Ok it’s time for a long overdue blog! First of all I’d like to apologise for the delay, I know it’s been a while since I wrote my last blog but those of you who know me, know that I have had quite a lot of stuff going on both good and unfortunately bad. But it’s all under control, I’ve turned the corner and I’m here with another blog 🙂
What is this blog? Well those of you who know me know that 99% of my best mates all like wrestling as I detailed in a blog back in January I described it as a soap opera for men. Now as you know when a new soap opera comes out naturally the intruege is to check it out and see what it’s about, that’s why this blog is about a new wrestling promotion called ‘Lucha Undergroud’. So I thought I’d do an impartial review about this new promotion and see what it’s all about. So this blog is for my mates Greggo, @ellis57mark, @maninadress2013 and Matty!!
So what is Lucha Underground? Lucha Underground is well exactly what it says on the tin. It’s a federation comprising of some of the biggest Mexican wrestlers from AAA (their version of WWE) and independent wrestlers from the American scene. There are some familiar faces that the casual viewers of WWE will recognise. They do battle in what can almost be described as a scene from fight club, a dirty old school almost fit pit style. However the arena does not do the competitors justice as they use the ‘Lucha’ style of fighting. Now for those of you who don’t know what that means, it means they are basically high flyers, acrobatics, skilled ariel artists. Now if you’re thinking ‘Didnt wrestlers just pretend to hit each other in the face?’ well you’d be wrong.
I’m not gunna lie I’ve seen a little bit of Lucha before and the best way to describe it is as a modern day version of ECW. ECW? Really? Yes really if you don’t believe it, check it out for yourselves. Anyway on to my review. For this review I decided to review the latest show I could get my hands on. This was the episode from March the 11th and now on to my review!!
The show immediately opens with shots of the crowd where we are greeted by our announcers, fromer WWE announcer Matt Striker and cult wrestling icon Vampiro. Straight away I’m intrigued by this combo as in WWE Matt Striker was a clean cut almost Ned Flanders style commentator and Vampiro was the opposite, think hardcore wrestling then multiply it by 10 and you got Vampiro.
Matt Striker is wearing a leather jacket flanked by a Mexican band? What kind of show is this? You wouldn’t get caught dead seeing this in WWE. We are then told that this weeks main event will be none other than a steel cage. Now for those of you who don’t know, a steel cage is a steel structure that encompasses the ring. The only way to get out is to climb over the top or through the door. Pinfalls do not count in a steel cage, two men enter and only one man leaves. Anyway back to the review.
The action then goes back to Vampiro who gives us a run down of the upcoming matches, whilst doing so the crowd is chanting and getting fully engaged. You don’t get this kinda involvement in any of the big promotions, this is what’s missing from pro wrestling if you ask me. Fan engagement not muscly meatheads shoved down our throats. The shot then pans to the ring announcer (who is smoking!) who introduces the first match. Pentagon Jr vs Argenis.
MATCH 1 – Pentagon Jr vs Argenis
First up I’m struck by Pentagon Jr’s outfit, he looks like a bad character from Mortal Kombat mixed with skeletor for He-Man. Immediately the crowd are engaged chanting for both wrestler alike. As for the actual match itself, we are treated to a fast packed match full of action. Most of the moves that take place are unfortunately banned in WWE , so to see luchadors performing to their maximum ability without any restrictions is something that is refreshing and has not been seen since TNA had it’s old style x-division matches about 10 years ago. Highlights of this match include Pentagon Jr’s modified piledriver and dive into the crowd. The match ends when Pentagon Jr showing no regard for his opponent, locks in an arm bar for a submission finish. There is a post match beatdown, which further cements this guy as one of the up and coming heels. How would I rate the match? I’d say the match was short but ok, I’d give it a 2 out of 5 if only for the crowd’s engagement, if the match was longer and less one sided it may have got a 4 out of 5 in my eyes. As for the wrestlers? Argenis I’m sorry mate but I see you as a glorified mexican jobber you’re just to small and to bland, think Rey Myseterio but minus the personality as for Pentagon Jr, truth be told he was a bit sloppy but if he polishes up his finishing to go with his persona and outfit this kid could go far.
Check out this guys moveset he’s gunna be big one day
Outside of the action in the ring, I was damn impressed by the commentating, to goes to show what a big part of the story telling that the commentators are responsible for and by not having them scripted and allowing them to work freestyle how much better it can be. Matt Striker surprised me, well done Matt!
Post match we are then shown a quick promo for tonight main event featuring none other than Johnny Mundo aka John Morrison. John Morrison remember him? The next big thing in WWE who was one half of Miz and Morrison. Well he’s baaaaaaaaaaack and in Lucha Underground!
