AZTEC WARFARE

  Since I kind of left this to rot for a while, I didn't pre-plan much in the way of the Royal Rumble. o I'm going for something slightly different a day late in a hope to keep things in good steed. Lucha Underground are currently on their way with the fourth season and I'm only up to here! Damn. Anyway, on to what you're all (hopefully) reading for.

  Dario Cueto is back in the cellar, holding the new Lucha Underground championship belt. He says he wants a champion with faith, worthy of the seven Aztec tribes. He doesn't let whatever's producing the snarling off-screen to hold the belt, due to their liking of destruction. We see a recap of the last show with Dario Cueto making 2 “Special Opportunities” matches last week. Reviewed here and here. Vampiro and Matt Striker welcome us back to The Temple after the new year with a Carnival Feeling starting us off before Dario Cueto welcomes us himself from the ring. He says 20`15 will be a big year for Lucha Underground, starting with tonight's Aztec Warfare match. Just to go over the rules it's a staggered battle royal (eg. Royal Rumble) with eliminations only by pinfall or submission. Dario Cueto's love of violence wouldn't let him have the Luchadores be disqualified. He announces the starting participants. Due to what happened on the last show of 2014 Fenix has been given this spot. Joining him (to have the same amount of time in the ring but less praise simply because he came out second) due to “random drawing” is one Johnny Mundo. Not exactly Cueto's best buddy as Striker goes over their short history. Vampiro doesn't like Mundo's attitude and says he and Matt will be 3 & 4 if he keeps kissing Mundo's ass and using famous quotes. Dario Cueto starts the match from his office door.

MATCH 1: 20 LUCHADORE AZTEC WARFARE

The fans are happy to watch them stand in the ring whilst they chant “Lucha” but they paid to see wrestling so Mundo and Fenix lock up. Johnny Mundo sends Fenix across the ring, showing he has the power advantage. The commentary says he should use that instead of his high-flying, it's good but the air is where Fenix has the advantage. They both check a kick before Mundo grabs the ankle, slipping Fenix into a headlock. Fenix sends Mundo across the ring but he steps over Fenix and trips his leg. Johnny Mundo faceplants on a standing shooting star attempt and gets dropkicked in the side of the head by Fenix. Mundo kips up, they meet in the middle as Mundo connects with a calf kick. Fenix avoids a penalty kick, kipping up himself knocking Mundo out of the ring with a superkick. Mundo straight back in to follow Fenix across the ring to clothesline him over the top! Fenix gets back to the apron, swinging a wild kick at Johnny Mundo's skull just as Mr Cisco is in #3.

Mr Cisco takes advantage of both opponents being down, hitting them both with mounted rights and a back senton he calls Shawshank Redemption although he barely hits Fenix, knocking his legs on the ropes. Mr Cisco superkicks Mundo through the ropes but Fenix is able to get him up in a fireman's carry. He drives Cisco into the corner and drops him to the mat. Cisco avoids a standing moonsault but is first eliminated by an End of the World by Johnny Mundo. Fenix tries to eliminate Mundo with a surprise roll-up but Mundo kicks out at 2. They exchange right hands in the middle of the ring before both hitting a roundhouse to the skull simultaneously as we go to a break. After the break, the countdown expires and #4 King Cuerno walks down to the ring. Mundo and Fenix get to their feet as he gets in the ring. Fenix hits Mundo with a chop, but a fresh Cuerno is able to avoid contact. Mundo takes a superkick due to the same reason, knocking him into the corner. Fenix is sent to the opposite corner. King Cuerno hits Mundo with a running double knee attack. Fenix gets sent across the ring with a monkey flip CUERNO LANDS ON HIS FEET! He picks up steam and knocks Mundo down on the floor with The Arrow from the depths of Hell (a tope clothesline through the ropes)

