Bienvenidos amigos! Damas y caballeros, mi nombre es Marcos y esto es Viva La Lucha Libre! Marcos Adam Haggerty, to be precise. Welcome to my weekly Lucha Underground recap, featuring move-by-move reviews and analytical insights based on what we've seen thus far. This has been an absolutely insane week for professional wrestling; Lucha Underground and NXT have long been established as the Wednesday night wrestling shows, but come next week, they'll have two new programs with which to compete. Destination America is moving TNA Impact to Wednesday, and will be adding Ring of Honor TV to their lineup as well! Hump day is fast becoming my favorite day of the week, and hopefully after reading this review, you'll have a better understanding as to why!
This week's opening video is dedicated to the return of Mil Muertes and the impending "Death Match" with his arch rival Fenix. In addition, we are reminded of the anarchy surrounding the Lucha Underground title; Hernandez is the number one contender to Prince Puma's belt, but Johnny Mundo and Alberto El Patron have their sights set on the prize as well. The show begins with Chavo Guerrero confronting Black Lotus. He tells her that he's been given the task of watching over her as she seeks retribution from Dario Cueto, and revenge against his brother Matanza. Chavo tells Lotus that if she really wants revenge, that she has to do it in the ring so that the entire world can see. "My grandfather was there the day he killed your parents," Chavo told Lotus, referring to the savagery associated with Matanza. "Los Guerrero's—we hate the Cueto's as much as you do."
Inside the Temple, the �Faithful are rockin' and rollin' to the velvet fog of Los Rayobacks—not to be confused with Ryan Reeves, aka El Rayoback. Matt Striker and Vampiro put over the main event match between Mil Muertes and Fenix, and then send things to Melissa Santos who introduces the opening contest. Johnny Mundo is set to compete against Aerostar, and arrives to a mixed response from the Temple fans, a result of his recent decision to attack Alberto El Patron. The fans chant for "Aerostar" as the bell sounds and this match is underway! Johnny was never the biggest guy on the WWE roster, but towers over the majority of his opponents now that he's battling it out in Boyle Heights. He has no trouble overpowering Aerostar and immediately sends him on a first-class trip toward the canvas with vapid effort. Johnny is allowing subtle heel tendencies to sneak through his otherwise cheerful demeanor, and actually reminds me of Kurt Angle during his WWE rookie year. Aerostar counters Johnny's offense with a series of high flying tactics, including a picture-perfect plancha from inside the ring to an unsuspecting Mundo on the arena floor. Johnny takes a cheap shot on Aerostar's knee and uses the advantage to lay into the smaller performer with a ground and pound game, capped off by a side-Russian Leg sweep. Johnny maintains firm control over Aerostar, despite an obvious advantage in terms of fan support. During the match, Vampiro asks Matt Striker, "Did you know that there's a drinking game for every time I say brother?" He then proceeded to say brother eight times in rapid succession. Back to the bout—Aerostar countered Johnny's "End of the World" signature finishing move, but that wasn't enough to keep the record-setting WWE tag team champion down. He hit Aerostar with a "Northern Lights Fling," according to Vampiro, a modified suplex-turned-throw, only to finally hit the "End of the World." Johnny Mundo picked up the win over Aerostar, as anybody might have predicted.
The Vampiro interview segments are quickly becoming my favorite part of this weekly series. Each time he appears, the program flashes red and freezes with the words "VAMPIRO: Announcer/Legend" superimposed on the screen. He doesn't take shit from his interviewees, as was the case last week with Johnny Mundo and in the past with Brian Cage, Texano, and even the Trios Tag Team Champions. Tonight Vampiro is sitting down with one of the most talented female competitors on the planet—Sexy Star. Vampiro asks about her rivalry with Pentagon Jr., and she responds en Español: "Pentagon Jr. is nothing but a bully. I don't care who he is, I'm not afraid of him and I can assume the consequences." Vampiro appears worried for Sexy, and Sexy Star wonders if Vampiro would ask her about her safety if she was a man? She says that she hasn't heard from Super Fly since their Mask vs. Mask match wherein Super Fly lost his "identity" and was subsequently crippled by Pentagon Jr. Sexy says that she's not afraid, and looks forward to her upcoming Submission Match against Pentagon next week on the El Rey Network.
