El Hijo del Vikingo’s shocking heel turn at AAA’s Héroes Inmortales event on October 25, 2025, sent shockwaves through the wrestling world. The beloved luchador, once celebrated for his high-flying style and fan-friendly persona, suddenly embraced a cocky, arrogant attitude—berating the crowd, mocking fan favorites, and even throwing a fan’s sign to the ground. But behind the dramatic shift was more than just a creative storyline. According to multiple sources, Vikingo’s heel turn was a direct response to real-life fan backlash, fueled by WWE’s controversial acquisition of AAA and the company’s decision to push Vikingo as the new face of the promotion.
The Backlash That Sparked the Turn
When WWE announced its acquisition of AAA in April 2025, El Hijo del Vikingo was immediately positioned as the Mexican promotion’s top star. He quickly captured the AAA Mega Championship from Alberto El Patrón, a move that was met with mixed reactions. While Vikingo is undeniably talented, many fans felt the title change was rushed and questioned why Alberto El Patrón—a longtime fan favorite—was stripped of the belt so abruptly.
“Vikingo is a great wrestler, but the fans weren’t buying the forced push,” said a source close to AAA’s creative team. “It was like the Roman Reigns situation all over again. WWE tried to make him the guy, but the crowd just wasn’t having it. They started booing him at every show, even when he wasn’t doing anything heelish.”
The backlash intensified after Vikingo retained the title in controversial fashion at TripleManía Regia, where Alberto El Patrón was handcuffed to the ropes as Vikingo escaped the cage. Despite the match not being designed as a heel victory, fans saw it as another example of Vikingo being protected at the expense of a beloved veteran.
The Creative Decision to Lean Into the Heat
Instead of fighting the negative crowd reactions, AAA’s creative team decided to lean into them. According to Konnan, a longtime AAA creative mind and now part of the English-language commentary team since the WWE acquisition, the decision to turn Vikingo heel was a natural progression.
“In Mexico, he just gets booed because people are pissed that they took the title off of ADR to put it on Vikingo,” Konnan explained on his Keepin’ It 100 podcast. “It’s kind of the Roman Reigns thing. ‘Oh, this is who you guys wanna be a star,’ that guy, right? Sometimes people are just waiting to turn so they can get all that out of them, all the s**t that people have been telling them as a babyface… and you’re like, ‘When I become heel, it’s on.’ That’s what’s happened with him.”
The timing of the heel turn—just weeks after Vikingo lost the AAA Mega Championship to Dominik Mysterio at Worlds Collide: Las Vegas—added even more weight to the decision. Vikingo’s loss was tainted by interference from El Grande Americano, further fueling his frustration and giving him a legitimate reason to lash out at the fans.
The Heel Turn at Héroes Inmortales
At Héroes Inmortales, Vikingo made his intentions clear. He entered the arena to a chorus of boos, grabbed a fan’s sign, and threw it to the ground. In the ring, he mocked the crowd, laughing off chants for Alberto El Patrón and telling fans to “get over it.” He then turned his attention to Dominik Mysterio, the new AAA Mega Champion, and questioned the Mexican fans’ support for a wrestler who isn’t Mexican.
“Dominik is not Mexican! He is not Mexican and he is supported by hypocritical people. Yes, I am Mexican and I am the greatest in the whole world, whether you like it or not!” Vikingo declared, drawing even more boos from the crowd.
The segment reached its climax when El Grande Americano, now portrayed by Ludwig Kaiser following Chad Gable’s injury, stormed the ring and confronted Vikingo. The two traded insults before security intervened, setting the stage for a highly anticipated match at AAA’s Alianzas event in Puebla on November 28.
What’s Next for El Hijo del Vikingo?
With his new heel persona, Vikingo is poised to become one of AAA’s most polarizing figures. His upcoming match against El Grande Americano in Puebla—his hometown—will be a major test of his new character. Will the fans continue to reject him, or will his bold new attitude win them over?
According to a WWE insider, Vikingo’s heel turn is part of a larger strategy to reinvigorate AAA’s roster and create fresh storylines in the wake of the WWE acquisition. “They needed someone to step up and fill the void left by Alberto El Patrón,” the insider said. “Vikingo was the obvious choice, but the fans weren’t ready to accept him as the top guy. Now, by turning him heel, they’ve given him a chance to prove himself in a different way.”
Only time will tell if El Hijo del Vikingo can reclaim the AAA Mega Championship and cement his legacy as one of the greatest luchadores of his generation. But one thing is certain: his heel turn has reignited the passion of AAA’s fanbase and set the stage for some of the most compelling wrestling in years.
