AAA TripleMania XXXI: Mexico Metropolis
August 12, 2023
Enviornment Ciudad de Mexico
Azcapotzalco, Distrito Federal, Mexiko

Watch: FITE

AAA finishes a season of TripleManias in Mexico Metropolis on Saturday with a lineup that feels unexpectedly drawn up on a serviette. The cardboard contains three totally different four-way matches. The mixed age in the one male singles match is 115. It’s a disappointing lineup in a down yr for worldwide followers of AAA, however there’s sufficient expertise right here to maintain this an honest present. 

TripleMania XXXI: Mexico Metropolis takes place Saturday at 8 pm Mexico Metropolis time. (That’s 10 pm Jap US.) It’ll air on FITE in each Spanish and English for 23 USD. It’ll additionally air, partially, on each House and HBO Max in Mexico and a few different Latin American nations. The TV model of the present will go up on AAA’s YouTube at no cost within the upcoming weeks. 

Sure, it’s one other TripleMania already.

Sure, there’s plenty of TripleMania.

Sure, it feels method too quickly to have a TripleMania once more.

The schedule acquired compressed. Tijuana acquired moved from June to July after a scheduling battle. Mexico Metropolis was in October in recent times and moved to August this yr. AAA by no means defined why; my guess is AAA moved as much as get away from the same old October WWE present, just for WWE to do the identical and run in July. It’s an excessive amount of TripleMania in a short while, however have a look at it this fashion: for about 95% of you who solely take note of AAA when “TripleMania” is within the title, that is the final time you’re going to concentrate to any of this for six months.

I’m undecided you might want to pay all that a lot consideration to this one.

Loads of the matches look good on paper, and the primary occasion may very well be memorable. The difficulty is AAA matches usually don’t ship in addition to they give the impression of being on paper, the primary occasion just isn’t as compelling as comparable Mexico Metropolis ones in previous years, and the remainder of the matches aren’t the problems AAA has informed followers to speculate their time on this yr. Good matches for the sake of excellent matches don’t transfer the needle when good matches are in every single place. Emotional funding is a invaluable asset, and there’s little right here to care about. 

TripleMania is also a poorly constructed card.

Three totally different four-way match is foolish indie reserving on a big-league stage. The principle occasion is a repeat from Tijuana, albeit the place AAA should ship a end this time. The remainder of the cardboard is low effort and excessive nonsense for a TripleMania. Even individuals booked on this present have subtly taken photographs on the lineup. I anticipate the one individuals who will purchase this present are those that reflexively purchase TripleMania, although playing cards like this erode even that curiosity. 

AAA will get by with out vital PPV curiosity or being appreciated by those that do by their PPVs. (Konnan’s spent the three weeks because the earlier TripleMania yelling on his podcast about how “good mark” followers can’t and shouldn’t be allowed to have an opinion on AAA. It’s been a pleasant respite from him complaining that younger individuals are too gentle and may’t take criticism.) AAA is a reside attendance enterprise; reside attendance for TripleManias is nice. Enviornment Ciudad de Mexico figures to even be near bought out. The triple TripleMania technique labored nicely for AAA for a second straight yr relating to reside attendance. AAA will likely be attempting this similar plan for 2024.

There are seven matches scheduled for the present. AAA additionally introduced a section with pharmacy chain Faramacias Similares’ mascot Dr. Simi someday in the course of the present. It’s AAA: you’ll be able to depend on different weirdness in the course of the night time.

Dalys, Girl Shani, Horny Star versus Chik Tormenta, La Hiedra, Maravilla

There’s no purpose for this match. Tormenta and Shani agreed to a cage match months in the past. The cage match has but to come back up since. Dalys can also be vaguely feuding with Tormenta. I presume Dalys is the rationale this match made the cardboard; she and Negro Casas needed to get on TripleMania XXXI: Mexico Metropolis as a reward for leaping from CMLL. The match will likely be superb and forgettable; you’ll keep in mind simply as a lot from this as the same trios match in Tijuana.

Copa Bardahl: Komander, Laredo Child, Willie Mack, Dave The Clown, Pagano, Aramis, Mr. Iguana, Homicide Clown, Arez, Octagón Jr., Myzteziz, Niño Hamburguesa

This match is identical battle royal as ever, with the annual automobile elements producer sponsor. It’s much less clear why the sponsored match needs to be a royal rumble; it looks like they may simply as nicely sponsor a trios match or a cibernetico with the identical individuals, and both could be higher. It’s a waste to have so many proficient wrestlers lowered to “hurry to the ring, do spots for a minute, then step apart as the subsequent man is available in,” however losing expertise just isn’t a motivation for change in AAA. 

