Rather than kicking off my weekly Lucha review with some Español per usual, I decided to admit something to my loyal readers around the world. Every single week when I sit down to write my review for Lucha Underground I read the name of the column and immediately sync the words with the theme to “Love in an Elevator” by Aerosmith. So atleast once every seven days I find myself singing, “Viva La Lucha Libre, lifting me up when I’m going down!” Which suffice it to say is an accurate way to describe the shot of adrenaline that Lucha Underground has provided the wrestling industry over the past two months. Enough of the song and dance though, this was an exceptionally exciting episode and the 8th installment of Lucha Underground.
First of all, I was pleasantly surprised to see Danny Trejo sitting ringside! I believe Vampiro and Matt Striker only referred to him by his name once or twice, choosing to rely on his movie moniker, “Machete.” What a perfectly tailored celebrity appearance for this program, am I right? Lucha Underground is the tale of heroes and villains set in the United States against a backdrop of violent gangsters and a rich Mexican heritage. The inclusion of Trejo not only serves to link directly to the atmosphere inside the building, but also helps to establish Lucha Underground as a formidable player in the world of popular culture. When I first came to realize that this was going to be a three-match-show, I began having severe doubts and considered the possibility that Lucha Underground could finally put forth its first failing effort. But I’ve been wrong in the past, especially regarding this specific program, so I had no doubt I could be mistaken again.
King Cuerno continues to be one of the most intriguing characters on the show, coming to the ring each week sporting his regal headdress and emitting an aura of superiority—even when matched against someone as electrifying as Super Fly. As Matt Striker helped to point out, Super Fly has a storied legacy of his own south of the border and in Japan as well; Lucha Underground does a wonderful job of using established workers as enhancement talent. I thought this match was a bit short, but the pacing of the entire show was based around the main event ladder match. The gruesomely hideous Drago is the perfect foil to the prim and proper King Cuerno, and his mystique is exemplified when he’s hovering above the ring, perched as Striker would say, like a “Gargoyle.” I thought, as impressive as the overall match proved to be, the finish was somewhat uninspired. Still, the work-rate was incredible—nothing short of what I would expect from Lucha Underground.
I thought the Pentagón Jr. vignette was a bit ill-timed considering the lack of success he’s found since debuting, not to mention the promo he gave just a few weeks ago that made him sound like a desperate heel, not a traveled shoot fighter that breaks people’s arms. I like Pentagón, and I like that he’s been aligned with Chavo Guerrero because I think it signifies the promotions intention on building Pentagón as a potential main eventer himself. But I would have preferred this very well constructed video have aired six or seven weeks ago.
Chavo has done nothing to garner the admiration of the Lucha Underground audience, but that hasn’t slowed their support for the legendary competitor as was made evident during his encounter with Fénix. Half of the audience chanted in favor of the “Bird of War” while the other half—including Danny Trejo, cheered for the much familiar Chavo Guerrero. While Chavo is escorted to the ring by a fellow Junior in Pentagón, Fénix is accompanied by the enchantingly-over Sexy Star. I admire Chavo and a lot of similar second-generation Mexican athletes such as El Patron, for their innate ability in adapting to a number of different styles. Just as sports entertainment has evolved in America, Mexican wrestling has changed with the times and Chavo has no problem staying in step, and in fact ahead in most cases, of the fantastic Fénix. In the end Chavo proves that experience and ingenuity can be powerful tools when employed by a man willing to lie, cheat, and steal. I think ‘Pendejo’ is the only Spanish obscenity which I’m 100% certain of the meaning, especially after hearing it within the context of Sexy Star’s declaration on Chavo after the match. It seems that Blue Demón will return to take action, following the way in which Chavo turned on him in the opening weeks of Lucha Underground.
I’m not sure what to think about the new Lucha competitor known as Cage, who’s set to make his debut at any time now. His promotional package was very well produced and I hold out hope that he could be a contender in the next round of Lucha Underground episodes. He’s obviously much different than every other member of the roster, so it’s a pleasure to see the locker room expand. I’m just not sure how he will be introduced and what will spark his initial debut. I think Cage could be the perfect competitor to end the undefeated streak of Mil Muertes should they decide to go in that direction, but I fear he will be exhibited poorly and relegated to performing on every third or fourth show. Still, Lucha Underground has done everything possible to prove me wrong about this very episode, so I’ll be happy to be incorrect yet again.
I had mixed feelings about the main event but thought the overall presentation from beginning to end was comparable to some of the more exciting matches that TNA provides. I was very much looking forward to a ladder match between Johnny Mundo and Prince Puma; I guess I misunderstood the match-making practice employed by Dario Cueto one week earlier, but I was surprised Ryck was an entrant in the contest. For what was provided and by whom, I can’t complain because I don’t think Big Ryck is the kind of competitor anyone thinks of when talking about ladder matches. I thought he did an adequate job, but I knew it was only a matter of time before the entire match denegraded into a street fight courtesy of Cisco and Cortez. So for what it was—a turn-based spot-fest, this match was rather enjoyable. I was indifferent to the outcome as nobody believes that anybody is truly competing for a hundred grand. This match was good while it lasted, but the major takeaway is the heated rivalry that has come to a head between Mundo and Cueto. I hope Lucha Underground doesn’t sully a very cool character in Dario Cueto by trying to rehash another worker versus promotor program, which only really worked once and needs not be attempted anymore. I’m still interested in what the heck that key is! I rewound the show a few times trying to hear Striker and Vampiro describe it, but couldn’t figure it out. It has some deep significance to Cueto and it’s clearly not to his office because as I pointed out before, that door never seems to be locked. A very puzzling situation indeed. Where does Puma go from here and what might his mentor Konnan have to say about his failing to win the hundred thousand dollars? Maybe he’ll come out and have to, “Speak on this!”
Another blockbuster hour of in-ring action that had a few lapses in quality but ultimately managed to pull together. What does the future hold for Lucha Underground following its most influential night of action yet? What will their schedule consist of over the holiday season and when will we finally be given a World Champion? The answers to questions such as these will be made clear in due time. Until then, I’m Mark Haggerty and I invite you to bookmark my author page on Cheap-Heat so that you never miss another column or countdown ever again.
