iPPV is at luchaworldcup.com.
- Click on the USA flag for the English language feed. Click on the Mexico flag for the Spanish language feed.
- Click on Stream Options/Opicones de Transmission to switch between SD, HD and 3D.
- You will need a 3D TV or other similar display to watch in 3D – otherwise, it’s just two weirdly shaped video streams next to each other.
Special Rules
- all matches have a 15 minute time limit
- if it’s a draw, they’ll do the equivalent of penalty kicks: each team will choose one member for a five minute one on one matchup
- if it remains a draw, the teams will continue choosing wrestlers until there is a winner.
- the semifinal losers will meet in a third place matchup
Quicker thoughts are always at @luchablog. The official Twitter is @luchaworldcup.
First Round Matchups
Japan/NOAH (Yoshihiro Takayama, Taiji Ishimori, Atsushi Kotoge) vs Mexico/Dream Team (Alberto el Patron, Myzteziz, Rey Misterio Jr.): Dream Team defeat NOAH when Myzteziz defeats Ishimori via La Mistica.
Mexico/MexAAA (Psycho Clown, Texano Jr., Hijo del Fantasma) vs USA/ROH-LU (ACH, Moose, Brian Cage): ROH-LU team advances when Cage beat Texano with a powerbomb in the first overtime. Match was good, but finish was messed up – referee called Texano kicking out of a powerbomb in regulation when Texano didn’t move, then counted a pinfall for Texano on Cage. Konnan came out to straighten it as a draw, and Cage beat Texano quickly in the first over time.
Japan/AJPW (Kenzo Suzuki, Tiger Mask III, Masamune) vs Mexico/Leyendas (Dr. Wagner Jr., Blue Demon Jr., Solar): Leyendas defeated AJPW when Demon submitted Masamune. Probably the least of the three matches so far, but still solid.
Rest of the World (Angelico, El Mesias, Drew Galloway) vs USA/TNA-LU (Matt Hardy, Ken Anderson, Johnny Mundo): Johnny Mundo defeated Drew Galloway with a misaimed Fin de Mundo in the first OT1. Match was good in parts. Fans weren’t as into it without a Mexican team, but they got them into the near falls at the end.
Semifinal Matchups
Semifinal A: Dream Team vs ROH-LU: Dream Team won when Alberto survived near finishes from the ROH team to submit Moose to the armbar with about 4o seconds left.
Semifinal B: Leyendas vs TNA-LU: Mundo beat Solar with the Fin de Mundo in the shortest match so far.
Final Matchups
Third Place: ROH-LU vs Leyendas: Cage, ACH and Moose win the bronze. They went straight to the OT. The show is going so long at this point, so it made sense. Demon and ACH were the first match up, going to a draw with ACH hitting a 450 splash just too late. Cage beat Wagner clean with a F5. Wagner was stretched out.
Championship: Dream Team vs TNA-LU: Another regulation draw. Myzteziz and Anderson went to a time limit draw in the first OT. Alberto got Matt Hardy in the armbar in the second, but time ran out before Matt gave up. Rey and Mundo were the final pair. Both kicked out of finishers, with Rey winning with a top rope headscissors cradle to take the championship with 10 seconds left.
Watching English audio with my daughters has been an adventure.
Saw most of the first round but then Santos was slaughtering Chivas so… I didn’t mind about the referees being really bad, that fits the World Cup thing :p Weird that they had those hot saves spots which are not that good in lucha (even more so for AAA audiences), and even weirder that Lucha Underground does not use them that much, so they’re into something O.o
They probably need the sudden death thing to be different, maybe 12 minute time limit, a horn sounds and red lights turn on and from there they keep going but match ends in a 2 count or something really weird to protect guys (in case they bring bigger names next year).
Alan – So did you have to explain to your daughters what Vamp meant when he explained a REAL Canadian Destroyer is when he has a one night stand in Canada?:p