WWE Hall of Famer John “Bradshaw” Layfield (JBL) had high praise for WWE’s recent “Worlds Collide” crossover event with Lucha Libre AAA, calling the integration “awesome” and singling out AAA star Mr. Iguana as a future “merch bonanza.” He shared his thoughts on the successful inter-promotional show during the latest episode of “Something to Wrestle With.”
Host Conrad Thompson praised the presentation of the Worlds Collide show, noting that it felt authentic to AAA with details like Mexican flag-colored ropes and the inclusion of AAA figures like Miss Marisela. He then asked for JBL’s thoughts on Mr. Iguana, who has become a breakout star. “I love Mr. Iguana. That kid is awesome. He is so funny,” JBL responded enthusiastically.
JBL noted that Mr. Iguana’s unique character stems from a genuine passion. “He’s an iguana fan. He’s not just, I mean, this isn’t just some bullshit gimmick that he’s carrying around. I mean, he knows all about iguanas,” he said. “This comes out of a passion that he has.”
JBL sees massive potential for Mr. Iguana with the WWE audience, particularly with merchandise. “I agree with you, this is a merch bonanza. Yes, this kid, they’re going to sell so many frequent iguanas,” he stated. “And it’s not just because he’s got a colorful look and a colorful little iguana that goes with it. It’s because of him… That kid has gotten over in Mexico. I’ve watched him every time I go down there… He can work. He can do all this crazy stuff. The people love him.”
He believes that while the character will need to “morph a little bit” for American audiences, Mr. Iguana is “smart enough to do it.” JBL also spoke positively about Lucha Libre talent in general, stating, “It’s hard to get over anywhere, and they are massive stars in Mexico. If they can figure it out there, they can figure it out somewhere else.”
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit AdFreeShows.com with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.