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[[Image:Aaa.jpg|left]]'''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.
[[Image:Aaa.jpg|left]] AAA is a lucha libre promotion based in Mexico, founded in 1992. It's been the biggest and most important promotion at many times during it's history, but also nearly has had to close it's doors at times. The promotion was founded by [[Antonio Pena]] with funding from the [[Televisa]] network. After Pena passed away, the company was inherited by his sister [[Marisela Peña Roldan]], with her husband [[Joaquin Roldan]] and son [[Dorian Roldan]] have visible roles in leadership in front of and behind the camera.
 
AAA clashes with the traditional style of promotion of lucha libre. Most promotions are based on running the same locations, while AAA tours around the country. AAA's shows are much more storyline driven, more akin to United States wrestling than [[CMLL]]. AAA uses many different types of gimmick matches and is believed to be the first promotion to use a six sided ring. AAA focuses on the show being entertaining, rather than just the matches.
 
AAA airs on Televisa in Mexico, and on Galavision in the United States. It has had other short term television outlets over the years. In 2009 and 2010, AAA [[Lucha Libre Premier]] aired on [[Fox Sports Mexico|Fox Sports in Mexico]].
 
== Name ==
[[Image:Pap.jpg|right]]
[[Image:Pap.jpg|right]]
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 [[Lucha Libre Internaciónal |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 [[WCW|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/IWC World Tag Team Championship|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 [[Louie Spicolli|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 was originally formed by Televisa. The initials were originally an abbreviation for '''Asistencia Asesoria y Administracion de Espactaculos ''' (Assistance, Consulting and Administration of Tours), as the company was intended to be an overreaching umbrella company for many different touring business. Those plans never came together and "AAA" simply came to represent the lucha libre promotion.  


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.  
The 1995 economic crisis led to Televisa withdrawing financially from the promotion, though the shows continue to air on the network. Pena received control of the AAA name, continuing to use it as the name of the promotion, but dropping the abbreviation. Today, "AAA" just stands for AAA. Pena formed his own promotional company, '''Promociones Antonio Pena S.A.''' to administrate the shows. PAPSA only puts on AAA lucha libre shows, so the names are interchangable.
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.
== History ==


[[Antonio Peña]] had been one of the primary creative forces for EMLL since starting in the Mexico City office in 1988. This was a very strong period for the company in terms of creating new stars and delivering big matches; the [[1990]] [[Rayo de Jalisco Jr.]] versus [[Cien Caras]], mask versus mask match set an all-time [[Arena Mexico]] attendance record. Pena was frequently credited with designing new characters ([[Misterioso]], [[Volador]]), creating the modern minis division and modernizing the product. Pena shared creative power with [[Juan Herrera]], who had different views on the direction of the promotion. The two apparently clashed, while building up legions of supportive luchadors. Pena also angered the luchador union when he made a deal with Televisa to air the major show of the week two days later, prime time on Sunday nights. The union went on strike to block it, and forced the shows to air at noon (so as to not air up against live shows.)


===Working Relationship with TNA Wrestling===
Paco Alonso, owner of the company, also feuded with Pena over power in the company and backed Herrera, so it was probably inevitable that Pena would leave the company. The other main promotion at the time, [[UWA]], had it's own share of internal political battles and was even less forward looking than CMLL, so Pena would need a new place.
AAA developed a working relationship with [[TNA|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.
In fall of 1991, Pena secretly began negotiating with television network Televisa to fund a new lucha libre promotion. Televisa was reportedly unhappy with CMLL, and believed that Pena was the voice CMLL should have been listening to. Televisa would get it's televised luchad libre from Pena, since his wrestlers would not be part of the old union. Pena, and allies [[Konnan]] and [[Octagon]], began quietly recruiting luchadors for the new promotion. The news of the new promotion finally slipped out in early April 1992, but all parties continued to work in CMLL fora few more weeks.


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.
The new promotion was announced [[May 7]], [[1992]] in [[Mexico City]] press conference. Pena, along with the wrestlers who were joining him, had quit CMLL two weeks earlier, on April 22. Luchadors at that initial press conference included [[Fuerza Guerrera]], [[Juentud Guerrera]], [[Octagon]], [[Eslabon Perdido]], [[Hijo del Santo]], [[Perro Aguayo]], [[Justiciero]], [[Angel Azteca]], [[Atila Jr.]], [[Cien Caras]], [[Mascara Ano 2000]], [[Universo 2000]], [[Konnan]], [[Blue Panther]], [[Super Bowl]], [[Quaterback]], [[Winners]], [[Inmortla]], [[Reptil]], [[Belda]], [[Kid Boxer]], [[Picudo]], [[Ice Killer]], [[Dr. Maldad]], [[Mr. Maldad]], [[LA Park|La Parka]], [[Magnate]], [[Fantasma]], and [[Mascara Sagrada]]. Most of the mini estrellas also jumped to AAA. Other luchadors jumped from CMLL and UWA the promotion in the following months. Pena also recruited many unknown or barely known independent luchadors, using them for new characters he had designed.  The first AAA show took place five days later, on [[May 12]], in [[Veracruz]].


