Lucha Underground premiered last night on the El Rey Network. В Here are the results from the show:
Lucha Underground: Episode
Lucha Underground Temple
Boyle Heights, California
- Backstage segment where an unknown man is being attacked by several other mystery men. The setting is very dark, so you can’t really tell who and what is going on. An unknown masked man enters and makes the save, he fights off the attackers and leaves them laying with a barrage of lucha moves and strikes. He extends his hand to the man that was being attacked. The segment is kinda odd, and this doesn’t help, as he then asks him if he knows the history of Lucha Libre. Then there is some weird flashback sequence showing Aztec warriors fighting some kind of battle. The man talks about the legacy that Lucha Libre over the past 100 years, as they show a slideshow of photos of lucha stars. Then they cut to a clip from AAA's TripleMania where Dario Cueto announced that he was inviting all luchadores to come and fight for him in his temple in the United States. The camera then showed aerial shots of the "Lucha Underground Temple" before finally cutting ringside, where they debut Matt Striker and Vampiro as the announcers for the show.
- Matt Striker welcomes everyone and thanks them for being part of the change that is about to take place. Vampiro says that it's going to be something different than usual.
-В Dario Cueto isВ introduced and says that he is the owner and promoter of Lucha Underground and that he has invited the luchadores to come fight in his temple. Cueto then saysВ that this is not a promotion where children can cheer for their heroes, but is a temple that honors the lucha traditions of honor, respect and his personal favorite, violence. Cueto saysВ that whicheverВ luchador impresses him the most will get a $100,000 bonus. He says thatВ they will get the money tonight and that this was their chance to get rich or die trying. В He hypes the first matchВ sayingВ that itВ will feature men who have lucha libre in their blood.
-В Blue Demon Jr. defeated Chavo Guerrero Jr.
This match started out with both men feeling the other out. В Lots of mat wrestling and technical work shown by both men. В Eventually the action picks up when Demon connects with a nice flying tilt-o-whirl headscissor take down, and followed it up with a nice baseball slide kick that connects on Chavo. В Blue Demon takes control of the match, and locks in a headlock, but Chavo counters and executes a nice DDT on Demon. Blue Demon is tossed to the outside, and Chavo follows right up with a cross body to the floor. Chavo rolls Blue Demon Jr. back into the ring, and climbs up to the top ropes but Blue Demon cuts him off and knocks him down to the mat. В Blue Demon Jr then climbs up to the top himself, and attempts a front roll, but Chavo moves out of the way. В Chavo then picks Demon up and hoists him up to the top rope and tries to lock in a triangle choke, but Blue Demon reverses and drive Chavo hard into the mat with a powerbomb. В Demon grabs Chavo and locks in a sharpshooter type submission hold, and Chavo taps.
Winner: Blue Demon Jr.
- We cut backstage to Dario Cueto in his office with Konnan. He thanks Konnan for coming and says that he wants Konnan to work for him. Konnan says that he doesn't know about working for Cueto, but that he definitely wants some of that money that Cueto has been throwing around. Konnan says that Cueto wants the best wrestlers and he has one that's right from this "barrio". Cueto said that he doesn't know about the best, because he's signed one who has been all over the world under many names. Now that he is in his temple, he'll be known as Johnny Mundo. Cueto says that he signed him to make an example out of him. He says that Mundo doesn't respect his temple, and is here for the money and fame. Cueto then tells Konnan that if his man is as good as he says, then Konnan will have to have his guy make an example of Johnny Mundo.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
- Striker and Vampiro hype the debut of Johnny Mundo. В They say that he hasn’t competed in three years. В The camera cuts backstage, where we see Johnny Mundo doing pull-ups, getting ready for his match. В Vampiro talks about the man Mundo faces tonight, Prince Puma. В Vampiro says that Puma could be the man that changes Lucha.
- The cut to a video package that shows Prince Puma training with Konnan. В Konnan talks about the importance of the mask to a luchador. В He says that Puma was born to be the best fighter, that he goes back to the ways of the aztecs.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
Son of Havoc (Matt Cross) В vs. В Sexy StarВ
- A video package is shown on Sexy Star. В It shows some of her career highlights, and focuses on why she fights and wears a mask.
- Before the match Son of Havoc takes the microphone and says that he will NOT wrestle a woman. В Havoc tells Sexy Star to leave the ring. В Sexy Star plays up to the crowd, and leaves the ring. В While Son of Havoc has his back turned to her however, she rushes back in and attacks him from behind. В She throws strikes to the back of Havoc, but he throws her off. В She keeps fighting back as best she can, but Son of Havoc has the advantage. В He attempts a moonsault but misses. В Sexy Star capitalizes and executes a hurricanrana, taking Son of Havoc down. В Sexy Star goes on the offensive, but Havoc counters her attacks with front slam. В Sexy Star continues to fight back though, as she gains control and connects with a cross body from the top. She covers, and Havoc kicks out at 2. В Son of Havoc now back up and has the upper hand in the match. В He scoops her up and hits a backbreaker. В Son of Havoc makes the cover, he uses the tights and gets the 3!
