Lucha Underground – Season One Episode 35 – 8th July 2015
Fuel To The Fire
Episode #34 was the first time since the very early days of the promotion that I didn’t come away feeling entirely enthused about Lucha Underground. Chavo’s injury was obviously an exceptional circumstance but the rest of the in-ring content was pretty poor, the presentation of the product was confused and the amount of storyline development we actually saw was minimal. Ultima Lucha has given the entire promotion a sense of purpose heading into the Season Finale – but it’s also meant a lot of the shows between now and then come off as filler rather than events in their own right. Hopefully this episode will see us rebound strongly. Nothing has been announced ahead of time, but reading ahead it looks like we are getting the biggest multi-man tag match in LU history, plus Mil Muertes in singles action as he prepares for the Ultima Lucha main event. As usual, Matt Striker and Vampiro provide commentary from Boyle Heights, CA.
Pentagon talks to his master, who isn’t revealed and has his voice distorted so that he sounds like the Jigsaw Killer. Penta is disappointed that Vampiro refuses to face him at Ultima Lucha…so his Master suggests he prey on his ego (his ‘weakness’). Pentagon leaves by saying that if he can’t face Vampiro, he’ll have to ‘destroy Ian Hodgkinson’ instead.
SIDENOTE – I can’t believe anyone is too excited about seeing Vampiro wrestle in Lucha Underground, but giving credit where it is due – they have managed and built this feud exceptionally well.
The Mack vs Cage
The rivalry between these two men continues to grow. They clashed during the Trios Tournament, exploded when Cage assaulted The Mack in the locker rooms, and took over a four-way Aztec Medallion Match a couple of weeks ago. These two sizeable and deceptively athletic individuals really don’t like each other…and want to settle the score here tonight.
They sprint into battle at breakneck speed, trading big strikes and Cage even attempting an early springboard moonsault. RUNNING SUPLEX by Mack gets 2, but The Machine hits back with a final cut neckbreaker. Flying knee off the second rope by Willie; these two are dropping bombs on each other! TURNBUCKLE EXPLODER SCORES! Cage dodges the frog splash…and flies at Mack with the DISCUS LARIAT for 2! Big Willie bumped on his neck for that! Running uppercut by Cage…no sold…RUNNING ELBOW by Mack! The Machine throws a boot, only for Willie to duck under it and schoolboy him for a flash pin! The Mack wins at 04:01
Rating - *** - These two need to wrestle again if they can keep up this pace and work this style for a little longer. It didn’t last long, but watching two men of this size work like junior heavyweights was quite outrageous. They didn’t need weapons, they didn’t need ludicrous highspots or crazy gimmicks – this was two dudes conveying their hatred for each other by trying to beat the hell out of their opponent. This was a blast…
Catrina haunts Son Of Havoc in the locker rooms. The Disciples Of Death are coming for the Trios Titles…but tonight Death itself comes for him in the form of Mil Muertes. Ivelisse appears and tries to attack Catrina, but she dissipates leaving Ive and Havoc in a compromising position. Angelico walks in and sarcastically complains about them getting back together. The season-long arc for this team has been a joy to watch.
Vampiro conducts a sit-down interview with Pentagon, looking to explain why he is declining to face him at Ultima Lucha. He apologises to Penta for getting physically involved…then asks who ‘The Master’ is. No answer from Pentagon, who instead goads Vamp and calls him a coward. He gets right in Vampiro’s face, then leaves him clearly battling demons and the voices in his head once more…
Mil Muertes vs Son Of Havoc
This is a great choice of preparatory opponent for Muertes as he gears up for Prince Puma at Ultima Lucha. Havoc, like Puma, is smaller and phenomenally athletic so will recreate the kind of challenge the #1 contender will face in the final match of the season. Catrina has also made it known that she wants her Disciples Of Death to challenge for the Trios Championship, meaning Mil will make that a far easier task if he inflicts a real beating on Havoc here.
The newfound unity of the Trios Champions is evident as both Havoc and Ivelisse accompany him to the ring. Son Of comes out trying to trade strikes with Mil, and actually takes him off his feet with a springboard crossbody. His attacks aren’t having much of an impact however…and Muertes responds with a huge biel which sends him straight over the top rope. He tosses Havoc throw rows of chairs and smashes him across the back with on when he tries to crawl out. POWERBOMB INTO THE ANNOUNCE TABLE! Shades of the Drago and Fenix matches here and, as Striker points out, ‘a clear message being sent to Prince Puma’. The fans rally behind SOH who retaliates with a desperate tope suicida. Springboard double stomp/standing moonsault combo gets 2. He backflips out of a chokeslam attempt too…but gets tagged with an emphatic right hand which puts him down again. Last gasp Shooting Star Press misses! Catrina and Ivelisse face off on the outside…and seemingly from nowhere the Disciples Of Death appear to assault Angelico. Is Ivelisse under Catrina’s spell? She seems almost powerless to defend herself as Catrina NAILS her with the stone she uses to control Muertes. SPACE FLYING TIGER DIVE FROM HAVOC TO THE DISCIPLES! SPEAR FROM MIL TO HAVOC! FLATLINER! Muertes wins at 07:09
Rating - *** - Much like the opener, this was constantly moving, always entertaining…and a far better way to use in-ring action to enhance and build storylines going into Ultima Lucha than anything we saw last week. As I’ve said before, Muertes is at his best when he’s manhandling smaller guys who can take big bumps for him. It’s chemistry we’ve seen with Drago and Fenix before and Havoc replicated. They struck the perfect balance between Mil looking dominant whilst not completely killing SOH’s momentum, and that wild finishing sequence perfectly set the table for a Trios Title Match at Ultima Lucha too.
