Hello after a couple months off! Been busy recovering (in some fashions, anyway) and getting back to work. I've been writing these reviews for awhile now for the Death Valley Driver board and I might as well stick them on here, along with some words about the latest vinyl purchases I've made. Why not, the writing keeps me sane. Anyway here is
LUCHA UNDERGROUND REPORT 5/13/15
Lucha Underground has been running for awhile on the amazing El Rey Network that Robert Rodriguez of El Mariachi, Desperado, From Dusk Til Dawn, Planet Terror/Grindhouse etc. filmmaking fame has put together. They show Lucio Fulci films, Shaw Bros. kung fu classics, interviews with great directors, a ton of Miami Vice, it basically rules altogether and I have gotten a huge education on Hong Kong cinema in general from this channel. They also show AAA wrestlers from Mexico here filtered through a somewhat American Indy Wrestling lens but still with grittiness, blood and a telenovela interview backdrop stolen from Telemundo and Unimas. It's quite the interesting show and definitely the best pro wrestling you will see on TV aside from NXT (if you get the WWE Network, that is). If you don't know the names don't worry, look up a couple matches on Youtube and get familiar.
Well the end of this was totally balls-out and a legit "HOLY SHIT" moment. Lets see how the rest of the ep was on the replay.
Dario is talking to Matanza in the cage and introduces some Aztec medallions with secret powers. Matanza breathes heavily. Dario says he might bring the TV upstairs so he can watch the violence which is a funny line.
Some dude is wearing a sweet white Mil Mascaras mask in the crowd, and Rob Trujillo of Metallica/slap bass infamy is there too.
Aerostar vs. Jack Evans: This is the debut of Jack on the show. I haven't seen him in forever so lets see what Mr. Matrats can do. He needs to be schooled for biting Angelis' gear colors. Aero's rope-running even gains a greater level of amazement as he spins during a walk! Vamp claims to be trained by Homer Simpson after warning the kids at home; funny considering he wasn't trained at all initially. Damn Jack hits a brutal German. He sells the 450 off the rail which is nice too. Aero tries to climb the ropes and he can't even do it due to his knee. Of course Jack tries to take advantage but Aero hits a fucking Canadian Destroyer off the top rope. Usually I would piss all over that but it looked ten times more logical than a standing Destroyer because it looked like he was going for a sunset flip powerbomb, it was also super vicious and was a hell of a finish. Aerostar really can do no wrong to me I guess, and Evans came off as a true rudo with his yelling at the crowd and talking shit. Good stuff!
I was in the head but apparently there was a Big Ryck segment. Now there's a seven-way between
Killshot/Sexy Star/Pentagon Jr./Fenix/King Cuerno/Brian Cage/The Mack: This is for the Aztec Medallion which apparently grants "immortality". Okay. This is probably gonna be impossible to review because it's gonna be ten thousand highspots so I'll try and hit the biggest and brightest. I believe we can all agree that this needs to have as little Killshot as possible.
We almost immediately break down to Fenix and Pentagon in the ring together. Goddamn I would sport that Pentagon shirt for sure. Ugh now it's Killshot and Cuerno. Killshot does a really fruity run up the ropes which is something Aerostar would make look like a work of art. At least Cuerno chops and kicks the piss out of him and then Cage comes in with his 619. Now we get some teamwork with a double suplex and a huge elbowdrop/bodypress. Cage proceeds to lariat the shit out of Sexy and then everyone starts working again with a cool double corner stomp spot and everyone hits a finisher. Mack manhandles Cage and does a sweet standing moonsault. Killshot actually hits a nice tornillo and then gets splattered by the Cuerno tope. Wow, Pentagon kills Fenix and Sexy at the same time! Fenix hits a gnarly reverse rana into a standing moonsault for the win though. Well that was exactly what you imagine it was. Maybe not as great as that five-way that opened the program a couple months ago but damn close. A surprising amount of teamwork from Cage and Cuerno too who you would think would immediately turn on each other in the spirit of "every man for himself".
Ivelisse has broken her ankle so of course Dario puts her team against the Crew in a ladder match. There's some funny miscommunication with her trying to leave the office and her having to tell her partners to move the chair and open the door for her. Meanwhile, Fenix is in the locker room and Catrina pulls some mumbo-jumbo on him with a disappearing act and the appearance of three creepy looking luchadors in skull masks. I guess Fenix will be okay because he's "immortal" now.
Alberto El Patron vs. Hernandez (#1 Contender's Match): Well let's see who works harder rudo here. Nice slow start with an actual lockup before Hernandez starts brawling on the floor. That strut of his is so goofy and that running shove is mean. The audio might have been sweetened on the superkick but the camera angle made it look like death. And here comes Johnny Mundo! He pulls out Alberto, DDTs him on the floor, and THROWS ALBERTO THROUGH THE WINDOW OF THE OFFICE. Dario's face is the best through this. Then Johnny throws him back in the ring for the pinfall and we get a stretcher job while the crowd chants "perro" at Mundo. I'm surprised there wasn't a huge bladejob here; there just seems to be a trickle of blood next to Alberto's eye. Considering sugar glass can really fuck you up he got lucky. The image of Alberto hanging through the window was deservative of the "holy shit" chant for sure and it came out of nowhere. This is gonna be a blood feud for sure and was a perfect way to end the match and a pretty high-end episode.
