Gecko Watched Lucha Underground (completed)

[Deleted]

So had to go back and remind myself entirely of the next episode.

IMO easily a top 5 episode of the entire season because not only does it have my fav match of the tourney but everything ramps way the f*** back up.

And it has a production moment that is just amazingly framed...and just adds to onto the zillionth time I can say it NO ON ELSE GETS IT LIKE LU DID!

[Gecko]

Having a week off (possibly two, but probably just one) for... I dunno... A 3/4ths of the way through the season break? ...Elimination Chamber is on and it's like the fourth time in the last few weeks I've had to remember to work around something else taking place? ...International Gecko Appreciation Week? (What d'ya mean that's not a thing?)

[Gecko]

S03E30 – Bloodlines

Last time
- Dario has words with Matanza to try and get him to focus on the important (to Dario) things
- Fenix beat Pindar to move onto the Semi-Finals of the Cueto Cup
- Dario tells Worldwide Underground that PJ, Taya, and Ricky will get a chance at medallions if they don’t get involved in Mundo’s match tonight.
- Puma beat Dante Fox for a Semi-Final spot in the CC
- Killshot attacked Dante after the match and said that Dante’s right, it’s not over between them
- Cortez refuses Vasquez’s order to get the Gauntlet from Cage and gives her an idea when he says that there isn’t a man alive who could retrieve it.
- Johnny Mundo beat Dragon Azteca. After the match he tries to Pilmanize Dragon’s neck only to get chased away by Mysterio.
- Mundo ends up taunting Mysterio’s family at ringside to draw Rey out again. Worldwide Underground ambush and hold Rey while Mundo hits Dominik with the belt
- Melissa is still getting stalked by Marty who thinks that she won’t like Fenix as much once Marty takes his mask away and exposes his face.

Recaps of
- The Cueto Cup
- Worldwide Underground getting an opportunity to win medallions
- Brenda (and Famous B) courting Texano
- The Mil Muertes / Catrina / Jeremiah Crane situation

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El Conjunto Nueva Ola play us into the Temple with a relatively serious sounding song as Vampiro does the introductions. As well as sorting out who gets through to make up the other Semi Final of the Cueto Cup, tonight we’re starting to dish out medallions again.

Aztec Medallion (x3): The Rabbit Tribe (Mala Suerte, Saltador, Paul London) vs Worldwide Underground (Taya, Ricky Mandel, PJ Black) w/Jack Evans

Mala Suerte has the rabbit’s foot that they received from Mascarita Sagrada round his neck, time will tell if it brings them luck. Their charms are working on Melissa at least:



She throws up the rabbit ears!

Ricky really does a good Mundo impression, but he is still just the intern and so gets shoved to the back after he sneaks out first to pose.



No, shut up, Striker! I want to work it out.

Let’s see… a pin… and a sun? no, he’s got night crossed out so it must be day?… and… a… what is that? oh! It’s a hoe!
Pin… day… hoe. That’s what Jack thinks the believers are: Pendejos.
Ha, I’m a genius. Well, I’m smarter than Striker anyway since he doesn’t work it out before Jack wipes it away for a new message.

Oh, yeah, we’ve got a match to watch.

Saltador is enjoying grappling with Taya a little too much. I can't blame him.

Jack’s whiteboard: If I was on the team this would be over!

Saltador really has a thing for Taya.



He wasn’t even in the ring until she set Mala Suerte up for a move in the corner. HA! London comes running in, tells her that they do everything together and then joins his teammates in the corner too.

Taya indulges them with running knees which gets a “Lucky Bastards!” chant. I feel like we’re in a Death by snu snu situation if this one goes too long.

Jack takes the opportunity to knock Paul off the top rope before dropping to the floor and revealing his latest message: London is falling down, falling down, falling down!

After some more of people getting pushed off the top and/or diving to the outside, Paul London hits a SSP on Mandel to get the pin while Mala Surte, who hit a cutter on Mandel to get him in position, prevents any intervention!

Maybe they should go and try to find that poor rabbit and grab the other three feet off it? That is the biggest win for them so far, even if the other team did have the inter on it.
Jack’s board was a fun idea, well done whoever thought of that.

Medallion holders 3/7: Paul London, Mala Surte, Saltador

Dario did say that he keeps giving Worldwide Underground opportunities and they keep failing, and look, it’s happened yet again.
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Post-match bollocking for Worldwide Underground.

If it were up to Benji, they’d all be fired for losing to a bunch of wackjobs who worship carrots! But luckily for them, his client has a heart of gold.

Mundo does indeed have a heart of gold. And because Benji is flooding him with offers of movies, TV shows, musical theatre, other underground fight leagues (Raw Underground? Nah, you don’t wanna go there, Mundo.), he can do whatever he wants. But what he really wants is to remain LU Champion.
Mundo tells them that they better step up their game otherwise he might leave for greener pastures, but right now he has to go as Benji has a photo op lined up for him (Don’t worry, it’s not sick kids).
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Cueto Cup (Quarter Final): Jeremiah Crane vs Mil Muertes w/Catrina

How does this one start?



Before they even get to the ring is how. This has the makings of a big ol’ brawl.

The ref gets to them when they reach the top of the steps and almost gets thrown through the window for trying to stop them. We go to a break as they fight into a fenced off cardboard box storage area and disappear from view.

When we come back, Striker is here to explain that the match didn’t actually get started, Dario has now made it no DQ, but Mil and Crane are nowhere in sight and they don’t actually know where the two of them are…



…found ‘em. Ding! Dong! Hello!

Mil tries to throw Crane through the commentary desk… from the upper level.

I feel like the mystery room which they end up fighting on top of has a Ship of Theseus quality to it. With how much stuff they’ve replaced on it, is it still the same room?

WHEEEEEEEE! After fighting on the bleachers, Crane gets thrown onto the rails and slides down most of the way. We are getting close to the ring for the first time in this match.

Catrina has been a very noticeable presence in this match despite not doing anything.

After a powerbomb into the ring apron, Mil rolls Crane into the ring and follows. This has been mostly Mil on offence, Crane really hasn’t had a chance to get going at all… this might be his opening though.

Crane dodges and Mil goes full speed shoulder first into the ring post. Crane follows up with a dive to the outside which… oh, nevermind, he just bounces off of Mil.

Some competitors are nice and let people evacuate the area before they throw their opponent into the chairs, Mil is not one of those people.

I feel like there’s a guy in the crowd that I should recognise for some reason, especially since Mil seemingly acknowledged him.

Jeremiah is a runaway train as he takes a lap of the ring to build up momentum… which Mil derails.

I’m loving this match. Jeremiah is almost indestructible and can take just about anything, but Mil has no conscience and is willing to actually do anything.

Jeremiah sets an unfolded chair on the throat of Mil and smacks it with another one, we’ve seen that before which is why I choose to show you this reaction to it instead:



Crane makes time while he’s grabbing a table to flirt a little with Catrina and blow her a kiss.

OOW! Holy shit that was a bad landing!



