Lucha Underground 4×15: The Hunted

nastier than a tweet

Matches

Fenix beat Aerostar
(6:16, Fenix Valagueza powerbomb – Black Fire Driver, good)

Marty the Moth beat Dragon Azteca Jr. (c) beat to win the Gift of the Gods Championship
(4:47, double underhook DDT, ok)

Pentagon Dark defeated Mil Muertes and King Cuerno to keep the Lucha Underground Championship
(6:01, package piledriver, good)

Marty Martinez defeated Pentagon Dark to keep the Lucha Underground Championship
(3:33, double underhook DDT package piledriver, ok)

Status Check

Horuz over the top

Champion: Marty the Moth (0 defenses)

Gift of the Gods: Vacant.

Trios Champions: Reptile Tribe (Kobra Moon, Daga, Jeremiah Snake) (1 defense)

Died This Season (14): Jeremiah Crane (casket)*, Fenix (casket/lifeforce absorbed), Mr. Pec-tacular (sacrificed), Cortez Castro (sacrificed), Máscarita Sagrada (murdered by Rabbits), Vinnie Massaro (sacrificed), Pizza Guy (sacrificed), Vibora (beheaded), Mala Suerte (sacrificed) , Saltador (sacrificed), Benji the Agent (murdered by Ricky), Angelico (implied to have been murdered by Ricky), Catrina (fell off a roof), Joey Wrestling (sacrificed)

Resurrected (2): Jeremiah Crane/Snake, Fenix

Developments

this seemed not fun

This has been a pretty pitiful season for Marty the Moth Martinez. Pentagon broke his arm in Aztec Warfare to start the season. Marty’s only been seen in two vignettes in the thirteen episodes since that time. It turned around in one show. Marty had the greatest night of his career, ending it as Lucha Underground champion.

It helps to have things break your way. Marty got unexpected luck early. Fenix destroyed Aerostar and confronted Melissa post-match. Dragon Azteca decided to get in the middle and paid for it. Fenix ended up dropping him on the floor with his valagueza powerbomb – dubbed the Black Fire Driver by Matt Striker – and Azteca was really in no condition to defend his title.

Azteca insisted on doing it anyway, especially when Antonio Cueto said he was going to just rule it as a forfeit. Azteca put up a fight and got in one moment of hope, but eventually lost cleanly to Marty’s double underhook DDT.

how dumb are you King Cuerno

Pentagon Dark survived the double challenge of Mil Muerte and King Cuerno to keep his title, only to be immediately attacked. The strange amount of time remaining gave a hint as to what was happening next. Antonio Cueto appeared to state Marty persuaded him that the “one week notice” rule on the Gift of the Gods championship was a dumb idea, and he was waving it going forward. (This was the other thing Marty bought last week.) Cueto ordered the match started with Marty against a beat up Pentagon.

Marty had control most of the short match, but Pentagon caught him with the Mexican Destroyer. Marty smartly rolled out before he could be pinned. Marty also apparently made his own luck: a previously unseen woman crawled into the ring and surprised Pentagon with a Canadian Destroyer. (It’s Chelesa Green, who was not given a name.) Marty hit his double underhook DDT, and shockingly ended Pentagon’s reign.

Small detail: this week, Striker acknowledged Mil Muertes was on his own. He did while seemingly going out of this way to not mention Catrina by name.

In the only unrelated segment of the night, Paul London was granted an audience with the White Rabbit. London noted how long it took to get noticed and mentioned sacrificing Saltador & Mala Surete. The White Rabbit paid no attention to any of that, only noting London was down two teammates and suggesting himself and El Bunny fill in. London agreed to take them back to the Temple.

Marty’s cash-in means the Gift of the Gods title is now vacant. The usual end of season Medalion scramble should begin shortly. We should also expect to start hearing matches for Ultima Lucha 4 (just 6 episodes away) at any time. It sure appeared a couple were set up on this show.

