On Apr. 21, amidst “WrestleMania” weekend, WWE announced that it had purchased Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide, in conjunction with a Mexican company called Fillip.
Last Saturday, WWE and AAA promoted their first joint venture, “Worlds Collide,” in Los Angeles, CA, at the Kia Forum. The show paid homage to the 1994 joint venture between AAA and WCW, entitled “When Worlds Collide.” The main event saw AAA star, El Hijo Del Vikingo, face Chad Gable for the vacant AAA Mega Championship.
Dating back to 1933, Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) had a monopoly on the world of lucha libre. However, in 1992, CMLL’s booker, Antonio Peña, defected from the company alongside one of their preeminent superstars, Konnan, as well as a myriad of the company’s burgeoning stars. Peña also found young stars in Tijuana, namely Rey Mysterio Jr. and Psicosis, to bolster his roster.
The promotion was known as Asistencia, Asesoría y Administración de Espectáculos, commonly abbreviated as AAA. In 1994, AAA co-promoted the aforementioned “When Worlds Collide” with WCW, bringing lucha libre to American audiences.
For decades, American wrestling fans were largely ignorant to the world of lucha libre. Save for the likes of El Santo, who had garnered acclaim for his acting career, or Mil Mascaras, who was known for his exploits in the states—CMLL never established a foothold in America. AAA introduced Americans to stars like Konnan, Juventud Guerrera, Psicosis, Eddie Guerrero, and the aforementioned Rey Mysterio Jr.—all of whom would later appear in ECW, WCW, and WWE.
With “Worlds Collide” in the rearview mirror and a new AAA Mega Champion crowned, WWE fans have dipped their toes in the world of lucha libre. And, while I’m admittedly not a connoisseur of lucha libre, I have seen my fair share of matches.
In the spirit of tape trading, consider this my own “Best of AAA: Vol. 1” videotape, designed for the American fans who are blind to the colorful world of lucha libre.
El Hijo Del Santo, Octagon, Jushin Thunder Liger, & Tiger Mask vs. Eddie Guerrero, Blue Panther, LA Parka, & Psicosis
TripleMania II – B
Auditorio Benito Juárez de Zapopan
05/15/1994
This was an all-star eight-man tag team match, in every sense of the phrase. In lucha libre, babyfaces and heels are respectively referred to as técnicos and rudos. Essentially, those who adhere to the rules, and those who break them.
El Hijo Del Santo’s name simply translates to “The Son of El Santo.” Like his father, Hijo Del Santo was a national icon—who carried his father’s legacy with dignity and honor. Hijo Del Santo was joined in this contest by his tag team partner, Octagón, as well Jushin Thunder Liger and Tiger Mask III (NJPW star Koji Kanemoto).
Their opponents were a murderer’s row: Eddie Guerrero, Blue Panther, LA Parka, & Psicosis.
Hijo Del Santo and Eddie Guerrero had previously teamed together, rekindling the spark that their father’s, El Santo and Gory Guerrero, had as La Pareja Atomica. However, Guerrero ultimately betrayed Hijo Del Santo, becoming one of AAA’s most villainous figures, as one-half of La Pareja Del Terror.
While this isn’t the finest work that AAA has produced, it exudes the frenetic quality that characterizes lucha libre—with easily discernible heroes and villains.
El Hijo Del Santo & Octagón vs. Eddie Guerrero & “Love Machine” Art Barr
When Worlds Collide
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
11/06/1994
This is one of the finest matches in AAA’s history. It’s also one of the finest matches in both Hijo Del Santo and Eddie Guerrero’s catalogues, which is an extraordinary feat in itself.
After Hijo Del Santo and Guerrero disbanded, the latter began working with fellow técnico, Octagón, who blurred the line between luchador and ninja. Guerrero joined forces with “Love Machine” Art Barr, as the aforementioned La Pareja Del Terror.
Barr was a second-generation pro wrestler from Portland, who blended lucha libre’s grace with the big bumps and charisma of American wrestling. Barr was wildly charismatic as a heel and, together with Guerrero, became one of the preeminent tag teams of the 1990’s. Unfortunately, Barr tragically died only 17 days after this match. This was their magnum opus.
A classic battle between good and evil, determined in a best two-out-of-three falls, Lucha de Apuestas match.
In lucha libre, Lucha de Apuestas matches roughly translate to “wager matches” in English. There is no greater shame than a luchador losing his coveted mask. In this instance, Hijo Del Santo and Octagón boldly wagered their masks against Guerrero and Barr’s hair.
El Hijo Del Santo, Octagon, & Rey Mysterio Jr. vs. Blue Panther, Psicosis, & Fuerza Guerrera
Sin Limite
03/17/1995
Today, Rey Mysterio is arguably the most recognizable star in the history of lucha libre. In May 1995, Rey Mysterio Jr. was only 20 years old, but emerging as one of AAA’s preeminent stars.
In this affair, he joined forces with the all-star team of Hijo Del Santo and Octagón, to face Blue Panther, Psicosis, & Fuerza Guerrera.
AEW fans may recognize Blue Panther, who, despite being 64-years-old, still competes today, in CMLL. Last year, he had a high profile match against the “American Dragon,” Bryan Danielson in Arena Mexico.
Fuerza Guerrera is the father of ECW, WCW, and WWE star Juventud Guerrera.
For years, Rey Mysterio has been respected as one of pro-wrestling’s elder statesmen; so it’s fascinating to see him flanked by two legends, like Hijo Del Santo and Octagón.
Rey Mysterio vs. Psicosis
AAA TV
Gimnasio Juan de la Barrera
09/22/1995
Rey Mysterio and Psicosis were both burgeoning stars in Tijuana, when they were hired by AAA. The two had immediate chemistry, wrestling in over 65 tag team matches from July 1992 to Sep. 1995. It wasn’t until both men appeared in Paul Heyman’s fringe wrestling promotion, Extreme Championship Wrestling, that they had their first singles match.
While the match was only 10 minutes long, it was critically viewed as a triumph for ECW, and AAA knew they needed to strike while the iron was hot. So, six days later on AAA TV, the two met again in single’s competition. This time, it was a best two-out-of-three falls match, with Psicosis’ WWA World Welterweight Championship on the line.
The match proved to be a high water mark for Mysterio, and still one of the finest performances in his four decade-long career.
El Hijo Del Vikingo vs. Rey Fenix
TripleMania XXX: Mexico City
Arena Ciudad de México
10/15/2022
Finally, we flash forward from the mid-nineties to a modern classic. The competitors are current AAA Mega Champion, Hijo del Vikingo, and current WWE superstar, Rey Fénix.
The latter debuted on “Friday Night SmackDown” in Mar. 2025. Fénix’s brother, Penta, is currently featured on “Monday Night RAW.” In the past, the two worked together as The Lucha Brothers in AAA, AEW, TNA, and ROH—where they captured a total of five world tag team championships.
However, Fénix is a former AAA Mega Champion in his own right. So, during his tenure in AEW, he returned to AAA for TripleMania XXX, to challenge then-champion Hijo del Vikingo for the title.
There are no técnicos or rudos in this match. Instead, they tell a story as old as time—seeing the former champion return to test the current champion’s mettle. Fénix is far from haggard, though, utilizing every weapon at his disposal to recapture AAA’s grandest prize.
This was an excellent affair. Hopefully, it wasn’t their last single’s encounter, either.
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