Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide

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Antonio Peña Promotions, S.A de CV[1]
AcronymAAA
Founded1992; 30 years ago (1992)
StyleProfessional wrestling
Lucha libre
Sports entertainment
HeadquartersMexico City
Founder(s)Antonio Peña
Owner(s)Marisela Peña
Dorian Roldán Peña
FormerlyAsistencia Asesoría y Administración (1990s)
AAA (1990s–2015)
WebsiteLuchaLibreAAA.com

Antonio Peña Promotions, S.A de CV d/b/a Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide[2] is a Mexican Lucha Libre (professional wrestling) promotion based in Mexico City, Mexico. Commonly referred to as simply AAA[3] (pronounced "triple A"; an abbreviation of its original name Asistencia Asesoría y Administración, Spanish for "Assistance, Assessment, and Administration"), the promotion was founded in 1992 when Antonio Peña broke away from Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) to set up a promotion, which allowed him more creative freedom. AAA has held a number of pay-per-views (PPV) over the years and has promoted shows not just in Mexico but in the United States and Japan as well.

In addition to the conventional "squared circle", the promotion occasionally uses a hexagonal wrestling ring and has a reputation for its outlandish gimmicks and characters as well as having developed a more extreme match style in recent years. Over the years, AAA has worked together with several American promotions, while currently having working relationships with other Mexican promotions.

History[]

First logo

AAA dates from May 15, 1992, when Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) booker Antonio Peña broke with the company in favor of establishing his own group along with Konnan and much of the young and exciting talent from CMLL.[4] This left CMLL with a middle-aged roster and a seemingly bleak future. AAA also looked for talent from other markets, as they found and signed Tijuana natives Rey Mysterio, Jr. and Psicosis. The promotion flourished with top talent like El Hijo del Santo, Octagón, Blue Panther, the Casas brothers (Negro Casas and Heavy Metal) and possessed top draws in Los Gringos Locos, Cien Caras, Konnan, and Perro Aguayo. The rising popularity of AAA soon caused rival Universal Wrestling Association to go out of business, and Peña quickly signed up top draws including El Canek, Dos Caras and Los Villanos.

Logo of AAA Sin Límite program

AAA's "golden years" (from 1993-1995) peaked with the When Worlds Collide pay-per-view, promoted in conjunction with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and broadcast in the United States in 1994. Weeks after the show, Art Barr (a key member of Los Gringos Locos) died while visiting his family. As a result, AAA vacated the AAA Tag Team Championships, and this led to the departure of fellow stable-mates (in Los Gringos Locos) Eddie Guerrero and Madonna's Boyfriend. El Hijo del Santo also departed as a result of creative problems, and stars such as Fuerza Guerrera and Blue Panther soon left too when the Mexican economy began to slow down (which resulted in the company's inability to offer as much work). Many wrestlers, including Rey Misterio, Jr., Psicosis, La Parka, and Juventud Guerrera, would also depart to WCW in 1996, as well as Konnan's short-lived Promo Azteca promotion. In early 1997, AAA established a working agreement with the World Wrestling Federation, but the only significant outcome resulted in several luchadores featuring in the 1997 Royal Rumble. In the mid-1990s the name of the company was changed to simply be "AAA", pronounced "Triple A" as the company bought out Televisa and became independent.

AAA broadcasts shows regularly on Gala TV in Mexico and Univision TDN in Mexico and parts of the United States.

On October 6, 2006, founder Antonio Peña died of a heart attack. Following Peña's death his sister Marisela Peña manages AAA financially, while Peña's brother-in-law Joaquín Roldán and his son, Dorian Roldán Peña serve as operational managers. In 2008 Lucha Libre USA presented AAA's second U.S. pay-per-view, Legendary Battles of Triplemania.[5] In 2009 AAA announced the official release of a video game originally entitled AAA El Videojuego.[6] The game was later retitled Lucha Libre AAA: Héroes del Ring by the publisher of the game, with a release date of October 12, 2010.

Marisela Peña who co-directs this federation since 2018.

