Lucha Underground Review: 11/19/14

We start off with a video package recapping the past three weeks. The ongoing storyline with Johnny Mundo, Prince Puma, Big Ryck, Cisco, Cortez Castro, and Dario Cueto is shown. We then see Konnan from last week talking about the new talent he has brought in.

We open the show with a Mexican style band playing inside the Temple. We start with Matt Stryker and Vampiro talking about the change in attitude that Chavo Guerrero has had.

My View: Once again the opening video package sets up the program nicely. It gives a decent hook for the fans at home to want to stick around. Keeping the two storylines with Chavo and Johnny Mundo in the forefront is a great idea. I think both of these stories will be blended at some point.

We go to the ring where Sexy Star is already in the ring. She has a microphone; she addresses Chavo, and calls him a stupid coward. She says the next time he sees her he better bring a chair because it’s the only way he will beat her. She said she will embarrass him for what he did to Blue Demon. She says she will kick his ass for what he has done to everyone he has attacked. She says she will finish the Guerrero dynasty. Ivelisse comes out and says Sexy Star sounds like a she is so sad, and then says that is what she gets for messing with someone tougher than her, and that’s what she gets for believing she belongs with the boys. She says Star is not the baddest luchadora. She accuses Star of hiding her ugly face with her ugly mask. She says deep down in Star’s core she knows Ivelisse is the baddest bitch in the building, Star then slaps her.

Sexy Starr vs. Ivelisse

Ivelisse takes Star down and they brawl on the mat. Vampiro calls this wrestling ant-diva wrestling. Sexy puts a headlock on Ivelisse, Star is thrown off the ropes and Star gives Ivelisse a hip toss. Ivelisse then takes a head scissors from Star. Star goes to kick Ivelisse in the corner, Ivelisse moves and trips star headfirst into the turn buckle. Ivelisse then goes to work on her with kicks and punches. Ivelisse then throws Star into the other turn buckle. Ivelisse goes for the pin and gets a two count. Ivelisse throws Star’s face into the mat. Star fights back but Ivelisse grabs her hair and throws her back down. Ivelisse kicks star in the chest, goes for the pin and gets another two count. Stryker points out the Ivelisse may be healthier than Star because of the chair shot that Star had taken from Chavo. Ivelisse locks in a chin lock from behind as they are both down on the mat. Stryker mentions possibly Star had suffered a concussion and came back to early. Star use an arm drag and breaks free. They exchange blows in the center of the ring. Star hits a double knee to the face of Ivelisse. Star hits a clothesline then an elbow and gains momentum. She then hit’s a suplex, then holds on and hits another. Vampiro says he gives the match a ten, as Ivelisse slaps Star across the face. Ivelisse goes for a choke hold then drops Star on her head; Ivelisse goes for the pin and gets a two count. Stryker says the MMA background of Ivelisse will come into play. Star escapes and hit’s a drop toe hold on Ivelisse and goes for the pin and gets the win.

Winner: Sexy Star

My View: Nice promos by both women. It’s important to note that Sexy Star did hers in all Spanish. The pre-taped video she did a few weeks ago was in English with translation at the bottom of the screen, they did translation again, she seemed more comfortable this time around. The match was very well done with both wrestlers hitting some nice moves. The concussion statement by Stryker made it seem like there was no doctors clearing the talent which concerned me. The other interesting comment by Stryker was when Star hit the double suplex he said “reminiscent of another former star”, I got the strange feeling he was referring to Chris Benoit.

Back from a commercial break we go backstage where Cueto is talking to Drago. Cueto says last week Drago didn’t lose or win he was left unsatisfied, and doesn’t want to waste his time. He tells Drago tonight he will face a savage warrior. Drago sticks out his tongue and walks away.

My View: This was a simple way to build Drago as a top star.

Pentagon Jr. is in the ring and has a microphone. He is also speaking Spanish, he says in Mexico no one respects him, not even the fans, bosses or other Pentagon’s. He says thank you to Mr. Cueto for finally giving him the respect he deserves. He says after he takes care of Fenix he can confront whoever he wants.

Pentagon Jr. vs. Fenix

In the ring both wrestlers lock up, they exchange some kicks, Fenix hit’s a sunset flip and gets the two count. Pentagon then goes for a roll up and gets a two count of his own. Both wrestlers try to execute some moves, both missing them. Vampiro says that they both know each other so well they need to take it to another level. Fenix hits a standing moonsault and gets a two count. Fenix hit’s a flying head scissors and Pentagon is thrown to the outside. Fenix then dives over the top rope and hit’s a move Stryker calls the twisted something. Fenix hit’s a spring board leg drop and gets a two count. Pentagon hits a couple kicks and down goes Fenix. Fenix hit’s a springboard drop kick. Fenix then hits a springboard lucha arm drag, and pentagon is thrown outside the ring again. Fenix dives over the top rope and hit’s a springboard corkscrew. Vampiro says he can confirm Fenix is a fan favorite; Fenix throws Pentagon back in and gets the two count. Pentagon hits a modified lung blower and gets the two count on Fenix. Fenix then hits a move that Stryker calls a something cutter, Fenix gets another two count. Pentagon hits an amazing pile driver and gets a two count. Fenix then hits a kick as he knocks Pentagon to the outside. He the hits a kick and throws Pentagon back in and gets another two count. Pentagon hits another move that is some sort of modified pile driver. He goes for the pin and gets two, hits a body scissors and gets another two count. Pentagon goes to the tope rope but catches a round house kick from Fenix. Fenix hits a move called a Spanish fly and gets a three count.

