AEW & CMLL Strategy To Stop WWE From Poaching Talent Revealed

Both All Elite Wrestling and WWE are fearful of another "Stephanie Vaquer situation" and have taken measures to prevent such a scenario from happening. Stephanie Vaquer infamously impressed in her match with Mercedes Moné at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door, which led to her leaving CMLL and signing with WWE just weeks later.

With WWE having become more involved in Lucha Libre through their pending acquisition of AAA, there have been fears the organisation will look to poach CMLL's top talents at some point in the future. AEW and CMLL have worked together to stop any potential poaching from WWE, however, as it emerged in recent weeks that Hechicero had reportedly signed a dual contract with AEW and CMLL.

Dave Meltzer has reported on Wrestling Observer Radio that Hechicero isn't the only talent, though, and several luchadors are believed to be signed to both CMLL and All Elite Wrestling. Fears of AEW/CMLL poaching a AAA wrestler, though, are also prevalent within WWE, which is why WWE have signed several AAA wrestlers to contracts ahead of the acquisition's completion.

"There was a story out last week about Hechicero signing like a dual contract and I think it's true. I have not had that confirmed, but in Mexico the feeling is that there's several guys, Mistico may be one of them, there's several guys who have dual contracts. This goes on both sides. Neither side wants another Stephanie Vaquer situation, which is basically that they put someone on a TV show and the other group steals them. WWE has those guys signed, AEW/CMLL, whatever, has a lot of those guys signed," Meltzer said.

AEW and CMLL have been partnered since late 2023 and the working relationship has proved fruitful for both promotions. WWE, meanwhile, are planning to operate AAA as a developmental territory with the ultimate goal being for wrestlers to move to NXT and the WWE main roster.

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