Lucha Underground Review 03/30/16 by Mark McAllen

Taped in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles, California this is Lucha underground for Season 2 – Episode 10.

The Mexican rock band Chingon kick off this week’s episode as they play Dario Cueto to the ring. Cueto gets a nice ovation from the fans as he says it’s good to be back. He says that Aztec Warfare was a spectacular event, but how it is only the beginning. He announces that next week will be the start of a Trios Tournament. Right when he’s about to get to the news of who will be facing his brother, the new Lucha Underground Champion Matanza, for his championship, he gets interrupted by Pentagon Jr. He tells Cueto that the only reason Matanza won Aztec Warfare is because he was not involved. Cueto tells Pentagon that he’s not championship material. Pentagon threatens to break Cueto’s arm, and just as he’s about to, Cueto gives in and grants Pentagon a LU Title match against Matanza tonight.

Johnny Mundo & Taya vs. Mr. Cisco & Cortez Castro

Taya takes down Cortez with a shoulder tackle, but Cortez catches Taya with a big boot. He goes for a quick pin, but Taya kicks out at two. Cortez tags in Cisco as they hit Taya with a double bulldog. Taya gains control back with a hurricanrana and Mundo decides to tag himself in. He laces Cisco with punches to the face before going for the pin, but Cisco kicks out at one. Mundo then hits Cisco with Moonlight Drive, but it’s still not enough as Cisco kicks out at two. Cisco rolls Mundo up as he was taking too much time to set up End of the World. Mundo gets up right away and the two trade punches before Cisco hits a big neckbreaker. Cisco makes the hot tag to Cortez as he hits Mundo with some chops before Mundo quickly tags in Taya. Cortez nails a DDT to on Taya and goes for the cover, but Mundo interferes with a knee strike. Cisco throws Mundo outside the ring when Cage’s music hits and The Machine slowly makes his way to ringside. Mundo avoids Cage as Cage stares down Mundo from the other side of the ring. The match continues as Cisco and Cortez connect with a big double team move ending in Cortez kneeing Taya in the chest. Cortez covers Taya for the three count after about 5 minutes.

Winners by pinfall: Mr. Cisco and Cortez Castro

Evaluation: Solid opening match, but ultimately pretty forgetful. Nothing happened after the match either; you just saw Mundo and Taya quickly making their exit before going to commercial. I’ve seen better opening matches so far this season, but this wasn’t bad. The first match of the night usually never goes over 5 minutes and there’s typically always an interference, so they have to make best with what they got. Also, although Cisco and Cortez won, it didn’t feel like a big win for them. The crowd really wasn’t behind them too much.

(Commercial)

A video aired of Marty “The Moth” Martinez telling a story of how “long ago” The Moth tribe ruled the Aztec Empire. The Moth’s were known for their Aztec pride and their wealth. The Moth tribe knew the envy of the other tribes would bring war, but they had a secret weapon. Mariposa, the greatest warrior the Aztec’s have ever seen. She destroyed anyone that tried to take their tribes gold. Her viciousness became legendary. The Mariposa mask was passed down over generations and now the deadliest Mariposa of them all wears it. “Beware my sister. Beware Mariposa, for she will lead The Moth tribe… to rule again.”

Evaluation: I really liked that video package. It gave us some interesting insight into The Moth tribe and their family. I loved the way the video was put together too. As Marty told the story, you saw Mariposa snapping the necks of and destroying other luchadores in masks. There was some great score playing in the background as well. It felt like a really good horror movie trailer.

Dario Cueto is in his office having a drink until the lights flicker and Catrina appears. Cueto thanks Catrina for taking care of The Temple while he was gone and says that he is the rightful owner. Cueto tells Catrina that if they work together they can be unstoppable. Catrina shows no interest in Cueto’s offer as she says that soon Mil Muertes will be LU Champion and The Temple will once again belong to her. The lights flicker, and she’s gone.

Evaluation: It should be interesting to see what feud new LU Champion Matanza will be heading into first. Although he has a title match against Pentagon tonight, I don’t think it’s a long-term plan as it seems like (especially after Aztec Warfare last week) a Muertes/Pentagon program is in the immediate future.