Crane just about got away with it, but it looked rough for Mil, which is probably why it looked like Crane was reaching out his hand to check on him.

There’s a couple of refs out here checking that both are ok, I’m guessing ‘yes’ due to Mil powerbombing Crane through what’s left of the table.

Crane continues to fight, including putting Mil through a table himself, but eventually his punches are just energizing Mil and he gets caught in an extra-high flatliner and that is finally enough to put Crane down.

Phew. I can see why this was getting high praise (unless the Texano/Penta match is the one I’m supposed to be looking forward to? ). Just a fantastic fight. It also made sense to do it this way for the individuals involved, they were never going to have a nice, respectful wrestling match.

Crane isn’t completely lifeless as Catrina crawls towards him. For his efforts, he doesn’t get licked, he gets kissed! This enrages Mil who kicks a smiling Crane in the head and hits another flatliner after shouting at Catrina.

The match is over but the story it appears is not done yet…
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Dario is in his office polishing his trophy (not a euphemism) when an odd thing happens: there’s a knock on his door. This occurrence is easily explained by the person entering being somebody new to the Temple



The stranger introduces himself as Agent Winter(I think?) and he’s from the FBI!
Dario asks if he’s there to arrest him, which doesn’t make him look at all suspicious, but Winter is here because they have similar interests.

He takes a seat and informs Dario that “The Order” has named himself as Delgado’s replacement. Ah, ok. Dario is a little confused (or possibly acting?) as to why Delgado needs replacing, so Winter tells him about Delgado getting his head smushed by Cage. Winter is fine with it though and says that everybody who has a god enter their body goes through… an adjustment period.

Dario says that he didn’t really like Delgado anyway. Winter says that he hopes that Dario likes him as their ‘friend in the limo’ has told him to keep an eye on Dario and the Temple. Winter says that he loves what Dario is doing with Lucha Underground and he is a HUGE Pentagon Dark fan. Oh, I’m sure you’ll get to meet him and it will be memorable, bud.
“Alas, his flesh will fry like everyone else’s when the war comes.” – That sounds like it comes from an ancient tome.

When Dario says that he didn’t know The Order had people in the FBI, Winter pauses as he leaves to let him know that they have people everywhere and they’re going to do whatever it takes for the gods to rule again. Hail Hydra!

Dario needs the comfort of his security murder bull after that encounter.

It makes sense that there’s a whole group of people who are in on this deal, but we’ve not really heard anything about them til now.
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Cueto Cup (Quarter Final): Texano vs Pentagon Dark

Here we go, the last semi final spot is up for grabs. I think that there’s only one obvious outcome here (Ninjas over Cowboys).

A further prediction: Despite them not being here yet, Famous B and Brenda will have a role to play. After Penta wins, Texano finds himself in position for an arm break but is rescued by B. The chaos allows Penta to snatch Brenda for an arm break instead and either B doesn’t intervene or Texano is the one to save her. It could even lead to Brenda leaving B?

A few minutes after the match starts (standard stuff, nothing too good or bad), B and Brenda arrive. This actually distracts Texano.

Nice submission attempt from Texano, but they end up right next to the ropes for Penta to grab for an easy escape… which Brenda claims is cheating.

Texano is getting much more offence in this match than I was expecting. Famous B decides that since Texano is doing just fine and is in control, this is the perfect time to try to help him and so grabs a horseshoe out of Brenda’s bag.
While Brenda gets up on the apron and distracts the ref, B loudly shouts to get Texano’s (and Penta’s) attention before he slides the horseshoe into the ring… right past Texano and just the right distance to stop nicely by Penta.

One horseshoe shot to the face is enough to keep Texano down, Penta is moving on to the semi finals!

Penta wants a celebratory arm break (a celebreakory?), but is halted by B grabbing a mic and getting in the ring while begging him not to do it, that is his future client. Texano shows his intelligence by rolling away as B show his lack of awareness and gets a little too confident in his negotiation skills/ intimidation factor. Superkick and another arm break for Famous B.

Brenda (and her shorts) gets in the ring after Penta exits. She probably should have left it a little longer.



No discrimination from Penta, Brenda gets her arm broken too! Texano is absent during this whole thing.
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In her office, Vasquez is informed by one of her officers that there is “some woman” here to see her. She called herself Catrina, no last name. Vasquez tells him to send her in. Catrina uses the guy blocking the camera instead of flickering lights to make her entrance

Catrina says that she thought they agreed to stay out of each other’s way. Going over my records, I can't find anything that says it's been mentioned already or that I've guessed before, but I’m calling that these two are sisters. Just feels like a family type of thing. (Future Gecko from the time I'm actually posting this on FAN: There's also the episode title which is a big clue.)

I don't think that we've seen any direct interaction between them before, just implications from the split talisman of something in the past.

Vasquez says that she needs Catrina’s help. The gods are coming, and when they’re united it won’t be just her that suffers. Catrina (who has had an echo all this time) says that the gods do not scare her.
Vasquez reveals a picture of Cage wearing a bloody gauntlet. The gauntlet is a gateway to the gods and soon one will fully possess him.
Catrina says that that is not her problem, but her expression is telling a different story, that rattled her quite a bit.

Vasquez holds up her half of Piedra Immortal as she reminds her that she was the one who gave Catrina life… twice.

Ok, giving life twice. Once suggests a mother/daughter relationship instead of sisters. The second time I would guess that maybe Catrina became ill or was in an accident or something along those lines and was only saved by gaining half of Piedra Immortal.

Catrina brings out her half



As she explains that ‘this’ is not life; she’s stuck between two realms, like a sexy ghost. (Hey, that theory from way back was on the right lines). That's confirmation that there is actually something spooky going on with Catrina, just in case you missed all the signs.

Vasquez just ignores all that and points out that there’s only one person in the Temple who can get the gauntlet and he just happens to answer to Catrina.
Catrina reaches for the other half of the talisman, but Vasquez puts it out of reach and tells her that only when she has the gauntlet does Catrina get her life back.

I feel like Vasquez isn’t quite the good guy that she thinks she is. She comes off a little fanatical, willing to do whatever she needs to achieve her goal.

Catrina points out the obvious: without her half, Vasquez will no longer be immortal.
Vasquez doesn’t fear death, she fears the gods.
Catrina says that the gods will soon learn to fear death… a thousand of them.

Before vanishing Catrina confirms that she has a deal… with her mother! ♫Dun dun dun!♫

I like LU, it makes me feel smart for guessing things without making it too obvious too early.

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Next time: The Cup Runneth Over

Post Episode & General Thoughts/Questions
- Nothing really apart from a general feeling of this being a top notch episode. All the ingredients were there: a great match, a bit of humour, story progression and a major reveal/development.

[Deleted]

One of the absoloute best episodes of the whole season and IMO the best episode of the tournament , absoloutley packed top to bottom with everything LU does amazingly and all within the easy run time of 1hr.

Few notes.

