Welcome to the Lucha Crítica, where we look at this week’s Lucha Underground. This weeks episode is entitled “Dark and Mysterious”, which it’s a welcome to get episode names like a regular TV show! I remember when WCW Nitro would at times do this.
There was a big controversy this week on legendary wrestling manager Jim Cornette calling Lucha Underground, “another nail in the coffin of wrestling”. What’s interesting to me is that Cornette actually had it right on what Lucha Underground is. “It’s a TV show. It’s a movie. It’s not wrestling.” Lucha Underground is a TV show that uses pro wrestling for its central action, in the way Law and Order uses stories ripped from the headlines to create its central drama. Just as Law and Order is not real police work, Lucha Underground is not real wrestling. There’s nothing shameful about that! You still see pro wrestlers executing the lucha style to tell captivating stories and the use of production and editing (Cornette comparing it to Scorcese and Ford is nice of him but more an example of how hyperbolic he is) to heighten the reality of said stories. The company is not trying to claim it’s a sport.
That’s a big reason why people love Lucha Underground. Too many wrestling promotions can’t even go half way on trying to sell itself as a real sport because it’s constantly breaking kayfabe or trying to tell sponsors that it’s fake. The fourth wall is constantly broken in most wrestling promotions to the point where it makes it difficult to believe in the product in front of us. This is why so many wrestling fans flock to the Internet to share stories of the backstage drama, because it’s more exciting than what’s going on in front of us. They fail selling pro wrestling as a sport, so all we have left is pro wrestling the business. Lucha Underground is attempting none of that. It’s stripping the facade of sport and going straight to being a television show. It has more in common with Rowdy Roddy Piper and Jesse Ventura’s TV movie/pilot Tagteam or the Canadian sitcom Learning the Ropes with Lyle Alzado as a school teacher who is a professional wrestler at night than it does World Wrestling Entertainment, New Japan Pro Wrestling or Ring of Honor. Fans of those products watch those companies and Lucha Underground, and I cover Lucha Underground on a sports website, but it’s not a sports show. Nor is it a sports entertainment product. It’s a television product.
Cornette is old school and probably has a tough time understanding that. I don’t mind if Cornette doesn’t understand Lucha Underground, nor do I get too upset about his radical hyperbole. Cornette cuts the same promo every time on things he doesn’t like. Surprise, disgust, hyperbolic destruction of it existing. Read his rant on Lucha Underground than watch him talk about the WrestleRock Rumble. It’s the same promo, different subject. Cornette doesn’t have to understand Lucha Underground. It’s not his cup of tea. The only criticism I’ll give him is that this is giving wrestling people jobs, and one of them isn’t Vince Russo, and that should be a good thing to him.
Lucha Underground: The Dark and Mysterious
We get a recap, this time of Dragon Azteca Jr. being taken out by Cueto and Lotus. I wonder how that comes into play? Fun Fact: He used to wrestle as El Hijo de Rey Mysterio!
Light and Dark
Prince Puma is pumping iron when Pentagon Jr. confronts him. The two have a war of words… well, Pentagon Jr. does all of the talking and Puma does all of the not backing down. He also shows poor gym form by dropping his weights. The two are working the main event against the Disciples of Death and they are already fighting each other! How can they co-exist? How can they overcome the odds? Oh, sorry, wrong show.
Johnny Mundo vs. Killshot
The return of Johnny Mundo! There’s no heroes welcome for Mundo, who debuted last year as a technico and now finds himself rudo. Not much changed. Wait, where’s Melina? Killshot is interesting. Along with Angelico, he’s a lanky tall cruiserweight. Both men are in a Jim Ross exam to see who has the more educated feet. In an alternate world, Killshot might be Prince Puma. The fans start chanting, “Johnny Zero!” at Mundo. Vampiro calls himself a fan of Mundo because of how cocky he is, and almost immediately changes his mind. Mundo is a smart veteran. Even though both are athletic high flyers that kick, Mundo makes sure he switches up to heavy forearm strikes to create contrast and aggression. Killshot’s knee kick from the ropes to a superkick and a corner DDT is absolutely beautiful. Did we underestimate Big Ryck’s family? Nope, we underestimated Mundo. After a ref bump, Mundo catches a low blow and the End of the World.
I almost gave the edge to Killshot because of what a great showing he had but Johnny Mundo made it clear he’s still an uppercarder. Afterwards, Mundo calls out Mil Muertes, only to hear the voice of another gringo: CAGE!
Face to Face with a Machine
Cage takes quick shots at both Mundo and Mil Muertes, showing himself as the babyface. Cage is actually doing a pretty good impression of Scott Steiner, with a little less cursing and a lot more mohawk. Mundo tries to get his verbal shots, only for Cage to chase him down. Didn’t Mundo just wrestle? This doesn’t seem fair. Mundo tucks his tail between his legs and gets running. Cage turns his attention to Mil Muertes, only for Mundo to attack Cage from behind. We got one of our uppercard feuds right here! Good way to bring Cage back and let the crowd love him.
