Reviews

Lucha Underground Ultima Lucha Dos: Part 2 Review by Mark McAllen

TJR Wrestling

Taped in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles, California this is Lucha Underground for Season 2 – Episode 25, aka Ultima Lucha Dos: Part 2!

Last week’s Part 1 showcased Dario Cueto’s “4 A Unique Opportunity” tournament. It was very exciting and a great way to kick off the three week extravaganza that is Ultima Lucha Dos. If you missed it, you can read my in depth review of the show right here. Tonight is the second to last episode of Lucha Underground’s Season 2 with next week’s (July 20) Ultima Lucha Dos: Part 3 being the season finale.

Mexican rock band El Conjunto Nueva Ola kick off this week’s episode with their musical stylings. The lovely Melissa Santos, who is once again dressed to the nines, welcomes us to Ultima Lucha Dos. Our commentators Matt Striker and Vampiro welcome us to the show too and get us ready for our first match of the night.

GOTG

7-Way Elimination Match for the Gift of the Gods Title: Daga vs. Sinestro de la Muerte vs. Mariposa vs. Marty “The Moth” Martinez vs. Sexy Star vs. Killshot vs. Night Claw

The winner of the Gift of the Gods Title can turn in their championship in return for a Lucha Underground Title match at any time of their choosing, as long as they provide one-week notice. All seven participants are in the ring and ready to go. The bell rings and we’re underway!

Killshot runs straight to his rival Marty “The Moth” Martinez and clotheslines him over the top rope, sending him to the floor. Sexy Star levels Mariposa with a big boot to the face, but is met with a vicious enziguri kick from Daga. Kobra Moon is seen watching the match and cheering on Daga from the rafters. Night Claw and Sinestro de la Muerte team up on Daga before turning on each other. Daga, Night Claw and Sinestro de la Muerte all trade pin attempts in the ring while Killshot brawls with Marty and Sexy brawls with Mariposa outside the ring.

Daga hits Night Claw with a big cutter to Kobra Moon’s approval, but Night Claw gets back to his feet and fights back with a knee strike to Daga’s head. Sinestro tries to attack Night Claw from behind, but Night Claw hits Sinestro with a great looking C4 into a pin attempt. Night Claw gets the three count and Sinestro de la Muerte is eliminated.

Evaluation: Everyone probably could have predicted that Sinestro would be the first to go. I don’t ever see Sinestro being a big time singles competitor in Lucha Underground. He’s better suited as a henchman or crony to a bigger star. I like the wrestler under the mask, but I think that gimmick could only go so far; especially after how he’s been booked. Also, nice to see Night Claw make the first elimination being the newbie of the group.

(Commercial)

We return to see Daga, Sexy Star, Killshot and Marty taking turns flying over the top rope and landing onto Night Claw and Mariposa. Daga and Marty are alone in the ring when Daga rolls Marty into a seated Fujiwara armbar submission. Marty, struggling not to tap out, rolls over, picks up Daga and throws him into the turnbuckle. Marty runs at Daga in the corner, but Daga catches him in a headlock and takes him down to the mat to try and submit Marty. However, it is broken up by Night Claw who delivers a big leg drop from the top rope. Wouldn’t it be smart to let Daga keep the submission on Marty, so that maybe he would tap and be eliminated (i.e. one less person you have to worry about)?

Night Claw hits Marty with a running dropkick, sending Marty to ringside. Daga and Night Claw trade counters in the ring before Night Claw delivers a Frankensteiner to Daga off the top turnbuckle. Night Claw then heads back up to the top turnbuckle and nails Daga with a 450 splash for the three count. Daga is eliminated.

Evaluation: I knew Daga wasn’t going to win this match, but I was hoping he would have lasted longer. Daga has been a major standout for me this season and I really think he has a lot of potential to be a future singles star in the company. This is the second elimination from Night Claw. Makes sense to have him look strong in his debut. I’m assuming he’ll have the most eliminations by the time this match is over.

