Eiji Ezaki, best known as Hayabusa, passed away on Thursday from bleeding on the brain. He was just 47.
Ezaki started as the masked Hayabusa in Mexico in 1993 and came back to Japan in 1994 as the FMW representative in the Super J Cup. Hayabusa was the best flying wrestler in the promotion, an innovator in his era, and grew to be the top star in the promotion after the retirement of Atsushi Onita. He also used the name H.
He had remained the top star in FMW until he suffered a career ending broken neck when he slipped on the ropes doing a quebrada (the same move Chris Jericho uses as the lionsault) in a 2001 match with Mammoth Sasaki at Korakuen Hall. The injury left him paralyzed. After wrestling he attempted to make it as a singer while working in a wheelchair.
He was eventually able to walk and last year in a public appearance in front of many of the biggest stars in wrestling like Genichiro Tenryu, Kenta Kobashi and Keiji Muto, he got out of his wheelchair and was able to, with the aid of a cane, walk to the ring.
The show starts with a recap of the Sexy Star-Marty the Moth feud. We see Catrina’s issues with Puma and her closing the casket on Konnan at the end of Ultima Lucha. Catrina’s vignette with Pentagon Jr. is shown as well, while her issues with Cuerno are recapped since he lost to Fenix. Tonight, Cuerno battles Fenix once again – in a ladder match for the Gift of the Gods Title. In a temple, Mil Muertes prays and says that he listened to Catrina and she says that she’s known him since he was a little boy.
She says he’s a scared little boy and if it wasn’t for her, he’d have never had been removed from the tomb the gods put him in. If he could bury her, he would – but he’ll settle for Puma and Pentagon. She denies his request and disappears while he bellows in anguish. Mil’s acting here was dreadful, but Catrina was good. Mil should stick to staring at people from a giant throne to make his point. Vamp notices that Mil isn’t in his throne and Melissa Santos introduces the first match. Sexy Star is back to her regular ring gear and looks fine – so that whole kidnapping didn’t do much to her. She’ll face Kobra Moon here.
Sexy Star vs. Kobra Moon
Striker talks about how Sexy influenced an entire generation – of who and in what way, he does not say. Moon slaps Sexy, while The Mack comes down to watch the action and presumably protect Sexy from Marty the Moth. Striker name-drops Selena to put over Sexy Star. Kick to the back from Moon and then an awful forearm to the face. Sexy gets a wacky lucha cradle into a wackier lucha submission. Marty the Moth stands in the crowd and claps, distracting Sexy and leading to a loss via the dragon sleeper with a bodyscissor.
Famous B’s ad tells us that he’s famous because he has dominated the world of underground fighting. Pick up “yo fone” and get fame – in keeping with tradition on this show, he does beat up at least one masked man lurking around the world. Dragon Azteca Jr. is watching the ad and interrupted by Rey. The two luchadors have another kung-fu fight and have a staredown. King Cuerno says he is a hunter, but he’s not out to kill. However, as a hunter – he has to kill. We get slick shots of Cuerno hitting moves and a great one of him sitting in a chair with his hat and title slung over his shoulder.
A Fenix highlight video airs during the break. Melissa Santons introduces Prince Puma as the former Lucha Underground Champion – which really does make even holding that title seem important. Pentagon Jr. comes down in his one other cooler-looking shirts – a white and black variant of a shirt with his mask on it.
Prince Puma vs. Pentagon Jr.
Puma gets a running elbow smash, but eats a Slingblade. Puma is sent to the floor and responds with a springboard lariat. Puma sends him to the floor and lands a moonsault to the floor. Puma goes for a Tajiri-style handspring elbow, but Pentagon dropkicks the ribs for a 2 count. Pentagon revs up his chop and Striker says it’s time to just be silent and we hear the nasty THWACK. Puma lands the northern lights into the brainbuster and gets 2. Puma goes up top, but comes down and runs into Pentagon in the corner. He is lifted up and Mil comes back to his throne. Canadian Destroyer hits for Pentagon Jr. and gets 2.
Mil takes the sling off! Pentagon showboats and sets up the package piledriver, but Mil comes in and lands a corkscrew chokeslam to Pentagon! Punch and a spear to each man. Double Flatliner by the champ takes out his top two contenders. Backstage, Mil and Catrina meet and he says he will defend his title against both men and no one can stop him. This statement clearly pisses her off. Striker announces Aztec Warfare II – and that should be amazing.
The winner gets a shot at Mil’s title, and it’s coming in three weeks. Fenix comes down to face King Cuerno in the ladder match main event. Cuerno comes down and Vamp ponders that he just might kill someone. Mil Muertes resumes his spot on his throne.
Fenix vs. King Cuerno – Gift of the Gods Title Ladder Match
Cuerno tosses him into the ropes, but Fenix evades and flips onto him for a brief edge. Fenix sends him to the floor and he climbs the ladder briefly, but is pulled down by Cuerno. Cuerno leans the ladder against the ropes and lands a nasty powerbomb where the ladder doesn’t bend at all. Cuerno sets up a double ladder bridge on the floor. Cuerno hoists him up and just drops him over the top with his face smacking the apron. Fireman’s carry facebuster into the ladder bridge on the floor. Cuerno sets up another ladder next to Catrina’s office – just like he did in the last man standing match. Fenix prevents him from doing anything there, but gets chucked into the post.
Fenix gets up and eats a punt to the ribs. Fenix tosses Cuerno into the office-leaned ladder, but Cuerno hops up and clotheslines him on the floor. Cuerno and Fenix fight on a ladder, with Cuerno wanting to suplex him to his demise. Fenix forearms his way out of danger. Fenix climbs the office ladder, gets on top of the office and does a swanton dive off the top of the office, over the ladder and onto a standing Cuerno! Fenix smacks him into the barricade, but he tosses Fenix into the crowd afterwards.