Jack Evans white board was an idea a fan actually gave to him out in the parking lot during this taping , so it is always cooling knowing how that happened and then seeing it on the show also knowing he just got gifted this brilliant way to keep doing Jack Evans things even without being able to talk during an intemission between tapings.

The man that walks into Dario's office is a fairly popular and IMO very funny but also underrated comedian named Godfrey.

Or as others may remember him the 7up guy.



But getting back to this episode just one any fan of this show must watch because not only does it have an absoloute banger of a fight because Mil did not show up to wrestle...like he ever does but this is what made Mil such a beloved character because what he does is not fancy you want him to show up always angry and intent to f***ing hurt whoever is put in front of him and he does it with the fullest of intent here and it is amazing and he is consistent LU knows what makes Mil who he is and it is never compromised....believers wanna see him kill fools and Mil obliges,

And here I am giving cred to Sami/Jeremiah that he doesn't get enough of because he takes an absoloute collosal ass whoopin in this match but like the lizard king pointed out he was super resilient and it made for the perfect combination...of Jeremiah refusing to stay down and so Mil just keeps doing what he is made for and that is to keep destroying him , this is how you put even the loser of a match over very strongly even though they get their ass beat for the majority of it , LU booked this around his resilency and ability to absorb so much ridiculous damage.

This is one of those matches you can always go back to and enjoy the hell out of it because it fulfils alot of things...from just the brutality and the fun spots all through out , to the overarching story that has Catrina literally sucking face with Jeremiah..only for Mil to then kill him dead dead much to Catrina's amusement.

It is why this is my favourite match of the tournament because of how wild , relentless and fun it is.

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Speaking of Catrina....this moment when it first aired was an absoloute mind blowing moment because I remember a friend an I who is also a LU fan who I got into the show were just left agasped and then we went back to try and disect this and go through our thought process.

Because what kept throwing us off was the vingette where the dying father passes off the medallion to a little girl and so with both of them having a half we were trying to piece together who the little girl was and then trying to figure out how the medallion not only got split but how they each had a half.

This was a brilliant reveal that was never obvious because of how they laid it out so when this revelation hits it hits like a truck bamfing right ontop of you as you walk down the street and LU held this reveal for a long time considering how long ago that particular vingette I mentioned aired.

And I also like how they feed you more things to think about and not just solely the main revelation but also that Vasquez gave Catrina life twice and that Catrina is not dead but she is neither alive which also explains why a supposed sexy ghost lady has been able to interact physically with everyone and everything around her like she was any other human being , there is so much dropped into your lap about Catrina here and really does an amazing job of really fleshing her out and pushing beyond just the woman who saved Pasquel Mendoza.

It is a brilliant scene in every sense...from the production (that framing shot of Catrina dropping her galf of the medallion into camera view to aligh with Vaquez holding hers is another one of those LU f***ING GETS IT LIKE NO ONE ELSE IN WRESTLING!!) to the acting to everything in between..just amazing on every front.

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The Dario and Agent winter scene is also fantastic and does a great job in establishing how different everyone in the order is and that it is not just a bunch of menacing doods and seperates him from Delgado which is a good thing because LU clearly knew not to just bring him and try and replicate the same guy even though at the core they have the same goals.

But the joverial tone he has in this entire scene all while he tells Dario that...yea once the gods arrive we are all gonna die like it was just a tuesday for him brings such an underlying scary tone.

I like all the confirmations we get here to....we finally get a name to overaching villan group , confirmation or further that the intent is not just to bring about the return of one god but multiple and to also basically wipe out humanity.

And the best part of this is Dario's reaction...because while he has been a sniviling shit working for these guys not even he knew how deep this went and the realization that he cannot save himself nore his brother just hits him smack dab.

The acting on this entire episode has been so top notch credit to every single one of them because the stories would not work if they did not hold up their end and everyone does.

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As for the other matches on the show not alot to say about them they are really fun bouts but get overshadowed by just everything else that took place on the show and that is not a bad thing on an episode this loaded.

The rabbits wanting to Taya.....don't blame them at all.

Mundo not taking a photo op with sick kids lol

And correction Benji they do not worship carrots...they worship Taya and small presumed rabbitt gods.

Poor Brenda....I will care for you broken apendaage my dear.

Hey Penta just for that....I am gonna stay the hell over here and shut my mouth.

Pentagon just give no f***s lol and is why he at this point was just the coolest...whats breaking one arm? he wants them all even if you are a complete innocent by stander with a high pitched voice.

I LOVE Brenda's sell here it is nowhere over the top but is very much in a way that you feel sorry for her the way she just cradles her arm and just the gasps of pain when the camera zooms in on her face.

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Again this episode is top notch IMO the best of the tournament but does not mean it gets any less crazy going forward because oh contrair monfrair.

Oh and here is a hint to something which idk if you have been keeping track of what episode number are we on?..hint hint.

Oh and this episode is a 100 outta 100 for ALL THE CATRINA!

[Gecko]

S03E31 – The Cup Runneth Over

Last time
- The Rabbit Tribe defeat Worldwide Underground to gain the first three Aztec Medallions
- Benji and Johnny Mundo lectured Worldwide Underground over their loss
- Mil Muertes beat Jeremiah Crane in a no DQ match to move into the semi finals of the Cueto Cup
- Catrina smooched Crane after the match instead of the usual licking
- Agent Winters of the FBI showed up and introduced himself to Dario as Delgado’s replacement.
- Penta beat Texano to complete the Semi Finals line-up. He broke the arms of Famous B and Brenda after the match
- Vasquez is visited by Catrina, whom she convinces to get the gauntlet from Cage by offering the other half of Piedra Immortal.
- Catrina is revealed to be the daughter of Vasquez

Recaps of
- The Cueto Cup
- Marty’s obsession over Melissa and his jealousy of Fenix
- The history of Penta and Mil
- Mundo having to defend the title against Rey, and his attack on Dom.
- The family reunion between Catrina and Vasquez last week

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We start this week in the Lucha Gym where Cage is lifting some weights. First thing I checked, no he is not wearing the gauntlet while he does so.

Catrina has bought a new effects pack and appears in a literal flash (with thunder sound effects). She was just trying it out and vanishes before Cage even notices. Cage finishes lifting heavy stuff and Catrina flashes in front of him again (No, not like that, unfortunately).



She asks Cage if he even lifts knows what the gauntlet is?

He does, it is his, and he puts the gauntlet on.

Catrina disagrees, she says it doesn’t belong to him, and soon he won’t belong to him either. That’s dangerous magic he’s trying to wield, and in time it will consume him.

Catrina has her talisman out during this conversation, almost like she needs the extra boost from it.

After listening to the voices in his head reminding him that the gauntlet is his, he asks Catrina if he’s just supposed to turn it over to her? When she says that would be easiest, he says that he’s never been somebody who likes the easy way.
Cage goes to leave, and Catrina grabs his (non-gauntlet) arm, and warns him that he will hate the hard way even more.
Cage tries a backfist, but Catrina teleports away in time.
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We are… still not heading into the Temple. Let’s go see El Jefe. Dario is peering out his window when there is a knock on the door. Joey Ryan is the polite one this week, as Dario invites him in and asks if he’s as excited as he is for the Cueto Cup finals, which are just one week away?
Oh, that’s right, he lost in the first round… Dario was pretty embarrassed for him.

