Reviews

Lucha Underground Ultima Lucha Dos: Part 3 Review (Season 2 Finale) by Mark McAllen

TJR Wrestling

Taped in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles, California this is Lucha Underground for Season 2 – Episode 26, aka Ultima Lucha Dos: Part 3! Aka Lucha Underground’s Season 2 finale!

Part 1 and Part 2 of Ultima Lucha Dos has been very exciting. If you missed it, you can read my in depth review of both shows by clicking right here for Part 1 and here for Part 2. Tonight’s Season 2 finale will be two hours long; so without further ado, let’s get to it!

A video package played for about five minutes which summarized the stories of each of tonight’s matches.

Outdoors in the middle of nowhere, Vampiro is alone with his mentee Pentagon Jr. He questions if Pentagon is ready to face Matanza Cueto as he sensed fear in the so called “Man with No Fear”. Vampiro sends Pentagon into a cave where he battles off previous versions of himself. He does so because Vampiro tells Pentagon that he must defeat the man he once was until he truly has no more fear. Pentagon does so. Vampiro hands Pentagon a candle that Pentagon must blow out so that Pentagon Light can go away and Pentagon Dark can take his place.

Evaluation: That was a very cool looking scene. The point of it was to show that Pentagon is a new man who has tapped into his darker side to truly have no fear.

The lovely Melissa Santos welcomes us to the two-hour conclusion of Ultima Lucha Dos. Our commentators Matt Striker and Vampiro welcome us as well with their fiery energy. I guess Vampiro will be on commentary until Pentagon’s match later in the night.

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

Worldwide Underground are the champs going into this match. Taya is usually in Worldwide Underground’s corner, but she’s not tonight as Striker said she’s busy preparing for her match with Ivelisse. The match kicks off with Worldwide Underground getting an unfair advantage as Mundo and PJ Black illegally team up on Fenix. This leads to Aerostar, Drago and Jack Evans illegally getting involved too. The referee has zero control of this match until Worldwide Underground calm things down.

Worldwide Underground keeps Fenix in their corner and make frequent tags to each other where they double team, sometimes triple team on Fenix. Aerostar and Drago’s had enough of this as they get in the ring and we have all six men battling in the ring once again. Striker talked about needing to have multiple referees for these Trios matches. I agree.

While Fenix sits on the top turnbuckle, Aerostar stands on Fenix’s shoulders and dives outside the ring onto Evans and Black. After doing so, Fenix hits Mundo with a frog splash, connecting from more than half way across the ring. Fenix goes for the cover, but Mundo kicks out at two. That was impressive.

Drago, Fenix and Aerostar triple team on Mundo in the middle of the ring. Fenix hits Mundo with a 450 splash off the top turnbuckle and goes for the pin. As the referee’s hand was coming down for the three count he was pulled outside the ring by Evans, saving his team from losing the Trios Titles. Black pulls Aerostar out of the ring and knocks him out with his Trios Title. He does the same to Drago. Worldwide Underground are all alone in the ring with Fenix as each member holds their Trios Title. They all beat up Fenix with their belts and roll the referee in the ring to count the pin. Mundo cover, one… two…Fenix kicks out.

Worldwide Underground continue to team up on Fenix. They celebrate with their titles in the middle of the ring instead of pinning Fenix. As Mundo heads to the top turnbuckle to hit Fenix with The End of the World, he’s hit repeatedly with a crutch by a returning Angelico. While Drago and Aerostar take out Evans and Black, Fenix picks Mundo up from the top turnbuckle and piledrives him in the middle of the ring. Fenix covers Mundo and gets the three count after 12 minutes.