They fight in the crowd and Fenix kneedrops him over a chair. They fight into a higher deck of the Temple and Fenix hits a superkick that snaps Cuerno’s head back. Fenix goes for a dive, but Cuerno shoves him off and onto the ladder bridge. Vamp’s “HE BROKE HIS ASS” is rather fitting since hid land hip-first. Cuerno goes for a headshot with the ladder, but Cuerno misses and his arm is hit by the ladder. Fenix gets another superkick! They play hot potato with the ladder, but Cuerno just shoves it in his face. Cuerno climbs the ladder, but eats a dropkick – sending him to the mat once again.
They each climb the ladder once again and hang off of the belt-holding structure. They knock each other off as Vamp leaves to join the fans. Vamp comes back right as Cuerno hits the Thrill of the Hunt. Running punt to the gut in the corner once again from Cuerno. Cuerno gets a table and goes up for a Super Thrill of the Hunt. Fenix escapes and gets a wacky pop-up palm strike before hitting a wackier rana and climbing the ladder to win and regain his title. Fenix stares at Mil in his throne and get a giant staredown. For the first time this season, we don’t get a post-credits scene.
This was a super-fun video game match, and easily the best part of the show that didn’t involve Famous B or Mil Muertes destroying two dudes in rapid succession.
The show opens with a recap of Mundo and Cage talking smack last week before transitioning to Texano beating up Chavo. The recap ends with Cage kicking Mundo’s ass and hitting Weapon X. We hear a monologue about how “Ian just thought Vampiro was a voice in the head” and how Vampiro would be freed from Ian’s mind thanks to using Pentagon Jr. So basically, “Vampiro” is like the alien symbiote in Spider-Man.
Striker and black rimmed glasses Vamp welcome us to the show. Jack Evans interrupts Melissa Santos and tells the crowd to be quiet – the hero they didn’t know they had was trying to speak.
PJ Black vs. Jack Evans
Striker gets in his second “Dr. Black” reference in regards to PJ Black, and Evans gets a cheapshot to the gut off a handshake. PJ lands some shots, but gets crotched up top briefly. German suplex gets 2, and Black lands a suplex after Evans goes for a spinning headscissors. Striker gets off a wacky line and Vamp threatens to take away his notes. Drago is in the crowd looking “Lucifer-iffic” according to Striker. Evans talks smack and tosses a water bottle at Drago, so he comes down. This distraction lets PJ hit the Black Diamond lifting cutter for 2.5, but a mist attempt misses, hits Black and the bridging backslide wins for Evans.
Famous B gets a wacky ’80s used car salesman ad saying that if you call his number, he’ll make ya famous! This was hilarious, and had a VHS filter on that is perfect for El Rey. King Cuerno is just in the ring for a match, against Killshot.
King Cuerno vs. Killshot
Lots of chops and kicks to start this off. Killshot sends him to the floor with a nasty chop and gets a flip dive. Cuerno recovers and goes for a Thrill of the Hunt off the apron to the floor, but it gets countered into a cutter off the apron instead. We get a boo/yay punch exchange that turns into a chop exchange. A nasty single leg dropkick hits from Cuerno! Killshot goes for a middle rope moonsault, but eats a kick to the gut. They go for tombstones and counters before Killshot decides “no, the TOMBSTONE PILEDRIVER isn’t enough – and gets a gutbuster”. Cuerno recovers and hits the Thrill of the Hunt to win. Cuerno goes for the Thrill of the Kill piledriver, but Fenix saves Killshot. Next, Taxano faces Chavo and the Crew in a gauntlet match.
Texano vs. The Crew and Chavo Guerrero – Gauntlet Match
Chavo sends Mr. Cisco out first. Texano superkicks him while Striker says that Lt. Loco is losing it. Chavo distracts him, so Castro can attack – but he eats a back elbow. Corner lariats hit for Texano, but he then eats a high kick in the corner. Tornado DDT gets 2 for Castro. Castro goes for a La Magistrol, but Texano gets one of his own after a wacky lucha setup. Discus elbow by Castro leads to him running in and eating a powerbomb for the win. Chavo jumps Texano and gets 2. Shortarm lariat hits for Chavo, and Striker calls him a man who was at one point one of the best in the world. Vamp rightfully buries him for this. Texano runs wild with a big forearm smash in the corner. Big backdrop hits for Texano. Texano goes for a suplex on the apron, but Castro uses the bullrope to hold the foot down ala Heenan doing so to Warrior to give Rude the win at WrestleMania V.
375 miles from Boyle Heights, Matanza kills some dudes inside the warehouse. Dario tells Black Lotus that she started a war, and that their mother hurt Dario and Matanza. One day, he stood up to her and he wasn’t strong enough then to back up his words. Matanza saved him from a hot iron, but Matanza hit her with the red bull decoration until he killed her. For Dario, it was a happy memory and he leaned how much he loved violence that day. Catrina saunters around the Temple and Pentagon Jr. tells her that the needs to go teach Prince Puma a lesson.
She tells him that she has no reason to give him the match, and as is customary, a wacky kung fu movie fight broke out. Pentagon wins and gets her in the arm snapper position – so she gives him his match, disappears, reappears in the other corner and tells him he’s got his match, but he has made the biggest mistake he could ever make. Johnny Mundo comes out to face Cage. Cage is still a machine.
Johnny Mundo vs. Cage
Mundo slaps him to start and takes him down for some mounted punches. They get up and Mundo gets some gut punches and then eats a hopefully low-carb lariat. Hiptoss into a neckbreaker lands for Cage. They fight up top and Johnny hops down the apron to kick Cage. They go to the floor and Mundo gets a step-up dive using the ringpost! Mundo grinds him down with a chinlock. Mundo avoids a pumphandle and Mundo lands a calf kick. Cage lands a backdrop and hits a lariat. Cage gets 2 off a sitout Albama slam-style powerbomb.
Mundo gets his back/neckbreaker combo and goes for the End of the World, but gets stopped and chopped for 2. Mundo lands a superkick on the apron and slides through for a sunset flip for 2. Mundo’s foot is caught and hits a flip kick, but eats a Lucha Destroyer for 2. Flying Chuck hits for Mundo, but the End of the World misses. Discus lariat hits and he stares at Mil. Weapon X hits before Taya Valkyrie comes out. Mundo cracks him in the head with a lead pipe to win. Taya and Johnny put the furry boots to Cage. Taya saunters into the corner and lands a pair of shotgun knees to the face.
