IMG Credit: Fite.TV

United We Stand
Date: April 4, 2019
Location: Rahway Recreation Center, Rahway, New Jersey
Commentators: Josh Matthews, Don Callis

It’s nice that Impact has finally realized that they should be running a show over Wrestlemania weekend. How that eluded them for so long isn’t clear but I think we can go with general reasons of “It’s Impact.” The main event here is Rob Van Dam(recently signed)/Sabu vs. the Lucha Bros in a match that isn’t likely to be as epic as the company expects. Let’s get to it.

Earlier today, Rob Van Dam showed up!

The opening video talks about how five companies (Impact, AAA, MLW, WrestlePro, MLW, Lucha Underground) are coming together for one show that shows what can happen when you unite.

Johnny Impact vs. Jake Crist vs. Dante Fox vs. Jack Evans vs. Pat Buck

Ultimate X (four structures with cables crossing over the ring and an X hanging in the middle) and the winner gets a future X-Division Title shot. Everyone goes to the floor to start with Johnny being smart enough to go straight for the X. Buck makes a save and handstands his way out of an RKO attempt, because Impact is known for his RKO’s. Austin comes back in and kicks Fox to the floor but gets pulled outside by Crist.

The camera misses a Crist dive and it’s Buck cutting Austin off and hiptossing him to the floor. Nearly everyone goes for a climb and the audio starts cutting in and out. Never change Impact. Fox pulls Impact off and Crist hits a superplex on Impact for a bonus. Buck gets pulled off and it’s a massive knockdown. Buck is up first but can’t get very far as the audio goes out again.

A Tower of Doom brings everyone down and Impact hits a spinning Razor’s Edge slam. Fox goes with a Coast to Coast instead of going up for the X and then hits an imploding moonsault. Austin one ups him with a dive OFF THE TOP OF THE STRUCTURE onto everyone for the huge knockdown. Back in and Buck spears Crist off the cables and Impact hits a Spanish Fly on Fox. Austin climbs up and hangs upside down, leaving Crist to hit a diving cutter. Impact uses the knockdown to pull down the X for the win at 13:01.

Rating: C+. It’s a bunch of people doing a bunch of dives and flips off a bunch of high structures. What else can you really expect here? Well perhaps not having the World Champion getting a title shot against the midcard champion? Impact vs. Swann should be a good match, though there might be better choices to pick from.

Moose yells at Eddie Edwards in the back and the audio is so bad that you can’t make out a word. Cage comes in and tells them to get on the same page. I’m sure you can figure out the story, but you should be able to hear the story as well.

Video on last year’s Impact vs. Lucha Underground show with varying levels of audio.

Team Impact vs. Team Lucha Underground

Impact: Brian Cage, Moose, Eddie Edwards

Lucha Underground: Drago, Daga, Marty the Moth Martinez, Aerostar

Impact is down 4-3 to start but there’s a replacement for….someone Impact isn’t exactly making clear. You know who the replacement is going to be. Who else could it be? OF COURSE IT’S TOMMY DREAMER BECAUSE IT’S ALWAYS TOMMY DREAMER!!! Eddie and Aerostar start things off with Aerostar snapping off a hurricanrana and Eddie rolling around into a standoff.

Marty and Tommy come in and it’s Martinez going to the ample gut. Drago comes in and snaps off most of a headscissors to Dreamer so it’s Cage coming in for a change of pace. Daga’s running headscissors just annoys Cage, who is right back with a backbreaker to take over. Moose and Cage get in an argument though and Daga takes over with some shots to Moose’s knees.

Cage comes back in to clear out most of the luchadors until Daga and Drago combine to kick him in the face. Everyone gets set outside for the dives and it’s Dreamer teasing a dive before going outside for more punching. He doesn’t dive because he’s old and fat you see. Dreamer spits water at them and we settle back down to Aerostar getting two off a cutter to Eddie.

Drago and Daga start taking turns on Eddie until he dropkicks Daga in the face. The tag brings Cage in and the power goes up in a hurry. Everything breaks down (you knew that was coming) and we go to the parade of secondary finishers. Cage loads up Daga for the F5 but Moose spears his partner, leaving Dreamer to cane Moose in the head. Marty’s double arm DDT finishes Dreamer at 10:22.

Rating: C-. Much like the opener, what are you expecting here? This was a bunch of people in one match, getting in as much stuff as they could at once. Dreamer taking the fall was a relief, but more than that I’m rather sad to see Lucha Underground being such an afterthought. The show is done and it’s sad that they’re trying to throw themselves out here like this with nothing to go on to next. At least they won though. That’s something right?

Taya Valkyrie is in a four way tonight but just like Johnny Impact, she’ll overcome the odds and win.

Knockouts Title: Rosemary vs. Jordynne Grace vs. Katie Forbes vs. Taya Valkyrie

Taya is defending and it’s one fall to a finish. Forbes dances and gyrates a lot with very big hair. Everyone goes after Rosemary, which is kind of a weird choice when Grace is right there. We go to the early exchange of rollups that have no chance of working and no one buys them as real near falls. Taya kicks at Katie in the corner and hits a running hip attack. Rosemary comes back in and shouts Taya down but Grace sends Rosemary shoulder first into the post.

A Vader Bomb gets two and a spinning Samoan drop plants Rosemary again. Forbes comes in with a bicycle kick for two on Grace but a collision puts all four down. Rosemary does her upside down triangle choke on Grace until Katie breaks it up. Grace’s missile dropkicks takes down Katie and Taya and it’s Grace slamming everyone in sight. Rosemary spears Taya but here’s Su Yung to draw Rosemary up the ramp. Forbes manages to fireman’s carry Grace for some squats but gets reversed into the Grace Driver. Not that it matters as Taya runs over and steals the pin to retain at 9:00.

Rating: D. They really missed here as there was no flow or structure to the match with a bunch of spots coming one after another. Taya stealing the win isn’t surprising as this isn’t going to be the kind of show where anything significant is going to happen. Not a good match and it really didn’t work, mainly due to trying to do too much.

Tessa Blanchard isn’t interested in what is between Joey Ryan’s legs.

Konnan is tired of disrespect from Low Ki and Ricky Martinez.