Another promo is then shown showing an attractive woman and some unknown wrestler. I missed what was said to be honest as when a Hispanic women speaks I’m just like hummana hummana hummana. We then go to a third promo which is dark and gritty with shadowed wrestlers, but wait who’s that in the background? It’s Konnan. For those of you who don’t know Konnn he is a legendary Mexican wrestler who has performed in WWE, WCW, ECW and TNA. So in the first 10 minutes we’ve had ex WWE wrestlers Matt Striker, John Morrison and Konnan, who next Ezekiel Jackson? From a production perspective I have to say I was impressed, they kept it simple and natural where WWE’s promo’s always seem too scripted this seemed scripted but not as scripted if that makes sense?
We then go a weird montage of a mexican wrestler in a pick up truck, the purpose of this I’m not entirely sure to be honest I found it a little confusing to be honest. Anyway now for match number two and back to that smoking ring announcer! Wait a minute who’s that in the ring he’s not from South Africa it’s Chris Sabin! Yes Chris Sabin who was in TNA and they’ve given him some lame name like Angelico, come on if you got Chris Sabin wrestling for you at least play off his name, this guy can wrestler. Anywho his opponent is ALEX SHELLEY MCMG REUNION!!! Nah I’m kidding you it’s just some man called Ivelisse. Wait a minute did I say man I meant WOMAN. It’s time for an intergender match. As for Chris Sabin it’s not actually him but some guy from South Africa, man those two look very similar I’m thinking long lost twins even their ring gear is the same.
MATCH 2 – Chris Sabin’s twin oops I mean ‘Angelico’ vs Ivelisse
The commentators start by saying. ‘We can beat you around the head by telling you about gender equality or we can bring you the best competition’, and I agree I’d much rather see a match between two talented wrestlers that is done SAFELY I’d like to add rather than another squash match featuring a muscly meathead. A special referee is then announced it’s ‘Son Of Havoc’ Ivelisse’s boyfriend, this does not not look good for Chris Sabin’s twin. The match itself features lots of take downs and acrobatic arial moves, however the main point of this match was the ongoing flirtation between the two competitors and the tension between Ivelisse and her boyfriend the guest referee Son of Havoc. I expect this storyline to be revisited down the line with an eventual face turn for Ivelisse. I’m thinking The Hardy Boys and Lita 2.0 with this storyline.
How would I rate the match? I’d say the match was short but ok, I’d give it a 3 out of 5 if only for the crowd’s engagement, if the match was longer and less one sided it may have also got a 4 out of 5 in my eyes. As for the wrestlers? Angelico I see great potential in him, expect him to get picked up by WWE’s developmental scene NXT sometime soon but unfortunately rather than fulfill his potential I see him wasting his years before getting released and disappearing. The same could be said for Ivelisse if I was those two I’d ditch Son Of Havoc (Sorry Havoc) and goto ROH as the new ‘Team Extreme 2.0’ add another high flyer and there you go everyone wins well except Havoc lol!
Another promo is then shown with the same Hispanic women from earlier with legendary Mexican wrestler Mil Muertes hyping a coffin match between him and the wrestler shown earlier. If I was the first wrestler I really would not want to face Mil Muertes he makes Pentagon Jr look like a care bear.
We then go back to the commentators who are hyping the main event between Johnny Mundo (John Morrison) and King Cuerno. Again the crowd is still lively and into the event
MATCH 3 – Johnny Mundo vs King Cuerno
They have added the pinfall stipulation into this match, which I’m a kinda lil dissapointed about, but hey I’m sure the action will still be good. King Cuerno is the first to the ring and Im laughing. Why am I laughing? He has a deer head on his head, I mean why?? Cuerno is worshiping this dear head almost like The Undertakers urn. Why a deer? Maybe we will find out one day. The music is ominous and it’s clear from the outset that he is the heel. Out comes Johnny Mundo sporting the same ring attire and entrance from WWE it’s almost like the John Morrison of old. The match was not what I was expecting rather than it being a usual John Morrison highlight reel it had more of a slugfest feet the ending coming when Johnny hit a dive from the top of the cage.
How would I rate the match? I’d say the match was ok but not fast paced enough for my liking, I’d give it a 3 out of 5 it was good to see Johnny let off his leash but I’d have like to have seen it more. The company is obviously playing off his WWE character so let him run with it, show more of the moves we know he can do and don’t let him hold it back. I don’t think Johnny should go back to WWE as his talents would be wasted, if I was him I’d have him go to NJPW to take on The Bullet Club or go to ROH. It’s not a knock on his talents, it’s more a knock on companies not knowing how to book him. As for King Cuerno I see him doing really well in AAA he has that typical AAA look and persona.
So what were my overall thoughts on the show? If you were a die hard WWE or even TNA fan you may not appreciate the lack of pyro and production quality but to the die hard wrestling fan you’d like it. It’s like I said it reminded me of old school ECW and to a lesser extent TNA when it first came out when it was about no limits rather than weight limits. It helps it’s also the only non PG televised wrestling show, I know there are other federations who are no PG too but not to the same extent and on the same level. So to summarise if you’re fed up with the PG era of WWE and want to watch some lucha style wrestling with elements of hardcore thrown in I’d definitely give it a go. Will it rival WWE? No! TNA? No! ROH maybe one day but that’s just my views you’ll have to check it out for yourselves.