US-based World Wrestling Entertainment buys Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide

World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has announced the acquisition of Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide, 1 of Mexico’s premier wrestling promotions — with the archetypal associated lawsuit acceptable for June 7 astatine the Forum successful Los Angeles.

The historical deal, revealed during WWE’s WrestleMania 41 play successful Las Vegas, marks a large enlargement into the Latin American marketplace for the WWE, which is portion of TKO Group Holdings.

It besides marks a watershed infinitesimal successful Mexico’s storied past of lucha libre, oregon freestyle wrestling.

The acquisition was unveiled Saturday astatine Allegiant Stadium successful Las Vegas during the “WWE Countdown” amusement for WrestleMania 41, which drew 124,693 fans implicit 2 nights for what WWE said was its highest ever two-night attendance total.

The WWE-AAA announcement included WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque; Alberto Fasja, president of Fillip, the Mexican sports and amusement holding institution that owns AAA wrestling; AAA executives Marisela Peña and Dorian Roldán Peña; and WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio, who was calved Óscar Gutiérrez Rubio to Mexican parents who lived successful Tijuana.

Mysterio, 50, spent portion of his puerility crossing the borderline from Tijuana to San Diego each time to be school, and his Mexican practice was ever a cardinal portion of his WWE quality — from wearing lucha libre masks to having the connection “Mexican” tattooed successful ample letters crossed his stomach.

Founded successful 1992 by Antonio Peña, AAA has been a family-operated concern for implicit 3 decades. It puts connected lucha libre shows crossed Mexico and has helped cultivate WWE stars specified arsenic Andrade, Penta (aka Penta Zero oregon Pentagón Jr.), Santos Escobar (previously known arsenic El Hijo del Fantasma) and Rey Mysterio — whose vocation began successful Mexico successful the aboriginal 1990s.

The Peña household volition clasp engagement successful AAA alongside WWE and Fillip.

“AAA has a affluent taste practice with immoderate of the astir passionate fans successful the world,” said Levesque, amended known arsenic “Triple H” during his days arsenic a pro wrestler from 1995 to 2022. “By bringing unneurotic WWE’s planetary capabilities and AAA’s astonishing tradition, we look guardant to an breathtaking aboriginal filled with caller opportunities.”

Lucha Libre AAA organizes wrestling shows successful ample and mid-sized cities passim Mexico, hosts pay-per-view flagship events, and has promoted planetary shows successful the U.S. and Japan.

It’s not to beryllium confused with Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), which hosts regular matches successful Mexico City astatine Arena México (known arsenic the “Cathedral of Lucha Libre”) 3 times a week and astatine Arena Coliseo connected Saturday nights. CMLL besides runs shows Monday nights successful the metropolis of Puebla and connected immoderate Tuesdays successful Guadalajara.

The transaction, taxable to customary closing conditions, is expected to finalize successful the 3rd 4th of 2025. Financial presumption were not disclosed.

The acquisition marks a large enlargement into the Latin American marketplace for the WWE, arsenic good arsenic broadened horizons for Mexican lucha libre. (Alejandro Rodríguez/Cuartoscuro.com)

The June 7 amusement successful Los Angeles, called Worlds Collide, volition beryllium a cross-promotional showcase highlighting WWE’s planetary scope and AAA’s lucha libre legacy. 

Though the night’s lineup of wrestlers remains nether wraps, WrestleTalk mag has predicted immoderate of the matchups, including Nueva Generación Dinamita of Mexico against WWE stars Nathan Frazer and Axiom for the AAA Tag Team Championship belt. Nueva Generación Dinamita — a unchangeable including the wrestlers El Cuatrero, Sansón and Forastero — conscionable won the rubric past month.

“The intent is to turn lucha libre,” Levesque said, noting its taste value crossed the Americas. “We’re not looking to revamp it but to heighten it and springiness endowment opportunities to go worldwide celebrities.”

“This is the opening of a caller section successful wrestling history,” added AAA General Manager Dorian Roldán Peña.

Tickets for Worlds Collide spell connected merchantability Monday, with presale registration disposable via the WWE website.

With reports from ESPN México, Medio Tiempo and Variety