The Lucha Brothers in AEW Retrospective: Their Ceiling in 5 Matches

To deny there is something unique and special about The Lucha Brothers as a tag team and individuals would be moronic. Both were distinct characters among the other masked men of Lucha Underground. Hints of their capability were seen in Impact Wrestling, AAA, and MLW before they became All Elite. In AEW, The Lucha Brothers, as I discussed in part one (link here) of this list are part of the company’s history and the DNA of its wrestling-orientated product.

For better and worse, their style has meshed into many of the tropes and sub-genres on offer in AEW. They have marketability and can connect with the crowd. In-ring they are phenomenal.

The issue is often our biggest strengths can bring limitations. The Lucha Brothers have somewhat been normalized in AEW.

Both Fenix and Penta as singles guys are perennially over with crowds. This has led to them being used like Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn once upon a time in WWE’s past as utility players. Able to fill in the gaps to help address various storylines, matches, and booking headaches, but that itself comes with a ceiling.

What I Mean and Don’t Mean by “Ceiling”

This article, along with part one, will show nothing but love for AEW and The Lucha Brothers. Yet that love isn’t blind, but honest. Flaws will be discussed. The critiquing of AEW’s creative is going to be minimal. If you want a fuller constructive analysis of AEW creative, you can find it here.

The metaphorical ceiling I’m referring to relates beyond wrestling. Just general real-life work. Wrestling is still a job for those in the biggest promotions. Advancing up the ladder is tricky in any business. There are fewer spots the higher you go and from experience, when you are good in a specific role that you do excel in, sometimes the decision-makers will keep you there. It makes “sense” (sense being their way of thinking).

And from their viewpoint of business that makes sense. It means it might be harder in one organization due to context to move up or change if that’s what you want. Luckily, we are in a place with wrestling today where AEW vs. WWE has reshaped the industry to the benefit of wrestlers. More places to work, more freedom, and more options.

In this list, I’m going to highlight five key matches where Rey Fenix and Penta el Zero Miedo gave strong performances with my inferences and interpretation of how and where a high ceiling above the pair emerged in AEW. They will be listed in chronological order. If I’ve missed any must-watch matches let me know in the comments.

I say high because The Lucha Brothers are one of the most decorated acts in AEW. Singles, tag, and trios gold from AEW and ROH. They have been relied upon to deliver greatness and elevate others. In my view The Young Bucks’ greatest rivals.

But could they achieve more?

1) Rey Fenix vs. Penta el Zero Miedo, Dynamite,11th November 2020

The concept of brother vs. brother in wrestling has been done with mixed results. During this time, The Lucha Brothers were part of Eddie Kingston’s Family. There was tension between the two after Fenix beat Penta in the 2019 AEW World Championship Eliminator Tournament. However, due to injury, Penta advanced in place of his brother.

Fenix vs. Penta II did not disappoint, but it was not a luchador match as one would expect. Both clad in black, it was a dark and brutal encounter. A showcase of a side of Penta many fans still love and wish back would return today. The Penta of Lucha Underground.

Penta’s viciousness, early on applying a unique standing Texas Cloverleaf submission to Fenix in a piledriver position. Then tearing at Fenix’s mask showed signed the monster many have loved before. The arm-breaking psychopath from the Temple of Boyle Heights.

The match ended with a sickening order of moves. A package piledriver to the apron. A destroyer from the ring apron to the floor. One more package piledriver in-ring to guarantee that Fenix wouldn’t rise.

Unfortunately fans of that edited, cinematic Penta of LU would never fully see this version of the character realized. It showed a dark streak to Penta’s character especially one that was never fully explored. Whether due to booking or Penta’s own choice.

It remains a what if, what could have happened if AEW let this version of the character thrive?

2) AEW World Championship Eliminator: Kenny Omega vs. Rey Fenix, Dynamite, New Year’s Smash, Dynamite, 13th January 2021

For me, no match best exemplified Rey Fenix’s singles capability than this one against The Best Bout Machine.

Repeatedly, Fenix has shown Rey Mysterio-like qualities. An ability to portray emotion despite the mask. To forge a bond with the audience and make them cheer him into a comeback. To dance across the ropes, hit moves that appear innovative and flawless, and easy as walking.

Against Kenny Omega, who had just turned heel with “The Invisible Hand” Don Callis at his side, it was an inspired choice of booking from a character development perspective. The bout itself was innovative, futuristic, and fluid in a way that has since been normalized in AEW.

Hard-hitting and explosive beyond the big moves and spots. In the space between moves, Rey fought with an energy and spirit that made me think he could be a future world champion. In turn, this affirmed that the new AEW World Champion was truly the best in the world on the night. Confident, precise, and attentive to detail.

If there is one flaw from this match, it’s how in defeat Fenix appeared like he could rise again and again after such devastating defeats. A quality that was subsequently over-reliant upon in big matches to take the L and rebound. Rey has been positioned to help elevate others. Aid their ascension rather than his rise.

3) AEW World Tag Team Championship: Lucha Brothers vs. FTR, Full Gear 2021

The Lucha Brothers 122 days as AEW World Tag Team Champions was solid. It could be argued they did not receive the same showcasing or storyline care as The Young Bucks in many respects. In some ways, a bit like with babyface world champions, once their victory was achieved, their reign peaked. You can read about this booking issue in further detail here.

Their defenses during this time featured memorable moments and spots, but not necessarily classic matches or feuds. The trope of Penta losing or having his mask inferred to generate suspense was fun. Over time these too would become standardised.

It’s strange to consider that there have been five matches between the Lucha Brothers and FTR and yet this rivalry never reached a historic height. The chemistry between the Mexikings and FTR would develop across the multiple contests. Another issue was the lack of a standout storyline.

