become the 2019 King of the Ring.
After being named one of the participants, Gable would be shown on SmackDown Live for the first time since being drafted on the Blue brand. For weeks Gable’s former tag team partner Benjamin, would belittle and mock him for his height every chance he got.
On August 27th episode of SmackDown Live, Gable and Benjamin would face-off in the final matchup of the first round of the tournament. While the match was relatively short, Gable would make his former partner eat his words by pinning him with a sunset flip.
On this week’s episode of SmackDown Live, Gable would face-off with “El Ídolo” Andrade in a five-star classic, that had the WWE Universe on the edge of their seats. Both competitors were able to showcase their amazing technical and high-flying maneuvers.
Gable surprised the always-overconfident Andrade, with a rolling clutch pin to score the biggest victory of his career to date. He is only two wins away from silencing all the doubters and winning the King of the Ring Tournament. Gable will face Elias next week in the semifinals to advance to the finals, that will be held at Clash of Champions.
As much as I would love to see the ultimate underdog win the tournament, I believe someone that everyone despises to become King. However, I do see Gable’s hard work and determination leading him to a title shot at the Cruiserweight Championship.
Gable has always been compared to “The Olympic Gold Medalist” Kurt Angle because of his grit and technical wrestling style. Each week Gable is earning the respect of the WWE Universe, with fantastic wrestling masterpieces. Wherever these impressive victories take him one thing is certain the sky is the limit for Chad Gable.
