Lucha Underground 2×4: Cero Miedo

Puma's as impressive as a strong guy as is a high flyer
Puma’s as impressive as a strong guy as he is as a high flyer

the matches

Angelico [O], Ivelisse & Son of Havoc b Chavo Guerrero, Mr. Cisco & Cortez Castro [X] (5:55, top rope double stomp, OK)
Cage b Joey Ryan (4:07, screwdriver ok)
Prince Puma b Pentagon Jr. (7:53, bridging escape of a tapatia, great)

the developments

The main event was the big thing. In a back and forth match, Puma survived the package piledirver and was able to bridge out of a double pin on tapatia to get the win. Pentagon had his shoulders down and did not realize it; announcers noted during the match that Pentagon was being too confident and not trying as hard to win as he should. Pentagon attacked the referee because of the decision, but Puma knocked down Pentagon and teased breaking his arm. Puma did not, but made it clear he was coming for Mil Muertes. Of note, Vampiro stood up from the announce desk when Puma was trying to break the arm, but did not get involved.

Cortez having no luck finding Dario or Angelico on this dive
Cortez having no luck finding Dario or Angelico on this dive

Everything else seemed to kind of place setting for things happening later on in this season.

Cage defeated the debuting Joey Ryan (who joined PJ Black with a loss in his first match.) Ryan had bragged to his reluctant ally Cortez/Reyes that he’d win in his debut. Ryan did better than you’d figure against The Machine before taking a screwdriver for the loss. Johnny Mundo, who earlier had some awfully familiar words about being disrespected by being put in the opener of Ultima Lucha, tried attacking Cage after the match. Just like last time, it failed and Cage got the better of it. Cage versus Mundo will happen next week.

Angelico, Ivelisse and Son of Havoc earlier won a trios match over the Crew. Ivelisse had demanded an an immediate trios title rematch against the Disciples, only for Catrina to tell her she wasn’t doing automatic title rematches for former champions. However, after winning, it seems like the ex-champs are the most (and only) logical contenders. Chavo blamed his partners for the loss, yelling at them and not realizing Texano Jr. was running into attack all of them until almost too late. Chavo got away with being hit, as he usually does.

In solely out of the ring action, a Rey Mysterio Jr./Dragon Azteca Jr. training session provided the cover for some back story explanation. Mysterio explained Azteca and Dario’s father had met in Mexico long ago, researching the prophecy of the seven tribes. Dario’s father got into the evil side of the prophecy, whatever that is, and using it for sacrificing people. That includes handing over the body of one of his son’s (Matanza) to an evil god. Dragon Azteca and Dario’s father split, but made an agreement that neither man may step on the other’s domain, or they’d die. Dragon Azteca did so last season and did die, so Mysterio understandable is not in a hurry to running back after Dario. However, Rey thinks they get around all of this by reuniting the Seven Tribes. (That was the same thing Aerostar set off to do last episode.)

Screwdriver
Screwdriver

The show closed with a disoriented and frightened Sexy Star escaping from something in the hallways of the Temple. Willie Mack stopped her, confused at what was going on and who was chasing her. Sexy told Willie “Moth”, but clarified that it was a her and not a him. Sexy pointed in the direction of her chaser, and the last shot of the show was Mack also being scared of whatever they saw.

thoughts

The first part of the episode kind of dragged. They’re pacing out their stories to pay off later, which left of this episode as moving pieces around the board to set up the big plays later. That’s not always a problem, there’s been inconsequential matches on this show which have been really good. (The Crew had the best one of these last year, when they faced Argenis, Super Fly and Aerostar.) Those first two matches just weren’t that good. They weren’t bad, they just served their purpose and that was all.

Angelico came off the best in the trios match, both by his moves and by layout – he’s the only one on his team who didn’t need to make tags. Chavo’s one of the least interesting characters on this show – the announcers spending a few moments in every match saying “you know the Guerreros? He’s a Guerrero!” is an active determent and this point – and he’s also one of the least interesting in-ring guys. RIP Bael.

