Welcome to the Lucha Crítica, where I look at this week’s Lucha Underground. Find out what happened, who had the edge, and how the tone was set for the two week event that is Ultima Lucha!
TRUE LIES
Night one of Ultima Lucha opened up with a dapper looking Dario Cueto visiting Black Lotus in her cell. It’s been several weeks since viewers had seen her, so much so that I almost forgot about her storyline. Maybe it will come to a head next week, maybe it will carry over into season two, time will tell. One thing is for certain, Cueto added an interesting wrinkle to the story by telling Lotus that it wasn’t his brother Matanza Cueto who killed her parents, but El Dragon Azteca, the man who has been training Black Lotus to take her revenge, who committed the heinous act, and blamed it on El Jefe’s brother.
An interesting twist, but if true, why would Dario wait until now to tell her when he could have told her as soon as she was captured? Might be best to not delve too deeply into the logic of it all.
FALLS COUNT ANYWHERE – NO DISQUALIFICATION
THE MACK VS. CAGE
The Temple is decorated with some cool looking match posters for the card of Ultima Lucha, they don’t have a huge set, but the posters do add a feeling that this is something special.
This was a great match and the crowd was hot for it. The chants of “THIS IS AWESOME!” were some of the loudest I have ever heard in Lucha Underground. The match itself was very reminiscent of classic ECW. Tons of weapons like street signs, bricks, and crutches, but some of the most brutal spots came from suplexs on the floor and in the bleachers.
I am usually a big fan of Matt Striker’s commentary but he got a little pun heavy in this one, adding a pun for just about every weapon that was picked up, although Striker did supply viewers with a fun moment, giving his best Jim Ross impression after Mack hit Cage with a Stunner.
While Cage was no slouch in this match, it seemed like Mack got in a little more offense, or at least a great deal of the big spots, however Cage wouldn’t stop, much like a Machine as he claims to be, and with a curb stomp into a cinder block, overcame The Mack.
Edge: As I said, Mack had a great deal of offense in this match, which is a good thing since he holds two victories over Cage, it’d be silly for Cage to simply mow over him, But the edge goes to Cage. He gets the edge not just for the win, but for his resilience in this match. Cage took a beating but would not stay down, and even after the beating he took, still had enough in the tank to deliver a high angle superplex.
TRIOS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
TORNADO RULES
THE DISCIPLES OF DEATH (w/ CATRINA) VS. SON OF HAVOC/IVELISSE/ANGELICO (c)
The Disciples of Death had some new gear including some much more detailed masks, to mark the occasion of Ultima Lucha, whereas the champs sported the same look, complete with Ivelisse’s broken foot still in a protective boot. The champions fought hard, Son of Havoc often fighting back against two, or even all three Disciples, and Angelico taking to the sky once again, as has become his big match trademark, leapt from the stands, this time however it wasn’t into the ring, but straight to the floor to take out all three opponents.
It was at this time that Catrina chose to get involved, raising the stone that she carries much like Paul Bearer would with The Undertaker’s urn, prompting the Disciples of Death to rise. Ivelisse didn’t take to kindly to the Mistress of Death getting involved and finally chose to pick on someone her own size. Ivelisse quickly took down Catrina and began throwing punches. Catrina struggled to get free and was able to turn the tables on Ivelisse and eventually hit the female champ with the mysterious stone. It was academic after that, Ivelisse summoned the Disciples to their feet once again, and as two of them kept Angelico and Havoc at bay, the third covered an unconscious Ivelisse.
Edge: Any time someone wins a championship, it’s tough to not give them the edge. Even if they had to cheat to get it, moving forward they are champions, and the same can be said of the Disciples of Death. A formidable team in their own right, and with Catrina in their back pocket, they may be unstoppable.
ULTIMA LUCHA NIGHT ONE MAIN EVENT
BELIEVERS BACKLASH
HERNANDEZ VS. DRAGO
An interesting take on the traditional Lumberjack match, this one had fans surround the ring, each holding a leather strap. It was safe to say right from the start that the odds were not in Hernandez’s favour. The big Texan tossed Drago to the outside just to watch the Believers help him out and lead the fans in the Temple in a “Drago, Drago” chant.
Any time Hernandez found himself on the outside he was tattooed with leather repeatedly. Despite the fact that it had been mentioned many times in the last two weeks that the Believers involved in the match would have to sign waivers, Hernandez didn’t fight back as much as I thought he would. I expected by the halfway point of the match he would have thrown half of them around the outside of the ring, but the worst thing he did was powerbomb Drag into three of them.
The offense in this match belonged mostly to the man from El Inframundo, even when Hernandez got the upper hand, it didn’t last too long. The best counter of the match came when Hernandez went for a suicide dive over the top rope only to get hit by Dragon’s Breath, Drago’s green mist. That was the beginning of the end for Hernandez, as the vultures descended with straps in hand. As Hernandez escaped the Believers, he ran into a nunchaku wielding Drago. The Dragon laid into Hernandez leaving him prone on a table for a splash off the top rope. After another splash inside the ring, Drago stood tall with the Believers cheering him on.
Edge: The edge goes to Drago here, not just for the win, but for being pretty dominant throughout the match. It was by no means a squash, but it was fairly easy to see throughout that Drago would have his hand raised at the end.
THE TEMPLE OF DOOM
El Dragon Azteca was walking with a purpose, heading to the Temple. As he reached the door he was greeted by a man in a white hoodie who stopped him. They traded martial arts blows before discussing the prophecy, which states that if El Dragon Azteca enters the Temple, he will die. The man in white said that Puma could bring Black Lotus to Azteca “as he did before” which is a nice way to interweave different characters and angles. Azteca said no, Puma is on his own path now. After Azteca accepts his fate and says he is willing to die because “El Dragon Azteca lives on forever!” With that, the man in white allowed Azteca access into the Temple and the door shut.
Until next week and the conclusion of Ultima Lucha, keep your mask on!