Negro Casas vs Nicho el Millionario

Negro Casas and the unique Psicosis are legends in Mexican wrestling and should be honored on an enormous present. They’re additionally each more and more restricted, and placing them on this spot is a major danger. I believe they’ll be superb; they’ll most likely be superb. But, behind my head, I’m nervous a couple of Villanos/Psycho Circus state of affairs. There’s little likelihood this will likely be that dangerous, however an honest likelihood they’ll present their age at factors throughout this match. The fact is AAA most likely will camouflage the weaknesses with weapons and interference. Nicho cheated to win in his house of Tijuana. Casas ought to get the revenge win right here as a result of there’s nowhere to go. Followers and others would mock and deride a hair match stipulation between two individuals who’ve misplaced these usually.

Taya © vs Flammer for the Reina De Reinas Championsjhop.

It took 14 months for AAA to get to this match. Taya provided a title shot to the ladies’s masks match winner on the 2022 TripleMania Tijuana, Flammer gained, after which the match simply didn’t occur. AAA had Flammer and Las Toxicas confront Taya in regards to the title match when Taya would seem in AAA as a reminder it was unfinished; they only by no means completed it. The Taya/Flammer match occurred: it simply occurred on the Republic of Lucha and in MLW and by no means in AAA itself. Possibly there’s some Taya-specific purpose for this, but it surely appears extra just like the sample for all AAA non-TripleMania feuds exterior. All of them have an inciting incident, after which nothing past reminding the viewers that they nonetheless dislike one another from that inciting incident. The one purpose this one is reaching an precise conclusion is that AAA knew it was afraid of the pitchforks. Reserving Taya versus this yr’s equal of Thunder Rosa or Kamille would’ve led to a social media revolt. AAA didn’t put something hype behind the announcement. Neither girl has talked up the match a lot. It’s simply checking an merchandise off an overdue listing.

I vaguely keep in mind watching the 2 earlier Taya/Flammer matches a yr in the past. They had been superb. This match would usually be a 95% likelihood of Flammer profitable to get the title again in Mexico since Taya is full-time with AEW. Nevertheless, Taya can also be speedrunning via all of AEW’s sparse ladies’s storylines (wrestle for the world title, flip, wrestle for the TBS belt, wrestle Britt Baker) that I suppose she I ponder if she might need extra time for AAA shortly. Possibly it’s solely an 85% likelihood Flammer wins the title.

Pentagón Jr. versus QT Marshall versus Dralistico versus Brian Cage for the AAA Latin American Championship

The thought right here is Fenix held this and the Cruiserweight championship, Fenix hasn’t been to Mexico due to AEW commitments, and AAA followers demanded extra title defenses, so AAA stripped Fenix and promised to have a title match on TripleMania. It was an excellent line immediately uncovered as lunacy when AAA introduced the challengers had been all wrestlers who work for AEW, similar to Fenix. Possibly there’s a secret plan to get the winner on AAA TV rather a lot, and it’ll work out ultimately. Proper now, it appears to be like like a dumb plan, even for AAA.

Placing that apart, it’s nonetheless an absurd match. Penta and QT had a bloody ambulance match and adopted that up by combating for a title? Brian Cage suits higher in AAA than elsewhere, however I ponder why he’s right here; he doesn’t seem on any AAA present apart from TripleMania XXXI: Mexico Metropolis. (If AAA can fly in Cage to be nothing greater than a reputation on a paper, it’s absurd they’ll’t fly of their English announcers.) Dralistico is likelier to be round than the opposite three however is much less attention-grabbing than all the fellows in Copa TripleMania. The match must be superb. I may care much less who wins.

El Hijo Del Vikingo © versus Mike Bailey versus Daga versus Jack Cartwheel for the AAA Mega Championship

Essentially the most irritating of the excesses of this card is the primary occasion. Hijo del Vikingo versus Mike Bailey is a improbable match, a worthy successor to the Vikingo/Omega sequence. Vikingo versus Daga just isn’t fairly as robust, Daga has little momentum in AAA, however Daga additionally has been calling Vikingo out in promos for months (seemingly on his personal), so there’s materials to work with. It’s robust to make a case for Vikingo versus Jack Cartwheel match on a TripleMania, although it’d be a enjoyable random protection on a TV taping. Placing all 4 collectively makes it a formless mess, one thing that’ll have plenty of highspots however will wrestle to imply something. There must be extra separation between this and the earlier title match.