Maybe the key to winning in your debut is wearing a mask? Joey lost, PJ lost, Jack Evans lost but Kobra Moon won. Considering it was Cage, Ryan did much better than I’d think. I was prepped for a one minute squash. Four minutes isn’t that long, but the expectations made it feel much longer. This feels hypocritical based on what I thought of PJ Black’s debut, but Ryan’s vignettes made him seem much more like a fool, and Cage was laying waste to people a season ago. He did again here, though it was much more trouble than it had been before.

flipping off a backcracker is the move of 2016
flipping off a backcracker is the move of 2016

The concept of Joey Ryan is more interesting than the wrestling of Joey Ryan. It’s also the weird storyline issue of Joey Ryan can’t be acknowledged as Joey Ryan, because this character is supposed to be an undercover cop who wasn’t a wrestler before this case, not a well traveled indie wrestler. (Unless the LA Police have a full time undercover indie wrestler.) It’d make more sense from a creative standpoint if he was named other than Joey Ryan, but you don’t get the attention you do when you have the actual Joey Ryan.

The Seven Tribes stuff sometimes comes off as a bit of mystical nonsense. It’s tough to slow down and explain what the deal is (and it’s unclear if they want to do a big explanation at this point), but it also feels like it’s a big pivotal point to this season. Rey laid it as if we have to see the Seven Tribes united before we see Dragon Azteca Jr. (and probably Rey) at the Temple and in the ring, and we don’t even quite know who’s they’re looking for, or that even if it’s a mystery to be solved or just a sort of McGuffin. I feel like I could spend the next paragraph speculating on the 7 Tribes (and may have before I deleted it), but I also feel like maybe me a 2% of the audience care at this point. Which seems like a problem for a central idea on the show.

The main event made the show worth watching. Those two have a longer, better match in them, but this was a fine sub ten minute match as a warmup encounter. I’m not sure if an unfocused Pentagon Jr. was supposed to be part of the story, but the announcers helped the match by bringing it in. (This was a good performance by Vampiro, who seemed not as into the rest of the show.) The match was impressive and the finish was close enough that Pentagon didn’t feel hurt by losing, it was just another amazing athletic display by Puma.

There were small touches that were nice. The Mundo vignette was great and fit with his character, even if you didn’t realize he was reciting Alberto el Patron real life complaints. The Mysterio/Azteca fight was a good way of getting thru the backstory without boring people. Sexy Star & the Mack felt like a scene out of a horror movie, appropriately so for their title match. And, this one really means nothing, but when Catrina was licking the dagger in the opening vignette, it finally occurred to me that she was channeling Angelina Jolie and that idea amused me.

cero miedo, but two shoulders down
cero miedo, but two shoulders down

AAA on Televisa: 2016-02-06 

Suicide wins via near Suicide
Suicide wins via near Suicide

Recapped: 02/06/2016
This is Guerra de Titanes part 2, taped 2016-01-22 in Mexico City.

What happened: Cuervo, Scoria and Zorro are the new AAA trios champions. Suicide got another win over Daga. Rey de Reyes was announced for March 11th in Tampico.

What was good: I really liked the Jack/Fenix/Suicide vs Daga/Fly/Parka trios. I could take or leave the rest.