== Annual Shows ==
== Annual Shows ==
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* [http://luchalibreaaa.com/ Triple A/AAA/PAPSA's website]
* [http://luchalibreaaa.com/ Triple A/AAA/PAPSA's website]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asistencia_Asesoría_y_Administración wikipedia]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asistencia_Asesoría_y_Administración wikipedia]
=== Other Sources ===
* Lucha Libre Weekly (many including #11, #12)


[[Category:Promotions]]
[[Category:Promotions]]

Revision as of 16:56, 10 March 2011

Aaa.jpg

AAA is a lucha libre promotion based in Mexico, founded in 1992. It's been the biggest and most important promotion at many times during it's history, but also nearly has had to close it's doors at times. The promotion was founded by Antonio Pena with funding from the Televisa network. After Pena passed away, the company was inherited by his sister Marisela Peña Roldan, with her husband Joaquin Roldan and son Dorian Roldan have visible roles in leadership in front of and behind the camera.

AAA clashes with the traditional style of promotion of lucha libre. Most promotions are based on running the same locations, while AAA tours around the country. AAA's shows are much more storyline driven, more akin to United States wrestling than CMLL. AAA uses many different types of gimmick matches and is believed to be the first promotion to use a six sided ring. AAA focuses on the show being entertaining, rather than just the matches.

AAA airs on Televisa in Mexico, and on Galavision in the United States. It has had other short term television outlets over the years. In 2009 and 2010, AAA Lucha Libre Premier aired on Fox Sports in Mexico.

Name

Pap.jpg

AAA was originally formed by Televisa. The initials were originally an abbreviation for Asistencia Asesoria y Administracion de Espactaculos (Assistance, Consulting and Administration of Tours), as the company was intended to be an overreaching umbrella company for many different touring business. Those plans never came together and "AAA" simply came to represent the lucha libre promotion.

The 1995 economic crisis led to Televisa withdrawing financially from the promotion, though the shows continue to air on the network. Pena received control of the AAA name, continuing to use it as the name of the promotion, but dropping the abbreviation. Today, "AAA" just stands for AAA. Pena formed his own promotional company, Promociones Antonio Pena S.A. to administrate the shows. PAPSA only puts on AAA lucha libre shows, so the names are interchangable.

History

Antonio Peña had been one of the primary creative forces for EMLL since starting in the Mexico City office in 1988. This was a very strong period for the company in terms of creating new stars and delivering big matches; the 1990 Rayo de Jalisco Jr. versus Cien Caras, mask versus mask match set an all-time Arena Mexico attendance record. Pena was frequently credited with designing new characters (Misterioso, Volador), creating the modern minis division and modernizing the product. Pena shared creative power with Juan Herrera, who had different views on the direction of the promotion. The two apparently clashed, while building up legions of supportive luchadors. Pena also angered the luchador union when he made a deal with Televisa to air the major show of the week two days later, prime time on Sunday nights. The union went on strike to block it, and forced the shows to air at noon (so as to not air up against live shows.)

Paco Alonso, owner of the company, also feuded with Pena over power in the company and backed Herrera, so it was probably inevitable that Pena would leave the company. The other main promotion at the time, UWA, had it's own share of internal political battles and was even less forward looking than CMLL, so Pena would need a new place.

In fall of 1991, Pena secretly began negotiating with television network Televisa to fund a new lucha libre promotion. Televisa was reportedly unhappy with CMLL, and believed that Pena was the voice CMLL should have been listening to. Televisa would get it's televised luchad libre from Pena, since his wrestlers would not be part of the old union. Pena, and allies Konnan and Octagon, began quietly recruiting luchadors for the new promotion. The news of the new promotion finally slipped out in early April 1992, but all parties continued to work in CMLL fora few more weeks.

The new promotion was announced May 7, 1992 in Mexico City press conference. Pena, along with the wrestlers who were joining him, had quit CMLL two weeks earlier, on April 22. Luchadors at that initial press conference included Fuerza Guerrera, Juentud Guerrera, Octagon, Eslabon Perdido, Hijo del Santo, Perro Aguayo, Justiciero, Angel Azteca, Atila Jr., Cien Caras, Mascara Ano 2000, Universo 2000, Konnan, Blue Panther, Super Bowl, Quaterback, Winners, Inmortla, Reptil, Belda, Kid Boxer, Picudo, Ice Killer, Dr. Maldad, Mr. Maldad, La Parka, Magnate, Fantasma, and Mascara Sagrada. Most of the mini estrellas also jumped to AAA. Other luchadors jumped from CMLL and UWA the promotion in the following months. Pena also recruited many unknown or barely known independent luchadors, using them for new characters he had designed. The first AAA show took place five days later, on May 12, in Veracruz.

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 (Matt Riddle) • Mega (El Patrón Alberto) • 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 Heavy • Americas Trios • Campeón de Campeones • IWC Heavy •
IWC Middle • IWC Minis • IWC Tag • Second/Mascota • GPCW SUPER-X Monster • Lucha Libre Premier • Fusion • Lucha 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
Ozz ● Cuervo ● Espiritu
Former: Chessman ● Charly Manson ● Escoria


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

Other Sources

  • Lucha Libre Weekly (many including #11, #12)
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