This explicit four-way seems like thrown collectively within the hours after TripleMania Tijuana. Cartwheel mentioned he had no thought he would get a title shot till he learn it on Twitter. Nobody watching TripleMania Tijuana would’ve guessed it after he was a non-factor within the opening match battle royal. AAA didn’t construct up Cartwheel and Daga (a punching dummy for UFC’s Brandon Moreno in Tijuana) for this chance. The one factor obvious about this match is it wasn’t the plan till it all of the sudden needed to be the reply.

Mike Bailey was an AAA common for a few months in 2015, not longer after the unhappiness of his US journey ban. AAA appeared to do not know what to do with him, and he correctly shifted his focus to DDT. Another universe the place he turned the brand new Jack Evans would’ve been enjoyable for me however most likely disappointing for the remainder of the world. I want extra AAA expertise would take the Bailey route; they’re not attending to the title match at TripleMania by simply fortunately working battle royals however by leaving and making a reputation for themselves elsewhere. 

I presume Vikingo will stay the champion and keep the champion till AEW formally indicators him (and AAA belatedly realizes they’re in bother once more.) I wish to argue for Daga getting the title right here – AAA must make somebody, and so they don’t have endlessly to do it – however I believe Daga’s prime precedence is NOAH. It is unnecessary to commerce one busy champion for one more. Bailey is with Affect, and Cartwheel’s most likely ending up within the US someplace. These 4 guys will solely return right here subsequent yr if one thing else doesn’t work out.

Sam Adonis versus Psycho Clown versus LA Park versus Rush, somebody loses their hair or masks.

This TripleMania foremost occasion had been deliberate as Psycho Clown versus Sam Adonis since AAA introduced the Guerra de Rivaldades match. It’s now a four-way match, with the primary particular person to lose a fall dropping their hair or masks. It’ll nonetheless actually be Adonis, with Park and Rush right here extra in hopes of promoting some tickets. Konnan defined on his podcast that it was a mid-show resolution to complete the match in Tijuana as a draw, and it actually seems like one: the present’s promotion has been round Adonis versus Psycho, whereas LA Park and Rush have been non-factors. 

That last-minute ultimate change implies a troubling established order for AAA. Suppose Psycho Clown (the highest common tecnico) and Sam Adonis (the strongest pushed rudo during the last yr) aren’t robust sufficient for AAA to run because the TripleMania foremost occasion. What else will AAA have that’ll be stronger? The 2 looming apuesta feuds are Vikingo/Gringo Loco and Pagano/Texano, neither of which have the star energy over Psycho/Adonis. Look again at the remainder of the matches on the cardboard, and also you gained’t discover a single common roster AAA is attempting to make a star on this present, a lot much less somebody getting set as much as headline a TripleMania in 2024. AAA will discuss how nice and sizzling their wrestlers are, however they don’t belief them within the large spots.

AAA most likely cannot ship a end on this foremost occasion involving Rush, LA Park, or Psycho Clown dropping this match, however additionally they most likely shouldn’t. If AAA wanted LA Park & Rush to make this TripleMania really feel large, there’s an excellent likelihood they’ll want them once more subsequent yr, too – AAA has few options past hoping they’ll work with these types of fellows once more.

The thought of this match will see a particular ending to both Psycho/Adonis or Rush/LA Park feuds. The principles of the match go away open plenty of different prospects. Somebody’s beating Adonis, and it’d be silly to rule out Rush or LA Park getting that win.

TripleMania XXXI: Mexico Metropolis can have an ideal ambiance and be the same old wild expertise. The a number of four-way matches may very well be extra thrilling, however they’re stuffed with strong wrestlers and will present a minimum of good motion. Rush, LA Park, Psycho Clown, and Sam Adonis will seemingly ship one thing memorable in the primary occasion; I wouldn’t guess towards them. AAA’s 2023 output has diminished expectations a lot that even an OK present will really feel good. I nonetheless don’t assume this can be a present price going out of your option to pay for except you’re somebody who simply at all times watched TripleMania. Look ahead to the opinions, await it to pop up at no cost on AAA’s YouTube channel, and await the promotion to determine itself out earlier than investing your money and time. AAA didn’t make this present a precedence, and neither must you.