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The 25th edition of Triplemania came to viewers live on Saturday night, and continued on into early Sunday morning. The event was streamed live on Twitch today, and the viewers there at times got into the 60,000 range for both the Spanish and English language streams. Kevin Gill and Gabriel Ramirez of California's Pro Wrestling Revolution called the English stream.
The show was centered around two things -- 1. The huge mask vs. mask match between AAA's #1 draw, and merch seller Psycho Clown, and the legendary Dr. Wagner Jr. and 2. The nostalgia of 25 years of the AAA, with a load of former stars returning.
The show was filled with great action, some bad matches, a lot of nostalgia, and criminally terrible camera work. If I were AAA I would be embarrassed with how many big spots the camera crew missed throughout this show.
However, with all the bad this show had, and there was a healthy dose of it -- the company blew the last two years of bad Triplemania's out of the water.
Pre-Show Results....
The pre-show aired, much like Summerslam, aired with a lot of people still not in the building.
We see the six-sided ring, and then we’re introduced to the characters from the candy “Boing.” It’ a super bizarre opening where the characters waddle to the ring, the luchadors El Eligido and Raptor hand candy to kid in the ring, and the AAA girls grind to the music. Very, very weird.
LaParka, Vampiro and Faby Apache come out to judge “La Llave a la Gloria” — The Key to Glory matches were are in essence the Tough Enough of AAA.
Key to Glory Match #1: Hashtary, Chicano, Bronco Gonzalez, Fetiche vs. Ashley, Dragon Solar, Pardux, Solaris
The match features 10 young Lucahdors and Luchadoras vying for a spot. Honestly, this was a bit of train wreck. There were a lot of really awkward spots, some people definitely got hurt. The announcers were a bit in the dark as it wasn’t clear if this was a every person for themselves, or a team match. Turns out it was a team match. Unfortunately, not knowing people’s names (it was inaudible) hurt any investment in the match. Everyone worked hard, and this was a nice way to get us ready, but these luchadors all need some seasoning.
Winners: Ashley, Dragon Solar, Paradux & Solaris
Key to Glory Match 3 on 3: Tiger Boy, Villano Tres Jr., Angel Mortal Jr. vs. Angelikal, The Tiger, & Hijo de Vikingo.
Angelikal definitely impressed the most here -- he was extremely crisp with his flips including turning a pop up powebomb into a Rana. There was a great spot where Tiger Boy tossed the Viking0 careening out of the ring and onto Angel Mortal Jr. Great spot where the kudos did a wheel barrow, held Angelikal in the air and allowed for a massive missile dropkick from Angel Mortal. The camera sadly missed when the technics all did running dives over the turnbuckles, taking out the rudos. The technicos hit stereo lung blowers followed by a triple pinball after massive aerial maneuvers (moonsault, inverted 450, twisting splash).
Winners; Angelikal, The Tiger & Hijo de Vikingo
Thoughts: All six of these men are primed for something in AAA, and given the promotions lack of depth at the moment (although that could change given what happened on this card), we could see some of these guys thrust into a big position soon.
Triplemania XXV Main Card
There was an extended opening ceremony, including tributes to Joaquin Roldan, and Antonio Pena, the men who ran and founded AAA respectively.
The arena was fairly full at the time of the main card's start which was nearly 9:30pm.
Atomics Match: Big Mami & Dinastía & Estrella Divina & Máscara de Bronce vs. Hernandez & La Hiedra & Mamba & Mini Psycho Clown.
Pre-Mach Thoughts: Why is Mini Psycho Clown a rudo, and Psycho Clown a technico? Zero sense. Second, despite’s being a rudo, Mamba is very popular. For those unfamiliar with Estrella Divine — she’s the newest exotico in AAA, and seems to be taking the spot of Pimpinella Escarlatta in these kind of matches.
A bit of a typical atomicos match. The minis flipped around. Hernandez was the tank. Bronce had some breathtaking spots (although he did get nicked up). Mami provided the comedy. Hiedra got the heat. Mamba and Estrella took some bumps, and had some slapstick spots.
The big spots, pun intended, were between Mami and Hernandez. Hernandez really laid into and got the crowd on him for it. Fun spot where Hernandez struggled to pick Mamiup and Bronce dropkicked them and they did a double cover.
