IMG Credit: Lucha Underground

Lucha Underground
Date: September 26, 2018
Location: Lucha Underground Temple, Los Angeles, California
Commentators: Vampiro, Matt Striker

Things have definitely changed around here as Marty Martinez of all people is the new Lucha Underground Champion. Last week Martinez won the Gift of the Gods Title and cashed it in to become the new Lucha Underground Champion in quite the surprise. Thankfully though that means a ticked off Pentagon, which could make for some interesting results. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

The opening video covers almost every major story taking place at the moment.

Matt Striker reads a letter from Antonio Cueto recapping last week’s title situation and announcing a four way tonight for the #1 contendership at Ultima Lucha IV.

Jack Evans is in the ring for a match but doesn’t want to work for a promotion that allows someone like XO Lishus to get away with so much violence. If Evans had been around at Johnny Mundo’s wedding, he would have taken care of Matanza for his buddy. Anyway, no match tonight because he quits. Cue Antonio to say Evans can have a match right now anyway. If he wins, he can walk out a free man. If he loses, he’ll be sacrificed to the gods. Evans: “I’M SO SORRY! OLD MAN WHO LOOKS AND SOUNDS LIKE SATAN, CAN I MAKE YOU A…..”

Jack Evans vs. Matanza

Evans goes after him at the entrance but Matanza pulls him out of the ring (with the Shawn Michaels face from the Undertaker casket match) and throws him right back in for the opening bell. Evans misses a kick to the face and pulls the turnbuckle off the corner. A springboard spinning kick to the head staggers Matanza and Jack hits a 630 but Matanza picks him up for the Wrath of the Gods and the pin at 1:20.

Ivelisse/XO Lishus/Joey Ryan vs. Reptile Tribe

Non-title and the Rabbit Tribe comes out to watch, with the White Rabbit making his temple debut. Joey offers Sami a lollipop…and Sami actually eats the thing. Kobra comes in and the champs are sent into the corner with Daga dropkicking his partners by mistake. Lishus comes in to a big reaction but gets stomped down in the corner for his efforts. Ivelisse gets the tag and chops away at Daga before it’s off to Snake for the not very interesting showdown.

Everything breaks down and Lishus shakes his hips in Daga’s face over and over. Kobra gets thrown onto everyone else and Ivelisse catapults off the apron onto Daga. Back in and Joey puts a fresh lollipop into Snake’s mouth for the superkick. Daga comes back in though and grabs a rollup into a cross armbreaker to make Ryan tap at 5:22.

Rating: D+. I’m still not liking most of these matches as the Trios Titles aren’t the most interesting things in the world. At least it’s starting to feel like a division, but when your roster has gone plummeting, maybe a match that requires six people isn’t the best thing in the world anymore.

Post match the Rabbit Tribe comes in to beat down Ryan and company. The White Rabbit shouts TICK TOCK in their faces as Striker thinks they might be the hare apparent to the Trios Titles.

Jake Strong vs. Aerostar/Drago

Nunchucks match, meaning a pair are waiting by the entrances. The double teaming has Strong in trouble to start, including some alternating kicks to the chest. Strong fights them off without much effort and goes up the steps but Drago gets to the nunchucks first. Aerostar dives onto Jake but gets caught, only to have Strong throw them both into the walls. Drago gets on Aerostar’s shoulders for some mist. Some nunchuck shots to the back have Strong in trouble and the fans think this is awesome for some reason.

Aerostar goes up to the top of the temple and finds some more nunchucks, only to get thrown off the top for a big crash. Strong gets the nunchucks away but Aerostar dives off the balcony to take him down. Back in and the masked men double team Strong with nunchuck shots to the back, followed by a top rope springboard splash for two. Drago gets sent outside and the gutwrench powerbomb into the ankle lock makes Aerostar tap at 8:29.

Rating: D-. That’s one of the worst matches they’ve done around here in a long time as Strong didn’t look interested in doing anything here and only hit his big stuff at the end to win. You really should do some more selling when you’re being beaten up with nunchucks by two people who used to be champions together. There’s a fine line between being pushed hard and being treated as invincible and this was more the latter, which isn’t good.

Post match Drago tries a save and gets his ankle snapped.

King Cuerno vs. Mil Muertes vs. El Dragon Azteca Jr. vs. Penatagon Dark

The winner gets a title shot at Ultima Lucha IV. Muertes cleans house to start and puts everyone down without much effort. Cuerno finally hits him with a dropkick before going after Azteca with the slow offense. It’s Pentagon coming back in for the save, only to get caught in a tornado DDT from Azteca.

Cue Fenix to go after Melissa Santos, who runs away so Azteca can dive onto Fenix. Azteca and Fenix fight to the back, leaving Cuerno to hit the suicide dive onto both of them. Cue the Mack to Stun Muertes, allowing Pentagon to take Muertes out with a Canadian Destroyer. A superkick puts Cuerno on the floor, leaving Pentagon to pin Muertes at 5:19.

Rating: D+. Well…duh. I mean, who else was going to get the title shot at the biggest show of the year? It’s not like this was in any kind of doubt or anything so going with Pentagon in the fast match, especially one that sets up Fenix vs. Azteca at the same time, is a good idea. That being said, it’s also not much of a match as they didn’t have time to get violent or do the hard hitting stuff that has served them so well.

Post match Mack says he’s fighting Muertes at Ultima Lucha IV in a Death Match. Mack: “Rest in peace mother******”, which isn’t censored on the show.

Overall Rating: D+. I wasn’t feeling this week’s show as they’re not exactly on a hot streak heading into Ultima Lucha in a few weeks. The problem with this season is the lack of a big story. I guess the biggest story at the moment is Fenix being evil and that’s not exactly the big one they need to keep people interested. Maybe things pick up at Ultima Lucha but there’s just nothing going on that makes me care about the show the way I did before and that’s not a good thing at all.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Smackdown Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: Lucha Underground

Lucha Underground
Date: September 16, 2018
Location: Lucha Underground Temple, Los Angeles, California
Commentators: Matt Striker, Vampiro

Last week was a packed show with King Cuerno returning to go after Lucha Underground Champion Pentagon Dark and Fenix returning from the dead to haunt everyone. There’s a very Pet Sematary vibe there and that could make for some interesting stories going forward. You know, in a company so devoid of ideas. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

The opening recap looks at King Cuerno attacking Pentagon Dark, the crazy fight between Catrina and Melissa Santos and the return of Fenix, albeit the zombie/evil version.

Gift of the Gods Title: Ivelisse vs. El Dragon Azteca Jr.

Dragon is defending and Ivelisse goes right at him with a springboard armdrag. That earns her a kick to the face for two as the fans are all behind Ivelisse. She’s fine enough to block a Boston crab attempt but gets caught in a Brian Kendrick Captain’s Hook. Back up (it’s still just a chinlock) and Ivelisse hits a few clotheslines, followed by a springboard tornado DDT. Dragon slams his way out of a Black Widow and a springboard armdrag sends Ivelisse out to the floor.

