Brian Damage
This Week in Wrestling: Week 22 of 2026
Just a couple of weeks ago I was critical of pro wrestling’s current product across the board. Nothing was really interesting me as a fan. Then this past Saturday, I got to watch the mask vs mask match between the two El Grande Americanos for AAA Mexico. The match reminded me why I love pro wrestling. This match told an excellent story both in and out of the ring. The match itself was fantastic so kudos to both Chad Gable and Ludwig Kaiser for going all out. As great as the match was in both storytelling and athleticism in the ring, it was the fans in Monterrey, Mexico that really put this match as a true match of the year candidate.
The fans were loud and reacted to every single move and moment. I have always believed that fans are what makes a good show great or vice versa. This show from top to bottom was entertaining and the fans made it that much more incredible. Triple H, Mark ‘The Undertaker’ Calaway, Jeremy Borash and Pete Dunne who all collaborated on this event should really get their flowers and praise. AAA has truly delivered since WWE purchased the promotion and that was something I seriously doubted would work. I was wrong.
With the success of AAA, many are looking at Mark Calaway as a potential replacement for Triple H on the main roster as the Chief Content Officer or whatever fancy title he has. Let’s be honest, the main roster has had some struggles recently with putting together entertaining stories. Raw and Smackdown are in a funk of sorts. A lot of blame is being pointed at Triple H and definitely some is deserving. The thing is, a few years ago, fans were calling for Triple H to replace Vince McMahon on the main roster.
NXT was a red hot brand for the company and a lot of the credit went to Triple H. Now that he is in charge of creative for WWE, now fans want Calaway to take over from him. Look, Calaway has a nice little thing going in AAA Mexico. It is no guarantee that he could do any better than Hunter with the main roster. TKO (WWE’s parent company) has more eyeballs on the main roster than they do AAA or even NXT for that matter. I am not saying Triple H can’t do better because he definitely needs to, but TKO is extremely corporate and seemingly stick their noses in things they perhaps shouldn’t. Some of that hurts Hunter’s creativity.
I don’t know what the answer is ultimately for WWE. Maybe Mark Calaway can help the main roster, then again…maybe not. If he was to get promoted and replace Hunter, how long before fans turn on him?
Photo Gallery
Jerry Lawler reunited with the puppies!
Nikkita Lyons
Nia Jax
Arianna Grace
Priscilla Kelly
Thunder Rosa
Tiffany Stratton
Celeste Bonin
Karissa Rivera
Liv Morgan
Bayley
Lacey Evans
Video Gallery
Who called this?
Luke
I never cared about Lucha. I never really cared for any wrestling outside of North America not under the WWE umbrella (NXT UK was awesome and I still miss it).
That said, this was my favorite match perhaps this century. And yes, fans do help make the match (which is why I hate those fight forever etc. cunts so much…).
But I have a serious question for anyone who follows Lucha and knows the product. Would the crowd still have been as hot if Kaiser didn’t punch that racist dick outside the elevator?
Brian Damage
To answer that question…yes. Ludwig’s El Grande Americano gimmick was way over even before the incident in the elevator. For months, Ludwig was over as a babyface in Mexico while being booed in the U.S.