In a nonsensical moment Hernandez tried clobbering Mamba when Mamba accidentally hit him. Hernandez Border Tossed Bronce onto everyone in the spot of the night. Well, that was until Mami got up on the rope and dove on everyone, and the crowd went absolutely bananas.
My feed froze, but when it came back Hiedra delivered the first of many unprotected chair shots to the head, and knocked Mami out.
Winners: Hernandez, La Hiedra, Mamba & Mini Psycho Clown
Thoughts: This was a solid little opener. Somehow Bronce, and Hernandez both disappeared during the match...not the last time that would happen on this show.
*AAA Renia de Reinas champion Sexy Star vs. Lady Shani vs. Ayako Hamada vs. Rosemary
Pre-Match Thoughts: The sheer fact Rosemary and Hamada are in this match will make it entertaining. I’m not a Sexy Star fan, so I’m not hyped to see her with the title, and most likely coming out the winner.. Lady Shani is really underrated, and she’s worked hard to become a technics, and much better in the ring than say two years ago — so it’s cool to see her out of the opening match and in a really high profile match.
Wow, this was a hot mess. Rosemary started things off hot, and once Sexy Star was out of the match, things were clicking. However, when she got back in the ring, everything derailed. No one knew what to do, and there was a lot of standing around. Hamada did not help matters by being terrible with the weapons around the ring (e.g. trying to throw a garbage can in the ring and missing). Also, a chair collapsing during a big spot, which would've lead to a huge spot on Lady Shani, really got the crowd booing.
Sexy Star, thankfully was out of the match for most of this match. That is when she wasn't NO SELLING chair shots. She would get clobbered, and walk out of the ring. Then lean against the guardrail and watch the match. Unbelievable.
According to our Mike Johnson things did get a little real in this match as Shani and Star went at it shoot style at one point, and Star injured Rosemary.
The match ends when Sexy stiffs Rosemary with a double stomp and then injuries her with a cross arm breaker, and makes her tap.
Winner: Sexy Star
Thoughts: Sexy Star is the worst. If you want to complain about Roman Reigns' "forced push" I present Sexy Star to you, and you won't complain about The Big Dog again. This push is nauseatingly bad. She is so blatantly protected in matches, and then taps out (and injuries) one of the top women in the US right now? Not a fan of this decision at all. This match also sorely missed Taya.
They bring out all the Llave Gloria competitors for the awarding of the contract for AAA. AAA officials award contracts to Ashley, El Hijo el Vikingo, and Anjelika. All are deserved winners. Ashley was a little raw in the opener, but she’s got the charisma, and the upside.
Vampiro chages his mind and gives EVERYONE a spot in the new AAA school. All the luchadors in the ring is genuinely excited at the moment, with some of them crying for joy. This was a really nice moment. And honestly, AAA needs an injection of new talent, and there are some definite talents that could become special here.
AAA Tag Team champions Dark Cuervo and Dark Scoria vs. Aero Star and Drago vs. Monster Clown and Murder Clown vs. DJ Z & Andrew Everett.
Pre-Match Thoughts; This is going to the Psycho Circus, no doubt. The other teams remind me of competitors in last year's Tag Title 4-Way right down to Everett & Z playing the Paul London/Matt Cross role of Americans who can fly but won't be given much of a spotlight. Scoria & Cuervo have moments of greatness, but are a rather vanilla team. Aerostar & Dragon are bulletproof, and wins and losses don't matter for them.
This match was a hell of a lot of fun. No surprise to start Team GFW is super exciting, and establish a fast pace. In fact, I wish this was Drago/Aero vs. Team GFW. Aero does a roll off Everett's back into a dive onto DJ Z. Drago & Aerostar do a cool version of the Magic Killer into a tornado DDT. Scoria & Cuervo hit a nice mid-air toss into aface buster. They slap on a cool crossface, Muta lock, inverted Gory special combo on both Drago & Aerostar. Clowns break it up with their belts.