Where can I watch it: It’s on AAA’s channel. Read More

Zeuxis & Silueta title match, Panther/Infiernos, Lucha Underground

Caristico tope
Caristico tope

CMLL (TUE) 02/16/2016 Arena México [CMLL, thecubsfan, Yahoo! Deportes]
1) Bengala & Leono b Akuma & Espanto Jr. LUCHA LIBRE MARTES DE NUEVOS VALORES EN LA ARENA MEXICO 16 DE FEBRERO DEL 2016 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
12:45. Tecnicos took 2/3.
2) Demus 3:16, Mercurio, Pierrothito b Astral, Stukita, Último Dragóncito LUCHA LIBRE MARTES DE NUEVOS VALORES EN LA ARENA MEXICO 16 DE FEBRERO DEL 2016 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
17:57. Rudos took 1/3.
3) Nitro, Okumura, Raijin b Delta, Fuego, Pegasso LUCHA LIBRE MARTES DE NUEVOS VALORES EN LA ARENA MEXICO 16 DE FEBRERO DEL 2016 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
11:39. Rudos took 2/3. Sangre Azteca was listed as replacing Fujin, but it ended up being Nitro.
4) Silueta b Zeuxis [lightning] LUCHA LIBRE MARTES DE NUEVOS VALORES EN LA ARENA MEXICO 16 DE FEBRERO DEL 2016 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
6:49. Silueta won with a missile dropkick, but the match seemed to end early. Zeuxis suffered a foot injury when she was armdragged on the ramp, made worse when a Silueta plancha to the floor landed short on Zeuxis’ feet. Silueta challenged Zeuxis to a title match next week and Zeuxis stopped the medics long enough to accept.
5) Ephesto, Luciferno, Mephisto b Blue Panther, Blue Panther Jr., The Panther LUCHA LIBRE MARTES DE NUEVOS VALORES EN LA ARENA MEXICO 16 DE FEBRERO DEL 2016 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
10:45. Hijos del Infierno took 1/3, the last when an eliminated Luciferno snuck back in to foul Blue Panther Sr., giving Mephisto the win.
6) Carístico, Rey Cometa, Súper Porky b Boby Z, Felino, Mr. Niebla LUCHA LIBRE MARTES DE NUEVOS VALORES EN LA ARENA MEXICO 16 DE FEBRERO DEL 2016 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
11:01. Tecnicos took 2/3. Caristico replaced Titan on Friday, making his first appearance on a Tuesday show since leaving the promotion.

Nothing on the show stood out positively to me, but the main event felt like the best of the show. A lot of stuff almost worked, but only almost worked.

On her Facebook, Zeuxis said it was just an injury scare and she’ll be fine for next week. Live, it came off like she rebroke her foot and would be gone for a long time, and Silueta’s challenge for a title match seemed out of place. There was a reason for the urgency in the title match: Silueta is heading back to REINA on 02/25 for three months and Zeuxis will also go 03/22 for two weeks. I was unsure that REINA was still a thing, but they have shows on 02/28, 03/20, 03/25 (Korakuen Hall) and 04/01; Zeuxis is probably working the last too.

Not sure if this means Silueta is intended to win this title before going to Japan, since this title program follows the usual pattern of hurrying a title switch before a trip. Silueta is the current REINA International Junior Champion, a title I also forgot existed, so she may not need a title to have title matches.

Today’s Lucha Underground is the fourth episode of the season, entitled Cero Miedo. Matches advertised for this show so far

  • Chavo Guerrero, Mr. Cisco and Cortez Castro in a trios mach
  • Joey Ryan debuts
  • Prince Puma versus Pentagon Jr.

Puma/Pentagon should be very good. El Rey’s posted the first moments of the match as their teaser.

Segunda Caida reviews Black Terry vs Rey Hechicero.

Black Fire made it to Germany. He’s getting in to an important match quick, challenging Kim Ray for the DTU Alto Impacto championship on Saturday in Bielefeld, Germany.

Laredo Kid talks about the kids he’s training in the US.

Baby Killer took Metal Drago’s mask in Tlaquepaque, Jalisco. No name mentioned in the report. Yes, someone’s really named Baby Killer.

Lineups

IWRG (SUN) 02/21/2016 Arena Naucalpan
1) Alas de Acero & Aramis vs Adrenalina & Power Bull
2) Astro & Súper Astro vs Hip Hop Man & Matrix Jr.
3) Black Terry, Cerebro Negro, Dr. Cerebro vs Diablo Jr. I, El Hijo del Diablo, El Imposible [super libre]
4) Diva Salvaje, Pasion Kristal, Súper Nova vs Apolo Estrada Jr., Canis Lupus, Eterno
5) Hijo De Dos Caras, Solar I, Veneno vs Heddi Karaoui, Herodes Jr., Mr. Águila

Looks like no show Wednesday. Mr. Aguila hasn’t been here in a long time: his last match was September 20th, 2007. The main event is Dos/Herodes focused, though Dos may be off next week’s card for WWC.