Cuerno goes to Catrina’s office and says that Fenix won’t die and he’s tired of carrying the title around – he wants his title match. Catrina tells him that he’ll get a match – against Fenix for the Gift of the Gods Title. Catrina says that Fenix can fly, and she hopes Cuerno can too because it’s a ladder match.
To see every screenshot for the show, just click here.
Last week, Kobra Moon debuted and beat Bengala. Drago also lost to Jack Evans, who calls himself the Dragon Slayer now. Fenix beat King Cuerno in a last man standing match – but the title wasn’t on the line. Also, Cortez Castro was revealed to be an undercover cop on the case of Dario Cueto, and we were introduced to Detective Joey Ryan. A recap of the season’s biggest in-ring events so far airs, showcasing Pentagon Jr’s arm snapping of Mil, and Ivelisse facing Muertes.
Ivie comes into Catraina’s office and wants the Disciples of Death tonight. Catrina says there are no instant rematches here, and Catrina makes a match with Ivie’s team against a new trios team – while brandishing a letter opener, licking it, and then stabbing her desk with it. Catrina wins the Slammy for most seductive use of a letter opener in wrestling history. Vamp says that tonight, Pentagon Jr. will beat Prince Puma, and Ivie’s team is ready for action.
Ivelisse, Son of Havoc, and Angelico vs. Chavo Guerrero and The Crew
Striker says that Castro will cut you with a box cutter while Vamp says that the Guerreros are dirty. Cisco kicks and slaps Angelico to start. Quick armdrag by Angelico takes him down. Ivie comes in and Cortez wrestles her into the corner. Ivie kicks Cortez hard resulting in a silent swear, before some big knees to the face. Chavo eats some big kicks from Ivie, but he tags in Cisco – who can’t do much until Havoc comes in. Havoc sweeps the leg and gets 2 off a standing moonsault. Muta-style handspring elbow in the corner. He goes for a dropkick off the top, but Chavo trips him up. Cisco gets 2 off a suplex. Angelico tags in and gets a run-up shining wizard using Cortez’s back to leap onto Cisco. Face team does a triple dive before Angelico does a flying dive into the ring and a big double stomp to win. Chavo argues with The Crew before Texano comes down and attacks The Crew while Chavo escapes.
Johnny Mundo tells us that he has facts to share – he is the top star in Lucha Underground, but hasn’t been treated like the star that he is. He’s a main event guy and was only in the opener at Ultima Lucha. Mundo mocks Cage for only saying he’s a machine – but he’ll make the machine obsolete. Johnny Mundo attacks some kickpads, and shockingly, no ninjas come out to attack him in this vignette. Joey Ryan tells “Reyes” that he took a beating – so their non-LU names are their actual names in this universe, which is amusing. Cortez and Ryan are partners who just don’t get along – so they should be tag champions any week now. Joey Ryan comes down to the most ’70s porno music in the history of ’70s porno. Vamp talks about Ryan remembering him of some tapes he saw in his uncle closet from the ’70s. Striker says that Cage defies convention and how he isn’t a guy who takes part in fads. Vamp says that Cage is just like a normal guy – all 320 pounds and 2% body fat of him.
Cage vs. Joey Ryan
Joey gets backed into a corner, but fights back with his lollipop. Cage hiptosses him into a backbreaker, but misses a corner shoulder charge. Joey traps the arm for a Northern Lights suplex. Cage throws awful punches to the gut, while Joey responds with boots to the face. Joey Ryan eats a dropkick and a snap powerslam before he flips up and misses a moonsault. Cage hits a pumphandle suplex facebuster for 2. Striker, the genius, determines that MAYBE trying to get Cage winded is the key to beating him. Ryan goes for a kneeling superkick, but gets countered into a powerbomb on the knee and then a Steiner Screwdriver hits for the win. Mundo attacks with a spear and punches to Cage. Mundo goes for the End of the World, but gets tripped up. Cage hits Weapon X, which makes the pumphandle suplex facebuster seem simplistic by comparison. Cage says he isn’t a man, he is a machine. Please get him a second catchphrase.
Rey spars with Dragon Azteca Jr. before saying that they’re preparing for war. Rey tells us that 25 years ago, Dario’s father met Dragon Azteca and they wanted to have the seven Aztec tribes unite in battle. Dario Sr. got obsessed with the dark side and made sacrifices – including sacrificing his son Matanza to a god. Rey says that their goal is to unite the seven tribes once again. Striker says that Cage faces Mundo in next week’s main event. Tonight’s is Prince Puma vs. Pentagon Jr, which is up now. Puma’s out first, followed by Pentagon in a Perros Del Mal-style Cero Miedo shirt.
Prince Puma vs. Pentagon Jr.
A huge “Cero Miedo” chant breaks out, followed by a “Pen-ta-gon!” chant. Puma goes for a flipping headscissors, but Pentagon carthweels out. A tumbling exchange leads to a flying headscissors by Puma. Pentagon pulls him to the floor to chop him do death. Pentagon puts him against the rope for THE LOUDEST chop to the chest ever. Pentagon lands a powerbomb onto the knee ala Cage for 2. Fakeout cutter hits for Puma. Puma lands a gorgeous springboard lariat before hitting a spinning dive onto the floor. Puma goes for the Regalplex, but Pentagon blocks it with elbows to the neck.
Pentagon is followed into the corner, but lands a pop-up backstabber for 2. Pumphandle neckbreaker is blocked by Puma, who armdrags him and hits a European uppercut. Quebrada from Puma is countered by a dropkick to the gut for 2. Puma avoids a package piledriver and lands a spinkick. Springboard 450 is countered by knees to the gut and a cradle for 2. Pentagon lands a superkick and the package piledriver before going for a Romero special. Puma turns it into a pinfall for a seeming dual pin, but Puma got his shoulders up – so Pentagon pinned himself. Pentagon attacks the ref, but gets his face kicked off by Puma. Puma teases an arm snap, but talks to Pentagon and stops. Muertes stands tall on his throne.
