The long-rumored WWE takeover of AAA is now official—and the shake-ups are already underway.
As confirmed in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE has finalized its acquisition of the Mexican lucha libre promotion AAA, and with that comes a significant cultural and structural overhaul. At the heart of WWE’s plan: blending its trademark sports-entertainment formula with the rich traditions of lucha libre, while laying the foundation for long-term talent development south of the border.
Mexican Performance Center On the Way
One of the most immediate changes will be the launch of a WWE Performance Center in Mexico. According to Dave Meltzer, WWE plans to hire Mexican trainers, fly them to the U.S. for instruction in the “WWE style,” and then have them return to Mexico to teach a hybrid style that combines lucha libre flair with WWE’s polished in-ring storytelling. That means new AAA recruits will be learning how to work matches and cut scripted promos—a major shift from the more improvisational, in-ring-centric traditions of Mexican wrestling.
Familiar Faces, But Some Will Go
AAA’s current Spanish commentary team—Jose Manuel Guillén and Roberto Figueroa—is expected to stay in place, and most referees will be retained as well. However, the famously over-the-top antics of AAA referees are going to be scaled back, in favor of a more grounded presentation that aligns with WWE’s overall production style.
WWE is also reportedly not planning to hold onto most of AAA’s veteran talent. Instead, they’ll be looking to bring in younger indie stars and some crossover names from WWE’s own roster. One notable example is Dominik Mysterio, who is expected to work in AAA as part of the new creative direction, alongside newly-signed talent El Grande Americano.
No War With CMLL… Yet
While many speculated that WWE would raid rival promotion CMLL for talent to boost its revamped AAA brand, Meltzer shut that down—at least for now. WWE is reportedly trying to keep operating costs low and avoid an all-out promotional war. That said, Meltzer also noted that a “war is inevitable,” especially with CMLL recently locking down several of its luchadors through dual deals with AEW.
Whether those AEW-CMLL contracts influenced WWE’s current strategy is unclear, but it’s evident that the rivalry between the two major Mexican promotions—and their respective U.S. partners—is starting to heat up.
WWE’s full-scale entry into the lucha libre world is one of the most ambitious international moves in company history. With a Performance Center on the way, younger talent being scouted, and its own stars primed for crossover appearances, WWE is setting the stage to reshape Mexican wrestling—and the global wrestling landscape—in a major way.
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