Cameras miss a huge cuter from Everett followed by a moonsaut. Clowns dominate with belt shots, and no wrestling. These guys don’t really wrestle they just brawl. DJ Z does an AMAZING dive off Murder Clown’s back onto every outside. Aerostar does a beautiful satellite head scissors one of Murder clown. Then propels himself to the outside and he wipes out Monster. Everett hits a massive springboard Shooting Star. Drago throws Cuervo out, and topes out onto him, and it looks like Cuervo is hurt. Scoria flies out and wipes out his partner and Drago. Murder Clown does a massive somersault plancha and wipes everyone out. Back in the ring he gorilla presses Aerostar onto the to turnbuckle. We then gets the Tower of Doom spot.
Sadly, We get a terrible spot where there were three pins, but no count. Aerostar is on Monsters Shoulders and climbs on the damn LIGHT RIG!!! AN the rig is now moving UP. This is absolutely frigging nuts. He keeps telling them to go higher. This is dangerous. The crowd is going apesh**. He tells them to go higher. This is making me nervous. The rig goes higher again. Stuff is happening in the ring…setting everyone up to be on the mat for Aerostar. You can see Star is nervous. Everyone is waiting the crowd is going nuts. He leaps off onto every single competitor.
Then comes the gaga.
El Poder del Norte which is the now unmasked Soul Rocker, Mocho Cota Jr., and Carta Brava Jr. hit the ring and lay waste to everyone. Raptor, friends with Drago and Aerostar, comes out to even the odds. Dave the Clown, yes there's another clown, comes out to join the fray. Scoria and Cuervo overcome the odds, but Marty the Moth comes out and levels them allowing The Psycho Circus to hit a big splash for the W.
Winners and NEW Tag Team Champs: The Psycho Circus.
Thoughts: Really fun. Bit nuts towards the end but it was a way to get everyone on the roster involved...except poor El Eligido. The spot with Aerostar was legitimately NUTS. Go find it. Jeremy Borash has a great slow mo video of this on Twitter.
They do a tribute to Antonio Pena and Joaquin Roldan (they usually do multiples during Triplemania). Marisela Pena who is usually at every show, gets on the mic and addresses the crowd.. They do a tribute to those who’ve passed in the last 25 years such as El Texano, Art Barr, Eddie Guerrero, Abismo Negro, Hector Garza, Mini Chessman, El Brazo, Perro Agauyo Jr., El Gran Apache, and Joaquin Roldan.
TORNEO TRIPLEMANIA
Note: This is a trios Royal Rumble with lumberjacks armed with straps.
Lumberjacks
Los Vatos Locos (Nigma, May Flowers, Espiritu, Silver Cat)
Los Payasos (The Clowns...seriously they love clowns...Coco Rojo, Coco Azul, & a third clown
Mascarita Sagrada, Sagrande Chicano, Cobade Jr., Polvo de Estrellas
Order of Appearance
Team 1: Team 90s Stars (Heavy Metal, Ricky Marvin, Lanzelot)
Team 2: Team Relevos Increidible (Faby Apache, Australian Suicide, & Pimpinela Escarlata)
Team #3: OGTS (Super Fly, Chessman, Averno)
Team #4: Los Vipers (El Nicho Millionaire with a python, Histerio, and Maniaco) -- huge pop
Team #5: Los Guapos VIP (Scorpio Jr., Zumbido, and Decnnis)
Team #6: Los Perros Del Mal (X-Fly, Halloween, Mr. Aguila (Essa Rios)
Team #7: Mexican Powers (Nino Hamburguesa, Crazy Boy, and Joe Lider)
Team #8: Team LaPark (La Parka, Argenis & Bengala)
Team #9: Team Leyendas (Blue Demon, Pirata Morgan, El Cobarde)
Teams #10: Team GFW (Moose, Lashley, Jeff Jarrett)
Elimination Order
Guapos by Revelos
Relevos by OGTs
Team 90s Stars eliminated off camera
Powers eliminated by Perros
Los Vipers eliminated off camera
Perros del Mal eliminated off camera
Team GFW by Team La Parka.
Leyendas by OGTS
Winners: Team LaParka
Thoughts: This match was about nostalgia pops and ZERO logic. At one point Lashley came out as "Team GFW" to some weird orchestral music. Joe Lider switched teams from Mexican Powers to Perros del Mal. Teams were eliminated off camera. Moose came out to Drago's music. Moose and Lashley turned on each and left the match. Jeff Jarrett took 20 minutes to get to the ring. OGTS turned on each, and Averno pinned Chessman at one point, and eliminated him.
