The Latin American Xchange

Infobox Wrestling team
article_name=The Latin American X-Change
type=S

---

caption=Homicide & Hernandez after TNA show in Brentwood, Essex (2008)
members=Homicide
Hernandez
names=The Latin American Exchange/X-Change/Xchange (LAX)
billed from=The Latino Nation
former_members=Machete
Apolo
Konnan (leader)
Salinas (valet)
Hector Guerrero (manager)

Associated_Stables=Voodoo Kin Mafia and Team Pacman
debut=2005
promotions=TNA
JAPW|

The Latin American Xchange (also spelled The Latin American Exchange, The Latin American X-Change, and frequently abbreviated to The LAX) is a Hispanic professional wrestling tag team/stable in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, currently consisting of Homicide and Hernandez. The original gimmick of LAX denounced the perceived repression of ethnic minorities by the NWA Championship Committee and TNA Management, and LAX's response as a group of militant street thugs. After turning face, the group continued to stand as proud street Latin Americans, but dropped its militant focus.

History

2005-2006: Konnan vs. the James Gang

LAX emerged out of the breakup of 4Live Kru (newly added member Kip James), which was the result of Konnan being tired of the shenanigans between B.G. James and Kip James. When Kip was permitted into the stable, it was the last straw. At Turning Point 2005, Konnan attacked Kip and B.G. with a chair, signalling that stable's end.

Throughout December, "Bullet" Bob Armstrong, B.G. James' father, tried to get 4Live Kru back together. On the December 31, 2005 episode of "TNA Impact!", when Bullet Bob encountered Konnan, Konnan expressed himself like he had a change of heart, and was willing to talk. However later in the show, two other Hispanic wrestlers, the returning Apolo and the debuting Homicide, ambushed Bullet Bob backstage at Konnan's command. As a result, a feud began between LAX and the James Gang, who sought revenge for the attack.

The feud between LAX and the James Gang continued through January 2006. At Against All Odds 2006 on February 12 2006, Apolo and Homicide were scheduled to wrestle the James Gang. However, Apolo had been released from TNA earlier that month for no-showing an event. His departure was explained on-screen by Konnan, who simply stated that the LAX was expanding, then introduced Apolo's replacement, the debuting Machete. Homicide and Machete went on to lose to the James Gang.

On the March 18 2006 episode of "Impact", Homicide and Machete lost to Shark Boy and Norman Smiley after Konnan inadvertently hit Machete with his slapjack. After the match, Konnan tore off Machete's Puerto Rican t-shirt and threw him out of the stable. On the March 31, 2006 episode of "TNA Xplosion", Konnan justified why he fired Machete, pointing to Machete's loss to Shark Boy. Later that evening, Konnan introduced the newest member of the LAX, the returning Hernandez. Hernandez and Homicide teamed together in a loss to Chris Sabin and Jay Lethal.

2006-2007: The Militant Thugs

LAX were next involved in a angle where they refused to wrestle, claiming that Latinos were "discriminated" against in TNA. The storyline borrowed heavily from the current controversy surrounding illegal immigration. During this time Konnan established a "border" around the Spanish announcer area (where he provided Spanish commentary alongside Moody Jack Melendez) and denied entry to non-Latino individuals (they usually used the derogatory term Gringo when referring to American wrestlers or non-Latino wrestlers in general). LAX often jumped any wrestler(s) who wander too close to the area.

On the June 29 episode of "Impact!", Jim Cornette ordered that LAX's work stoppage would mean a "cheque stoppage." Homicide would wrestle on the July 6 episode, with the stipulation that LAX have a special Spanish ring entrance, announced by Melendez.

Konnan would later make an offer to Ron "The Truth" Killings to join LAX. After Killings denied the offer, LAX assaulted him. LAX also attempted to give Sonjay Dutt a similar beating after one of Dutt's matches, but Killings interfered and made the save; this led to a tag team match at Victory Road between Homicide and Hernandez against Killings and Dutt. Hernandez would pick up the victory for LAX after apliying the "Border Toss" on Dutt.

On the July 20 episode of TNA Impact!, the NWA Tag Team Champions A.J. Styles and Christopher Daniels made an open challenge in which they offered any team on the TNA roster a contract to face them for the titles, including LAX, who would then proceed to attack the champions, causing both of them to bleed, and then sign the contract with Styles' blood.

On the August 24 episode of "Impact!", LAX would defeat Styles and Daniels in a Border Brawl to win the NWA World Tag Team Championship. However, LAX lost the titles back to Styles and Daniels at No Surrender 2006 in the first ever tag team Ultimate X match. LAX would regain the titles in a six sides of steel match at Bound for Glory 2006 after Homicide hit AJ Styles with "Da Gringo Killa".

During the November 16 episode of Impact!, LAX nearly burned the American flag, as they promised one week earlier, but they were stopped by face-turning Petey Williams.

