WWE acquires AAA to enhance Lucha Libre wrestling

On April 20, 2025, in the United States, WWE made a significant announcement regarding its expansion into the world of Lucha Libre wrestling. The company revealed its acquisition of Lucha Libre AAA, a prominent Mexican professional wrestling promotion, which is known for its unique and culturally rich wrestling style. This acquisition coincided with the kickoff of WrestleMania 41, an event that traditionally showcases WWE's biggest stars and matches. The announcement of the partnership with AAA was made by WWE Chief Content Officer Paul Levesque during a post-WrestleMania press conference, following an intense match where Seth Rollins emerged victorious over Roman Reigns and CM Punk. Levesque expressed the company's intent to cultivate and expand the reach of Lucha Libre wrestling, emphasizing its significance in Central and Southern America and parts of the United States. In his statements, Levesque illustrated a vision of growth and opportunity for Lucha Libre athletes, indicating that the acquisition was not aimed at overshadowing the existing cultural significance of AAA but rather to enhance it. This initiative aligns with WWE's strategy of incorporating luchador style wrestlers like Penta and Rey Fenix into their programming, as well as the promotion of a masked wrestler, rumored to be Chad Gable, known as El Grande Americano. Additionally, a joint premium live event, dubbed World’s Collide, has been scheduled for June 7, 2025, at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California. WWE aims to use this event to showcase the combined talents of NXT and AAA wrestlers. The attendance of notable AAA wrestler El Hijo del Vikingo at WrestleMania adds to the excitement surrounding this partnership, suggesting a growing fusion between American and Mexican wrestling styles, fostering a broader global appeal for the sport and its athletes. Levesque's remarks reflect WWE's commitment to giving opportunities for talent to transcend their current markets and become worldwide stars, illustrating a strategic move to blend cultures and wrestling styles to enhance viewer engagement and expand their audience.