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We've all been familiar with WWE games since the '80s. They've been released nonstop to this day. But they're part of the childhood of many people like me, who fondly remember receiving WWE Smackdown Versus Raw 2011 or the legendary Smackdown Versus Raw 2007 for Christmas, creating chaos on YouTube because I told them so. Those were the days.

We've always dreamed of having our Mexican wrestlers in these games. Doing this crossover between Mexican and American wrestling, or simply creating our own arenas to see La Parca (The Grim Reaper) face off against another wrestler.

But what if I told you that in 2010, a Mexican experiment with AAA wrestlers took place? And the worst part is that it ended in lawsuits and a series of controversies.

People of the internet, here we are: Lucha Libre AAA: Heroes del Ring

Maybe you remember it, or maybe you didn't even know it. Yes, in 2010, Triple A, in collaboration with Slang, released this video game for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii consoles. Yes, there was a Wii version, but don't worry, we'll talk about the game itself later.

First, a little history. Since 2009, Triple A, one of the two largest wrestling companies in Mexico, had been developing a video game. This idea, I understand, came from Dorian Roldán, who at the time was exploring the brand in other areas such as film. He is currently the company's CEO.

All doubts would be resolved at Konami's E3 presentation, where we would finally see more of the game and what it was all about.

E3 2010 arrived, and with it the video game's presentation. The first thing we saw was the trailer, which featured The Chosen One, Silver King, and Psycho Clown, along with the tagline they were trying to brand the game with:

In addition to featuring Dr. Wagner Jr. on the video game's cover.

All doubts would be resolved at Konami's E3 presentation, where we would finally see more of the game and what it was all about. E3 2010 arrived, and with it the video game's presentation. The first thing we saw was the trailer, which featured The Chosen One, Silver King, and Psycho Clown, and also featured the tagline they were trying to position the game with:

This is not wrestling, it's lucha libre.

In addition to featuring Dr. Wagner Jr. on the game's cover, a Slang executive or president would be in charge of talking about this title, introducing The Chosen One, The Grim Reaper, and Silver King.

The idea was to promote this game with a series of fights during the convention, where there would be a champion at the end. Even Dr. Wagner Jr. sent a message saying he'd be there to win that championship. After this, the wrestlers were supposed to be weighed as if it were a boxing match, but everything went wrong, and they started throwing punches, racket blows, machete blows, whatever you want to call them.

And so, without fanfare, the title's presentation took place, without showing the roster or the game types, nothing. The only fights during E3 week were wrestlers like The Grim Reaper, Dr. Wagner, Silver King, The Chosen One, Psycho Clown, Laredo Kid, Aerostar, and others.

At least for the American and international audiences, they were somewhat unknown, except for The Grim Reaper.

By the way, according to the game, it would be released for all platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, Nintendo DS, and PSP. You could even pre-order it and all that. Something that didn't happen, but oh well.

Setting and game modes

The first thing that appeared when you started the game was an intro in the purest Mexican folklore style, featuring the song "Los Luchadores" by Sonora Santanera, introducing you to part of the roster, as well as a very brief explanation of the rudos and tecnicos.

You also saw iconic moments in the main event, and in general, it prepared you to understand a little bit that this was actually wrestling, especially if it was your first time.

The entire game was set in a worn-out, classic style, like an old wrestling movie. That's why these songs played in the game menu, which over time became addictive.

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Of course, we have several game modes: exhibitions (here called "battle for pride"), story mode, tournament (here called "King of Kings"), online mode, training, wrestler editor, poster editor, and extras. In general, it was what every wrestling game had accustomed us to up to that point.

The problem starts here, because although we Mexicans loved the idea of ​​playing with Triple-A wrestlers, for the rest of the world, the game modes felt limited for the time, as if it were a game from a decade earlier, on the Nintendo 64.

For example, the exhibition only had six types of matches:

• One-on-one

• One-on-two

• One-on-three

• Two-on-two

• Triple threat

• Four-man fatal match

While other games like WWE or even TNA already featured cage matches, extreme matches, and other freedoms.

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The roster was another issue that sparked debate, with 12 wrestlers unlocked at the start:

La Parca, Gronda, El Elegido, Vampiro Canadiense, Octagón, Charlie Manson, Electroshock, El Zorro, Chessman, Dark Cuervo, El Brazo, and Psicosis.

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In general, La Parca, Psicosis, and Vampiro were, I think, the most internationally known. If you were Mexican, there was Super… Although again, it was limited considering that there were generally 31 wrestlers and the WWE game that year had more than 70. Of course, the size of the game can't be compared. At least for me, it wasn't a problem. I was happy to have other big names like Cibernético, El Mesías, Dr. Wagner Jr., Marco Corleone, the Psycho Circus, La Secta, and others.

Commercial failure

Well, it turns out the game, I think (because there's no real data, but that's what everyone says), was a resounding failure, especially in the international market. Critics didn't help, dismissing it as a half-baked game. This led to the cancellation of all upcoming versions of the game, except for one, the mother of them all: the Wii version.

I have no data, but I also have no doubt that this game was made by another developer, maintaining the essence—in theory—of the Xbox and PlayStation versions, but somehow trying to horribly emulate the game, and being terrible. The game was a resounding failure. After that, sales plummeted, and the game was available in stores like Blockbuster for $2, brand new.

My conclusion

We never saw another attempt at reviving it, or even a second version. And more than 15 years after its release, it seems Triple A has no intention of returning to the video game industry.

It's a shame this game didn't get any bigger. I admit it was very limited compared to Smackdown Versus Raw, but it was actually a lot of fun, even if you weren't a wrestling fan.

I played this title with many people who didn't know anyone except La Parca, and it was good. I hope that over time this title continues to become a cult title, or at least one to enjoy from time to time. The first Televisa title, which, thanks to this failure, was followed by Chavo del Ocho games for the Wii. But that's another story.

Anyway, this was the tragic story of Lucha Libre AAA: Heroes of the Ring.