(Commercial)

Trios Championship Elimination Match: Son of Havoc, Ivelisse & Angelico vs. The Disciples of Death (w/Catrina)

Angelico and Barrio Negro start off this contest. The two men quickly trade a series of reversals before Angelico gets the upper hand with an arm bar. He tags in Son of Havoc who hits Negro with a senton. Havoc quickly tags in his ex-girlfriend Ivelisse who works on Negro’s arm some more. The babyface champions dominating control of the match so far. Negro lifts Ivelisse off her feet and walks over to his corner to tag in Siniestro de la Muerte. Negro and Siniestro try and hit a double team move on Ivelisse, but it fails as they collide into each other thanks to Ivelisse escaping their clutches at the last second. Ivelisse hits a northern lights suplex on Siniestro and holds a bridge for the cover, but Siniestro kicks out at two. Catrina pulls at Ivelisse from ringside, drawing Ivelisse into a big kick to the head from Negro. Siniestro goes for the cover and the referee counts to three as Ivelisse is eliminated.

Havoc enters as Siniestro throws him to the mat and keeps him there with kicks to the face and gut. Siniestro tags in Trese as he now starts laying into Havoc with punches and kicks. Havoc eventually counters and makes the hot tag to Angelico who starts taking out all three members of the Disciples of Death. Angelico hits all three men with big knees to the face. Angelico hits Trese with his Fall of the Angels signature move, and covers him for the three count. Trese is eliminated.

Negro and Siniestro attack Angelico right after the pinfall. Angelico fights back and with the help of Havoc, throws both men to outside the ring. Angelico and Havoc then hit big dives (suicide dive from Angelico and springboard moonsault from Havoc) onto Negro and Siniestro simultaneously. I love when they do that. Angelico gets Siniestro back in the ring and has him in position for the Fall of the Angels. Siniestro fights out of it and jumps on Angelico’s back, knees first, taking him down. That didn’t look pretty, but it got the job done as Siniestro covers Angelico for the three count. Angelico is eliminated.

It’s now 2-on-1 in favor of the D.O.D. Siniestro and Negro team up on Havoc. They throw Havoc into the ropes, but he springboards off of them and hits Negro and Siniestro with a crossbody. As Negro and Siniestro are crawling to get up, Havoc hits a springboard double foot stomp onto Siniestro and then Negro like hopscotch. He then hits a big standing moonsault on Negro for the three count. Barrio Negro has been eliminated.

Right after the pinfall, Siniestro hits Havoc with a big clothesline to the back of the head. Havoc gets to his feet and gets nailed by another clothesline. Siniestro goes to the top rope for a moonsault, but Havoc rolls out of the way. Now Havoc climbs the turnbuckle, but Catrina knocks him off sending Havoc to the mat. Ivelisse comes back out and delivers a hard kick to Catrina’s head, sending her down. Havoc throws Siniestro outside the ring and hits two suicide dives onto him, back to back. He then rolls Siniestro back in the ring, heads to the top rope and connects with the shooting star press. He quickly covers Siniestro for the three count after 10 minutes.

Winners by pinfall and STILL Trios Champions: Son of Havoc, Ivelisse and Angelico

Post-match, Son of Havoc, Ivelisse and Angelico celebrate in the ring with their titles.

Evaluation: That was a fun match. I’ve always liked elimination matches and this one delivered. It got good time too which isn’t always the case for the first two matches on LU. I really like the team of Havoc, Ivelisse and Angelico. They clearly have great chemistry together and deserve that Trios Title. They’re feud with the Disciples of Death is over now, so I’m looking forward to this Trios tournament to hopefully determine the next number one contender for the belts.

(Commercial)

Back to Dario Cueto in his office where he’s sitting across from Rey Mysterio. Cueto says how he’s a little star struck, but Mysterio cuts to the chase saying that he wants to talk about his mentor, the original Dragon Azteca. Mysterio knows he’s dead and thinks that Matanza is responsible. Cueto swears that his brother had nothing to do with Azteca’s death. He welcomes Azteca Jr. and Mysterio to his Temple, under one condition; they leave the past, in the past. Mysterio agrees and they toast to Dragon Azteca.