Thoughts

Aerostar flies

This episode was all in service of telling the story of Marty scheming his way to a championship. The matches were a bit sacrificed to tell that story. They’re always shortchanged on a four-match show. They were designed not to be much in two of them, with similar “the champion is too hurt to put up a challenge” stories being told. It worked if you got into the Marty win, and it came so out of nowhere (even with the pieces laid out last week) that it was memorable. I’m not sure I’m excited about a Marty title run, but it’s understandable they’d want to give it a try after his strong work in his feud with Fenix and Killshot last season. It just also feels part of the erratic nature of this season for someone to be gone for two-thirds of it and end up as champion.

Dark Fenix, as we’re no doubt supposed to think of him, really stood out in his match with Aerostar. I’m still not convinced that a rudo Fenix is the best use of him, but he’s really good at the sinister zombie act he’s doing, and it does freshen him up after basically being the same character for the entire run so far. (There’s few characters from the initial run of episodes who haven’t been changed or disappeared for a stretch.) Fenix & Aerostar probably could’ve done much more given the time, but they made the most out of what they had and the bigger match is the one with Azteca.

not nice to meet you

Mil/Cuerno/Pentagon took the hardest hit from the storyline requirements. Marty/Azteca could’ve been better, but those three guys are among the best luchadors who’ve been on the promotion and it felt too hurried to be a big-time match. It was reminiscent of the Cage & Matanza matches that didn’t quite live up to their potential.

The other two matches weren’t much. Pentagon got more offense, though both shared the same couple of hope spots by the champions before they got beat. Marty got a little more help with Pentagon – Penta is historically weak to women doing Canadian Destroyers – but they were notable for the outcome and not a lot that happened in them.

CMLL Tuesday feuds, LU tonight

Microman

CMLL (TUE) 09/18/2018 Arena México [CMLL, LuchaCentralOvacionesThe Gladiatores]
1) Hijo del Signo & Metálico b Arkalis & Sonic LUCHA LIBRE MARTES DE NUEVOS VALORES DE ARENA MEXICO 18 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 2018 FUNCION COMPLETA (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
rudos took 2/3.
2) Amapola, Reyna Isis, Tiffany b La Jarochita, Lluvia, Princesa Sugehit LUCHA LIBRE MARTES DE NUEVOS VALORES DE ARENA MEXICO 18 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 2018 FUNCION COMPLETA (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
rudas took 2/3.
3) Ángel, Gallito, Microman b Chamuel, Mije, Perico Zakarías LUCHA LIBRE MARTES DE NUEVOS VALORES DE ARENA MEXICO 18 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 2018 FUNCION COMPLETA (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
tecnicos took 2/3.
4) Rey Cometa b Drone [lightningLUCHA LIBRE MARTES DE NUEVOS VALORES DE ARENA MEXICO 18 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 2018 FUNCION COMPLETA (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
8:05
5) Kráneo, Valiente, Volcano b Felino, Hechicero, Pólvora LUCHA LIBRE MARTES DE NUEVOS VALORES DE ARENA MEXICO 18 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 2018 FUNCION COMPLETA (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
Volcano Arena Mexico debut. Tecnicos took 2/3.
6) Gran Guerrero, Rey Bucanero, Shocker b Ángel de Oro, Carístico, Niebla Roja LUCHA LIBRE MARTES DE NUEVOS VALORES DE ARENA MEXICO 18 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 2018 FUNCION COMPLETA (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
Rudos took 1/3, Gran Guerrero snuck in a foul on Caristico.

CMLL promos: micro tecnicos, Rey Cometa, and the main event rudos (Shocker doesn’t like the idea that Angel de Oro & Niebla Roja think they’re more guapo then him).

CMLL plays up the Gran Guerrero/Caristico issue, which might mean something if they rematch next week. Caristico has a title to defend now.

