One of the most shocking things to come out of Wrestlemania weekend this year was the announcement that WWE, in conjunction with Mexican sports equity company Filip, had purchased the lucha libre promotion AAA.
AAA has been a staple in the lucha libre scene since 1992 after CMLL booker Antonio Pena left that promotion along with Konnan. AAA soon became known for its more Americanized version of lucha libre — incorporating wild characters, violent matches and mainstream music into their shows. The company found a way to blend legends (El Hijo del Santo, Perro Aguayo, etc.) with a new generation of stars such as Rey Mysterio, Psychosis, Juventud Guerrera and La Parka. AAA’s list of alumni is a virtual who’s who of lucha libre, Japanese, and American wrestling legends. You’d be hard-pressed to find wrestlers (who did not come through the WWE system solely) who have not stepped foot in a four or six-sided AAA ring at one point in their career.
AAA has been a promotion this writer has followed for nearly a decade. They post their television shows regularly on YouTube and from 2015-2017, they were my regular Saturday night viewing. I wrote extensively about Lucha Underground (who AAA partnered with) and various Triplemanias during my time with PWInsider. In 2019, Pop Break covered AAA’s first live show in New York City show back in decades back in September of 2019. The show would eventually air on AXS TV and remains one of my favorite live shows.
All these reasons are why this is a solo predictions column. AAA is something held dear to my heart despite it being a messy promotion with finishes that often make little sense. Thankfully, the action, the drama and characters (and the trainwreck) are fun to tune into. So, here are my predictions for Worlds Collide — the PLE that will see AAA will team with WWE, NXT (and presumably TNA) on Saturday June 6 at 11 a.m. PST from the (fabulous) Kia Forum in Los Angeles, California. The event will stream on Peacock and will air before WWE Money in the Bank, which takes place at the Crypto Bank Arena later in the day.
Trios Match: Legado Del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Angel Garza y Humberto Carillo) vs. El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr., Pagano y Psycho Clown
Bill’s Thoughts: This is probably the hardest match to call for numerous reasons. On the AAA side of things, Psycho Clown and Pagano have been AAA stalwarts for years. Psycho Clown, in particular, has been the main man in the promotion and there is just so much money to be made with him. El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. is someone WWE can really build upon. For Legado, Santos Escobar was a top name in Mexico as El Hijo del Fantasma (and he’s the son of the legendary El Fantasma) before signing with WWE. His stock has plummeted since he made the main roster (and Los Garzas) could really use the win here. Honestly, it’s a coin flip but…
Prediction: Legado del Fantasma gets the win here. Los Garzas have a tag title match at Triplemania Regia against Nueva Generación Dinamita, so they need to have momentum going into that. Plus, Santos vs. Psycho Clown will be money at that same show.
NXT North American Title: “All Ego” Ethan Page (C) vs. Je’Von Evans vs. Laredo Kid vs. Rey Fenix
Bill’s Thoughts: While his “Ya Boy is Bouncy!” line at the beginning of his theme is one of the corniest things in wrestling, there’s no reason why Je’Von Evans should have a title in NXT. He’s an exciting high flyer who NXT audiences connect with. Sounds like a great babyface to put a title on. However, they just are absolutely allergic to it. Since they don’t seem to be strapping him up anytime soon, they’d be smart to have him be a regular with AAA. Working with the likes of Laredo Kid, Vikingo, Octagon Jr. and the like would do wonders for him. Evans should win here, but I can see them going with Fenix, as they need to do something with the guy. He’s floundering on Smackdown after being in the company for less than three months.
Winner: “And New” Rey Fenix
Stephanie Vaquer y Lola Vice vs. Chik Tormenta y Dalys
Bill’s Thoughts: This is the easiest match to predict. Unless Las Toxicas (Flammer, Lady Maravilla, Hiedra) get involved to cost Team WWE the match, it’s a no-brainer that Stephanie and Lola will win this. Vice is incredibly underrated and there’s money to be made with her (why she isn’t working in TNA as well boggles my mind). Dalys is Vaquer’s trainer and Tormenta is as solid as it gets, so this will be a perfectly good showcase for Vice y Vaquer. If Las Toxicas do get involved — it’ll be at the end of the match. However, the smart money would be someone like Giulia or Roxanne Perez coming out to stare at Vaquer post-match to add some juice for Money in the Bank.
Winners: Stephanie Vaquer y Lola Vice
Latino World Order (Dragon Lee, Cruz del Toro y Lince Dorado – replacing Joaquin Wilde) vs. Octagon Jr., Aero Star y Mr. Iguana
Thoughts: LWO is such a forgotten stable with an undeniably talented frontman (Dragon Lee) so they desperately need the win. The replacement of Joaquin Wilde with Lince Dorado makes me wonder if the decision does get flipped because how many of us even knew Lince Dorado resigned with WWE? Their opponents were featured in the crowd on NXT on Tuesday but none of them lose one iota of steam by losing to the LWO.
Winner: Octagon Jr., Aero Star y Mr. Iguana simply because WWE cannot sweep the entire card. The fact these three showed up at NXT has to mean something, right?
AAA Mega Championship Title Match: El Hijo de Vikingo (c) vs. Chad Gable
Bill’s Thoughts: On paper this match should be, as the late Don West would say, a “gem mint 10.” This should be the spiritual reincarnation of Rey Mysterio vs. Kurt Angle from Summerslam back in 2002. We likely will get a taste of that, but ultimately this match will come down to one of three possible shenanigan-filled endings.
The first being Albert el Patron/Alberto del Rio comes out to avenge the loss of his title last week and either causing a DQ or a Gable win. None of this is good. We have no idea if Alberto will be in WWE’s AAA or not, but you also cannot rule this out as a distinct possibility.
Second, JBL helps Chad Gable. You might be wondering … JBL? Yes, The Wrestling God’s Magical Mystery Tour around pro wrestling has stopped right in the heart of AAA. He’s currently portraying a character that helped facilitate the sale of the company. He’s also playing the tried and true AAA “American First” rudo. Easily could see him clotheslining Vikingo straight to hell for a DQ or Gable win.
Third and more likely, is “El Grande Americano” appears and costs Vikingo the match. This will be one of the Creed Brothers or someone else under the mask, keeping the farce of “it’s not Chad Gable” going. It’s dumb as hell, but listen, WWE fans like it, so good for them. Then at Money in the Bank, Vikingo will cost El Grande Americano the briefcase, resulting in EGA vs. Vikingo at Triplemania Regia in the middle of the month, while Gable defends against someone like Psycho Clown, Pagano or a babyface who wouldn’t suffer from the loss. Does Vikingo get the belt back? Maybe. One has to wonder how Santos Escobar and Penta figure into the title picture down the road.
Winner: “And New” Chad Gable
