AAA

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Asistencia Asesoria y Administracion (Assistance, Consulting and Administration) is a touring lucha libre promotion founded in 1992 by the late Antonio Pena. The promotion usually holds cards in suburban areas or places with regular promoters in Mexico, and is known for its outlandish gimmicks and characters. AAA is regularly broadcast on Televisa in Mexico and Galavisión in the United States.

Pap.jpg

AAA is also referred to as PAPSA (Promociones Antonio Pena S.A.). It's been a long held belief that Televisa (AAA's television partner) owns the AAA name and the promotion keeps the PAPSA name visible in case they ever left Televisa and had to change names. The names AAA and PAPSA are interchangeable.

History

AAA was established on 15 May 1992 when EMLL booker Antonio Peña left the company to establish his own. Along with Konnan, much of the young and exciting talent defected to AAA, which left CMLL with a middle-aged roster and a seemingly bleak future. AAA also looked for talent from other markets, as they found and signed Tijuana natives Rey Mysterio, Jr. and Psicosis. The promotion flourished with top talent (such as El Hijo del Santo, Octagón, Blue Panther and the Casas brothers) and top draws (Los Gringos Locos, Cien Caras, Konnan and Perro Aguayo). The rising popularity of AAA soon caused rival UWA (Universal Wrestling Association) to fold, and Peña was quick to sign Canek, Dos Caras and Los Villanos.

The peak of what is considered AAA's "golden years" (1993-1995) was the When Worlds Collide Pay-Per-View, which was promoted in conjunction with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and broadcast in the United States on November 8, 1994. Two weeks after the show, Art Barr (a key member of Los Gringos Locos) died while visiting his family, while resulted in the AAA Tag Team Championships being vacated. In addition, Eddie Guerrero departed the promotion to compete full-time in Extreme Championship Wrestling (where Art Barr was planning to go as well), and Madonna's Boyfriend also departed the promotion. El Hijo del Santo also departed as a result of creative problems, and would soon be followed by stars such as Fuerza Guerrera and Blue Panther when the Mexican economy began to slow down. Many of the promotion's young stars (such as Rey Misterio, Jr., Psicosis, La Parka, and Juventud Guerrera) signed with WCW in 1996. In early 1997, AAA established a working agreement with WWE, but the only significant outcome was that several luchadores were featured in the 1997 Royal Rumble.

AAA continues to sell out big arenas (like Toreo de Cuatro Caminos) for their big shows (such as Triplemanía and Guerra de Titanes), despite the fact that their talent pool isn't as deep as it once was. On 6 October 2006, founder Antonio Peña died of a massive heart attack. In wake of Peña's death, Konnan has taken a hands-on approach to booking the promotion. Peña's brother-in-law Joaquin Roldan stepped up on camera to take his brother-in-law's spot as the owner of AAA while Joaquin's son Dorian Roldan has stepped up backstage.

The promotion is performed on the Vans Warped Tour in 2007.


Working Relationship with TNA Wrestling

AAA developed a working relationship with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling in 2004. Through the relationship, AAA sent luchadors Juventud Guerrera, Hector Garza, Abismo Negro, Heavy Metal, and Mr. Aguila to TNA to compete in the America's X-Cup Tournament as a contingent known as Team Mexico. Team Mexico dominated the America's X-Cup Tournament, defeating Team USA in the first round before retaining the Cup against both Team Canada and Team Britain. They eventually lost at the World X-Cup, which saw Team USA defeat Team Canada and Team Mexico in the Ultimate X finals to win the Cup.

Following the World X-Cup, Hector Garza jumped ship to CMLL. It was reported that Garza was upset that he was not compensated by Pena for dates he worked with TNA as per their original agreement. Garza has worked for CMLL since.