After stealing a victory over America's Most Wanted at Genesis 2006 Konnan told Homicide to use "Da Gringo Killa" on Gail Kim. Petey Williams made the save, and TNA Management Director Jim Cornette stripped them of the Titles for "conduct extremely disrespectful to TNA and its fans." Despite the fans' recent increased recognition of face and heel (as hinted by more boos directed at heel wrestlers, esp. during entrances) and the recent extremism of the "anti-American" actions of the LAX, this actually infuriated the fans in the arena and stirred up some unsavory chants directed at Jim Cornette.

LAX refused to return the belts, hired a lawyer, and kayfabe threatened to sue TNA for violating their First Amendment rights. At that point, Cornette backed down and reinstated LAX as NWA World Tag Team Champions. On the next episode of Impact! they were placed in a match against Kurt Angle and Petey Williams with Cornette stating that he couldn't strip them of the titles but he could make them defend it. Throughout the broadcast LAX took out James Storm and Chris Harris, America's Most Wanted, as well as Petey Williams right before the title match. LAX seemed to have the advantage on Angle when Samoa Joe came out to tag with Angle. Angle and Joe both proceeded to aply their respective submission holds and made both Homicide and Hernandez tap, thus apparently winning the NWA World Tag Team Championships. But soon after the bell sounded Cornette and LAX's lawyer appeared with the lawyer stating Joe was not signed to the contract and the match must be declared a disqualification on Angle to end the show. At Turning Point 2006, LAX defeated America's Most Wanted in a flag match after they managed to hang the Mexican Flag, making the LAX the first non-American team to win a flag match on American soil. They had another victory over America's Most Wanted on December 14 in a "Titles vs. Career" match after James Storm deliberately hit Chris Harris with a beer bottle. The loss forced AMW to disband. This added to the LAX's infamy as they would claim responsibility for the disbanding of Styles & Daniels as well as AMW.

On the January 4 edition of "TNA Impact!", Homicide and Brother Runt competed in a "Lucha Callejera", or Street Fight. The match ended with Hernandez interfering when he applied a Border Toss on Runt, throwing him into a propped-up ladder. Then LAX entered into a feud against "Team 3D".

At "Final Resolution 2007", LAX retained their tag championships by Disqualification against Team 3D, when Brother Runt came out and jumped off the top rope. Konnan was not with LAX; he was injured recovering from hip replacement surgery. The TV storyline cover for the surgery's necessity was a Team 3D "sniper attack". He would later be scheduled to have kidney replacement surgery as well. LAX and 3D met again on Impact! the same week, LAX retained the titles when Hernandez used the slapjack to score a pinfall over Brother Ray.

In mid-February, Machete returned to TNA and to the LAX, although he has not been recognized as part of the TNA roster, in an enforcer/bodyguard role, seen with a Puerto Rican flag bandana over the lower part of his face, pushing the wheelchair-laden Konnan to the ringside area so he could continue managing Homicide and Hernandez during matches. The team revealed even more of a mean streak in the wake of Konnan's injury. The LAX formed an alliance with Alex Shelley, as they would attack the family and friends of Team 3D as Alex videotaped the assaults, which included Brother Ray's real-life uncle, Brother Devon's trainer Johnny Rodz, and even Brother Runt.

In March the teams faced each other in a "Belting Pot" lumberjack match, in which both teams had a group of leather strap-armed followers that would act as lumberjacks in the match. LAX was supported by a group of "Latino Nation" members and Team 3D had a group of "Italian Family" mobsters behind them (this angle was used to promote Brother Ray's Italian roots). Team 3D won that match after the leader of the Italian mobsters (Sopranos star Steve Schirripa) interfered.

The teams would meet again at Destination X in a "Ghetto Brawl", and the match was won by LAX. The teams faced each other the same week in a six man tag match, in what would end up being another victory for LAX. The LAX would claim to rob the legacy of Team 3D, until Team 3D with their honorary WWE, WCW and ECW tag team championships in tow, would challenge LAX at TNA Lockdown 2007. LAX accepted, under the condition that the Six Sides of Steel would be electrified, a match that played into the LAX's favor with its Mexican wrestling heritage. Before the event, LAX would kidnap Brother Runt and shoot him with a tazer gun to antagonize Team 3D. At Lockdown, the LAX would go on to lose to Team 3D as they were defeated in the Electrified Steel Cage match to lose the NWA World Tag Team Championships. At Sacrifice, LAX failed to regain the World Tag Team Titles in a Triple Threat Tag Team match against Team 3D and Scott Steiner & Tomko, although neither LAX member was involved in the decision.

2007-Current: Faces of the Latino Nation

Despite Konnan quitting at the June 19 Impact! tapings [cite web|url= http://www.wrestlingobserver.com/wo/news/headlines/default.asp?aID=19940|title=Wrestling Observer|accessdate=2007-07-01] , Homicide and Hernandez remained in TNA to continue on as LAX. [cite web|url= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrtLA3QXIYQ|title=7/1 TNA Today|accessdate=2007-07-01] . On the July 26, 2007 edition of "Impact!", LAX turned face, attacking the Voodoo Kin Mafia for disgracing the Puerto Rican flag.

