For many years, lucha libre wrestling has been handled unseriously on the planet of WWE. In actual fact, outdoors of Rey Mysterio you’d be exhausting strung looking for one other profitable lucha libre or masked star in over 50 years within the promotion… till not too long ago. In 2026 particularly, lucha libre has skilled one hell of an increase in WWE, extra so than it ever has executed earlier than. In a 12 months the place followers have been extremely essential of the product, with loads of questionable inventive selections, there was one clear spotlight amidst all of the negativity; lucha libre. Issues won’t be good, however they’re pretty much as good as they’ve ever been in WWE for this wrestling fashion.
WWE By no means Took Lucha Libre Wrestling Severely
Rey Mysterio is WWE’s solely true lucha libre success.
WWE have booked masked wrestlers poorly for years.
WWE have had many failed lucha libre initiatives.
Whether or not it’s partnering up briefly with AAA to pad out of the 1997 Royal Rumble match and add depth to the sunshine heavyweight division (with the intention to compete with WCW’s cruiserweight division), reserving insensitive and offensive gimmicks during which luchadors would typically even emerge with pinatas, or else merely e-book masked stars to lose, lose, and lose once more, WWE’s historical past of reserving lucha libre expertise has been an entire catastrophe. Rey Mysterio is the only real identify to carve out a Corridor Of Fame profession in WWE, bucking the pattern and incomes world titles, main victories, and receiving respectful reserving, however even then issues weren’t all the time good.
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When trying throughout the lengthy record of masked stars who’ve tried and did not make an affect in WWE, many gifted and typically even legendary stars have been misused. For example, Ultimo Dragon, Sin Cara (higher often known as Mistico), Kalisto, Lince Dorado, Gran Metalik, and extra, who’re all extremely gifted, have every did not turn out to be the “subsequent Rey Mysterio”. As a substitute of making an attempt to make the “first” of a sure identify, WWE continued looking for somebody who would take over from Mysterio’s place because the spotlighted luchador, quite than permitting them to create their very own legacies. A lot of WWE’s luchador historical past is riddled with disrespect, horrible reserving, and a scarcity of give attention to the fashion.
WWE’s Buy Of AAA Was Initially Smoke & Mirrors
WWE shocked followers when buying the AAA promotion.
WWE’s preliminary reserving of lucha libre after this buy was horrible.
This “focus” on lucha libre was executed to fight AEW & CMLL.
With CMLL’s rising success and partnership with AEW, the emergence of WWE’s buy of AAA was assumed to be solely to undermine AEW and start a brand new wrestling conflict on Mexican soil. With how poorly WWE had dealt with luchadors prior to now, followers didn’t have excessive hopes for this enterprise. WWE’s creation of the controversial and offensive El Grande Americano character was not a great begin to this journey by any means, with Chad Gable’s gimmick used to poke enjoyable at lucha libre and Mexican wrestling tradition, crossing the road with regards to humor and offense.
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Positive, the likes of Dominik Mysterio and Penta had been receiving some highlight on WWE programming, however general WWE’s buy of AAA got here throughout as smoke & mirrors to additional WWE’s stranglehold on the skilled wrestling world. The likes of Rey Fenix and Dragon Lee had been nonetheless struggling for TV time, and the peak of AAA’s presence on WWE programming got here within the type the comedic Mr. Iguana and a short look from Octagon Jr., who misplaced in beneath 5 minutes to Dominik Mysterio at Cash In The Financial institution 2025. Nonetheless, issues have seen a major and optimistic change in 2026.
In 2026, WWE’s Reserving Of Lucha Libre Has Been Incredible
The El Grande Americano storyline and match has been the spotlight of WWE/AAA.
Lucha libre is getting extra publicity on Monday Night time RAW.
Followers are getting behind extra lucha libre stars on WWE programming.
In 2026, lucha libre skilled a serious resurgence in WWE. The crossover between WWE and AAA has been extra obvious, marketed stronger, and handled with way more reverence and respect. WWE commentary is commonly hyping up the significance and legacy of lucha libre wrestling quite than poking enjoyable at it, and in flip WWE is handing far more time and power to reserving masked stars. Penta has been on hearth in 2026, profitable the Intercontinental Championship and being given the liberty to be himself, which has cast a robust reference to the followers. Dragon Lee’s inventory has been rising, Rey Mysterio’s legendary standing has been utilized nicely, and the entire El Grande Americano storyline has seen curiosity in AAA and lucha libre skyrocket.
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Positive, having the face of AAA be a German pretending to be a Mexican sounds backwards on paper, however Ludwig Kaiser’s efforts to indicate respect to lucha libre has been the important thing to opening up far more curiosity in lucha libre from WWE’s viewers, and making certain that the AAA followers have remained open and supportive of WWE’s buy of the corporate. El Grande Americano vs. The Unique El Grande Americano is already being known as one of many best ever matches beneath the WWE banner, and it came about in AAA with probably the most necessary lucha libre stipulations of all of them – masks vs. masks. 2026 has been a bitter 12 months for WWE, however lucha libre has stored the promotion’s head above water.
