It go so ridiculous that they signed Brad Rheingans to come in and job on house shows to guys like Tiger Chung Lee, and this was circa 1988. Rheingans was still the centerpiece of Verne's training camp at the time (so I've heard).
Guys that had defaulted to the higher spots on the card in the AWA, like perennial mid-carder Dave Petersen, were signed away as well and used primarily as jobbers. Hell, they even signed Baron Von Raschke away from Verne briefly to manage the Powers of Pain.
The signing of Mexican stars is nothing like that was, imo. Vince was actively trying to put Verne out of business. if Vince was trying to do the same thing here, we'd all be able to tell.