SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
Lucha Underground Report
February 17, 2016
Taped in Los Angeles, Calif.
Season 2 Episode #4 aired on El Rey Network
Report by Joel Dehnel, PWTorch contributor
The show opened with a video recap of the season premiere focusing on Ivelisse, Angélico, and Son of Havoc as well as Mil Muertes and the attacks from Prince Puma and Pentagon.
Backstage: Ivelisse walked into Catrina’s office. Ivelisse suggested that she face the Disciples of Death. Catrina denied her and said she has to face the other trios contenders. Ivelisse vowed that someday she would get her hands on Catrina and show no mercy.
Announcers: Vampiro welcomed the audience to the show. He said tonight Pentagon, Jr. will take on Prince Puma in the main event. Matt Striker then threw to the ring.
In-ring: Santos introduced Ivelisse, Angélico, and Son of Havoc. Their opponents are Chavo Guerrero and The Crew.
1 – IVELISSE & ANGÉLICO & SON OF HAVOC vs. CHAVO GUERRERO, JR. & THE CREW (MR. CISCO & CORTEZ CASTRO) — six-person tag match
Angélico started the match with Cisco. Angélico landed an armdrag, then tagged Ivelisse. Cortez came in and Ivelisse kicked him down. Cortez took her out and tagged Chavo. Ivelisse fought back and crawled for the tag. Cisco and Havoc tagged in, then Havoc hit a standing moonsault.
Chavo tripped Havoc on the ropes and Cisco and Cortez kicked Chavo down. Cisco hit a suplex, then Havoc took out Chavo. Cortez then climbed to the top and tagged Angélico, who hit a series of clotheslines followed by a flying knee. All three members leaped to the outside onto Chavo and the Crew. Then, Angélico stomped on Cortex for the win.
Post-match: Chavo argued with The Crew. Texano ran to the ring and took out The Crew while Chavo fled the ring.
WINNERS: Ivelisse & Angélico & Son of Havoc at 5:55.
[JD’s Reax: What makes Ivelisse think that after this victory Catrina will give her, Angélico, and Havoc a fair shot at the title?]
[Break]
Vignette: Johnny Mundo claimed that he is a huge star who has not been treated well. He talked about how he puts on five-star matches and steals the show. He said he deserves to be champion, but Cage is standing in his way.
[JD’s Reax: Yeah, well Johnny stealing the show and putting on five-star matches didn’t work out so well for Dolph Ziggler.]
Backstage: Joey Ryan interrupted Cortez and told him he took a beating. Joey Ryan said they have to convince people that they are luchadors. Joey said his match is up next.
[JD’s Reax: Wait, hold up. So, that was Cortez last week in the Police office? Joey just said that they need to pretend to be luchadors, but why was Cortez wrestling last season if he’s an undercover cop now. Is there a wrestling school at the police academy? Somebody needs to investigate this. (I have faith this will all be explained.)]
[Break]
In-ring: Santos introduced Joey Ryan to the ring. His opponent is Cage.
2 – JOEY RYAN vs. CAGE
Cage push Ryan into the corner, then Ryan fought back. Cage hit a clothesline, then a backbreaker. Cage ran into the post, which Ryan took advantage of. Ryan hit a dropkick, then went for a pin. Ryan continued to work the injured shoulder before kicking Cage.
Cage scoopslammed Joey, but missed a moonsault. Ryan hit a spinebuster, then Cage hit a pumphandle slam. Ryan knocked Cage to his knees, then hit a superkick. Cage blocked another superkick, though, and hit a powerbomb followed by a screwdriver for the win.
WINNER: Cage at 4:05.
Post-match: Johnny Mundo speared Cage from behind. Mundo went for the top then Cage caught him and hit the move Weapon X. Cage grabbed a mic and said he’s not a man, he’s a machine.
[Break]
Backstage: Rey Mysterio was training with El Dragon Azteca. Mysterio explained how he and the original El Dragon Azteca came together to start the Aztec fighting again but with only luchadors. Mysterio said Dario obsessed with the dark side and let a god inhabit his brother’s body. Mysterio said the two (El Dragon) parted ways and Dario sealed the treaty with dark magic. Mysterio said Dragon knew he was sacrificing his body so revenge is not an option. Mysterio said Dragon must unite the seven tribes.
[JD’s Reax: I’ll try to stick with the tribes and gods stuff, but I really don’t know how El Dragon Azteca is going to get seven tribes back together unless they hired Undertaker’s special effects crew. I think it’s cool Lucha Underground is trying to be different, but I don’t see how this gets settled for a title within a wrestling match. I think wrestling shows should be about wrestlers trying to get championships and gods getting together should be for a sci-fi drama show. If they can have it all make sense and revolve around wrestling not stealing a key from Dario in some warehouse, I can be content.]
Announcers: Striker said next week Mundo will face Cage in the main event.
In-ring: Santos introduced Prince Puma to the ring. Next out was Pentagon, Jr.
[Break]
3 — PRINCE PUMA vs. PENTAGON, JR.
Puma hit a huracanrana, then Pentagon shoulderblocked Puma. Pentagon rolled to the outside and tripped Puma, then threw him into the ringpost. Pentagon chopped Puma on the ropes, then kicked down Puma. Pentagon powerbombed Puma onto his knee, then hit a neckbreaker to gain momentum. Puma hit a springboard clothesline, then Pentagon rolled out again and Puma dove onto Pentagon.
On the outside, Puma kicked Pentagon then threw him into the ringpost. Puma went for a springboard, but Pentagon dropkicked him. Pentagon chopped Puma and went for a piledriver, but Puma escaped and hit a dropkick and a suplex.
Puma went to the top and Pentagon countered a 450 splash. Pentagon landed a superkick followed by a package piledriver. Pentagon locked in a submission, but the ref counted a three count with Pentagon’s shoulders on the mat.
WINNER: Prince Puma at 7:54. Pentagon thought he initially won, but Puma had his shoulders up and the ref counted Pentagon’s shoulders.
Post-match: Pentagon took out the referee, then Puma kicked Pentagon and went to break Pentagon’s arm but decided not to. Mil Muertes and Vampiro got very concerned but did not interfere.
Backstage: Sexy Star ran down a hall, but The Mack stopped her. Mack asked who did this to her and she said Moth. She pointed behind him and Mack very cheesily turned around.
FINAL THOUGHTS: Still don’t like the stalker slasher movie style of Sexy Star and The Moth. I think we are seeing a lot of the network influence on the show considering I just saw a very similar scene from “Nightmare on Elm St.,” which was on right before Lucha Underground. I can totally dig the grindhouse influence, but this feels too much for a wrestling show.
Puma and Pentagon put on top-notch work, not doing a bunch of worthless spots for “this is awesome” chants. Both of these guys should be in NXT right now because they really are that good. Pentagon is kind of a tweener right now because he gets cheered a little bit and broke the arm of Mil Muertes, but he could be a heel or face – he’s that talented. Triple H passed up on Puma, but I think he will reconsider one day and offer Pentagon a deal as well. Regardless, both guys are doing nice work in LU and I loved that they built to this match for four weeks. It makes you really excited to finally see it instead of it just happening with no build.
SUMMARY RESULTS: (1) Ivelisse & Angélico &Son of Havoc beat Chavo Guerrero, Jr. & The Crew… (2) Cage pinned Joey Ryan… (3) Prince Puma defeated Pentagon, Jr.
NO, it was revealed Castro Cortez has been an undercover cop the entire time he has been in Lucha Underground because the police are looking to bust Dario Cueto.