Lucha Underground – Season Two Episode 4 – 17th February 2016
Cero Miedo
I’ve really been impressed with the opening few episodes of this season. In the ring it has largely been solid but unspectacular (although the two Fenix/Cuerno matches both rocked) but it is the strength of the story-telling that really has me interested. Catrina and Mil Muertes’ dark reign over The Temple is really fun and stylistically so different to Dario Cueto’s plot from last season. The crowded LU Title picture with Pentagon, Puma, Mundo, Cage, Fenix and more all openly gunning for Mil is making for thrilling television. Even when absent from The Temple El Jefe’s storyline is fascinating to watch unfold, as he feeds unsuspecting meatheads to Matanza in his ‘underground fight club’ whilst the cops (including undercover officers Cortez Castro and Joey Ryan – who debuts tonight) investigate his whereabouts. Even the little character enhancement titbits, like Aero Star as a time traveller, Rey Mysterio mentoring the young Dragon Azteca Jr. or Marty The Moth imprisoning Sexy Star, have been great. Here’s hoping that continues tonight – which features a blockbuster main event pitting Prince Puma and Pentagon Jr. against each other. Pentagon’s ‘Master’, Vampiro, is on commentary at ringside with Matt Striker. We are taped in Boyle Heights, CA.
Ivelisse barges into Catrina’s office to continue their uneasy chemistry. She wants a Trios Title shot against the Disciples Of Death…but Catrina refuses and tells her she has to earn it. There’s a new trios team itching to make their mark apparently. These two are electric whenever they share scenes.
Son Of Havoc/Ivelisse/Angelico vs Chavo Guerrero Jr./Cortez Castro/Mr Cisco
Yes, the trio ‘itching to make their mark’ are Chavo Guerrero, making his comeback from injury, and the two street thugs that were paid to protect him from ‘Mexico’ (although we now know that Castro is actually undercover police officer Reyes). Blue Demon Jr. has retired so they aren’t running with the Mexican legend anymore but they remain a formidable outfit. They’ll also be on high alert as we’ve been promised that Texano, the man they screwed over at Ultima Lucha, is on his way back to The Temple too. As per Catrina’s order in the opening segment, clearly the winner of this will be in pole position to claim the next Trios Title shot at the Disciples Of Death.
There is a huge clash of styles between Cisco and Angelico who start out…and Mr C almost gets his arm broken botching a Japanese armdrag. Ivelisse STRIKES THE SH*T out of Castro…who is temporarily knocked back but rallies and lays her out with a thunderous elbow smash to the jaw. Chavo tries to mastermind the isolation of Ive…who shows her fighting mentality by kicking at his previously injured leg to free herself. Havoc hits a standing moonsault on Mr C, but is attacked from behind by Guerrero to put him on the defensive. He climbs the ropes again – this time to SOMERSAULT over Cisco into a hot tag to Angelico…who steps off Castro’s back into the Shuri Knee on Cisco! SIMULTANEOUS TRIPLE TEAM DIVES BY THE FORMER TRIOS CHAMPIONS! Angelico flies back in with a double stomp on Castro, cementing victory at 05:55
Rating - *** - Probably a little generous on the rating, but I thought this was a fun little match. My favourite aspect was how they continued the long-running saga of the Ivelisse/Havoc/Angelico trio and showcased that they are now more of a unified team than they were in Season One. They voluntarily tagged in and out, they supported each other, Ivelisse barking orders was gone, and they even had triple team spots rehearsed. I wish they’d have referenced the epic matches they had with The Crew last year a little more, but this was still enjoyable little trios tag with the bonus of adding some depth and richness to the former Trios Champions.
Chavo angrily berates The Crew for the loss…but then flees in a hurry leaving them to take a beating from the returning Texano, wielding his bullrope.
Johnny Mundo shares footage of an intense training session, whilst also sharing some ‘facts’ about his time in The Temple. They include feeling unfairly treated at having to work the opening match at Ultima Lucha (but he stole the show anyway) and his status as the top star in LU. He has some harsh words for Cage too, warning him not to stand in between him and the Lucha Underground Title.