King Cuerno makes it back to the apron before Fenix knocks him back to the floor. Fenix climbs to the top rope, walking along it to hit a somersault plancha onto Cuerno! Mundo was able to dart out of the way as #5 Son of Havoc is out he springboards in the ring using Mundo as a stepping stone but gets too cocky. Mundo attacks him from behind and grabs a handful of beard, lining up a right hand perfectly. Johnny Mundo tries to throw Havoc over the top but SoH springs back using his chest, knocking Mundo down with a back elbow. Cuerno and Fenix begin to stir on the outside as Johnny Mundo is sent out of the ring with a flying headscissors. Son of Havoc flips to his feet and dives out onto everyone with a Sasuke Special, clearing the top rope! The countdown begins as Son of Havoc is the only one on his feet, revealing #6 is Pimpelina Escarlata! Ze avoids Son of Havoc's attacks, trying to get revenge for Pimpelina making a fool of him back on Episode 6. Pimpelina is the first to make contact, knocking Havoc out of the ring with a dropkick. Fenix and King Cuerno have seen enough but Pimpelina takes control of Fenix's wrist, ducks a Cuerno clothesline and jumps to the top rope. Fenix is released as Pimpelina flies into Cuerno with an arm drag!

Pimpelina Escarlata ducks a clothesline by Fenix, hitting an overhand chop to the chest. Fenix and Cuerto try to send Pimpelina Escarlata over to the floor but it's countered into a double arm drag back into the ring. I don't know whether to refer to Pimpelina Escarlata as “he” or “she” but I know to refer to them as a fantastic wrestler. Just as I say that Fenix gets an unwanted kiss. Referee Marty Allias tries to beg off as Matt Striker gets in a sexless marriage joke. Cheers pal. King Cuerno puts a stop to the madness but is sent across the ring. King Cuerno is sent through the ropes with a dropkick as Lucky #7 is Prince Puma. Pimpelina Escarlata leaves Puma to face off with Mundo in the ring. Puma hits right hands and sends Mundo across the ring, hitting him with a dropkick on his return. Matt Striker mentions these two both teaming with and working against each other since the beginning of the series as Puma gets a nearfall with a lionsault. Prince Puma isn't happy with the count, as Vampiro mentions Puma's mentor Konnan trying to keep him away from Mundo. Vamps doesn't like Konnan.

Johnny Mundo gets sent across the ring but gets his boot up to Puma's jaw in time. Fenix sneaks on the apron, catching Mundo off guard with a roundhouse to the back of the head. He springboards back in the ring with a leg drop to Mundo as we see the mysterious woman again, this week sitting in the front row. I hope she bought that ticket! #8 Ivelisse charges to the ring, climbing straight to the top turnbuckle. She jumps over Fenix to take Cuerno down with a terrible headscissors “I dunno if I wanna be a part of that or not” I don't, it looks like she could kill me with one slip. Safety first, Matt. Fenix sends Ivelisse back out to the apron but is caught with a kick to the head. Ivelisse dives back in the ring with a tornado DDT before Pimpelina slides back in. Matt Striker thinks these two lip-locking would be hot but Pimpelina targets King Cuerno instead. He rakes the face, and during that moment Striker brings up Wrestle Kingdom, in the context that Aztec Warfare is a great follow-on. THAT FUCKING MOMENT. King Cuerno hits a standing dropkick and just boots Pimpelina, Striker pretty much tells us that was one of Vampiro's mannerisms when he was in the ring. Ivelisse hits an awesome looking corkscrew kick to Pimpelina and sets her up for Son of Havoc on the top turnbuckle. He hits the shooting star press sending the Exotico into the showers.

King Cuerno dumps Son of Havoc from the ring and grabs Ivelisse by the hair. She kicks at his legs but it does nothing, #9 Drago enters the match, checking a kick from Ivelisse before sweeping her leg. Son of Havoc tries to save his girl but is knocked down too. Fenix enters the ring taking 3 thrust kicks to the gut. Drago runs the ropes and hits a flip DDT, covering Fenix. Johnny Mundo breaks up the pin as Cuerno watches in the corner, Striker thinks it's interesting, Vampiro calls it strategy. Guess who was more respected in the ring? Mundo sends Drago across the ring but is spiked with a DDT, Drago gets another nearfall. Prince Puma makes his return to the ring, missing a flying right attempt, Drago ducks a headkick and hits a reverse frankensteiner on Puma! Puma is out on his feet, but soon falls. King Cuerno knocks Drago silly with a running enziguri to Drago. He lifts him in the fireman's carry but Ivelisse kicks Cuerno right in the chest. I have no idea why people are breaking up covers unless it covers a story. The commentary are asking if Cuerno wants to eliminate Drago or end him. Ivelisse eats the Thrill of the Hunt and is eliminated. Serves her right.