At Hard Justice, LAX beat VKM. VKM originally beat LAX when Kip James pinned Hernandez with the Fameasser, however Hector Guerrero showed the referee that VKM had used powder to win. Homicide then pinned Kip with a roll-up.

At the following pay-per-view, Bound for Glory, LAX defeated Elix Skipper and Senshi to become number one contender to the TNA World Tag Team Championships. However, they would be unsuccessful in their attempt to become tag team champions on an episode of Impact when they lost to A.J. Styles and Tomko. In weeks since then, the stable had been aided by a heavily clothed, masked figure which, at Final Resolution 2008 was revealed as Salinas, previously known as Ariel from ECW.

At Destination X LAX got back in the title picture by defeating the Motor City Machine Guns of Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin and the The Rock 'n Rave Infection of Jimmy Rave and Lance Hoyt in a #1 contender's match.

On the May 1, 2008 episode of Impact!, LAX asked Hector Guerrero to be their adviser, which he accepted. On the May 11, 2008 pay-per-view Sacrifice, LAX won the vacant TNA Tag Titles after defeating Team 3D in the "Deuces Wild" tournament final with help from Guerrero. Afterwards, Team 3D attacked Hector and left him beaten, creating a feud between LAX and Team 3D. After defeating 3D to retain the tag straps, they would find themselves in a feud with Beer Money (James Storm (with Jacqueline) and Robert Roode). Beer Money whipped all four members of LAX with belts, resulting in a Fans' Revenge match being booked for the tag titles at Victory Road.

At Hard Justice, The Latin American X-Change fought the team of Beer Money, Inc. once again for the TNA World Tag Team Championship. After a hard fought battle between the two teams, Beer Money, Inc. claimed victory in the match when Roode crashed a beer bottle over Homicide's head, allowing Storm to gain the pinfall, ending LAX's four month reign as champions.

At No Surrender, LAX was once again defeated by Beer Money, Inc when they met for a championship rematch. Before the match, Jacqueline was revealed to have attacked Salinas backstage, and as a result she had to be rushed to the hospital. This was done to write her out of the LAX and their feud with Beer Money on-screen, and explain her departure from TNA shortly before the PPV event.

On the September 25, 2008, edition of "Impact!" Homicide, Hernandez and Hector Guerrero fought Roode, Storm and Jacqueline in a six person "Loser's manager leaves town" match. Beer Money, Inc. won the match when Roode pinned Hernandez and as a result of the match Guerrero can no longer manage Homicide and Hernandez in TNA.

On September 30, 2008, it was announced on ROHwrestling.com that LAX would be brought in to ROH for the Hartford and Edison ROH shows on 10/24 and 10/25, respectively. This will be Homicide's first appearance for ROH since April 28, 2007 and Hernandez's first since November 29, 2003.

In wrestling

*Finishing and signature tag team moves
**Hernandez and Homicide
***"5150" (Elevated "Gringo Stunna")
***"Border Toss" by Hernandez followed by a frog splash by Homicide
***"Drive–By" (Slingshot by Hernandez into a clothesline by Homicide knocking the opponent backwards followed by a running senton onto the opponent draped over Hernandez's knees)
**Machete and Homicide
***Elevated diving bulldog
*Signature foreign object
**Slapjack
*Entrance themes
**"Dawgz" by Konnan
**"To Live and Die In LAX"
**"Hardcore" by Filthee / Brickman Raw
*Associates
**The group also had an association with Spanish language broadcaster "Moody Jack" Melendez, with whom Konnan broadcasted when not managing Homicide and Hernandez but after Konnan's departure, the association between LAX and Melendez ended. This dynamic would be revisited, however, as another Spanish broadcaster, Hector Guerrero, who the group had actually feuded loosely with during Konnan's tenure, later became the manager of the team.
**On occasion, the group would be backed up by a troupe of implied Hispanic thugs referred to as the Latino Nation. During Konnan's wheelchair stint, Machete would briefly return to wheel Konnan around, referenced as a member of the Latino Nation and sparingly recognized by his ring name.
**The addition of Salinas and Hector Guerrero makes LAX be one of the few prominent stables/teams to ever have both a valet and a male manager at the same time.
*Entrance
**When LAX enters an arena, periodic switching between the live footage and the entrance video takes place, a technique used in the past for both the nWo and D-Generation X, stables also known for their anti-authority beliefs. A yellow wash over the video is also present. The entrance video features propaganda-esque material, such as Latin American military and militia footage, rebellious flag wavers, and portraits of Che Guevara.

Championships and accomplishments

*Jersey All Pro Wrestling
**JAPW Tag Team Championship: Homicide and Hernandez (1 time, current)
*Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
**NWA World Tag Team Championship: Homicide and Hernandez (2 times)
**TNA Match Of The Year 2006 – vs. A.J. Styles and Christopher Daniels at TNA No Surrender
**TNA World Tag Team Championship: Homicide and Hernandez (1 time)
**TNA Deuces Wild Tournament 2008 winners
*FIGHTING SPIRIT magazine
**The Heyman Award
*Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
**Tag Team of the Year (2006)
**Best Gimmick (2006)

References