[AAA/IWC] Part V: Wade Keller's analysis on AAA's chances

[Steve Black]

The following is part V of a seven-part series leading up to Sunday's AAA/IWC
pay-per-view special.

This part will be divided into two segments. The first is an analysis of the
PPVs chances of success, while the second is an analysis of AAA's chances of
success in general as a style in the United States.

In addition, because of the favorable response that I have gotten regarding the
entire series, I have decided to make copies of this in a book format. More
information as this develops.

In the meantime, the remaining schedule:

Today: Wade Keller's analysis of AAA's chances of success
11/05: Comments from Lucha Libre fans
11/06: Feature on IWC head Ron Skoler, analysis, predictions

(Hopefully, Part VII doesn't get too lost in the ECW reports. :>)

In addition, for any of you who may have watched Lucha Libre and would like to
comment on it for Saturday's edition, please send your comments to me no later
than midnight tonight. Thank you.

Now, here's part V.
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The following was taken from the Oct. 22, 1994 issue of Pro Wrestling Torch.
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Can AAA Succeed?
by Wade Keller, Pro Wrestling Torch
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Part I: the PPV

There should be several concerns from an immediate business perspective by
those involved in the AAA/IWC PPV set to air Nov. 6.

The card is set: Konnan vs. Perro Aguayo in a cage match; El Hijo del Santo
and Octagon vs. Eddy Guerrero and Love Machine in a double mask vs. double hair
match; Chris Benoit, Tito Santana and 2 Cold Scorpio vs. La Parka (in the
skeleton oufit), Blue Panther (respected mat wrestler) and Jerry Estrada (just
recently back from suspension for refusing to abide by a hair vs. hair
stipulation); Heavy Metal (one of AAA's best all-around workers), Rey Misterio
Jr. (one of the top three or four high-flyers in the world) and Latin Lover
(up-and-coming with a "heartthrob" gimmick) vs. Psicosis (looks and wrestles
like Jushin Liger), Fuerza Guerrera and Louie Spicolli; and a minis match with
Mascarita Sagrada and Octagoncito (two of the best all-time minis) vs.
Espectrito and Jerrito Estrada.

The strong lineup, though, may not be enough. The following are some key points
working against the event being successful:

* U.S. fans in AAA/IWC's strong markets (i.e. high Hispanic populations with
access to Galavision, the Spanish cable channel) are used to seeing main events
for two hours every weekend for free. Will they be willing to pay? Are they
traditionally PPV customers in general?

* Cable companies may not choose to carry the event despite Turner Home
Entertainment distributing it. Canads's cable systems have decided not to carry
it at all due to a belief there would be a lack of interest in a Mexican
product. Individual cable companies, with no track record to go on other than
the strong LA crowds, may forgo carrying the event.

* The PPV is, in a sense, competing with the live event. Los Angeles has not
sold out in the three events since August of 1993. The Galavision show is
advertising the live show but as of yet not the PPV. Will the Hispanic audience
even know about it being on cable?

* The event comes two weeks after Halloween Havoc, five days before the UWFi
PPV, ten days before the free WCW Clash of the Champions, and less than two
weeks before the WWF's Survivor Series. Will a wrestling fan, who under less
saturated circumstances would order the event out of curiosity, not do so
because November's cable bill is too steep already?

* Is two weeks enough to promote this new product to those fans who will be
able to purchase the event live on cable? The heavy selling ("Event Centers"
hosted by Chris Cruise) will only air in the two weeks preceding the event.

The event will likely rival Wrestlemania as the PPV of the year. The question
is, will anyone see it?
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Part II: AAA

The wrestling found in AAA can be really exciting--"the wrestling of your
dreams," so to speak. At other times, it can be tedious, frustrating, and
confusing. Despite what some of the staunchest supporters of AAA will have you
believe, it may never be a style that you will particularly like.

The positives are obvious. It is the most innovative, high-flying wrestling
style in the world today. Unlike so many WCW TV matches, most TV matches in AAA
forward the ongoing storylines and "have meaning". There is a sense of rich
tradition that emanates from the matches, wrestlers, announcers, and fans.

