The Best in Mexico | Lucha Libre AAA Noche de Los Grandes Week One Review

Note: This editorial piece will contain limited first-person language, which is unlike the other editorial content offered here on Best of the Chief. I want to have a balance between the straightforward and professional-style editorial content, and also a personal and very original editorial content. This is the start of that vision. I hope you're all along for the ride. With that, enjoy this review.

In addition, please note that Best of the Chief, at the time of publishing this review, has not had the chance to watch Noche de Los Grandes Week Two. That review will be written and published in the coming days.

(WWE/AAA)

I will admit that last Saturday night was my first-ever experience with Lucha Libre AAA. The only resson I am aware of AAA's existence in the first place is the fact that it has been frequently talked about throughout this year (my first as a full-time wrestling fan) on Monday Night RAW, because of the fact that Dominik Mysterio is the current AAA Mega Champion. Knowing that Dom, and other WWE superstars including NXT's Lola Vice and Monday Night RAW's Bayley, are also on AAA, it made AAA intriguing to check out, but there was never time to give it the true chance it deserves.

That changed last Saturday night. With college in the rearview window, and with the massive promotion on RAW and Friday Night SmackDown in the weeks leading up to this past Saturday night, particularly because of the high-stakes Mask vs Mask match between the two El Grande Americanos, the time finally came to give AAA the proper chance it deserved, and it did not dissapoint in any way, shape, or form.

With that, let's go through the entire match card, from top to bottom. Before getting there, though, it should also be stated that if this level of action-packed matches is what AAA is always capable of, AAAMania this September will be a next-level and must-see wrestling event.

The Whole Match Card Before The Main Event

(WWE/AAA)

Whether this was because of new AAA General Manger, and WWE and AAA Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio, or the higher-ups at TKO, or something or someone else altogether, but the Noche de Los Grandes Week One match card was one of the strongest pro wrestling match cards of the year, in large part because of each and every wrestler in each and every match put on an incredible show for the fans.

Seeing Rey Fenix finally capture championship gold on this level was an exceptionally special moment. Getting to see the War Raiders in action live for the very first time was an amazing sight of power to behold. Hearing about and getting to see El Hijo del Vikingo and El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. in the ring for the first time was an amazing experience, as the two of them put on an incredible match, just like the rest of the card.

The thing that was particularly surprising is that all three times that were up for grabs during Noche de Los Grandes Week One changed hands. With that said, however, the way each title change was handled from a narrative perspective was satasifying the entire way through. As much as professional wrestling needs the best of the best athletes to help make magical moments, there always is a need to have good narrative structure and build-up prior to matches taking place, which was handled to perfection with this particular match card.

El Grande Americano vs OG El Grande Americano | Mask vs Mask

(WWE/AAA)

One hour, four minutes, twenty-seven seconds.

That is how long the Mask vs Mask main event match between El Grande Americano and OG El Grande Americano ended up being, and it was a true magical spectacle every single minute.

From start to finish, everyone watching can feel the emotional weight of the build-up of the year-long storyline that these two men have been a part of. After all, luchador culture in Mexico is one of the most passionate fanbases and cultural events in the history of the world. Take that and combine that with the emotionally-charged nature of the El Grande Americano vs OG El Grande Americano feud, and you get the masterpiece Mask vs Mask match that AAA put together for Noche de Los Grandes Week One.

Even just over a week later, I still haven't fully processed Mask vs Mask. Sometimes, when something is truly special or historic in nature and I know that ahead of time, my autistic brain doesn't necessarily and fully understand what the moment will ultimately mean. However, the magnitude of this feud that culminated in one of the longest and best professional wrestling matches of the entire year, that may not be able to be topped.

This was an exceptional main event match, and match in general, all the way around. While I don't think they'll be able to top it anytime soon, if at all, I very much am looking forward to tuning into AAA every time it's on the air now, because if this is the consistent product they can put on a weekly basis, I'm looking forward to seeing everything they can put together as they're heading towards Triplemanía in September.