Back in and a quick Code Red (makes sense) gives Ivelisse two and a hard kick to the head gets the same. The fans aren’t happy when Ivelisse gets dropped again, though Dragon getting crotched makes them a little better. Dragon knocks her off the ropes though and it’s a middle rope legdrop (with the required Bobby Eaton reference) for the pin to retain at 7:12.

Rating: C. Nice match here and that’s all it needed to be. Having Dragon beat a bunch of people is going to turn him into a more viable champion, though he has to defend against some bigger names down the line. Ivelisse is popular though she hasn’t really done much in the last few seasons. Perfectly fine opener here and that’s all it needed to be.

Post match Ivelisse is upset so are XO Lishus and Joey Ryan to ask if she wants to be a Trios Champion. She’ll go with a sure on that.

King Cuerno vs. Mil Muertes

Hang on a second though as Antonio Cueto comes out to say we’ll make this a #1 contenders match. Muertes throws him into the corner for the ten clotheslines, followed by the snap powerslam to cut off a comeback. A tilt-a-whirl backbreaker doesn’t do much to Muertes, who hits a heck of a superplex on Cuerno. The swinging chokeslam has Cuerno in more trouble but he knees Muertes out of the air. They slug it out from their knees and then out to the floor with the referee being thrown into the crowd for the double DQ at 5:08.

Rating: C-. I’m really not sure what the need was to put Muertes in here when they’re setting up the title match next week. Pentagon vs. Cuerno was pretty much ready but now it’s going to be a triple threat? Why? It’s not like Muertes and Pentagon have had any real issues, making this seem like a change for the sake of a change and that’s not the best idea in the world most of the time.

Post match the fight continues until Antonio comes out to make the triple threat title match for next week. Well that’s a shock. The guys keep fighting and Pentagon watches from the rafters.

Trios Titles: Fenix/Aerostar/Drago vs. Reptile Tribe

The Tribe is defending and Fenix takes a very long time to get to the ring with Melissa looking concerned. Hang on though as here’s Jake Strong to say he’ll win the Trios Titles himself if the titles without any partners because he’s a strong wrestler. Drago gets taken into the corner for an early beating, leaving Melissa looking rather sad.

Some heel miscommunication lets Drago hit them in the face a few times and a hurricanrana takes Jeremiah down for two. Fenix comes in for the rolling cutter but sits down instead of following up. The old Fenix snaps back to reality for a few seconds and kicks a bunch of people but doesn’t go for a cover. Instead he tries a superkick on Moon, who Matrixes back, leaving us with a kind of weird still shot. Moon bails to the floor and Fenix tags Aerostar in with a hard slap to the chest.

Another rolling cutter takes Jeremiah down as Striker goes into a weird conspiracy theory rant. A slingshot Codebreaker staggers Daga and it’s a doble knockdown. Drago comes back in to clean house as everything breaks down. There’s the big flip dive from Aerostar and Fenix (slowly) throws Drago onto the pile. Fenix loads up his own dive….and superkicks Aerostar down. A Muscle Buster lets Jeremiah hit the double underhook shoulder breaker to retain at 9:15.

Rating: C. This was all storyline and there’s nothing wrong with that. As tends to be the case around here, there are all kinds of ways for this storyline to go and that’s what makes it interesting. You can almost guarantee that Catarina will be involved again somehow and there’s a good chance that it’s going to be resolved at Ultima Lucha, which tends to happen a lot in this promotion. Match was fine, but that’s not the point and that’s ok.

Post match Melissa pleads with Fenix and gets shoved down. That’s the necessary move for a heel turn.

Marty the Moth Martinez comes in to see Antonio. A wad of exchanged money gets Marty a Gift of the Gods Title match for next week and another wad of money is for something else.

Overall Rating: C-. I wasn’t feeling this one as the idea was go keep things moving forward but it felt rather low key. We’ve still got a few weeks before Ultima Lucha and that means the final stories are starting to be put together. I’m interested in where several of them go, though this season feels like it’s flown by and we should be at the halfway point, not nearing the end. That’s not good, though it’s about all you can expect with a shorter season.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

Fusion #21
Date: September 7, 2018
Location: Melrose Ballroom, New York City, New York
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Matt Striker

It’s time for another big tag match with the Lucha Bros defending against Drago and Rey Horus as Lucha Underground continues to take over the wrestling world. Other than that it’s time for the fallout from WarGames, which should be airing sometime soon. They’re getting the schedule down at least and that’s a good sign. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a video on Pentagon Jr. and Fenix winning and defending the Tag Team Titles. They’ve also gotten on Salina de la Renta’s bad side, which is never a smart move.

Opening sequence.

Matt Striker runs down the show.

Richard Holiday vs. Fred Yehi

Holiday was on some of the standalone shows that aired before Fusion debuted and describes himself as the Most Marketable. The marketability might be a little higher if they learned how to spell his name, which is different in the pre-match graphic (Holliday) and in the graphic during his entrance (Holiday).

Yehi takes him down without much effort as Striker talks about Yehi going to German on an excursion for three months in the next few weeks. Some chops in the corner set up a snap suplex as Holiday is in big trouble. Holiday is tired of getting chopped over and over so he takes Yehi down and fires off rights and lefts. Yehi punches him right back down though and slaps on a Koji Clutch for the tap at 4:41.

Rating: D+. Just a squash here and Yehi looked good. Yehi is a talented guy as you can always have a place for the wrestler who can look one submission after another. It makes for an entertaining match almost every time and that’s what we got here. Holiday is fine enough for a jobber and you need those kind of people around on the roster.

Clip of the Hart Foundation beating Kevin Sullivan down. Given that it’s Sullivan and Pillman, there’s always the chance that this is a ruse and they’re really together.

Brian Pillman Jr. doesn’t have nightmares about Sullivan anymore because he walked up to the boogeyman and put him out of his misery. Why do that in the midst of his prime and his youth? Pillman can’t do what he needs to do with Sullivan and his archaic thoughts. Sullivan is the same man who was in the ring with Pillman’s dad twenty years ago and as Sullivan said, a leopard never changes its spots.

Video on Homicide, including him attacking Court Bauer back in the original MLW.

Homicide vs. PCO

This could be fun. They slug it out to start with PCO shouting every time he’s hit. A heavy shoulder puts Homicide down, followed by a sitout Michinoku Driver for two. Homicide suplexes him into the corner though and PCO actually stalls for a minute. A middle rope knee to the back of the neck gets two and there’s a cannonball off the apron to take PCO down again.

With that working, Homicide tries a posting and just wakes PCO up a bit. Salina de la Renta is watching from the front row as PCO hits a chokeslam to put Homicide back on the floor for a suicide dive. Back in and PCO hits a heck of a moonsault for two more as Striker dubs Schiavone T-Bone. A top rope splash gets another near fall so PCO goes up again, this time getting superplexed back down. PCO dares Homicide to hit him and then get staggered by a clothesline. He’s fine enough to forearm Homicide in the chest though and that’s enough for the pin at 8:13.

