IMG Credit: Impact Wrestling

Impact Wrestling
Date: April 26, 2019
Location: St. Clair’s College, Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Commentators: Josh Matthews, Don Callis

It’s the go home show for Rebellion and that means we’re in for what could be a good six man tag with the two major feuds coming together. In this case that would be the Lucha Bros/Johnny Impact vs. Brian Cage/LAX, which could be rather entertaining. Other than that we’ll likely be getting a lot of highlight packages, where Impact has had some success before. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap montage.

Opening sequence.

Here’s Eli Drake for a chat, with a selfie stick to hold his microphone and Kenny the kendo stick. Eli talks about the old Eddie Edwards being dead. He asks Kenny and Mikey what they think of that but here’s Eddie for the brawl. Eddie throws the stick at Drake and hits a suicide dive as the fight heads to the back. I really hope that’s not the last we see of Drake over an intergender match at that horrible United We Stand show.

Video on Tessa Blanchard vs. Gail Kim.

Ace Austin vs. Aiden Prince

Prince starts fast and hurricanranas Ace to the floor for a suicide dive, followed by a heck of an Asai moonsault. Ace is fine enough for a handstand on the apron and a kick to the chest. The Space Flying Tiger Drop puts Prince down again as they’re starting fast. Back in and Ace misses a moonsault, allowing Prince to nail a Downward Spiral for two. The 450 is awkwardly countered into a triangle choke from Austin and it’s a playing card between the fingers for the paper cut. The Fold finishes Prince at 5:56.

Rating: C. Prince was your token Canadian for the tapings and did well for himself in the time he had. Austin continues to be someone with a bright future as he has everything you could need to be a star save for maybe the size. I still love the cards and magic stuff as you don’t see many people (if anyone) doing that kind of thing. Nice match too.

Post match Austin beats on Prince again until Petey Williams makes the save.

Jordynne Grace was working out earlier when Taya Valkyrie attacked her. Taya hit her with a dumbbell and DDTed her onto a weight for the knockout.

Rob Van Dam, looking nearly ancient, is looking forward to coming back to face some of the new talent.

The Rascalz literally bump into each other after being told to meat (yes meat) here. It turns out that Moose wrote the notes because he has an idea. The North comes in and the Rascalz get beaten down.

Video on Brian Cage vs. Johnny Impact for the World Title. That’s way too long of a feud for such little interest. The story has been acceptable and logical but it hasn’t been interesting and that’s a big flaw.

Rebellion rundown.

GWN Flashback Moment of the Week: Rob Van Dam wins the World Title.

Scarlett Bordeaux promises us a live Smoke Show at Rebellion.

Rosemary vs. Undead Maid of Honor

Su Yung and the Bridesmaids distract Rosemary to start but she shrugs off the beatdown without much trouble. The bloody glove is slipped in but Rosemary hits the mist. A spear gives Rosemary the pin at 2:25.

Post match Rosemary chains up the Maid of Honor and leaves with her.

Rich Swann goes to the OVE Compound but Sami Callihan isn’t there. Swann sits at the door and says it’s true that Sami took him in but now they’re going to war. He was there when Sami’s mom died and they went to Germany together. We’ll find out how things go on Sunday. Swann leaves and Sami opens the door, having heard all of that.

A braggadocios Johnny Impact comes up to the Lucha Bros for tonight’s six man. The Bros don’t want to hear it because they’re the best team in the world. Johnny likes their confidence.

Killer Kross vs. The Mack

Mack armdrags him into an armbar but a run of the ropes lets Kross grab a front facelock. Back up and it’s time to throw fists with Mack getting the better of it until a running knee to the face cuts him off. A leg lariat gets Mack out of trouble so Kross clotheslines him right back down.

Something close to a Sling Blade gives Mack two but Kross pounds away even more. This time Mack Hulks Up and nails an exploder suplex. The reverse Cannonball connects but Mack’s standing moonsault is countered into the Krossjacket Choke to give put Mack away at 8:12.

Rating: D+. This wasn’t quite a squash for Kross and I really don’t get the point of doing that to Mack. It would seem that we’re coming up on a heel turn for either Swann or Mack, hopefully the former, and that would make this loss make even less sense. It’s not like Kross is anything more than the devil on the shoulder/Impact’s muscle at this point so he doesn’t really need to beat Mack here.

Long recap on LAX vs. the Lucha Bros, setting up Full Metal Mayhem on Sunday.