Low Ki/Ricky Martinez vs. LAX

Martinez kicks Ortiz in the head at the five minute mark but a northern lights suplex gives Ortiz two. An assisted sitout flapjack plants Martinez for two but it’s Ki coming in off a blind tag to take over. Martinez comes back in for the Madison Rayne face thrusts into the mat and it’s Ki cranking on the neck. Santana finally avoids a charge and it’s off to Ortiz as the pace picks up.

A middle rope dropkick sends Ki down as the camera keeps cutting so much that it’s hard to get a clear shot of some of these moves. Martinez gets caught in the corner for a superkick into a Tower of London but Ki dives off the top for the save. Ortiz gets caught in an electric chair with Ki adding a Disaster Kick for a near fall of their own. Santana posts Ki though and a Death Valley Driver finishes Martinez at 12:38.

Rating: C-. Ki and Martinez weren’t exactly on fire here and as great as LAX are, they can only do so much. It’s not like the match is terrible or anything close to it, but it’s also not something I ever got into. The lack of Salina really does lower the interest levels in Martinez and Ki, but it could have been a lot worse.

Sami Callihan is ready to show Jimmy Havoc what Ohio violence is all about.

Tessa Blanchard vs. Joey Ryan

Before the match, Joey does his lollipop and baby oil deals. Joey offers to let Tessa touch it but she flips him off instead. A waistlock doesn’t get Tessa anywhere as Joey tries to make her touch it. Hang on though as Joey shouts something….and I can barely hear it. Whatever Joey asked, he gets tossed across the ring by the chest hair instead. Magnum gives Tessa two but Joey sends her outside for a posting. The arm is banged up and Joey makes it worse by bending it around the barricade. Back in and the arm work continues as Ryan can do a standard enough match if he’s willing to try.

Tessa comes back with a hurricanrana to send him outside, setting up a suicide dive. Back in and Tessa gets two off a Cannonball but he’s right back with an arm trap suplex. The Fujiwara armbar goes on but Tessa is back up with a springboard tornado DDT. A German suplex, meaning Joey grabs her by the chest for a suplex, followed by Tessa grabbing his crotch for the flip, gets two. The lollipop from the trunks goes into Tessa’s mouth for the near fall out of the superkick but Tessa breaks up a superplex. Magnum finishes Ryan at 10:48.

Rating: D-. Nope. I don’t find it funny and it’s so out of place three days before a women’s match is going to main event Wrestlemania. Tessa winning is the only call they could make but Joey’s act is old and played out. He’s been doing that same stuff for a long time now and I roll my eyes every time I hear about it because I don’t find it entertaining. It didn’t fit here but he got it in anyway because….well what else was he going to do?

X-Division Title: Rich Swann vs. Flamita

Swann is defending and we get a handshake. An exchange of shoulders doesn’t work so Swann knocks him outside for the big flip dive. Back in and Swann’s stepover kick to the back of the head gets two and it’s time for the slow form stomping. Swann chops away in the corner but misses a charge and takes the 619 in the corner.

A missile dropkick sends Swann outside and it’s a Backstabber for two on the champ back inside. More kicks to Flamita’s head set up a missed Phoenix splash and Flamita grabs the Spanish Fly. A 450 gets two and Flamita is frustrated. He hammers away at the champ until a Lethal Injection cuts him off. Now the Phoenix splash retains the title at 7:46.

Rating: C. Quick yet entertaining match here and that’s about all you could have asked them to do. Both guys can do so much more but what else can you do given less than eight minutes? Swann has become one of the better talents around and you don’t really ever see him have bad matches. That’s a pretty good role to play and he does it very well.

Rob Van Dam and Sabu say (yes Sabu talks) that they’re Rob Van Dam and Sabu.

Jimmy Havoc vs. Sami Callihan

Monster’s Ball, meaning a street fight. They both bring weapons to the ring but Sami goes back to get some extras. You wouldn’t want to be unprepared. Jimmy pokes him in the eyes to start and it’s already time for a staple gun to Sami’s chest. Another staple to the crotch has Sami in trouble until he gets in a bell shot to the face. More weapons are thrown in and Jimmy is already bleeding.

The spit chop only hits the post but Sami’s hand is fine enough to run into….I have no idea actually as the camera missed it. Havoc stops for some water so Sami chairs him in the face and it’s time for a fight on the apron. Sami gets out of a piledriver and hits one of his own on the apron to really take over. Well as much as you’re going to take over in a hardcore match. Sami staples his way out of a sunset flip and then staples pieces of newspaper to different parts of Havoc.

Some frying pan shots to the head let Sami take a bow and we bust out the lemon juice into the open wound. Havoc gets caught in a trashcan and beaten with a chair but fights back anyway and manages to get the better of it. A paper cut to the mouth has Sami in trouble and it’s time to take off Sami’s shoes. That means another paper cut to the toes with actual salt being poured into the wound. A Death Valley Driver into the trashcan gets two and it’s time for the Legos. The Cactus Piledriver onto the Legos gives Sami one but another one onto some open chairs finishes Havoc at 13:51.

Rating: C-. Picture any hardcore match you’ve seen in recent years, though minute the barbed wire. I can only get so much into these things because there just isn’t much to the things. Both guys are best known for their violent stuff and when you see it so often, it kind of loses whatever impact it can have. As has been the case all night: it could have been worse, but it’s nothing that got my attention.

The announcers recap the show so far.

Rob Van Dam/Sabu vs. Lucha Bros

Non title and it’s anything goes. We start with CERO MIEDO vs. ROB VAN DAM so the fans deem it awesome before any contact is made. Sabu finally starts punching and we’re at a standoff after two minutes. They head outside and it makes a lot more sense to go with the brawling instead of making the mistake of trying to have a match. Sabu stumbles through the Arabian press and Rob hits the spinning legdrop for two.

Pentagon kicks them both down and Sabu gets kicked a second time to make it even worse. The wheelbarrow splash gets two on Rob and it’s already time for a table. Sabu gets in a DDT on Pentagon and the Bros are put on the table for the Five Star/top rope legdrop as they try to turn back the clock again. Fenix chairs Rob to the floor and it’s a double superkick into the spike Fear Factor for the pin at 8:05.

