It is being reported by Super Luchas magazine that Antonio Pena passed away yesterday morning of a massive heart attack at the age of 53.
Pena was the head booker for CMLL (then called EMLL) until 1992, when he left the company and founded AAA alongside Konnan. It was a bold move. EMLL had become known for only promoting older, slower luchadors into the main event scene, while the younger guys were relegated to the undercard. When Pena and Konnan left, they took almost all of the young talent with them. In addition, Konnan scoured the independent scene in Mexico (particularly in Tijuana, a hotbed for lucha to this day) for additional talent.
AAA was a hit and its popularity would continue to grow over the next few years, culminating in the When World Collide pay-per-view event in 1994 (which was co-produced and promoted by WCW). This was the American audience’s first widespread exposure to the lucha style, and culminated in a main event which saw Konnan taking on Perro Aguayo (Sr.) in a steel cage match. The show featured many past and present American stars such as Tito Santana, Madonna’s Boyfriend (Louie Spicolli), Psicosis, Rey Misterio Jr., Pegasus Kid (Chris Benoit), 2 Cold Scorpio, and La Parka. The show is also wiedely known for the epic hair vs. mask match between Octagon and El Hijo del Santo taking on La Pereja del Terror (Love Machine and Eddy Guerrero).
AAA’s influence continued to grow in the United States as well during the late 1990’s. Most (if not all) of the luchadors working for WCW came from AAA. In addition, ECW’s Super Crazy was also an AAA competitor.
In 2004, AAA began a working relationship with TNA during the World X-Cup tournament which saw AAA’s Juventud Guerrera, Hector Garza, Mr. Aguila, Heavy Metal, and Abismo Negro forming Team Mexico. The agreement ended later that year. Despite this, TNA wrestlers do still appear on AAA shows (likely due to the influence of Konnan, who has become the chief booker in AAA).
Pena had apparently been in declining health for a while, but his death was still unexpected. AAA had even run a television taping the night before he passed away. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. Pena’s family and friends.