AAA developed a working relationship with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling in 2004. Through the relationship, AAA sent the luchadores Juventud Guerrera, Héctor Garza, Abismo Negro, Heavy Metal, and Mr. Águila to TNA to compete in the America's X-Cup Tournament as a contingent known as Team Mexico. Team Mexico dominated the America's X-Cup Tournament, defeating Team USA in the first round before retaining the Cup against both Team Canada and Team Britain. They eventually lost at the World X-Cup, which saw Team USA defeat Team Canada and Team Mexico in the Ultimate X finals to win the Cup. For multiple reasons TNA and AAA broke off their working relationship late in 2004. TNA continued utilizing luchadores, but opted to contract them individually as opposed to working through AAA. In 2006, AAA and TNA teamed up again for an event in Toreo de Cuatro Caminos, utilizing some of TNA's talent and stage (which includes the tunnel and lasers). After Konnan left TNA in June 2007, any chance of a working relationship disappeared, especially given that Konnan has filed a racial discrimination lawsuit against TNA. The lawsuit was later dismissed.[7] TNA would later start a relationship with CMLL from 2007 to 2009, however TNA would once again start working together with AAA and exchange talent in February 2010.[8]

On January 12, 2014, it was announced that, with the backing of Mark Burnett, AAA would begin airing a show on American network El Rey in the second half of the year. The one-hour weekly program would be accompanied by monthly and quarterly specials as well as live pay-per-views.[9] The show, titled Lucha Underground, premiered on October 29, 2014.[10]

Beginning in March 2015, the company announced that it would be known as "Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide" from that point on, although it is still referred to mainly as AAA or "Triple A".[2]

On April 8, 2017, AAA General Manager Joaquín Roldán died.[11]

On 14 June, AAA began airing on FrontRunnerTV in the UK.

In April and May 2018, some fighters like Teddy Hart, Juventud Guerrera and Taurus make their return to the company wearing their Elite League jerseys, dealing with a possible alliance between AAA and Liga Elite. On June 4 in Verano de Escándalo, Jeff Jarrett (now a member of WWE Hall of Fame) makes his comeback after 3 years out of AAA, where he beat Rey Wagner and Rey Mysterio Jr. to win the AAA Mega Championship with the help from Konnan who also makes his comeback after 2 years.

On February 1, 2019, AAA announced the breakup relationship with Televisa after 27 years changing to the Multimedios television station.[12] However, on February 3 after the Super Bowl LIII broadcasts had concluded, AAA reached an agreement with TV Azteca to broadcast their show in Azteca 7.[13] On April 4, 2019, AAA announced in press conference that its first event in the United States called Invading NY that would be held in Madison Square Garden on September 15, 2019.[14] Later in the press conference AAA announced that would also held its second event in United States which is named Invading Los Angeles with the event taking place at The Forum in Inglewood, California on October 13, 2019.[15] On August 16, 2019, it was reported by Pro Wrestling Insider that AAA decided to run Hulu Theater instead of Madison Square Garden after meeting with MSG executives to move the venue of the event due to its poor ticket sales.[16]

In mid-March 2020, AAA began canceling or postponing its televised events following the COVID-19 pandemic, so the following month, a tournament called Lucha Fighters was created consisting of 12 luchadores and 8 luchadoras.

During the indefinite recess due to health contingency due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico, on July 20, 2020, AAA announced its project called "AutoLuchas" which consists of a events in Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez where you can see through from a car.[17] On September 24, AAA announced that it would return to its first performances in early October after the announced project.[18]

On February 2, 2021, the company signed an alliance with SECTUR to promote Mexico's tourist destinations. bearing the name of the tour as "Lucha por la Identidad Nacional" including shows such as Rey de Reyes and Verano de Escándalo.

On August 14, Triplemanía XXIX was held at the Arena Ciudad de México, marking the first event with the return of fans but limited, this for biosecurity reasons. After this, Héroes Inmortales XIV was the second show that had an audience present, although limited.

Contracts[]

Main article: List of Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide personnel

International partnerships[]

In 1997, the company did business with United States's World Wrestling Federation (now WWE) promotion, bringing in a number of AAA wrestlers for the Royal Rumble event and namesake match.[19][20]

In April 2014, after TNA founder Jeff Jarrett, the man behind the AAA-TNA relationship, had left the company, he announced that his new Global Force Wrestling (GFW) promotion would begin working with the Mexican promotion though TNA and AAA would continue to work with each other being a part of the Lucha Libre World Cup on May 24, 2015.[21] When Jarrett returned to TNA in 2017, with the promotion now known as Impact Wrestling, it was announced that AAA and Impact would once again continue to be working together.[22]

In July 2015, Canadian-based International Wrestling Syndicate (IWS) announced a talent partnership with AAA.[23][24]