Rating: D. Well what else were you expecting here? Van Dam and Sabu are both up there in years (Sabu is the older of the two at 54) and you’re not going to get much else out of them. Their one big spot looked good enough but this was all about the Lucha Bros doing what they could to cover up the rest of the match. It was fine for a nice little nostalgia moment, and thankfully that’s really all it’s going to be.

The lights go out as they shake hands and pose to end the show.

Overall Rating: D+. And that’s being generous. Between the production issues (audio cutting out earlier in the night, theme music being so loud you could barely hear commentary and the music cutting off instead of fading out), the lack of anything significant happening, most of the matches not being very good and the incredibly dim lighting that made it look like they were in the dark most of the night, it came off like a pretty amateurish show, which isn’t a good sign for a promotion as big (and old) as Impact. Not a disaster, but more pedestrian stuff that isn’t going to draw anyone back in.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2000 Monday Nitro and Thunder Reviews Part 1 (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

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IMG Credit: Lucha Underground

Lucha Underground
Date: November 7, 2018
Location: Lucha Underground Temple, Los Angeles, California
Commentators: Vampiro, Matt Striker

It’s the final show of the season and that means we should be in for something good. If there’s one thing that Lucha Underground knows how to do, it’s the big show at the end of the year because this is where you’ll get to the good stuff. The big match is Pentagon Dark challenging Marty Martinez for the title and you know something bad is going down there. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you’re interested.

The opening video looks at a lot of the backstage stuff from over the series, with a big focus on the Cuetos and their bosses trying to take over the world.

Johnny Mundo is warming up with the gauntlet as Taya isn’t sure about this. He seems a little too excited about it and asks if Taya is going to be there tonight. She wouldn’t miss it for the Mundo. Johnny says he loves her in case he gets sacrificed tonight and leaves. Ricky Mundo’s doll loves Taya too because she’s the perfect host. Taya seems to have been possessed, which is never a good sign.

El Dragon Azteca Jr. vs. Fenix

2/3 falls, no countouts and no DQ. They go straight to the loud kicks to the head to start with Fenix getting the better of things and sending a charging Dragon into the corner. A sunset bomb gives Dragon two and he sends Fenix outside for the big springboard dive. Back in and Fenix avoids the 450 so Dragon heads up top, where he gets caught by a palm strike to the face. The Black Fire Driver gives Fenix the first fall at 2:22.

We take a break and come back with Fenix bringing in a chair and a table. That takes too long though and Dragon hits some clotheslines before they go head to head. Dragon is right back with the tornado DDT for the second fall at 4:23. This brings out Antonio Cueto to say let’s make the third fall falls count anywhere.

Back in and they both head up to the same corner, with Dragon hitting a wheelbarrow driver through another table. A chair gets added to the mix but Melissa Santos begs for them to calm down. The distraction lets Fenix BLAST Dragon with a chair and drive him through another table. A second Black Fire Driver finishes Dragon at 15:22.

Rating: B. Now that’s how you open a big show as both guys beat the heck out of each other and Melissa getting involved keeps Dragon somewhat safe. Dark Fenix is a heck of a villain and the kind of guy who could go a long way. Dragon is still growing on me, but that high flying is hard to ignore, even against someone as talented as Fenix.

Melissa can’t make the announcement and leaves in tears.

Back from a break and Antonio says Melissa has left the building. Therefore, here is your new ring announcer: Shaul Guerrero. Well that’s certainly lucha royalty. Shaul says she’s honored to be here and starts introducing the next match but here’s Famous B. to interrupt. He’s the only guest announcer we can have around here and doesn’t know Shaul or her family. If she wants to REALLY be famous, she can call him. Shaul: “EXCUSE ME!” Well you know that’s getting a pop.

She lists off her family members, including her father Eddie. Apparently the B stands for b**** and a fight is teased but here’s Chavo Jr. for the save. A shot to the face allows Shaul to hit Three Amigos and Chavo adds a frog splash. I’m not big on Chavo but this was excellent and the best feel good moment this place has had in a long time.

The Mack vs. Mil Muertes

Death match so Mil wheels out a casket with DEATH MATCH painted on the top. Mack’s early kick to the face is caught, meaning it’s a loud “OH S***!” A running knee to the head rocks Muertes and he gets sent outside for a flip dive from Mack. They fight on the apron with Muertes getting the better of it and going to find a second casket. An X Factor drops Mack face first onto one of them and Muertes fires off clotheslines in the corner.

The tenth misses though and Muertes gets dropped in the corner for a Cannonball. Mack goes to find out what’s in the casket….and it’s a bunch of weapons, including an ax. This is going to hurt isn’t it? He spends a long time looking though and it’s a suicide dive to take him down instead. Muertes clears out the rest of the coffin (including a brick and a sickle among other things) before throwing Mack back inside.

Mack misses a swing with an ax (well, death would make sense) and gets ice picked in the head. A running clothesline gets Mack out of trouble and it’s time for a metal trashcan. Mack manages a Coast to Coast with said can for two but Muertes is right back with a swinging chokeslam. They head outside with Mack going for the mask (a rarity for Muertes), which seems to shake Muertes.

Back in and Mack gets two off a running DDT, followed by the standing moonsault for the same. The Flatliner gets Muertes out of trouble for two (BIG pop for the kickout) as Vampiro is rather pleased that Striker is enjoying the violence like this. Mack is right back with a pair of Stunners, followed by a BRICK to the head and another Stunner (complete with middle fingers and an F bomb) for the pin at 12:53.

Rating: B+. That’s the kind of Mack that makes you see the kind of star he really can become. He has some great charisma and I’m still curious as to why WWE let him go so soon. Beating Muertes is a big enough deal but to do it in a match where Muertes should excel is even better. That’s a big win for Mack and I’d love to see more of him in the next season.

Post match Mack throws him in the casket and pours some beer on top for a little Austin flavor.

