AEW Involved In 'Tricky' Partnership

All Elite Wrestling now find themselves in a "tricky" partnership as Tony Khan's promotion looks to balance their booking in a way that will keep both AAA and CMLL happy.

AEW has been working with AAA since AEW's formation back in 2019 but Tony Khan has struck up a new partnership with CMLL in recent weeks that will bring Mistico, one of Khan's favourite wrestlers, to AEW Rampage for a match with Rocky Romero. Mistico is the reigning NWA World Historic Middleweight Champion, while Romero holds the NWA World Historic Welterweight Title. 

CMLL and AAA have been hostile to one another since AAA was formed in 1992 when then-CMLL booker Antonio Pena quit the promotion and took much of the company's young talent with him, including Konnan. To this day, both promotions hate each other. 

This hatred will hamper AEW's booking to some degree as AEW TV will have to be booked to avoid CMLL and AAA talents from being in the ring at the same time, according to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer.

"This is not just Mistico coming to AEW, this is the beginning of a relationship. CMLL sent out a release talking about the start of the partnership with AEW. And it's a real tricky thing because AEW's working with AAA and CMLL, and AAA and CMLL hate each other. The guys will not be able to work in the same match, that will not happen. They're probably gonna have guys on the same card, which, CMLL hates that. I think AAA will live with that and AAA's not gonna do anything to jeopardise the relationship with AEW anyway, but CMLL - it will be interesting because they hate AAA and they don't want their guys around AAA wrestlers," Meltzer said on Wrestling Observer Radio.

"Like if Mistico comes in there and does really well and you think, 'Boy, he could have a great match with Rey Fenix' - that one's not happening. Or Andrade, or Rush, any of those guys, off limits. He can work with the Americans, but he ain't gonna be able to work with anyone who is Mexican who last worked with AAA, even if they haven't worked with AAA, like Andrade, for a couple of years. He still won't be allowed to work with them, and nor will any of the CMLL talent be allowed."

Mistico vs. Rocky Romero will be taped tonight in Rosenberg, Texas. The match will air on TNT this Friday and the contest will reportedly have a special presentation.

H/T to WrestleTalk