Report: AAA Planned Huge AEW Crossover Angle For Cain Velasquez

The former WWE Universal Title challenger almost got into it with these AEW affiliates...

Cain Velasquez Junior dos Santos
WWE/AEW

AAA tried to book a confrontation between former UFC rivals Junior dos Santos and Cain Velasquez at Triplemania Regia this Saturday (4 December).

This is according to AAA's head of creative, Konnan, who made the claims on his Keepin' It 100 podcast. Dos Santos would have shown up after Velasquez's first pro wrestling match since leaving WWE in 2020 and issue a challenge to his old foe, though other obligations will prevent JDS from appearing.

Marc Raimondi of ESPN has since corroborated the story. American Top Team leader Dan Lambert would have flown down to Mexico with Dos Santos, whom he trains, but this is now off the table.

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Velasquez will team with Pagano and Psycho Clown to face L.A. Park, Taurus, and Rey Escorpion at Triplemania Regia. It'll be his first wrestling match since losing to Brock Lesnar at WWE Crown Jewel in October 2019. Dos Santos, meanwhile, was involved in the American Top Team/Men of the Year vs. Inner Circle rivalry in the lead up to AEW Full Gear 2021 (13 November), wrestling two bouts, including one of the pay-per-view itself.

Dos Santos vs. Velasquez is a classic UFC heavyweight rivalry, with the duo working three title fights in 2011, 2012, and 2013, all of which finished via knockout or TKO.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.