Winner: В Son of Havoc (Matt Cross)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
- Chavo Guerrero Jr. is sitting on a bench in the backstage area. В Dario Cueto shows up and begins to confront Chavo about his loss earlier in the night to Blue Demon Jr. В Cueto says that Chavo will not be the one that receives the money tonight. В He then says that next week an opponent will come and conquer all.
- Johnny Mundo makes his entrance. В It is very similar to his old WWE entrance.
- Prince Puma and Konnan make their way to the ring next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
Johnny Mundo (John Morrison) В vs. В Prince Puma В (Ricochet) with Konnan
The match starts, and both men look for a chance to strike. В They begin to exchange stiff kicks back and forth on each other, Mundo eventually knocks Puma to the mat, but Prince Puma no sells and kips up back on his feet. В Both men lock up, and struggle to get the upperhand, they roll around and take the other down, and a couple near falls happen. В All real fast quick action that is hard to keep up with. В Mundo tired of the sequences and exchanges, exits the ring to regroup. В Prince Puma teases a ring dive, which sends Mundo out of the way, and back into the ring. В Mundo slings Puma into the ropes, Puma bounces off and Mundo drills him with a spinning kick. В Puma goes down, and rolls out of the ring to safety. В Mundo follows him outside, andВ throwsPuma back into the ring. Puma is quick to his feet, and as Mundo is on the ring apron attempting to get back into the ring, he is caught with a nice drop kick by Prince Puma. В Mundo crashes to the floor, and Puma then hits a front flipping plancha over the ropes crashing down onto his opponent. В Prince Puma then locks Mundo in a reverse triangle choke. В They continue to fight outside the ring and around the ring table. Johnny Mundo gets the advantage when he sends Puma into the ring corner.
The crowd breaks out in a “This is awesome!” chant.
They make it back into the ring, Mundo sinks in a headlock, Puma counters however, stiff kick on Mundo and both men are down again. В Puma is up and takes control of the match now. Puma is fired up. В He connects with a cross body jumping over the ropes taking Johnny Mundo down. В Puma is up quickly, and hits a standing shooting star press on Mundo. В Puma hooks the leg, and only gets a 2 count. В Puma lifts Mundo up, and takes him over to the corner. В Mundo counters, and and now has control over Puma in the corner. В Mundo connects with multiple clotheslines in secession, and follows that up with a flying heel kick. В Puma back up quickly, and goes for a school boy rollup, only gets a 2 count on Mundo. Johnny Mundo back up quick after the kick out, and comes off the ropes and connects with a kick to the head of Prince Puma off the ropes. В The action is picking up, they are bringing it home it looks like. В Both men are back up, and Puma attempts a sunset flip but Mundo counters. В Puma is back up, and charges at Mundo and connects with a big flying knee to the face. В Mundo is down, and Puma scales the turnbuckle and perches on the top rope. В Puma leaps off and attempts a 450 splash but Mundo moves out of the way, and Puma misses crashing hard to the canvas. В Johnny Mundo is up and hits a beautiful moonlight splash, he makes the cover, but Prince Puma kicks out at 2. В Johnny Mundo is hot, he picks Puma up and connects with the C4 and follows it up with End of the World. В Mundo makes the cover, 1….2….and 3!
Winner: В Johnny Mundo (John Morrison)
- After the match Johnny Mundo celebrates in the ring.
- Dario Cueto makes his way to the ring with the briefcase full of money. В Cueto congratulates Johnny Mundo in the ring, and says that he Johnny earned the money. В BUT, he is not going to give Mundo the money. В This cues several wrestlers (including former WWE star Ezekiel Jackson) to rush the ring and attack Mundo and Puma. В Dario says that this is not only do luchadors come here, so do fighters.
My Take: В It was a nice change of pace to what you are accustomed to seeing on TV. Felt a lot like the Wrestling Society X project that ran on the MTV networks awhile back. В I enjoyed the fact that the matches were uninterrupted, and that they placed the commercials in between matches and segments. В I think the crowd will get more comfortable and into the show after they get a few episodes deep in taping. В Right now everything seemed kinda forced with crowd chants and cut shots. В But overall it was fun and I enjoyed the show. В I look forward to seeing how things go from here.
Here is a 5 Minute highlight package showing the best of the first episode of Lucha Underground.
