Subhojeet Mukherjee on February 12, 2025
WWE was in talks with El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. following his NOAH exit and was interested in signing him. However, he ultimately chose to sign with AAA in the end and he has now explained why he didn’t join WWE.
While speaking to Mas Lucha, El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. talked about his decision to sign with AAA instead of WWE. He talked with WWE and other companies in Japan and the U.S. He even had a WWE tryout at 19 and met WWE superstars through NOAH’s partnership with WWE. He knows how hard it is to succeed there and is proud of his friends who made it.
In the end, he chose what was best for his career and personal life. Staying in Mexico and joining AAA felt right because he loves wrestling and wants to contribute to it in his home country. His mask is very important to him—it represents his family, history, and identity.
“There were talks with WWE, as well as with Japanese and American companies. I had my first WWE tryout when I was 19, and later, through NOAH’s partnership with WWE, I had the chance to cross paths with some of their superstars. I had direct conversations with them, and I know how hard it is to make it in that world. I have many friends who are there now, and I’m extremely proud of them. Congratulations, my brothers—I know how difficult it is to leave your home and wait for an opportunity in a foreign country.
But for me, I had to make the best decision for my career and for the man behind the mask. My choice was to stay and sign with AAA. I love this sport, and I want to contribute to it here in my homeland. And most importantly, I want to continue sleeping with my mask on every night.”
Wagner Jr. also noted that WWE prefers taller wrestlers with big physiques, and masks are not a big part of their culture. Right now, WWE only has a few masked wrestlers like Dragon Lee, Rey Mysterio, and Penta.
Due to this, he felt WWE wasn’t the right place for him at the moment. However, he is still young and open to the idea of WWE reaching out in the future. For now, he is happy in AAA.
“We all know how American companies operate, and WWE is no exception. Their standard for talent is clear—they prefer tall wrestlers with impressive physiques. The mask is not really part of their culture. If you look at WWE, there are only three masked wrestlers: Dragon Lee, Rey Mysterio, and Penta. That’s it.
For me, the mask is everything. It is my identity, my heritage, my history. WWE was not the right fit for me at this time, and I know I still have a lot left to accomplish. I’m still young. Maybe in the future, WWE will come knocking again. But today, my home is AAA.”
Wagner and AAA have finalized a one-year agreement, keeping him with the promotion until next February. The contract includes flexibility for Wagner to compete on the U.S. independent scene, as long as those appearances do not interfere with his AAA commitments. Therefore, we’ll have to wait and see if he will end up going to WWE somewhere down the line once his deal with AAA expires next year.
Do you think El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. made the right decision choosing AAA over WWE? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.
February 12, 2025 11:23 am
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