Rumour Killer On AEW's Mexican Talent Being Unhappy With Tony Khan
Rumour killer on unhappiness from contracted AEW Mexican talent over Tony Khan’s deal with CMLL
Feb 17, 2024
All Elite Wrestling and heritage lucha libre promotion CMLL are officially in business together, with CMLL stars recently invading AEW TV to set up a feud with the Blackpool Combat Club.
The matches broadcast so far - especially Bryan Danielson vs. Hechicero - have received rave reviews, but a claim from Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter has suggested no other Mexican wrestlers are allowed to be featured on the same broadcasts as the CMLL stars - a clause inserted at the behest of CMLL.
Meltzer’s report further claimed that AEW’s Mexican contingent is ‘mad’ at Tony Khan for agreeing to CMLL’s demand, noting how AAA have never insisted on such a course of action during their time as an official partner of AEW. AAA’s involvement with AEW saw CMLL bar their stars from appearing in AEW during the early years of AEW’s existence.
It was also said that AEW star Penta el Zero Miedo - a day one AEW star, and along with brother Rey Fenix a long-time AAA name - was present at recent Dynamite and Rampage sessions believing he was booked after returning from the Jericho Cruise, but was barred from performing on AEW TV due to CMLL stars being in matches on both shows.
AEW sources have told Fightful Select, however, the idea that no other Mexican wrestlers are allowed to appear on the same AEW broadcasts as CMLL stars is "outright false", with the sources pointing to Komander appearing on the January 31 episode of Dynamite, an event which also featured CMLL talents. Furthermore, Penta El Zero Miedo was scheduled to appear on AEW programming this week but he suffered from travel issues.
This doesn't mean there aren't restrictions, though, and Fightful noted CMLL talent are not supposed to be booked in angles or matches with AAA wrestlers. CMLL and AAA have been hostile to one another since AAA was formed in 1992 when then-CMLL booker Antonio Pena quit the promotion and took much of the company's young talent with him, including Konnan who became one of AAA's top stars.
While there isn't frustration from AEW's Mexican talents, many wrestlers on the roster are said to be unhappy with Tony Khan over other matters.