Winners by pinfall and NEW Trios Champions: Drago, Aerostar & Fenix

Evaluation: That was a solid match. Striker wondered if Mundo was the reason why Angelico was injured and out of commission for so long. LU will probably run with that story for Season 3 which I’d really like to see. Mundo and Angelico could deliver some great matches. It also definitely seems like the team of Son of Havoc, Angelico & Ivelisse is officially disbanded. Son of Havoc and Angelico each have singles feuds going into Season 3 and I’m assuming Ivelisse will too after her match tonight. All are capable of achieving great success for themselves and LU on their own, so good luck to them. Also, a congratulations are in order to Fenix. With this Trios Title win, it makes Fenix the first-ever LU Triple Crown Champion since he’s won the Trios Title, the Gift of the Gods Title and the Lucha Underground Title. He’s an A-level LU talent and is definitely very deserving of it. As for Worldwide Underground, it seems like Mundo will be on his own after this and I think Evans and Black will be too. Although Evans and Black were two thirds of the Trios Champions, I felt like they were underused for most of Season 2 considering their such talent athletes. I believe both can be major stars for LU, so hopefully next season is better for the both of them then this one was.

(Commercial)

Dragon Lotus

El Dragon Azteca Jr. vs. Black Lotus

This is Black Lotus’ LU in-ring debut. Azteca charged at Black Lotus right away, but Lotus dodged and took out Azteca with a spinning head scissors takedown. Azteca fought back with a big enziguri kick which forced Lotus to ringside. Azteca went for a big dive over the top ropes onto Lotus, But Lotus moved out of the way and took down Azteca in the process.

Furious at Lotus’ counters, Azteca threw Lotus into the barricade and then back into the ring. Lotus gets to her feet quickly and lays some punches into Azteca until Azteca counters and knocks out lotus with a big forearm to the head. Azteca heads to the top turnbuckle to finish Lotus, but Pentagon interferes in the match by knocking out Azteca and breaking the arm of Black Lotus. The match only went about 4 minutes.

Result: No decision

Evaluation: The match was going at a slower pace than most of Azteca’s matches. You can attribute that to Black Lotus. She did fine in the ring, but you can tell Azteca was too quick for her. She seems like she’s still pretty green in the ring, so I don’t think Azteca was really the right opponent if LU intended on having a good match. However, clearly LU didn’t intend on this being a classic as Pentagon interfered only 4 minutes into the bout. Azteca was really a stand out performer all season and I think he deserved better for Ultima Lucha Dos.

Post-match, Pentagon is wearing an all-new mask and wrestling gear that is entirely black. This new all-black gear must signify “Pentagon Dark” as Vampiro called him. While Vampiro is smiling and watching from the commentary desk, Pentagon nails Azteca with a package piledriver and follows it up by breaking Azteca’s arm. The crowd loves it as the chant “Cero Miedo” for Pentagon.

(Commercial)

Pentagon is alone in the ring with a microphone. He said that with the help of his teacher Vampiro, he is back in the Temple stronger than ever. He says that Pentagon Jr. is dead and was destroyed by someone much greater, Pentagon Dark. He says that tonight he will destroy Matanza Cueto because he has cero miedo.

(Commercial)

Lucha Underground Title Match: Matanza Cueto w/Dario Cueto vs. Pentagon Dark

The El Rey Network’s official YouTube channel uploaded this Lucha Underground Championship match in its entirety. You can watch the full match below.

Dario Cueto has instructed that there must be a winner, so no funny business where there’s no decision in this bout. Pentagon doesn’t even wait for Matanza to get in the ring as he dives over the top rope out onto Matanza. Pentagon then superkicked Matanza and threw him into the barricade. Pentagon continues beating down Matanza at ringside as he hits him repeatedly with a steel chair and lays into him with hard chops to the chest. Pentagon has just been dominating the first 5 minutes of this match as he throws Matanza into the barricade and empty chairs at ringside multiple times. Matanza has gotten little to no offense in so far.

Pentagon rolls Matanza into the ring as Dario Cueto yells at Matanza to “remember mama” and “wake up”. Pentagon hits Matanza with a superkick and his Monster’s Ball signature move. Pentagon goes for the cover, but Matanza kicks out at two. Pentagon then hits Matanza with a backstabber and goes for the cover again, but again Matanza kicks out at two. As Matanza tries getting to his feet, Dario tells him to “wake up” and “do it for the family”. Pentagon wedges a steel chair in between the turnbuckle and tries throwing Matanza into it, but Matanza counters and throws Pentagon head first into it.