There are limitations to its popularity, though. For instance, many people like
wrestling because of the interviews. As hard as that is for some followers of
Japanese wrestling to understand, interviews and the exaggerated soap opera
issues of wrestling are what makes many people fans of the spectacle. Thus,
simply putting a superior in-ring product in front of them isn't going to sway
them froma good, angle-filled SMW or WWF show with less good wrestling. That
doesn't make the person "less hardcore" of a fan, it just makes them a fan of
a different, but very real, aspect of the diverse pro wrestling industry.

The way wrestling angles are created and forwarded in Mexico is different than
in the US. AAA's storylines are not often forwarded by traditional US-style
angles. Instead, they are usually based on loyalty or national pride and
forwarded gradually during six-man tag matches where small disputes lead to
all-out feuds.

Even if the soap opera aspects of wrestling that churn forward the WWF or ECW
storylines are not imperative for you to enjoy wrestling, you still may not
like the lucha style in the ring. When AAA is on, it is as spectacular and more
graceful than All Japan Women. But when AAA is off, and their down moments are
plentiful, you better be really into the personalities and the historical feuds
or you will be bored. Many six-man tag matches never gain momentum, but rather
degenerate into low-blows, faked low-blows, heel and face referees arguing,
mask switching, and three-on-one pinfalls. What's more, the emphasis in
general on tag matches makes it tougher to gauge who is a good worker with
stamina and ring psychology versus who is merely able to tag in, execute a few
moves, and tag out.

AAA's top stars aren't all 1990s versions of Ric Flair or Shawn Michaels,
either. Perro Aguayo is ordinary. Konnan, despite the ability, hasn't put on
an impressive athletic performance on TV this year. He openly says, Why take
risks when you can be just as over doing the basics?

The basics may be enough for his hardcore fans to be satisfied, just as the
charisma, color, and energy of the Ultimate Warrior was enough for his
followers. But it won't be enough for someone who doesn't know Konnan from
Conan O'Brien. Konnan knows he has to win over new viewrs Nov. 6 so his
performance will probably be his best of the year.

Even if AAA is "on" and everyone is working hard, the style is still confusing.
Thankfully, Chris Cruise and Mike Tenay will be prepared to do everything they
can to eliminate confusion.

There is no doubt that AAA/IWC as it exists now is not far from being ready for
mainstream America. With American wrestlers like Konnan, Love Machine, 2 Cold
Scorpio, and Rey Misterio Jr., there is as much (or more) high-quality
American talent in AAA/IWC as there is in WCW.

All AAA/IWC has to do is put the product in a major US arena, provide major
league production values, fill the building with hardcore fans who know the
wrestlers, hire announcers who understand and are enthusiastic about the
product, add a few American-style interviews, and offer it to wrestling fans
nationwide and it could catch on. Nov. 6, they get to do just that.

But will it merely be successful as a niche style, or will it revolutionize
the American wrestling industry?
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Tommorrow: Part VI: Comments from fans of Lucha Libre
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When Worlds Collide--Sunday, November 6, 1994, Los Angeles Sports Arena
A AAA/IWC pay-per-view event
All matches are best two out of three falls

Cage Match
Konnan vs. Perro Aguayo

Double mask vs. double hair
El Hijo del Santo Love Machine
vs.
Octagon Eddy Guerrero

Six-man tag match
Chris Benoit La Parka
2 Cold Scorpio vs. Blue Panther
Tito Santana Jerry Estrada

Six-man tag match
Heavy Metal Psicosis
Rey Misterio Jr. vs. Fuerza Guerrera
Latin Lover Louie Spicolli

Minis tag team match
Mascarita Sagrada Espectrito
vs.
Octagoncito Jerrito Estrada

Matches may be added, subtracted, or changed without notice, of course.

As always, your comments, questions, or suggestions are welcome.
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Steve Black
c62...@mizzou1.missouri.edu
"I keep my ideals,
The opinions expressed here because in spite of
do not represent those of everything I still
the University of Missouri. believe that people
Although, if they thought are really good at
about it, they'd realize heart."
that I'm usually right.
:> :> --Anne Frank
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