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Live on Youtube, WWE's Lucha Libre AAA World Wide featured AAA Ola De Calor at the odd hour of 9am local time in Edinburg, Texas (can't be because of someone else running a major show, could it?), the set up for Triplemania in Sept, historically one of the biggest shows on the wrestling calendar.
Full disclosure, this is my first AAA event since TKO bought them and my first TKO event (WWE, UFC, anything) in years so I'm walking in with a clean slate.
Corey Graves and John Layfield worked commentary with Rey Mysterio (Jr to us old heads) sitting in. They weren't horrible but not that good. Sounded like two color commentators needing a lead play by play.
Axiom, Noisy Boy, Mr. Iguana, and Mascarita Sagrada won the opener over Lince Dorado, Cruz del Toro and Joaquin Wilde of the LWO, and Mini Abismo Negro in an 8 man tag match. Entertaining bout.
La Catalina won a Gauntlet match, last eliminating La Hiedra, to secure a shot at the Reina de Reinas title, held by La Flammer, at Triplemania. Another entertaining bout. Also in the bout were Lady Shani, Adelicious, and Thea Hail, who looked very good and is one of the most improved stars of the last couple years. La Flammer sat ringside and it was her attempt to help her ally in La Hiedra that helped Catalina get the win, which was odd since she seemed put out that La Hiedra was in the match to begin with. While I understand, I'm not sure it was a smart move to not have the champion not have a match on this show, which would have a lot of new eyes on the product.
The War Raiders (Erik, Ivar) retained the AAA World tag titles in a title defense against Los Americanos (Bravo Americano, Rayo Americano). This was good but it took them a while to wake up the Bert Ogden Arena crowd. I had to look up the Americanos and could not believe it was Tyler Bates and Pete Dunne. Which one is an American again? Good but not great. Place properly early on the card.
El Carnicero made his in ring debut, destroying Chris Carter in under 3 min. He did a gorilla press over the top rope to the floor on Carter that was heinous. Carter earned a bonus for that bump. He's got an impressive horror movie-themed video for his ring walk. Seemed like the ref stopped the match and disqualified Carnicero but they didn't say or I didn't hear them say. Either way, it was an impressive debut, reminding me of Nailz' debut in 1992.
Dave the Clown and Murder Clown of the Psycho Circus tried to make a save but were overwhelmed. Their partner and recent Carnicero victim, Psycho Clown, ultimately ran him off with a kendo stick, challenging El Carnicero to a Street Fight at Triplemania. Rey did some translating at the desk. He should have just told us what was said instead of trying to repeat verbatim. Made for an awkward listen. He would do this later and it didn't get any better.
Jack Cartwheel, Nathan Frazier and Mini Vikingo fought to a 20 min time limit draw in a match to determine the top contender to the World cruiserweight title, held by Rey Fenix. This was good for a while. But I got to the point of "You've done all your flips and dives, let's go home" about 5 minutes but they ended the match. I didn't hear a time limit announced so the finish came out of nowhere. Fenix comes out and will defend at Triplemania against all 3. That boy is a genius...or tired of being champ.
The current iteration of La Parka won the vacant Latin American title in a 4 way bout over Damien Priest, El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr., and El Fiscal. It was fine. Edinburg won't go down as Priest's hottest market. Anyone smarten up Graves and Layfield that this is a relatively new La Parka? Didn't sound like it. The most popular guy won. It was the right result.
They held a Contract Signing between Mega champion Dominick Mysterio and El Grande Americano. Andrea Bazarte did the same thing Rey did earlier with the translating and it was equally awkward. After a lot, Omos is unsuspended by General Manager Mysterio, after Mysterio attacks him with a microphone and booked to face Rey at Triplemania.
In the main event, the Lucha Bros (Penta, Rey Fenix) teamed with Dragon Lee to defeat Los Perro del Mal (Angel and Berto Garza, Daga with Karmen Petrovic) in a six man match. Worked a more traditional six man tag match for a while before they went all in on the high flying. Again, it was fine. Commentary pointed out the Lucha Bros were set to face each other the next night for the opportunity to face Roman Reigns for the World title on Monday Night Raw (no spoilers). Good but not great match. They worked like the Penta/Rey match was the next night, despite it having already happened. Feels like early 90s WCW!
A solid all-around show but nothing blowaway great. A modern equivalent of a WCW Clash of the Champions to build to the next big PPV. As they filled in slowly, the live crowed brought a lot of good and needed energy.
The Real Uncle Dave grade: B (85 out of 100)
Follow me @therealuncdave.bsky.social, DDTDivas.com, and The Real Uncle Dave's Rasslin Business on Facebook.
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