wrestling / TV Reports

Csonka’s Lucha Underground Review 1.27.16

January 27, 2016 | Posted by Larry Csonka
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Csonka’s Lucha Underground Review 1.27.16  

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Csonka’s Lucha Underground Review 1.27.16

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Gift of the Gods Title Match: King Cuerno defeated Champion Fenix @ 7:53 via pin [****]
For a Shot at The Lucha Underground Title: Ivelisse defeated Angelico and Son of Havoc@ 6:15 via pin [***]
Lucha Underground Title Match: Champion Mil Muertes defeated Ivelisse @ 4:37 via pin [**]


Last season, on Lucha Underground: Dario Cueto (his face eating brother Matanza) and Black Lotus were on the run, following Cueto tricking Lots into killing Dragon Azteca. When this happened, Cueto knew that he had started a war and the trio left with his money, his red bull and the promise of going to a new temple. With Cueto out of the picture, Catrina became the most powerful figure in the promotion. Her Disciples of Death had won the trios titles, while Mil Muertes has defeated Prince Puma to become the Lucha Underground Champion. Fenix, who had previously bested Muertes, walked away with the Gift of the Gods Title, which could give him a title shot, but was also something he could have to defend. King Cuerno hunted Fenix when the temple closed, Marty the Moth had kidnapped Sexy Star and teased the debut of his sister, while Pentagon Jr had finally found his master in Vampiro, and the season ended with a big question mark. If you want to get deeper into the history from season one, 411’s Wyatt Beougher has an extensive two –part primer here and here.

– We start with Vampiro in an insane asylum, being questioned by a doctor. It’s been 181 days since he had “an incident,” a nice homage to the Hulk. As the doctor questions him, he has flashbacks and visions of what he’s done in Lucha Underground. The doctor wants to give him some meds, and says he has to promise that he will avoid the people and places that trigger his impulses. Vampiro snaps, attacking the doctor and slamming his head off of the desk repeatedly. He then chokes out an orderly and eats the doctor’s spine. Alas, it was only a psychotic vision. Matt Striker then picks him up from the asylum, and Striker says they have an invitation to return to the Temple, but that it is a much darker place.

– Catrina is in her office, and speaks with Fenix, who has his Gift of the Gods title. She says she has the right to make him wait until next week to challenge for the title, if he still holds the title. Catrina informs him that King Cuerno has been hunting him for months, and wants a shot at the title. Mil Muertes will be watching, and we see him in his throne where the bandstand in the temple used to be.

Gift of the Gods Title Match: Champion Fenix vs. King Cuerno: As far as the talent in the ring and what they can bring, this was a good call for an opening match. Solid back and forth for the first minute, until Cuerno countered a baseball slide and hit a spike DDT on Fenix on the floor. Cuerno then followed with his suicide dive, which ended up getting a near fall. Fenix picked up the pace, hitting a lot of fast paced and flying moves. He hit a cutter for a near fall, sent Cuerno to the floor and then hit a big dive. The crowd is red hot for this, as Fenix hit a Kobashi like kick in the corner. He turned his attention to his old foe Muertes, which allowed Cuerno to fire back and connect with leaping kicks. Fenix fought back with a cutter, which he rolled into a dragon suplex; that was sweet. Cuerno escaped and worked the surfboard, and then sent Fenix to the corner. Fenix hit a double stomp to the back of the head of Cuerno, who was sitting on the buckles and got a near fall. Fenix went for rolling thunder, but was caught in the thrill of the hunt for 2! Cuerno then lit him up with chops and kicks in the corner. Fenix fought back, but missed a 450, allowing Cuerno to hit a jumping packaged tombstone to pick up the win.

That was an excellent opening match, with both guys working hard and effortlessly together. It’s one thing to go out there and do an exhibition style, balls to the wall match, it’s another to do it with great flow, keep the crowd and peak at the right time. They did that here. I’m not too hot on the title change right away as I personally would have preferred some build to it, but it did make sense. Cuerno had been hunting Fenix, and Catrina anted to screw him over because he had defeated Muertes previously and she wanted to keep him as far away from the title as possible.

– We see Angelico, Son of Havoc and Ivelisse arrive. The meet with Catrina, and they want their trios titles back. Muertes wants to see them fight each other, but they refuse to be torn apart. But Catrina says the winner of their match gets a Lucha Underground title shot tonight. They’re in. That’s a great mindfuck to make the former champions fight among themselves instead of going after her Disciples and the trios titles.

