World Wrestling League will have their last show (with that name) today. The company, founded in 2012, rose up to through the ranks of Puerto Rican wrestling in less than 10 years.
As we reported a few weeks ago, WWL will now be called La Liga Wrestling. The change of name was the big news of 2020. The wrestling promotion was number one on the island when it came to attendance and wresting quality. Although not always taking the best decision, there is no doubt that the best available talent is currently sitting in La Liga Wrestling.
Now, on Sunday, the promotion prepares to take new steps toward the future. The WWL name came with a little curse, caused by their former owner, Richard Negrin. The promotion started strong in their early days, with a tour in Mexico and a show in Puerto Rico’s biggest venue, “El Choliseo”. The economic expending was obvious since the beginning, big names like Samoa Joe, Caristico, Bobby Roode, La Parka (R.I.P.), and James Storm became synonymous with the appeal of WWL. Things went awry quickly. Negrin, the owner, quickly realized how big of an economic loss and chaos wrestling brings. He closed down WWL in 2015.
WWL and its overspending
A pattern of shitting down and opening again the promotion became habitual to WWL, until 2016, when former WWF/E star, Savio Vega, bought the company. Vega swam against the current, but to no avail. His economic power was limited and he didn’t have the young stars that could draw him any money.
Things quickly changed when Boris Bilbraut and other business partners bought the company from Savio Vega (he still had some rights). They brought the money to lure Mr. 450, who previously had a blow-out with the booking decisions of WWC.
He wasn’t the only, later it was the promisings Mike Mendoza and Angel Fashion; they decided that the new The Crash Lucha Libre and WWL alliance (formed by former AAA booker, “Moody” Jack Melendez, and Konnan) was attractive. These changes made WWL a distinct and exciting new company in 2017. Their debut show, Golpe de Estado 2017, drew over 500 fans, with indy chants and loud receptions. This signaled the new dominance of WWL.
From 2018-2019, WWL had no competition what-so-ever. WWC started a slow fall, that had them averaging 80-100 fans per show and on some occasions, canceling shows. Mr.450 became their top drawer, while at the same time, developing new names like Primos Melendez, Westside Mafia, and Mark Davidson. The top matches of the last 3 years have been presented in a WWL ring.
La Liga Wrestling
But still, the W-W-L was still looming in its identity. The letters represented the dark times of wild spending, WCW-like egos, and uncertainty. It was tainted, with many thinking that the name didn’t fit the description. Here we had a promotion of purely local talent (the only big international star brought to the company were of Puerto Rican descent, like AEW’s Proud-and-Powerfull) being called the “WORLD wrestling league”.
The new name fits the mold of a more local, but still exciting wrestling promotion. In recent years, fans started to call the company La Liga, without even acknowledging WWL. Behind are the years of uncertain futures, with fans wondering if the match they were watching was part of the last years of WWL. La Liga Wrestling will start with a modern arena, eager young talent and a new name to be proud of.