Everyone continues to brawl outside the ring while Night Claw slowly makes his way to the top of Dario Cueto’s office. Waiting for the right moment, Night Claw moonsault’s off the top of Dario Cueto’s office down onto the four other remaining competitors on the floor. That was a really cool spot. “Holy shit” and “Lucha Libre” chants now roar from the crowd. After a while, Killshot and Marty make their way back into the ring and trade a couple of punches before Killshot pushes Marty into the corner and hits him with a running dropkick. Mariposa tries to help her brother Marty, but Killshot catches her. Now, standing on the apron outside the ring, Killshot puts Mariposa on his shoulders and hits her with a devastating fireman’s carry takeover. Ouch. Killshot springboards back into the ring and nails Marty with a cutter.

Night Claw gets in the ring and hits Killshot with a frankensteiner off the top turnbuckle. He then nails Killshot with a standing moonsault and goes for the cover, but Killshot kicks out at two. Night Claw looks to finish Killshot as he heads to the top turnbuckle and goes for a 450 splash, but Killshot rolls out of the way and hits Night Claw with a storm cradle driver for the three count. Night Claw is eliminated.

Evaluation: For some reason I thought Night Claw would last longer, but it doesn’t surprise me after realizing which four competitors are left.

4 remain: Killshot, Sexy Star, Marty and Mariposa. The four immediately split up into teams as Sexy Star and Killshot attack Mariposa and Marty right away. Killshot and Sexy Star get the upper hand at first, until Mariposa hits Killshot with a sunset flip powerbomb. She goes for the pin, but Killshot kicks out at two. Marty delivers a curb stomp to Killshot which is followed by Mariposa’s signature move, the Butterfly Effect. Marty and Mariposa both cover Killshot and score the three count. Killshot is eliminated.

Evaluation: I smell a Sexy Star comeback victory on the horizon.

(Commercial)

Sexy Star is seated in the corner of the ring as Marty and Mariposa slowly approach her. Sexy tries kicking Marty and Mariposa away, but her attempts are futile as the numbers game catches up to her. Marty drags Sexy into the middle of the ring, picks her up and throws her into the turnbuckle. Marty then launches Mariposa into the corner at Sexy, but Sexy gets her foot up and nails Mariposa in the face. Sexy follows this up with a headlock head scissors takeover which takes down both Marty and Mariposa. Sexy kicks Mariposa out of the ring and locks a modified fujiwara armbar on Marty. Marty looks to be close to submitting until Mariposa gets back in the ring to make the save for her brother.

Maripoosa sends Sexy into the corner and looks to superplex her off the top turnbuckle, but Sexy throws Mariposa off of her and hits Marty with a flying crossbody off the tope rope. Mariposa finally gets a hold of Sexy and locks Sexy’s arms behind her back. Marty whinds up to punch Sexy in the face, but Sexy ducks and Marty lands a hard punch on his own sister, knocking her out. While Marty stands in shock of what he’s just done, Sexy dropkicks him out of the ring and goes for the cover on Mariposa. One… two… three. Mariposa is eliminated.

Sexy stands in the ring, taunting Marty to get in. Marty enters to chants of “Kill the Moth” from the crowd. Sexy slaps Marty in the face and puts Marty in a tarantula-like submission hold. However, Marty’s too strong as he turns the submission into a side slam. Marty then lands a big punch on Sexy Star, the same kind of punch that knocked out Mariposa. He goes for the cover, but Sexy kicks out at two. Furious, Marty picks up Sexy and starts yelling in her face. Sexy fights back though with punches and locks Marty in her modified fujiwara armbar submission once again. This time Mariposa isn’t around to save him, so Marty has no other option but to tap out.

Winner by submission and NEW Gift of the Gods Champion: Sexy Star

Post-match, Sexy celebrates in the ring to her catchy theme song and to chants of “you deserve it” from the crowd.

