Viva La Lucha Libre
Lucha Underground 1/14/15
Written by Mark Adam Haggerty
Welcome back tecnicos and rudos alike, it's your amigo Mark Adam Haggerty returning with another installment of the most consistent Lucha Underground review since the show's debut last year, it's "Viva La Lucha Libre!" Cue the mariachi band! This week's episode comes to us seven days after Prince Puma bested 19 other Luchadors to become the first-ever Lucha Underground Champion. What's next for Prince Puma and the rest of the competitors in Dario Cueto's Aztec Temple? Let's find out.
Just one week removed from the crowning of the inaugural Lucha Underground Champion and Dario Cueto is already plotting to strip Prince Puma of the belt. The show opens on Cueto in his misty office per usual, this time sitting across from a "tecnico," otherwise known in America as a babyface—Fenix. Fenix has been truly impressive since arriving in Lucha Underground, with an aerial arsenal second perhaps only to Prince Puma. Cueto tells Fenix that he sees big things in the masked man's future, that it's his destiny to be in the Lucha Temple. Fenix tells Dario that he doesn't fight for him, he fights for himself. He fights to be the best. Cueto laughs, reassuring Fenix that Puma's championship will be on the line. "Take the title," Cueto says, "And embarrass Konnan." It seems the bigger story is the power struggle between millionaire promotor Dario Cueto and AAA's unofficial ambassador Konnan. As Fenix agrees and the camera fades out, the mysterious Asian woman from weeks prior appears outside the window of Cueto's office. Who is she and what does she want with Lucha Underground and the championship title?
The opening contest will premier not one or two, but four brand new international stars to the Boyle Heights Temple. First is the Mexican Luchador Aerostar who according to the ring announcer hails from "the cosmos." Next is Argenis, a fellow luchador wearing a flowing white ceremonial entrance skirt of some kind. The third combatant is the virtually unknown South African talent Angelico. And finally is the long awaited debut of Brian Cage, known to his new fans on the El Rey Network simply as �Cage.' From the onset, the monstrous Cage is dominant until his three opponents are able to combine forces long enough to stand a chance. The match is off and running with the kind of intensity we've come to expect from Lucha Underground. Aerostar might look goofy with his full blue body suit and outer space persona, but he has no trouble leading the charge of high flyers—that is until Argenis turned Aerostar's own attempted handspring offense into an inventive German Suplex. The star of this match was Cage whose brute strength is unlike anything seen thus far in Lucha Underground. When his opponents utilize their strengths by attacking from the outside, Cage mitigates his own weaknesses by dragging them back into the ring. Cage grabbed Argenis who was standing on the arena floor and delivered a vertical suplex, landing them both in the center of the ring. The domination of Cage continued with a Jackhammer, of which Vampiro claimed, "I've never seen anything like that!" As the match continued without any eliminations, the aerial artistry of Angelico came into play as he achieved perhaps the highest air I've ever seen, after charging from one corner to the next and launching onto his three opponents on the outside of the ring. The high-risk offense of the luchadors and Angelico proved no match in the end for the unequalled intensity of Brian Cage. Proving himself by defeating all three of his opponents, Cage began by delivering a pump-handle face plant to Argenis. After achieving the first elimination, Cage proceeded to dominate his two remaining opponents; he power-bombed Aerostar into Angelico in the corner, subsequently eliminating Aerostar and setting the table for a one-on-one finale. Angelico's colorful showmanship might have helped him with the Lucha faithful inside the �Temple, but it did nothing against a final clothesline from cage, turning the scrawning South African inside-out. Following his impressive debut, Cage introduced himself in a matter of mere words, "They call me Cage. I'm not a man, I'm a machine."
After the high octane opening contest Chavo Guerrero arrives in the ring with two folding chairs in an attempt to slow things down for a second, and reconcile with the legendary Blue Demon Jr. Chavo tells the crowd that he made a mistake, he ruined the friendship between himself and Blue Demon. Not only that but he ruined the relationship between their two prestigious families. Chavo begs Demon to come to the ring to accept his apology, and soon Demon obliges. Blue Demon shows up wearing street clothes and a luchador mask which is common in Mexican promos but kind of jarring in Los Angeles, California. The intensity conveyed in the eyes of Blue Demon alone tell the story of an historic icon wronged by the usurper to the Guerrero name, Chavo Guerrero. Chavo asks Demon to sit, and begins to apologize, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry—for not exposing you as the fraud you are. I'm sorry I didn't rip that mask off your face." Chavo uses his sharp words to lull Demon into a rage, distracted to the fact that Chavo has now donned a set of golden brass knuckles. "I'm sorry I didn't replace your mask with a mask of your own blood!" But Chavo wasn't quick enough for the Luchador Legend Demon who attacked Guerrero before he could strike. After landing a series of punches, Demon took a page out of Chavo's book making use of his own "Amigo"—another steel chair, although this time used at Blue Demon Jr's discretion, first to the head of Chavo Guerrero Jr, and finally a wicked shot to the back, laying him out.
