WWE Hall of Famer John “Bradshaw” Layfield (JBL) had glowing praise for the recent WWE x AAA Worlds Collide premium live event, especially spotlighting rising AAA sensation Mr. Iguana. On the latest episode of Something to Wrestle With, JBL called the crossover “awesome” and predicted big things for Mr. Iguana’s future with WWE.
Co-host Conrad Thompson highlighted the attention to detail in the show’s presentation, including Mexican flag-colored ropes and the presence of AAA figurehead Marisela Peña. When asked for his take on the breakout luchador, JBL lit up: “I love Mr. Iguana. That kid is awesome. He is so funny.”
According to JBL, Mr. Iguana’s unique character isn’t just for show—it’s driven by real passion. “He’s an iguana fan. This isn’t just some bulls**t gimmick. He knows all about iguanas. This comes from something real, something he loves,” JBL explained.
JBL sees Mr. Iguana as a merchandising goldmine, especially for WWE’s family-oriented fanbase. “This is a merch bonanza. They’re going to sell so many freakin’ iguanas,” he said, referencing the puppet sidekick “Yezka” that accompanies Mr. Iguana to the ring. “It’s not just the colorful look or the puppet—he’s got charisma, timing, and the fans in Mexico adore him.”
While JBL acknowledged that the character may need some adjustment for American audiences, he expressed full confidence in the luchador’s ability to evolve. “He’ll need to morph a little bit, but he’s smart enough to do it. He’s gotten over big-time in Mexico. If you can do that, you can figure it out anywhere.”
JBL also praised the broader collaboration with Lucha Libre AAA, underscoring how difficult it is to get over with any crowd—let alone in two different cultures. “These are massive stars in Mexico. If they can figure it out there, they can figure it out somewhere else.”
Mr. Iguana recently appeared at WWE x AAA Worlds Collide, teaming with Psycho Clown and Pagano in a losing effort against Legado del Fantasma. With his unique appeal and merchandise success already driving buzz, his direct-to-main-roster WWE debut may be one of the most unconventional—and potentially successful—moves in recent memory.
Stay locked to PWMania.com for more on Mr. Iguana and continued coverage of the WWE and AAA partnership.
(h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription)