CMLL (TUE) 02/23/2016 Arena México
1) Bengala & Metatrón vs Camorra & Espíritu Negro
2) Aéreo, Angelito, Fantasy vs Pequeño Nitro, Pequeño Olímpico, Pequeño Violencia
3) Hombre Bala Jr., Stigma, Súper Halcón Jr. vs Arkángel de la Muerte, Cancerbero, Raziel
4) Zeuxis © vs Silueta [MEX WOMEN]
Zeuxis fourth defense
5) Blue Panther, Blue Panther Jr., The Panther vs Ephesto, Luciferno, Mephisto
6) Gran Guerrero, Niebla Roja, Último Guerrero vs Ángel de Oro, Súper Porky, Valiente

Ultimo Guerrero on this card means he’s probably not wrestling Friday, which means they’re probably not doing Thunder/UG next week (though I guess they could do Thunder/Euforia.) Thunder’s going at least 19 days between matches again. The clock is ticking down on that being the Dos Leyendas main event, though there’s still time.

Semifinal follows up last week’s issue and may lead to a title match on 03/01.

CMLL (TUE) 02/23/2016 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Omar Brunetti & Vaquero Jr. vs Furia Roja & Joker
2) Gallo, Robin, Star Jr. vs Espanto Jr., Metálico, Ráfaga
3) Esfinge, Fuego, Pegasso vs Disturbio, Puma, Tiger
4) Rey Cometa, Stuka Jr., Titán vs Boby Z, Dragón Rojo Jr., Pólvora
5) Marco Corleone, Máscara Dorada, Volador Jr. vs Cavernario, Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas

Volador and Casas matched up last night and match up here again, so they may just be taking that singles match around the horn.

CMLL ELITE (SAT) 03/12/2016 Expalenque de la Feria, Chilpancingo, Guerrero
1) Black Terry, Cerebro Negro, Dr. Cerebro vs Golden Magic, Relámpago (IWRG), Skayde
2) Fresero Jr., Halloween, X-Fly vs Apolo Estrada Jr., Canis Lupus, Eterno (EDM)
3) Carístico, Máscara Dorada, Mistico vs Black Warrior, La Máscara, Mephisto

CMLL ELITE (THU) 03/17/2016 Gimnasio Miguel Hidalgo, Puebla, Puebla
1) Mini Rey Cometa & Rey Infierno vs Amnesia & Súper Bick
2) Mini Multifacético, Rey Celestial, Tony vs Corsario De Fuego, Poseidón (Veracruz), Triple X (Veracruz)
3) Blue Panther & Virus vs Black Terry & Solar I
4) Felino, Mr. Niebla, Negro Casas vs Black Warrior, Sharly Rockstar, Súper Crazy
5) Ángel de Oro, Carístico, Mistico vs Cibernético, La Máscara, Mephisto

Elite continues to take steps into running touring shows, good news for everyone if it works. The Black Terry matches on both these shows seem fun.

Not sure what the deal is with the Veracruz (Xalapa) luchadors being in Puebla, but it doesn’t seem to be a one off random appearance.

great match roundup, week of 2016-01-30

I didn’t really like anything this week! That’s no good.