Joey is here because Dario told him to report if he ever saw anything suspicious. (It’s lucky Dario didn’t use a word like odd, unusual, or strange, because then Joey would be reporting every week)

Joey has something big and it’s concerning Veneno. The guy with the spider mask?
Dario takes a few seconds to remember.
Joey thinks that Veneno is that rat, Reyes.
Has Dario been indulging a little too much? He doesn’t know who that is and Joey has to tell him it’s Cortez Castro.



There goes Dario’s good mood.

Dario takes a seat and comes up with a solution very quickly. Sexy Star had a problem with the lucha spider, and next week at the Cueto Cup finals, he will give her a proper chance at revenge. Sexy Star vs Veneno… Mask vs Mask. And going by recent results, the rat will be exposed.

Joey loves it! Dario loves solitude, and tells him to get out.
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Now we’re heading into the main arena of The Temple. Striker is doing the into this week, and Slapbak are… back.



As well as the semi final matches of the Cueto Cup, Johnny Mundo and Rey Mysterio will have an in-ring face-off, tonight.

Cueto Cup (Semi Final): Fenix vs Prince Puma

The Marty stuff at the start makes me think he’s getting involved here to cost Fenix the win.
I expect that this will be a very slow paced, unexciting, traditional grappling hold filled match.

It does actually start with some mat based stuff where they exchange holds. That’ll teach me to try and be smart.

Vamp’s praise of Puma makes me realise we’ve not seen any interaction between them recently. Not since Vamp told Puma that the only way to silence the voices is to win a championship. Maybe he's being more hands off, or maybe we've just not been allowed to witness it.

Puma is having trouble with his head. It’s not his mask, but like has happened before, he seems to have serious pain in his head despite no obvious cause.

It’s a 50/50 split on who has the support of the believers. Well, let’s call it 33⅓/33⅓/33⅓, since I’m sure there’s a fair chunk who are doing both parts of the duelling chants.



I could do that… no, not the Northern Lights into a vertical suplex... no, not the rana counter either... I'm talking about that guy in the background sitting down and clapping.

Puma hits what now seems to be a permanent part of his moveset: the mini 619 in the corner. Striker points it out and brings up that Rey is Puma’s hero. Vamp interjects and tells him to be careful saying that, he might know something that Striker doesn’t, but refuses to elaborate when pressed.

Puma misses a Phoenix Splash, probably his own fault for hanging around in mid-air for approximately 7 minutes. He seriously somehow managed to look like he did it in slow motion.

Vamp spends half his time not actually at commentary, but it works.

Fenix is in control and heading towards a win, but that is about to change:



As Marty backs Melissa towards the ring, Fenix gets ready. Springboard moonsault that goes almost straight up and down, and Fenix somehow manages to avoid catching the ropes, smashing his face on the apron, or taking out Melissa while still hitting his target of Marty. (17:55)

Fenix gets back in the ring and turns into a knee from Puma. To the sounds of Vamp saying to stop the match since he’s out, Puma hits a driver and picks up the… near fall?! Ok, they really got me on that one.

Frustration from Puma, but he gathers himself and hits the 630 and the win, which Melissa announces while trying to keep away from Marty who is still lurking.

Great match, exactly what you would expect from these two.

Fenix hugs Melissa on the apron while Marty looks on as he retreats and a fan creepily strokes a Marty picture.
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We are… well, everywhere in the Temple is feeling the effects of Mil having a go on a punching bag. Sexy Star is about to grab her water bottle when it has a sudden audition for Jurassic Park and starts shaking. After a few shots, the punching bag makes a break for it and smashes into a wall, startling Dario, who almost loses his drink, not to mention the mementos on the wall.



Catrina turns up and tells Mil to save some for Penta.

Ha, there’s a big ol’ bell noise as Cage runs up behind Mil and smacks him with a 20kg weight.



It takes a couple of shots to put Mil on the floor, but then Cage drops the weight from shoulder height to make sure. He asks Catrina, “You were saying?” as he leaves.

Catrina revives Mil with the rock and prevents him from chasing after Cage as she reminds him that he’s got Pentagon to face.
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Cueto Cup (Semi Final): Pentagon Dark vs Mil Muertes w/Catrina

I was pretty sure of what way this one was going, but what we’ve just seen almost guarantees a Penta win. Penta vs Puma in the final is a more interesting story, with the old student vs the new student. Mil has plenty of other stuff going on anyway, he’s got Cage and the gauntlet to chase down, and I’m sure the Jeremiah Crane issue isn’t finished.

Mil is showing the effects of the assault as he makes his way to the ring. Even though he’s not bothered to put on his cape (second match in a row), he still makes time to push the camera



Mil isn’t as overpowering as he usually is thanks to the injury, and Penta is managing to fight out of stuff that he may not normally have been able to. He’s also aware of the weakness and making sure to attack the ribs when he gets the chance.

Striker tells us that, believe it or not, this is the first time these two have met one on one in a Lucha Underground ring. Well, I chose to not believe that, that can't possibly be right.

Mil stops to stare at Vamp when they get near the commentary desk, Vamp puts his hands up and backs away. There’s some history there, too.

Catrina gets involved, which is actually kind of a rare occurrence, by grabbing Penta’s foot. She must be concerned about this one.

Mil isn’t 100%, but it still takes four superkicks to put him down, well into the match.

Penta looks to be going up top, so Catrina grabs hi…



We already knew that Penta isn't picky about who he's hitting. Now, I would say that he killed her with that, but… y’know.

A double stomp from the top and Penta pins a still struggling Mil to move on to the finals!

A weakened Mil is tempting bait for Penta. He goes for the arm break, but a diminished Mil is still pretty powerful and fights out of it before rolling to the outside.
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We return from the break with Dario Cueto in the ring. Next week, they will have one of the greatest title matches in Lucha Underground history! Johnny Mundo vs Rey Mysterio! But first, Dario wants to get them both out to the ring for any final words because, to be honest, he loves when his luchadores talk shit to each other!

Rey Mysterio, the challenger, is introduced and makes his way to the ring first. On the way he interacts with the fans, and seems quite calm.

The champion, Johnny Mundo, makes his own entrance, and it is quite different.



He stops in the aisle, backed up by security and gets on the mic. After what I assume is an insult towards the believers, he tells them and Rey that if they have any dreams of Rey taking the title from him, he’s here to crush them.

Mundo admits that he’s been working harder than he ever has, but it’s only so that he can take Rey to Slamtown next week.

Mundo makes his way into the ring only after sending his security in first as a wall that he can stand behind. And being behind his human shield, he feels safe enough to start to goad Rey by talking about Dominik. He says that Dom must have got his size from his mother. It takes real talent to insult multiple people in one sentence like that, the only one missing was the sister.

