Lucha Underground 2×11: Bird of War

The Mack's dive is slightly outshined by this dancing fool
The Mack’s dive is outshined by this dancing fool

Matches

Ivelisse beat Kobra Moon (6:29, Code Red, OK)

Cortez Castro, Mr. Cisco, Joey Ryan [O] defeated the Mack, Marty Martinez [X], Mariposa (8:30, Psycho Realm → Ryan steals pin, OK) in the trios tournament

Matanza destroys Fenix (4:47, Wrath of the Gods, good)

Developments

capture Ivie-plex
capture Ivie-plex

Matanza is the center of things. The announcers revealed early on Fenix would be getting his title match in the main event (and that’s all that was said about the match on a show busy with vignettes.) Fenix fared better than in Aztec Warfare in that he lasted more than 20 seconds, but didn’t really accomplish any more than Pentagon Jr. did last week. He kind of lost more impressive, but that’s more Matanza impressing by throwing the former champion around. Matanza attemped to rip Fenix’s mask and/or face off after the match, with Catrina and Mil Muertes surprisingly making the save. It appeared to be about Muertes wanting to be next in line for a shot, but the scene of Mil making the save for Fenix was surprising.

Vampiro notable did not make the save. Dario ran into him in the bathroom at the start of the show, noting that Pentagon Jr. was still alive after fightning Matanza but Vampiro might not be so lucky if he tries the same. Vampiro very much wanted revenge, but didn’t go for it and seems to be on his medicine. Later, Striker said he heard Pentagon had a fractured vertabreea nd Vampiro refused to confirm.

The trios tournament is underway, with all new combinations. The announcers were unsure what the winner got, which seems like a little issue, but we got a sense of who’s in the tournament. The first tournament had two oddball teams: the Crew teaming with Joey Ryan and the Moths (Marty & Mariposa) with the Mack. The Crew are apparently faces now – hanging around Joey Ryan makes everyone likable by comparison. Neither team totally got along, but the issues were bigger on the second team’s side. Mack and Marty fought, Mack dropped Marty with a stunner, the Crew added their finish, and Ryan stole the pin. Mariposa attacked Mack after the match with Sexy Star – who had early been too scared to get involved – fighting thru her fears to attack her tormentor.

?
The Treatment (Crew has weird names for moves)

Earlier, Ryan & Cortez met with their commanding officer. We learned Ryan had met with Dario to set up the Cortez/Ryan team, their boss wanted them to win the trios titles to get event closer, and Joey Ryan’s real name is “Officer Meehan.”

Next week’s match is half revealed. Dragon Azteca re-painted the question mark back on the roof (or some old footage was used?) to call Rey Mysterio. Mysterio reminded Azteca how easily he got beat by Matanza – Dragon needs to get better before he seeks revenge. Mysterio had an alternate plan for the moment, to take part in the trios tournament. Mysterio revealed the team would be Rey, Dragon Azteca and Prince Puma (who said his first word on the show: “me”.) They wrestle next week.

I’m not sure if Famous B is putting together his own trio, but he did appear to pitch Máscarita Sagrada on his fame making service. Famous B seemed to have his eye on Sagrada during the Aztec Warfare match too. Famous B didn’t seem to extend his pitch to the Mack or Sexy Star despite going past them.

Killshot got a profile video. He enlisted in (unspecifed military service) the day he turned 18 and became an expert sniper, which is where he got his name. He had 37 confirmed kills, but he and the fellow members of his off the books elite strike force were captured. Killshot was prisoner for 13 months before he shot his way out, and doesn’t know what happened to the rest of his group or if they’re still alive.

Ivelisse and Kobra Moon had a match. Ivelisse won. The Kobra Moon win streak is over. There’s nothing much that connected that too anything else, except to maybe to remind you that Ivelisse is a trios champion and that might matter for the trios tournament.

Thoughts

Fenix takes flight, sort of
Fenix takes flight, sort of

I can not come up with a lot of stuff to write about this show, which doesn’t seem great. I did like the show overall more than last week, more because they were more clearly moving things along in different stories.

The Ivelisse/Kobra Moon match got strongly negative reviews live. They managed to make it OK on video, though the submission focus was a lot different than a normal Lucha Underground match and they had more problems as they sped up. With Moon not in Aztec Warfare, still with no storyline, and now losing a match, it feels like they’re pulled back a bit on her.

