Lucha Underground Season 2 debuts tonight.

[El-P]

I guess you're right, she was back on screen at episode 19.

 

Hey, I'm not one to talk about ugly people, but damn, who the fuck is Daga to refuse the advances of Cobra Moon ? If anyone needs a mask, it's him (those ears, damnit !).

 

Matanza vs Cage was a very good bomb throwing power workers match. I like the fact they didn't garbaged it up at all and kept it inside for the most part, felt very different from the Muertes matches. Cage is dubious with his selling, but he did grew on me that season (the new look helps, he doesn't look like a High Voltage tribute anymore). Matanza's legit feat of strenghts are quite awesome, I always loves that (Backlund fan). That reverse powerslam is insane, and it's not a stupid looking move unlike a lot of "creative" stuff. Thus far, Matanza has totally delivered, and I say that as someone who's never a fan of that kind of character.

[El-P]

Nunchucks match + 12 men/women tag match = ridiculously fun episode. The build-up to Ultima Lucha will be cool. I know it has probably been spoiled already, but I guess we're going toward Rey vs Puma, Pentagon vs Matanza, Cuerno vs Muertes for the big matches. Sounds exciting to me. And yeah, Black Lotus storyline is going on again.

[El-P]

That Six to Survive match was ridiculously fun and the last part was legit epic. I don't even mind the ridiculous spots at this point (it goes with the territory and stuff like the triangle chop series was even described in the comentary as "ego taking over as they want to get pops from the crowd", which I thought was a nice touch without going all meta), plus they sold their asses off and the finishers are treated like actual finishers (as opposed to stuff you kick out of just because it's the formula aka "WWE self-conscious epic"). It's pretty obvious these two (Pentagon Jr. and Fenix) are brothers when you see them against one another, they look similar physically and they have a way to move around that just betrays their blood link. Loved it.

[SomethingSavage]

I'm glad they intentionally kept Prince Puma silent up until he had something significant worth saying. The challenge to Rey felt like a legit "big time" moment. I'd put it right up there with Alberto's original, fired-up babyface promo as their best in-ring talking segments. I realize they don't do much of those, but that's part of the charm. It's totally refreshing.

 

This past week's show was phenomenally fun from start to finish. I caught it with some casual friends for a change, and I can tell ya - that only added to my enjoyment. So yeah. I may overrate a couple of things this week, so sue me.

Cuerno versus Muertes wasn't much, but it was a fun sprint nonetheless. I love that Muertes showed up for a fight - with a serious sense of urgency and intensity. This guy didn't look like he came to perform or put on the "match of the night." He looked like he'd just as gladly be facing Cuerno outside in an alley or behind a bar. I normally don't agree with booking two guys against each other so soon before a supposed blow-off this way, but the finish makes sense for where they wanted to go next.

 

Dario continues to KILL IT in everything he does. His "I feel like a lee-ttle kid waiting for thee Christmas mornting" line was great. The dude's enthusiasm and sheer joy in performing this part just leaps out and back-fists you in the face. Plus he was tremendous in that backstage bit with the ladies. Just a total boss with the type of presence that demands and commands attention, right away.

 

And Taya's teeth. Yikes. The chick's got the chompers of a barn-yard animal, but DAMN if she can't fill out a skintight dress like nobody's bidness, if yeww wheel.

 

That Puma and Dragon Azteca Jr. bout was a truckload of fun, too. High-octane, high energy, and heavy artillery from bell to bell. BIG BOMBS dropped left, right, front, and center. The cynic in me is concerned that they may have set the bar TOO high here, but what's done is done. I love me some Rey Jr., and I have absolute faith that he'll know what to do & how to do it - in terms of making the Ultima Lucha encounter unique and distinct enough unto itself.

 

As far as THIS went though? Supremely fun stuff. Puma literally snatching Azteca out of thin air off that suicide dive was a CRAZY cool visual. I'm an avid weightlifter, and I just had to CRINGE when I saw that spot. I instantly wanted to wince and stretch out my lower back. It's actually amazing that guys like Puma can keep such springs in their legs while still packing the power to pull off this sort of stuff. Not sure how Puma often feels after some of these more taxing matches, because the guy does some wild things that should wreck & ruin his joints. He's GOT to wake up some days and feel like he just got hit by a truck. Twice.

 

Azteca's flipping cannonball bomb thing(?) from the turnbuckle was awesome. I don't remember alllll the specifics of the rest of the match - other than both guys busting out the BIG MOVEZ and really bringing the athleticism. Total crowd-pleasing, fan-favorite style match.

 

Maybe it isn't for everyone, and I get that. But it was pure fun, and I'd say it hit the mark in terms of what it needed to be & do. Sets the stage very well for the Puma and Rey showdown, puts Puma over big time, and keeps Azteca on the radar as a rising star for them.

 

Of course Vamp took the chance to put himself over a bit on commentary, but I *did* like the comparison he drew to himself and Pentagon Jr. alongside Rey Jr. and Horus. Thought that was a nice touch.