CMLL (TUE) 09/18/2018 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara [CMLL]
1) Guerrero Samurai Jr., Principe Daniel, Tigre Blanco b Gran Kenut, Mr. Trueno, Rey Trueno
tecnicos took 2/3.
2) Cholo, Furia Roja, Sangre Azteca b Astral, Eléctrico, Star Black
rudos took 1/3. Astral left hurt.
3) Audaz, Fuego, Guerrero Maya Jr. b Kawato San, Okumura, Universo 2000 Jr.
tecnicos took 2/3.
4) Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón b Esfinge, Soberano Jr., Tritón
Rudos took 1/3. Sanson snuck in a foul on Soberano.
5) Atlantis, Mistico, Volador Jr. Diamante Azul DQ Euforia, Terrible, Último Guerrero
tecnicos took 2/3, the last when UG unmasked Atlantis.

It’s less clear which of these two feuds are actually going anywhere.

Today on CMLL Informa, the Mexican team for the Gran Prix will be announced.

Lucha Underground 4×15 is “The Hunted”. Matches on the show this week

  • Aerostar vs Fenix
  • Dragon Azteca (c) vs Marty the Moth for the Gift of the Gods Championship
  • Pentagon Dark (c) vs Mil Muertes vs King Cuerno for the Lucha Underground Championship

You’ll see lead referee Marty Elias as a referee tonight and for the remaining episodes, but apparently no more. The Floor Seat, where Elias has worked some, says Elias asked for and was given his release. He appears to be telling people that he’s retired.

Elias was on the MMM show back at the end of June, and sounded as excited as anyone about the possibilities of a season 5 (and going on a diet for it), not like someone who was about to leave. Elias was working on The Contender, also produced by Eric Van Wagenen, and appears to be a close friend to other people who work on the show. (Elias also worked on GLOW.) He’s a referee, so he’s not really noticed, but Elias seemed to be a core person on the wrestling side of Lucha Underground and talked on that podcast a lot about how much he enjoyed working there. It would be understandable if he no longer wanted to take the punishment of being a Lucha Underground referee, but Elias also seemed like a guy who’d just be transitioned to working behind the scenes whenever that day came and would be around the show until there was no show. Something had to have changed recently. Even then, LU is notoriously not quick at releasing talent from contracts. I know this seems like nothing because it’s referee, but this feels like a red flag about something.

Lucha Central has an interview with Faby Apache about her Impact debut. That one is years in the making.

Lady Shani, Drago and Psycho Clown are in Colombia to promote the AAA show there.

Lineups

CMLL (MON) 09/24/2018 Arena Puebla
1) Millenium, Robin, Súper Astro Jr. vs King Rocker Jr., Perverso, Policeman
2) Black Panther, Blue Panther Jr., Stigma vs Ares (Costa Rica), Escualo (Costa Rica), Kaiser (Costa Rica)
3) Diamante Azul, Kráneo, Volcano vs Cuatrero, Forastero, Sansón
4) Carístico & Soberano Jr. vs La Bestia Del Ring & Negro Casas
5) Hijo de LA Park & LA Park vs Cavernario & Rush

Sure seems like Puebla is getting LA Park/Rush on 10/01 or 10/18. It was kind for them to move Bestia del Ring out of the match, except if you’re Soberano and Caristico.

On Tuesday, Kraneo was still pushing the concept of Diamante Azul being the third Gorilla del Ring. They all team up here.

It’s not mentioned at all on the poster that the guys in the second match are the previously announced visitors from Costa Rica. They should probably make it a little clearer since Puebla already has an Ares.

new lucha video for the weekend of September 15th, 2018

The Guadalajara show aired an hour early and the feed died after the opener.

CMLL Azteca ends with a very brief backstage brawl between Taven, Volador and Rush that was of course not mentioned elsewhere.

CMLL Guadalajara: 2018-09-15
taped 2018-09-11 @ Arena Coliseo Guadalajara – YouTube/Mega
1) Drone, Guerrero Maya Jr., Rey Cometa vs Misterioso Jr., Sagrado, Virus

CMLL Lucha Azteca: 2018-09-16
taped 2018-09-07 @ Arena México – Mega
1) El Gallito, Guapito, Microman vs Chamuel, Mije, Perico Zacarías
2) Dalys vs Reyna Isis in a lightning match
3) Carístico, Matt Taven, Volador Jr. vs Cavernario, La Bestia Del Ring, Rush in a relevos increíbles match