Drago is back on his feet near the ropes, he and Cuerno begin to go back at it as Bael is in #10 he doesn't bother getting in the ring, although Drago makes room for him by throwing Cuerno out. Bael sends Mundo into the ring post outside as Matt Striker calls him “a real B-Boy” signalling to independent wrestling fans where it is we know him from. Fenix flies over the top rope with a somersault plancha onto King Cuerno, as Puma sends Bael into the ring apron outside. Drago joins the chaos on the floor with a corkscrew plancha from the top turnbuckle! Son of Havoc is in the ring looking to fly, but Puma snuck in too, lifting him on his shoulders. Havoc wriggles free and hits Puma in the back of the head with a forearm. Prince Puma hits a superman punch so Vampiro can name drop George St-Pierre. Puma has Havoc in the fireman's carry, dropping him back to his feet for a superkick. Puma covers and sends Son of Havoc to meet Ivelisse at the bikes.

Prince Puma dives onto Mundo with a slingshot corkscrew plancha as we await #11 Cortez Castro. That's two members of The Crew, with Bael having made his way back in the ring with Puma and Mundo. Castro attacks Mundo from behind. Prince Puma makes the save but an irish whip is reversed with Puma's jaw meeting Castro's elbow. Bael has control of Mundo as Castro hits a gutwrench suplex on Puma. Striker comments that The Crew will have a major advantage if these two can still be in the match for Big Ryck's arrival. The Crew have control in the ring as we see Cuerno dart into someone with a running dropkick on the floor. Fenix has made his way to the corner but eats a running boot by Cortez. Striker wonders if Mundo and Fenix could be tiring out. Bael bites at Puma's head in the corner as Mundo swings the momentum his way. Cuerno hits Drago with an enziguri on the floor as Ricky Mandel enters #12. He immediately targets Castro sending him across the ring and hitting a dropkick. Mandel leaves the ring to fight Cuerno, but Mundo slides through the ropes booting them both. Puma hits Northern Lights on Bael in the ring, rolling through for a vertical suplex. Prince Puma eliminates Bael with a standing shooting star press. Cortez Castro reverses an irish whip sending Mundo across the ring, but lands skull first on a headscissors takedown. Johnny Mundo hits a leg lariat and penalty kick, looking around at Puma as he does so. Johnny Mundo covers to leave the match The Crew-less. That lasted the remaining 5 seconds of the countdown before Big Ryck is in #13 unlucky for all. He pushes his crew out of the way, entering the ring as we go to commercial.

Back from commercial Big Ryck knocks down Mundo and Puma with rights, Ricky Mandel is back in the ring but quickly eliminated by a uranage by Big Ryck. Drago kicks away at Big Ryck's knees but is lifted into a military press and places on Cuerno's shoulders. Cuerno eliminates Drago with Thrill of the Hunt, but celebrates too early, getting eliminated himself by a Mundo crucifix! All three guys left in the ring take a breather awaiting the arrival of #14 Pentagon Jr. Pentagon clotheslines Mundo and Puma down, Fenix gets back in the ring, getting sent inside out by a clothesline too. Pentagon comes face to face with Big Ryck. CIERO MEIDO! Rick catches the clothesline, holding Pentagon in a full nelson, Mundo and Puma line up superkicks but Pentagon moves, so Ryck eats them both. Pentagon hits superkicks on Mundo and Puma. Fenix rises then falls again from a Pentagon superkick. Pentagon hits a slingblade to Johnny Mundo but turns around into a kick by Puma, Puma rolls up Pentagon but is caught, Pentagon powerbombs Puma on his knee! FENIX IS BACK! He rolls up Pentagon, getting hit with a powerbomb in mid air! Pentagon covers but Big Ryck makes the save. I can't imagine Fenix is entirely immediately grateful for that.

