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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Famous B. is still ring announcer.

Jake Strong vs. Drago

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

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

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

XO Lishus vs. Jack Evans

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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