In June 2018, AAA partnered with Mexican Lucha Libre Elite promotion officially announced a working relationship.[25]

In August 2018, AAA started a working agreement with American-based promotion Major League Wrestling (MLW).[26]

In February 2019, it was announced that AAA would be partnering with All Elite Wrestling (AEW).[27]

Shows and tournaments[]

Each year AAA promotes a number of signature events and tournaments: some shown as pay-per-view events and others presented as TV Azteca television specials. The annual shows and tournaments, shown in order of occurrence during each year, include:

Event Previous date Notes
Rey de Reyes May 1, 2021 A tournament and show held traditionally in the early part of the year. The last event was Rey de Reyes 2021.
Triplemanía August 14, 2021 Traditionally AAA's biggest show of the year, their "WrestleMania" (PPV). The most recent event was Triplemanía Regia II.
Verano de Escándalo July 3, 2021 Annual end of the summer event. Most Recent event was Verano de Escándalo 2021.
Héroes Inmortales October 9, 2021 Hosts the Copa Antonio Peña tournament in memory of AAA's founder; held around the anniversary of Peña's death. Renamed from Homenaje a Antonio Peña to Heroes Inmortales in 2009.
Guerra de Titanes December 14, 2019 AAA's end-of-year show, usually in December (PPV). Held in January in 2016, 2017 and 2018.[28]

Special tournaments[]

Event Last Date Notes
Lucha Libre World Cup October 10, 2017 International trios/tag team tournament.
Gladiators June 27, 2019 International trios/tag team tournament.

Championships and accomplishments[]

The AAA World Mixed Tag Team Championship belt, that is worn by the female team member

Since its inception AAA has placed very few restrictions on the number of championships it promotes, often allowing wrestlers to defend titles that do not technically belong within AAA, such as titles from the now defunct Universal Wrestling Association. While they allowed these to be defended and used to promote their wrestlers they're not officially listed as AAA titles and thus do not appear on this list. In December 2008 AAA announced it they will no longer recognize or promote any title that does not belong to AAA - ending the long-standing practice.[29]

Current championships[]

As of March 20, 2022.

Main article: List of current champions in Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide
Championship Current champion(s) Reign Date won Days held Location Notes
AAA Mega Championship ― Hijo del Vikingo 1 December 4, 2021 106 Monterrey, Mexico Defeated Samuray del Sol, Jay Lethal, Bobby Fish and Bandido in a Five-way match at Triplemanía Regia II that would determine the new champion due to multiple injuries to former champion Kenny Omega.
AAA Latin American Championship WXw 16 Carat Gold 2020 - Night 2 (49658076506).jpg Taurus 1 May 1, 2021 323 San Pedro Cholula, Puebla Defeated Octagón Jr. and Villano III Jr. in a Triple threat match at Rey de Reyes to win the vacant championship.
AAA World Cruiserweight Championship Laredo Kid 2.jpg Laredo Kid 1 February 16, 2019 1,128 Morelia, Michoacán Defeated former champion Sammy Guevara at AAA TV-Taping.

(Although Lio Rush defeated Laredo Kid on February 10, 2021 in a match where Rush's MLW World Middleweight Championship was also on the line. the AAA didn't recognized the title change and kept recognizing Laredo Kid as the champion since 2019).
AAA World Mini-Estrella Championship ― Dinastía 2 March 16, 2019 1,100 Mexico City Defeated previous champion Mini Psycho Clown, Mini Monster Clown, Mini Murder Clown, La Parkita, and La Parkita Negra in a six-way match at the Vive Latino house show.
AAA World Tag Team Championship The Revival & Randy Orton vs The New Day - 2019-08-18 - 03.jpg FTR
(Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood) 		1
(1, 1) 		October 16, 2021 155 Miami, Florida Defeated Los Lucha Bros (Pentagón Jr. and Fénix) on AEW Dynamite.
FTR was disguised as luchadors called Las Super Ranas.
AAA World Mixed Tag Team Championship Arez Coacalco.jpg Los Vipers
(Arez (pictured) and Chik Tormenta) 		1
(1, 1) 		October 11, 2021 160 Xalapa, Veracruz Defeated former champions Lady Maravilla and Villano III Jr. at AAA TV-Taping.
AAA World Trios Championship ― Los Mercenarios
(La Hiedra, Rey Escorpion and Taurus) 		1
(1, 1, 1) 		May 8, 2021 316 San Pedro Cholula, Puebla Defeated Jinetes del Aire (El Hijo del Vikingo, Golden Magic and Myzteziz Jr.) at Luchando por la Identidad de Mexico.
AAA Reina de Reinas Championship Deonna Purrazzo April 2019.jpg Deonna Purrazzo 1 August 14, 2021 218 Azcapotzalco, Mexico City Defeated Faby Apache at Triplemanía XXIX.