After the credits, Sexy Star escapes Marty’s lair and meets a guy. She tells him that it’s “moth” – but not Marty, it’s HER and we don’t so see her as we fade to black. This was a pretty solid episode of the show. It built up to Pentagon Jr. losing his mind more, and we saw more with Sexy Star and learned about Marty’s sister to some degree. Mundo looked great in his skit, while the Rey and Dragon Azteca Jr. story moved forward.
To see every screenshot taken for the show, just click here.
Last week, PJ Black and Rey Mysterio made their debuts. Rey debuted in a vignette with El Dragon Azteca Jr, while PJ Black lost against The Mack. The show opens with a recap of season two so far. We see King Cuerno winning the Gift of the Gods Title from Fenix, and Ivelisse’s match against Muertes is recapped with only the finish. Pentagon Jr. snaps the arm of Mil to close out the video, and we go to the Temple. Vampiro rattles off how great Pentagon Jr. is while turning red. Bengala comes out while Striker talks about focusing on the feet of the man beneath the mask showing that he’s a veteran. He faces Kobra Moon, who debuted last week in a vignette. She comes out in a fancy headdress while Vamp talks about the significance of the serpent in Spanish culture. Kobra slithers around the ring while the crowd chants “mamacita”.
Bengala vs. Kobra Moon
Kobra sends him to the floor and dives onto him. She rests on the ropes seductively before axe kicking Bengala as he enters the ring. He retaliates with a boot out of the corner and a flying standing headbutt. He gets 2. Kobra wraps her legs around his leg to avoid a suplex, but gets flipped over and eats a sick basement superkick for 2. Bengala dives onto her knees, but is locked in a dragon sleeper and she wins after applying a bodyscissors alongside it. Backstage, Catrina says she gets a tingle of excitement when Fenix comes in. He wants King Cuerno and she tells him that 1,000 deaths are coming.
A vignette tells us that a millennia ago, the man from the stars returned. We see a tribal leader say that the Gods will be at war, and Aerostar blasts off saying that he must return and unite the tribes. So basically, Aerostar is now a time-traveling spaceman and is the one sent by the Gods of the tribes mentioned throughout the show to unite them once again. Cuerno works out with this title belt in the background. Catrina comes in and says that he won the title, but didn’t destroy the man. Catrina tells him that he may be a hunter, but the best hunter will fall to Mil Muertes. She wants him to kill Fenix in his specialty – Last Luchador Standing, and he won’t even have to put the title on the line. He tells her the hunt is on and she disappears. Jack Evans flips around in the ring before Drago comes down to a huge round of applause.
Drago vs. Jack Evans
Striker says that this match is what the sport is all about in 2016. Well, that sure is a bold statement that could have used some elaboration. They tie-up a bit in the ropes before Evans goes for a basement dropkick, misses, and then misses a standing corkscrew splash. Evans eats a basement dropkick and goes to the floor. Evans ducks a lariat and hits a forearm before a punch exchange breaks out. Drago armdrags Evans down and goes for a submission, but Evans bites the thumb to escape. Evans lands a flipping kick and gets 2. Evans sends him into the corner for a double backflip eye gouge. Evans hops up to the top rope and talks smack, but eats a superkick that gets 2.
Drago traps him in the corner for a huge chop. Evans flips some more and gets a double eye gouge before tossing him to the mat. Evans punches away, but eats a backdrop once Drago recovers. Big armdrag sends Evans to the floor. Drago goes up top and lands a flying crossbody. Drago lifts him up to the top strand of rope and spikes him with a draping DDT for 2. Evans lands some kicks to the leg and body while Muertes stares from his throne. Drago sends him to the mat for a La Magistrol cradle for 2. Drago lands the blackbuster DDT and goes for his cradle, but Evans backslides him out of that and flips out of it before also using the ropes. Evans tells Melissa Santos to shut up and does his own ring announcing and declaring himself to be the Dragon Slayer.
Texano is shown on his ranch and we get a recap of him both in LU and AAA. We see Chavo, Blue Demon, and the Crew attack him and then Texano beats up some goons in a bar. He beats them up with his hands, feet, and bullwhip before we see that he will return next week. Prince Puma stares in the mirror while Catrina walks in and asks who he prays to. She heard Konnan praying as his life was drained in the casket, and she tells him his last words were “forgive me” and she wondered if he was asking God to forgive his sins, or Puma for failing him. Catrina makes Puma vs. Pentagon Jr. next week. Melissa Santos introduces the Last Luchador Standing match – our main event.
Fenix vs. King Cuerno – Last Luchador Standing
Striker says that Fenix is young and a match like this isn’t the best idea for him at this stage in his career. Striker says he has no idea why the title isn’t on the line, but then says that it’s in Catrina’s best interest to not have Fenix as the GotG champion since he took the fight to Muertes more than anyone else. A forearm exchange starts things off before Fenix lands a Tajiri-esque handspring elbow. Cuerno gets crotched and then Fenix hits a double-jump rana off the second rope. Cuerno gets up at 5 and hits a big boot alongside a flying European uppercut. A flying single-leg dropkick hits Fenix flush and the ref’s count gets to 4. Fenix hits a giant backdrop and sends Cuerno to the floor, but he evades a flip dive and a count begins and ends at 4.
Fenix punts his face off and throws him into the post, resulting in a goofy bonk sound effect. They fight into the crowd and Fenix is tossed three rows deep for a 6 count. Cuerno tosses Fenix into the gated wall, and he gets up at 7. Fenix stands tall, but is sent down with a hard lariat on the floor. Fenix rises and eats another kick. Fenix rises with the aid of the ring skirt and gets tossed back into the ring. Fenix lands a big dropkick and sends Cuerno to the floor. Fenix lands a triangle corkscrew dive to the floor while the crowd chants “lucha!” loudly. Cuerno gets up from that only to fall once again to a top-rope leaping corkscrew dive to the floor. Cuerno gets up at 9 and eats a forearm shiver.
