Folks, hold onto your masks because the world of lucha libre just got a whole lot spicier! The intricate relationship between AEW, CMLL, and AAA has been under the spotlight in 2024, and Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter is here to break it all down for us. Get ready for a wrestling soap opera like no other.
First, a little history lesson. The animosity between CMLL and AAA started back in 1992, and it’s been like oil and water ever since. Wrestlers from these two Mexican powerhouses haven’t been allowed to share the same ring, which has caused a few headaches for AEW and NJPW. The Lucha Brothers, affiliated with AAA, have been notably absent from the Forbidden Door pay-per-views because of NJPW’s relationship with CMLL. Oh, the drama!
But fear not, wrestling aficionados, because things are finally starting to change. Tony Khan, AEW’s head honcho, has managed to partially open this “Forbidden Door.” Meltzer pointed out the significance of CMLL’s Volador Jr., Esfinge, Rugido, and Magnus wrestling on the same show as Rey Fenix. This is a big deal, folks. It shows that the icy walls between these promotions are beginning to thaw.
Rocky Romero deserves a nod here too. With his influential roles in AEW and NJPW and close ties with CMLL, he’s been a key player in this unfolding saga. Thanks to these efforts, there’s a new policy in place. Mexican-born wrestlers who have worked with AAA but haven’t been recent fixtures are now allowed to wrestle alongside CMLL talent. Fenix, having not wrestled for AAA since October 2022, fits this new bill perfectly. He’s more AEW than AAA now, and CMLL is cool with that.
Looking ahead to the upcoming Forbidden Door pay-per-view on June 30, CMLL’s involvement is likely. Negotiations between AEW, CMLL, and NJPW are ongoing, but we might see stars who were previously barred from the event finally making an appearance.
Take Rush, for example. His appearance on the June 5 “AEW Dynamite” wasn’t as a wrestler, so it didn’t ruffle any feathers. However, his potential match with MJF might just happen at Forbidden Door instead of “AEW Dynamite,” thanks to these relaxed rules.
Other AEW luchadores will face different fates. El Hijo del Vikingo, if healthy, would still be barred from Forbidden Door because of his AAA contract. Komander, despite being signed to AEW, is the current AAA Cruiserweight Champion, which also keeps him out. Bandido, on the other hand, hasn’t wrestled for AAA since May 2023, so he’s likely in the clear. Penta El Zero Miedo’s case is a bit more complicated, but AEW believes he’ll get the green light just like his brother Fenix.