Deaners vs. Halal Beefcake

That would be Cody/Jake vs. Joe Coleman/Idris Abraham. Jake isn’t bothered by Abraham slapping him in the face to start so it’s off to Cody, who slams Jake onto Coleman for two. Beefcake puts Cody throat first onto the middle rope for a choke with their boots and pushups on the side. Jake comes in to clean house and it’s a Deaner DDT (set up like a Magic Killer but Cody throws Abraham into the air into a Hellevator) for the pin at 3:12.

Rating: D. So the Deaners are officially a thing with no mention of Cody’s past in the company. To be fair though, that’s probably the best thing they can do. Halal Beefcake was more entertaining than the Deaners but after all the weeks of promos we’ve seen from them, odds are we’re going to be stuck with them for at least a few months.

Rebellion rundown.

Here are Johnny Impact and Taya Valkyrie for a chat before the main event. Johnny thinks the marks in the crowd are way too happy about having Lance Storm referee on Sunday. The two of them were trained by Storm and he was even a guest at their wedding. This brings out Storm, who hugs Taya and seems rather happy.

Storm says he taught the two of them to work and put something into this business. Johnny is worried about taking the Drill Claw and asks if integrity is more important than twelve years of friendship. That’s not cool with Storm, whose lone job is to give these people a champion they can be proud of. A fight breaks out and Storm superkicks Impact down.

Johnny Impact/Lucha Bros vs. Brian Cage/LAX

Mixing up the faces and heels is often interesting. It’s a brawl to start with Fenix hitting a rolling dropkick to put Ortiz down. The double splash hits Fenix though and it’s a double flapjack to take him down again. Fenix comes back with a kick to Santana’s face and Pentagon comes in to start cleaning house. Unfortunately that house includes Cage, who powers out of the Backstabber.

Pentagon knees him in the head instead and now Johnny is willing to come in with a slingshot spear. Ortiz tags himself in and it’s time for the parade of dives, including Cage moonsaulting onto everyone not named Fenix. That’s because Fenix is on top for the big dive and everyone is down enough for a replay montage. Back in and a triple superkick into a series of splashes take Cage down. The top rope double stomp What’s Up hits Santana and now it’s the strikes to Ortiz.

A 450 gets two on Ortiz with Cage making a save. Now it’s Pentagon getting triple teamed, capped off by Cage’s F5. Fenix gets planed with a super Flatliner so Impact comes in for more superkicks. Cage plants Johnny for two but Johnny Bravo pulls the referee out. Just because this hasn’t been insane enough, Fenix chairs Cage in the head but LAX takes the Bros out with chairs of their own. A baseball slide sends the ladder into LAX, only to have Cage hit Weapon X for the pin on Impact at 11:59.

Rating: B-. This was everything that you needed in a go home main event. It’s cool to mix up the faces and heels like this, even if the reasoning was based around champions vs. challengers. These matches should be good on Sunday, but they both need to do something fresh after the pay per view.

Overall Rating: B. Rather good go home show here with the six match card getting some good attention. Everything either got a video or a match to build things up and that’s a smart formula that has worked for years now. Just keep doing more of this and they should be fine. Now since every week can’t be a go home show, I don’t see that formula lasting very long. Otherwise though, good stuff.

Results

Ace Austin b. Aiden Prince – The Fold

Rosemary b. Undead Maid of Honor – Spear

Killer Kross b. The Mack – Krossjacket Choke

Deaners b. Halal Beefcake – Deaner DDT to Abraham

Brian Cage/LAX b. Johnny Impact/Lucha Bros – Weapon X to Impact

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:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/02/22/new-book-kbs-monday-nitro-thunder-reviews-volume-vii-january-june-2000/

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: 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 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

Lucha Underground
Date: August 22, 2018
Location: Lucha Underground Temple, Los Angeles, California
Commentators: Vampiro, Matt Striker

It’s time for a big night with two major matches. This time around we have a Trick or Treat match (whatever that means, which around here could be anything) between the Mack and Mil Muertes but the real selling point is the main event. Tonight, Lucha Underground Champion Pentagon Dark defends against Cage in a Last Man Standing match. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening video looks at Cage vs. Pentagon Dark, Drago and Aerostar’s trust issues and Mack vs. Muertes.

Melissa Santos is putting on her makeup when Dragon Azteca Jr. comes in. Dragon knows she misses Fenix, which she admits is getting worse and worse every day. He puts the half medallion around her neck. Melissa says he’s a great friend and leaves.

