Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide
Acronym | AAA |
---|---|
Founded | 1992 |
Style |
Professional wrestling Lucha libre Sports entertainment |
Headquarters | Mexico City |
Founder(s) | Antonio Peña |
Owner(s) |
Dorian Roldán Marisela Peña Roldán |
Formerly | Asistencia Asesoría y Administración |
Website | LuchaLibreAAA.com |
Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA for short), originally Asistencia Asesoría y Administración LLC (Spanish for "Assistance, Assessment, and Administration"), is a lucha libre professional wrestling promotion based in Mexico. 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. The promotion utilizes both a hexagonal and the more conventional four-sided wrestling ring and has a reputation for its outlandish gimmicks and characters as well as having developed a more extreme match style over the last couple of years. Over the years AAA has worked together with several North American promotions such as the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) and World Championship Wrestling; while currently having a working relationship with Japan-based Pro Wrestling Noah, US-based Global Force Wrestling and the Canadian-based International Wrestling Syndicate (IWS).
History
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.[1] 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.
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. 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]
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 manages AAA financially, while Peña's brother-in-law Joaquín Roldán and his son, Dorian Roldán serve as operational managers. In 2008 Lucha Libre USA presented AAA's second U.S. pay-per-view, Legendary Battles of Triplemania.[3] In 2009 AAA announced the official release of a video game originally entitled AAA El Videojuego.[4] 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.
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 worked 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, later dismissed.[5] Afterwards TNA started a working relationship with AAA's rival CMLL. However, in February 2010 the companies once again began a working relationship and started exchanging talent.[6]
In April 2014, after Jeff Jarrett, the man behind the AAA-TNA relationship, had left TNA, he announced that his new Global Force Wrestling (GFW) was now working with the Mexican promotion.[7] When Jarrett returned to TNA, rebranding it "Impact Wrestling", it was announced that AAA and Impact wrestling would once again be working together.[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 on 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]
On July 4, 2015, Canadian-based International Wrestling Syndicate (IWS) announced a talent partnership with AAA and Lucha Underground.[11][12]
On April 8, 2017, AAA General Manager Joaquín Roldán died.[13]
On Wednesday 14th June, AAA would begin airing on FrontRunnerTV in the UK.
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 Televisa television specials. The annual shows and tournaments, shown in order of occurrence during each year, include:
Event | Previous Date | Notes |
---|---|---|
Rey de Reyes | March 19, 2017 | A tournament and show held traditionally in the early part of the year. Last event was Rey de Reyes (2017) |
Triplemanía | August 28, 2016 | Traditionally AAA's biggest show of the year, their "WrestleMania" (PPV). The most recent event was Triplemanía XXIV. |
Verano de Escándalo | June 4, 2017 | Annual end of the summer event. Most Recent event was Verano de Escándalo (2017).[14] |
Héroes Inmortales | October 2, 2016 | 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 | January 21, 2017 | AAA's end-of-year show, usually in December (PPV). Held in January in 2016 and 2017.[15] |
Special tournaments
Event | Last Date | Notes |
---|---|---|
Lucha Libre World Cup | June 5, 2016 | International trios tournament. |
Championships
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.[16]
Active AAA championships
Championship | Current champion(s) | Reign | Date won | Days Held | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
AAA Mega Championship | Johnny Mundo | 1 | March 19, 2017[17] | 153+ | Defeated El Texano Jr. and El Hijo del Fantasma at Rey de Reyes (2017) for the title. |
AAA Latin American Championship | 1 | August 28, 2016[18] | 356+ | Defeated Pentagón Jr. at Triplemanía XXIV. | |
AAA World Cruiserweight Championship | 1 | March 19, 2017[17] | 153+ | Defeated El Hijo del Fantasma and El Texano Jr. at Rey de Reyes (2017) for the title. | |
AAA World Mixed Tag Team Championship | Big Mami and Niño Hamburguesa | 1 | June 19, 2017[19] | 61+ | Defeated Lady Shani and Venum to win the vacant championship. |
AAA World Tag Team Championship | Cuervo and Scoria | 3 | June 4, 2017 | 76+ | Defeated El Mesías and Pagano at Verano de Escándalo (2017) for the title . |
AAA World Trios Championship | El Nuevo Podre del Nortre (Carta Brava Jr., Mocho Cota Jr. and Soul Rocker) |
1 | April 21, 2017[20] | 120+ | Defeated Faby Apache, Dr. Wagner Jr. and Psycho Clown. |
AAA Reina de Reinas Championship | Sexy Star | 3 | July 16, 2017 | 34+ | Defeated Lady Shani, Faby Apache, Goya Kong, La Hiedra and Big Mami to win the vacant title |
AAA World Mini-Estrellas Championship | Mini Psycho Clown | 1 | May 26, 2017[21] | 85+ | Defeated Dinastía. |
Other accomplishments
Accomplishment | Latest winner | Date won |
---|---|---|
Rey de Reyes | Argenis | March 19, 2017[22] |
Copa Antonio Peña | Pimpinela Escarlata | October 2, 2016[23] |
Alas de Oro | Drago | June 14, 2015[24] |
Inactive championships
See also
- List of professional wrestling promotions in Mexico
- Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide roster
- AAA Hall of Fame
Notes
- ↑ Guerrero, Eddie. Cheating Death, Stealing Life: The Eddie Guerrero Story, p. 78.
