AAA "TripleMania 23" PPV
August 9, 2015
Mexico City, Mexico
Report by James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

The PPV opened with formal introductions for everyone involved in the big show, including Matt Striker and Hugo Savinovich on English commentary. The show went to a video package on the history of TripleMania. AAA founder Antonio Pena was then recognized with a special ceremony before the opening match. Lots of pomp and circumstance to set the tone for a big event.

1 -- DRAGO & GOYA KONG & DINASTIA & PIMPINELA ESCARLATA vs. DAGA & SEXY STAR & MINI PSYCHO CLOWN & MAMBA -- mixed eight-person tag match

This was anything-goes action with lots of little stories within the match. Striker tried to call moves, then paused to shout out to Mike Tenay calling the "When Worlds Collide" PPV 20+ years ago. After some high-flying in and out of the ring, Pimpinela locked Sexy Star in a mid-ring submission. A tap-out was rendered by the referee without a bell, giving Pimpinela's team the win.

WINNERS: Team Pimpinela at 9:02. Basic lucha opener with lots of luchadors from different shapes, sizes, and colors interacting. Or, just kind of standing around waiting to do something.

Next was a special ceremony recognizing AAA referee Pepe, thanking him for his years of service. Pepe was then escorted out on-stage down to the ring to be formally recognized. Pepe paused at AAA president Marisela Peña for a photo-op as Savinovich talked about AAA being a family company. Pepe then entered the ring to receive a standing applause.

Next was a video package on the Villano family ahead of VIllano III's retirement match tonight.

2 -- VILLANOS (VILLANO III & IV & V) vs. LOS PSYCHO CIRCUS (MONSTER CLOWN & MURDER CLOWN & PSYCHO CLOWN) -- Trios match

The Villanos isolated Psycho Clown early on and tried to rip off his mask as the announcers talked up the long family history of hatred. Psycho Circus eventually tried to flip it around by going after a Villano mask. Villanos made a comeback and dropped Psycho for the pin and the win, creating a feel-good moment for the crowd after the Villanos were forced to unmask in the past. The Villanos then unmasked per their pre-match condition for wrestling with the masks on.

A post-match ceremony was held looking to reconcile the rival families. Referee Pepe was also recognized after the match. Villano III offered a final speech before the mic was passed along to everyone involved in the match.

WINNERS: Los Villanos at 11:30. It was as if viewers were eavesdropping on a family softball game that got a little testy before everyone got along in the end.

AAA president Marisela Pena was recognized at ringside again. Another special announcement took place as Striker and Savinovich tried to get some technical issues resolved.

3 -- AAA Trios Tag champions LOS HELL BROTHERS (AVERNO & CHESSMAN & CIBERNETICO) vs. FENIX & JACK EVANS & ANGELICO vs. EL HIJO DEL FANTASMA & PENTAGON, JR. & EL TEXANO, JR. -- three-team steel cage match for the AAA Tag Titles

The teams stood around waiting to inflict punishment with various weapons, then Jack Evans tried to scale an Ultimate X-style truss to grab one of the trios titles hanging above the ring, but the other competitors yanked down Evans hard to the mat. Evans took a beating from the other teams until Angelico got involved and he took a beating. Evans recovered and climbed the trusses again, but this time opted for a Shooting Star Press onto the opponents.

After some flying spots in and out of the ring, the match came down to Averno and El Hijo Del Fantasma standing atop the structure. Averno kicked him low, then grabbed one of the belts to win and retain the trios titles.

WINNERS: Los Hell Brothers at 9:21 to retain the AAA Trios Tag Titles. Evans and Angelico provided a lot of spots, but the match felt disorganized with so many people involved and a lot of standing around. Thus far, the show feels like it's more-suited for the live audience experiencing an historic event.