Retired championships[]

See also: List of Mexican National Championships
Championship Final champion(s) Date created Date retired
AAA Americas Heavyweight Championship Sangre Chicana February 2, 1996 [30] 2005-2006
AAA Campeón de Campeones Championship Cibernético June 15, 1996 [31] 2005
AAA Americas Trios Championship Villano III, IV and V March 8, 1996 [32] 1996
AAA Fusión Championship El Hijo del Fantasma November 3, 2012 August 17, 2014
AAA Mascot Tag Team Championship El Alebrije and Cuije December 13, 2002 April 7, 2009 [33]
AAA Northern Tag Team Championship Poder del Norte
(Tigre Cota and Tito Santana) 		March 7, 2010 Never officially retired, but no defenses have occurred since 2010
AAA Parejas Increibles Tag Team Championship Cibernético and Konnan June 12, 2010 [34] 2010
Mexican National Atómicos Championship Vacant [35] August 9, 1996 [36] January 25, 2009 [29]
Mexican National Heavyweight Championship Charly Manson 1926 [37] December 2008 [29]
Mexican National Middleweight Championship Octagón 1933 [38] December 2008 [29]
UWA World Light Heavyweight Championship El Mesias November 25, 1975 September 16, 2007
IWC World Heavyweight Championship El Mesias November 13, 1993 September 16, 2007
GPCW SUPER-X Monster Championship La Parka II September 16, 2007

Other accomplishments[]

Accomplishment Latest winner Date won
Rey de Reyes Laredo Kid May 1, 2021
Copa Antonio Peña El Hijo del Vikingo October 19, 2019[39]
Alas de Oro El Hijo del Vikingo July 3, 2021
Copa Triplemania Pagano August 3, 2019
Lucha Capital (Women's) Keyra December 4, 2019
Lucha Capital (Men's) El Hijo del Vikingo December 4, 2019
Lucha Fighter (Men's) Pentagón Jr. May 9, 2020
Lucha Fighter (Women's) Lady Shani May 9, 2020

