Csonka’s Lucha Underground Review 5.13.15

Introduction
As a reminder, this will not be another traditional recap, but instead it will be a mash up of the Rs, Instant Analysis and my usual Twitter ramblings I would do during the shows; completely uncensored and as the ideas flow unfiltered to the old keyboard. Remember, this is a review; and I am here to review the show. As always, I encourage discussion and even disagreement, just do so in a respectful manner. I will be doing the review for Raw and most PPVs and iPPVs going forward.

Lucha Underground 5.13.15 – Episode 27: Ancient Medallions

OFFICIAL RESULTS
~ Aerostar defeated Jack Evans @ 8:28 via pin [***½]
~ Fenix defeated Sexy Star, The Mack, Killshot, Cage, King Cuerno and Pentagon Jr @ 10:14 via pin [****]
~ #1 Contender’s Match: Hernandez defeated Alberto El Patron @ 5:07 via pin [**]

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* We get a video package showing Hernandez and Patron’s path to tonight’s #1 contender’s match.

* Dario Cueto talks with his brother (the caged monster Matanza) and explains that he spent half of their father’s fortune to acquire the seven medallions of the seven Aztec tribes. When united, one warrior will become as powerful as the Gods themselves, and maybe even more powerful than Matanza. Starting tonight, the warriors in the temple will fight for these medallions.

Aerostar vs. Jack Evans: Aerostar’s last appearance was his loss to Drago, where Drago won their best of five series and Cueto’s unique opportunity. Jesus, things that make you feel old; Jack Evans has been wrestling for 15-years. They had a really fun opening stretch with a very fast pace and some wackiness off the ropes. It broke down into a more conventional match, with Evans controlling and Aerostar selling the knee (until he missed a dive and landed on his feet and posed like nothing was wrong). Evans did a good job of playing up his overconfident and cocky rudo persona to the crowd, and busted out some good stuff like the 450 off the ringside barricade/fencing. Evans missed a Phoenix splash, which then led to both fighting up top and Aerostar hitting a SICK Canadian Destroyer off the top rope for the finish. This was a really fun opening match, Evans was booked strongly here and Aerostar getting the win is fine because he was just going toe to toe with Drago. Evans certainly got over with the crowd, was made to look like a player and needed a super finisher to be put away. As the show’s opener, it certainly got thing off to the right start, I hated that Aerostar abandoned the knee and that Evans never really focused on it; tighten that up and it’s even better. This was certainly a good piece of business as far as introducing Evans to the Lucha Underground audience.

* Big Ryck counts some cash as The MACK comes to talk to him. Ryck is upset that they lost the trios titles, and feels that MACK is here to show off instead of making money. Ryck would whoop a family member’s ass for the right amount of money.

* Cueto announces that the wrestlers will compete for a piece of the Aztec medallions. If you earn one, you get a chance at immortality. The winner gets the first medallion.

Aztec Medallion Match: Fenix vs. Sexy Star vs. The Mack vs. Killshot vs. Cage vs. King Cuerno vs. Pentagon Jr: We have a nice mix of talent here with all kinds of history as opponents or partners. This was one of those matches that never pretended to be a traditional match; it was designed to be a wild athletic display, ala a Dragon Gate six-man or a scramble match. Cage and Cuerno worked together early as did MACK and Killshot, and the action was non-stop and simply put a ton of fun. It was one big move after another, which I felt worked as it was not only fun, but showed that each competitor wanted to win as quickly as possible to earn the mysterious medallion. Pentagon hit a Gory Bomb/package piledriver on Sexy and Fenix at one point, that man is so good. Fenix won with a reverse RANA and standing moonsault onto Pentagon. This was exactly what it needed to be, they all worked hard and it delivered. This is the kind of shit that I wish TNA would put on again when they toss out the random X-Division matches with 4-8 guys, it has its place on the card as long as all of the matches aren’t just like it. This was really, really great fun.

* Cueto meets with Angelico, Ivelisse, and Havoc. He is giving the Crew a shot at the trios title due to their tag team victory last week. Ivelisse is still hurt, so Cueto makes the match a ladder match. Angelico, Ivelisse, and Havoc are still gloriously dysfunctional.

* Fenix is in the locker room and Katrina appears. She informs his that he fell into her trap, and that is powers of 1,000 lives gave Muertes the life he needed. She then disappeared, and wacky LUCHA GHOSTS APPEARED!

#1 Contender’s Match: Alberto El Patron vs. Hernandez: You must win here via pin or submission. They worked a short back and forth match and it was good for the time that they worked their stuff. Johnny Mundo then appeared and attacked Patron. Obviously pissed from last week, he gave him the old Marty Jannetty and tossed him through one of office windows of El Jefe. This pleased Cueto as he celebrated with a drink. GREATEST MAN IN ALL OF WRESTLING. Mundo then tossed the bloodied Patron back into the ring and allowed Hernandez to score the easy victory. While I don’t always like a match of this importance to become more angle than match, this worked. They have been setting the stage for Mundo and Patron through their backstage segments. They have also been setting the stage for Puma vs. Hernandez since his arrival. Also, keeping this short keeps Hernandez looking good and doesn’t expose him yet as his weakness is long matches. If you’re going to go angle over wrestling this was really the way to do it.

* End scene.

* Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia.”

8.5

The final score: review Very Good

The 411

This was an excellent show. The first two matches gave us the great wrestling that we crave, but they also told their stories and did it well. We kicked off the hunt for the medallions (and got some background into that), and also discovered Katrina’s motivations in regards to the Fenix vs. Muertes feud. They set up the trios title match for next week in a ladder match, and also set everything up for Patron vs. Mundo and Hernandez vs. Puma; both feuds had been built well and make sense due t the way they have been laid out. Mundo going rudo is a nice change and I think he can thrive in the role in this promotion. This was a great hour of TV that flew by, it continues to be completely different than anything else being produced right now and I love it.