In the locker rooms Joey Ryan mocks Officer Reyes for his loss. He urges ‘Cortez’ to watch his debut match, which is up next.
Joey Ryan vs Cage
‘Officer Ryan’ gets a huge pop as he steps into The Temple for the first time. He needs no introduction, has been a recognisable name on the independent scene, and has worked for pretty much every promotion in the US. He hasn’t changed much for Lucha Underground, which is just fine as the hairy chest, moustache and aviators seem apt for a sleazy undercover cop. He’ll be familiar with the work of The Machine as they’ve been active on the California independents for a long time. Cage has put himself into the LU Title mix, so knows he can’t afford to slip to defeat against a debutant here.
Cage is a full-on, hand-slapping, catchphrase-dropping babyface now. That’s a little weird. Ryan tries to get an advantage by throwing his lollipop in Cage’s direction…so The Machine obliterates him with a tackle. Cage’s desire to make short work of Officer Joey is what bites him in the ass, as he collides with the ringpost going for another tackle; hurting his shoulder and giving Ryan something to target. He hits an armbar DDT then an arm stunner, finishing a trilogy of high impact moves with a hammerlock suplex for 2. The Machine has seen enough and swats him away with a one-armed slam! Springboard moonsault misses, and hey, he’s selling the arm! Joey hits a spinebuster for 2. Cage hits GMSI for 2 but is noticeably still in pain. Discus Lariat misses, and Ryan hits a 70’s Kick to the shoulder! POWERBOMB BACKBREAKER! DRILL CLAW! Cage wins at 04:06
Rating - *** - I thought this was a really great little sub-five minute sprint. Ryan looked really strong on debut, showing any new viewers all the elements of his character and his work that we’ve come to love over the years. I’m still a little unsure of exactly how he’ll fit into the Lucha Underground product, but he’s so experienced at so many different styles (and has such a huge personality) that one wouldn’t back against him being a success. The greatness of this match was that he got to look competitive and like someone we’d want to see again…whilst still making Cage look like a monster. That new finish (a Steiner Screwdriver which Cage calls the ‘Drill Claw’) is spectacular.
Cage has no time to celebrate before Johnny Mundo sneaks into the ring to beat him down, giving him a signature Muertes Spear then staring right up at the champ on his throne. Cage is such a machine that he shakes off the attack though, laying Mundo out with Weapon X!
In an undisclosed location Rey Mysterio is training Dragon Azteca Jr., whilst telling him the story of El Dragon Azteca. Dario Cueto’s father met El Dragon Azteca in Mexico and together they set about finding descendents of the seven Aztec Tribes to do battle…before Cueto’s father became obsessed with ‘the dark side of the legend’, with rumours swirling that he even sacrificed his own son so that a god could inhabit his mortal body (Matanza Cueto). Cueto and Dragon Azteca parted with the ancient treaty which was broken when he entered The Temple at the end of Season One. Rey urges DA Jr. not to go looking for revenge, but instead to find a way to ‘unite the seven tribes’.
SIDENOTE – Some of this ‘seven tribes’ mythology is a little confusing, but considering he’s new to the roster I thought Rey Mysterio was great in this scene. This storyline with another new cast member, Dragon Azteca Jr. (played by Rey Horus, a trainee of Rey’s uncle Rey Misterio Sr.) has been a clever way of getting him onto the show early, into a prominent storyline, without having him work a ton of matches. His acting was serviceable as well, which isn’t always the case when the wrestlers take on some of the more dramatic, cinematic scenes like this.
NEXT WEEK – Cage vs Johnny Mundo has been signed as our main event.
Prince Puma vs Pentagon Jr.
Since we returned to The Temple at the start of the season both of these men have been a thorn in the side of Catrina and Mil Muertes. Former champion Prince Puma came to the rescue of Ivelisse when they tried to put her out of commission (and out of the running for the Trios Titles held by Catrina’s Disciples), before matters got worse when Pentagon delivered his biggest Sacrifice yet and broke Muertes’ arm. Since then Catrina has made it her mission to stop these two before they can challenge for Mil’s championship. She forced them to team up in a handicap match against the Disciples Of Death, yet despite fighting backstage and arguing all match they came out victorious. Now she puts them in a match against each other, hoping each injures the other so badly that neither emerges in any sort of state to threaten her champion.