Rating: C. These guys beat the heck out of each other for a few minutes and I can see why PCO is such a popular guy at the moment. He has a great look and awesome intensity, which is more than enough to carry someone with his size and experience. He’s great for a special attraction monster kind of character, though showing off some more of his promos and vignettes would be a good idea.

Clip of Rhett Giddins helping Jason Cade beat Jimmy Yuta last week.

Cade doesn’t know why people are calling last week’s win controversial. He’s on to winning the Middleweight Title now.

Fury Road is coming on October 4, featuring PCO vs. LA Park and Low Ki defending the World Title. Tony says the show is on October 3. You might want to get that straight guys.

Quick video on Low Ki and Salina vs. Konnan and company.

Next week: WarGames. Well ok.

Video on the build to WarGames, which is built around Sami Callihan vs. Shane Strickland. Both guys brought in a bunch of help and that means it’s time for some WarGames.

Tag Team Titles: Lucha Bros vs. Drago/Rey Horus

Pentagon and Fenix are defending and Horus is better known as Dragon Azteca Jr. Drago, with his bad shoulder, starts with Pentagon and you know that means a big target. Pentagon does CERO MIEDO but Drago grabs the hand. He poses there a little too long though, allowing Fenix to come in for a superkick but a four way strike off puts everyone down early.

We settle down to Pentagon chopping Drago until Fenix comes back in for another superkick. Stereo superkicks drop Drago again, followed by the top rope double stomp to Horus’ back as the champs are rolling early. Drago comes back in but gets superkicked as well (this is getting a little too Young Bucks-y) and another superkick sends Horus into the corner. A top rope armdrag sends Fenix to the floor but Pentagon kicks Drago in the ribs to break up a suicide dive. We settle down again to Drago vs. Horus as the announcers discuss lactic acid.

Pentagon chops him so hard that Horus can’t stand up but he’s fine enough for a standing C4, drawing Fenix back in for another save. Everyone is down again until Drago DDTs Fenix for two. One heck of a super hurricanrana brings Fenix down from the top and Horus’ crazy tornado DDT gets two on Pentagon. Back up and the Pentagon Driver plants Horus for two and the top rope double stomp Fear Factor gets the same. Well that’s the jumping the shark moment. A second double stomp Fear Factor is enough to retain the title at 9:58. There was zero need for the first kickout.

Rating: C+. This had a slower motion lucha feel with nothing in the way of structure or tagging, meaning it was a bunch of spots and stuff until the overdone finish. It also doesn’t help when the Lucha Bros had a much better match in a similar style against ACH and Rich Swann just a few weeks back. It’s entertaining, but not exactly great.

Post match Fenix thanks the fans for coming out and promises a bigger fight down the line. Pentagon thanks Drago and Horus for coming to MLW to challenge them. That’s the most English I’ve ever heard him speak.

Overall Rating: C. Nothing great this week but a perfectly watchable show and that’s all it needs to be. WarGames alone is more than a big enough draw for next week’s show and it could be a heck of a night. MLW seems to know how to do the big nights and if they can nail WarGames, everything is going to be fine.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: Lucha Underground

Lucha Underground
Date: August 29, 2018
Location: Lucha Underground Temple, Los Angeles, California
Commentators: Vampiro, Matt Striker

It’s time for a wedding! In something that I’m actually thrilled to see, tonight Johnny Mundo and Taya are getting married. There is no way that this won’t be incredible as Lucha Underground has regular shows that are better than most, meaning a special show could be incredible. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of the events leading to the wedding, Jake Strong and XO Lishus.

The Worldwide Underground, in their lime green sleeveless tuxedos (the only way to go) has a surprise for Johnny: Joey Wrestling (Mercury, his old partner) is here. Joey is going to be the best man, meaning PJ Black is demoted to groomsman and Ricky Mundo is now a ring bearer. Everyone leaves Ricky, whose doll isn’t happy.

Matt and Vampiro are in suit jackets for a nice touch.

Famous B. is still ring announcer.

Jake Strong vs. Drago

This could be interesting. Drago tries a rollup to start and gets thrown into the corner for some knees to the ribs. A running chop block takes the knee out and an elbow to the leg keeps Drago down. Strong switches to an armbar but a powerslam is reversed into a tornado DDT. They head outside with Drago being sent over the barricade and onto the required pile of chairs. Back in and the ankle lock makes Drago tap at 4:50.

Rating: C-. They’re pushing the living heck out of Strong and that’s a good idea. Having someone who used to be a World Champion in WWE around here is smart, as whoever finally beats him is going to get a nice rub. It’s also a necessary move to push some fresh stars and someone with some size makes it even better.

Post match Strong puts the hold on again but Aerostar makes the save.

XO Lishus vs. Jack Evans

No Mas match, meaning I Quit. Evans shouts about Lishus having no place in lucha libre so Lishus snaps and beats the fire out of him. They head to the floor with Evans bailing as fast as he can. Evans kicks him in the face and dives off the apron for his first offense. Lishus is fine enough to hit a Blockbuster off the announcers’ table, so Evans calls him a bully.

A choke with a chain doesn’t make Lishus quit so he hits a Regal Roll and moonsault double knees to Evans’ chest. Evans climbs part of the set and flip dives off, earning a “F*** YOU!” Cue Ivelisse to yell at Evans, who whips her into the steps. They actually get inside with Lishus putting on something like a YES Lock.

That goes nowhere as Jack reverses into an ankle lock, which is reversed as well. The handspring slap sets up Carmella’s Code of Silence but gets reversed into an armbar. It’s chair time with Lishus taking a shot to the face and Evans lays him on the chair, promising to break his neck. Cue Joey Ryan for the save, allowing Ivelisse to pull Lishus off the chair. A cross armbreaker makes Jack give up at 11:15.

Rating: C+. I liked this more than I was expecting to, though I can’t say I’m surprised at Lucha Underground pushing what would seem to otherwise be a comedy character as something important. Lishus is going to annoy a lot of fans but he’s trying and that’s as much as you can ask for most of the time. The win was a surprise and that’s a good thing every now and then.

Post match Ryan and Ivelisse help Lishus up with no violence or swerving.

Post break the defeated Evans crawls in front of the Underground and is told to get dressed. Ricky thinks he can take Evans’ place now and doesn’t have to carry the stupid rings anymore. That’s not cool and Johnny makes it worse by saying that Joey and PJ are his best friends. They leave and the doll says it’s time for Ricky to do the real job.

It’s wedding time with Famous B. as the minister. He’ll run your wedding too, and ugly people are welcome. You can even get Texano and Dr. Wagner Jr. as guests for a small fee! The groom and party are brought out, each with a caption under their name (Apparently it’s John E. Mundo. Who knew? He’s also the Mayer (yes Mayer) of Slamtown.). Taya’s bridesmaids are Cheerleader Melissa (not Mariposa) and of course Brenda. Taya comes out in lime green wrestling gear and a veil, as she should. We go to a break, but first Ricky is in the back….where he releases Matanza (at the doll’s orders).

