WWE’s move to buy into AAA may look like a Mexico power play on the surface, but the bigger reason appears to be much closer to home. The real goal may be turning AAA into a U.S. rights and sponsorship business, not just rebuilding the lucha libre brand in Mexico.
That changes the way TripleMania Las Vegas, Netflix exposure, and WWE’s aggressive AAA push should be viewed. This is not just about running shows in Mexico or making AAA look strong to fans. It may be about making the brand valuable to American TV networks, sponsors, and business partners.
While speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer explained that WWE’s AAA move appears to be centered on U.S. business opportunities because the bigger money is not in Mexico.
“So. But yeah, I think that, you know, it’s, this is the time. I mean the whole reason they were bought was to get TV rights and sponsorships in the United States because there’s not, you know, there’s not money in Mexico compared to the United States for this product.”
That point gives more context to WWE and AAA running TripleMania in Las Vegas in a smaller venue. Meltzer said he has not been told the exact reason, but he believes business partners may be the target audience for the event.
“So the reason that they’re doing the show in Vegas in the Triple Mania in Vegas in the 800 seat building. Okay, so I haven’t been told this exactly. I’ve been told that there are business reasons that they are doing this. Obviously. There are. Right. My gut is that, you know, whether it’s sponsors or whether it’s people looking for a TV deal or whatever, it’s like I think that the idea is that they can get them to travel to Vegas, bring them to Vegas. Right. They’re not going to go to Mexico City, they’re not going to go to Monterey. So it’s, it’s to show them.”
That would explain why WWE and AAA may not be chasing the biggest possible crowd for TripleMania Las Vegas. A packed, smaller building could look better on camera and create a cleaner showcase for executives than a larger venue with empty seats.
“Well, you just want it, you just want it packed and you don’t want to risk empty seats.”
Meltzer said AAA could probably draw several thousand fans for the show, but the setup may be more about presentation than ticket sales.
“I think that they could do. I think they could do. I think they could safely do 4 to 5,000 and possibly 7 or 8. 7 or 8? Maybe I shouldn’t say that. I think maybe they couldn’t, especially with Vegas because, you know, they just had the big wrestling shows in Vegas. But I think that they could do 3,000, 4,000 easily. Yes, but they have decided that they, you know, it’s probably just the setting they want. Probably just a really nice setting for those people rather than sell, you know, tickets. And, and, you know, maybe they want, maybe they want as few fans as possible and more executives, you know, for their, for their showcase. I don’t know.”
That is where WWE’s machine becomes important. AAA being placed on Netflix and promoted heavily gives the brand a much bigger platform. Meltzer said the entire push appears designed to create the perception that AAA is hot.
“I mean, but yeah, there’s, it’s probably going to be set up for like 650, maybe 800 people for Triple Mania. And, and, but it’s very clear that, you know, like that this show and, and the whole thing was, and then putting it on Netflix and everything like that. This whole thing is, is to try to get the perception that this brand is super hot.”
AAA does have momentum, but Meltzer pointed out that CMLL is still doing stronger ticket business in Mexico. That makes the U.S. business goal even more important, because WWE can use production, promotion, and media access to make AAA feel larger worldwide.
“And you know, I mean, the match was super hot. And the brand, you know, I mean, in Mexico, you know, I mean, it’s like, it’s like, yeah, they’re selling out their shows. I mean, it’s not, I mean it’s hot. But then, you know, the other company’s doing, selling a hell of a lot more tickets than they are. I mean even look, even Friday, for just a normal Friday show, they outdrew the, the Grande match, you know, so I mean it’s like the other company’s, the hot company in a sense, but you know, they’re the ones that are, I mean, their production so much better. And it really is, it’s so much better. And you know, the, the perception worldwide is that, that oh my God, AAA is hot. And people don’t really know about CMLL.”
Even though the U.S. market appears to be the main target, WWE is still going hard in Mexico. Meltzer said AAA doing television in Mexico again and building around TripleMania shows that WWE is also reacting to another company doing well.
“It was not to rebuild the product in Mexico, but the fact that they’re going so hard in Mexico, doing TV in Mexico for the first time in God knows how long. I don’t even remember the last time they did TV in Mexico was so long ago. And you know, so, so and doing Triple Mania in September and everything like it, I mean it’s like while the goal is to make money in the United States, there is obviously a goal because somebody else is doing good.”
That “somebody else” is CMLL, and Meltzer said WWE tends to go head-on when another wrestling company has momentum.
“And, and that’s just how WWE operates. If somebody’s doing good, man, they go head on. And it’s going to be very interesting a couple months and not just September because this is just, this is just like week, you know, week one of this thing, this thing will be going on for. This will be going on for years until it’s going to go on until, you know, one stomps the other one out.”
WWE may have bought AAA with U.S. TV rights and sponsorship money in mind, but the ripple effects are already being felt in Mexico. Between Netflix exposure, TripleMania Las Vegas, and CMLL’s continued strength, this looks like a much bigger wrestling business fight than a normal expansion move.
Do you think WWE can turn AAA into a major U.S. business, or will CMLL’s strength in Mexico make that harder than expected? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comments section below.
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