Lucha Libre de Elite
The second-ever AEW Grand Slam: Mexico is just a few hours away, and it has quickly become one of AEW’s best events and, for many, one of the most important of the year. Grand Slam celebrates the unique and phenomenal partnership not only with CMLL but also with lucha libre culture in general. This didn’t start overnight. Since day one, Mexican wrestlers and luchadores have been part of All Elite Wrestling, woven into its fabric. From the Lucha Brothers to Thunder Rosa to more current Mexican wrestlers like Rush, Bandido, Andrade, and Persephone, along with countless others, these Hispanic wrestlers continue to carve out their own space within the promotion.
At Redemption, Andrade became the third Mexican to win gold in AEW, after defeating Mark Davis for the AEW National Championship. El Idolo joined Thunder Rosa and Rey Fenix as the only Mexican Wrestlers to win singles gold in the promotion, not including sister promotion Ring of Honor. However, I don't think this will be the last time this happens as Bandido, Komander and Rush continue to show their ability to get over with the fans.
Photo Credit: AEW.
It’s not only about integrating lucha culture into the promotion, but also about the relationships AEW has built with other lucha promotions. Whether it was its initial partnership with AAA or what we see now with CMLL, AEW embraces the wonder of Lucha Libre. Last year, the event was truly one of the most magical moments in wrestling history, as AEW showcased some of its best wrestlers in one of the best environments the promotion has ever been part of. In honor of the return to Arena Mexico in Mexico City, let’s revisit how the culture of Mexican wrestling and luchadores has impacted All Elite Wrestling since the very start.
From the Beginning…
Luchadores have been in All Elite Wrestling's DNA since the beginning. The Lucha Brothers, Pentagon Jr (later Penta El Zero M), and Rey Fenix were on the day-one roster. Because of their ties to Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide, Tony Khan could easily work with the promotion. During the initial Double or Nothing ticket announcement, AEW and AAA officially announced a partnership. During the pandemic, AEW needed to do things a bit differently to break up the monotony of empty arenas. While not a new idea, defending a belt from another promotion is novel in this generation of wrestling. For lapsed or new fans, especially those who only knew WWE, a belt from another promotion being defended on AEW television seemed alien.
The AAA Mega Championship match between champion Kenny Omega and challenger Sammy Guevara was the first time many American wrestling fans received this sort of exposure outside U.S. wrestling norms. It was easy to highlight that promotion and title on national television during the pandemic. It gave some fans their first glimpse of things to come for AEW and other promotions. It was an added benefit not only for AEW but also for AAA.
Necessity Is the Mother of Cooperation
AAA wasn't the only wrestling promotion that AEW worked with during the pandemic. Even if not strictly Lucha promotions, luchadores were always the candy in Tony Khan’s eyes. When AEW worked with TNA, Black Taurus eventually made the jump over under the moniker Beast Mortos. Even wrestlers who never made the jump, like Laredo Kid, were prominently showcased. It wasn't just the men who were showcased in AEW. Thunder Rosa was introduced to a much larger audience during the pandemic because of the AEW/NWA partnership during her tenure as the NWA Women’s World Champion. While she eventually lost to then-AEW Women’s champion Hikaru Shida, her profile grew, leading to a permanent roster spot for Rosa in AEW.
However, nothing lasts forever. AAA and AEW officially ended their partnership around the end of 2022, when Tony Khan felt AAA had double-crossed his company in an attempt to end the relationship. Fortunately, in October of 2023, AEW announced a partnership with the oldest professional wrestling promotion in the world, el Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre, or CMLL. This partnership propelled both companies into a new stratosphere and to a reach not seen before in North America.
Mexican Milestone Moments
The ability of Tony Khan and those in his ear has given AEW the ability to become a major platform for Luchadores and Mexicans to showcase their culture, give a curtain call of sorts, and reassure us that we have more in common than we do differences.
Photo Credit: AEW.
Thunder Rosa and Her Mariachi
I know that Thunder Rosa hasn't been on television as often as she used to be, as she has become more of an AEW ambassador, but La Mera Mera winning the title against Britt Baker in that Steel Cage match is not only one of the greatest moments in the women’s division; it is one of the greatest television moments in the young company's history. For me, the main reason is that Rosa proudly represented herself, her family, and her culture throughout the match. Her reign began the moment the mariachi kicked off her entrance, and the emotion was palpable as she won her way, representing her culture unabashedly.