rating matches TV Show taped
good Aerostar & Fénix vs Máscara Año 2000 Jr. & Villano IV andAverno & Chessman for the AAA World Tag Team Championship AAA on Televisa: 2016-01-30 2016-01-22
good Asturiano & Black Tiger vs Ares & Espíritu Maligno CMLL Internet Exclusives: 2016-02-01 2016-02-01
good Dragón Lee, Máscara Dorada, Volador Jr. vs Negro Casas, Rey Bucanero, Último Guerrero CMLL Internet Exclusives: 2016-02-01 2016-02-01
good Delta vs Hechicero in a lightning match CMLL Internet Exclusives: 2016-02-02 2016-02-02
good Pentagón Jr. & Prince Puma vs Barrio Negro, El Siniestro De La Muerte, Trece Lucha Underground: 2016-02-03 2015-11-14
good Stuka Jr. vs Boby Z in a lightning match CMLL on ClaroSports.com: 2016-02-05 2016-02-05
good Blue Panther, La Máscara, Titán vs Luciferno, Rey Bucanero, Vangellys CMLL on ClaroSports.com: 2016-02-05 2016-02-05
good Dragón Lee, Marco Corleone, Máximo Sexy vs Kamaitachi, Terrible, Último Guerrero CMLL on ClaroSports.com: 2016-02-05 2016-02-05
good Máscara Dorada, Mistico, Volador Jr. vs Cavernario, Mephisto, Negro Casas CMLL on ClaroSports.com: 2016-02-05 2016-02-05
ok Magnus & Metatrón vs Rey Apocalipsis & Toro Bill Jr. CMLL Internet Exclusives: 2016-02-01 2016-02-01
ok Blue Panther Jr., Delta, Stigma vs Boby Z, Pierroth, Sagrado CMLL Internet Exclusives: 2016-02-01 2016-02-01
ok Ángel de Oro, Titán, Tritón vs Ephesto, Luciferno, Mephisto CMLL Internet Exclusives: 2016-02-01 2016-02-01
ok Metatrón & Sensei vs Cholo & Espanto Jr. CMLL Internet Exclusives: 2016-02-02 2016-02-02
ok Hombre Bala Jr., Starman, Súper Halcón Jr. vs El Cuatrero, Sansón, Skándalo CMLL Internet Exclusives: 2016-02-02 2016-02-02
ok Oro Jr., Pegasso, Tritón vs Cancerbero, Raziel, Virus CMLL Internet Exclusives: 2016-02-02 2016-02-02
ok Fuego, Guerrero Maya Jr., Super Porky vs Felino, Ripper, Tiger CMLL Internet Exclusives: 2016-02-02 2016-02-02
ok Johnny Mundo vs Killshot Lucha Underground: 2016-02-03 2015-11-14
ok PJ Black vs the Mack Lucha Underground: 2016-02-03 2015-11-14
ok Astral & Eléctrico vs Demus 3:16 & Pequeño Olímpico CMLL on ClaroSports.com: 2016-02-05 2016-02-05
ok Estrellita, Marcela, Princesa Sugehit vs Amapola, Dalys, Zeuxis CMLL on ClaroSports.com: 2016-02-05 2016-02-05
below average Faby Apache, Goya Kong, Maravilla vs Keira, Lady Shani, Taya [lumberjack strap] AAA on Televisa: 2016-01-30 2016-01-22
below average Dr. Wagner Jr. & Psycho Clown vs El Mesías & Texano Jr.for the AAA World Heavyweight Championship and in a tournament semifinal match AAA on Televisa: 2016-01-30 2016-01-22
below average Rush vs Thunder CMLL Internet Exclusives: 2016-02-01 2016-02-01
below average Gran Guerrero, Mr. Niebla, Niebla Roja vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Pólvora, Thunder CMLL Internet Exclusives: 2016-02-02 2016-02-02
watch later Alas de Acero, Aramis, Dragón Fly vs Adrenalina, Atomic Star, Vórtize IWRG Zona XXI: 2016-02-01 2016-01-27
watch later Centvrión, Diablo Jr. I, Dragón Fly, Freyser, Hijo de Mascara Sagrada, Hijo del Alebrije, Imposible, Power Bull vs Balak, Danger King, Energia, Imposter, Motocross, Novasonic,Orión, Royer Boy [Copa Higher Power] IWRG Zona XXI: 2016-02-01 2016-01-27