Texano gets some in-ring promo time to talk about how much he likes hurting people (‘breaking asses’ too apparently) and how proud he is to represent Mexico. Chavo Guerrero brought shame on his country by disrespecting Sexy Star, Mascarita Sagrada and Blue Demon Jr. – so he wants to face him at Ultima Lucha whether he’s injured or not. The Crew attack Texano from behind, only for Blue Demon to come out and chase them away. Cisco then hands a chair to Demon…WHO NAILS TEXANO! Tex is busted open and brutally assaulted by BDJ. Again Demon screams ‘I am Mexico’…and demands Texano face him at Ultima Lucha.
SIDENOTE – I have made it perfectly clear that I don’t rate Blue Demon, but considering the circumstances LU have been given with Chavo’s injury this is an interesting direction to take the silly ‘Mexico’ storyline. Turning Demon rudo is a bold move. Whether Texano is the man to drag something half-decent out of his lazy ass at Ultima Lucha is another matter.
Before the next match Striker announces that Drago vs Hernandez is now official for Ultima Lucha
Alberto El Patron/Sexy Star/Drago/Aero Star vs Johnny Mundo/Jack Evans/Super Fly/Hernandez
To hype their match at Ultima Lucha, Mundo and Alberto have been given the opportunity to select teams and face each other in Lucha Underground’s first ever ‘Atomicos Match’. They’ve selected an explosive mix of athletes with a multitude of scores to settle between them. Sexy Star and Super Fly don’t like each other, Drago and Hernandez have a huge beef after Hernandez cost the Dragon his #1 contendership spot, whilst Evans and Aero are the only two living Aztec Medallion holders currently with us.
Mundo is still showing visible wounds from All Night Long, and starts by refusing to face Alberto man-to-man. Jack breakdances in front of El Patron…who B*TCHSLAPS him into the dirt! Aero rocks his fellow Aztec Medallion holder with a Meteora then hits a Déjà vu headscissors on Super Fly. Drago tricks Fly out of the ring and calls out Hernandez as Mundo and Alberto start chasing each other around ringside! All of the rudos put the boots to AEP on the floor and set about trying to isolate him from his partners. Johnny, of course, immediately flees the moment that Alberto starts to fight back. SPRINGBOARD BACKWARDS DIVE BY AERO! SKY TWISTER PRESS TO THE FLOOR BY DRAGO! TOP ROPE CORKSCREW PLANCHA BY SEXY! Meanwhile El Patron chases Johnny up the stairs of The Temple all around the arena. Aero hits the Springboard Splash on Fly before taking a cheap shot from Evans. The rudos isolate Aero Star for a minute or so…but can’t keep the Spaceman down! Sexy tags and instantly tricks Mundo into socking his own partner, Evans, with a lariat. She swings wild punches in Super Fly’s direction, taking her eye off the ball and allowing Hernandez to give her the Argentine backbreaker. Lungblower from Alberto to Hernandez! ROMPE DESTINOS ON EVANS! BROKEN WITH FIN DEL MUNDO! Johnny pins Sexy with a handful of tights to take a cheap victory at 09:25
Rating - *** - For the third time on this episode, this match had great in-ring action which stood alone as entertaining content whilst also building perfectly towards Ultima Lucha. If I’m being ultra-critical I’d say that, with this many athletes involved in a match, all of them standing around and watching as Aero sets up for his 32nd springboard dive of the match looks extremely fake and silly. But that’s a minor quibble for a sub-ten minute match which featured eight competitors fighting at high speeds, promoting multiple feuds and building to a great finish which saw Mundo outsmart his great rival El Patron then score a dickhead victory as well. As I’ve said already – Puma/Muertes is being marketed as the main event for Ultima Lucha, but to me Mundo/Alberto is easily the top draw for the season finale.
NEXT WEEK – Prince Puma and Mil Muertes will be brought face to face in the ring to promote their championship showdown.
And as Matt Striker announces that Pentagon Jr. comes through the crowd to attack Vampiro from behind with a steel chair. He douses the fallen Vamp in gasoline AND PULLS OUT A LIGHTER! He gives Vampiro one week to decide – if he won’t fight at Ultima Lucha, Penta will burn him alive!
Tape Rating - *** - After a bad episode last week Lucha Underground rebounded perfectly here. Three gripping and exciting matches, some intriguing character developments (Pentagon at the end and Blue Demon’s turn), and more terrific backstage supernatural skits featuring Catrina – this is exactly the kind of broadcast one comes to expect from LU. Is it Ultima Lucha yet? I’m too excited!