As WWE edges closer to finalizing its rumored acquisition of Mexican wrestling powerhouse Lucha Libre AAA, more questions are being raised than answered—especially when it comes to talent contracts. With many AAA stars historically working under non-exclusive deals, the situation surrounding their future, and their potential roles within WWE, has taken an unexpected and controversial turn.

In a report shared early Monday by SuperLuchas’ Ernesto Ocampo, it was revealed that several high-profile AAA talents have signed new contracts directly with WWE. Among those reportedly putting pen to paper are El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr., El Hijo del Vikingo, La Parka, Lady Flammer, Lady Maravilla, Nino Hamburguesa, La Hiedra, and current AAA Mega Champion Alberto El Patron (formerly Alberto Del Rio).

While many assumed WWE would inherit existing contracts through the acquisition, Ocampo clarified via X (formerly Twitter) that this isn’t the case. “Those contracts are of no use to WWE,” he wrote, explaining that WWE’s legal structure mandates entirely new deals featuring exclusive rights, intellectual property clauses, and strict termination provisions—standards AAA’s previous agreements typically lacked. This explains why WWE is issuing fresh contracts to the talent, regardless of the acquisition status.

Adding further credibility to the report, Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer later confirmed that the mentioned luchadors had signed new WWE contracts. Notably, Meltzer singled out Alberto El Patron, confirming his return to WWE nearly a decade after his last run ended in 2016.

However, the signings come with heavy baggage—particularly in Del Rio’s case. Once a four-time WWE World Champion, Del Rio’s reputation has taken a hit over the years due to serious legal and personal controversies. He was accused by Saraya (fka Paige in WWE) of abusive behavior during their relationship—allegations he denied. More seriously, in 2020, he was arrested and charged with sexual assault and aggravated kidnapping. The charges were eventually dismissed in late 2021, but the damage to his public image lingered.

La Hiedra’s alleged involvement in another disturbing incident could also complicate matters. Rumors suggest she may be under a restraining order by current NXT Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer. The situation stems from an alleged harassment campaign by Hiedra, Forastero, and Sansón following domestic violence accusations made by Vaquer against then-boyfriend Cuatrero—Sansón’s brother and Forastero’s cousin. Cuatrero was arrested and charged with attempted femicide and domestic violence, only being released from prison this past April.

Despite the drama, it’s important to note that neither Ocampo nor Meltzer have confirmed if any of the newly signed talent are set to appear on WWE programming—or if they’ll be featured exclusively in AAA under WWE’s potential ownership. Still, the headlines alone are bound to generate buzz, both among fans and within the wrestling industry.

As WWE moves closer to finalizing the AAA deal, the spotlight will only intensify on how the company handles these controversial additions to its talent pool—and whether the reputational risk is worth the upside of expanding its reach into the lucha libre market.

The wrestling world is still buzzing after WWE’s surprise announcement last week that it has acquired Lucha Libre AAA. While the company made headlines by confirming a crossover NXT Worlds Collide event with AAA this June, new details are surfacing about how this deal came together—and who else is involved behind the scenes.

According to the latest from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE isn’t going it alone in this deal. They’re partnered with Fillip, a Mexico-based sports and entertainment holding company that’s quietly been building a portfolio across international markets. While WWE holds the majority stake in the acquisition, Fillip is reportedly the minority partner.

So who is Fillip? The private capital firm may not be a household name to wrestling fans, but they’ve got ties to global ventures like Kings League Soccer—an innovative sports project operating in countries like Spain, Italy, and Brazil—and Tycoon Enterprises, which handles brand licensing in Latin America. With that kind of background, their involvement signals that WWE’s move into the Mexican wrestling scene might be part of a much bigger play.

Talks between WWE and AAA go way back—nearly two decades, in fact. WWE first showed interest in acquiring a piece of AAA as far back as 2007, following the passing of AAA founder Antonio Peña. While WWE wanted creative and operational control, the Roldán family, who have run AAA since Peña’s death, repeatedly turned down offers that would’ve meant giving up a majority stake.

What’s different this time? The addition of Fillip appears to have made the deal more palatable. Sources say negotiations have been ongoing for over a year, with WWE execs even attending recent AAA events—like the show at Juan de la Barrera Gym—to keep tabs on the product. The eventual announcement during WrestleMania weekend reportedly caught many in the industry off guard, even those who knew talks were happening.

While WWE has sealed the deal, the official takeover won’t go into effect until Q3 of this year. Until then, AAA will continue to operate as normal. Currently, the promotion has thirteen wrestlers signed under contract, though it’s unclear how WWE’s involvement will impact the roster long-term.

As for the financials? Official figures haven’t been disclosed, but a number floating around in Mexican media puts the acquisition price at a staggering $50 million.

With WWE now firmly planting its flag in the Mexican wrestling scene and the NXT Worlds Collide event on the horizon, fans can expect to see major changes in how AAA operates—and who gets the spotlight.