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ "Términos y condiciones". Lucha Libre AAA. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  2. ^ a b Cano Vela, Eduardo (March 3, 2015). "Rey Mysterio es parte de AAA #UnReySeAcerca". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved April 16, 2017.
  3. ^ "Términos y condiciones". Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  4. ^ Guerrero, Eddie. Cheating Death, Stealing Life: The Eddie Guerrero Story, p. 78.
  5. ^ "Lucha Libre: Legendary Battles Of Triplemania". In Demand!. Retrieved 2009-06-27.
  6. ^ Sinclair, Brendan (2009-06-24). "AAA Lucha Libre headed for US". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 2009-08-08. Retrieved 2009-06-27.
  7. ^ Caldwell, James (May 7, 2009). "TNA News: TNA Wrestling and Konnan agree to drop lawsuits against each other, Dixie Carter comments on suit". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved June 3, 2015.
  8. ^ Martin, Adam (2010-03-10). "TNA and AAA start talent exchange". WrestleView. Archived from the original on 2012-06-16. Retrieved 2010-03-11.
  9. ^ Caldwell, James (2014-01-12). "Mexico news: AAA officially bringing TV to the U.S., has backing of big-name TV producer". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  10. ^ "Lucha Underground promotion TV debut moved back three weeks". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. 2014-09-22. Retrieved 2014-09-23.
  11. ^ "Falleció Joaquín Roldán, Director General de AAA". MedioTiempo (in Spanish). MSN. April 8, 2017. Retrieved April 8, 2017.
  12. ^ Solowrestling (2 February 2019). "Lucha Libre AAA no seguirá emitiéndose en Televisa con el objetivo de dar el salto a Estados Unidos". solowrestling.mundodeportivo.com. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  13. ^ Ocampo, Ernesto (February 4, 2019). "Lucha Libre AAA se transmitirá por Multimedios y TV Azteca" (in Spanish). Mediotiempo. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  14. ^ "¡AAA invade New York! Se presentará en el Madison Square Garden". MedioTiempo (in Spanish). April 12, 2019. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  15. ^ Renner, Ethan (April 4, 2019). "AAA Announces September 15th MSG Debut, LA Date Coming Soon". F4wonline. Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  16. ^ "AAA NYC RETURN MOVED FROM MADISON SQUARE GARDEN | PWInsider.com". www.pwinsider.com.
  17. ^ Ocampo, Ernesto (July 20, 2020). "Regresa AAA a la actividad, presenta Auto Luchas" (in Spanish). SuperLuchas. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  18. ^ Ocampo, Ernesto (September 24, 2020). "Confirmado el inicio de Auto Luchas de AAA" (in Spanish). SuperLuchas. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  19. ^ "Royal Rumble 1997 Results". Online World of Wrestling. Archived from the original on February 17, 2008. Retrieved February 4, 2008.
  20. ^ "Royal Rumble 1997". AWT. January 21, 1997. Archived from the original on February 15, 2008. Retrieved February 18, 2008.
  21. ^ Caldwell, James (2014-04-30). "GFW news: Global Force's latest announcement - "partnership agreement" with international promotion". Pro Wrestling Torch. Archived from the original on 2014-05-02. Retrieved 2014-04-30.
  22. ^ "Impact Wrestling habló de su acuerdo con AAA". MedioTiempo (in Spanish). MSN. March 23, 2017. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
  23. ^ "IWS formed partnership with AAA wrestling and Lucha Underground", International Wrestling Syndicate, Retrieved on July 5, 2015.
  24. ^ Laprade, Patric. (2016-03-07) "Mysterio at IWS latest in Montreal-Mexico exchange", SLAM! Wrestling, Retrieved on March 07, 2016.
  25. ^ Ocampo, Ernesto (June 26, 2018). "Conferencia AAA: Se confirma alianza con Elite". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  26. ^ "AAA TripleMania XXVI Results & Review". The Chairshot. August 25, 2018. Retrieved 2018-08-25.
  27. ^ "All Elite Wrestling partnering with Lucha Libre AAA". WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, UFC News, UFC results. 7 February 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  28. ^ Valdés, Apolo (January 20, 2017). "John Morrison con ayuda, retuvo el cetro Latinoamericano". MedioTiempo. MSN. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  29. ^ a b c d "¿AAA dejará de contar campeonatos de terceros?" (in Spanish). Súper Luchas. Archived from the original on 4 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
  30. ^ "Asistencia Asesoria y Administracion Americas Heavyweight Title". wrestling-titles.com. 2007-04-15. Retrieved 2007-09-23.
  31. ^ "Campeones" (in Spanish). www.aaa.com.mx. Archived from the original on 2007-08-22. Retrieved 2007-09-23.
  32. ^ "Asistencia Asesoria y Administracion Americas Trios Title". wrestling-titles.com. 2007-09-23. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-23.
  33. ^ Arturo Rosas Plata (2009-04-07). "Alebrije fuera de Triple A". Ovaciones (in Spanish). Mexico, D.F.: Editorial Ovaciones, S. A. de C.V. p. 18. Número 21550 Año LXII. Archived from the original on 2009-06-21. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
  34. ^ Ruiz Glez, Alex (June 14, 2010). "Los viejos rivales: Cibernético y Konnan, ganan el primer torneo de parejas increíbles AAA en Puebla". Súper Luchas. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
  35. ^ "EL CETRO ATÓMICO LO DECLARAN VACANTE". AAA official website. 2009-01-26. Archived from the original on 1 March 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-26.
  36. ^ "Comision de Box y Lucha Libre Mexico D.F. National Atomicos Title". wrestling-titles.com. 2007-05-20. Archived from the original on 22 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-15.
  37. ^ "Comision de Box y Lucha Libre Mexico D.F. National Heavyweight Title". wrestling-titles.com. 2006-06-21. Archived from the original on 22 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-15.
  38. ^ "Comision de Box y Lucha Libre Mexico D.F. Middleweight Title". wrestling-titles.com. 2007-04-24. Archived from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-23.
  39. ^ Rose, Bryan (October 19, 2019). "AAA HEROES INMORTALES LIVE RESULTS: FENIX VS. KENNY OMEGA". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved October 19, 2019.

References[]

External links[]

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