Fenix hits Wasteland and slowly climbs to the top. Cuerno kicks him up top and sends him to the floor before hitting a corner to corner Arrow of Death dive. Cuerno grabs a gigantic ladder from behind Vamp and Striker and hits Fenix right in the face with it. Cuerno climbs the ladder as it stands against the wall and tells the ref to stop counting. Cuerno gets a table from beneath the ring and attacks the kidney area. Fenix avoids a pair of Germans with a pair of superkicks and sets him on the table. Fenix and Cuerno climb to the top of the office area, but Cuerno is on the ladder and Fenix shoves him off through the table. This gets a “holy shit” chant from both the fans and the announcers. Fenix gets the win with this crazy stunt.
Muertes stands on his platform looking pissed and we go to an office building. A female officer named Captain Vasquez is told that The Crew and Chavo are together, while Blue Demon Jr. has retired. No one has seen Dario Cueto, and the officer wanted to see Cueto brought to justice when Bael was murdered by Matanza. Joey Ryan debuts with his lollipop and they’re told to go into the Temple undercover and bring down Dario Cueto. Well, that was sure an unexpected twist in the story. Given that Joey Ryan already looks like a sleazy male stripper, him playing a cop seems like a natural move.
To see every screenshot for the show, just click here.
The show begins with a recap of the first episode of season one – with Vampiro being taken from a mental hospital to the Temple and a rundown of Mundo beating up Alberto at Ultima Lucha. We see Black Lotus killing Dragon Azteca, leading to someone else taking the mantle. Prince Puma works out while we get clips of Mil Muertes beating Puma for the title. Pentagon Jr. comes in and thanks him for helping him please his master, and tonight, they’ll be partners against the Disciples of Death. Pentagon says he has zero fear and a fight breaks out involving a surprising amount of flips. Pentagon Jr.’s mask appears to be even more evil than before, and looks fantastic. Striker asks Vamp if Pentagon broke Mil’s arm due to him, and Vamp gets upset at him for it. Mil Muertes watches the show from his throne with one arm in a sling. Johnny Mundo comes down to face Killshot.
Johnny Mundo vs. Killshot
They exchange tumbling displays and each lands a kick before Mundo is sent to the floor to eat a dive. Mundo spears him hard on the floor drawing a “holy sh*t” chant. Well, it deserved it.
Mundo kicks his face a bit, but eats a cutter. Hard forearm to the face by Mundo leads to a C4 and a 2 count. A crazy-fast sequence of moves from Killshot gets 2. The ref gets lightly grazed, so he doesn’t see a low blow and Mundo wins with the End of the World. Mundo grabs the mic and says that the earthquake that shook Muertes up as a kid is nothing to how the End of the World will fear.
Cage comes out with a mohawk and insults both Mundo and Muertes. A “Cage is Gonna Kill You” chant breaks out and Mundo leaves. Cage turns his back and Cage beats him down briefly before Cage lifts him for a press slam and Mundo scurries away. After an ad break, we go to a room where Marty the Moth has Sexy Star tied up. He brings her a butterfly and talks about his sister saying it’s almost time for Sexy to go back to the Temple. Marty kills the butterfly and mocks Sexy. A shot of the moon greets us while PJ Black says the wolf fears nothing and neither does he. We get some slick shots of PJ on his motorcycle against an orange-tinted sky and then he beats up some dudes outside a cheap motel. The Mack walks down to face PJ Black.
The Mack vs. PJ Black
Vamp says he doesn’t know who PJ Black is, or what a Darewolf is. Striker says it’s a daredevil and werewolf, while Striker calls The Mack “Willie Mack” for the first time on the show. PJ shoulderblocks him and flips over Mack. They go back and forth with hard chops to the chest. Giant flying knee from Mack gets a round of applause and a 2. Mack recovers and lands a Samoan drop and standing moonsault for 2.5. Striker calls Mack Norvell Austin while we get a forearm exchange. Mack goes for a German suplex, but PJ flips out of it and gets a Blue Thunder bomb called Black to the Future for 2. PJ takes a long time for the 450 and Mack avoids it while Vamp mocks him. Mack hits a big stunner for the win. “Dr. Black fails his wellness test!” according to Striker.
We get a vignette showing a woman named Kobra Moon kicking ass – she will debut next week. Catrina comes out with the Disciples of Death for a 3-on-2 handicap match. Prince Puma comes out first and Striker talks about Konnan being taken out at Ultima Lucha by the Disciples of Death, never to be seen again – so he seems to be written out for the time being. Vampiro says that Pentagon Jr. causes him nightmares, and the main event will follow after one last ad break.
Pentagon Jr. and Prince Puma vs. The Disciples of Death
The DoD jump Puma and Pentagon, keeping Puma in there. Pentagon comes in and flies to the floor to get the cheers, leading to Puma getting the lead there with a big dive of his own. Puma eats a beating while Pentagon just stands on the floor. DoD lands a double-teams springboard dropkick for 2. Catrina rakes Puma’s eyes on the floor. Reverse suplex hits Puma and a tag is made to the purple-masked DoD member. He throws one into another member and lands a neckbreaker on one member forcing that member to DDT his partner. Pentagon runs wild with a Slingblade without a tag. Giant chop to the chest from Pentagon in the corner, and then another against the ropes.
Puma is sent to the apron and eats a draping DDT. Pentagon eats a superkick and then a lift-up dropkick. One DoD member is placed in a chair and flipped onto his partner. Puma gets a modified Michinoku driver before signalling for the 630. Pentagon tags before the move hits and he steals the win. Pentagon brags and throws a double bicep pose up before landing a lungblower to Puma. He goes for the arm-breaker, but looks at Vamp and Puma fires up to be the first person to escape the hold.
We hear Rey Mysterio Jr. talking to Dragon Azteca Jr. asking if he’s ready for the power of the mask. We see Dragon Azteca Jr. briefly with his mask, and close out to a shot of Rey and his mask. Other than the debut of Rey Jr., this was a fairly standard and forgettable episode of the show – but his debut and to a lesser extent, that of PJ Black, set greater things into motion.
To see every screenshot for this show, click here.