Back in the Temple, Famous B. asks if anyone has issue with these two “fine a** people” being married. Antonio Cueto comes out to say he likes the two of them and has a gift: “RING THE BELL!” Actually it’s fried tacos for everyone! They’re sat on tables at ringside (uh oh) but now, on with the ceremony.

Taya: “Johnny, I love you more than fluffy puppies, kneeing people in the face and decapitating snake men.” Johnny: “Taya, never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would meet anyone as tanned, ripped and attractive as me.” He loves her more than his own reflection and this is better than winning the Lucha Underground Championship. They say the I do’s (well a si in Taya’s case) so here’s Ricky (with the doll) to present the rings. He hands B the rings and is told to git.

B: “By the powers vested in me by the state of California and 423-GET-FAME, I now pronounce you man and HOLY S*** WHAT THE H*** IS THAT???” Cue Matanza to clean house, including smacking Taya. Brenda faints (makes sense actually) and Melissa eats a World’s Strongest Slam. B and his wheelchair gets thrown aside and PJ goes through a table. Johnny gets up and fights but gets suplexes through another table. Taya (bleeding) has HAD IT and taps the dress off to fight as well but takes the Wrath of the Gods. A spinebuster through the cake (Fans: “NOT THE CAKE!”) ends the show.

This was a lot of fun but really, I wanted more. I wanted this to be much more over the top with wackiness and it just didn’t go that far. What we got was funny and entertaining (Famous B was great) but Lucha Underground is the place where you want something so crazy that it could only happen here. I didn’t quite get that with this wedding, though it was entertaining. Mundo vs. Matanza has serious potential too.

Overall Rating: C+. This was actually less entertaining than I was expecting. The wrestling was skippable (fine on a big show) but the wedding could have been so much more. They actually played the show a bit more serious and that’s not what I was hoping for. Still though, they’re having fun this season and that makes for a nice show. Check out the wedding, but it’s not exactly required viewing.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/07/23/new-book-kbs-complete-2003-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

IMG Credit: Impact Wrestling

Impact Wrestling
Date: June 7, 2018
Location: Impact Zone, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Josh Matthews, Don Callis

So tonight is all about attempted murder. Over the last few weeks, Eddie Edwards has vowed revenge against Sami Callihan and tonight they’re meeting in an unsanctioned street fight. Since Eddie is a little nuts, he’s promised to, and I quote, murder Callihan in the woods. This could be fascinating so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

The opening recap covers most of last week.

Tag Team Titles: Drago/Aerostar vs. Z and E

Z and E (DJZ/Andrew Everett) are defending. Drago takes DJZ down by the leg to start but has to fight out of an armbar. Aerostar springboards in and flips forward around the ring about six times in a row. Back up and a whip into the corner lets Aerostar walk around the ropes as Callis wants to know how Aerostar’s mask stays lit up. Also, why doesn’t Everett throw water on him for an electrocution? There’s way too much attempted murder around here.

Some flips allow the tag off to Drago for a double elbow to the face as the champs stay in trouble. DJZ comes back in and hits an armdrag and headscissors but his double flip attempt is thrown down in a heap to put the champs in trouble again. We hit the chinlock on DJZ before a backdrop puts him on the floor for a break. Back with Everett coming in for a double handspring elbow and a dropkick for two on Aerostar.

The champs miss a double Lionsault (cool) and get double springboard dropkicked down for their efforts. DJZ suicide dives onto Drago and Everett adds an Asai Moonsault for another big crash. Of course Aerostar is right after them with a double springboard dive, followed by a rope walk hurricanrana for two on Everett. The moonsault hits raised feet though and the ZDT sets up a 630 from Everett to end Aerostar at

Rating: C+. If Z and E are an indication of how things are going to go around here with the new regime, I’m all for it. They’re a pair of talented guys who didn’t get to do anything before so let’s throw them together and give them something to do. Not everyone needs to win a title but when you have these talented guys in the X Division, why shouldn’t they get a title run? It’s not like the division is full of teams so make one and let them see what they can do. I mean, if this run winds up being a failure (and there’s no sign that it will be), is that much worse than Scott Steiner as a champion in 2018?

The announcers recap/preview.

Long recap of Callihan vs. Edwards, with Callihan being insane and driving Eddie crazy with him, bringing out a violent edge in Eddie which has turned his own wife against him. Eddie as a little unhinged is a good idea and I’m digging what they’re doing with him at the moment.

Sonjay Dutt and Petey Williams argue over the X attacker and Williams leaves.

Video on Su Yung winning the Knockouts Title last week.

This week’s classic clip: Rob Van Dam vs. Tommy Dreamer from Turning Point 2010.

The returning Diamante comes to the LAX clubhouse and wants to know what’s going on. So they’re really bad at communications? King comes in and things get a little more serious. Homicide comes in as well and leaves with a briefcase as tensions rise.

Cult of Lee vs LAX

LAX has King with them. The Cult gets beaten down in short order and Santana’s dropkick gets two on Lee. Some double teaming puts Santana in trouble and the announcers talk about the idea behind the Cult, which still doesn’t quite work. I mean, they’re just not really cultish and Lee doesn’t seem to be ahead of Konley in superiority.

Santana rolls out of a rollup attempt and backflips into a cutter, allowing the double tag to bring in Ortiz and Konley. Everything breaks down and Lee German suplexes Santana so Konley can get a quick rollup for two. Ortiz is back in though and it’s a wheelbarrow faceplant into a cutter to give Santana the pin on Konley at 7:24.

Rating: C-. LAX getting back on the winning track is the right move and that should mean good things for both them and the division. There’s a story to be told there with Konnan missing and the team falling apart but getting back together when King is around. If Konnan comes back later on, it could get very interesting very fast.

Here’s Eli Drake with the returning Fact of Life. Since it’s been a long time, he’s going to name the Top Five Dummies in Impact Wrestling. First up at number five, the entire crowd, who is just jealous of Eli. Number four, the man who eats bananas, Austin Aries. More on that later. Number three is Impact management. Number two….it’s the Impact fans again, YEAH! That leaves us with number one and it’s Moose. Eli wants to face Moose next week in a #1 contenders match so here’s Moose to respond. The fight is on and Drake hits a low blow and a Gravy Train before turning the podium onto Moose. The match is on for next week.

Brian Cage vs. Rohit Raju

Raju gets all fired up and kicks Cage in the face, only to eat Weapon X for the pin at 1:16.

Post match here’s X-Division Champion Matt Sydal to say his third eye shows him weakness in Cage. An F5 leaves Sydal laying.

Preview for next week’s card, including Moose vs. Drake and Sydal vs. Cage.

Edwards is in the woods and tells the cameraman to film everything, including death.

Austin Aries joins Josh via Skype and won’t say where he is on vacation. Aries doesn’t care who he faces at Slammiversary and says it doesn’t matter how he won the World Title because all that matters is he won. While Aries doesn’t care who he faces at Slammiversary, he expects Drake to win because of his experience.