Winner: Fenix

My View: This match was beyond amazing, they both can put on a show. They have no concerns about there bodies and give their all. It’s important to point out that allot of the moves are things I have never seen before. Stryker could use to slow down and pronounce them clearly so we can tell what they are, because if they keep showing these wrestlers week after week we will see the moves again.

A video package airs introducing King Cuerno. He says what we call savage he calls a survivor. What we call evil he calls a way of life. He says they call him a predator he calls us prey.

Back in the ring we see Drago. King Cuerno is then introduced. Who comes out with a head dress that is made of a deer head. Stryker goes on to tell us Lucha Libre wrestling is about more than wrestling, it’s about colors and tradition and mask.

King Cuerno vs. Drago

We start with a lock up that the ref breaks up. Both men perform a series of quick moves that ends with Drago hitting a snap mare. Cuerno then blocks a head scissors with his strength and does not go down. Cuerno hits a clothesline that Vampiro calls stiff. Cuerno hits a massive kick and continues to attack Drago in the corner. Drago then uses a drop toe hold on Cuerno who falls into the corner, he then gets up and attacks Drago who is perched on the top turn buckle. Drago hits an arm drag from the top. Cureno avoids another head scissors take down. Stryker says Cuerno is like a lion toying with a gazelle. Cuerno uses the ref as a block a she throws him onto the mat disrupting Dragos momentum, but it doesn’t work as Drago jumps off from the ref lying in the ring and hits a head scissors that takes Cuerno to the outside. Then Drago flies to the outside and hits a cannonball. Drago throws Cuerno back into the ring. Drago poses on the ring apron as Cuerno kicks him to the floor, and then hits a dive of his own. Cuerno throws Drago back in. Cuerno then throws Drago of the ropes, Drago hits a flying arm drag that takes Cuerno down and rolls him up for the three count.

Winner: Drago

My View: This was another high flying match that had moves I have never seen. Stryker mentions if they want to continue to wrestle in Lucha Underground they need to do different moves each week. That kind of statement will make this interesting as we will see more innovative things.

A video package airs from the back. Konnan is seen talking to Prince Puma. Konnan says that Puma is probably aware that tonight’s main event is Big Ryck vs. Mundo. He says he wants to remind Puma that this isn’t his fight. He doesn’t care if the whole locker room rushes the ring Puma needs to stay out of it. Konnan then ask Puma if he is listening, Puma does a head shake that looks like no. Konnan says he will leave him to his training.

My View: It looks as though they may be hinting that Puma will betray his mentor Konnan. Puma has not spoken a word in four weeks which is just building to his character.

Back in the ring we see Big Ryck with a cigar hanging out of his mouth, which Stryker feels the need to point out and call a dutch. Johnny Mundo is then introduced. Stryker says Big Ryck is like Kimbo Slice and Sug Night rolled into one.

Big Ryck vs. Johnny Mundo

We begin with both men jawing at each other. They exchange some punches and kicks. Mundo gets a headlock and Big Ryck throws him off into the ropes then collides with him, but Mundo does not go down, Rick hits him again and Mundo goes down. Ryck picks him up throws him to the ring apron, Mundo slides back in under the bottom rope and kicks Ryck in the head. Ryck throws Mundo into the corner then hits a big splash. Vampiro mentions that move possibly causing a concussion. Ryck throws Mundo but Mundo lands on his feet. Mundo hits punches in the corner and gets Ryck to one knee, but Ryck knocks him back down. Ryck continues with blows to the back, he then picks Johnny up and slams him to the mat. Ryck goes for the pin but only gets a two count. Ryck uses his hand as a vice grip on Mundo’s head but Mundo hits some kicks to the head. Johnny escapes and hits some moves using his speed. Mundo hit’s the moonlight drive and gets a two count. Vampiro says Ryck didn’t kick out he threw Mundo off. Johnny is back on his feet and hammers on Ryck who is on one knee, Ryck fights back, and goes for a move been Mundo escapes and hit’s a springboard kick, Mundo goes for the pin and gets a one count. We see footage from the back that shows Cisco and Cortez attacking Puma. They leave Puma lying on the floor. Cortez and Cisco hit the ring and attack Mundo, the ref disqualifies Big Ryck.

Winner: Johnny Mundo

After the match the announcers act as if they didn’t see what we saw and have no idea Puma was attacked in the back. Mundo then attacks Cortez but gets doubled teamed by Cortez and Cisco. Mundo fights back and hits a Spanish fly on Cisco, only to get a huge clothesline from Big Ryck. The attack continues on Mundo. Cisco and Cortez get a table. Vampiro says this is gang like mentality. Big Ryck drives Mundo thru the table. As we go off the air Stryker says “I will tell you right now Johnny Mundo is out, perhaps he will never wake u from this nightmare”

My View: This match was ok. Johnny Mundo was great but made Big Ryck look very slow at times. The announcers did Big Ryck no favors by emphasizing over and over you will see no finesse from him just power. The story there telling is a good one, there most certainly painting this to be like a gang, with a gang leader that appears to be Cueto.

Overall Show: Another great show, we got four matches this time unlike the normal three. And all three matches had enough time to be done well. I will continue to watch this program, as they build storylines and wrestler profiles it will only get better. The announcers appear not to be using any sort of guidelines, their reactions are pure and genuine and sometimes cannot hold their emotion, which gives the matches a great feel. It’s also important to note Chavo did not appear on the program, and after the Sexy Star match there was no mention of him.