El Rey Network announced Monday morning that Lucha Underground has been renewed for a third season.
According to the release, production will begin immediately in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles and will premiere on El Rey in early 2017.
The second season of the cult wrestling phenomenon began a week ago and are just about to wrap up their final set of tapings. Last week’s premiere drew 109,000 viewers for the initial Wednesday airing with 85,000 for the immediate replay.
From the release:
“‘Lucha Underground’ has caught fire by developing a loyal and passionate fan base,” said El Rey Network Chairman and Founder Robert Rodriguez. “I am proud that its home is El Rey Network, and we’re excited to announce a season three return for even more no-holds-barred action.”
“I am so excited that the fans will be able to continue to enjoy the incredible action and stories,” said Executive Producer Mark Burnett.
After a tremendous first season, Lucha Underground returns with some new cards in the deck as well as a bit of reshuffling for the existing ones. Catrina runs the show, while Mil Muertes oversees the action from his throne high atop the Temple. King Cuerno vies for the Gift of the Gods Title against Fenix, while the former trios tag champions do battle to determine a number one contender for the Lucha Underground Championship.
Season two has been set up perfectly all week on El Rey, with a constant marathon concluding right before the season two premiere. The final few minutes of the season one finale remain incredible – and even if you saw it without context, you would get that something big was going down for season two.
Show Recap:
We begin with Vampiro in a psychiatric ward being called Ian. His psychiatrist asks if he has had any nightmares or hallucinations, leading to season one flashbacks. When asked about violent thoughts, we see flashbacks to light tubes being used on Pentagon Jr, but he says they’re all gone. He is given a powerful anti-psychotic medication – but to be released, he must never go see the people that cause his violent impulses. Vamp isn’t down with that and beats up the doctor and his staff – but we see it’s in his head. Striker picks him up and says the Temple isn’t like it was before. It’s a much darker place.
Vamp looks at his medication and gets a sick smile on his face. Either that, or he was amused that his doctor’s name is Dr. Dick Johnson.
Catrina is in Cueto’s office, when Fenix comes in and wants a match with Mil Muertes. Catrina says that he has the Gift of the Gods and can get his shot – but she runs this place, and will hold that match next week if he still holds the title. King Cuerno was shown hunting him in the S1 finale, and wants his title tonight. Mil watches the show from a gigantic throne. Striker and Vampiro are in the booth and Striker says that the fans are why they’re back. Striker gives Vampiro about half a dozen nicknames that would make Joey Styles’ nicknames for Sabu seem modest.
King Cuerno vs. Fenix – Gift of the Gods Championship Match
Cuerno comes down while Striker talks about his character for first-time viewers. Vamp says the drinking game has begun, so he says brother a lot. They go back and forth on takedowns before Fenix gets a standing moonsault. Cuerno goes to the floor to break the momentum. Cuerno catches his legs on a baseball slide and hits a draping DDT from the apron to the floor. Cuerno lands the Arrow of Death dive and gets 2. Fenix goes for a handspring elbow, but gets caught – he escapes and lands a dropkick to the stomach. Fenix does a rope walk armdrag before landing a handspring cutter.
Cuerno leaves immediately before eating a crazy Kalisto corkscrew dive from the top to the floor. Fenix tosses him into the corner before landing a VIVA MEXICO Yakuza kick in the corner. They exchange stiff shots and Cuerno wins that war with a calf kick to the chest. Fenix lands a second handspring cutter and turns it into a dragon sleeper – I love it!
Cuerno recovers and gets a Romero special and turning it into a catapult that sends Fenix into the buckle. Fenix responds with a stiff shot to the face and climbs up top to hit a big double stomp to the head of Cuerno while Cuerno was up top. That was nuts, and gets 2. Fenix flips around a bit and hops right into a Thrill of the Hunt for 2.5! Cuerno runs into a big boot that rocks him. Cuerno avoids a headscissor and locks on a package tombstone piledriver for the win! Mil stares at Cuerno and doesn’t look amused. Angelico, Son of Havoc, and Ivelisse arrive on their bikes and we go to a break. Johnny Mundo does a workout ad and it appears LU has gotten Auto Zone as a sponsor.
Back in the Temple, the former trios champs tell Catrina they want their titles back. Catrina says Mil has ordered them to fight each other tonight, while Havoc says they won’t be torn apart. Catrina says that whoever wins faces him for the title tonight. Ivie says she’ll win it and then come after Catrina. It’s astonishing to see just how much this company has gotten out of Catrina when she was just a random person in NXT. Catrina whispers something to Melissa Santos, who resumes introductions.
#1 Contender’s Match: Son of Havoc vs. Ivelisse vs. Angelico
In a very weird bit, both announcers act completely shocked at this match having the former trios champions against each other and being for a title shot. It’s time for an ad break, but first, King Cuerno grabs his title from the locker. Catrina tells him to remember their deal and he tells her that she has nothing to worry about – and neither does Mil before giving her a smirk behind her back. Angelico is working in a full motocross outfit, which is a good look for him. Double O’Connor roll gets 2 for Angelico, before Ivie gets 1 off a crucifix to Havoc.
They go for a three-way test of strength before Ivie gets tired of this and just beats them both up. Ivie lands a flying rana off the second rope to Angelico. Giant flying knee in the corner to Ivie! Handspring elbow from Havoc to Angelico in the corner and a flying crossbody gets 2. Angelico knees Havoc and we get a wacky flip and jump exchange for 2.
Ivie gets a crossbody off the top to Angelico for 2. Havoc picks her up and Ivie doesn’t appreciate the grabbing and chops the daylights out of him. Ivie gets ten kicks to the gut in the corner and takes Angelico down for 2. Havoc gets a back suplex into a backbreaker to wear her down. Striker is amazed that a fight broke out here in a wrestling match. Havoc dives to the floor onto Angelico! Havoc gets a super mushroom stomp to the back of Angelico for 2. Havoc gets pulled down by Ivie, and Havoc and Angelico fight over a superplex. Ivie crotches Havoc up top and hits a la magistrol cradle on Angelico to win!