With his first offense of the match, Matanza hits Pentagon with back to back standing shooting star presses. He goes for the cover, but Pentagon kicks out. Both men get to their feet at the same time and stare each other down in the middle of the ring. They trade blows until Matanza catches Pentagon and hits him with a big powerslam for a nearfall. Pentagon escapes to ringside and grabs a steel chair. Matanza tries suicide diving outside onto Pentagon, but Pentagon catches him with a steel chair shot to the head before Matanza could do so. Pentagon then goes to the second turnbuckle and hits Matanza with a big Mexican Destroyer.

Pentagon crosses his thumb over his neck signaling the end. As he does so, Vampiro brings him a barbwire baseball bat. Pentagon goes to hit Matanza with it, but Dario Cueto interferes. Pentagon then gets Dario Cueto down and looks to break his arm, but Matanza hits him in the back with the barbwire bat. Matanza hits Pentagon with his Wrath of the Gods finishing move for the three count after 12 minutes.

Winner by pinfall and STILL Lucha Underground Champion: Matanza Cueto

Post-match, Vampiro enters the ring and tries to help Pentagon up, but Pentagon throws Vampiro away from him. Pentagon leaves the ring upset.

Evaluation: I thought that match was just okay. I was expecting a lot more from these two. Pentagon was in control for most of the match, but he spent a lot of time outside the ring doing the same thing to Matanza over and over again which was throwing him into empty seats and into the barricade. The match moved at a pretty slow pace. Matanza eventually got some offense in but it was very little and I don’t think it warranted a win. The finish felt sloppy and it really made Matanza, this unbeatable monster, look weak. I’m happy this title match wasn’t the main event. As for the ending with the possible divide between Pentagon and Vampiro, I don’t really care and that’s partially because it doesn’t make much sense. It was clearly Pentagon’s fault that he didn’t go for the cover on Matanza after the Mexican Destroyer and focused too much on breaking Dario Cueto’s arm. After building up Pentagon so much throughout the season, in the video to start the show and in his new ring gear and name change, a loss in the way that it happened and tension between Pentagon and Vampiro didn’t seem like the right route to take.

Hour 1 of tonight’s Season 2 finale is complete.

(Commercial)

Vampiro is still doing commentary with Striker, but looks disappointed. He’ll probably forget about it all and seem fine as the next match starts.

Ivelisse Taya

Taya vs. Ivelisse

Striker says that this match is to see who truly deserves to be called “The Baddest Bitch in the Building”. Ivelisse attacks Taya in the corner right away then tosses her out of the ring. As Ivelisse tries to continue the attack outside, Taya counters and takes control by DDTing her onto one of the seated empty chairs at ringside. Taya taunts Ivelisse until Ivelisse pulls Taya down, slamming Taya’s head against a seated chair in the process.

Ivelisse heads into the crowd and jumps out of the crowd hitting Taya with a flying crossbody at ringside. The brawl continues outside the ring as both women trade blows. They both begin walking up The Temple steps until they both end up throwing each other down the steps. The action heads back into the ring as Ivelisse baits Taya into a couple of boots to the face. Ivelisse signals with her hands that it’s time to end thig match and hits Taya with a sunset flip powerbomb. She goes for the cover, one… two… the lights go out. When the lights come back on Catrina is crouched in the ring, staring at Ivelisse. Ivelisse turns around and Catrina attacks her, laying Ivelisse out. Catrina is wearing ring gear for the first time.

The lights go out again and when they turn back on Catrina is watching from high above The Temple. Taya hits Ivelisse with a bridging northern lights suplex followed by a double foot stomp. She covers Ivelisse and gets the three count after 7 minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Taya

Post-match, Taya celebrates in the ring until the lights go out again. When they come back on Taya is no longer in the ring, but Catrina is as she’s crouched over Ivelisse’s body. She says that death comes to everyone “even you, bitch”. She plants a lick of death on Ivelisse and leaves.