Pentagon’s new mask with red detailing looks great. The opening minute is staggeringly quick, which benefits Puma who drives his opponent from the ring. Pentagon aggressively dislikes his celebratory back flip it seems, as he hauls the former champ outside to brain him against the ringpost. Back inside the two men TEE OFF on each other with strikes…until Penta drops Prince again by countering a rana attempt into a powerbomb backbreaker. Striker calls him out for stealing moves from Cage (in a positive way) which I like. Puma decks him with the running cutter, followed by a springboard elbow sending him packing to the floor again. RUNNING MOONSAULT TO THE FLOOR! LUNGBLOWER by Pentagon, seamlessly countering another running onslaught from Puma. Prince blocks the Pentagon Driver, but tries a springboard moonsault and EATS a mid-air dropkick! Fear Factor countered into rolling suplexes by Puma for a hot nearfall! SPRINGBOARD 450 SPLASH GETS KNEES! SUPERKICK! FEAR FACTOR! Pentagon has it won, but he wants to grind Puma into the dirt further with a Mexican surfboard. He pays for that arrogance, as Puma counters into a last gasp pinning situation, elevating his shoulders off the mat at the very end to grab the win at 07:53
Rating - **** - Somewhere down the line we definitely need a rematch between these two. I challenge you to find a more exciting eight minute wrestling match of this quality anywhere – this was outstanding. The pace was astonishing, but it never felt like high spots being delivered at pace for the sake of it, or to exhibit the skills of the two fighters. They never sacrificed believable delivery of their character and didn’t deviate from the core story they were trying to tell of two warriors who will stop at nothing in pursuit of a shared goal. They both want to be champion, they both want to challenge Muertes, but there can be only one. Remember, Catrina booked this in the hope that they would tear each other apart – and they backed that up by going to war. Puma used his speed to keep the marauding power of Pentagon in check, and used all the ‘big match experience’ he amassed during Season One to find a cunning way to win just when it seemed like Penta’s bruising style would be too much for him. The two Fenix/Cuerno matches have been great but this just might have been my favourite of the season so far…
Pentagon thinks he has won and is furious when Puma is announced as the victor. SUPERKICK TO THE REFEREE! Puma kicks Pentagon down…and teases breaking his arm before releasing him unharmed. Vampiro is extremely agitated and stunned into silence on commentary, whilst Pentagon hangs his head in shame.
Sexy Star runs for her life, into the corridors of The Temple, still covered in the bruises and wounds suffered at the hands of Marty Martinez and his sister. The Mack comes across her and offers to kick Marty’s ass, but she points behind him and says ‘not him…her’ (implying that the sister is right behind them, leaving the show to end on that cliffhanger).
Tape Rating - **** - Those that have emailed me saying I over-rate Lucha Underground will be at it again. Sorry guys, but I genuinely think this is a remarkable television show and I’m loving reviewing it right now. Everything we see drips with purpose, context and a rich depth which other promotions just don’t compete with. It is such a vibrant, unique product and I enjoyed this episode almost as much as the season opener. It helps that the main event might have been my favourite match of the season thus far of course, with Pentagon and Prince Puma killing it in a ludicrously fast sprint of a main event. The brief exchange after the match, with Puma being too nice to break Pentagon’s arm and instead releasing him much to the embarrassment and shame of both Penta and his Master Vampiro was really interesting. There wasn’t a dead minute of air-time all show. It opened with Ivelisse and Catrina in an electric office scene, took in Joey Ryan’s brilliantly sleazy debut, fleshed out Johnny Mundo’s self-centred rudo act further, brought Texano back to The Temple to continue his war with Chavo Guerrero, and also featured a corny but enjoyable and reasonably well acted exposition piece meaning we got to see more of Rey Mysterio. In the aftermath of All Night Long and as Ultima Lucha approached I noted that Lucha Underground had gone off the boil a little bit and was churning out filler episodes as they built up to the big show. The start of Season Two has been the exact opposite…