Last week was the Slammiversary press conference. Johnny Impact is back after getting married and, of course, GAIL KIM WAS THERE! Yeah she’s from Toronto where the show will be held but what’s the excuse the rest of the time?

Madison Rayne talks about what a big deal it was to beat Tessa Blanchard last week. She wants to get the title for the sixth time.

Tessa Blanchard says she didn’t lose last week because she’s not a loser. Kiera Hogan comes in to laugh a bit and gets thrown down. Hogan shoves an anvil case into her legs and gets stomped down next to a garbage can.

Moose is all fired up to win the title shot next week.

Eddie is hunting through the woods and demands that Sami, who can be heard shouting, come out and face him. Sami appears but Jake Crist jumps Eddie instead, earning him a choking with a branch. Eddie pulls a big piece of wood out of his car but Dave Crist pops out of the trunk to jump him. That earns him a hood slam onto his back and now it’s Sami for the big showdown. Eddie strikes first but Sami uses the bat to block the stick. Sami goes for the eyes and tries to stab him with a bull skull but gets rammed into a tree and monkey flipped.

A branch to Sami’s head draws blood (with the camera cutting in good time to show the branch touching the head, then Eddie screaming, then Sami gushing blood) but before Eddie can kill him, cue Alisha and Tommy Dreamer (in a Lucha Underground shirt) in a car (How did they know where this was happening? And how did Eddie and Sami know where to be? “In the woods” is a pretty generic location. How formal was the agreement for the attempted murder?) but the distraction lets Sami get away. Eddie hits Tommy with the bat in frustration and screams that it’s never over to end the show as Alisha tends to Tommy.

This felt like something similar to the Final Deletion matches but nowhere near as over the top. Eddie continuing to snap and get further and further into his obsession with Callihan is a good story but I’m not sure how far it can go. There has to be a blowoff at some point and that’s likely to take place at Slammiversary, though I’m not sure how it’s going to end.

Overall Rating: C-. This definitely wasn’t a wrestling heavy show (at least in the second half) and focused more on storylines and getting things ready for Slammiversary. Therefore it’s not a great show on its own but it’s a show that will do them something good for the future. This company has a good history of succeeding on the bigger shows and if they build it up well, Slammiversary could be no different.

Results

Z and E b. Drago/Aerostar – 630 to Aerostar

LAX b. Cult of Lee – Wheelbarrow Cutter to Konley

Brian Cage b. Rohit Raju – Weapon X

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of the NXT The Full Sail Years Volume III (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/05/25/new-book-nxt-the-full-sail-years-from-dallas-to-new-orleans/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Lucha Underground
Date: September 6, 2017
Location: Lucha Underground Temple, Boyle Heights, California
Commentators: Vampiro, Matt Striker

We’re less than a month away from Ultima Lucha Tres and that means it’s time to start filling out the card. The big story this week is a street fight between Cortez Castro and Joey Ryan, who have been feuding for months now, partially due to the whole….I’m going to stop there because this company’s storylines are really complicated. Let’s get to it.

We open with a recap of the tournament finals before moving on to the Worldwide Underground and the collection of the seven medallions. Above that though, Matanza is coming for Rey Mysterio, which can only end badly.

Aztec Medallion: Drago vs. The Mack

Drago wastes no time with a running dropkick and a tornado DDT, only to have Mack shove him away without much effort. Mack does a headstand in the corner, earning himself an enziguri. La majistral gets two and Mack is in some trouble. He’s fine enough to elbow Drago in the mask but Kobra Moon gets on the apron for a distraction. A quick Dragon’s Lair gives Drago the pin and the medallion at 3:46.

Rating: D+. I wasn’t feeling this one as it didn’t have much time and the whole Drago/Moon thing has killed off a lot of interest I’ve had in both of them. Mack hasn’t done much since losing to Johnny Mundo and this is a pretty big loss for him. He doesn’t have anything as we head towards Ultima Lucha and hopefully he’s not stuck with these people.

Post match Mack Stuns Drago and gets beaten down by the rest of the Tribe.

Back from a break with Dario Cueto in the ring. Next week will be the 100^th episode so we’ll be having some big matches. First up, we’ll have the Worldwide Underground vs. Prince Puma and a team to be announced later tonight. In the main event though, Rey Mysterio will face Matanza. Dario brings Rey out and tells him to leave the building before Matanza’s match tonight. If he doesn’t, Dario will fire Dragon Azteca Jr. That’s cool with Rey, who promises to destroy the Cueto legacy next week with Dario coming next.

Aztec Medallion: Cortez Castro vs. Joey Ryan

5-0 street fight, meaning there’s a bunch of police themed stuff around the arena. Dario runs to start so Castro follows him outside for some chops. A tornado DDT on the floor has Joey in trouble, because dropping someone head first onto concrete doesn’t knock them cold like it used to.

Back in and Joey gets in a slam and sets up a riot shield in the corner. Joey hammers on him with some handcuffs to bust open Castro’s head. Now it’s some nightstick shots to the back so Striker can make Big Boss Man jokes. With nothing else to do, Joey puts on a plastic glove and lubes up his hand to….yeah you can figure that one out for yourselves. That’s enough to fire Castro up (not the most shocking thing in the world) and he knocks Joey outside, sending him through some of the cops. Fans: “WE WANT DONUTS!”

Joey goes face first into the police cruiser but Castro misses a swing with a ball bat. Instead Joey grabs a sledgehammer (HHH jokes abound), only to hit the windshield by mistake. Castro gets dropped onto the hood of the car anyway but it’s time to go to the snack table.

That means hot coffee down Joey’s trunks and Castro tases him there for a bonus. Naturally Joey is right back with a superkick to drive a box of donuts into Castro’s face as Striker talks about an Aztec medallion. The balance from the commentary to the match isn’t exactly working. Back in and Castro maces him, followed by a running Samoan Driver onto the riot shields for the pin at 13:02.

Rating: C. I wanted to like this match and they were getting somewhere in the beginning with the blood and violence, but then they went flying off a cliff. I really don’t need to see Joey lubing up his hand, having hot coffee poured down his trunks and superkicking a box of donuts. Yeah it’s a police themed match, but you can either go with the theme or go with the story. Trying to do both turns it into a mess, which is what happened here.

Rabbit Tribe vs. Matanza

Matanza is offered a hat to start but dancing doesn’t work so well. Vampiro explains various drug cults as Matanza is sent outside for a dive from Saltador and a plancha from Mala Suerte. Back in and a series of dropkicks has Matanza reeling but they stop for some more dancing. Matanza actually dropkicks the trio down but Easter eggs to the head are good for a distraction. A pair of superkicks sets up London’s shooting star for two and that’s enough for Matanza. House is cleaned in a hurry and the Wrath of the Gods ends Saltador at 4:46.

Rating: D. Now this one missed a lot more than the previous match. I really like the Rabbit Tribe as they actually feel like chaos instead of what usually passes for such in a wrestling promotion. However, this was a lot of running around being goofy yet still having success against a monster like Matanza. The ending was the right call but dang I didn’t like how they got there.

