Add as a preferred source on Google WWE has made a curious decision for September, scheduling Friday Night SmackDown in Mexico City on the same night AAA will hold the first night of Triplemanía 34 in Las Vegas.
The company confirmed that SmackDown will take place on September 11 at Arena CDMX, while Night One of Triplemanía 34 will be held at the Luxor Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Two days later, on September 13, Night Two of AAA’s biggest annual event will take place at Arena CDMX.
According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the decision stood out not because of Las Vegas itself, but because of the size of the venue chosen for the first night.
The Luxor Theater has a much smaller capacity than expected for an event of that scale, ranging from roughly 600 to 1,000 people depending on the setup.
“The surprise was not Las Vegas, since most expected it there, but that it will be in a building with a capacity that can be between 700 and 980 depending upon the set-up. Clearly that is far too small.”
“When WWE was able to get controlling interest in AAA last year this was not about beating CMLL in Mexico, although recent actions show that is clearly a goal. It was to build a Lucha Libre product, although one would it’s not really Lucha Libre, that they can sell media rights to and merchandise to Hispanics and others in the U.S. The money isn’t in Mexico and it’s not about appealing to Mexican culture.”
It is also worth remembering that this will mark the first time in 15 years that SmackDown and Monday Night RAW will be held in Mexico. RAW is scheduled for September 14, also at Arena CDMX, one day after the second night of Triplemanía 34.
As of now, no matches have been announced for Triplemanía 34.