Johnny Mundo vs. Matanza

A German suplex drops Johnny again but he slips out of Wrath of the Gods and scores with the Moonlight Drive. End of the World mostly connects for two so Mundo goes up, only to get caught in a belly to back superplex with Mundo landing on his face. With Matanza going near the gauntlet, Johnny dives underneath the ring to distract him. That’s enough to get the gauntlet but Matanza doesn’t let him get it on. Matanza throws it up onto the balcony for some reason so Johnny goes for a climb and jumps for it….but gets caught and slammed face first into a wall. Again, well so much for that.

Rating: C+. This is the kind of goofy fun that has been missing from Lucha Underground for so long. It was so over the top and insane with cool visuals and nothing more than a hero fighting a monster. The Superman Punch alone made it look like a scene from a comic book. What more could you possibly want from this?

Post break, Aerostar tries to get the gauntlet back from Johnny but he’s not sure. Aerostar convinces him to take it off though and Johnny is off to celebrate with Taya.

Lucha Underground Title: Marty Martinez vs. Pentagon Dark

Martinez is defending and anything goes. They both bring chairs and Pentagon pelts his at Marty’s head to start. Marty gets kicked around the ring and a posting busts him open. That means it’s time to bring in the weapons and DANG Martinez is bleeding badly. Pentagon blocks a whip through a table and superkicks Marty, only to get sent through the table a few seconds later.

A few kendo sticks rock Pentagon and they head inside for the first time with Marty rips at the mask. It’s time for a lunchbox, and of course that means the fork going into Pentagon’s forehead. They head outside and Marty buries him underneath a bunch of chairs. Shockingly enough, Marty is capable of rolling out from a pile of chairs and hits a package piledriver on the floor. That’s only good for two back inside and Marty gets him caught in the Tree of Woe, complete with a trashcan around Pentagon’s head.

Marty finds a baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire to beat on the can a bit….and let’s have some gasoline. Pentagon gets doused but he kicks the lighter away. The shot with the bat hits the rope and bounces back into Marty’s head because he’s not bleeding enough yet. They head outside again with Pentagon sending him through a well placed glass window (Striker: “OH S***!”). Pentagon sets up six chairs back inside and a package piledriver through them is enough to give Pentagon the title back at 12:33.

Rating: B. That’s exactly what this needed to be: mindless violence and destruction with Pentagon winning the fair (ish) fight. These guys beat the heck out of each other and got into the higher levels of carnage, which is what these matches call for. I don’t think anyone bought Marty as a long term champion and Pentagon has been the star of this place since the beginning. This made sense and was a lot of fun, but you know things aren’t over yet.

Lucha Underground Title: Jake Strong vs. Pentagon Dark

Strong is challenging and the ankle lock goes on. Pentagon’s ankle is snapped and the referee calls it at 40 seconds to make Strong champion, with the fans being rather displeased (you can imagine their chant).

Dragon Azteca, King Cuerno and Aerostar meet to talk about the gauntlet. They agree it must go back into hiding but Dragon says they need to strike now to give them the advantage they need. Dragon gets to take it and mentions a she that needs to use it.

Black Lotus comes in to see Matanza, who she knows killed her parents. She has the gauntlet….and RIPS HIS BEATING HEART OUT, killing him (in theory of course). Dragon comes in to say her parents can finally be at peace. She says Dragon can be too and leaves. Strong, wearing the title and a suit, comes in to break Dragon’s ankle and takes the gauntlet, saying it belongs to “us”.

Johnny comes in to see the still possessed Taya, saying it’s time for their honeymoon. Taya says she’s not his wife and chokes him against a locker. The laughing doll can be heard and Taya says she’s god.

Antonio meets with the big bads from earlier, who say everything is coming together. Apparently the gods have taken human forms and the title is back in their control. Strong comes in with the title, saying the blood on his shirt is Matanza’s. As Antonio is sad, the really big boss (who we still haven’t seen), says the Order will never forget Matanza’s sacrifice. The man says they need a new host before leaning forward to reveal Stu Bennett (Bad News/Wade Barrett) who asks if anyone else has any BAD NEWS. Everyone shakes their heads and Bennett says it’s time to take over the world.

We flash back in time to one year ago with Antonio taking the key from Dario’s coffin. Antonio leaves and Aerostar warps in with Catrina’s amulet. He puts it on Dario, who wakes up and says “What the F….” to end the season. To be continued. Now that’s the kind of cliffhanger you use to end a season.

Overall Rating: B+. This show felt like Lucha Underground trying to make up for a lot of lost time in one night and dang if it didn’t work. They know the right buttons to press and did so to near perfection here with a lot of fun action, but more importantly the over the top stories that make this show work so well. You can’t do the same kind of stuff that you see everyone else here and that’s what they seemed to remember this time. I had a great time with this show and it was a ton of fun.

Strong as the new champion doesn’t seem like the best idea as the fans just don’t care, but him being part of the big group of bads makes sense. The problem is it takes them WAY too long to get back to those stories and that hurts things a lot. What matters here though is the show feeling fun and I REALLY hope we get another season, even if it’s the last one to wrap everything up. They seem convinced that another is coming, and with that ending it almost has to. Really good show, though it doesn’t quite make up for the weak season.

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: October 31, 2018
Location: Lucha Underground Temple, Los Angeles, California
Commentators: Vampiro, Matt Striker

We’ve finally reached Ultima Lucha Cuatro and there’s a pretty strong lineup for the final two shows of the year. Tonight we have the Trios Titles on the line and a mask vs. mask match, but the important thing around here is going to be the backstage stuff, which is where Ultima Lucha really wraps up a bunch of the big stories. That’s what really matters, though the wrestling should be fun too. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening video previews tonight’s three matches, as it should.

Aerostar goes to see Captain Vazquez (Catrina’s mother, a Los Angeles cop) and gives her the other half of the medallion, which is from the ancient Aztec times. Vazquez puts it together with her half and disappears, with Aerostar suggesting that she is now reunited with her family beyond the cosmos.

The announcers do their usual welcome.

Trios Titles: Rabbit Tribe vs. Reptile Tribe vs. XO Lishus/Sammy Guevara/Ivelisse

Elimination rules and the Reptile Tribe (Daga/Jeremiah Snake/Kobra Moon) are defending. The White Rabbit destroys everyone to start and loads up the white glove but a quintuple superkick takes him down. El Bunny, the small guy, starts speeding things up with a very spinny headscissors to send Daga outside, setting up dives from Sammy and Ivelisse.