Big Ryck takes it to Pentagon Jr as Mundo scrambles to cover Fenix again, getting a nearfall. Smart move by Mundo that wasn't picked up due to #15 Super Fly entering the match. He lives up to his name, diving from the top rope onto Pentagon with a flying headscissors (which Striker calls anything but) Puma holds Super Fly in place but eats an enziguri by Mundo as Super Fly escapes at the last second. Super Fly hits Mundo with a dropkick as he gets to his feet, sending him out to the floor. He hits a headscissors on Fenix in the ring but Ryck drops him with a big boot. The fans chant “this is awesome” and we're only halfway through! Big Ryck sends Super Fly across the ring but he clears the top rope, diving out onto Pentagon with a clothesline. Big Ryck clears the ring as Striker comments on Ryck's cardio ability in this match. Big Ryck clears the ring and beats down on Super Fly in the corner as he gets back in. Mundo sneaks up on Rick with a sunset flip but Ryck rolls through, smashing his forearm into Mundo's head. Big Ryck covers but Prince Puma is back to make the save. Prince Puma climbs on Ryck's back wailing desperately as Chavo Guerrero Jr is #16.

Chavo brings a chair to the ring, an obvious symbol of his vicious turn throughout the last few weeks. He nails Super Fly with the chair and eliminates him from the match. Pentagon Jr is happy his buddy's here and they high five. Chavo brains Pentagon with the chair too for a second quick elimination. Johnny Mundo follows Chavo outside but is hit in the gut with the chair. Big Ryck squashes Fenix in the corner as the countdown begins for #17 Mascarita Sagrada these countdowns aren't even close to being evenly spaced. We go to a short break (sorry) before Mascarita Sagrada flies onto Chavo with a cross body. A springboard shoulder block sends Chavo down again but he easily stops Sagrada's irish whip, shoving the little guy into the ropes. Chavo Guerrero Jr sends Sagrada across the ring but is sent through the ropes with a tilt-a-whirl headscissors. Fenix boots Sagrada in the head and lights him up with an overhand chop to the chest, Sagrada again with speed and agility takes Fenix down with an arm drag. Sagrada goes round and round on another headscissors and sends Fenix over the top with a hurricanrana!

Mascarita Sagrada runs full force into a dropkick by Puma, landing with a thud. Sexy Star is out #18 easily avoiding Chavo's clothesline and a back elbow. She sends him out to the apron with a wheelbarrow arm drag, but he meets her with a shoulder through the ropes. Chavo tries to suplex Sexy Star to The Temple floor but she lands on the apron, dropping him with a big boot. She dives out after him with a running somersault senton as Striker talks about Chavo's actions to Blue Demon Jr back on Episode 5: “Los Demonios” Mascarita Sagrada and Big Ryck are left in the ring. Mascarita's kicks do exactly what you think they would, he avoids Ryck's attacks but gets caught. He rolls through to a sunset flip but can't get Ryck down, Ryck lifts him back up but Sagrada counters with a dropkick as Striker refers to Sagrada as a marshmallow compared to Ryck. Ryck flattens Sagrada with a lariat and pins him as El Mariachi Loco is in #19.

Mundo takes it to Ryck in the corner but gets dropped as Loco springs in, hitting Ryck with a dropkick. He uses Ryck's back to get on the top rope and moonsaults over him rolling into Fenix, wheelbarrow arm drag sends Fenix across the ring into the corner with Ryck. Loco avoids a clothesline and hits an enziguri. Mundo grabs control of Loco's arm but Loco reverses it, hitting an overhand chop to Mundo. El Mariachi Loco sends Mundo out of the ring with a Lucha arm drag as Puma slides back in. El Mariachi Loco jabs away before dropping Puma with a superkick. Striker comments on how much the move is used in Lucha Underground and it makes me thankful Steve Corino isn't the commentator. Big Ryck brings El Mariachi Loco off his feet with a clothesline as Mil Muertes is #20 with Catrina at his side. Big Ryck only gets a nearfall in the ring, I'm calling Rigor Mortis.