Evaluation: Black Lotus (the Asian woman with Cueto) killed El Dragon Azteca (her mentor) in Season 1 because Cueto convinced her that Azteca killed her parents (even though it was actually Matanza who killed her parents). After Lotus killed Azteca, that’s when her and Cueto went on the run at the end of Season 1. So, technically Cueto wasn’t lying when he said Matanza didn’t kill Azteca. Mysterio’s already suspicious, so their story should be interesting going forward.

Sexy Star (w/The Mack) vs. Mariposa (w/Marty “The Moth” Martinez)

A third match and we haven’t even gotten to the main event yet? Neither this or the main event will have too much time then. That’s just how Lucha Underground works when there’s four matches on an episode. Each episode’s only an hour long. Cut out commercials and that’s about 45 minutes of television time. Three matches per show is always the best way to go.

Mariposa runs at Sexy, but she dodges her each time and quickly escapes the ring. Sexy looks shook. She gets back in the ring after Marty stares her down. Sexy looked for a tilt-a-whirl headscissors into a submission, but Mariposa falls back and drops Sexy to the mat. Mariposa hits Sexy with The Butterfly Effect for the three count after about a minute and a half.

Winner by pinfall: Mariposa

Post-match, Mack comes in the ring to check on Sexy but Marty and Mariposa quickly take him out.

Evaluation: Mariposa’s finishing move, The Butterfly Effect, looks devastating. Not good for Sexy to lose clean that quickly, but Mariposa’s dominance is being put over and I guess the story is that Sexy was emotionally shook during the match; so she wasn’t all there mentally for this one.

Dario Cueto walks into some small secluded room wearing the LU Title over his shoulder. He talks to Matanza who is locked inside a cage. He tells Matanza that Pentagon’s made a name for himself by breaking arms. Cueto wants Matanza to break Pentagon’s back, so he can never come back to The Temple again. Cueto unlocks the cage, letting Matanza out.

Lucha Underground Championship Match: Matanza (w/Dario Cueto) vs. Pentagon Jr.

As they do every week, the El Rey Network’s YouTube channel uploaded this week’s main event in its entirety. You can watch the full match below.

The bell rings and we’re underway. Matanza throws Pentagon into the ropes, but Pentagon counters with an enziguri kick. However, the kick had no effect on Matanza as he still stands tall. The same happens after Pentagon hits a big superkick. No sell from Matanza.

Matanza throws Pentagon outside the ring and keeps him down with kicks and punches. Matanza clears out the crowd as he throws Pentagon into a bunch of empty set up chairs. Matanza tears at the mask of Pentagon for a little bit. He throws Pentagon back into the ring and hits him with a German Suplex. Matanza picks Pentagon up again and nails him with a big powerslam for the three count after 4 minutes.

Winner by pinfall and STILL Lucha Underground Champion: Matanza

Post-match, Vampiro gets in the ring to check on his mentee, but Matanza boots him in the face. He then throws Pentagon out of the ring and powerbombs him through the announce table. Pentagon is taken out on a stretcher as Cueto and his brother celebrate at the top of The Temple steps.

Evaluation: Beating Pentagon clean in four minutes is a big deal. Matanza dominated the whole match. His debut during last week’s Aztec Warfare was better, but this was a good way to assert his dominance as well.

Game Ball goes to…

Son of Havoc, Ivelisse & Angelico – They’re a group so they get to share this one. I thought all three did a great job in the Trios Title match. It was the best match of the night and they made it a lot of fun. The crowd always gets behind these three. They’re doing a lot right.

Final Thoughts

– It wasn’t one of my favorite LU show’s this season, but it was solid. There was a lot of character development this week which is good, especially for a show like LU. You need week’s like this.

– I love how much of a beast Matanza is being booked as. The being locked in a cage segment was cool.

– All the backstage video packages and promos were excellent as usual. There was a little more this week than usual, but it was needed as Dario Cueto’s back and The Temple is being shook up again.

– I enjoyed the band Chingon playing as segments and matches transitioned. Gives LU even more of a unique feel.

– I looking forward to this Trios Tournament starting! That should be fun. This was the first week in a while where a match for next week wasn’t advertised, but I’m guessing the Trios Tournament will start next week.

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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.