375 miles from Boyle Heights, a trio of guys ask about an underground fight club called the temple. Angela Fong tells them to come with her. Oh I wouldn’t do that guys, you’re doomed! Melissa Santos introduces the title match. Ivie is already in the ring, while Mil descends from his throne. Havoc and Angelico cheer her on. Vamp says she has no chance while Striker says even broken crayons still color. The Disciples of Death come down and beat everyone else up. Mil holds her hostage while her friends are carried away. Mil throws her down and we go to one more ad break.
Catrina is the only logical heel owner in wrestling – her charge has about a 0% chance of losing, but she goes the extra mile to make sure it’s absolutely 0%.
Lucha Underground Champion Mil Muertes vs. Ivelisse
Marty Elias holds the gold high and the match begins. He shoves her down while Striker asks Vamp what her strategy should be. Mil just picks her up with ease off the ground and lands a backbreaker. Striker says the back was hurt before in the three-way, so Mil saw that from the throne and is going to focus on it. Giant Biel throw by Mil – Ivie is bumping like a champ here. He picks her up with one hand and just kicks her down Ivie gets a gulliotine choke, but Mil bearhugs out of it and tosses her down.
Ivie goes for a triangle, but Mil tries to powerbomb her – so she turns it into an armbar over the rope before he drops her on the floor. Ivie fights off the top and gets a double-twist tornado DDT for 2! Catrina comes in and holds the stone high to distract her, but she moves and Mil spears her! Ivie gets a schoolboy cradle for 2.5 and a huge Ivelisse chant. Ivie eats a powerslam and a flatliner to finish. This was the best intergender match LU has done yet.
Catrina leans down for the lick of death, but refuses and sics Mil on her. He sets up a second flatliner, but Puma makes the save! Pentagon Jr. runs in to a huge ovation, hits a back stabber on Muertes and snaps his arm. After the credits roll, Black Lotus takes the guys to Dario Cueto. One of the guys insults her, and she kicks his ass. Dario gets them to pay him $20 each for the chance to enter the Temple. He “gives them the key” to Matanza’s cage and Matanza gets three new victims.
Final Thoughts:
Well, this was a fantastic show overall. It would have been nice to see more with Vampiro and Pentagon Jr. since that was built up all last season, but they did enough with it here to give me faith that thread will continue to unravel as time wears on. Pentagon Jr. is now seemingly being set up the Stone Cold of the promotion – he’s certainly not a traditional babyface, but he’s over like the top babyface while Puma holds the Sting role of being the most honorable babyface in the company. They further built up Matanza as a killer, and took Mil out with the armbreaker – setting up a few different possibilities for the title.
King Cuerno has a logical claim to it if it’s vacated since he has the other singles title, while Pentagon could stake a claim since he took the champion out. Either way, a lot was set up for the future and hopefully this company has a bright one because it has changed how wrestling promotions are presented on TV and delivers the most episodic television since the territory days.
Show started with a 4 way match between Cortez Castro, Mr Cisco, Kill Shot and Joey Ryan. I am not sure if Joey was at an earlier taping or if this was his debut. Crowd popped biggest for Joey in this match.
Before the match Catrina came out of her office and announced that the winner of this match would win a spot in the Aztec Warfare match. I’m not certain if this match was for a separate episode or not.
Good match overall. Lasted under 10 minutes. Kill Shot in particular looked very good in this match. The two members of the Crew (Cortez and Cisco) at two points in the match got into each other’s faces and argued when they each broke up a pin attempt being made by the other. In the end Kill Shot hit a double foot stomp on Cortez and stumbled afterwards and before he could gain his balance and turn around for the pin Joey Ryan snuck in to get the pin and win an opportunity for the Aztec Warfare match.
AZTEC WARFARE match after this. Before the match Vampiro came into the ring and let the audience know that Catrina had set up this match since Fenix had won the Lucha Underground title. He would enter #1 and then Mil Muertes would enter in at #20, last in the 20 man match.
So Fenix came out for a big pop. And then Melissa Santos announced the next participant. She said they are from San Diego, CA and the crowd started the stir and after a moment she announced Rey Mysterio came out at 2.Huge pop. Probably the biggest pop of the night. This Aztec Warfare match lasted anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour. I don’t think I could name every spot because at times there was multiple things going on at once. It was a bit hard to keep track of everything.
Notable Spots:
– REY Mysterio ended up hitting a 619 and then a frog splash on the #4 or 5th entrant Argenis very early on. After hitting the frog splash there was a lot of Eddie chants.
– Fun Spot – Jack Evans came out while three faces (Mysterio, Puma and Fenix) were stomping on King Cuerno. Evans called for them but neither looked at him. Then he spring boarded and they moved out of the way so he landed his splash right on the mat. Then the three faces all stomped on him which led to Mundo trying to join in on the stomping and the faces all looked at him and started hitting him.
– Another fun spot – Joey Ryan came out and handcuffed himself to a side gate and announced that he was going to stay there and win the match since no one could pin him as he was handcuffed to the railing(more on this later)
– PJ Black made an appearance late in the match. I couldn’t see much of his out of the ring action from where I was standing. However later in the match he ended up being pinned by Texano JR
– When Brian Cage entered he ended up fighting with Mundo on the outside. Mundo threw him into the office window and then much later into the match Cage then attacked Mundo and threw Mundo back in for him to get pinned by Prince Puma. Later on in the match Mundo came back and knocked out Cage by hitting him and smashing a cinder block on his head which led to Cage being pinned.
– Finally Mil Muertes came out with still around 6-9 people still left in the match. As he was down the steps Pentagon JR came out from behind with a chair. Pentagon hit Muertes several times with a chair and then threw him in the ring for Mysterio to hit a splash on him and REY and then Puma on top of Rey to pin Muertes and get him out.
– Muertes after a minute to recover from this was furious and chased off Pentagon. Catrina then started to yell and then slap Vampiro for mentoring Pentagon JR. And then out came Dario Cueto to a huge pop. He said that he was the boss and this was his temple. He announced that there is one more participant in this 20 man match. It was his brother Matanza.