Another outstanding match to follow the interesting turn of events we just witnessed, pitting the long feuding foes Drago and King Cuerno against one another in one-on-one combat. After Cuerno's ceremonial entrance complete with the headdress of the fallen Buck, Drago makes his arrival and wastes little time in starting things off with Cuerno. Initially the speed of Drago proves to be too much for the Hunter, who is forced to take a breath before regrouping and trying to take things in a different direction. A table comes into play early on with a slew of misses and near-spots making its presence unnerving until the final moments of the contest. The excessive exploits removed from the ring soon gave way to more chairs, as a precedent was clearly set by Blue Demon Jr. Cuerno brandished the weapon and first slammed it against the ring post to display the effectiveness should it come in contact with Drago's skull. Cuerno was unsuccessful and instead Drago took advantage, turning Cuerno's lack of prowess outside the squared-circle into his ultimate downfall. The table lay within eyesight, sitting between the ring and Dario Cueto's office and Drago's only option was to ascend 18-feet into the crowd to end this once and for all. Drago positioned Cuerno on the table and climbed to the top of Cueto's office. The Lucha Underground fans were going insane as was Matt Striker who screamed, "Somebody's gonna die!" Drago leapt into the air and came crashing down through Cuerno and the table. The referee had no choice but to declare the match a draw, calling for the bell immediately.
The main event of the evening had a big match feel and rightfully so as Prince Puma was set to go one on one with Fenix for the highly sought after Lucha Underground Championship. I really like the title belt, even though it looks like a New York subway token. I'm really dating myself if I'm referring to SUBWAY TOKENS. It has a classic style that's reminiscent of both Mexican titles and championship belts of yesteryear. Fenix and Puma both received rave reactions from the fans and were met with an overwhelming reception when they decided to shake hands before starting things out. For all the critics he has to deal with, Matt Striker is a great play-by-play announcer; I could close my eyes for parts of this match and still know everything that was going on thanks to his clear broadcasting style. Prince Puma and Fenix begin this battle with a match of wits that serves to test their skills in a move-by-move game of chance. Almost like mirror-images to one another, both Luchadors knock their opponent to the outside leaving the victim susceptible to a suicide dive. The action heats up as camera's pan around the audience and pick up AAA’s Dorian Roldan watching with great interest. The faster the pace, the wilder the innovation as both Fenix and Puma land an unaccounted for number of forearm strikes and kicks to each other, leading Prince Puma to draw Fenix into a fireman's carry and drop him GTS-style on the point of his foot. The crowd is going berserk as Puma attempts his 630 splash only to come up short at 450, stopping himself in the process. Fenix rivaled Puma out of spite implementing his own 450-splash to a very close two-count, mere centimeters away from winning the championship. More elaborate chain wrestling makes way for another bout of strikes and reversals, ending with Fenix pile driving Puma out of a Dragon Suplex. Prince Puma is dazed and both individuals sell the situation and struggle to stand. Puma's only offense at this point is his ability to take to the sky; he leaps to the top rope while Fenix perches himself in the opposing corner. Fenix used his own momentum to run clear across the ropes toward Puma, only to be caught with a super kick, landing on the canvas below. Prince Puma shook the cobwebs and jumped in the air, this time making the correct number of rotations and landing a 630 senton splash for the 1-2-3—and still your Lucha Underground Champion, Prince Puma! Puma was successful in his first title defense, but the celebration would be short lived as the champion was soon down on the ground at the hands of Cage. The same man who single-handedly conquered three men earlier in the night arrived back on the scene for the champion. First he hit Puma with an extraordinarily forceful clothesline, followed by what I can only describe as an Alabama Slam into a clutch powerbomb into a release powerbomb. Cage isn't in Lucha Underground to perform flashy acrobatic moves—he's in Lucha Underground to win.
I was astonished at how great tonight's episode of Lucha Underground was. I've been wildly impressed with the show since its inception and I'm continuously overjoyed at the progress they make on a weekly basis. My assumption heading into this broadcast was that we might expect a downturn in quality coming off the heels of "Aztec Warfare." I'm pleased to report that I was not only wrong, but this could very well have been an even better show than that. I mean—Aztec Warfare was great, and featured everyone in the promotion, but it was only one match. Tonight's card had three unbelievable matches, a memorable showdown between Chavo Guerrero and Blue Demon, and the rise of a new monster in the "Machine" Cage. I challenge any other wrestling company on the planet to do what Lucha Underground has done on a weekly basis within the three months they've done it. It's truly remarkable. That is why ladies and gentlemen I continue to bring you "Viva La Lucha Libre" each and every week. It's more than just a job, it's a labor of love for a show and an industry that I'm incredibly passionate about. Until next time, my name is Mark Adam Haggerty reminding you to check out my other weekly reviews: "Honorable Mention" on ROH TV; "Highlight of the Night" about Raw; "What's Cookin' and What Doesn't Matter" for Smackdown; and "Total Nonstop Analysis" is Impact. Adios!