4 -- BLUE DEMON, JR. & LA PARKA vs. ELECTRO SHOCK & EL MESIAS

No sound from Striker or Savinovich, just a loud humming noise in the background. Striker suddenly returned to the air explaining the history between the two teams. Mesias and Parka brawled out of the ring, spilling into the front row and ruining a perfectly fine tub of popcorn. Mesias returned to the ring and spit in Demon's face. Demon eventually got a tag and cleared Mesias and Shock to the outside before posing in the ring.

Demon and Shock battled in the ring, with Shock delivering a powerbomb for a two count. Demon answered with his version of the Sharpshooter, El Pulpo, for a tap-out from Electro Shock. Striker strongly talked up the victory for Blue Demon in his anniversary match. Demon was presented with a plaque after the match.

WINNERS: Demon & Parka via submission at 8:20. Significant for the live crowd and those who know the significance watching on PPV, but to the general audience, it was just another match featuring older wrestlers going half-speed. Striker did his best to try to establish the importance and respect factor when he could be heard on the air.

On-stage: Another ceremony was held. AAA authority figure Joaquin Roldan came out on-stage for a brief introduction before the family of Hector Garza was brought out, followed by the family of El Hijo Del Perro Aguayo. Hector and Aguayo, Jr. were recognized with video packages and plaques celebrating their lives. The music of Los Perros del Mal played, popping the crowd. Hector and Aguayo, Jr. were officially inducted into the AAA Hall of Fame.

Up next was one of the main events featuring Brian Cage. Cage was sporting a Donald Trump t-shirt looking to draw heat in Mexico. A mariachi band then came out on-stage to introduce Alberto El Patron.

5 -- AAA Mega Champion ALBERTO EL PATRON vs. BRIAN CAGE -- Hair vs. Hair non-title match

Cage brought a chair into the ring, which Alberto turned on him with repeated chair shots toward the head. (Cage got his forearm up to absorb each blow.) Alberto went for a cross arm-breaker, but Cage blocked and dumped Alberto to the outside. Meanwhile, El Hijo Del Fantasma and Fenix battled on the outside in the middle of the match.

Cage opened up Alberto's forehead, drawing blood. Back in the ring, Cage landed a standing moonsault for a two count. Fantasma then entered the ring to help out Cage. Fenix got involved clearing Fantasma, but, on the outside, Cage powerbombed Fenix into the ringpost. The announcers introduced a "Mission Impossible" movie tie-in, saying it looks like an impossible task for Alberto at this point in the match. Meanwhile, Savinovich checked back into the audio and routinely cut off Striker as Striker did his long, drawn-out color commentary.

Cage missed a top-rope move, then Alberto nailed him with a backstabber for a nearfall. Striker again tried to set up a dramatic moment, but Savinovich talked over him trying to call Alberto going for a kick strike, but Cage ducked. Cage, selling a knee injury, set up a table in the corner. He then chucked Alberto across the ring through the table for a nearfall. Alberto came back with a standing side kick, then covered, but the heel referee refused to make the count. So, Alberto took him out. Alberto hit a DDT for a visual count, then Cage slammed Alberto through another table. Still no referee, then another ref ran down to the ring to count a nearfall.

They reset with Brian swinging a chair toward Alberto's head. Cage left himself open for a low-blow, though, and Alberto followed with a spinning take down into the cross arm-breaker. Cage tapped out, giving Alberto the win for his home country.

Post-match, Alberto took the mic and cut a promo celebrating Mexico's victory. Meanwhile, Cage stood in the corner getting his head shaved without resistance. Alberto watched the head-shaving, then Cage tried to attack Alberto, but Alberto side-stepped him and dropped him with a powerbomb. Alberto put the Mexican flag over Cage and stood tall in the middle of the ring.

WINNER: Alberto via submission at 15:15. Basic deal telling the story of Alberto having to overcome the odds to win for Mexico over the evil American. Fine for the live crowd.