Mil Muertes takes Mundo down with a clothesline and spears Prince Puma, El Mariachi Loco avoids Big Ryck and ducks Muertes' clothesline. Loco springboards back into a right hand. Mil Muertes hits him with a flatliner, taking a moment to drop Fenix in mid-air with another right hand as Matt Striker mentions their match on the last episode. Mil Muertes eliminates El Mariachi Loco as a formality and comes face to face with Big Ryck. BIG BASTARDS BRAWLING! Well not quite, they have words first. Mil Muertes gets a run-up and neither man budges on a shoulder block. Big Ryck tries it and again, no movement. Matt Striker got to mark out over saying “The irresistible force meeting the immovable object” but we didn't get much else and they both get ambushed before they can really go at it. Chavo Guerrero Jr and Prince Puma attacking Muertes in one corner, with Sexy Star, Johnny Mundo and Fenix keeping Big Ryck on the opposite side of the ring. Ryck shoves off Sexy Star and Fenix before sending Mundo's head into the turnbuckle. Johnny Mundo scrambles to the apron before Big Ryck avalanches him there. Mundo drops Ryck to the mat and hits End of the World but Chavo dumps him outside. Prince Puma follows up with a standing shooting star press on Ryck but he's also dumped outside. Chavo Guerrero covers Ryck for the credit but doesn't get the three. Fenix assists with a 450 splash to eliminate Big Ryck.

Chavo grabs the chair he brought into the match from outside and drives it into Mundo's midsection sending him out of the ring. Fenix is brained with the chair and Chavo eliminates him. Sexy Star and Chavo Guerrero face off in the ring, Sexy Star says to do it without the chair. Chavo Guerrero tries a cheap shot but is caught with a dropkick. Sexy Star just starts kicking Chavo's ass but he counters an irish whip and slams her on the chair. He grinds the chair into her head and climbs to the top rope. Blue Demon Jr is back! He shoves Chavo to the mat. He gets in the ring and fires away with rights. Sexy Star is back on her feet with the chair and Blue Demon tells Chavo to turn around. Sexy Star hits the worst chairshot I've ever seen and eliminates Chavo Guerrero Jr. Blue Demon Jr shouts at Chavo in Spanish, Striker translates that Blue Demon Jr isn't finished with Chavo. Our final four consists of Sexy Star, Prince Puma, Johnny Mundo and Mil Muertes.

After the commercial break, Sexy Star dodges a clothesline by Mil Muertes but he grabs her by the hair, Mundo and Puma save the damsel in distress (yeah, right(!)) and team up on Muertes. They send him across the ring but he ducks a back elbow. Mil Muertes runs into stereo kicks by Puma and Mundo. Sexy Star re-involves herself sending Mundo down with a headscissors, and Puma down with a hurricanrana but her rib cage is crushed by Mil Muertes' spear. Sexy Star gets eliminated from the match, so Mundo doesn't give Muertes a second before driving him into the corner. They slug it out and Mundo mounts the middle rope, he doesn't get many shots in before Muertes shoves him back into a Zig Zag by Prince Puma. Puma wants to fight Muertes. Puma ducks a clothesline, hitting rights at Muertes. Mil Muertes sends Puma over to the apron and catches a kick through the ropes, Muertes has both ankles as Mundo flies over the top with a cross body to Puma! Holy shit, that looked sick.

