At the groundbreaking TripleMania XXXIII event on August 16, 2025, held at Mexico City’s Arena Ciudad de México, the long-anticipated collaboration between WWE and Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA) made a historic splash, marking the first TripleMania under WWE’s ownership. The event featured a blend of WWE and AAA talent competing on the global stage, but according to WWE Hall of Famer JBL, the partnership’s true focus is on elevating AAA — not creating a WWE versus AAA rivalry.

JBL’s Insight: Building AAA as a Standalone Global Brand

In a recent interview, JBL emphasized that WWE’s strategy isn’t about staging brand warfare between WWE and AAA. Instead, WWE’s involvement aims to build AAA talent into “huge global stars” without directly imposing WWE’s presence as a dominating force on AAA’s home turf. “WWE didn’t come down there to have WWE vs. AAA. They came down there to have AAA,” JBL stated, highlighting WWE’s commitment to showcasing the rich culture and unique style that AAA brings to wrestling fans worldwide[original reference].

This approach diverges from typical inter-promotional rivalries, focusing more on amplifying AAA’s brand and wrestlers — a sentiment echoed in the event’s structuring, presentation, and talent utilization.

TripleMania XXXIII: WWE Stars and AAA Talent Share the Spotlight

The event featured six high-profile matches blending WWE Superstars with AAA mainstays. Highlights included WWE’s Omos winning the Copa Bardahl battle royal after impressive eliminations, demonstrating his growing foothold outside WWE’s conventional programming[1][5]. WWE’s Finn Balor, J D McDonagh, and Raquel Rodriguez teamed up to defeat AAA’s Lola Vice, Mr. Iguana, and Niño Hamburguesa, marking a clear WWE presence in tag team competition[2].

Nevertheless, AAA talent retained supremacy in critical title matches:

• El Hijo del Vikingo successfully defended the AAA Mega Championship against a trio of WWE talent, including Dominik Mysterio, Dragon Lee, and El Grande Americano, showcasing AAA’s homegrown star power in the event’s main event[3][4].

• Pagano and Psycho Clown captured the AAA World Tag Team Championship from WWE’s Ángel Garza and Berto in a brutal Street Fight, reinforcing the competitive parity between the brands[2][3].

• Flammer retained the AAA Reina de Reinas Championship in a triple-threat contest against WWE’s Natalya and AAA’s Faby Apache, illustrating the collaborative yet respectful booking that spotlighted AAA’s women’s division alongside WWE’s[2].

Strategic Positioning: WWE Using AAA as a Developmental and Global Platform

WWE’s integration of its stars at TripleMania wasn’t about dominance but rather a symbiotic relationship where both promotion’s talents benefit from exposure. According to a WWE insider cited by Fightful, WWE views AAA as a fertile ground to “build new international stars” who can eventually contribute to WWE’s global footprint without diluting AAA’s brand identity.

This sentiment aligns with WWE President Nick Khan’s previous remarks about WWE’s acquisition of AAA, where the goal is not to absorb but to expand and enrich the wrestling ecosystem. Integrating AAA talent and culture helps WWE reach new demographics and geographic markets while simultaneously offering AAA wrestlers access to WWE’s resources and global platform[1].

Implications for WWE and AAA Fans

Fans attending TripleMania XXXIII and those watching via WWE’s YouTube live stream were quick to note the unique atmosphere of collaboration. WWE stars performed strongly but did not overwhelmingly overshadow AAA stalwarts, reaffirming JBL’s point that this is not WWE taking over but WWE partnering to uplift AAA.

For wrestling fans globally, this event signals an exciting new era where diverse wrestling styles and traditions can coexist and thrive under one banner, creating fresh storylines and cross-promotional opportunities that respect each organization’s identity.

What’s Next After TripleMania XXXIII?

Reported sources close to Cody Rhodes, WWE’s Executive Vice President of Talent Relations and Creative, have revealed plans to continue the integration of WWE talent in AAA events periodically, using these events to highlight emerging stars from both sides[original reference]. This will likely include more co-branded matches, talent exchanges, and joint marketing efforts, furthering the goal of creating global stars while honoring AAA’s rich heritage.

Additionally, WWE is using the lessons from TripleMania XXXIII to refine its narrative strategies, avoiding typical inter-promotional conflicts and instead opting for partnership storylines that enhance AAA’s visibility without compromising its unique identity.

Final Takeaway: A New Chapter in Pro Wrestling Collaboration

TripleMania XXXIII was not just a major wrestling event; it was a statement from WWE and AAA that collaboration — not competition — is the future of global wrestling expansion. JBL’s insight captures that ethos perfectly: the goal isn’t to pit WWE against AAA but to bring AAA into the global spotlight through WWE’s platform, thereby enriching fans’ experience worldwide.

As WWE continues to foster this alliance, wrestling audiences can anticipate more landmark events where the best of both worlds collide — not in rivalry, but in mutual elevation.

Sources:

• WWE.com coverage of TripleMania XXXIII and event results

• Fightful interviews and insider reports on WWE-AAA partnership strategy

• PostWrestling’s detailed event recap and analysis

• WrestleTalk’s match results and backstage insights

• Quotes from JBL on podcasts and interviews following the event