– Catrina then creeps on Melissa Santos, informing her of the new match.

– We see Cuerno with the Gift of the Gods title. Catrina tells him to remember their deal, and he says she and Muertes has nothing to worry about. Collusion!

For a Shot at The Lucha Underground Title: Angelico vs. Son of Havoc vs. Ivelisse: Nice to see Ivelisse healthy here. They all go for pinning combos early, and then have a standoff. Ivelisse hen lights up Angelico with chops and leg kicks. She slaps havoc and then hits a RANA on Angelico. Angelico tries to hit a running knee to Havoc, but destroys Ivelisse instead. Back and forth between Havoc and Angelico, Havoc over and Ivelisse with a high cross on Angelico, but Havoc breaks that up. Ivelisse then works kicks and chops to Havoc, enziguri to Angelico and the cover gets 2. Ivelisse sent to the floor, havoc and Angelico with back and forth and then the big dive by Havoc. One for Ivelisse as well. Havoc and Angelico back in, double stomp off the top and then the standing shooting star press gets a near fall. Ivelisse kept on the floor as Angelico and Havoc go up top. Havoc sends him to the mat but Ivelisse crotches him. She then rolls up Angelico to pick up the win. That was an overall strong and fun match, maximizing the strengths of all three and not going too long.

– We see some random guys driving, and Black Lotus appears. They are looking for the temple, and she tells them to come with her.

– Before the match, the Disciples of Death appear and beat down Angelico and Son of Havoc. They are able to take them down and then carry them to the back as Catrina had Muertes hold Ivelisse, forcing her to watch the beat down.

Lucha Underground Title Match: Champion Mil Muertes w/Catrina vs. Ivelisse w/Havoc and Angelico:Muertes shoves Ivelisse down right away, looking like a beast next to her. Ivelisse firs back with right kicks, but Muertes just shoves her to the mat again. The back breaker follows, as Muertes tries to bend her in half. Muertes just tosses her around, Ivelisse tries to fire back, but Muertes just tosses her across the ring. Ivelisse tries for what I guess is an arm bar, but Muertes tosses her down and says no way. Ivelisse manages to get a guillotine. But Muertes gets the bear hug before tossing her to the mat. Ivelisse tries a triangle, Muertes chokes her and picks her up, and she gets a hanging arm bar over the ropes. Ivelisse heads up top, Muertes over and Ivelisse manages a tornado DDT for a near fall. Catrina into the ring now, Ivelisse grabs her and the Muertes spears her by accident, allowing Ivelisse to get a cradle for 2. They are doing a good job giving her hope spots and getting the crowd invested. Muertes hits a powerslam and the flatliner, and that was that. They used the smoke and mirrors well here, making the fans care and delivering a solid match.

– Past match Muertes looked to do more damage, but former champion Prince Puma arrived and made the save. As they had a stare down, PENTAGON arrived and attacked Muertes. He hit the backstabber and then “broke” Muertes’ arm! We have a lot going on here in the major title scene, and I appreciate that.

– We see Lotus arrive at a warehouse with the guys from earlier. She took them to Dario Cueto, who says they have come to the right place. Lotus beats on one of the guys for asking a stupid question, and Cueto then charges them $20 a piece to get in. He then uses his key to open the door, and when they ask who is fighting, he says they are. We then hear the glorious sounds of Matanza killing these fools.

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

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“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia.”

9.0
The final score: review Amazing
The 411
Sweet baby Jesus, Lucha Underground is back and it was awesome. They have stayed true to themselves in episode one, using the great cinematics and storytelling from season one, while still delivering some great wrestling. Catrina and Muertes are in charge and ruling the roost, doing everything they can to keep the titles they have and also trying to screw over anyone that can be a threat to them by taking them out or making deals. Normally I would loathe the title change with no build, but the way it was done made sense and followed the already established stories. The Vampiro deal comes off as odd, he goes to an asylum and is now back as a commentator on medication. But his reaction, basically not knowing how to react when he protégé Pentagon Jr attacked Muertes, makes me think that there is more to the story as we move forward. And when yo build good will through storytelling and not insulting your fanbase, you're able to easier play the wait and see game. The most important thing was that everything had a purpose and felt important. The opener was absolutely great, and the show feels as fresh and creative as I remembered. This was a great start to the season.
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