Welcome to the Lucha Crítica, where I look at this week’s Lucha Underground. Find out what happened and who had the edge as everything from the past nine months has led to Ultima Lucha!
One of the coolest things I have taken away from Lucha Underground has been the build. Wrestling always has ongoing stories, angles that are constantly evolving and shifting from one feud into the next. Lucha Underground was no different in that respect, but over the last couple months it really started to feel like it was building toward something, coming to a crescendo. Yes, WWE has a build leading up to WrestleMania, and it is often on a larger scale than some of the builds to other events, but there is always the knowledge that the night after WrestleMania it’s business as usual, but this, Ultima Lucha, is different.
The fact that it isn’t business as usual next week has a great deal to do with how I’m feeling. This has a sense of finality to it, even though there is a strong possibility that they will return for a second season. It is something that Lucha Underground gets from the more “television” aspects of its production, spending a season building to this point, with larger stories that span the entire season, as well as smaller more intimate angles, all of it culminating in a type of cliff hanger, whetting the viewers appetites for a second season. The question is, will this fan base still be there when season two begins several months from now?
NEW FACES
As we headed closer to Ultima Lucha, I wondered what they were going to do for commentary since Vampiro was involved in a match. That answer came in the form of Michael Schiavello. The Australian commentator who has been heard in Maximum Fighting Championship, Xtreme Fighting Championship, and King Of The Cage just to name a few. He has a very classic commentator style and reminds me a little of an Aussie Jim Ross. I warmed up to Vampiro over the season compared to when I first heard him on commentary, but I wouldn’t be opposed to Mr. Schiavello taking up permanent residence in the Lucha Underground booth.
JOHNNY MUNDO VS. ALBERTO EL PATRON
This one has been personal right from the start, from Alberto El Patron costing Johnny Mundo his chance at the Lucha Underground Championship, to Mundo throwing El Patron through Dario Cueto’s office window. One could argue that the window was a little bit extreme, but either way both of these men were seeing red.
After a brief chase El Patron caught Mundo laying in some kicks outside the ring and throwing him from wall to wall. Mundo regained the upper hand after crawling under the ring and then hitting Alberto with a handful of dust and dirt from under the ring. This one seemed like a bit of a reach for me, there was nothing better they could have come up with than ring dirt? At any rate, throughout the match Mundo threw everything he had at Alberto, including the End of the World, but he just couldn’t put El Patron away. Similarly, Alberto couldn’t get the job done as Johnny countered a lot of offense, or simply used dirty tactics to escape.
El Patron was set to put Johnny away, ready to hit him with his version of the superkick, but Mundo pulled referee Marty Elias in harm’s way. Mundo was looking to score with the Moonlight Drive but El Patron countered into the armbar. The Shaman of Sexy was tapping out, however the ref was still down. Johnny managed to escape, although only briefly because Alberto hooked the armbar again, this time in the corner. The added pressure of El Patron hanging over the ropes must have been excrutiating and surely would have been the end of the match had Mundo not been saved by…. Melina! The former main squeeze of Mundo’s showed up just in time to hit El Patron with his own AAA Mega Championship belt. After she tossed Alberto back into the ring he was prone and in perfect position for The End of the World and it was over.
After the match El Patron got a measure of revenge beating Mundo all over the ringside area before throwing him through the window on Dario Cueto’s office door, leaving Johnny Mundo a bloody mess.
Edge: Although he lost the match, Alberto El Patron gets the edge. He was strong during the match able to keep up with Mundo, he managed to get Johnny to tap out though the referee didn’t see it, and by the conclusion was certainly in better shape as he walked up the stairs while Johnny Mundo lay on the floor wearing a crimson mask.
DECLARATIONS OF WAR
Black Lotus toiled away in her cell as El Dragon Azteca entered the room to free her. Before he could open the cage Dario Cueto greeted him, reminding Azteca of the ancient treaty that he had broken by entering the Temple, and that the punishment for breaking the treaty was death. Azteca asked Cueto not to do this but Cueto simply replied “I don’t have to” as Black Lotus grabbed El Dragon Azteca through the bars of her cell, held him around the neck and delivered a fatal blow to his spine.