Personally, their Full Gear match was outdone by their Rampage match on 12th August 2021. Yet, why I’ve chosen this match because it reflects the best and worst of the brothers’ tag team title reign. What could have been if storyline cohesion and factors beyond their control went their way?

The narrative leading to the match did not fully gel. FTR had defeated The Lucha Brothers through cheating (and attempted disguise as Super Frogs). Mind games followed.

FTR set and dictated the initial pace. Their surgical “we’ll break you down” offense, is not so suited to the Lucha Brother’s speed. A tribute to Eddie Guerrero from Three Amigos into a Frog Splash was the match’s peak. The ending was messy due to circumstances due to a potential injury.

The story nor match did not flow or hit the peaks of either team’s rivalry with The Young Bucks.

4) AEW Trios Championships: Death Triangle vs. The Elite, Escalera De La Muerte, Dynamite, January 11th, 2023

The best of seven series had its ups and downs. The choice to have Death Triangle lead 3-1 added drama and tension that on paper worked. In reality, it telegraphed the results of the middle contests. It detracted from a sense of unpredictability during 2023 the company lost.

Having PAC obsess over cheating and using the ring bell hammer was flawed symbolism. As discussed in Part 1 with the team’s first match of this series, Death Triangle were positioned as equals. Tapping into the “sports entertainment” heavy trope of giving into the dark side, undermined the champions.

Classically, heels are supposed to look like they cannot beat the faces fairly. Yet the idea and execution in AEW felt cliché. Sports entertainment became almost standardized in AEW in 2023. It made the champions seem secondary and lesser.

Before this list article, my own “living memory” of The Lucha Brothers’ feud with The Bucks and Elite was more one-sided. In favour of The Elite with The Lucha Brothers and Death Triangle positioned as second best. However, this is despite how the luchadors had significant wins over The Young Bucks at pivotal moments.

Like I discussed in part one, The Lucha Brothers helping to elevate The Elite members and nurture their collective story and interests positioned the former as secondary characters.

Expectations also tainted the series as I discussed in The Elite’s “Putrid” 2023 review. Some fans wanted an Omega single run and a Bucks tag run. Not a trios run. The subsequent lack of trios’ storylines and focus undermined the good done by the series.

Still, as a sprint, due to a lack of time, their final match is exhilarating to rewatch!

5) AEW International Championship Match: Orange Cassidy vs. Penta el Zero Miedo, Dynamite, August 30th, 2023 

In terms of high spots and high drama moments, I end with this match because it demonstrated something I had for a while taken for granted about Penta. I’ll be honest, Penta’s AEW singles run for me has been mid. It’s not hitting the potential world championship material hits of Lucha Underground. It’s not been the highlight reel that Fenix’s single run has been.

Against the right opponents, Fenix can always have match-of-the-night candidates and still look strong in defeat. Penta on the other hand has needed the right opponent and match structure can also deliver.

One final title defense before Orange Cassidy faced Jon Moxley in a rematch for the International Championship, a vicious merciless Penta seemed poised to steal the championship. Genuinely, I watched this episode on the Saturday following Dynamite and yet I thought Penta was going to face Mox at Full Gear. I knew the result already!

As Penta snapped the arm of a broken-down Cassidy, it felt like destiny had caught up with Orange and unpredictability had returned to AEW.

Package piledriver. Kick out! Reversal into a crucifix pin! Cassidy retained before cutting his emotive “I don’t have a catchphrase” promo.

As moments go, it showed that beyond The Bucks and Elite Penta and Fenix could make moments for others. It made me appreciate how often Penta had been used to build others on the roster.

Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat re-emphasized Cassidy as a master worker at a point when his fighting champion role had lost some luster. Penta’s abilities and help re-ignited that for a time.

Again, like his match against Fenix years before, it made me wonder if given a full singles push, what could Penta do.

What More is There to Do? 

The Lucha Brothers if they leave AEW will be like losing two old but loved pieces of furniture. They have been easy to take for granted and so vital to AEW.

Some fans might feel their leaving is a betrayal. Taking what is an athletic, collaborative, and choreographed performance art that many often call a business personally. Perhaps they take it personally because the Mexikings style fits AEW in spirit and ethos like Penta’s glove.

However, like furniture they are replaceable. That might sound heartless but when Cody Rhodes left AEW went on. Eventually, AEW will likely proceed without the Elite (unless you’re a doomsayer who thinks AEW will go out of business at some point). It’s business.

With a fresher canvas and different restrictions, it would be interesting to see if the Lucha Brothers can do and achieve more than what they have achieved in AEW.

In AEW, what else is there to do?

Going to WWE will have its risks of pigeon-holing also. The tag team division has not been revived in the same way the world championship and intercontinental championship scenes have.

Dragon Lee appears sporadically. Andrade is the WWE Speed Champion yes, but has not had a developed or fleshed-out long-term story since his Royal Rumble return. Other members of The LWO sit in the background behind Rey Mysterio. This is a cynical take with evidence.

The Lucha Brothers are different from anyone else in WWE. Competition means they could get leverage to retain the key elements of what makes them special. No NXT re-tooling. Some limitations on their move sets and spots may enhance their auras in a new ring.

Worse comes to worse, if things don’t work out, they could always return to AEW.

More From LWOS Pro Wrestling

Header photo – AEW – Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world. As well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world.  You can catch AEW Dynamite on Wednesday nights at 8 PM ET on TBS. AEW Rampage airs on TNT at 10 PM EST every Friday night. AEW Collision airs Saturday at 8pm Eastern on TNT. More AEW content available on their YouTube