Note on Matanza’s appearance he was about the same height as Pentagon JR. He had on a leather mask with a black skull cap underneath. The mask looked like a mix from something out of an insane asylum with it covering his mouth leaving little thin lines for air and it wrapped around his head not fully covering his head so it showed his black skull cap. Kind of looked like the Jason X mask but it was leather and wasn’t exactly the same as that mask. Just reminded me of that mask is all. Matanza was wearing for an outfit a garbage collector outfit. Similar to a Wyatt family outfit that Daniel Bryan and Rowan wear. Except Matanza’s was a dirty grey one that also had blood. His mask also had spots of dried blood on it.
Anyway the match ended after Matanza took out several people. He took out Texano JR. He took out Chavo after Chavo tried to get him to attack some of the faces. Matanza took out Aerostar as well with a german suplex bridged into a pin. One of the very first people Matanza took out was the Lucha Underground champ Fenix. It was a little anticlimatic when he pinned him. Audience was certainly stunned. He pinned Fenix with a powerslam as his finish. Matanza sold very little. No sold a stunner from Mack and then pinned him after with the German Suplex into a pin. Came after Joey Ryan and smashed him against the gate and then broke the handcuffs and destroyed him in the ring. After he took out all those people all was left was Rey and Puma.
Puma and Rey double teamed Matanza. Eventually he threw Rey out of the ring and then took out Puma. Rey put up a bit of a fit after a long stare down. Matanza caught Rey’s legs when he attempted a 619. Slammed Rey down. Rey kicked out. Rey hit another 619. Matanza kicked out at 1 i believe. Matanza then beat down Rey and won the Lucha Underground title.
Notes on Matanza. He was as I said about the height of Pentagon Jr. He was a strong man. He was also very agile. He did a standing shooting star press at one point which was impressive.
Show 2 —
So this next taping started with a promo by Cueto. He announced that they needed to figure out a number 1 contender for his brother’s title. He also announced that there would be a new tournament for the number 1 contender for the Trios title. And then Pentagon JR came out. I don’t speak much spanish but I understood that Pentagon wanted to know why he wasn’t in the Aztec Warfare match. Cueto said he wasn’t championship material which the crowd booed. Pentagon was super over by the way. Pentagon then said he wanted a match with Cueto’s brother for the title tonight. After Cueto said no he then had him in position to break his arm as he did last season many times. Cueto eventually said yes to the match before Pentagon could break his arm.
Then came out Sexy Star accompanied by Mack. She faced Cheerleader Melissa( I belive it was her. Not 100% but I do think it was her in the mask) she was accompanied by Marty the Moth. I didn’t catch the name they announced for Melissa. Cheerleader Melissa won in a short match.
Then there was a trios elimination match for the Trios title. Ivelisse, Angelico, and Son of Havoc (champs) beat the Disciples of Death. Very good and entertaining match. Ivelisse was the first to get pinned. One DoD then got pinned by Angelico. Some awesome spots in this match. No jumping off rooftops or anything but it was a good match. Angelico got pinned next setting up a 2 on 1. Havoc got a pin on one DoD and was about to get another before Catrina knocked him off the top rope. Ivelisse came out and superkicked Catrina and allowed Havoc to retain the Trios titles.
There was a tag team match for the second episode they taped. It was a tag team match with Mundo and he had a female partner. I didn’t catch her name. She was a blonde with pink at the tips of her hair. They faced off against the Crew (Cortez and Mr Cisco). They had a short match. Mundo and his partner were mainly playing heels. They worked Cisco for most of the match until Cortez picked up the hot tag. Cage came out and Mundo tagged himself out and stayed on the opposite side of the ring. Cage stood on right outside of the ropes and Mundo was too scared to break up a pin and so the Crew picked up the win. Mundo ran off with his partner before Cage could attack. This match came after the Cueto promo. Then came the Trios title match and then the Sexy star match and ended with the Pentagon match.
Main Event: Pentagon JR vs Matanza. This was basically an extended squash. Crowd was super into Pentagon. He was really over. Pentagon kicked the hell out of Matanza but Matanza sold very little. He threw Pentagon outside slammed him into the ring post on right on Pentagon’s back and threw him into the crowd’s chairs two different times. He then slammed Pentagon into the gate railing. Pentagon was selling a back problem. Pentagon got a little offense in. Got to hit Matanza with a back breaker but Matanza no sold it. Matanza ended up pinning Pentagon after the powerslam. Vampiro ran in to check on Pentagon and threw up the X sign to get him help. He yelled for an ambulance. Matanza knocked out Vampiro and continued his attack on Pentagon and eventually slammed him throw the announce table. Matanza left to loud boos with Cueto at his side. Pentagon left on a stretcher. The show ended with loud chants by the crowd chanting Cero Miedo. Stryker was seen in shock and held up his microphone so the tv audience could hear the chanting for Pentagon after he left on the stretcher.
Both Rey Mysterio Jr. and Dario Cueto’s mythical brother MATANZA debuted tonight at the Lucha Underground television tapings.
Lucha Underground announced Mysterio’s expected signing today in a press release.
“When it comes to in-ring performers, Rey Mysterio is among the elite and we are thrilled to welcome him and his skills to the ‘Lucha Underground’ franchise reinforcing our promise to bring US audiences the very best in lucha libre wrestling,” said Executive Producer and Showrunner, Eric Van Wagenen.
Mysterio said: “I am excited by the opportunity to join such an extraordinary group of athletes and be a part of the Lucha Underground family. It is a privilege to be able to represent this sport and have a chance to share my love of Lucha with passionate wrestling fans around the globe.”
Matanza Cueto is the new Lucha Underground champion. They had a 20-man Aztec Warfare match at the tapings, which is Lucha Underground’s modified version of the WWE Royal Rumble. Rey Mysterio showed up at #2 after the first entrant, Fenix. Matanza showed up at 21 after being introduced by Cueto. He pinned Fenix and it finally came down to Mantanza vs. Rey at the end, and Mantanza cleaned house and won the championship.
Lucha Underground Season 2 premieres on El Rey Network on Wednesday, January 27 at 8pm ET/PT.