Catrina

Evaluation: Well, there’s the feud Ivelisse will be heading into Season 3 with. Another match that was just okay. A lot of brawling outside the ring and that was pretty much it. I expected a lot more from these two as I really enjoy their in-ring work. I thought this was going to be a great match to showcase the talented women Lucha Underground has, but it didn’t get the chance to do so. As far as Catrina goes, it’s nice to see that she’ll be taking part in the wrestling aspect of Lucha Underground and not just be a manager. I always liked her as Maxine in NXT and remember thinking then that she had potential. It should be interesting to see her competing in matches going into Season 3.

(Commercial)

A video package aired for the Puma vs. Mysterio match. There’s a lot of time left in the show and this is our Ultima Lucha Dos main event, so looks like it’ll get a nice chuck of time! Here we go!

(Commercial)

Prince Puma vs. Rey Mysterio

Mysterio extends his hand and Puma shakes it. The bell rings and we’re underway! Loud dueling “Let’s go Puma/Me-steri-oh!” chants. Both men quickly trade counters and takedowns which leads to a nice ovation from the crowd and “this is Lucha” chants. Mysterio nails Puma with some hard kicks to the face ad goes for the cover, but Puma kicks out at one. Mysterio went for a tilt-a-whirl head scissors takedown, but Puma counters it into a popup codebreaker.

Puma slingshots Mysterio into the turnbuckle, but Rey catches himself on the turnbuckle. The action spills outside as Mysterio hurricanrana’s Puma into the side of the ring. Mysterio rolls Puma back into the ring and hits him with a West Coast Pop off the top rope followed by a running crossbody for a nearfall. Mysterio then hits Puma with springboard tilt-a-whirl DDT. He goes for the pin, but Puma kicks out at two. Mysterio went to the top turnbuckle and leaped onto Puma looking for a hurricanrana. However, Puma catches Mysterio and counters it into a northern lights suplex followed by a suplex. Puma goes for the cover, but Mysterio kicks out at two.

Puma heads to the top rope looking to finish Mysterio with the 630 splash, but Mysterio gets up and attacks Puma with punches to the head. Mysterio gets to the top turnbuckle with Puma. Both men try and hit big moves off top turnbuckle but they keep countering each other, until Mysterio finally gets the best of Puma and hits him with a backwards hurricanrana. He goes for the cover and Puma kicks out at two.

They both slowly get to their feet and get into a “boo, yay” sequence by slowly throwing punches and forearms; although neither man is getting booed. Puma eventually gets the upper hand and hits Mysterio with the Blue Thunder Bomb, but again Mysterio kicks out. As Puma catches his breath, Mysterio gets to his feet and trips Puma into the ropes. He goes for the 619, but Puma counters an enziguri kicks Mysterio sending him into the ropes. Puma hits the 619 on Mysterio followed by a 450 splash! One… two… no! Mysterio kicks out! Ah c’mon, that should have been it.

Puma picks up Mysterio, put him on his shoulders, throws him up in the air and nails him with a kick to the face. Puma goes for the cover again, one… two… no. Mysterio kicks out again. “This is awesome” chants from the crowd. I got to disagree, I don’t think kicking out of finishers is all that awesome. Mysterio picks himself up using the turnbuckles, but once he gets to his feet he’s met with a running dropkick from Puma. Puma then heads to the top turnbuckle and hesitates before going for the 630 splash. Puma finally goes for the 630, but Mysterio rolls out of the way. Mysterio hits Puma with a hurricanrana into the pin attempt, but Puma kicks out at two.

Mysterio hits Puma with a enziguri kick and trips Puma into the ropes. Mysterio goes for the 619, but Puma catches Mysterio’s legs in the ropes and picks him up, walking with him into the middle of the ring. Puma goes for a piledriver, but Mysterio counters throwing Puma into the ropes again. He goes for the 619 once more and this time connects. Mysterio heads to the top turnbuckle and hits Puma with a hurricanrana into a pin attempt. One… two… three. Mysterio wins after 17 minutes as Striker declares that Mysterio is still the greatest luchador in the world.

