With Lucha Underground season two confirmed, now would be a great time to shake up the roster a bit. Do they need to? Not necessarily, but some fresh blood wouldn’t be a bad thing either, so I thought it would be interesting to write a series looking at who in Lucha Underground should go, who should stay, and who they should bring in. Last week we looked at who needs to take an exit for season two. For the sake of argument, anyone with a championship at the end of the first season is off the table since they would obviously be staying, but let’s see who else should stay.
CAGE
I know Cage calls himself a Machine, but this guy’s a beast. He’s physically imposing, one of the strongest men on the roster, and exceptionally agile. I was surprised that they didn’t keep him closer to the top for more of the season, but the writers clearly had a vision for the season and there’s only so many times a guy can lose to Prince Puma. That being said, aside from Mil Muertes, I don’t think anyone else gave Puma a harder time in season one than Cage, and if that is any indication, Cage is going to have one hell of a season two.
JACK EVANS
Without a doubt Jack Evans is one of the most underrated members of the Lucha Underground roster. Granted, I think a big component of that is the fact that he came into the season late. Had he arrived around the same time as his AAA tag team partner Angelico, things might have been different for Evans, and they still could be. In regards to Lucha Underground, this guy has untapped potential. He is the best heel on the roster, and that’s saying something because there are some great heels working in the Temple. His heelish style has an old school feel to it, but without feeling dated or stale. Evans in ring style also fits in perfectly with Lucha Underground. For me it isn’t a question of should Jack Evans stay, but how long until he and Angelico cross paths?
THE MACK
The Mack impressed me right from the word go. Looking at his physique I definitely didn’t expect him to move as quickly as he does. Despite being a bit on the husky side, he can give some of the high flyers in The Temple a run for their money. He was unfortunately saddled with a “cousin of Big Ryck” gimmick, but quickly rose above that, letting his matches speak for themselves, and they spoke volumes. Mack finished off the season with a great street fight with Cage, and while some of the weapon use became a crutch, it was still a stellar match and really showcased what both of these big men can do. I personally can’t wait to see what Mack brings to season two.
KING CUERNO
One of the constants of the first season of Lucha Underground was King Cuerno. His trajectory seemed to be as methodical as his pace in the ring. Without meaning to downplay his skills, he was a perfect mechanic in Lucha Underground. He could work a main event world title match, or an opener or anything in between and never feel out of place. His stoic hunter persona was a breath of fresh air to the usually load intense gimmicks that are often involved in the world of pro wrestling. The man went through the entire season without saying a word, granted so did Prince Puma, but Puma had Konnan to talk for him. If Lucha Underground was a living entity, King Cuerno was the backbone that held it steady, constant, and unwavering.
DARIO CUETO
Luis Fernandez-Gil, better known to most as Dario Cueto, is not a wrestler nor was he affiliated with any wrestling promotions prior to Lucha Underground. He’s an actor, and that is what he brought to the table, superb acting. Admittedly, some of his acting was over the top, but that fit into the world of Lucha Underground that was created by the writers. What I loved about Cueto is that he embodied all of the stereotypical nuances of a heel promoter without it feeling tired or stale. In fact, many of his actions were so over the top that they wouldn’t have worked with any other promotion, or figure head. If someone had walked into Vince McMahon’s office during a Raw and he was busy counting money, it would have seemed hokey, but this guy pulls it off. That is exactly the type of scumbag you believe he is, and there’s no one else who I would want to see running Lucha Underground on screen.
There are five competitors that I’d like to see stay put in Lucha Underground. Those five, along with others like Pentagon Jr. and Drago, made Lucha Underground very entertaining and I hope that they continue to do so well into season two and beyond. Stay tuned to see who Lucha Underground should sign from outside the Temple.