Dario is loving this.

Rey finally grabs a mic, but doesn’t get a chance to speak as Mundo is still questioning Dom’s parentage.

Mundo must have cheaped out on security as Rey just leaps past them and smacks him in the head, sending him out of the ring.



Yup, definitely the cheap security company, I mean one guy can’t even afford any clothes with the word ‘SECURITY’ on them. Turn around! Rey just runs right past them again to flip over the top onto Mundo.

Mundo crawls into the ring, since apparently the Security isn’t coming out to him, as Dario exits. They finally do something as all four of them hold Rey… so that he can kick an incoming Mundo and then escape and tackle the champ.
The security bundle Rey into the corner and keep him there by having enough people that there isn’t room to get past. He’ll probably just sneak out of the ring and run round and attack again before they notice he’s gone.

Oh, god, these are literally the most incompetent security ever! 😆 As Mundo rightfully berates two that have gone to check on him in the opposite corner, another of them wanders over, leaving just a lone one to get beat up by Rey.

Finally, Mundo gets some real backup as Worldwide Underground are out to help. They quickly have Rey down and restrained.

Rey doesn’t have to suffer for too long, as his own backup has mobilised.
Hey, Security, you couldn’t handle Rey, how do you think you can take on Dragon Azteca, Sexy Star, AND The Mack?

The two groups engage in battle, leaving Rey in the ring with Mundo and Budget Mundo, who is quickly ejected.

There’s fighting all over the place, and it’s about to get more chaotic: Here’s Puma! He hasn’t made his intentions known as he confronts Rey and Mu… Penta!



It’s a free for all, no alliances here, as Dario looks on and seems quite content.

Mil Muertes! It’s like a go home show for a Rumble. CAGE!

Mil and Cage are the last two standing in the ring for now. As King Kong and MechaGodzilla fight out of the ring, Marty decides to put in an appearance too! So I’m guessing Fenix is not far behind. Yup, Marty takes a tumble down the stairs.

And Dario is in heaven.

Add Mariposa to the brawl. And Joey Ryan… and Vinny Massaro even shows up?! Jeremiah Crane joins in as The Rabbits are sitting up high, enjoying the show and doing some commentary into a microphone carrot. Dante has the same idea as the Rabbits, but gets attacked by Killshot.

Puma takes out a large chunk of the people with a 630 to the outside, as Rey hits a 619 inside on Mundo and holds up the title to end the show.

Complete and utter Chaos, amazing. This was their 'Austin returning to help against the Alliance/That TNA episode with the huge brawl/NWO vs WCW warfare' moment.

They had already made next week feel like a big deal, but this pushed things to the next level. We've got a title match that's been hyped for weeks between two huge stars, the culmination of a great tournament with two people who should provide a fitting final, that either could win (but I'm picking Puma), somebody losing their mask, with potentially fatal consequences. Who knows what else?

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Next time: The Cueto Cup

[Deleted]

You ever find yourself asking quuiet questions about things but then you will watch something and it somehow anwser that question for you? this is what the opening scene does.

Because the question I asked when first watching this season and getting to this point was...why was it this adjustment period taking as long as it was? and from the outside looking in I get it that to pace the story they could not just have it be an instaneous takeover because then their would be no story.

But then I got to pondering an in story reason and my conclusion was that it was because Cage constantly removes the gauntlet instead of keeping it on all the time and thus it ends up acting as a big STOP button everytime he takes it off...so while he is still influenced by the gauntlet his constant removal of it dramatically slows down the inevitable possesion...atleast this is my take it on it.

And it makes this scene all the more interesting even though without that line of thinking this is still a great scene because there is alot of other interesting little things going on here...namely that Catrina has made sure to act fast to try and get the gauntlet but also that she did not use the ace in her pocket (does that outfit have pockets? don't worrie I will research this it may take a very long time I am very thorough) and immediately sic Mil onto Cage.

Which goes back to the end of the last episode and her posturing about how she does not fear the gods but clearly was not about to risk Mil getting his head joined with the rest of the graffiti on the walls of the temple , but also LU smartly covering for this by having this interaction happen on the same episode Mil was in a very important match and this ends up being too many fingers in a pot (No not like that you pervs) situation with Catrina thinking she could have gotten the Gauntlet and win the tournament as well.

It is a brilliantly done multi facited situation they set in motion.

........................................................................................

Speaking of multiple layers.

Dario having to hear about Cortez again....who just stays in the preverbial frying pan.

But what makes this scene is all Dario because there was no one else in the scene....but Dario's reaction can be taken multiple ways in that not only is he surprised Cortez is still slinking around his temple but this also means the cops are not done (atleast as far as Dario knows) keeping tabs on him and that is just a heap he does not need right now...what with also learning of what The Order is really up to and their whole end of the world deal and ontop of trying to keep his brother safe as he can keep him in that lonely cell...hope Dario atleast gave him a TV and watching all the 24hr specials on Johnny Mundo courtesy of Benji.

.........................................................................................................................................

Puma Vs Fenix

LOVE this match and how it starts by subverting the audiences expectation that these two are just gonna fly all over the place but instead chain wrestle to start giving it a nice feeling out process and then escalating into hard , stiff forearm exchanges.

But also what this does is it greatly seperates it from the first encounter and shows their growth as the commentators laid out when the match started , where now they are not just throwing themselves at each other but being more wise to the other and countering and choosing their moments...it is fantastic and shows a maturity in the characters and where they are now...things like Puma spitting in his hand (getting a little cocky) to Puma losing his temper and getting more agressive.

But the spot of the match goes to Fenix old yellering Puma with the mafia kick CHEFS KISS in every way with the camera positioning going from the wide shot to a tighter shot when Fenix just caves his f***ing skull in.

And then Striker calling out Vamp for only coming alive when Puma was on the verge of losing , all these magificient layers not just with whats going on in the ring but the commentators just adding to the story.

Idk how you moonsault straight up and then come right down and plenty people say it but Fenix is not human and this is added proof because not only did he somehow do a complete vertical moonsault but he achieves pin point f***ing accuracy ontop of it what an amazing spot.

And then Fenix kicks out which is a spot I absoloutley bit on and so did everyone else maginificent false finish untill the end comes next and Puma fills in one half fo the finals.

..........................................................................................

Jurrasic Mil.

Things like this are why IMO Mil and subsequently Catrina are the two best original characters in LU because they understand what makes Mil who he is and here is just showing off a ridiculously cool display of power by literally punching a heavybag across the room and his punching power being so powerful he is able to shake the temple.

And this is that untouchable by any other wrestling show production level that LU is known for on display from the lighting to showing far and wide Mil's punching power is through out the temple and seeing multiple talents reactions including Dario once the bag smacks the wall.

And this was a great way to protect Mil and also provide just a bit of a WHAT IF scenario here that IF Mil had been at full strength would the result be the one we saw here.