Famous B. is back, though in a much more traditional looking suit.

The Mack vs. Mil Muertes

It’s a weapons cage match (including a knife and an ax) with pin or submission only to win. Before the match, Catrina gets in Melissa’s face and tells her to introduce her “the right way b****.” Melissa says no so Catrina sends her face first into the cage, gives her the lick, and rams her head into the floor. Mack’s running enziguri has little effect so Muertes hits him with the kendo stick and a trashcan. A few more shots to the head don’t do much good on Muertes so it’s a snap powerslam and a pumpkin to Mack’s back.

Mack scores with a running DDT to slow Muertes down but he’s right back up to spear Mack into and then through the cage wall. Escape doesn’t count so Muertes DDTs him on the floor before climbing over the side. A high crossbody (and a good one at that) takes Mack down and it’s time for the knife. Muertes slices Mack’s head open and licks the blood off because he’s one of the creepiest guys around.

Despite the blood loss, Mack manages a release spinebuster through a table. Just like everything else though, Muertes doesn’t seem phased and sends Mack through another table to keep him in trouble. Mack fights out of a Flatliner through a table and some Stunners put Muertes down. For some reason Mack decides to go up top in front of a table, meaning he earns the super Flatliner through said table for the pin at 9:37.

Rating: B-. Sometimes you just need a monster wrecking a popular guy to remind you who is in charge around here. Muertes is still one of the most dominant people in the company and that needed to be reestablished in a match like this. Mack is going to be fine after the loss as he’s a charismatic enough guy to bounce right back. Good destruction, even with the knife being a bit much.

Catrina won’t lick Mack.

Famous B., from his wheelchair, handles the introductions for the next match.

Aerostar vs. Jake Strong

B.: “Introducing first…..oh s***.” Aerostar isn’t scared so Strong punches him in the face and suplexes him back in from the apron. A quick crucifix gives Aerostar two and the rope walk dropkick gets the same. Aerostar gets knocked out of the air though and the ankle lock is good for the tap at 2:14.

Post match Strong won’t let go so Drago runs in for the save.

The Worldwide Underground is giving Johnny Mundo and Taya their wedding presents, including a trip to the Slamtown Spa and Resort, a portrait of Mundo as Lucha Underground Champion, and a title shot the week after the wedding. The Underground’s agent can’t get in and Ricky Mundo’s doll wants to kill him. Ricky stabs him with a pen as Taya and Johnny get matching bandannas. Geez the murders are spreading around here.

Lucha Underground Title: Pentagon Dark vs. Cage

Pentagon is defending and it’s Last Man (or Machine) Standing. After a break, Cage goes straight at him on the floor and we’re ready to go in a hurry. A bottle to the head has no effect so Cage uses the broken bottle to carve up Pentagon’s head. Cage puts a table in the corner but gets caught in a Death Valley Driver to put him through it instead. With Pentagon’s mask half torn off (to the point where you can see his forehead), he caves Cage’s head in with a chair.

A top rope double stomp onto the chair has Cage in more trouble but he’s fine enough to take it outside and powerbomb the champ against the barricade. Cage sets up two tables on the floor so Pentagon throws in some more toys. One heck of a trashcan lid shot to the head rocks Pentagon and there’s the apron superplex to put them through the tables. It’s Cage up at five and for some reason he helps Pentagon to his feet. With another table set up next to the apron, Pentagon wins a fight and Death Valley Drives Cage through it in a sick looking crash.

Of course that’s not it as the Drill Claw plants Pentagon for so little time that the referee doesn’t even count. Another lid shot staggers Cage, sending him onto yet another table in the ring. That means a super Canadian Destroyer but Pentagon is already getting more weapons because he knows it’s not enough. Six chairs are set up in the middle of the ring….and Pentagon package piledrives him through them. That’s STILL not enough so Pentagon Pillmanizes one arm, breaks both of them, and then since Cage is getting up again, curb stomps him THROUGH A CINDER BLOCK to retain at 13:13.

Rating: B+. Throughout a lot of this match, I was thinking it was just your run of the mill violent brawl. Then we got to the ending, where Pentagon unloaded on Cage and threw everything he had at him to FINALLY put the machine away. That last few minutes had me wondering what was left to stop Cage and it was one heck of a visual. The same is true of Pentagon’s mask being ripped off, which made him look like the conquering antihero, which is a great way to wrap things up.