Here’s Prince Puma to announce his team for next week. Before he can get to the announcement though, here’s Mundo to say he’s going to take Mundo to Slam Town at Ultima Lucha, just like he did on the first episode. Puma brings up beating him to become the first champion, which Mundo takes as confidence. If Puma is so confident, let’s make it title vs. mask. The deal is made but here’s Dario to interrupt. Since we already have a mask vs. mask match at Ultima Lucha (We do?), let’s make it title vs. career. Puma decks Mundo and holds up the title because it’s on.

Overall Rating: C. They’re firmly into the stretch to build up Ultima Lucha Tres though I’m not sure if they have enough time to set up four hours worth of matches in just two more shows. It’s cool to get to a milestone like the 100^th episode but this season, which is now at A YEAR long really needs to wrap up. I’m still liking the show but it’s nothing I’m really looking forward to anymore, which is quite the shame given how much fun it used to be.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the Complete 2002 Monday Night Raw Reviews in either E-Book or Paperback. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2017/07/21/new-e-bookpaperback-kbs-complete-monday-night-raw-2002-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Lucha Underground
Date: July 26, 2017
Location: Lucha Underground Temple, Boyle Heights, California
Commentators: Vampiro, Matt Striker

I believe the second round of the Cueto Cup wraps up tonight but the bigger deal is Rey Mysterio getting back into the ring for the first time in a good while. Worldwide Underground has a new pesky agent who has gotten PJ Black a match with Mysterio. That could be a lot of fun and when you couple it with the tournament stuff, this show has potential. Let’s get to it.

Standard opening, looking at the tournament as a whole and the matches for those competing tonight.

Striker mentions that the tournament final is in four weeks, which will also see Mysterio vs. Johnny Mundo for the Lucha Underground Title.

Cueto Cup Second Round: Texano vs. The Mack

They actually speed things up to start instead of going with the power brawl, including a series of near falls into a standoff. That’s quite the surprise. It even warrants a handshake before Mack grabs a headlock for a negligible advantage. Mack sends him outside for a running flip dive, followed by a running basement Blockbuster for two inside.

Some very loud chops have Texano in even more trouble but he comes back with some softer chops. They head outside again with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker dropping Texano, only to have Mack go down as well. Back in and Mack gets two off a swinging slam but here’s Famous B to spray him with a water gun. That earns B. a Stunner but the distraction allows Texano to grab a Batista Bomb to advance at 7:19.

Rating: C+. Good power brawl here though the ending felt like a cop out rather than a win for Texano. It’s not like either of them are going to win the tournament but the ending didn’t work for me. The match was fun while it lasted though and that’s a good thing, but Famous B. isn’t doing anything for me and hasn’t in a long time.

Son of Havoc is at a bar when Son of Madness comes out and takes his drink. They were in the same biker gang and Madness is here to bring Havoc back whether he likes it or not. At least it’s a story.

Mascarita Sagrada brings the Rabbit Tribe a present, with the card saying it will bring them good luck. It’s a rabbit’s foot, meaning panic ensues.

Cueto Cup Second Round: Pentagon Dark vs. Drago

They hit the mat to start, which is a lot more technical than you would expect from someone as violent as Pentagon. Drago sends him outside for a big flip dive, earning himself some rather loud cheering. Back inside and they trade some hard running kicks in the corner with Pentagon getting the better of it because he’s rather good at the whole beating people up thing.

Pentagon suplexes him into the corner for two but Drago grabs a hurricanrana for the same. A running Blockbuster gets the same, only to have Pentagon catch him in a half nelson driver for another near fall. Drago runs up the corner for a tornado DDT followed by a top rope hurricanrana but the top rope splash only gets two. Pentagon is tired of playing around though and hits a Mexican Destroyer…..for two. Well of course that doesn’t finish it. The package piledriver finishes Drago a few seconds later at 7:57. Then just have the Destroyer finish the thing.

Rating: C+. Ending aside, this was a nice back and forth spot trading showcase with each of them hitting most of their big stuff. Pentagon is coming off like a bigger star every single week and they would be crazy to not put him back into the title picture, likely destroying everyone in his path, very soon.

Post match Pentagon lays out Kobra Moon and goes for the arm but Aero Star makes the save. Drago lays out Aero Star and Pentagon breaks Star’s arm as a trophy.

Pentagon runs into Catrina in the back where she reminds him of his issues with Mil Muertes. Catrina promises that Mil hasn’t forgotten and will take him out of the Cup.

PJ Black vs. Rey Mysterio

They start fast with Rey grabbing a hurricanrana and a victory roll for two, sending us to a standoff with Black smiling. An ankle scissors sends Black outside but he catches a dive and drops Rey with something like a reverse Rack Attack. A top rope fist to the face gives Black two and it’s off to a double arm crank.

Back up and the 619 is broken up by a superkick but Rey misses a springboard. They slug it out until Rey flips him out to the floor for an Asai moonsault. The spinning crossbody gives Rey two but he gets caught in the Tree of Woe for a top rope double stomp. Can we please ban that spot all over wrestling? I’ve got money. A Styles Clash gives Black two but he gets caught in a tornado DDT.

The referee gets bumped though and here’s Johnny Mundo to lay out Mysterio. Jack Evans comes in to make it a triple team but here’s El Dragon Azteca to make the save. Taya takes him out though, leaving Black to get a close two. Azteca chases the Worldwide Underground off, leaving Rey to reverse a Razor’s Edge into a hurricanrana. The 619 sets up a springboard frog splash for the pin at 11:29.

Rating: B-. Black has really showcased himself over the last two weeks and that’s quite the improvement. I’ve never been the biggest fan of the guy in the world but it’s a good sign that he’s able to do a lot more than just have a flashy finisher. Mysterio might not be what he used to be but he’s still far better than many other cruiserweights and he gives Lucha Underground credibility, which they really can use.

Mysterio says everyone here will win the title from Mundo in four weeks.

Overall Rating: C+. Not a great show this week but we’re down to the final eight in the tournament and are starting to get some real build towards the title match. As usual, the best way to make TV seem important is to give it a long form build and that’s what we’ve gotten so far. These shows have been FAR more entertaining than what we had been seeing in the months leading up to it and that’s a very important upgrade.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the Complete 2002 Monday Night Raw Reviews in either E-Book or Paperback. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2017/07/21/new-e-bookpaperback-kbs-complete-monday-night-raw-2002-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Lucha Underground
Date: June 14, 2017
Location: Lucha Underground Temple, Boyle Heights, California
Commentators: Vampiro, Matt Striker

It’s tournament time, which isn’t the most best description in the world around here. This time around it’s the start of the Cueto Cup, with the winner getting a Lucha Underground Title shot at Ultima Lucha Tres. Tonight we have first round matches, which could eat up a good chunk of time in a thirty two person tournament. Let’s get to it.

We open with a recap of Dario Cueto’s announcements last week, as well as Drago turning on his partners to join the villains. There’s also a clip of the Black Lotus Tribe destroying Pentagon Dark…..whenever that was.