And also we go back to how so many things have multiple layers here...Catrina set this off by confronting Cage who in turn basically costs Mil the match and Catrina clearly had enough confidence in Mil to send him out there even at half strength to face off against Pentagon Dark who treated Matanaza atleast when he first transformed like a squash match and who Mil drew even with.....it is that whole talk about power scaling and you see it here.

Mil gets super protected booking here because not only does he still manage to make this competitive but also throws Pentagon off of him when he tries to break his arm and ties into that if Mil is going to get the gauntlet that it is a great way to re-establish that Mil is that beast that yea he can be beat under circumstances but getting it done is a herculese level feat.

And I love the little aknowlegement of history when Mil stares down Vamp after he basically throws Pentagon at his feet.
............................................................................................................................

And then we get to one of the most insane and most fun moments of the whole season.

But wait just one second.



Eric Watts I aint talking about you....naw who dat other guy? he looks like he could fit into a house of some kind.

I love that Johnny has to yell basically at the top of his lungs to get over the CULERO(sp?) chants.

EVERYTHING about this is amazing and having such an intimate setting makes this feel so much more chaotic IMO and then you throw in there is no barrier between the wrestlers and the people specifically on the bleachers and it feels legit like an actual riot and not a safely confined one and it is amazing , this enviroment was built for something like this and this feels so special because you do not something like this outside of Aztec Warfare.

And goes back to my talk about layers...here are so many current and fast feuds and agressions colliding.

Love how even Vinnie freaking Massaro just came out to fight just takes that feeling of everyone wanted to fight when even he just randomly leaves the bathroom to get in on this up a notch.

And the rabbits running commentary f*** I love those carrot worshiping wackjobs.

Amazing end to another stellar episode.

......................................................................................................................

[Gecko]

S03E32 – The Cueto Cup

Last time
- Catrina tries talking Cage into giving up the gauntlet but he's not interested
- Joey Ryan informs Dario that Veneno is Cortez Castro, Dario puts him in a mask vs mask match against Sexy Star
- Puma beat Fenix in the semi finals of the Cueto Cup, partly thanks to Marty stalking Melissa
- Cage attacks Mil with a weight
- Penta beat the wounded Mil in the other semi final but failed to break his arm
- Face to Face with Mundo and Rey leads to a huge brawl involving a large chunk of the roster

Recaps of
- Puma and Penta making it to the final of the Cueto Cup
- Joey Ryan reporting to Dario on Veneno being Cortez Castro
- Mundo vs Rey culminating in the mass brawl last week

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No time to waste, straight into the Temple this week. Striker welcomes us, thanks Slapbak and hypes tonight. When the night is over, we’ll know the main event of Ultima Lucha Tres: The Cueto Cup winner, Puma or Penta, challenging either Rey or Mundo. (Gecko prediction: Puma vs Rey)

Mask vs Mask: Veneno vs Sexy Star

Veneno is from Parts Unknown .

Melissa was cheering/screaming/wooing at Star as she walked past. She’s basically a fan that gets to do ring announcing.

Star takes early control… and is actually out of control. The ref has to drag her off of Veneno, which gives a chance for some shenanigans.



Joey Ryan runs out and just pulls Veneno’s mask off. I haven’t seen many Mask vs Mask matches, but I can’t believe that that is a common occurrence.

*GASP* Veneno is Cortez Castro!

As Commentary just sound confused, Castro goes out after Joey, who is loudly telling everybody that he told them.

Anyhoo, the match is over.

A low blow from Joey allows him to escape from Cortez, with the mask in hand.

Can’t really call that one a match, but I was expecting Cortez to lose and the interesting stuff to happen after the match.
------------------------------------------------------------

We’re off to see the boss.



He is… texting…? as the music slowly builds… Enter the Mundo. The champ is looking serious tonight, no messing around.
Dario greets him with a big smile, until the person behind the champ reveals himself.



Benji is doing the talking here, he says that it has become perfectly clear that Dario does not value his client. And after all Johnny Mundo has done for him and Lucha Underground. He saved the company from humiliation, by taking the title from Sexy Star, the worst wrestling champion in history! (his words not mine.)

Before Dario can try to defend that, Mundo says that the point is that last week Dario let the locker room run wild, just as he was about to take Rey to Slamtown. Here comes the leverage. Mundo could take the Aztec gold to other places, he’s been getting offers. All it takes is one phone call.

Dario tells them to relax. He understands that they’re worried that some shenanigans may screw up their big match tonight. Dario has it covered; he’s already told everybody on the roster that they’re banned from ringside tonight, anybody that gets involved in the match will get fired.
Mundo and Benji seem satisfied with that, until they learn that it also applies to Worldwide Underground. That doesn’t work for them.
Dario does a bit of a pep talk, and says that Mundo doesn’t need them to help, he can beat Rey on his own.

Mundo accepts this, he’s beaten Rey before, but Dario should take it as a warning. If anything causes him to lose his title unfairly*, then he’s going to take his title and leave with it anyway, and the next time he sees Mundo or the title, will be in another promotion!

*I’m guessing ‘unfairly’ covers a lot of circumstances here

The cool exit was not quite as good as the cool entrance. The synchronised donning of sunglasses worked, but Benji’s final speech was ruined by the fact that when he signalled it was time to go, Mundo had already left, leaving Benji to scuttle after him, closing the door apologetically on the way out.
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CUETO CUP FINAL: Prince Puma vs Pentagon Dark

From a starting pool of 32 we are down to the final pair. Penta went through Argenis, Drago, Texano, and Mil Muertes to get here. Puma beat Ricky Mandel, PJ Black, Dante Fox, and Fenix on his way to the final.
I’m still thinking it’s a Puma win here, but I’d be perfectly happy with either. Puma’s story at this point is about him needing to gain the title again, whereas Penta is one of those people that doesn’t really ever need a title to feel like he matters.

This match feels like a big deal, it has that atmosphere and energy… and it should be great.

It’s quite a slow start, or possibly a bit of an edit for time.

Puma showing his heelish side by spitting at Penta.

I don’t know what it is, but Penta seems a little off his game tonight for some reason.



Picking somebody up from that position into a suplex does not seem like it should be something that is possible to do.

To the sounds of Vamp going, “No, no, no, no, no, no, oh my God!”:



Not to be outdone, Puma hits one of his own, leapfrogging the ropes to get the momentum. (17:30)

Puma hits a hurricanrana while they are both on the top turnbuckle, drags Penta over to the corner before looking to Vamp for approval and climbing up top again… and hits a fantastically brutal 630. He landed full on Penta and bounced onto his feet without any other part of him touching the mat. That is enough to keep the ninja skeleton down for three.

As Penta slinks away, Vamp is in the ring presenting Puma to the believers.

It was a good match once it got going, but something seemed a little off about it. I said it was Penta earlier, but I think it might just have been one of those that gets edited for time and so it seems like they’ve run out of gas after thirty seconds.
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It’s time for the presentation ceremony. Dario is in the ring with the trophy, and he congratulates Puma on winning the first ever Cueto Cup, before handing the trophy over.