Pentagon poses and, again, looks like the biggest star ever around here.

Next week: the wedding. That….sounds amazing.

Overall Rating: A-. That last three minutes alone are enough to make this a great show but then you have another murder (with a PEN), Pentagon looking like a star, and the whole carving up someone’s head with a knife. This was one of the most violent wrestling shows I’ve seen in a long time and that’s exactly what they were going for. Well done all around, but check out that main event for sure.

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: Lucha Underground

Lucha Underground
Date: August 15, 2018
Location: Lucha Underground Temple, Los Angeles, California
Commentators: Vampiro, Matt Striker

Where else can you find a wrestling show where the question is who dies this week. Somehow it tends to be multiple cases every single week, which isn’t exactly a normal wrestling promotion. That being said, it’s still a pretty fun idea and they’re getting ready of one low level person who may or may not be leaving after another in a pretty creative way. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening video looks at the Mack getting on Mil Muertes’ bad sign, the destruction of the White Rabbit Tribe, the Gift of the Gods Title and the Trios Champions’ issues.

Antonio Cueto gets an invitation to Johnny Mundo and Taya’s wedding (“It’ll never last.”) when Kobra Moon comes in. She wants the Reptile Tribe to become the new Trios Champions so, after something close to flirting, Antonio makes the match.

Paul London and Saltador are in the ring when Antonio comes in to say it’s time for a sacrifice. London volunteers Saltador to show what a real rabbit can do. Oh dear.

Saltador vs. Matanza

Saltador’s right hands and dropkick have as much effect as you would expect. The Wrath of the Gods gets rid of Matanza at 36 seconds.

Mack and Son of Havoc are getting ready for later when Killshot comes in. He doesn’t like Havoc but he’ll help defend the titles after he wins the Gift of the Gods Title. Violence seems imminent but it’s ok for now.

Next week: Pentagon Dark vs. Cage in a Last Man Standing match for the Lucha Underground Title.

The camera keeps showing a guy in a priest’s collar in the crowd.

Gift of the Gods Title: Killshot vs. El Drago Azteca Jr.

Dragon is defending. They start fast with Dragon flipping around, including spinning into a hurricanrana to take Killshot down. A slide to the floor means we need a slide back in but this time Killshot is waiting on him with a slingshot double stomp to the back. The running no hands dive takes Dragon down again and Killshot rolls him around into a modified Rings of Saturn. Azteca catches him with a kick to the head though and a hurricanrana off the apron gets two.

The fans are split (well duh) and it’s time to hit hard running forearms in the corner. Dragon starts a chase and catches Killshot with a guillotine legdrop to the back of the head. They head back to the apron and for some reason Azteca charges at him, meaning it’s a Death Valley Driver to knock the champ silly. The Killstomp is only good for two and Killshot can’t believe it. The customary exchange of strikes doesn’t go anywhere so Killshot whips him in, only to have Dragon snap off the spinning DDT to retain at 6:53.

Rating: C+. I’ve become a much bigger fan of Killshot over time as he’s so smooth in the ring. He knows how to make these matches look easy and when you put him in there against someone like Azteca, the matches get that much better. This was a very fun little match and I had a good time with it. If Azteca gets over with matches like this, I’m certainly fine with that.

Drago is on the roof of the Temple when Aerostar comes up. Aerostar asks why Drago hasn’t been around since last week but Drago says he did things as part of the Reptile Tribe that can’t be forgiven. That doesn’t work for Aerostar, who says they’re still friends. They shake hands but Drago isn’t sure and turns into a dragon to fly away.

Trios Title: Reptile Tribe vs. Killshot/The Mack/Son of Havoc

The Tribe (Kobra Moon/Daga/Jeremiah Snake) are challenging. The fight is on in a hurry with Snake being annoyed at Havoc’s standing backflip into Ricochet’s pose. As that happens, we cut to that priest again for some reason. Mack comes in to knee Snake in the face but takes too long doing a headstand in the corner, earning himself a loud superkick. Killshot grabs a triangle choke on Snake but Moon puts the same thing on him at the same time.

Son of Havoc and Daga do the same and then Mack grabs a Boston crab on Snake for the big visual. Daga gets to the rope for the break and everyone heads outside, allowing Mack to hit the big flip dive. We cut to the priest again and he has a name: Father Rick O’Shea. Clever. Anyway Havoc hits an Asai moonsault onto everyone, followed by Snake saving Moon from Killshot. A tornado DDT plants Killshot but Havoc is back in with a Lethal Injection to Daga and a double stomp to Snake.