 

Fenix versus Mundo was entertaining as well. Kind of felt overshadowed by the previous match, and perhaps it would have been better reserved for a separate night. But, as it stands, it delivered some exciting action and cool visuals. Fenix's kicks looked a little more on point than usual, and Matt Striker is right. Johnny's chemistry with Taya is off the charts.

Surprised we got another cheap finish on the same show, and I really wish they would have gone with a low blow instead of the belt shot. Thought for sure the groin attacks were going to be a staple for Mundo and friends - and they still might be. I don't care for the "Worldwide Underground" name for their group though. Just sounds incredibly empty from such a creatively strong company.

[El-P]

Dario continues to KILL IT in everything he does. His "I feel like a lee-ttle kid waiting for thee Christmas mornting" line was great. The dude's enthusiasm and sheer joy in performing this part just leaps out and back-fists you in the face. Plus he was tremendous in that backstage bit with the ladies. Just a total boss with the type of presence that demands and commands attention, right away.

 

Fuck yes. Dario is ridiculously great. The bit with the women, especially once Catrina did her disappearing act, was total pulp.

And pretty much agree with everything said about the matches too. Ultima Lucha is gonna be so much fun to watch. This Season Two has been twice as fun as Season One.

[El-P]

The two first garbage match of Ultima Lucha were insanely fun. This is ECW mixed with IWA Japan mixed with the LU pulp taste. That bar fight was ridiculous in a good way. Gotta love how beer spilled on the floor played a role in the ending of the first match too. After that, the final was kinda anticlimatic and too clean, but they worked it the way they should in that they were already spent. The surprise was neat I guess, but I'm not too sure what they'll do with a 50 year old guy in the future. Dario is a wonderful asshole.

[El-P]

The Gft of the Gods match was a fun clusterfuck which really got together in the last stage, with Sexy Star facing her old enemies Mariposa and his creep brother Marty. I'm not a big fan of Star, I don't find her work compelling at all (not even that good to be honest) and the character in itself leaves me cold, but you gotta dmit they did a much better job with her in term of feminism and not giving a shit about gender than WWE's transparent "Diva revolution" this year. Marty & Mariposa did work well with her at the end, making a single punch mean more than any big spot you can think of.

 

Mil Muertes gets another one under his belt. Although less crazy than some of his big matches, this deathmatch (really a garbage brawl) with Cuerno was very good, with a quicker, more "babyface"-like Muertes. Tha shall not fuck with Catrina, I guess is what you should get out of this match. One lucky bastard in teh front row ended up with the hottest woman in wrestling on his lap. One thing I really like about LU is that they treat death spots as such and not just vehicules to get cheap pops. When a guy gets destroyed, it's for good.

 

Also, I guess Mr. Cisco's contract with LU wasn't renewed for Season 3.

[El-P]

The trios match was a really fun opener for the Ultima Lucha Dos.

 

However, I thought the whole Black Lotus debut felt flat, as it basically was used as a backdrop for Pentagon Dark showing up. I guess the whole Black Lotus vs Angel Azteca Jr. feud will happen in Season Three now. Better do something special with it, as this has been built forever. She seems like a fine worker, but hard to judge on just what was done there. They don't give a fuck about gender anymore I guess. Good for them.

Pentagon Dark vs Matanza was a good little match, but nothing spectacular and comapred to the previous Matanza title defense and considering this was the title match on the final show, I'd call it a minor disapointment for not being an over the top bloody brawl, which I expected. Still, good match. Matanza has been a total success to me, which I didn't expect. The guy wouldn't fare well in WWE because of his size, call it the Tazz-syndrome, but in this setting, he's quite the monster.

[El-P]

On the other end, Taya vs Ivelisse was much better than I expected, good brawl between the two. I've grown to love Taya, no one wears Berzerker's boots like she does, and I find her rodent little teeth adorable. Plus you can see she's got strong basics (gotta credit Lance Storm I guess). The ending saw the sexiest run-in ever. Well, not run-in, rather, Catrina appeared like Sabu (yeah, fuck anyone who doesn't love this) to deliver the greatest lick of death she's done thus far. Hey, more of this shit in Season Three, I'm fucking there.

[El-P]

Rey Mysterio Jr. vs Prince Puma. MOTYC. What ? Wanna play-by-play wanker analysis ? A podcast maybe ? Watch the fucking match ! And yeah, movez, motherfuckers. I'll love the day when Ricochet gets signed to WWE (because he's money if anyone is) and we get the old "he must learn how to work" bit. And Rey. Well, what to say about Rey ? 41, banged up body, barely any knees, and he had that match in him. A Top 10 best wrestler ever if there's one. This was the dream match the two years of Lucha Underground manage to produce, and it delivered from a to z. Great job people.

Oh, and that post-match. I guess Vampiro has a clause in his contract that forces him to bleed like a pig at every Ultima Lucha show.

 

Oh, ad that cliffhanger !!! I saw *that* smile coming. Dario is da boss.

 

This is also the proof that today, pro-wrestling should be a seasonal serie (not a neverending flow of dullness boredom like the last 16 years that WWE gave us).

 

Thank you Lucha Underground for that 40 years old fan having fun watching again, for a while.