Lucha Underground – October 17, 2018: Lucha Strong Style
IMG Credit: Lucha Underground
Lucha Underground
Date: October 17, 2018
Location: Lucha Underground Temple, Los Angeles, California
Commentators: Vampiro, Matt Striker
We’re two weeks away from the start of Ultima Lucha and most of the card has already been set up. I’m not sure what we’re going to be seeing in those two weeks as it’s all about building up the matches, many of which are already set. Hopefully they don’t throw in too many twists, though one or two wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world. Let’s get to it.
Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.
The opening recap does its regular job.
Jake Strong comes in to see Antonio Cueto, who has been rather impressed with Strong’s work. Antonio is willing to give him a title shot but Cueto has another idea. He gives Strong one of the Aztec Medallions and says tonight, Strong can move forward. Strong says to save one of Matanza’s sacrifices for him, followed by saying this temple is now his, albeit in a demonic voice. Antonio looks worried as Strong leaves.
Antonio is in the arena to say he’s already awarded the seven Aztec medallions to Aerostar, PJ Black, Hernandez, Big Bad Steve, King Cuerno, Jake Strong and Dante Fox. He doesn’t like the number seven though, meaning right now we’re having a battle royal where the winner can choose one person to be out of next week’s Gift of the Gods Title match.
Battle Royal
It’s a brawl to start (as it should be) with Aerostar doing the big spinning headscissors to take Steve down. Steve gets sent to the apron and actually stops to pose, allowing Aerostar to 619 him out. Serves the nitwit right. Hernandez jumps over the ropes in the corner, poses on the apron as well, and gets double dropkicked out. Egads there are some stupid people around here. Strong puts Black and Cuerno on the apron so Fox can kick them both off, followed by Aerostar being tossed as well. Fox and Strong are the only two left, with Strong clotheslining him to set up the final elimination and the win at 3:12.
Rating: D. Well, they did keep it short and that’s better than anything else they could have done here. There was no reason to believe that anyone outside of Aerostar was going to give Strong a challenge here so the match went as it should have. Strong is clearly someone they want to push as a star, lack of charisma aside.
Post match Strong says he’s not throwing anyone out of the match because he can beat them all. That’s cool with Antonio, who gives Strong Johnny Mundo for a warmup tonight.
The Mack vs. Killshot
Son of Havoc is watching from the balcony. They trade hand walks to start until Mack dropkicks him in the chest to take over. Some running kicks in the corner rock Killshot so he kicks Mack in the face as well before grabbing his nose. Mack gets knocked outside but hands on by his feet, setting up the Killstomp to the floor. Back in and a snap German suplex takes Killshot down and there’s the Stunner, only to have Mil Muertes come in for a spear on Mack and the DQ at 2:50.
Post match Son of Havoc runs in to chase Killshot off, leaving Muertes to hit the Flatliner on Mack.
Striker is in the ring to interview XO Lishus and Ivelisse. They’ve been challenged to a three way elimination Trios Titles match at Ultima Lucha but Joey Ryan is injured. They have a new partner though, so here’s Sammy Guevara. Before Sammy can say anything though, here’s Famous B. to say Guevara has a seven year deal (haha) with no breaks (haha again) with Infamous Inc. If Sammy wants to wrestle at Ultima Lucha, he can team with Texano and Dr. Wagner. Sammy beats Famous B. up and throws the contract in the trash. The can is put on B.’s head for a superkick, because wrestling contracts work that way.
Ultima Lucha rundown.
Jake Strong vs. Johnny Mundo
Strong easily takes him down with a waistlock so Mundo pops up with the Disaster Kick. That’s fine with Strong, who knocks him outside without much effort. Some running clotheslines in the corner and another to the back of the head look to set up the Vader Bomb but Mundo gets his feet up. Mundo is back up but it’s way too early for the Moonlight Drive. A trip to the apron goes badly for Mundo, as Strong sends him into the post and they fight into the crowd.
Mundo’s kick is countered into an ankle lock but Mundo escapes and powerbombs him off the balcony. Back in and the Countdown to Impact actually connects (how rare) for two. They slug it out on the top until Strong gets knocked down, only to run the ropes for the belly to belly superplex.
The Vader Bomb gets two and the ankle lock goes on again. That’s broken up as well and now the Moonlight Drive gets two. For some reason Mundo tries a superkick and gets ankle locked again and the roll through doesn’t work. Instead Johnny throws his elbow pad off and kicks Strong low for the break. A one legged Starship Pain gets two and the ankle lock goes on again for the clean tap at 13:12.
Rating: C+. Mundo’s, shall we say, questionable offense aside (don’t throw kicks at a guy who uses the ankle lock), this was a fun match and the best thing that could have happened to Strong. I know he doesn’t have the most in depth character, but a win like this is the kind of thing that should help launch him up the charts as we’re almost to Ultima Lucha. Now just get the Gift of the Gods Title on him.
Post match the ankle lock goes on again and here’s Matanza to pick the bones. Swagger leaves so Taya comes in for the failed save. Matanza gives Taya the Wrath of the Gods as Johnny is busted open. Antonio comes out to watch to get Matanza to end the show.
Overall Rating: C-. This is the weird time of the season where the entire big show is set and we’re stuck waiting on actually getting there. The wrestling wasn’t the point tonight as the first two matches were barely three minutes long each and the main event was thrown together during the show. I do want to see Ultima Lucha though, and that wasn’t the case just a few weeks back.
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