Sammy takes Kobra up above the entrance and hits a crazy Spanish Fly onto everyone else. That ticks the White Rabbit off so he starts wrecking everyone in sight, leaving Sammy to rollup Bunny for the elimination. The White Rabbit isn’t about to leave peacefully so he Mandible Claws Sammy, drawing blood from the mouth. We need a medic as we take a break.

Back with Ivelisse and XO slugging away at all three champs with Ivelisse getting two off the crucifix driver. XO hits a wheelbarrow Stunner for two on Sami with Moon and Daga making a save. Sami is back up and pulls XO shoulder first into the rope, damaging XO’s neck/shoulder/collar bone in the process.

Ivelisse hits a high crossbody onto Daga and Moon with Sami making a save this time. Code Red gets two more on Sami but Daga kicks Ivelisse away, leaving the injured XO all alone. XO goes after them all and gets triple superkicked. The double underhook shoulder breaker into a hurricanrana driver sets up a cross armbreaker for the tap at 12:04.

Rating: C. The action was good though I’m a little surprised by the result as you would have assumed the Rabbits hopped away with the titles here. The Trios Titles haven’t exactly been much in a long time but at least they’re getting some actual teams together at the moment. Now just keep that going, assuming the show is around next season.

Taya Mundo vs. Ricky Mundo

Ricky broke up Taya’s wedding and it’s time for pain. Taya throws him down to start and hits an early release German suplex as the beating is on in a hurry. The running knees in the corner give Taya two but Ricky is right back with a superkick. It’s table time but Taya jumps onto the announcers’ table for a crossbody. Back in and a Saito suplex gives Taya two, followed by a curb stomp. Ricky is almost done anyway so Taya puts on a modified STF to make him tap at 4:11.

Rating: D+. Almost a squash here but the angle and story wrapping up was much more important than the wrestling. Ricky is just a goof so having Taya beat him up is hardly a stretch. Taya is a skilled wrestler, meaning this is hardly a fluke win. Not a bad match or anything, but the wrestling wasn’t the point.

Post match Taya tells him that he ruined her f****** (not censored) wedding and chokeslams him off the apron through the table.

Son of Havoc vs. Killshot

Mask vs. mask. They slug it out to start as Vampiro explains lucha de apuestas (it means a bet match, so his long explanation isn’t quite needed. Killshot takes him to the floor for some chops against the wall and a spinning double underhook slam drops Havoc back inside. Havoc cartwheels away but gets caught with a knee to the face, followed by the Killstomp for two.

Hang on though as Killshot needs a stretcher and unhooks the bottom turnbuckle to get it inside. That’s enough in the ring so let’s head outside again with another table being set up. Havoc fights off of it without much effort and dives off the balcony with a splash to put Killshot through it instead. That only gives Havoc two back inside but Killshot crotches him to break up the shooting star.

Killshot heads up as well but gets taken down with a super Death Valley Driver, setting up the shooting star for two in a great near fall. Havoc goes up again and a superplex brings him down onto the stretcher, setting up the Killstomp for a close two. They slug it out on the stretcher until Havoc gives him a piledriver. That’s not enough for the cover though as Havoc straps him to the stretcher and hits another shooting star for the pin at 14:10.

Rating: B. Killshot is one of the most underrated and consistent people around here and that makes him a very valuable member of the roster. I can’t say I’m surprised as some of his stuff outside of Lucha Underground has been excellent as well. This was another hard hitting match and while it wasn’t quite last year’s match with Dante Fox, it was a heck of a brawl with the right ending.

Post break, Killshot says his name is Jermaine Strickland and he left his brothers to die in war. The mask comes off and it’s someone you probably know better as Shane Strickland. Havoc holds up the mask as Killshot leaves to a lot of cheering.

After the credits, Strickland comes up to Dante Fox (in military uniform), who says he was on a mission. Strickland requests to be relieved of duty and walks away.

Overall Rating: C+. This wasn’t a blow away great show, but to be fair this is just the warm up for next week’s big stuff anyway. It’s nice to have closure to a few stories and that’s what we got here in a well wrapped up way. The main event is pretty good and while it seems that Killshot is gone, almost any Strickland match is worth seeing. Hopefully he gets to make it big soon, because he certainly has the talent. Hopefully next week is the huge show it should be.

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: October 24, 2018
Location: Lucha Underground Temple, Los Angeles, California
Commentators: Vampiro, Matt Striker

It’s a big night here as we have the final regular show before Lucha Underground. There’s even a title on the line tonight with the Gift of the Gods Title up for grabs in a seven way elimination match. Other than that we’re going to be seeing a bunch of build towards the biggest show (or shows I guess) of the year. Let’s get to it.

The opening video looks at the seven names in the Gift of the Gods Title match.

Next week: Son of Havoc vs. Killshot in a mask vs. mask match and the Trios Titles match.

Gift of the Gods Title: King Cuerno vs. Big Bad Steve vs. Hernandez vs. Aerostar vs. PJ Black vs. Jake Strong vs. Dante Fox

The title is vacant coming in and this is under elimination rules. Fox starts fast by kicking people in the face, including one to put Strong on the floor. Cuerno and Black double team Fox to slow him down before heading outside. That leaves Fox to hit a springboard imploding flip dive onto the pile for the huge crash. Back in and Hernandez rocks Fox back and forth before running him over. That’s fine with Fox, who backslides Hernandez for the pin at 2:29.

Back from a break with Strong starting to clean house and everyone fights to the floor. The camera cuts back and forth between the various fights, including Strong powerbombing Fox against a wall. Steve and PJ get back in with Famous B. slipping Steve a wrench to clean house. Aerostar gets a shot as well but it’s Strong coming back in to ankle lock Black for the elimination at 7:13.

Strong snaps the ankle for fun and we take another break. Back again with Strong and Steve slugging it out until Cuerno comes back in for a kick to Strong’s face. Cuerno and Steve team up on Aerostar with Steve hitting a pop up cutter and Cuerno adding a dropkick. That means it’s time for the two of them to slug it out with Cuerno getting the better of things, as you probably expected. Steve’s vest gets opened up for the hard chops but a double clothesline puts them both down.