The Lucha Underground Championship is on the line between Hernandez and the current title holder—accompanied by Konnan—Prince Puma. Puma enters the Temple to a wild ovation, whereas Hernandez was introduced as being from "Ooston, Tejas." I think that's Houston, Texas. I think. Maybe it's like Baja California—not actually in California, but in Mexico. Anyway. This is NOT the main event, which is mighty telling of what's to come from Mil Muertes and Fenix later on. Hernandez is an extraordinary talent considering his size, his age, and his obvious limitations. That being said, he has no issue soaring through the air with the best of the Luchadors, and tearing it up between the ropes alongside talented individuals like Patron, Mundo, and even Prince Puma. Matt Striker says that Puma is "using space to his advantage," referring to the way in which Puma would strike Hernandez while keeping on the run. Hernandez finally achieved the advantage through a slew of slow-paced power moves, and a cringe-worthy display of knife-edge chops. Konnan attempted to get into the match, but merely served as a distraction for his protégé Prince Puma to strike with a steel chair. Puma caught Hernandez in the skull and followed up with a high flying flip up and over the top onto the already grounded Hernandez.
The man sometimes known as Super-Mex powered back and powerbombed Puma on the crux of the ring apron. He went for a second, running crucifix power bomb, but Puma escaped and grabbed the ledge of the balcony. He twisted and turned almost instantly and, returning the offense to the monstrous Hernandez. Senior Official Marty Elias made the count, and both men returned to action before the ten. The crowd chanted, "This is Awesome," because that's what wrestling fans do, and Prince Puma went for his patented 630 Senton Splash, and missed! Hernandez delivered his finishing move, but failed to earn the three. The match continued and Hernandez sought to solidify his spot as the second Lucha Underground Champion ever with a front powerslam followed by an attempted top rope splash. Puma raised his knees and caught Hernandez in the chest, and fired away with a number of hard kicks directly to the cranium of the veteran Hernandez. Puma put the final nail in his opponents coffin with a successful 630 Senton to retain his world title.
Speaking of coffins. The next match is the main event and it is a "Death Match" between the recently "resurrected" Mil Muertes and the fiery Fenix! Fenix looks like the third member of the "Mega Maniacs"—the tag team combination of Hulk Hogan and Brutus Beefcake. He's wearing red and yellow and walks across the ropes with ease. Mil Muertes comes to the ring wearing an elaborate costume that is removed by a group of men wearing skull masks to conceal their identities. Catrina is also part of Mil's entourage, and looks on from ringside as Mil makes short work of his most hated enemy since debuting on Lucha Underground. Fenix goes for a plancha but is immediately thrown off his game by a series of brutal strikes and closed-fist punches to the face. This is a "Death Match," so anything goes and Fenix will have to fight for his life if he hopes to survive until next week. Muertes talks to Fenix as they fight—probably to plan their next move but—apparently trash talking and wishing him ill-will. Mil Muertes climbs to the top rope, which is where the big man is taken off his game. If only for a moment.
Fenix attacks Mil, who becomes crotched in the corner of the ring; Fenix ascended the opposing ropes and walked across the top to drop kick the ghastly Muertes. This match goes outside the ring and Mil is once again in control after a heinous lariat leaves Fenix unable to respond. Mil introduces a steel chair to the bout and slams it across the top of his opponent's head. He then slammed Fenix repeatedly into the guard rai with a brutal tenacity that isn't oftentimes seen in any sort of professional wrestling. Muertes flew from the top rope to the outside in a beautiful cross body, then hit Fenix with the chair once more. He mounted Fenix across his shoulders and carried him to the top of Dario's office. He carried Fenix like he weighed nothing, as he swung the door to the roof open and proceeded to powerbomb him through the roof and into the office. Marty Elias screamed for help as we head into the final commercial break of the evening.
When we return, Muertes is in the center of the ring, and Catrina's masked "druids" are retrieving Fenix's body from the wreckage. They bring him back to the squared-circle, where Mil Muertes finishes the job with a flat liner for good measure. Your winner as a result of a pinfall is Mil Muertes. This guy only has incredible matches.
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