Thunder Rosa has now won the Mexican National Women’s Championship, parlaying her hard work in AEW to a blossoming career in Mexico.
Photo Credit: AEW.
Mistico’s Redemption
One of the most important moments for luchadores in AEW came at last year's Grand Slam: Mexico, with Mistico’s appearance. AEW’s impact on luchadores is not fully understood without also examining its impact on Mistico. Before his reemergence in All Elite Wrestling, Mistico was still widely known as Sin Cara, the much-maligned luchador whose time in WWE is remembered as an epic failure. While this was not his first appearance for AEW, it marked the official end of his redemption arc for an American audience.
Mistico is one of the biggest modern stars of Lucha Libre and does not need to seek validation. Even so, this appearance at Grand Slam almost entirely erased his tumultuous WWE run, which, for many American wrestling fans, was their only impression of the generational luchador. From the entrance, finally getting his song back, “Me Muero,” to grabbing the Mexican flag and waving it proudly, his legacy was set in stone. The outcome of the match didnt matter much as this was his moment, despite the fact that MJF got one over on him by removing his mask and almost causing an all-out riot).
Photo Credit: AEW.
El Vaquero y Su Pueblo
And of course, how can we forget about our Cowboy? His promo, all in Spanish, connected the Mexican people to Hangman’s upbringing and to how the culture has always been something to aspire to be a part of. It was an incredibly moving promo that not only hyped up his upcoming match against Moxley but also cemented the relationship between the Mexican community and AEW.
So, while not given by a Mexican wrestler or a luchador, the top babyface in the company and the No. 1 contender to the AEW World Championship used his platform for such a moment, which was exactly what Grand Slam is all about.
A Launching Pad
Photo Credit: WWE.
Not all wrestlers from Latin America have stayed in AEW or even picked the promotion during free agency. It would be impossible to hoard all the talent in a single promotion. For others, like Stephanie Vaquer and the Lucha Brothers, AEW was never the endgame, and that's okay. Still, AEW’s continued showcasing of lucha and Hispanic talent has made other promotions feel they have to keep up and sign them. For the burgeoning promotion, those opportunities would not have been available for that transition.
Who is to say that the AAAXWWE partnership is even a thing without the exposure from AEW. Triple H is more open to working with other promotions, as we have seen with AAA, TNA, and NOAH. Hunter’s philosophy is 180 degrees different from his predecessor, Vince McMahon, who was reluctant to do anything like that. With that being said, would that have happened if the Forbidden Door hadn’t been opened previously?
To say that AEW has never influenced WWE, or vice versa, would be silly. You know they have. It would also be inaccurate to say that CMLL and AAA are not big or smart enough to make the crossover on their own. Even so, with AEW unafraid to cross the aisle, Luchadores from those promotions have benefited from a larger audience and a bigger paycheck.
Speaking of paychecks, wrestlers can now get a couple of paychecks without leaving the other behind. Wrestlers like Persephone, Hechicero, and Thunder Rosa all have two-way contracts with the promotions and can still represent both. A great launching pad toward a more secure future post-wrestling.
The Future is Bright
The partnership between the two promotions is alive and well. Earlier this week, we had Semana Internacional (International Week), presented by CMLL, right before Grand Slam. While major AEW wrestlers were not be present, several were still major players on the card. Kyle Fletcher, Kevin Knight, Bandido, Komander, and others were promoted for CMLL’s event, giving us a little taste before Grand Slam. This also highlights the give-and-take relationship between the two promotions.
However, this has been much more than just a wrestling partnership. It's been a highway for cultural exchange for fans from both countries. In that sense, Mexican and Mexican-American wrestlers have always had an impact not only on the storylines but also on AEW's culture and presentation. AEW is the platform that allows many of these men and women to be seen by an American audience. At the same time, AEW has become a more prominent promotion in Mexico and across the rest of Latin America. It's a symbiotic relationship, not a parasitic one, that has benefited both parties. More importantly, I think AEW has done a fantastic job of creating an outlet for Mexican and Mexican American fans to take pride in their culture.
Right now, AEW is chock-full of Mexican wrestlers who continue to make their push towards the top of the card. Persophone, Andrade, Bandido, Komander, and Rush are on television consistently and are winning and challenging for all of AEW’s championships. Pro wrestling has always been a funny and ego-filled business, but if these promotions can continue to see the good in working with each other, we can continue to see these wrestlers thrive.