And now here’s Drago with a forklift (and a helmet, because safety first) to raise Aerostar WAY up (as high as you would be on top of a cage at least) for the dive onto Cuerno and Steve. That’s enough to eliminate Steve at 13:14 and we take another break. Back again with Strong forearming Aerostar in the back and slowly stomping Cuerno. A powerslam gets two on Cuerno and the ankle lock goes on with Aerostar making the save so more people can fight Strong. That means an ankle lock for Aerostar, who taps at 17:04. We’re down to Fox, Strong and Cuerno, who knees Strong in the head as we take another break.

Back again with Cuerno watching Aerostar be taken to the back as Fox’s knuckles are bleeding. They all get in with Cuerno knocking both of them to the floor for the big suicide dive on Strong. Fox goes onto the top of the entrance and hits a big flip dive to take both guys down again. Cuerno is thrown back in and a 450 gets two with Strong making the save. The Thrill of the Hunt gives Cuerno two on Fox but he misses a running knee in the corner.

Strong is back in with the Vader Bomb, only to have Fox hit a springboard middle rope cutter for two. One of the longest Swantons I’ve ever seen hits Strong’s raised knees and for once, it hurts the person’s knees. Cuerno kicks both of them in the face and everyone is down again.

Strong wins a three way slugout but gets double dropkicked to the floor. The Fox Catcher (scoop brainbuster) gets rid of Cuerno at 28:51 and we’re down to two. The fight starts on the floor with Fox hitting a dropkick off the apron. A jackknife cover gets two as the fans are behind Fox….who gets caught in the ankle lock for the eventual tap at 33:04 to make Strong champion. Fans: “THIS IS BS!”

Rating: B-. I liked the match, but it’s kind of hard to argue with the fans’ opinion at the end. Strong hasn’t exactly been impressive in his time around here but he’s been given the strongest push of anyone not named Matanza. It feels like the old TNA days with a WWE reject coming in and taking over, which isn’t the right way to go in a place like this. The rest of the match was entertaining and Fox looked great, but Strong winning was about as obvious as you could get. I understand why they did it, but that’s not the most interesting thing in the world.

Strong breaks his ankle for a bonus.

Johnny Mundo is on the roof when Aerostar appears. He says Johnny isn’t ready for Matanza and will be just another sacrifice to the gods. Johnny says he doesn’t need a partner but here’s Drago with the gauntlet (Remember that?). Mundo puts it on and says he feels like a god before playing with it like he’s about five years old to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. I can go with the idea of the one match show as you don’t want to overdo the builds that are already set up. That being said, the match we got wasn’t all that great but the Mundo gets the gauntlet stuff was fun and the right call. I’m wanting to see Ultima Lucha, but one more video package or series of vignettes might have helped. The season is ending just about when it needs to and that’s a good sign.

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: 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.

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: October 10, 2018
Location: Lucha Underground Temple, Los Angeles, California
Commentators: Vampiro, Matt Striker

We’re only a few weeks away from Ultima Lucha and that means we’re getting closer to the end of the season. Last week saw a few matches being announced for the show and I’m starting to get fired up for the whole thing. The problem though is they’re not exactly going with the standard Lucha Underground formula, which is what got them here in the first place. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap, with a focus on Johnny Mundo and Taya’s ruined wedding from a few weeks back.

Taya is in the ring to call out Antonio Cueto. Antonio comes out so Taya yells at him for ruining the wedding and sacrificing two of her friends. That’s fine with Antonio, who gives her a match right now.

Taya vs. Matanza

Taya slugs away to start and actually knocks Matanza down for some running knees in the corner. Antonio is starting to panic but Matanza running her over makes things a bit better. Taya can’t hit a tornado DDT but reverses a suplex into a sleeper. A moonsault gets two on Matanza but here’s Johnny Impact to save Taya from Wrath of the Gods at 2:37.

Post match Johnny beats up Matanza, who seems to shrug it off.

Ultima Lucha rundown, which looks pretty good.

The Mack/El Dragon Azteca Jr. vs. Fenix/Mil Muertes

Tornado rules and that’s quite the heel team. It’s a brawl to start, because that’s how tornado tags work. Dragon faceplants Muertes as Fenix and Mack fight on the floor. Fenix comes back in and chops Dragon for a rope walk wristdrag to send Dragon outside. That means Mack comes back in to run Fenix over, leaving him to swallow his fear and slug it out with Muertes.

A running clothesline puts Mack on the floor and Muertes powerbombs Fenix onto Dragon for good measure. Fenix goes up for a Doomsday….I think seated senton but Dragon ducks, sending Fenix into a Stunner from the Mack. More Stunners abound and the villains are sent to the floor. Dragon’s crazy spinning DDT drops Fenix but Fenix dives onto Muertes and Dragon on the floor. Mack hits a dive of his own so it’s Fenix and Dragon kicking each other in the head back inside.

Now it’s time for Mack and Muertes to kick each other over and over until Muertes gets two off a German suplex. Fenix is right back up with a running kick to Mack’s head but accidentally kicks a cameraman down. A super hurricanrana gets two on Mack and a springboard double stomp to the back puts Mack on the floor. Back inside, Muertes goes shoulder first into the post but he’s fine enough to headbutt Dragon out of the air. Fenix throws Mack back in and it’s a Black Fire Driver and Flatliner to give Muertes and Fenix stereo pins at 9:47.

Rating: B. That should set up the faces for wins at Ultima Lucha and there’s nothing wrong with that. It helps when you get a heck of a match along the way there with four people jumping and diving all over the place, which is one of the things this place does best. Really fun match here, but were you expecting anything else?

Here are Brenda and Famous B. for a chat. B. was running a wedding just six weeks ago and he saw his life flash before his eyes. He was scared and never wants to feel like that again, so he’s got a new client: himself, because he’s not healed and coming out of retirement. Cue Ricky Mundo and it’s time for a match.

Famous B. vs. Ricky Mundo

Ricky wastes no time in pounding B. down in the corner and choking away before shrugging off an enziguri. A spinning neckbreaker finishes B. at 1:32 in a total squash.