Oh, and since La Parka scored the pin, he wins some sort of belt. Former AAA star Latin Lover comes out to present the belt. I guess the rest of the team does not get the title.
Pagano vs. El Mesias: Streetfight
Pre-Match Thoughts: This needs to make up for the previous hot mess of a match.
This match stunk. It's a shame because they built this feud so well. However, it never got out of first gear. Mesias is Mil Muertes in Lucha Underground. If you've seen Mil in action in LU, he's awesome. He works hard, he has hard hitting matches, and he's compelling. Take the mask off and put him as Mesias in AAA, and he is the definition of a punch/kick performer. And that's basically what he did here. Pagano is a Sandman-esque character (ALSO A CLOWN) who is a good brawler. Tonight he did not have it. These two had the crowd booing them, and for good reason -- nothing worked here.
They end the match with an injury angle to Mesias, and then Rey Escorpion, formerly of The Crash and CMLL, makes his debut annihilating both men. Unfortunately, his presence did not save things for the live crowd.
*AAA champion Johnny Mundo vs. Hijo del Fantasma vs. Texano Jr. in a TLC Match
Pre-Match Thoughts: This needs to save the show.
This blew away last year's three-way for the title. I cannot simply recap this match because it would not do it justice. This was an awesome bout. There were wickedly creative sequences involving the ladder. Hijo del Fantasma bled like a stuck pig, and played the heroic technico perfectly. He's a star that AAA needs to hitch their wagons to more permanently. Texano had his best match that I've seen in AAA. He also took a beating. Johnny Mundo played the Ric Flair role here -- cocky champ who seemingly steals the win, but does so while also busting his ass and proving why he's one of the best in the promotion.
There was some gaga where Mundo's bodyguard Kevin Kross hit the ring and wiped out Texano and Fantasma. Mascara de Bronce who Kross stole a Money in the Bank contract from comes out and fights Kross. He does get the better of him, but Hernandez comes out and ends him...or so he thinks. Bronce takes out Hernandez, but then eats a very dangerous choke slam on the apron from Kross. Kross is then taken out by Fantasma.
Great end sequence where all three battle on the ladder but Morrison ends up victorious.
Winner: Johnny Mundo
Post-Match Thoughts: Run, don't walk to see this.
Then we went into the "stall so the Mayweather/McGregor fight can end before the main event."
Mundo calls out Vampiro to put his belt on him, and Mundo humiliates him. Vampiro ends up choke slamming the champ
For some reason Texano and Fantasma, after everyone's left, exchanged unprotected chair shots to the head. WHY???I get I they don’t like it each other, but this seems like overkill. The crowd doesn’t give a sh**, and neither does the camera man who ONCE AGAIN MISSES IT in order to focus on the crowd.
Main Event -- Psycho Clown vs. Dr. Wagner Jr - Mask vs. Mask.
AAA has had these two in the ring together since spring of 2016. They've built this match for over a year. The hype was there, and the crowd was amped even after all they had seen.
Luckily this wasn't a "you've seen one of their matches, you've seen 'em all." This reminded me, in theory, of Austin & The Rock. These two fought a bazillion times, but when it was Wrestlemania time, it was always a different, unique, and creative match. They weren't always the best, but you left entertained.
The drama for this match was there. HOW could the iconic Dr. Wagner Jr. lose his match? It's the stuff of legend. But how could Psycho Clown lose his? Look into AAA crowd, and you'll see a sea of Psycho Clown masks.
With the drama there, these two had to deliver in the ring, and they did. They beat the holy hell out one another, and even kicked out of their finishers -- a rarity in AAA.
In the end .... Dr. Wagner Jr....LOSES.
Winner: Psycho Clown
Thoughts: It's the right call. Psycho Clown is too valuable with his mask on. He couldn't lose. Dr. Wagner Jr. may retire who knows, but he can still go, and he doesn't need the mask to be over, and man is he over. He then announced the this son El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. will avenge him. New feud? I'm down.
Should you watch Triplemania 25?
The answer: A resounding yes! Sure, there's some hot messes in here, but there's nothing so repugnant (like in
Triplemania's past) that would ruin this for you.
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