Sexy Star

Evaluation: That was a very fun match that, with commercials, lasted about twenty minutes. Good for Sexy Star on her victory. She has really become one of the faces of Lucha Underground and is such a great underdog character. She’s had a terrific season 2 and I believe only bigger and better things are to come her way next season. On a side note, next season I’d really like for LU to do a little video package explaining why Sexy Star wears her mask. It’s been hinted at plenty of times that she’s been beat up and wearing her mask is a way of saying that her face doesn’t make or break her. It’s a really powerful message and back story that I think could really benefit her character even more if it was explained in greater depth.

(Commercial)

Mr. Cisco is seen in a room backstage buttoning his collared shirt with a worried look on his face, saying that he can’t do this. Joey Ryan tries scaring Cisco by telling him if he doesn’t do what they say he’ll go back to prison. Cisco is afraid that he’ll get killed, but Cortez Castro tells Cisco that everything will be fine and that if he does this he’ll be cleared of all charges.

Evaluation: Cisco caught Ryan and Cortez sneaking around Dario Cueto’s office looking for evidence to Cueto’s crimes. Ryan and Cortez arrested Cisco since they thought he’d go crazy and blow their cover. Now, it looks like Cisco will be going on a dangerous mission on Ryan and Cortez Castro’s behalf that’ll help them lock away Cueto for good.

Back at the commentary table, Striker lets us know that next week’s season finale (Ultima Lucha Dos: Part 3) will be two hours. The matches that we’ll see then will be:

Taya vs. Ivelisse

Trios Title Match: Johnny Mundo, PJ Black & Jack Evans (c) vs. Drago, Fenix & Aerostar

Black Lotus vs. El Dragon Azteca Jr.

Lucha Underground Title Match: Matanza (c) vs. Pentagon Jr.

Prince Puma vs. Rey Mysterio

(Commercial)

It’s main event time!

Cuerno

Death Match: King Cuerno vs. Mil Muertes (w/Catrina)

Cuerno and Muertes fought each other for the first time ever two weeks ago. Cuerno won and Catrina demanded a rematch. Cueto didn’t accept at first, until Catrina suggested that it be a Death Match. A Death Match is pretty much just a match with no rules. Anything goes.

The bell wings and we’re underway! Wasting no time, both men run at each other right away and trade punches. Muertes clotheslines Cuerno and muscles him into the corner. Mil throws Cuerno into another corner and runs at him, but Cuerno throws Muertes over his shoulder and out of the ring. Cuerno makes his signature bow and arrow motion which means it’s time for a suicide dive. He lands it perfectly, sending Muertes straight into some evacuated seats. Cuerno looks for another suicide dive, but is met by Muertes in between the ropes with a big right hand. Muertes puts Cuerno on his shoulders and delivers a big flapjack outside the ring. He then throws Cuerno into the barricade and then into the same evacuated seats. He hits Cuerno with some chair shots before throwing him into the crowd. Muertes attack Cuerno some more until Cuerno counters and throws Mil out of the crowd, back to ringside. Cuerno then leaps out of the crowd, hitting Muertes with a big flying crossbody.

As both men get to their feet, Muertes gets a hold of Cuerno and drags him upstairs into the perch where Lucha Underground’s musical guests usually play. When up there, Muertes hits Cuerno with a chair and a microphone. As both men continue to brawl, they lose their balance due to the crowdedness of the area and slip. Muertes falls into the band’s instruments while Cuerno falls over the railing and is dangling off the stage. Muertes kicks at Cuerno’s hands sending Cuerno straight to the floor.

Muertes heads to the ringside and pulls out a table from underneath the ring. He sets it up and then grabs a ladder. Muertes leans the ladder up against the barricade and the heads for the ring steps. He brings the steps over towards Cuerno and sets them down. Muertes sits Cuerno on the steps and it looks like he was planning to jump off the ring apron onto Cuerno, but Cuerno gets to his feet and trips Muertes up. Cuerno grabs a garbage can and smashes it over Muertes’ head. Muertes gains control again and drags Cuerno up the Temple steps. Once they reach the top, Cuerno smashes Muertes’s face through a plate glass window. Almost unaffected, Muertes turns Cuerno around and this time smashes Cuerno’s face through the window. After he does so, Muertes throws Cuerno down the Temple steps.