Post match Ricky says he unleashed Matanza at the wedding because he’s tired of Johnny and Taya treating him like a nobody. As long as Taya is in the way, Johnny will never respect him. That’s why Ricky wants to face Taya at Ultima Lucha, and he puts Brenda in a Crossface as a preview.

Pentagon Dark vs. Reklusa

Reklusa is in less clothing than she usually wrestles in and even Vampiro seems impressed. She dives onto Pentagon on the way in and takes him outside for some fingers to the eyes. A whip into the barricade keeps Pentagon in trouble but he’s right back with an apron powerbomb. They head inside for the running chop to Reklusa’s chest and it’s back to the floor for a hard whip through the chairs.

One heck of a superkick rocks Reklusa as they’re certainly not holding back here. Back in and a hurricanrana sends Pentagon to the floor again, this time for a top rope hurricanrana. A suicide dive into a tornado DDT keeps Pentagon in trouble but can’t finish him off. Another loud superkick gives Pentagon two but Reklusa spins around into another tornado DDT.

The Pentagon Driver only gets two more but the Fear Factor is broken up. That’s fine with Pentagon as he goes with a bigger one onto the apron….for two? Really? A low blow into a Canadian Destroyer gives Reklusa two so Pentagon is right back with a running Fear Factor for the pin at 9:43.

Rating: B+. Well that was awesome. Reklusa looked great (in more ways than one) and the match was one of the hardest hitting that I’ve seen on this show in a long time. They beat the heck out of each other and Reklusa actually looked like a star, after being more of a gimmick character anywhere else. She’s not likely to have many more appearances this season but it was cool to see look this awesome in one of her only matches.

Post match Pentagon loads up the arm but lets it go and pulls out a bag of tacks. Marty Martinez runs in with a barbed wire baseball bat to break up another Fear Factor. Reklusa grabs a can of gasoline and Marty pulls out a lighter but blows out the flame to end the show.

Overall Rating: A. Two excellent matches and two others that were so short that they didn’t mean anything. This was a heck of a show with both big matches looked great. I can go with a show that is all about action like this and Lucha Underground does it as well as anyone does at the moment. Awesome night here and one of the best they’ve ever done.

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 Twitter

Lucha Underground
Date: October 3, 2018
Location: Lucha Underground Temple, Los Angeles, California
Commentators: Vampiro, Matt Striker

It’s definitely Ultima Lucha time as we’re starting to see the card coming together. As of last week we have the Lucha Underground Title match, though there’s always the chance that things are going to change before we get there. Other than that, Mil Muertes is going to be facing the Mack in what should be destruction but might be something a little more interesting given the stage. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap looks at the variety of stories going on around here.

The announcers talk about Marty the Moth Martinez winning the Lucha Underground Title two weeks ago, much to Matt’s shock.

Joey Ryan/XO Lishus/Ivelisse vs. Rabbit Tribe

It’s a brawl to start with Ivelisse armdragging London down, though he seems to like it. El Bunny (I love this team) comes in instead and springboard crossbodies Lishus to take over. The slingshot Bronco Buster connects as the White Rabbit isn’t exactly pleased. London drops Lishus on his head as the White Rabbit shakes his head no.

Ivelisse comes in and starts cleaning house with Joey getting the tag to throw London into Lishus’, uh, hips. The Rabbits send everyone outside though and White Rabbit tags himself in for the menacing stare at Joey. Back to back superkicks have no effect so White Rabbit Saito suplexes Joey down. Ryan is done so the White Rabbit pulls out a white glove and puts on a Mandible Claw for the knockout at 5:20.

Rating: D+. Just a way to introduce the White Rabbit here and that was rather successful. That being said, wouldn’t it make a little more sense to do that earlier in the season instead of doing it with a month to go? He has a great look (it’s awesome in TNA as well) and can wrestle a monster style quite well, but I’m not sure how much time they have to get anywhere with him at this point.

The glove is bloody as it comes out of Joey’s mouth.

Ultima Lucha is two weeks this year and starts on Halloween night. Freshly announced: Fenix vs. Dragon Azteca Jr. in a 2/3 falls match.

Killshot vs. Son of Havoc

Havoc slugs away in the corner to start and a dropkick puts Killshot on the floor. The suicide dive is countered into an F5 into the barricade and Killshot steps on the hand while going after the mask. They go face to face for some yelling until Killshot gets low bridged to the floor. He lands on his feet so Havoc is right there with a dive to take him out.

Back in and Killshot goes for the mask again, only to get get taken down with a cutter for two. Killshot puts him in the corner though and a knee to the back sets up a running Killstomp for two more. An exchange of loud shots to the face goes to Killshot but he can’t get in a cross armbreaker, allowing Havoc to reverse it into a cradle for the pin at 6:36.

Rating: C. They beat each other up well enough here and you can pencil them in for a mask vs. mask match at Ultima Lucha. This has been a good feud where the matches have made up for a not that interesting (though not bad by any means) story and that’s perfectly fine. These two hitting each other really hard for twelve minutes will be more than fine, even with Striker ranting like a moron.

Post match Killshot jumps him from behind and unloads with brass knuckles shots to the head. The mask comes off with Havoc covering his face on the mat. Cue Antonio to make the mask vs. mask match.

Here are Marty Martinez and his still unnamed female friend for a chat. Martinez talks about this journey beginning when Sexy Star embarrassed his family. That’s why he sent Reclusa (the woman) after her and now she has Star’s mask. So there’s your explanation for where she went. The only person to humiliate Martinez more than her was Pentagon Dark and now Martinez has his championship. The only person left is his sister Mariposa, to whom Martinez owes a huge thank you. For that thank you, come have a title shot.

Lucha Underground Title: Mariposa vs. Marty Martinez

Martinez is defending and this is No DQ. A headbutt doesn’t bother Marty as he kicks Mariposa low and hammers away in the corner. Striker: “This is like making love in a hammock.” They head outside with Mariposa being sent into a variety of things and getting busted open in the process. Marty: “BLEED SISTER! BLEED!”