- ↑ Cano Vela, Eduardo (March 3, 2015). "Rey Mysterio es parte de AAA #UnReySeAcerca". SuperLuchas (in Spanish). Retrieved April 16, 2017.
- ↑ "Lucha Libre: Legendary Battles Of Triplemania". In Demand!. Retrieved 2009-06-27.
- ↑ Sinclair, Brendan (2009-06-24). "AAA Lucha Libre headed for US". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 2009-08-08. Retrieved 2009-06-27.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Martin, Adam (2010-03-10). "TNA and AAA start talent exchange". WrestleView. Archived from the original on 2012-06-16. Retrieved 2010-03-11.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "Impact Wrestling habló de su acuerdo con AAA". MedioTiempo (in Spanish). MSN. March 23, 2017. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "Lucha Underground promotion TV debut moved back three weeks". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. 2014-09-22. Retrieved 2014-09-23.
- ↑ "IWS formed partnership with AAA wrestling and Lucha Underground", International Wrestling Syndicate, Retrieved on July 5, 2015.
- ↑ Laprade, Patric. (2016-03-07) "Mysterio at IWS latest in Montreal-Mexico exchange", SLAM! Wrestling, Retrieved on March 07, 2016.
- ↑ "Falleció Joaquín Roldán, Director General de AAA". MedioTiempo (in Spanish). MSN. April 8, 2017. Retrieved April 8, 2017.
- ↑ "Dos máscaras cayeron en Verano de Escándalo". MedioTiempo (in Spanish). MSN. June 5, 2017. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
- ↑ Valdés, Apolo (January 20, 2017). "John Morrison con ayuda, retuvo el cetro Latinoamericano". MedioTiempo. MSN. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "¿AAA dejará de contar campeonatos de terceros?" (in Spanish). Super Luchas. Archived from the original on 4 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
- 1 2 Rosales, Jorge (March 19, 2017). "Johnny Mundo se convirtió en tricampeón de AAA". MedioTiempo (in Spanish). Retrieved March 20, 2017.
- ↑ Ocampo, Ernesto (August 28, 2016). "Cobertura y Resultatdos: AAA Triplemania XXIV Pschyo Clow vs. Pagano, Regresa Rey Mysterio" (in Spanish). SuperLuchas. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
- ↑ Dark Angelita (June 20, 2017). Ocampo, Ernesto, ed. "AAA: Resultados Nuevo Laredo, Tamps. Nuevos Monarcas en Parejas Mixtas; Kevin Kross implacable con Hijo del Fantasma" [AAA: Results from Nuevo Laredo, Tamps. New Mixed Tag Team Champions; Kevin Kross relentless attack on Hijo del Fantasma]. Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Mexico City, Mexico: Impresos Camsam, SA de CV. ISSN 1665-8876. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
- ↑ "Nuevos Monarcas AAA en Tijuana". Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (in Spanish). April 22, 2017. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
- ↑ Valdés, Apolo (May 27, 2017). "Mesías y Pagano, nuevos campeones de parejas AAA". MedioTiempo (in Spanish). Retrieved May 27, 2017.
- ↑ Dark Angelita (March 20, 2017). "AAA: Resultados “Rey de Reyes 2017” – 19/03/2017 – Johnny Mundo triple monarca; Argenis gana la espada y Ayako Hamada es la nueva reina". Superluchas (in Spanish). Retrieved March 20, 2017.
- ↑ "Australian Suicide sin máscara en Héroes Inmortales X" (in Spanish). AAA. October 2, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
- ↑ Zellner, Kris (June 14, 2015). "Rey, Alberto and more: AAA Verano de Escandalo iPPV results". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved June 14, 2015.
- ↑ "Asistencia Asesoria y Administracion Americas Heavyweight Title". wrestling-titles.com. 2007-04-15. Retrieved 2007-09-23.
- ↑ "Campeones" (in Spanish). www.aaa.com.mx. Archived from the original on 2007-08-22. Retrieved 2007-09-23.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ 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. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
- ↑ Ruiz Glez, Alex (June 14, 2010). "Los viejos rivales: Cibernético y Konnan, ganan el primer torneo de parejas increíbles AAA en Puebla". Superluchas.net. Archived from the original on 18 June 2010. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
- ↑ "EL CETRO ATÓMICO LO DECLARAN VACANTE". AAA official website. 2009-01-26. Archived from the original on 1 March 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-26.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "Comision de Box y Lucha Libre Mexico D.F. National Tag Team Title". wrestling-titles.com. 2007-11-30. Archived from the original on 12 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-15.
References
- Guerrero, Eddie (2005). Cheating Death, Stealing Life: The Eddie Guerrero Story. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0-7434-9353-2.