The trios tournament match was fine; I could go OK or good on it. It’s really strange that the Crew are suddenly técnicos – Striker tried to sell it as people getting behind on them for ditchign Chavo, but it feels like there needs to be something stronger. Match was alright, with Mack being the highlight. Or the crazy dancing guy being the highlight.

this forearm would've beat me
this forearm would’ve beat me

I liked this main event better than last week. Fenix is better at dying impressively, and his dive being caught into a powerslam is about as impressive as it comes. Mil rocked Matanza enough to give the impression someone might be able to evetnaully harm him.

The “I don’t what happened to my fellow soldiers” is a story that has never ever ended well for the guy who got out. Killshot should keep an eye out for any laser pointers in his direction. It was a good profile vignette and it did give us more reason to care about Killshot besides being a random guy in a mask.

Puma, Rey and Dragon should be an awesome trio. Looking forward to next week. It’s amusing that Prince Puma just started talking like a normal person after 49 episodes of not talking, but that’s OK.

Vampiro name dropped Bas Rutten, Dan Gable and Andy Hug in the first half hour alone. That must be some medicine!

Fenix snuffed out
Fenix snuffed out

 

Esfinge & Volador Jr. win Gran Alternativa, Volador vs Caristico tonight, LU

 

winners
winners

CMLL (TUE) 04/05/2016 Arena México [thecubsfan]
1) Astral & Eléctrico b Pequeño Nitro & Pequeño Olímpico LUCHA LIBRE MARTES DE NUEVOS VALORES EN LA ARENA MEXICO 5 DE ABRIL DEL 2016 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
12:44. Tecnicos took 1/3.
2) Amapola, La Comandante, Tiffany b Estrellita, La Vaquerita, Princesa Sugehit LUCHA LIBRE MARTES DE NUEVOS VALORES EN LA ARENA MEXICO 5 DE ABRIL DEL 2016 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
15:44. Rudas took 2/3.
3) Súper Halcón Jr. b Nitro [lightning] LUCHA LIBRE MARTES DE NUEVOS VALORES EN LA ARENA MEXICO 5 DE ABRIL DEL 2016 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
8:01. Nitro won via submission.
4) Blue Panther, Blue Panther Jr., The Panther b Disturbio, Puma, Tiger LUCHA LIBRE MARTES DE NUEVOS VALORES EN LA ARENA MEXICO 5 DE ABRIL DEL 2016 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
17:16. Panthers took 1/3. In the last, Panther Jr. defeated Disturbio then Puma and the Panther went to a double pin. Referee was completely confused on the finish and it took a while to sort it.
5) Guerrero Maya Jr., Máscara Dorada, Máximo Sexy b Ephesto, Luciferno, Mephisto LUCHA LIBRE MARTES DE NUEVOS VALORES EN LA ARENA MEXICO 5 DE ABRIL DEL 2016 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
12:35. Tecnicos took 1/3.
6) Esfinge & Volador Jr. b Fujin & Rey Escorpión [Gran Alternativa, final] LUCHA LIBRE MARTES DE NUEVOS VALORES EN LA ARENA MEXICO 5 DE ABRIL DEL 2016 (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
19:36. Tecnicos took 2/3. Esfinge beat Rey Escorpion to win the Gran Alternativa.

The tournament shows, especially last week’s, were better than the final. Esfinge and Volador talked about the win and Volador talked up tonight’s match with Caristico.

At Mexico City’s Homenaje a Dos Leyendas, Cibernetico and Ultimo Guerrero were on the same team, ended up fighting, then set up a singles match for the following week. At Guadalajara’s Homenaje a Dos Leyendas last night, Cibernetico and Ultimo Guerrero were on the same team, ended up fighting, then set up a singles match for the following week.

As expected, Vaquero Jr. took Espectrum’s hair. Attendance looked super for this show, the biggest crowd in Arena Coliseo Guadalajara in a while.