Dario Cueto seemed to be enjoying the moment, but all of that changed when Lotus took out Azteca. He immediately opened her cell and instructed her to come with him. “You have started a war and the only one who can protect you is Dario Cueto.” As they prepare to flee Black Lotus asked about Matanza to which Dario replied “He’s coming with us.” And then unlocked his brother’s cell door.
CERO MIEDO MATCH (NO DISQUALIFICATION NO COUNT OUTS)
PENTAGON JR. VS. VAMPIRO
After an amazingly theatrical entrance from Vampiro, dressed as some kind of dark, demented Pope, the match would begin, cero miedo means zero fear and these two men lived up to that. In previous articles I have made the comparison between Lucha Underground and Extreme Championship Wrestling, even stating that a match from last week, Cage vs. The Mack would have been at home in ECW. This match looked like it could have been ripped right from Philadelphia.
Pentagon Jr. took the early advantage attacking Vampiro with a steel chair. It wasn’t long before the action spilled to the outside, the two fighting throughout the Believers. Pentagon regained the upper hand and proceeded to remove the mats at ringside exposing the concrete floor, then hit the Thunder Bay, Ontario native with a death valley driver directly to the floor. As the referee tried to stop Pentagon the demented luchador continued to hit Vampiro with steel chairs until a stretcher was finally brought out and Vampiro was wheeled away.
Vampiro, never one to let a match end so quickly, fought his way off of the stretcher and back to the ring. This is when the toys came out. Vampiro poured thumb tacks onto the mat, slamming Pentagon on them, and being slammed on them himself. Fluorescent ight tubes were introduced which left both men a bloody mess, Vampiro from the neck and head, and Pentago from the face after Vamp ripped away half of his mask. Finally Vampiro brought out the big toys, a table along with a lighter and some lighter fluid. He readied the table but as he set it ablaze, Pentagon picked up Vampiro and slammed him through it. This wasn’t what some flaming table spots have been like, the flames didn’t die out on impact. Vampiro was engulfed, his clothing set on fire from head to toe. Someone on the outside was ready with a fire extinguisher, unfortunately they were a bit too slow as Vampiro rolled out of the ring away from the extinguisher. The flames were finally put out and Pentagon Jr. rolled out of the ring and covered Vampiro for the one, two, three.
After the match Pentagon Jr. grabbed a microphone but before he could say anything Vampiro rolled back into the ring yelling for Pentagon to break his arm, as if to say ‘I couldn’t beat you so here, take your prize’. Pentagon obliged, locked in the hold and snapped Vampiro’s arm back. Pentagon then picked the mic back up proclaiming that he has defeated his final sacrifice, and asked “Where are you Master?!” Vampiro interrupted telling Pentagon “You’re looking for your teacher. Well as your teacher, you are ready my son.” The Believers in the Temple were in shock as Pentagon Jr. bowed before his Master.
Edge: Vampiro put up a good fight but Pentagon had more offense and was the first to bloody his opponent, and moving forward it would appear that he will be under the guidance of Vampiro, that’s enough to give Pentagon the edge.
GIFT OF THE GODS CHAMPIONSHIP
SEVEN WAY MATCH
KING CUERNO VS. SEXY STAR VS. JACK EVANS VS. BENGALA VS. AERO STAR VS. FENIX VS. BIG RYCK
As is to be expected with these matches, this became a spot fest, but it was a very good spot fest. No one in this match was underutilized. Everyone had a chance to shine, everyone felt like an integral part of the match. Big Ryck dominated the early portion of the match but became quickly outnumbered, Sexy Star was the opportunist always sneaking in to get a quick victory, Bengala and Jack Evans both used some innovative offense and Aero Star took a flying leap from three stories up. Fenix and King Cuerno were kind of the glue that held the match together, being involved in a lot of the transitions throughout the match.
The seven participants weren’t the only ones involved however, Marty “The Moth” Martinez hit the ring to try and exact some revenge on Sexy Star, unfortunately he ended up face down on the mat just like last time. Delavar Daivari also inserted himself into the match proclaiming to Big Ryck “You’re fired!” before hitting Ryck with a steel chair.
As the match wound down I thought for sure Jack Evans would get the three, he was so close a number of times, as was King Cuerno but after some well placed knees to Jack Evans face followed by the Tiger Driver, Fenix became the first to capture The Gift of the Gods.