Pentagon comes in to see Dario, who has a bracket board in his office, just in case you wanted him to get even more awesome. Dario doesn’t think much of him being back but Pentagon goes after the arm, earning himself a spot in the tournament. Before leaving, Pentagon promises to break some bones if he doesn’t win something at Ultima Lucha.

Cueto Cup First Round: Mala Suerte vs. The Mack

They flip around to start with Mack grabbing an armdrag. The fast pace continues until a standoff but Suerte stops to pose instead of following up. That man needs a role model. Suerte’s chops have no effect so Mack Samoan drops him for two. A hurricanrana takes Mack down for a basement dropkick and some arm waving.

That just seems to tick Mack off as he grabs an exploder suplex for two more. Suerte’s release German suplex sends Mack flying and Mala heads up top, despite Mack being 90% of the way across the ring. Instead of jumping though, Mala drops down and runs across the ring for a backsplash. Eh cute enough. Suerte misses a Swanton though and the Stunner advances Mack at 7:31.

Rating: C. This looked like a squash on paper but Suerte wound up getting in enough offense to make things entertaining. Mack is coming off back to back Lucha Underground Title matches though and it wasn’t likely to have him lose to a low level performer like Suerte this early on.

Cage, still wearing the gauntlet (which is still shooting electricity), is lifting when Dario comes in. The boss thinks Cage should meet Councilman Delgado but Cage doesn’t seem interested. Dario insists though, because he’s not scared of a giant wearing a powerful weapon.

Cueto Cup First Round: Argenis vs. Pentagon Dark

Argenis tries to handspring off the ropes and gets dropkicked in the mask for his efforts. Pentagon takes the knee out and it’s one sided to start. A hurricanrana drops Pentagon but he kicks Argenis in the head to take over again. An exchange of superkicks goes to Pentagon but Argenis is able to take him outside. That’s about it for his offense at the moment though as Pentagon kicks him in the face a third time. Argenis gets two off a neckbreaker, only to get suplexed into the corner. The pumphandle driver gives Pentagon two so it’s a package piledriver to put Argenis away at 5:44.

Rating: C+. Pentagon comes off like someone who knows how to maul people and it’s very entertaining to watch him do so. This was completely one sided with Pentagon toying with Argenis from bell to bell. If Pentagon doesn’t go a very long way in this tournament, there’s something wrong with this promotion.

Pentagon breaks Argenis’ arm for a second time, just because he can.

Cueto Cup First Round: Famous B. vs. Texano

B. yells at Melissa Santos for not introducing him from Texas. He needs a stud like Texano in his stable so he’s willing to let Texano get an uncontested pin. B. lays down but Texano picks him up at two, setting up a sitout powerbomb for the pin at 25 seconds.

Famous B.’s valet Brenda gives Texano a little spank, which he doesn’t seem to mind.

Video on Rey Mysterio getting ready to challenge Johnny Mundo for the Lucha Underground Title.

Cueto Cup First Round: Aerostar vs. Drago

Striker reminds us of their best of five series and when you add in following matches, they’re 3-3 against each other. It’s nice to have them add in stories like that for some interest in what should be nothing matches otherwise. You know, ignoring the whole betrayal last week. Drago is now in red and on Kobra Moon’s leash.

Aerostar offers a handshake to start but Drago won’t do it. With Aerostar’s back turned, Drago hesitates to hit him but a smile from Moon turns him more evil and Aerostar is in trouble to start. Aerostar grabs a drop toehold to send him into the middle buckle, only to eat a dropkick. This might be more entertaining if Striker would drop the hissing sounds whenever talking about Moon. A hurricanrana and kick to the head stagger Drago but he catches a springboard in a cutter for two.

They look at each other for a second and again, Drago doesn’t seem to want to do this. Aerostar hits a suicide dive to send Drago into the stairs but bangs himself up even worse at the same time. Some cheap shots from Moon keep Aerostar down and Drago fires off some more kicks. Aerostar is right back with a freaky modified Texas Cloverleaf while laying on his back with a bodyscissors around Drago’s ribs. It’s broken in just a few seconds but it certainly looked cool. Drago comes right back with the Dragon’s Tail for the pin at 7:26.

Rating: D+. This was much more about the storyline than the match and that’s not often a good thing. The Kobra Moon stuff really isn’t all that interesting and it would have been nice to have a refresher after so many months away from the story. At least the logical winner moved forward though and the story can continue in the Trios Titles matches.

Drago lays Aerostar out after the match, again at Moon’s wishes.

Cage goes to City Hall where Councilman Delgado promises Cage more power as their work begins. Cage then chokes Delgado against a wall….and PUNCHES HIS FACE IN, apparently murdering the Councilman because Cage is a machine and not a man.

Overall Rating: D+. This was about moving stories forward instead of the matches and that’s not the best thing in the world when we’re in the start of such a long story. Assuming four matches a week, we’re looking at four straight weeks of first round matches before we really move to the bigger stuff. Then again we had a murder on this show as Cage continues to become a potentially huge bad. Not the worst show here but it’s a first step of a long way.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the Histories of Saturday Night’s Main Event and Clash of the Champions, now in PAPERBACK. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2017/05/19/history-of-saturday-nights-main-event-and-clash-of-the-champions-now-in-paperback-plus-price-drops/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Lucha Underground
Date: December 21, 2016
Location: Lucha Underground Temple, Boyle Heights, California
Commentators: Vampiro, Matt Striker

It’s a big night here as we have the finals of the Battle of the Bulls tournament, meaning a four way elimination match to crown a new #1 contender. Other than that we have a big title match as Sexy Star challenges Lucha Underground Champion Johnny Mundo for the title inside a steel cage. Let’s get to it.

The opening recap looks at the two big matches.

Battle of the Bulls Finals: Cage vs. The Mack vs. PJ Black vs. Jeremiah Crane

Elimination rules. Cage takes over to start and suplexes Mack down, only to have Black kick him in the head. Crane clotheslines the heck out of Black but Cage hits a big flip dive over the top because he’s that kind of an athletic freak. All four are outside with Crane’s charge being countered into a Cage Jackhammer. Back in and a double team to Cage fails completely as he powerslams Black out of the air.

Crane is powerbombed onto Mack out of the air but here’s Texano to punch Cage in the jaw, allowing a parade of finishers to eliminate him at 6:03. That’s some smart booking. Back from a break with Crane hitting a slingshot swinging neckbreaker for two on Black, followed by a Brock Lock to keep him in a trouble. Crane takes Mack to the top but gets Stunned back down for the pin at 14:14. We take a second break and come back with Mack hitting another Stunner for the win at 20:02.

Rating: B-. I liked most of this as they had a fun, fast paced match instead of trying for something epic for a change. Mack is an interesting choice for the win as you don’t really expect to see him as a title contender. Good match here and the Battle of the Bulls was a lot of fun, which I didn’t really expect.

Fenix and Aerostar can’t find Drago. Kobra Moon comes in and says Drago has come home with her. Moon’s two monsters beat them down.

Mack and Sexy Star celebrate. He tells her to get the title but don’t be upset when he takes the title.