Tonight is the eleventh episode of the second season of Lucha Underground (taped December 13rd.) The episode is called “Bird of War”, and the show description reveals the main event. I’ll assume you don’t want to see that and list the matches announced so far:

  • Kobra Moon vs Ivelisse
  • the start of the trios titles tournament

There’s one more match – that’s the one in the episode description. There’s also a preview Vampiro/Cueto meeting which probably kicks off tonight’s show. Dario Cueto ran a trios tournament last year. I was laying in bed last night trying to remember all the teams, which says some discouraging things about myself personally but makes it easy to listen them here

Aerostar, Fenix, Drago (Aerostar & Drago were in the midst of their Best of 5)
Ivelisse, Angelico, Son of Havoc (peak disfunction)
Big Ryck, Killshot, The Mack (debut for Killshot and Mack)
Pentagon Jr., Sexy Star, Super Fly (start of their feud)
Johnny Mundo, Prince Puma, Hernandez (building to the Puma/Hernandez feud, also epic handshake)
Cage, Texano, King Cuerno (put together after all 6 had gotten involved in a Cuerno/Puma title match)
Bael, Cortez Castro, Mr. Cisco (last second additions, RIP Bael)

The Crew already existed. Big Ryck’s team was put in so Big Ryck’s team wouldn’t murder Dario. Puma got to assemble own team, and it appeared the rudos who faced them got to put themselves together too. The other four teams Dario put together always had people who weren’t keen on working together and either had to make it work to win the titles or fell apart into violence. This is another Cueto trios tournament, and I’d kind of expect the same. Lucha Underground’s preview says we’re going to see some new teams, and they’re surely right.

Also, that Aerostar, Fenix, Drago trio keeps coming up!

Today is Week 2 of 33 of the Liga Elite tournament. Tonight’s singles matches are Atlantis versus La Mascara and Caristico vs Volador, a highly anticipated match. Last week was the first week on TV, and it’s worth watching to see if being on Azteca 7 and promoting those two matches increases the crowd size. The semimain is Cibernetico, Mephisto, and Negro Casas versus the returning Toscano, Marco Corleone and Maximo. Last week’s semimain trios set up the following week’s singles match. That would mean Maximo versus either Negro Casas or Cibernetico, with the other facing the mystery 12th man. (Might they announce a 12th man tonight? Is it just still Juvy?) Show starts at 8pm, around when Lucha Underground ends.

IWRG has a Gym FILL vs Gym Zeuz trainees apuesta match tonight, plus Eterno & Canis Lupus versus the Traumas.

The annual Puebla Fair will have a month worth’s of lucha libre shows, with CMLL and indie luchadors. There’s been title matches on these in past years, but none announced this year. They do have a main event trio of Super Porky, Mascara Sagrada and Gronda one day.

Despite showing up in AAA, Damian and Halloween are still listed as working at least some Elite shows. Maybe that’ll change.

Delta may be missing from CMLL, but he says he’s working in Reynosa this weekend.

LuchaWorld has this week’s top 10 rankings.

Segunda Caida reviews Héctor Garza, La Sombra, Shocker vs Rey Bucanero, Terrible, Texano

San Luis Potosi luchador/trainer Furia Azul, Mariano Ortiz, passed away due to a heart attack. He was 64.

Vice writes about Lucha Libre Volcanica’s efforts to change wrestling regulation in Washingston.

SoCal Uncensored has a good guide on how to get to lucha libre shows in Tijuana.

La Piedad luchadors are looking to restore funding for their school/building.

Lineups

CMLL (TUE) 04/12/2016 Arena México
1) Flyer & Robin vs Artillero & Inquisidor
2) Soberano Jr., Star Jr., Starman vs Arkángel de la Muerte, Canelo Casas, Metálico
3) Stigma vs Disturbio [lightning]
4) Esfinge, Guerrero Maya Jr., Pegasso vs Luciferno, Misterioso Jr., Sagrado
5) La Máscara, Súper Porky, Titán vs Gran Guerrero, Kráneo, Mr. Niebla
6) Dragón Lee, Máscara Dorada, Stuka Jr. vs Dragón Rojo Jr., Pólvora, Rey Escorpión

Esfinge is basically in the same place as ever. Maybe he’s getting his main events on another show. Maybe he’s getting them on the same show Bobby Z is getting his title match.

CMLL (TUE) 04/12/2016 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Neutrón & Star Black vs Gitano & Thunder Boy
2) Magnus, Marvel, Vaquero Jr. vs Espectrúm, Raziel, Skándalo
3) Estrellita, Marcela, Princesa Sugehit vs Amapola, Tiffany, Zeuxis
4) Ángel de Oro, Máximo Sexy, Tritón vs Bobby Z, Pierroth, Rey Bucanero
5) Atlantis, Marco Corleone, Volador Jr. vs Shocker, Terrible, Vangellys
6) Cibernético vs Último Guerrero

That would be Shocker’s first match back since January. CMLL said he’d be out four months at the time, so this seems to be a month early.