Vampiro jumps to AAA

[Cbear]

Looks like Konnan has raided Vampiro from CMLL to AAA. Back in the day, Konnan and Vampiro were the two biggest stars in Lucha and were rivals. Mexican fans remember history and these two should draw very nice money facing each other. With AAA also having signed Shocker it looks like Pena is serious about nailing CMLL.

[hartigan]

where is AAA based?

[Cbear]

Both CMLL and AAA are based in Mexico. CMLL is out of Mexico City and I'm not sure where AAA is based out of. They are the two leading and oldest promotions and have been warring for years ala WCW/WWE. In recent years AAA hasn't been nearly as good as CMLL but it looks like they are making moves by bringing in Konnan and hiring Vampiro, Shocker, etc... who were big players in CMLL. In return, CMLL got some wrestlers who left AAA angry over Konna. Things are heating up in the world of Lucha Libre and the promotional war just might get wild from now on.

The biggest player and free agent in Mexico is Hijo Del Santo (Son of Santo) and he is powerful enough of a draw not to have to sign an exclusive contract. A few other wrestlers have gone free agent also to try and get as many bookings with the small promotions as well as the big one. I think LA Park (the original La Parka has gone free agent). There are alot of spot shows put on in Mexico that are independant of the two big promotions and a free agent like Hijo Del Santo can come in and draw a big crowd and make good money.

One of the best ppvs ever put on was by AAA back in the late 90's(?) called "When Worlds Collide" It featured a great tag match with Eddy Guerrerro & Art Barr (the Love Machines) that was one of barrs last matches before he died. Their heel heat was great. I forget who all was on it but I think Rey Jr, Psichosis, Konnan, Perry Aguayo, Octagon, etc...

[dogofwar]

I hate lucha libre w/ a passion...the **** isn't even wrestling it's more ballroom dancing. A lot of indy workers are doing lucha and it's horrible. Even though wrestling is fake no need to hammer it home...lucha don't sell for **** either which is a pet peeve w/ me.

[Cbear]

I hate lucha libre w/ a passion...the **** isn't even wrestling it's more ballroom dancing. A lot of indy workers are doing lucha and it's horrible. Even though wrestling is fake no need to hammer it home...lucha don't sell for **** either which is a pet peeve w/ me.
Actually, you are right on the money with Lucha done badly. When done well, its what Rey Jr, Eddie, Ultimo Dragon, Psichosis, Shocker, Ultimo Guerrerro and Hijo Del Santo do. Lucha is also an acquired taste and some never do like it. Its most definitely more choreographed than any other pro style. I like it but then I've also grown up with it all my life. Make no mistake, I like strong style and others styles more, but I do still enjoy Lucha.

[dogofwar]

Actually, you are right on the money with Lucha done badly. When done well, its what Rey Jr, Eddie, Ultimo Dragon, Psichosis, Shocker, Ultimo Guerrerro and Hijo Del Santo do. Lucha is also an acquired taste and some never do like it. Its most definitely more choreographed than any other pro style. I like it but then I've also grown up with it all my life. Make no mistake, I like strong style and others styles more, but I do still enjoy Lucha.I guess I should have clarified that...the top guys like Rey, Dragon, and Psichosis are great but they are the cream of the crop. I can take it in small doses when Rey/Psichosis came to the ECW arena it blew my freakin' mind. But I don't like how choreographed it is and the fact they don't sell their injuries very well...

Art Barr and Eddie G I loved, or love in the case of Eddie since he's not dead.

[Cbear]

I guess I should have clarified that...the top guys like Rey, Dragon, and Psichosis are great but they are the cream of the crop. I can take it in small doses when Rey/Psichosis came to the ECW arena it blew my freakin' mind. But I don't like how choreographed it is and the fact they don't sell their injuries very well...

Art Barr and Eddie G I loved, or love in the case of Eddie since he's not dead.
And on the flip side, there is nothing quite so awful as bad lucha done by idiots. Gronda in AAA is one such HHH musclebound, no talent, goober. Ugh. :-D

[dogofwar]

And on the flip side, there is nothing quite so awful as bad lucha done by idiots. Gronda in AAA is one such HHH musclebound, no talent, goober. Ugh. :-D
There is an indy fed called Chikara, and someone duped me into buying their tag team gran prix...32 teams, Chikara is a lucha style promotion but Chris Hero is there who I love. After about 3 matches I was sick to death because it looks so dam phoney. Dudes miss punches by 6 inches and they still act like they got hit!!!! Terrible.

[Cbear]

Brawling is one of the very weakest things in lucha. I can't even think of a good lucha brawler. About the best they can do are these weak chest slaps. Its better when they don't even try and simply do the very fast, slick, running moves and dives. Some of the submissions are hilarious in their fakeness but often very cool looking complexity.

Speaking of wasted submissions, Tajiris Tarantula in the ropes or whatever the hell it was should have been a clear finish but the WWE made it a throwaway. Speaking of throw aways, where is Tajiri? And where is Ultimo Dragon without the mask that was set to go last year?

[shadoes]

Tajiri is tag champ with Regal..only problem is WWE has buried its tag division. Tag Team wrestling in my own opinion should always have aplace. I miss the days of tag team specialists... Rock N Roll.. Midnight...Road Warriors(pre WWF days)... the mulky's anyone? :cool: Ahh those were the days... I miss 80s NWA. I wasn't really introduced to Lucha style till WcW Nitro/Thunder but I think WCW did one thing right. They opened up almost every show with a 6 man lucha style match and it almost always got the crowd going. and off topic but bring back the TV title!!

[Cbear]

There was a time when great tag teams headlined major cards in the U.S. The WWE has devalued them so badly they can't even draw mid card interest. Remember the pop when the Mulkeys finally won a match?

[dogofwar]

Interesting note on tag teams....in the Paul Ellering shoot...he says that when the Road Warriors appraoched him about going to WWE...he told them that Vince doesn't promote tag teams and that they will not go far..

How true...they were turned into Legion of Doom and then faded away.

[TheIcon]

off topic but bring back the TV title!!

They can't even get a decent feud or anyone to care about the US Title or the Tag Team Title. Last thing we need is another title that no one cares about.

[ilostmydog]

They didn't even have any tag title matches at Wrestlemania!! If that doesn't spell out their total indifference to the division then I don't know what does.

[TheIcon]

They didn't even have any tag title matches at Wrestlemania!! If that doesn't spell out their total indifference to the division then I don't know what does.

Yea they did. Oh wait it was on Sunday Night Heat
:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[Cbear]

Ok, to bring this full circle, I just read that Shocker got a $100 payoff from CMLL at a show before he jumped to AAA. CMLL has been on a huge roll drawing great crowds and Shocker is one of the top 2 or 3 draws and workers they have. A payoff like that when Hijo Del Santo gets $1500 a night is an insult. Shocker isn't a draw on par with Santo, but $100 is crap. Reports are that AAA is heating up fast with Konnan, Vampiro and the new additions. This has all the makings of re-igniting their huge fued from the old days.