A moth catches a star
Marty the Moth is looking like a member of the Meanstreet Posse and he’s creepier than ever! Sexy Star is tied up and… ugh. I just don’t like this feud. I don’t care where it’s going. Marty mentions his sister, which I’m guessing means Sexy Star will be moreso feuding with Marty’s sister, whomever she is (avoid spoilers). Either way, I’d rather not on this storyline. Just end it soon please.
PJ Black: New Moon
We get a vignette for PJ Black, so fans don’t immediately assume he’s some alternate universe Johnny Mundo. He gets to do the DAREWOLF gimmick he never got a chance to do in WWE here. I don’t really care for the fact he’s another guy who drives motorcycles in Lucha Underground. That’s what makes King Cuerno so cool. He drives a truck!
“The DAREWOLF” PJ Black vs. The Mack
The Mack comes out and boy did I miss The Mack. He completely overshadowed Big Ryck last season by being such a unique combination of power and agility. If anyone is the 21st century Ernie Ladd, it’s The Mack. Who is his opponent? Usually we get these vignettes to introduce a person debuting next week. Instead, the DAREWOLF debuts tonight!
Remember when he was Justin Angel, the future Jeff Hardy? No? Okay, I always do for some reason. Mack has great facial expressions. The two men have a chop contest. Mack then drops the biggest leg lariat I’ve seen since Savio Vega. Mack with a kip up followed by a moonsault, which was gorgeous. Isn’t this suppose to showcase the DAREWOLF?
More chopping ensues followed by a kick to the head and the Black to the Future? What a terrible name. Black still wrestles like he’s in the WWE. Everything is a little too safe and a little too dry. Black attempts a springboard and eats a STUNER! STUNNER BY THE MACK! ONE! TWO! THREE!
I was originally disappointed that PJ Black was facing The Mack because I was sure The Mack was going to lose. The Mack took all of PJ Black’s thunder in this match, won over The Temple and won the match. I’m very happy that The Mack’s push continues. Best Stunner since Austin. You heard me.
A New Snake Approaches
We get a vignette for another new wrestler, this one I’m guessing doesn’t show up until next week. Kobra Moon used to be Thunder Rosa in Japan. Don’t know too much about her and I guess she’s a relative newcomer. Hopefully she does more than Santino Marella’s sock puppet.
Lucha Underground Main Event
The Disciples of Death vs. Prince Puma and Pentagon Jr.
I don’t mean to go on a rant here but I can’t stand it when a tag team or trio champion heel team has to fight babyfaces with lesser numbers. The babyfaces usually win these matches despite the fact winning a team championship means you’re better partners than any individual. How can you develop wrestlers as specialists in a division if they can lose to any singles wrestler that’s got a bigger push?
Pentagon Jr. is over, which must be why he’s no longer being a heel. Vampiro is still playing up the idea that he has unresolved issues with the idea that he’s Pentagon Jr.’s Master. Another angle I wish would die.
The Disciples of Death look clearly out challenged against the two, despite the fact they are Lucha Underground Trios champions. I have trouble telling Barrio Negro, Trece and El Sinistro de la Muerte apart. El Sinistro de la Muerte needs to work his gimmick in AAA, where he’s the Loco Mariachi. Come on, you know you want to see that more than a random guy in a skull mask! The Disciples work down Puma with the Prince and Pentagon Jr. not showing much teamwork but still taking over the match. Pentagon Jr. didn’t even make a proper tag, so I guess he is still heel!
Puma hits his 630 but Pentagon Jr. steals the pin. That cheeky monkey! Two men beat the Trios champions. Not happy. Pentagon Jr. flexes then attacks Puma. Pentagon Jr. is going for the armbreaker! Vampiro watches intensely. Stryker acts like it’ll murder Puma when Mil Muertes is up on the throne with his arm just in a sling.
I’m sorry about my lack of enthusiasm here but even when Lucha Underground does a “two rivals must team up and work together to win!” angle I just don’t feel it. I was hoping for the Disciples of Death to prove they were better as a team than Puma and Pentagon Jr., who would lose due to their personal animosity. Instead, they pull out the win. They have the edge, but they didn’t really earn it.
Booyaka Booyaka
A man is talking. It sounds familiar. He mentions that he was supposed to inherit the mask a man in a hood is wearing. That man reveals himself to be Azteca! The other man? REY MYSTERIO JR.! So this makes a little more sense. Azteca got his butt whupped quick in season one but he brings in Rey Mysterio Jr. to back him up. It’ll be interesting to see the veteran Rey Jr. in Lucha Underground wearing the most famous mask in North American pro wrestling. Lucha Underground now has some true star power.
Until next week, keep your mask on!