It’s time for the parade of secondary finishers with Mack not being able to hit a Stunner. Unfortunately that means a bad Austin impression from Striker, who at least hasn’t been as annoying this season. Mack gets powerbombed out of the corner into a Stretch Muffler but it’s Havoc coming in with another double stomp for the save. Havoc loads up the shooting star but Killshot intentionally shoves him off, setting up Snake’s double underhook shoulder breaker for the pin and the titles at 8:53.

Rating: C. Good. I’m tired of the fighting champions motif around here and it’s a relief to see an actual team get the belts for a change. You can only do that idea so often and this was somehow the second time that Son of Havoc has been involved. The Reptile Tribe has been given a much bigger focus around here this season and it makes a lot of sense to give them the titles.

Post match Killshot yells at Havoc and says he can’t get up now or when he lost the titles. Killshot hits the Killstomp to Havoc’s bad shoulder and gets in Mack’s face before leaving.

Here’s Cage for a chat but before he can get anywhere, Pentagon Dark comes in with a superkick. The fight is on with Pentagon taking him up the steps and grabbing the house band guitar….for a shot to the guitarist. Cage beats up security and we look at the priest again. They fight on the roof of Antonio’s office before coming down and landing in front of the priest. He tries to bless Pentagon and gets his arm broken as a thank you. The fight continues as the credits roll.

We go to Antonio’s office when the Mack comes in. He wants Killshot next week but Antonio has a better idea: a Haunted House match against Mil Muertes. Mack: “Trick or treat mother….”

Overall Rating: B-. I had a good time with this show and that’s what matters most around here. They set up some stuff for next week and had something interesting with the title change. The priest idea was a funny joke and I could see that being a character going forward, though a one off appearance is fine too. I liked the show and the show next week should be a lot of fun too. Well done, as is becoming more common around here.

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

Lucha Underground
Date: July 11, 2018
Location: Lucha Underground Temple, Los Angeles, California
Commentators: Vampiro, Matt Striker

We’re starting to pick up steam on the Aztec Medallions as a lot of them have been awarded in short order. That’s a good idea when you have so many of them to be collected and hopefully we continue moving forward. Other than that there’s the prospect of Cage vs. Pentagon, which could be a lot of fun. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening recap looks at the Rabbit Tribe trying to worship Mascarita Sagrada, the Aztec Medallions and Matanza being even more murdery than usual. The last one should be rather worrying.

Cortez Castro is in the ring with a kendo stick but here’s Antonio Cueto to say Castro is really a cop. Now why did it take so long to find this out? It’s sacrifice time.

Matanza vs. Cortez Castro

Wrath of the Gods, 12 seconds.

Castro disappears. I could go for more of this story as it’s a good way to get rid of some of these lower level performers who aren’t doing anything important.

Aztec Medallion: Joey Ryan vs. Ivelisse

Rating: D. Remember when Ryan actually played a different character on this show and wasn’t just Joey Ryan from the indies? Well apparently Lucha Underground doesn’t either as this was every Ryan match from everywhere else. At least Ivelisse won, as it could be interesting to see what she could do around here if she’s healthy for once.

Aztec Medallion: Killshot vs. The Mack vs. Son of Havoc

Yes the Trios Champions are fighting again. Hang on though as here’s Antonio to say there will be two medallions given out here with only the person taking the fall not getting one. Works for me. Killshot starts fast and kicks both guys down, setting up a showdown with Mack. With Mack on the floor, Havoc hits the required suicide dive before Asai moonsaulting onto both of them.

Back in and Mack elbows Havoc down, setting up the big flip dive to take both guys out again. They’re certainly moving at a very fast pace so far. Havoc stays down so Killshot kicks away at Mack’s arm to slow him down, which Vampiro doesn’t like. He’d rather have them all just hit each other everywhere because Vampiro is kind of an out there guy. Havoc comes back in and gets hit in the head a few times, which you just don’t do to a masked biker. A tornado DDT gets Havoc out of trouble but Mack is back in to Pounce him down.

Killshot’s German suplex is no sold so he no sells Mack’s clothesline and dropkicks him before collapsing as well. Havoc replaces Killshot so Mack kicks him in the face a few times, followed by a standing moonsault for two. Havoc is right back up for the shooting star but Killshot pulls him down BY THE BEARD and hits a Death Valley Driver on the apron. Mack Stuns Killshot and has to pick which one to pin, eventually choosing Killshot at 9:25.