Crane goes to see Dario and is given a match he wants. Instead of leaving, Crane stands on a chair and gets something out of the ceiling, which he says he used to play with when he was a kid. After leaving, Crane runs into Catrina and says the match next week is with Mil Muertes. He walks through her like she’s a ghost.

Lucha Underground Title: Johnny Mundo vs. Sexy Star

Mundo is defending and the Worldwide Underground is banned from ringside. In a very telling sign, the fans start a LOUD Johnny Mundo chant. Johnny kicks her away to start and poses because he’s a man and she’s a woman, meaning he’s required to make fun of her. Star grabs a rollup for two and makes a very failed attempt to get out of the cage. The fans are a bit more split now as Johnny drives her into the cage and shouts that he’s the man.

The champ misses a charge but still stops Star from excaping. That earns himself a crotching on the top but Johnny grabs a fireman’s carry to send Sexy into the cage three times in a row. Star gets in a sitout powerbomb from the corner for two as Striker tells us to watch both wrestlers’ chests. To check on their conditioning you see. Johnny gets pulled down again and hit with a not great high crossbody from the top of the cage for two. They both head to the top with Star firing off kicks until Johnny rips her mask off. Johnny climbs out to retain at 12:13 as Star is covering her face on the mat.

Rating: C. Is that it for Sexy Star near the title? I certainly hope so as her main event run has been one of the least interesting things Lucha Underground has done. The matches haven’t exactly been bad but it feels like watching X-Pac or Rey Mysterio fighting Big Show. I am WAY past the point of buying her as a legitimate threat to the title as almost all of her wins and even hope spots come from someone being overconfident. It’s not interesting and yet it’s all we get from her. Move on to someone more interesting, please.

The Mack Stuns Johnny as the champ goes to leave.

Moon has Drago chained up but he won’t call her queen. Drago breathes fire to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. There’s some good stuff on this show with the opener working just fine and the main event being watchable, albeit dull. I’m interested in where Crane is going as he’s already hit a better stride in Lucha Underground than he did in his entire NXT run. The thing to remember is that this season is forty episodes long and we’re not even at the halfway mark yet. That’s A LOT of material to get through and it’s going to take time to get somewhere. I didn’t hate this show and I don’t hate this season but I’m a little bored, which might be even worse.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my new book, KB’s Complete Monday Nitro and Thunder Reviews Volume V at Amazon for just $3.99 at:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MQKDV5O

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Lucha Underground
Date: December 14, 2016
Location: Lucha Underground Temple, Boyle Heights, California
Commentators: Vampiro, Matt Striker

We’re wrapping up the first round of the Battle of the Bulls tournament this week and that could mean some good things. Last week’s matches were all about the action and that’s exactly what they should be. It might be nice to hear from the champ for a change though as Johnny Mundo doesn’t feel important. Let’s get to it.

The recap looks at Angelico wanting Johnny Mundo, the Kobra Moon Tribe, Matanza wanting Rey Mysterio and Sexy Star earning a title rematch inside a cage.

Battle of the Bulls First Round: Dante Fox vs. Killshot vs. Jeremiah Crane vs. Mariposa

Killshot and Crane quickly clean house and turn it into a one on one fight. Fox gets back up and starts kicking people in the head, followed by a string of suicide dives. Everyone is down so let’s talk about how inspiring Sexy Star is. Killshot’s running moonsault dive takes some people down, only to have another knocked away by a Jeremiah chair shot.

Crane throws in a pile of chairs and sets them up, eventually meaning a Tower of Doom with Killshot getting the worse of it. Mariposa is the only one up so the fans cheer, even when she beats on everyone else with chairs. Killshot gets in a few shots of his own and everyone is down.

It’s Crane up first with a sitout powerbomb and Brock Lock to put Killshot in trouble. The Butterfly Effect onto a chair gives Mariposa two on Killshot (he’s been busy tonight) but Fox takes her out. The 450 hits Crane’s boots though and a Cranial Contusion (Jay Driller) gives Jeremiah the pin at 11:02.

Rating: B-. More good stuff in these first round matches and I like the idea of Crane getting a push. Of course he’s not going to win the match and of course not the title but it’s cool to see him get a win like this to make people take him seriously. Good enough match here, though it was a lot of crashing with little flow for he most part.

Killshot kicks Fox in the head and gives him the top rope double stomp.

Taya is filming the rest of the Worldwide Underground in what feels like an NWO inspired vignette.

Sexy Star sees a spider and freaks out. So now she can rise above spiders.

Kobra Moon vs. Drago

This is over Drago leaving the tribe and annoying Moon. A loud dropkick puts Moon down early but Drago doesn’t seem to want to follow up. Another hard kick has Moon in trouble but here’s one of Moon’s cronies (shown last week) to jump Drago for the DQ at 2:45.

Fenix and Aerostar come in for the save, only to have Moon summon a masked monster to clean house. The fans call him Luchasaurus for a good name. Drago gets tombstoned and carried out.

Star goes after Mariposa, accusing her of planting the spider. A wall is broken and Mariposa seems intimidated.

Battle of the Bulls First Round: PJ Black vs. Jack Evans vs. Son of Havoc vs. Angelico

They break down into the expected tag match to start until Angelico headlocks Havoc. That lasts all of three seconds before they dive onto Evans and Black to crank it up a bit. Back in and Angelico gets double teamed in the corner, only to have Havoc use a pair of top rope double stomps to save his buddy. Black and Evans catch Havoc’s spinning crossbody but Angelico kicks them both in the head a few times.

The Fall of the Angels (running Razor’s Edge) is broken up, only to have Havoc come back in for the save. A Doomsday Device doesn’t work but Jack breaks up Havoc’s shooting star. The Tower of Doom is broken up so Angelico superplexes Evans onto the other two on the floor. Back in and Angelico is shoved inside, leaving Black to tell Evans to pin him. It’s a swerve though as Black rolls him up for the pin at 8:43.

Rating: C. They managed to turn a fourway into something like a tag match and that’s the right move all around. I get the idea of moving Black on and this could help set up the end of the Worldwide Underground, which isn’t the most interesting group in the first place. They also made sure to keep Angelico strong by not having him take the fall, which helps set him up for Mundo later on.

That leaves us with PJ Black vs. Jeremiah Crane vs. the Mack vs. Cage for the title shot.

Mysterio is recovering when Dragon Azteca Jr. comes in. Rey says they can’t win the fight against Matanza but Azteca has to try.

Overall Rating: C+. I’m getting into this Battle of the Bulls thing and the fourway final should be a lot of fun. Any of them vs. Mundo (please don’t switch the title back) would be interesting though I’d like to see Crane for the sake of making a new star. The tribe stuff is fine as well due to a lack of challengers to the Trios Titles (Remember those?). It’s been a nice few weeks and I’m starting to look forward to this show for the first time in a good while.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my new book, KB’s Complete Monday Nitro and Thunder Reviews Volume V at Amazon for just $3.99 at:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MQKDV5O

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6