An early contender for WWE’s best show of the year emerged Saturday as AAA held its 29th Rey de Reyes event in Puebla, Mexico. The three-match card streamed on YouTube kept me hooked from start to finish, and by the end, had me wondering if AAA might be WWE’s best brand right now.
Acción Caliente
The night kicked off with a promo by Fenix and his brother, WWE Intercontinental Champion Penta. Though it was a bit long, their passion was palpable as the Lucha Brothers vowed to reunite in AAA.
For my money, Penta is the
best babyface in pro wrestling. Despite his intimidating look, he fights clean, wears his heart on his sleeve, and has a genuine connection with fans. When he stopped to greet a young child and pose for a photo, it felt sincere rather than a moment staged for the cameras. Whether it’s AAA or WWE, Penta deserves consideration for being a top brand champion.
Once the action began, fans got a surprise when Bayley appeared to challenge Flammer for the AAA Reina de Reinas Championship. The crowd was hot for Bayley, which lifted the atmosphere, making an already physical match a more vibrant watch.
The four-way to crown the Rey de Reyes went down to the wire, with the result unclear until the final bell. The fans in Puebla erupted when Ludvig Kaiser’s El Grande Americano prevailed. Many were on their feet, smiling. It is a testament to how Kaiser has connected with fans by fully embracing Mexican culture.
The main event saw Dominik Mysterio retain the AAA Mega Championship in a hard-fought match against El Hijo del Vikingo. Hands down, this was the best match of Dom’s career, as Vikingo put him through the wringer, battering him with chairs and trash cans.
“El Sucio” showed real grit, fighting on after Vikingo split the top of his head open early in the match. Every fan should at least check this out because it speaks to how much Dom has progressed as a performer. It’s also a testament to Vikingo, who has become a compelling character since going rogue.
In the end, Rey de Reyes Week 1 was one of the most exciting shows I’ve seen, with star power, a rabid crowd, and strong performances making this a show worth staying home on a Saturday night.
At just over 90 minutes, I highly recommend making time for this week’s show, awarding it my highest grade: OUTSTANDING.
WWE’s Best Brand?
Despite growing up in San Diego, I only had a casual interest in lucha libre. When WWE announced its acquisition of AAA and began streaming its shows on YouTube, I decided to give it a shot.
That was a wise decision.
Since I’ve been watching, AAA has consistently delivered good to great shows with passionate crowds, while providing an environment that has elevated stars like “Dirty” Dom, Kaiser, and Dragon Lee to a main event level.
WWE’s English-language broadcast also helps keep non-Spanish speakers up to speed during promos, with Rey Mysterio providing translations. That, along with the mix of WWE and NXT talent, makes AAA enticing for almost any fan to jump into.
What AAA doesn’t have is a star that transcends WWE’s universe. There isn’t someone on the level of CM Punk, as an example, who can march onto any show and immediately be the lead dog. Mega Champ Dom is as close you’ll get, though he still feels like property of Raw.
For that reason, AAA still trails Raw and SmackDown. It does, however, exceed NXT by a good margin thanks to its mix of talent and the energy of constantly changing audiences.
By contrast, the regulars at WWE’s Performance Center in Orlando can be an unwelcome distraction. Too big to feel like a studio crowd and too small to resemble a true arena audience, the PC faithful’s familiarity and proximity often make NXT feel small-time.
Upon WWE’s announcement that it would acquire AAA, WWE Chief Content Officer Paul Levesque said, “I’m looking to keep traditional lucha libre as traditional lucha libre within that world and just help it to grow.”
I can’t speak to how well WWE has preserved traditional lucha libre. Having watched enough New Japan Pro Wrestling — and having dipped my toe into lucha before — I can say that American wrestling has clearly influenced its international counterparts.
Where WWE has made an impact is in its growth. Thanks to its easy access on YouTube, some shows and highlights hit millions of views. Unlike most WWE programming, fans don’t need cable, local TV, and a streaming subscription (or two) to keep up.
That accessibility makes AAA as welcoming as it is affordable, giving it a clear edge over WWE’s other brands.