Puma holds it up to some noticeable boos. Dario reminds us that, as well as another thing to take up space on his mantlepiece, he will be challenging for the LU Title at UL3. Dario says we don’t need to wait to find out who the champ will be, since we’re doing that right now! And the ring introductions start before Puma has even left ringside.

Lucha Underground Championship: Rey Mysterio Jr vs Johnny Mundo(c)



Is Mundo really that confident, or is it an act?

And I’m sticking with Rey winning here.

Aggressive start from both of them, there’s plenty of bad feelings between them going into this one.

The match is… fine. Nothing bad, but at the moment, it’s nothing that’ll stick in the mind for ages.

Random thought: If you weren’t setting up for UL3 very soon, the end of this match would be an expected spot for a debut to happen.

Wrestling proverbs: Look before you leap… or at least decide on what move you’ll be doing.



Mundo is well behind on his heel tactics quota in this match, only really getting an eye poke in, so goes to a high scoring item on the list: ripping Rey’s mask.
Striker actually brings up that there was a time where Rey didn’t wear his mask and that he put it back on because of his respect for the fans and traditions of Lucha Libre.

Oops. Rey missed his cue to interrupt the End of the World. Mundo spotted what was happening mid-move and tried to slow it down. He almost succeeded, too.



Rey building up momentum and stringing things together.

Rey’s counter here ends with Mundo spearing the ref



It looked pretty good, too. Somebody should give it a go as a tag move. It started with Rey in a wheelbarrow position, then he tucked under to counter which launched Mundo.

The ref is down so... shenanigans incoming somehow. Let’s think about options: 1) somebody who doesn’t care about getting fired 2) somebody who isn’t working there… yet 3) somebody in disguise 4) no run in, just a visible pinfall with no ref

Mundo kicks Rey in the nuts (Vamp’s preferred term seemingly) and then goes and grabs his title. He’s not leaving, he’s using it as a weapon… or trying to:



C’mon Dom, Why not have a practice heel turn here?
Dom stops the title shot and takes down Mundo with a tackle before security arrive. This crack security team aren’t much better than last time. One of them almost falls over in the ring and then gets an elbow in the face as he blocks an escaping Dom, leaving the other two to chase the fugitive.

Now we see where his life of crime began.

The ref recovers as Rey hits the 619 and splash then goes for the cover… but here’s Dario who pulls the ref out the ring!
I suppose, yep, he’s got to protect his investment, I’m sure this would fall under the ‘unfair’ banner.

Oh, as Dario gets in the ring, I also remember that there’s the small matter of Matanza wanting to get his hands on Rey.

Dario, who asserts that HE is the King of the Temple, slaps Rey.



Rey trips Dario into the ropes and hits the 619 as in the background, Mundo recovers and has found the title again.

As the ref rolls Dario out of the ring, Mundo blindsides Rey with the belt and hits the End of the World, 1… 2… 3! And Still Lucha Underground Champion: Johnny Mundo!

“This is bullshit!” – The Believers.

The match did pick up after a while. I don't think I'm a huge fan of that ending, or at least the execution of it.

While Dario needed to do something, I feel like getting physically involved in the match wasn't really his style. Maybe they could have had the Dom bit a couple of minutes earlier and then there would be time for security to have caught him and have Dario use him as a hostage/distraction?

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Next time: Havoc Running Wild

Post Episode & General Thoughts/Questions
- I had a quick peak at the last episode title to find how many parts Ultima Lucha is this go round. Four?! (So UL3 starts on Episode 37) And it looks like, as in the past, the final episode is a double episode. Is season 4 just 90% Ultima Lucha?
- Ooh, is Rey putting his hands on Dario what gets him to decide to unleash Matanza on Rey?

[Deleted]

I will say this about this episode and it has not changed since originally watching it and that is that this does not live up to the build beforehand and that is largely because of the main event which idk if Rey was injured , checked out or what but feels like both guys were just not on their A game which is a unicorn sighting on this show.

The things that come out of this episode however are great and largely it is because they no longer have to do a G1'esc climax tournament and stuffing so many matches in sacrifice of what makes the show what it is and that is the stories and vingettes.

But with all of that said they have been building to the end game of the season and it will be amazing this I promise (no not the song).

"Sexy Star, the worst wrestling champion in history!" that gets a huge f***ing howl out of me everytime lol. Creative knows exactly how people feel about the talents on this show and they do not shy away from it...and even in some cases it is how the creative feels.

Texano is boring and uninteresting
Sexy Star is the worst wrestling champion in history
Chavo's shooty comment on Blue Demon in season 1

I know alot of people hate meta shooty comments but sometimes you just have to aknowlesge the elephant in the room but in LU's case they do it in funny ways and in a way that it comes out of nowhere from someone you do not expect it to come from.

But again this episode is all about what comes out of the happenings on here....all icing but very little cake.

But also I think this might have been part of a huge taping block hence why the Cueto Cup finals and the main event feel like everyone is just exhausted and neither one really goes all out like you would expect.

I do not remember if it this season or the next but at some point they change from taping 3 shows every other weekend sat-sun to doing tapings fri-sun so it ends up being just a ridiculous taping schedule because also during the week they are doing 12-13hr vingette shoots as well.

Again not a whole lot to say about this episode it is just a very set up episode for things to come.

[Rave]

Mar 6, 2023 19:21:27 GMT -5 @sigmax said:

Love how even Vinnie freaking Massaro just came out to fight just takes that feeling of everyone wanted to fight when even he just randomly leaves the bathroom to get in on this up a notch.

The one question we'll prob'ly never get answered, though I've now sent it off into the Twitter aether: what the hell did Joey Ryan do to piss off Vinnie that much?

I remember cracking jokes that perhaps Ryan dishonored a donut, but I have the sneaking suspicion it's related to events outside the LU-verse.

[Gecko]

S03E33 – Havoc Running Wild

Last time
- Veneno lost the Mask vs Mask match against Sexy Star when Joey Ryan ran out and unmasked him
- Mundo tells Dario he’ll leave (and take the title) and show up in another promotion if he loses it unfairly
- Puma defeated Penta in the Cueto Cup final
- Mundo retained against Rey. During the match, Dom came out to stop Mundo using the belt. Dario came out and prevented the ref from making the count for an "unfair" Rey win.

Recaps of
- Matanza’s obsession with getting his hands on Rey
- Marty’s very different obsession with getting his hands on Melissa
- Veneno being unmasked as Cortez Castro
- Havoc’s issues with his, currently ex, club, ICMC (Invisible Cult Motorcycle Club)
- Rey vs Mundo

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In what I imagine is a very rare thing, Dario admits that he was wrong. Of course, he’s only admitting it to a single person, and not in public.

Matanza still has the giant bloody question mark on his wall.

Dario tells his brother that he has kept him locked away because he believed that his obsession with Rey Mysterio would hurt him, hurt the family… but now he understands. Matanza wanted to protect him, and without him by his side, Dario did get hurt. Dario says that Rey embarrassed and humiliated him and the entire Cueto legacy, and now he must pay. This speech is slightly spoiled by having to say that Rey gave him a 619, some phrases just don’t fit well in emotional speeches.