Muertes tries powerbombing Cuerno at the bottom of the steps, but Cuerno reverses it and hurricanranas Muertes. Muertes runs at Cuerno, but Cuerno throws Muertes over him and into the ladder that’s leaned against the barricade. Cuerno grabs Catrina, taunting her, and is interrupted with a vicious spear through a table. Muertes then goes on to powerbomb Cuerno threw three set up tables! Damn, I don’t even remember those tables being set up. This match is moving so fast. Muertes rolls Cuerno into the ring, climbs to the top turnbuckle and jumps off hitting Cuerno with a crossbar to the back of the head. “Holy shit” chants from the crowd. Muertes piledrives Cuerno and there’s no way he’s kicking out of this. One… two… three.

Winner by pinfall: Mil Muertes

Post-match, Catrina gives Cuerno her signature lick of death and she leaves with Muertes as men come out with a stretcher and attend to Cuerno.

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Evaluation: Wow, Muertes absolutely demolished King Cuerno. Cuerno got in some offense, but I never felt that Muertes was ever in trouble. Muertes delivered the brunt of the big bumps and was a man possessed in this match. I wasn’t expecting this match to be as one-sided as it was. Still, an awesome hardcore match between both guys. Muertes almost needed to look like a monster in a big match like this after losing kind of frequently since dropping the Lucha Underground Title. In my opinion, he’s never looked stronger. Season 3 should be another big one for The Man of a Thousand Deaths. Way to end it on a high note.

Striker talked about next week’s Lucha Underground Title match between “The Monster” Matanza Cueto and Pentagon Jr. Striker asked Vampiro what his former mentee’s chances are Vampiro responded by putting a trash can on the announce table and throwing his medication in it. His medication is supposed to keep him sane and from going into full on “Vampiro mode”. Vampiro says that it’s time to be a master again and go get his student ready, and he leaves the announce table.

Cisco Cueto

Mr. Cisco enters Dario Cueto’s office. Cueto tells Cisco that he hopes Cisco’s not asking him for a match on Utima Lucha Dos. Cisco says that he’s just there to check in on Cueto and see if he needs anything. Cisco tells Cueto that they used to be boys and he wants to help Cueto with whatever he’s got going on. Cueto says the Cisco looks nervous and calls him out on wearing a wire. Cueto speaks into the mic and says that if the police want him they can come get him, and he breaks the mic. Cueto asks Cisco if the police want him for murder. Cisco said he doesn’t think so. Cueto: “They do now.” Cueto grabs the red bull statue on his desk and beats Cisco over the head with it, killing Cisco. Cueto then picks up the phone, dials a number and says “it’s time”.

Evaluation: I’m sad to see Mr. Cisco go as his team with Cortez Castro as “The Crew” really grew on me. However, that was only temporary with this storyline that Castro and Ryan are undercover cops, so it makes sense that someone would bite the bullet this season. It was nice knowing ya Mr. Cisco. It should be great to see what the heck happens now that Cueto knows the police are closing in on him.

Game ball goes to…

Mil Muertes – His performance stood out to me the most. That Death Match was brutal, specifically the last couple minutes with Muertes going on a rampage.

Final Thoughts

Ultima Lucha Dos has been awesome so far and the best is yet to come with next week’s two hour season finale. I’ve said everything I needed to say this week in my evaluation’s above. Lucha Underground is delivering on such a high level right now. I think it’s the most consistently exciting wrestling show on television and we’re seeing in these last three weeks Lucha Underground play all their biggest hands. If you haven’t gotten to see any Lucha Underground episodes this season and want to watch just one, then I urge you to tune in next week. It should be something special.

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That’s it for me. Thanks for reading. If you like Lucha Underground and have other friends who enjoy the show too, then give this review a share. I appreciate any thoughts or conversation in the comment section below.

Pictures used above are courtesy of Lucha Underground.