Edge: It can be difficult trying to find an edge for this match since everyone pulled their weight. I don’t like going against Cuerno or Jack Evans for that matter, but since everyone held their own, I’ve got to look to the finish. Fenix has earned himself a Money In The Bank style title shot here. He may have to defend it down the line but the fact is, he has a title opportunity, and that gives him the edge.
TEXANO VS. BLUE DEMON JR. (w/ THE CREW)
NO DISQUALIFICATION
It was announced before the match that due to Blue Demon Jr.’s status as a lucha libre legend, Dario Cueto had made the match no disqualification. This stipulation didn’t phase Texano too much as he went to work and controlled much of the match. Texano hit Blue Demon with a spinebuster followed by his sit out powerbomb, but the pin was broken up by The Crew. It then became a three on one as The Crew held Texano for Blue Demon to hit with a kendo stick. Before he could however, Chavo Guerrero hit the ring with a steel chair, The Crew let go of Texano out of fear of being hit with the chair, Demon backed off and Chavo reared back and hit Texano across the back. He then handed the chair to Blue Demon Jr. who hit Texano across the forehead and arrogantly covered him for the victory.
Edge: On one hand Texano dished out the majority of the offense in the match and didn’t need help. On the other hand Blue Demon Jr. won the match, and has seemingly formed quite the alliance in Luncha Underground. The Demon gets the edge.
ULTIMA LUCHA MAIN EVENT
LUCHA UNDERGROUND CHAMPIONSHIP
MIL MUERTES (w/ CATRINA) VS. PRINCE PUMA (c)
Ring announcer Melissa Santos announced with this match that “there must be a winner” which is just a nice way of saying no rules.
Another candidate for match of the year, Prince Puma and Mil Muertes told a great story here. Coming into the match I thought it would be all Muertes, especially with Puma not having Konnan in his corner, but the champ held his own for the most part. As expected, Puma used his speed and Mil used his power but their styles meshed very well here.
Both men showed resilience with Puma kicking out of a spear and Flatliner, and Muertes kicking out of a 630 Senton. As the match wore on we started to see what we’ve come to expect from the champion, for him to take a beating but never give up, never give in. Prince Puma kicked out of every pin attempt, survived going through a table, and managed to fight back to getting some close falls himself, but as Prince Puma ascended to the top rope Mil Muertes sprang to his feet and hit Puma with a Flatliner from the top rope stopping Puma in his tracks and getting the victory to become the Lucha Underground Champion. As an aside, there was some great camera use in that final spot with the camera filming from the mat, it actually shook upon impact from the Flatliner, it was a cool visual.
Edge: As hard as Prince Puma fought, Mil Muertes is your new Lucha Underground Champion. As he, Catrina, and the Disciples of Death celebrated in the ring raising their championships, with that visual Muertes had the edge.
THE ROAD AHEAD
The episode closed with a nice montage of most of the roster, with hints of what’s to come in season two.
- Black Lotus is filling a bag with the money from Dario Cueto’s desk as he keeps watch through the blinds of his office. They get into a car and leave as they pull away, through the trailer they are pulling we see Matanza’s eyes.
- Fenix with his Gift of the Gods title, gets in his Trans Am and drives away King Cuerno looks on from his pick up truck and begins to follow
- Marty “The Moth” Martinez seems to have gone off the deep end speaking to someone saying “You think I’m some kind of joke? You won’t be laughing when you meet my sister.” And it’s revealed that he has Sexy Star tied up in a dark room as she screams.
- Son Of Havoc exits the Temple and says to Angelico that they’re going to get their titles back. Angelico rides away on a motorbike, Havoc hops on another bike with Ivelisse and they follow.
- Drago and Aero Star shake hands and part on amicable terms, Drago in a burst of flame Aerostar in a sea of sparks.
- Pentagon Jr. asks his Master where they are going now, Vampiro cloaked in a hood says “To a dark place.”
- The mysterious man in the white hoodie from last week’s episode is seen putting on a mask and holding a spray paint can. The camera pans back and we see a question mark over the Lucha Underground billboard.
- Finally we see Dario Cueto moving forward, out of the Temple as the lights of the Temple begin to go out. As the last of the lights go out and he is bathed in a faint red glow, Dario Cueto Smiles. As the screen goes black, the words ‘To Be Continued’ appear.
Until season two, support lucha libre, and keep your mask on!