That’s only good for two back inside and Marty smiles as only he can. They’re back outside in short order with Mariposa sending him into the barricade a few times, only to get posted for her efforts. Reclusa sends in a chair which of course goes across Marty’s back as the fans are behind Mariposa.

The chair is pelted at Marty’s head and since that works so well, Mariposa buries him under about eight chair, throwing each one at him about four times each. Somehow Marty isn’t dead so Mariposa drop toeholds him into a chair inside for a rather near fall. A Samoan drop through the chair gets two but Reclusa breaks up the Butterfly Effect. The package piledriver retains the title at 9:14.

Rating: B. Now that was a lot of fun as they managed to make what should have been a dull match into something very entertaining. Mariposa throwing the chairs at Martinez went on so long that it went from silly to awesome, which is a hard trick to pull off. Marty winning was obvious, but it was a good time to get there.

Post match Marty cradles Mariposa and thanks her for his new focus. As for Pentagon, he wants Ultima Lucha to be a Cero Miedo match, which he’ll dedicate to Mariposa. Speaking of Mariposa, Martinez breaks her arm ala Pentagon. Cue Pentagon to chase Marty off and accept the challenge to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. Now we’re getting ready for Ultima Lucha and while I’m still not blown away by a lot of the things they have going on, I like it a lot more than I did just a few weeks ago. The main event should be fun but given how this place works, you know they have something planned for a surprise. Good show here, and that’s what the series needed at the moment.

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 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

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.

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 19, 2018
Location: Lucha Underground Temple, Los Angeles, California
Commentators: Vampiro, Matt Striker

It’s another big match tonight with Lucha Underground Champion El Dragon Azteca Jr. defending against Marty the Moth Martinez, who bought his shot at the title last week. Martinez also asked Antonio Cueto for something else, which wasn’t specified but sounded Matanza related. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening recap looks at Fenix going evil and the Gift of the Gods Title match.

Fenix vs. Aerostar

Melissa Santos is understandably upset to have to introduce Fenix. Aerostar doesn’t want to fight so Fenix kicks him in the face and takes him into the corner for another one. The fans are split (because they’re odd around here) as Aerostar gets two off a sunset flip. Fenix bails to the floor so Aerostar hits a big springboard dive to take him down. That’s about it for Aerostar’s offense as Fenix sends him into the post, stares at Melissa, and sends Aerostar back inside for two off a springboard splash.

A LOUD kick to the back gets two and the fans are actually cringing. Aerostar is right back with a Canadian Destroyer and a slingshot DDT for two of his own but Fenix shrugs off some kicks to the face. Fenix puts him on top and hits a quick dropkick, followed by the Muscle Buster driver for the pin at 6:23.

Rating: C-. This was a fine way to establish Fenix as the monster and that’s the right idea. Having him shove Melissa last week was a great way to start things off and having him win a competitive match is fine. You know this is going somewhere big for Ultima Lucha and I’m curious to see where that exactly is.

Post match Fenix stays on Aerostar and Melissa says this isn’t him. Dragon Azteca Jr. comes out to get between Fenix and Melissa so Fenix gives him the Muscle Buster driver on the floor. That’s some pretty bad timing as Antonio comes out to say the title match is next, but Dragon will have to forfeit. Dragon wants to fight so let’s have the match.

Gift of the Gods Title: Dragon Azteca Jr. vs. Marty Martinez

Dragon is defending and Marty runs him over without much effort. The beating is on in the corner and Dragon can barely do anything. Some kicks to the head stagger Marty for a few moments but he avoids a charge and Dragon gets caught in the corner. Dragon shoves him off the top and hits a slingshot hurricanrana though, followed by the DDTJ for two. Not that it matters as the implant double arm DDT gives Marty the pin and the title at 4:44.

Rating: D+. There wasn’t much of a way that you could have Dragon keep the title here. He wasn’t the most thrilling champion in the world and someone taking his title, especially by cheating, was the right way to go. Throw in the Fenix attack before the match and there was little reason to buy the idea that Dragon was retaining here.

Paul London finally gets to see the White Rabbit and says that having the failures of the tribe being sacrificed were to prove his loyalty. The White Rabbit wants to go to the surface along with El Bunny (a masked mini), telling London to lead the cage.

Lucha Underground Title: Pentagon Dark vs. Mil Muertes vs. King Cuerno

Dark is defending. Muertes wastes no time in clotheslining both of them in the corner before throwing Cuerno into a different corner. A double dropkick puts Muertes on the floor, only to have Pentagon chop the post by mistake. Muertes is right back with a running clothesline to Pentagon as the mask is half ripped off. That’s not enough for Muertes, who throws Pentagon into the crowd before going back inside to get kicked by Cuerno.

Pentagon runs back in to break up a cover off a powerslam and kicks Muertes in the face a few times. The Sling Blade sets up a top rope double stomp for two as Cuerno is back in. A chokeslam puts him down so pentagon kicks Muertes to the floor, setting up the Fear Factor to pin Cuerno at 6:03.

Rating: C+. I could have gone for more of this as the three of them get to beat the heck out of each other, which they can do as well as anyone else on the roster. That makes for an entertaining match, which really could have gone on longer. Pentagon continues to survive as champion in one of the more entertaining stories of the season.

Lucha Underground Title: Pentagon Dark vs. Marty Martinez

Marty is challenging and Pentagon is dead. An early cover is only good for two and the beating is on. Marty even ties the mask to the ropes and hammers away but Pentagon gets out and hits a quick Destroyer. With Marty on the floor, cue the debuting (and unnamed) Chelsea Green for a Destroyer of her own to Pentagon. Marty comes back in and hits a Fear Factor of his own for the pin and the title at 3:36.

Rating: D. Angle instead of a match here and the right way this needed to end. You can only have Pentagon survive as champion against so many odds and this would have been too much for him to overcome in one night. I’m sure he’ll get a rematch where he likely gets the title back and if that means more of Green, so be it.

Overall Rating: B. This was one of those shows where they hit everything in stride and the stories flowed from one match to the next. That’s the kind of booking that you don’t get very often but they pulled it off incredibly well here. It was a tight episode that didn’t miss anything and the wrestling was taking a well deserved backseat to the booking. Very fun show here and one of the strongest in a long time.

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: 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