Due to multiple reasons, TNA and AAA broke off their working relationship late in 2004. TNA continued utilizing luchadors, but opted to contract them individually as opposed to working through AAA. It is rumored that this break in the relationship was due to problems the company had with AAA owner Antonio Peña, who was said to have been a difficult man to work with at times. In 2006, AAA and TNA worked again for an event in Toreo de Cuatro Caminos, utilizing some of TNA's talent and stage (which includes the tunnel and lasers). After Konnan left TNA in June 2007 on bad terms, TNA and AAA ended their working relationship because Konnan was the head booker for AAA. Konnan continued to use several TNA talents like Ron Killings after the split. The split was cemented when CMLL sent 4 wrestlers (Ultimo Guerrero, Rey Bucanero, Averno and Volador Jr.) to be on the Team Mexico X-Cup team for the 2008 World X-Cup.

Annual Shows

AAA runs 5 annual major shows, which usually feature the culmination of feuds and storylines built since the last major show. The shows are always held around the same time of year. Technically, these are the only shows fully promoted by the company. Both the spot shows and the regular TV tapings are promoted by local groups, with AAA only responsible for the wrestlers and the programming.

The current shows are

In past years, AAA has also run a show built around the Reina de Reinas tournament, but it's treated more like a special episode of their television show rather than a major event.

Current Champions

V AAA/PAP Championships E
AAA: Cruiser (Komander) • Mega (Hijo del Vikingo) • Latin American (Q.T. Marshall)
Minis (Dinastia) • Mixed Tag (Abismo Negro Jr. & Flammer) • Reina de Reinas (Flammer)
Tag (Arez) & (Komander) • Trios (Los Vipers (Abismo Negro Jr.,Psicosis & Toxin))
Tournaments: Rey de Reyes (Sam Adonis) • Copa Antonio Peña (Pimpinela Escarlata) • Copa TripleManía (Laredo Kid)
Defunct: Americas HeavyAmericas TriosCampeón de CampeonesIWC Heavy
IWC MiddleIWC MinisIWC TagSecond/MascotaGPCW SUPER-X MonsterLucha Libre PremierFusionLucha World Cup
Unofficial: AAA Northern Tag (Kuas Extrem & Snaiper) • AAA Northern Middle: (The Tiger) • AAA Northern Light Heavy (Lemus Jr.)
AAA Events
Rey de Reyes 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2021
TripleMania   I     II   III   IV   V   VI VII VIII IX   X   XI
XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII XIX XX XXI XXII
XXIII XXIV XXV XXVI XXVII XXVIII XXIX
Verano de Escandalo 1994 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2014
2015 2017 2018 2019 2021
Heroes Inmortales 2007 2008 III IV V VI VII VIII
IX X XI XII XIII XIV
Guerra de Titanes 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Others: AAA Debut Show, When Worlds Collide, Noche de los Campeones, Lucha World Cup

Hall of Fame

AAA started their own Hall of Fame in 2007. New entrants are announced at Rey de Reyes each year, usually one per year.

2007: Antonio Pena, founder , and Rey Misterio Jr., star for AAA in the early-mid 90s
2008: Eddie Guerrero, star for AAA in the early-mid 90s
2009: Tropicasas, tecnico referee since the start of the company
2010: no inductee

Groups

La Sociedad
Dorian Roldan
La Legión Extranjera: Konnan - Chessman - Sexi Star - Hijo del Tirantes
TNA: Jeff Jarrett
Perros del Mal: Perro Aguayo Jr. - Daga - Taya Valkyrie


Los Bizarros
Cibernetico . Charly Manson . Escoria . Taboo . Billy el Malo . Amadeus . Nygma


The Black Family
OzzCuervoEspiritu
Former: ChessmanCharly MansonEscoria


Psycho Circus
Monster Clown . Murder Clown . Psycho Clown


Mini Vipers
Mini Abismo Negro * Mini Psicosis * Mini Histeria


Gallery

AAA valets in Playboy Mexico
Art Barr & Eddy Guerrero in 1994
September 22, 1995, prior to a 2/3 Falls Contest between Rey Mysterio Jr. & Psicosis
Founder Antonio Pena


Links