Next was an announcement about AAA's alliance with Paramount Pictures Mexico for a "Mission: Impossible" cross-promotion. This led to a dramatic video intro for the main-eventers, Rey Mysterio and Myzteziz (Original Sin Cara/Mistico). Savinovich and Striker talked about this match almost happening before, but it was not to be until now. Formal ring introductions took place before Rey and Myzteziz came face-to-face. Rey extended his hand and Myzteziz shook.

6 -- REY MYSTERIO vs. MYZTEZIZ

They played up the idea of the fans being against Myzteziz opposite the respected legend, Mysterio. Mysterio opened with offensive control, so Myzteziz removed his bodysuit to sell frustration. Myzteziz landed a punch to the face and began working on Mysterio before chucking him out of the ring. On the outside, Myzteziz powerbombed Rey across the English announce table. Striker over-sold that Rey was unconscious, then he breathed a sigh of relief when Rey rolled off the table to the floor.

Myzteziz chucked Rey back into the ring, but Rey responded with a head scissors sending Myzteziz out of the ring. On the floor, Rey whipped Myzteziz into the ringpost, busting him open underneath the mask. Myzteziz and Rey then battled on the ring apron, with Myzteziz suplexing Rey off the ring apron through a table down below. Both men crashed through the table as Striker and Savinovich talked over themselves.

Back in the ring, Rey came back with a head scissors into a moonsault off the ring apron for a two count. Rey teased ripping off Myzteziz's mask, but Myzteziz kicked him in the face. Myzteziz followed with a top-rope splash for a two count. Rey tried to answer with the 619, but Myzteziz blocked and chucked Rey into the ring ropes. Myzteziz then hit Rey's own 619 move. Myzteziz followed with a top-rope frog splash, but Rey kicked out of a pin.

After a reset, Rey caught Myzteziz with an armbar submission. Myzteziz broke free, but Rey hit him with the 619 for a two count. Rey followed with a tilt-a-whirl into another armbar submission. Rey leaned back on the armbar, forcing Myzteziz to tap out.

WINNER: Mysterio via submission at 19:40. Clearly the best match of the show. Again, though, it felt like it was more aimed at the live audience than translating to PPV. Striker and Savinovich were tough to listen to at times, though, talking over each other and trying too hard to convey the significance.

Post-match, Mysterio took a victory lap and celebrated with the crowd. Rey had his back to what was happening in the ring: Myzteziz being attacked in the ring. Averno and Pentagon, Jr. led the attack on Myzteziz, then Rey hit the ring looking to make the save, but they beat him down. Myzteziz was helped out of the ring as Rey was left alone in the ring to take a beating.

After a replay of match and post-match events, Rey and Myzteziz recovered, worked together, and cleared the heels from the ring with a double 619. Myzteziz tried a suicide dive on Averno on the outside, but Myzteziz caught his foot on the rope and faceplanted on the floor. So, Rey took out Averno to help out Myzteziz. Rey and Myzteziz stood tall together as Striker tried to put a bow on the show saying they honored legends tonight.

Mysterio then took the mic and said they wrestled tonight. Suddenly, Myzteziz spewed mist in Rey's face. Myzteziz said he doesn't care if you boo me. He said he is done with the fans and will be his own man now. Myzteziz insulted the fans as Konnan showed up ringside. Myzteziz said he wants a re-match against Mysterio to embarrass him. And in a mask vs. mask match. Myzteziz then grabbed Rey at ringside and powerbombed him into the English announce table.

Myzteziz returned to the ring to stand tall taunting the crowd. Suddenly, Konnan entered the ring. Well, maybe. The announcers said he entered the ring, but the broadcast cut to a wide shot of the stage. Striker talked about Rey being a threat to the locker room, then the feed cut to a video wrap-up. And back to a wide-shot of the ring where Konnan was apparently talking. And back to the PPV credits. The show then ended without a proper sign-off.

OVERALL: Not a recommended PPV. The last two matches had star-power and stories to carry the event once the technical difficulties were worked out, but the live atmosphere and significance of the event just did not seem to translate to PPV. The first hour-and-a-half set a really bad tone for the show that was too much to overcome.

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