Winner by pinfall: Rey Mysterio

Post-match, Puma and Mysterio hug it out in the middle of the ring. Puma goes to leave, but Mysterio brings him back in the ring and tells him “these are your people”. Mysterio leaves Puma in the ring to embrace the crowd and Striker calls Puma the second coming.

Evaluation: Good match between these two. It was at a slower pace due to Mysterio’s age and not being able to move as quickly as he once did, but it didn’t hurt that much. Usually the pace of LU matches are always going 110mph, which is great because that’s the brand, but it’s nice to have a normally paced match every now and then. The only thing that I didn’t really like about this match is that I felt like Mysterio’s last few kick outs were frustrating in that he shouldn’t have kicked out of them. Aside from the 630 splash, Puma was hitting a tired, weak and older Mysterio with everything he had (even Mysterio’s own 619) and Mysterio would still kick out. The result also didn’t make too much sense to me as I felt like Puma was definitely going to get the win. Why not? What does Mysterio gain from the win? Unless they plan on doing a rematch where Puma wins, but from the looks of it (what happened after the match) it seemed like the goal was to put Puma over as the new “King of Lucha Libre”. He was left alone in the ring with Striker calling him the second coming. I really think he should have got the win.

Striker and Vampiro thanks us for watching and right when it looks like the show is over, Pentagon hits Vampiro in the back with a barbwire bat and superkicks Striker. Pentagon then pushes the bat into Vampiro’s forehead, busting Vampiro open. Pentagon takes apart the announce table and beats Vampiro with it. Pentagon brings Vampiro into the ring and rakes Vampiro’s forehead some more with the barbwire bat. Pentagon grabs the mic and tells Vampiro that he is no longer his master. He licks Vampiro’s blood and tells him he has cero miedo and the fans do the cero miedo catchphrase with him. Pentagon beats up on Vampiro some more as the crowd chants Pentagon’s name.

Evaluation: It seems like this would be a full-on heel turn moment for Pentagon, but the fans cheering him on makes it difficult to look at Pentagon as the heel. It seems that the story here is that Vampiro pushed Pentagon too far into embracing the dark that now Pentagon is a different, more out for himself man. That’s how I’m racializing it, so I hope LU harps on that next season with promos, video packages, et cetera or else it’ll just kind of seem out of nowhere and solely because Pentagon screwed up in his LU Title match.

Pentagon Vampiro

Dario Cueto is seen handcuffed and being escorted into a truck by police officers as music dramatically plays. As he’s in the car, Cueto has his head down at first, but he slowly lifts his head and smirks as the screen fades to black and the words “To be continued…” pops up on the screen.

Game Ball goes to…

Prince Puma – Although Mysterio definitely held his own, I felt that Puma carried most of that match. It was the best match of the night, so for that reason the Season 2 finale’s Game Ball goes to Prince Puma.

Final Thoughts

Ultima Lucha Dos aka the Season 2 finale felt a whole lot more like a giant cliff hanger than a conclusion; which is even declared at the very end with the “to be continued” popping up on the screen. I guess that makes sense since there will definitely be a Season 3 whereas last year it wasn’t certain that there’d definitely be a Season 2. I just wish there was a little more closure on the stories rather than almost everything being left up in the air.

Overall, I had a blast this season. It was a good season with a really fun Ultima Lucha Dos Part 1 and 2. I got to say though, I felt like tonight’s two-hour finale was a letdown. Maybe it’s because I had such high expectations for it. Another problem is that no one really stood out to me that much tonight. Usually I have to try and decide between a couple people on who to give the “Game Ball” to, but not tonight. It was a pretty easy decision to give it to Prince Puma.

I’m going to leave it at that. I did a lot of evaluating at the end of each match throughout this review which sums up my thoughts on a lot of things; so if you passed by those then definitely check them out for some more closure on my thoughts on how tonight went.

Thank you so much for reading and thank you John Canton for letting me write these Lucha Underground reviews for TJRWrestling. It’s the wrestling show I look most forward to watching in its entirety every week. Season 2 was a lot of fun and I can’t wait for Season 3!