Rating: C+. This was fun with all three moving at a frantic pace. I’m still not big on the Trios Titles in general as they’re all over the place at times and I can barely remember who has them more often than not. There’s a good chance that this thrown together team doesn’t last again, which tends to be a recurring theme for these titles. You might wan to work on that a bit.

Post match Killshot yells at his partners and leaves.

Aztec Medallion: Cage vs. Mil Muertes

Catrina, now in red after last week, is in Muertes’ corner. They waste no time with the power game, knocking each other down without pretty reckless abandon. Muertes gets the better of it off a clothesline and a headscissors (!) to send Cage outside. Cage is thrown into the barricade but comes back with a series of hard forearms to the face. Back in and Cage’s apron superplex gets two but the referee eats a spear.

Cage’s discus lariat gets a very delayed two from a second referee, followed by the Flatliner giving Muertes two from the third referee. Muertes lays him out as well and I don’t think we have any more available. They fight outside where Muertes hits a wind up lariat but Cage finds a chair. He drops Muertes….but Pentagon is dressed as a fan in the crowd and caves Cage’s head in with a chair. Back in and the Flatliner gives Muertes the pin at 7:26.

Rating: B-. Take two monsters and have them beat the heck out of each other for a little while for some instant entertainment. The Pentagon cameo helped a lot as Cage doesn’t lose clean (as he shouldn’t) and Muertes gets another win to get him back on track (as he should). I liked this a lot as they didn’t try to do anything more than they should have here.

Post match Catrina won’t give Cage the lick. Muertes leaves and Pentagon says he’ll defend the title against Cage next week. Pentagon continues to look like a total star.

Post credits the Rabbit Tribe is being their usual bizarre selves when Mascarita Sagrada comes in. They follow him out and meet the unnamed Killer Kross, who is willing to be their god. To achieve this, they have to kill Sagrada, so Paul London caves his head in with a staff, sending blood everywhere to end the show. As usual, these people come off as the creepiest, most insane guys I’ve seen in years.

Overall Rating: B. I love it when they have a goal to accomplish and accomplish that goal with such precision. They didn’t waste time here and got the point across, meaning most of the Aztec Medallions are now set. That’s better than spending the better part of two months doing one at a time so hopefully we can get to something big with Pentagon soon. He’s a star here and looks like one of the biggest things on the show, which is about as accurate as you can get. Good show here and the old feeling is back.

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: October 11, 2017
Location: Lucha Underground Temple, Boyle Heights, California
Commentators: Vampiro, Matt Striker

We’re closing in on the end of this season and most likely the series with two episodes left to go. It’s week three of Ultima Lucha Tres and that means another big batch of matches that close out some feuds and give us some awesome moments at the same time. The first two shows have been good and hopefully this one lives up to the previous two weeks. Let’s get to it.

The opening video looks at all of tonight’s matches, as is the custom.

Taya vs. Sexy Star

Last woman standing as Taya has cost Star a bunch of wins over the last year, meaning it’s time for revenge. They both have brass knuckles to start but Taya are kicked away. Taya takes her down and slugs away but gets kicked in the face. They head outside in short order with Taya powerbombing her up against the barricade a few times in a row. Taya misses a Cannonball into the chairs though and Star sends her into a metal screen.

We cut the camera away from Star breaking something made of glass over the bloody Taya. They head up the steps as is the Lucha Underground custom but now it’s table time. A slugout goes to Taya but they fight into the crowd again to chop it out. Star gets beaten up against a camera but gets in a belly to belly suplex off the balcony and through the table. That’s already enough to put Taya down for ten at 9:10.

Rating: B-. They beat each other up but this felt like it was just getting started when it wrapped up. I wanted to see them fight more but the big spot at the end looked like something that destroyed Taya once and for all. The win isn’t enough to make me care about Star (Matt Striker has killed her career just less than she did it to herself) though this was entertaining while it lasted.

Trios Titles: Reptile Tribe vs. The Mack/Dante Fox/Killshot

The Tribe (Drago/Vibora/Pindar) are defending and I don’t remember them either. Killshot and Fox are not only still alive but also have taped up ribs. Fox kicks Pindar in the head to start but his ribs give out, allowing Killshot to tag himself in, much to Fox’s annoyance. Drago comes in with a tornado DDT and Pindar comes back in for a powerslam. A pop up cutter gets no cover as Fox makes the fast save.