Mil Muertes effortlessly lifts Mundo onto the apron, Mundo lands on his feet from a suplex attempt and dropkicks Muertes into the corner. Mundo runs into Muertes with a knee to the midsection before sitting him on the top. Muertes grabs the rope to avoid a superplex. Prince Puma joins them in the corner and assists Mundo with a double superplex! Instead of that making them realise to work together as Matt Striker mentions on commentary though, Puma lifts Mundo into a fireman's carry, dropping him into the path of a kick. Prince Puma turns his focus back to Muertes, but Catrina gets involved from the floor. Puma brings Catrina up by her hair as Muertes charges, Puma moves and Muertes stops himself so no harm was done. Johnny Mundo springs back off the second rope and Muertes ducks ENZIGURI TO CATRINA!! Mundo realises he's fucked up as Muertes grabs him by the throat. Prince Puma dives onto Muertes from the top with a double-knees saving Mundo's life. Mundo hits a springboard 450 splash and Puma follows with one of his own. They eliminate Mil Muertes together.

Vampiro mentions that's the first pinfall Mil Muertes has suffered in The Temple as he carries Catrina to the back. In the ring, though we have the two finalists, and the men that competed in Lucha Underground's first ever main event. Puma ducks a right hand, handspringing back into Mundo. He brings Mundo over with a headscissors and hits a standing dropkick. A rolling enziguri gets Prince Puma a nearfall as Vampiro is speechless. Johnny Mundo has to use the ropes to stay on his feet but reverses an irish whip to roll through into a single leg boston crab in the middle of the ring. Prince Puma tries to crawl to the ropes, turning his direction slightly to reach the closest rope to him. Matt Striker credits Konnan's training for that. Mundo sends Puma chest first into the corner but Puma desperately dumps him to the floor. Vampiro says that is more than likely Konnan's training, calling it dirty. I think it's smart, really.

Prince Puma slaps Mundo as he gets on the apron, they meet on the top turnbuckle where Puma hits a Spanish Fly! 1, 2, 2.99999!! Prince Puma signals for the 450 splash, Mundo tries to keep Puma in the ring but gets stomped on. Puma gets to the middle rope then Mundo clubs at his back before climbing the ropes too. Johnny Mundo hits a super reverse frankensteiner sending Puma across the ring! End of the World! 1, 2, 2.999 PUMA KICKS OUT! Johnny Mundo's forearm slumps Puma in the corner. Mundo kicks him in the chest before lifting the dead weight to the top turnbuckle. Prince Puma elbows his way out of a Spanish Fly attempt, crotching Mundo on the top rope. Puma kicks Mundo to the mat, hitting the 630 splash to become the first ever Lucha Underground champion.

WINNER: PRINCE PUMA (FIRST LUCHA UNDERGROUND CHAMPION)

Where to even start with the match? Johnny Mundo having to withstand the whole match due to his history with Cueto was done well, and since he has so many intertwining stories, he was a good constant throughout the match.We got to see a lot of early favourites in the series, and it was fun to try and figure out who might be involved in the match. The Crew getting cleared out just as Big Ryck entered was done well, allowing them three parts in the match, Cisco's early entry to soften Mundo up, one with Castro and Bael working as a team and Ryck dominating fools on his own. Blue Demon Jr returned without participating to get revenge on Chavo Guerrero Jr without having to be eliminated from the match himself and lose some heat. Everyone important got time to shine (King Cuerno, Drago and Mil Muertes being previous omissions from mentions) and the comedy was scattered throughout so it didn't bug me too much. There was a lot of waiting outside the ring for a lot of people in the match which was my main issue but it came down to two of Lucha Underground's biggest stars, with the homegrown star getting the victory. It's hard to ask for more than that. Please keep Ivelisse's ring time to a minimum in future though if her sequence was anything to go by. WORKRATE: 3.5/5 PERSONAL ENJOYMENT 3.75/5 OVERALL: 6.25/10

After the match, Prince Puma and Johnny Mundo shake hands and hug in the ring. Konnan walks down to quietly congratulate his protege.

EPISODE SUMMARY: There isn't much more to say that wasn't in my match summary, of course. But looking at it from a whole the entrance order, stories flowing, giving everyone the time they needed and the remaining entrants all worked. The quick elimination trope happened a bit more often than I'd like, but it works with the match so it's hard to be too mad about it. All that praise with just Ivelisse being sloppy and Chavo's elimination putting a dampener on it? Looks good enough to boost the score for the episode. A strong one-match show for Lucha Underground. OVERALL 7.75/10