LUCHA UNDERGROUND
Season 1, Episode 1 - “Welcome to The Temple”
Originally aired 29th October 2014
Quick Card
Match 1: Chavo Guerrero Jr vs. Blue Demon Jr. (6.9/10) (WR - 2/5 PE - 1.25/5 OVR - 3.25)
Match 2: Son of Havoc vs. Sexy Star (4.3/10) (WR - 2.5 PE - 2.25/5 OVR - 4.25/10 )
Match 3: Johnny Mundo vs. Prince Puma (7.9/10) (WR - 4.5/5 PE - 5/5 OVR - 9.5/10)
MATCH 1: BLUE DEMON JR VS. CHAVO GUERRERO JR
You can see my original review of this match here
Upon Rewatch:
This was a nice basic match to ease fans into the Lucha Libre style. It made me laugh how Striker took an indirect shot at WWE on commentary, then got really excited when he saw Chavo Guerrero Jr come out. Vampiro is a lot better on commentary than you'd expect, playing a similar role to Mike Tenay when he called WCW matches. New fans to Mexican wrestling now know Blue Demon Jr matters because he just beat former WWE guy Chavo Guerrero. It just never even got out of first gear to me, just as it looked like it might pick up, it's over. WORK RATE: 2/5 PERSONAL ENJOYMENT 1.25/5 OVERALL: 3.25/10
Dario Cueto and Konnan are sat in the Bossman's office nursing drinks. Konnan claims to have found the best fighter in the world. Cueto nods in acknowledgement of this and says he'll test Konnan's fighter against the biggest free agent in the world. Johnny Mundo. (Formerly Johnny Nitro/John Morrison in WWE and currently Johnny Impact in Impact wrestling) he was hired to be taught a lesson. Nice to see some logic to an Authority Figure keeping a guy around he doesn't like as opposed to just kicking him to the curb and hitting his pockets.
Back to television time with a video package for Prince Puma, Konnan's investment and Vampiro wonders what's in it for the shady Konnan in this business relationship. He can't dwell on that for too long though, there's another match to call.
MATCH 2: SON OF HAVOC VS. SEXY STAR
You can see my original review of the match here.
Upon Rewatch:
If the backstory they gave Sexy Star is true, and of course I don't know, that is 100% her business, but it is strange to see that video after her recent Triplemania incident. Regardless of that though this was a nice little showing for both Sexy Star and Son of Havoc. Havoc got the official win so he has the bragging rights. So all that matters to him is that he didn't lose to a girl. However, he needed the tights to do it and Sexy Star dominated the whole short match. That's how you instantly establish roles to new fans. WORK RATE: 2.25/5 PERSONAL ENJOYMENT 2/5 OVERALL: 4.25/10
Dario Cueto stops by the locker room to let Chavo Guerrero know how disappointed he is, and that the consequences of his actions are a thousand deaths upon us all. Oh, well shit.Vampiro clarifies how not good that is for us, brother. Leading to tonight's main event.
MATCH 3: JOHNNY MUNDO VS. PRINCE PUMA
You can see my original review of the match here.
Upon Rewatch:
The irritation with the habit of binge-watching nowadays is that when you have to wait a week it becomes an annoyance. This is the reason I'm glad I couldn't get Lucha Underground as it aired. After watching this match I just want to sit through the whole season. In fact, binge watching is why my Lucha Underground reviews are coming out so slow. This match instantly made me a fan of Prince Puma (it was my first real exposure to him except maybe some highlight video footage as Ricochet) I just knew him as a wrestler similar to England's Jody Fleisch from the English Independent circuit. Johnny Mundo was able to show what he could do when the Corporate reigns of WWE are off and it was breath-taking. This was the perfect match to cap the first show off and I couldn't think of anything better for a debut show than that.WORK RATE: 4.5/5 PERSONAL ENJOYMENT 5/5 OVERALL: 9.5/10
Dario Cueto exits the ring and teases giving Mundo the bonus. Mundo and Puma get attacked and the attackers get the bonus to end the show.
SUMMARY:
Overall a very good start to the season, we saw people
from the past show up, got a taste of different Lucha Libre tropes
(intergender wrestling, family heritage, etc.) and each match built
from the last without holding back. It will be interesting to see how
these characters morph in the coming weeks and who else we will see
as part of Lucha Underground. Having the heels stand tall at the end
due to their alliance with the boss was an interesting way to finish
the season premiere, and I can't wait to see them get their
comeuppance. I'd give the show 8/10.
Within 60 minutes Lucha
Underground showed us the past, present and future of Lucha Libre.
Dario Cuerte was a nice spin on the Evil Authority Figure and the
cinematics between the matches kept the show moving along nicely.
There were some nice hints for the rest of the season, and as I said
originally it's an incredibly easy show to watch, but equally
difficult for me to take my eyes off in order to review properly,
which is the best thing I remember saying about a show so far. I've
seen this debut episode at least 5 times, and I can enjoy it just as
much each time. I'll rate it even higher since I keep finding more to love about it. 8.5/10
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