Mack comes in to clean house with some running splashes in the corner but the monster Vibora comes in. Fox and Killshot can’t combine to take care of him as everything breaks down. Vibora takes Killshot down with a clothesline but Mack runs him over without too much effort. Now it’s Killshot and Fox hitting stereo dives, leaving Mack to Stun Pindar into a top rope double stomp from Fox for the pin and the titles at 8:02.

Rating: C. My goodness the Reptile Tribe just did not work. I could barely remember who was whom and that’s a bad thing for your champions. Throwing together three guys to win them is probably an upgrade, which is really sad when you think about it. Let them have something to do with the belts and it will be quite the improvement.

Card rundown for next week.

Gift of the Gods Title: Son of Havoc vs. Pentagon Dark

The title is vacant coming in and this is a ladder match. They talk trash to start until an exchange of kicks to the face sends Pentagon outside. A big cartwheel into a flip dive takes Dark down again and it’s time for the ladder. First up is a smaller version being brought inside with Pentagon sending it into his face and then over his back.

Pentagon throws in another mini ladder and three full sized ones with the big ones being set up in various corners. Naturally that’s enough for Havoc to get back up for an elbow to the face before sending Dark into a chair in the corner. Dark gets crotched with a ladder in the corner plus some swings of a chair. That’s not enough for Havoc to get anywhere close to the title so let’s throw in a table as a bonus.

Havoc is right back up with a belly to back superplex from a ladder through the table though and both guys are down again. It’s Havoc up first but his shooting star is caught in a cutter (It’s no Randy Orton and Evan Bourne but what is?) in a big spot. Havoc is up first again though and he sets up four chairs in the middle of the ring.

For reasons of general evil, they fight onto the chairs and Pentagon package piledrives him through the four of them, killing Havoc pretty much dead. There’s no climbing though as Pentagon bridges a ladder up as a platform. They slug it out on said platform until Pentagon throws him through a table. That’s enough to pull the title down at 14:00.

Rating: B. The ending leaves me more confused than anything else as I have no idea why they didn’t just have Pentagon win after the big spot. Throwing him through a table didn’t feel like a huge move and there’s really no reason to have Havoc be conscious still after the piledriver, let alone be competitive. That being said, having Pentagon win anything is a great move and a cash-in next week wouldn’t shock me in the slightest, which could make for a heck of a finale.

Post credits, Vampiro has Prince Puma surrounded by a circle of candles. Next week Puma can win the title back and complete the circle. Puma leaves and Vampiro hears a voice complimenting him on a job well done. Vampiro thanks the voice and calls him master. Oh I think I know where this is going and that’s an awesome finish.

Overall Rating: B. Good show for the most part but nothing felt like a major moment. Granted it didn’t help that the Trios Titles mean nothing and there’s no way anything is topping that 2/3 falls match from the first week. The two hour finale should be awesome, but they better do something with the big story already as I’m getting a bit impatient with the thing.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the Updated History of the Intercontinental Title in E-Book or Paperback. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2017/10/02/new-paperback-kbs-history-of-the-intercontinental-title-updated-version/

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

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

Lucha Underground
Date: October 4, 2017
Location: Lucha Underground Temple, Boyle Heights, California
Commentators: Vampiro, Matt Striker

It’s night number two of Ultima Lucha Tres and they have a big bar to live up to after last week’s main event. The good thing is we’re likely about to move up the card a bit and see some of the bigger stories played out, which is exactly the point of a show like this. Hopefully we get some more of the big story tonight too. Let’s get to it.

The opening video looks at last week’s show and previews tonight’s three matches.

Ivelisse and Jeremiah Crane get in an argument over him having feelings for Catrina. She doesn’t need a man so after she beats up Catrina, she’ll beat him up too. A hard kick to the chest sends Crane into a locker.

Battle Royal

Joey Ryan, PJ Black, Ricky Mundo, Vinnie Massaro, Mascarita Sagrada, Argenis, Mala Surete, Saltador, Paul London, Cortez Castro, Son of Madness, The Mack, Pimpinela Escarlata

For a unique opportunity, which could mean anything. Massaro gets superkicked out to start and the Rabbit Tribe dances around Madness as they are known to do. It actually works as they get together and toss him out, followed by Sagrada knocking Castro and Ryan off the apron for a double elimination. Yep it’s going to be one of those battle royals.

