Konnan says AAA has plans to do a reality show to find a new AAA women’s wrestler. The show – which does not have a network or a start date or a place where you can send in your application – is said to have been in the works for months. Konnan says they’re interested in women who are doing judo, karate, boxing or in fitness competitions. No mention of women who are already wrestling. The Apaches would train the wrestlers, and Latin Lover, Gloria Trevi, and Konnan would act as judges (obvious American Idol comparisons made.) Konnan feels like AAA needs to compete better with WWE’s women, because right now they don’t have enough girls to fill a calendar. One more wouldn’t seem to do it, but one would suppose many of the runner ups will also get signed, much like happens in the WWE Diva Search they’re riffing off of here. A couple of the articles mention the Divas Search, and Konnan says the reasons to do this are similar; ratings have gone up (for WWE) when women are used, but these women would be more athletic as opposed to the models WWE goes for.
WWE’s stopped doing the Diva Search, and it’s been noted random segments with their Divas have long stopped generating that ratings bump (at least in the US) that was there in years prior. Over exposure and too many indistinguishable women are thought to be the reasons. Too many anonymous women dilutes the whole effect, but that wouldn’t seem to be a problem AAA, at least the first time thru. There’s really only 6 women on the roster (Fabi, Mari, Estrellita, Sexi Star, Cinthia, and Tiffany), so a new face is going to stand out. On the other hand, the AAA Brain Trust seems completely disinterested in putting women on TV; it is not an exaggeration to say the only women who get on TV are Fabi Apache and Whoever Is Feuding With Fabi Apache. It’s kinda looks like the minis title tournament, a whole lot of effort that won’t mean much unless they’re planning to change the status quo. Having another TV show is good, and maybe it’ll lead to an actual second TV show of wrestling, but I don’t know how much this affects things as far as the show we see weekly. If the show even happens.
Oddity: This interview is said to be from Konnan as he’s filming the voice for his character in the AAA movie. Which is strange, since the AAA movie was supposed to be all voice actors. (And then, earlier this week, AAA posted about Mesias doing his own voice, and the rest being all voice actors. Judging from LuchandoLibre’s article, characters with small parts are being done by the actual wrestlers, but the main Abismo/Octagon/Parka guys are getting voice actors.) It’s also strange this is coming out in a random interview with Konnan and not from AAA, but such are things. I’d only be mildly surprised if this was on TV for weeks and I’m only hearing about it now.
This whole story got a lot more coverage than I’d figured. I wish I had all the links originally, but it was a lot more different takes on the story than the usual one wire copy repeated everywhere. As the article mention, it was a scheduled press event (probably both to promote the upcoming movie and to sell someone on this concept), but they definitely got people interested in the concept.
The show itself could potentially be interesting if it’s done properly. If Latin Lover will be a judge then the show will be worth watching.
As good as the show may be I am skeptical because of the intent. The intent is to “compete” with the WWE. I dont’ know what delusional world Konnan lives in but AAA is not competing with the WWE. In Mexico they are on the same network and at different times. It’s not like the Monday night wars when RAW and Nirto were on at the same time on different networks. Also, WWE only tours Mexico once a year, so that’s not competition.
As much as Konnan sais he’s competing with the WWE the reality is that he’s COPYING the WWE. He’s playing “follow the leader” and thus admitting that his product is inferior to theirs. My fear is that he wants to start a movement to use women the same way WWE does, which will lead to a boring and diluted women division.
As it is right now AAA doesn’t even utalize the women they do have, so unless that changes, this reality show will not have any lasting benefits. It may generate interest initially but that will fizz out fast without a solid follow through when it’s over.
@Daniel: Actually, Cubs screwed up translating the information. Latin Lover isn’t judging. He’s participating in the actual contest.
@Rob: I’m sure you’ll be auditioning too.
As usual, it seems people work themselves up by giving Konnan credit for something he’s not doing.
Televisa or some boss there must have a big fetish for that kind of thing since they’ve trying to do that for 20 years or so, since the old times when they aired GLOW… they had reruns of it at least through 1999 (I dunno if they kept it as I didn’t watch tv for a while) and they always talked about “you’ll be seeing this very same concept in Mexico very soon.”
“El reconocido luchador Konnan reveló que Televisa prepara un nuevo ‘reality show'” Televisa probably offered it to cmll as they are across the street, but cmll come up with a male stripper reality show idea… =p
If you read the article, Konnan does not know nothing about the proyect, which is done by Televisa, not AAA. He’s just hired as a judge and that’s it. He then just go on on some ramblings which can’t be taken serious.
@xuisaw: “He then just go on on some ramblings which can’t be taken serious.”
Isn’t that what happens every time Konnan opens his mouth?
@Rob: Right, so why people care at all?