London thrusts his crotch at Escarlata so he bites said crotch and dumps Paul. Suerte and Saltador are out in a hurry, followed by Escarlata kissing Argenis and eliminating him, only to fall out as well. Black kicks Sagrada low (kind of difficult to do) and throws him out. Mack dumps Mundo and a Stunner gets rid of Black to give Mack the win at 3:32.

Rating: D-. I’m really not sure what to think of these battle royals where everyone is thrown out in the span of a few minutes. Most of the people were just there for the sake of being there and it’s not like Mack getting the win was a surprise, though the match was pretty much over before I had a chance to start caring about anything. I get that it’s the point but sweet goodness give it a few more minutes or have less dead weight.

Dario Cueto comes out to announce the unique opportunity: a Trios Titles match next week, but with Dante Fox and Killshot as his partners, assuming they’re still alive.

Catrina vs. Ivelisse

This was set up at the start of the season and we’re just supposed to remember why they hate each other (Catrina cost her her first two Ultima Lucha matches). Ivelisse sprints to the ring and the fight is on in a hurry. Catrina shows some fire though and slugs away into a standoff. Vampiro cheers for a wardrobe malfunction (they’re basically wrestling in swimsuits, which is far from a complaint) as Catrina runs into Dario’s office in a way to fill in some time.

Ivelisse follows her in and gets blasted with a bottle to draw some serious blood. Dario looks out as she carries Ivelisse up the steps and shuts the door in a good visual. A kick to the head knocks Catrina back down the steps and they get inside for a change of pace. Catrina scores with a spear and a double arm DDT before grabbing the stone. That earns her a spinebuster before Ivelisse takes the stone away and knocks her silly. A DDT ends Catrina at 6:17.

Rating: D+. This was far less of a match than it was a spectacle and there’s nothing wrong with that. Catrina has some in-ring experience but that was a long time ago so there’s no point in trying to do more than this. Ivelisse beating her was all that matters and it felt like a big fight, though I could have gone with a lot more. It’s a shame that Ivelisse was injured for so much of Lucha Underground as I would have loved to see what else she could have done.

Post match Crane runs in and hits Ivelisse’s ankle with a hammer, allowing Catrina to steal the stone again.

We run down the remaining card.

Fenix vs. Marty Martinez

Mask vs. Hair. They slug it out to start until Mariposa grabs Fenix’s leg. The distraction lets Marty grab a belly to belly superplex and send Fenix outside. They switch places in a hurry though and Fenix tries a dive, only to have Marty pull Mariposa into the way instead. That’s it for Mariposa and she’s out, with a double middle finger to Marty. Back in and Fenix kicks her in the head, only to get taken down again.

Marty rips half of the mask off but settles for a powerbomb instead. Fenix is dropped face first onto an exposed buckle and the blood is flowing again. A TKO gets two on Fenix but he’s right back with a rolling cutter onto the apron. The mask is pretty much worthless now as you can see half of his face, making it a glorified eye patch. There’s a Lethal Injection to drop Marty but he’s right back up with a running clothesline to put both guys down.

Marty goes up top for some reason, allowing Fenix to pull him back down with a Spanish Fly to knock both of them silly. They slug it out from their knees until Marty hits a running curb stomp for two more. That sends him over to a lunchbox to find some scissors. That’s enough to get Melissa onto the apron for a low blow, allowing Fenix to hit something like a Kinshasa to the back of the head. A springboard 450 with Melissa climbing on top as well ends Marty at 12:22.

Rating: B-. I can go for a match based on emotion and that’s what we had here. These two beat the heck out of each other than that’s all it needed to be. Fenix is one of the unsung heroes of this show and that’s a very valuable thing to have. The fans buy into him and want to see him win, especially with the Melissa stuff. Fun match here but the ending is what matters most.

Marty tries to bail but Mariposa blasts him in the head with something made of metal. She even handcuffs him to the railings and the big haircut ends the show.

Overall Rating: C+. This didn’t have the big match of last week but it was a better show top to bottom. We’re starting to get into the bigger stuff now and the second and third matches were more than enough to make this work. It’s a fun show, but you could cut out something like the battle royal and make it even better. The big time stuff starts next week though.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the Updated History of the Intercontinental Title in E-Book or Paperback. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2017/10/02/new-paperback-kbs-history-of-the-intercontinental-title-updated-version/

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

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

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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

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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