Dario says, as he strokes Matanza’s face, that he has been so very patient and only needs to be patient for two more weeks as, on the 100th episode, he will be getting Rey in the main event. There is only one thing that Dario needs Matanza to do for him, for the family: Destroy Rey!

Dario takes a step back as a fired up Matanza shakes the bars.
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Vamp introduces himself, Slapbak, and Matt “Twinkletoes” Striker. Vamp confirms what I looked up last week, UL3 is happening over 4 nights/episodes.

We get the one match that we know will happen, Mundo defending against Puma, but what else will be taking place? There's definitely some obvious ones brewing. Wonder if we’re getting any more Medallions handed out tonight? Surely they’re planning to have a GOTG match at UL.

Son of Madness vs Mascarita Sagrada



Madness is not pleased about Sagrada representing the ICMC.
Sagrada seems like he’d be more fun to hang out with anyway. Sure, there’d be lots of drinking with Madness, but probably not a whole lot else.

Madness is really not in a good mood (is he ever?) and kicks Sagrada in the back to start the match.

Sagrada gets a bit of offence in, but it’s not too long before Madness ends it with a brainbuster.

That was a short (pun not intended) but fun one.

Before Madness can do anything to a defenceless Sagrada, Havoc slides in to help his buddy out.

Dario isn’t putting up with this tonight and calls out security to separate Havoc and Madness. There's six security guys this time, split equally between Havoc and Madness. Somebody must have given them some training.

As everybody else is distracted, Paul London sneakily “rescues” his mini rabbit lord.

Dario says that since they want to fight so bad, tonight in the main event it will be Havoc vs Madness for an ancient Aztec medallion… in a Boyle Heights Biker Brawl! (whatever that is)

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Marty “The Moth” Martinez w/Mariposa vs Argenis

It's been a while since I've praised Melissa's ring announcing work. Whether it's a smiley Fenix intro, a still-not-forgiven-him Penta intro, or this, it's just a small thing that adds to the whole.

Argenis was wandering around in the background not helping out…. Ha, he also almost lands on Melissa when he jumps down after posing on the turnbuckle.

Marty is one of those people where it’s easy to forget that he’s actually pretty agile until he does something athletic.

Marty rips the mask of Argenis a bit. This seems to fire Argenis up and he builds up a bit of momentum, leading to a dive to the outside. Mariposa is a bit too close for his liking and he warns her off, which meant he took his focus away from Marty and that is all the opening the moth needs to regain the advantage.

Marty holds the attention of the ref while Mariposa throws Argenis into the ringpost, which opens his exposed face up. He’s really not having a good time in his first match back from a broken arm.

Great shot.

From that position, Marty flips him over into a codebreaker, which is more than enough at this point to get the pin.

As we hear Melissa telling Marty not to, he unmasks Argenis completely.

Marty has a mic and talks to Melissa. He asks if she liked him taking the mask? He throws the bloody, ripped mask at her as he says that that is not the mask that he wants! He wants Fenix’s mask, and he’s going to get it at UL3. When he takes the mask off of Fenix, he will show Melissa and the world just how ugly he is.

Fenix predictably shows up. He is up on the top rope, but just jumps down and runs to attack as Marty is too far away. A kick for Marty and a kick for Mariposa sends them both into retreat as Melissa joins Fenix in the ring.

Melissa says that she doesn’t think that Marty can take Fenix’s mask, and then Fenix issues a challenge that ups the stakes a bit: His mask vs Marty’s hair!

I knew we’d be doing something with Fenix’s mask, but for some reason I never even thought of Mask vs hair. Sounds good to me.
------------------------------------------------------------

Joey Ryan vs Sexy Star

Cortez Castro appearance incoming?

This is one of the better Sexy Star matches so far. I know it’s not a high bar, but still.

Ah, thought we were getting a ref bump, but it was averted.

Star’s got a fan:

The poor Penta shirt guy seems so confused.

It’s an uncommon tactic, but usually effective. So, who made the sign? It seems a little beneath Taya, but I don’t think it would be such high quality if she left it to the intern. It does seem like it might be something Jack and PJ would enjoy doing, but maybe Taya just took it from a fan? And only LU could get me to think so much about a sign.

Sexy Star is on the verge of winning when she finally notices the extra person at ringside. She abandons the match to go attack the person cheering her on, and devastatingly breaks the paper sign over Taya’s head. She gets back in the ring only to walk into a Joey Ryan superkick and get pinned.

Star is saved from having to suck on Joey’s lollypop by Cortez Castro



He’s not there to save Star, just to get his hands on Joey. Joey eventually manages to slither away.
------------------------------------------------------------

Dario is polishing his medallions when in walks Cortez Castro. He admits that for the first time in over a year, Cortez has impressed him. Cortez says that he isn’t here to imp… Dario interrupts by saying he knows that he’s not here to impress Dario, he’s here because he’s a cop.

Cortez says that he should arrest Dario for what he did to Mr Cisco.

Dario gets up suddenly and grabs the bull/blunt instrument. He tells Cortez that he loves what he did to Joey, who he knows is also a cop, and cops in this town are always dishing out violence on the innocent, but next week it’ll be them dishing it out to each other in the first ever Five-O Street fight!

Cortez reminds Dario that he doesn’t work for him. Dario does a bit of quick psychological manipulation to get the fight that he wants, saying that Cortez does love to fight though, and he can’t fake the hatred he has for Joey. That this is a chance to show everybody in the police force who the true badass is. He also throws in a medallion for the winner.
------------------------------------------------------------

Aztec Medallion #4: Boyle Heights Biker Brawl: Son of Madness vs Son of Havoc

Somebody keep an eye on that ref, he held up the medallion bag to show that it was up for grabs, but then he pocketed it.

Ooh:



Nice, and also very unexpected.

Madness finally takes his vest off and hands it to the ref… well, he’s probably not seeing that again.

Oh, there’s an actual motorbike sitting in front of commentary. Maybe I wasn’t seeing things earlier when I thought that there was a helmet on one of the ringposts.

Repo Man mention in relation to somebody getting run over and left covered in tyre tracks.



Does whoever caught him get to keep him? Or are they the next to join the gang?

The third double stomp of the match, leaves quite an impression on Madness


Something that leaves even more of an impression on his back, and also may have caused an issue with his leg is:

Madness did seem to have a bit of a problem with his leg after this. Nothing that kept him from continuing, but it was noticeable that he wasn't 100% on it.

This is just a big fun brawl and is getting plenty of recognition, even from what may or may not be a stunt granny

Madness cannot put Havoc away, so he goes in search of assistance in the form of a toolbox and an empty (he checked) beer bottle.

Madness picks a hammer out of the toolbox, but he’s thwarted in his attempted murder by Havoc not standing still and waiting. And then there's a smashing counter from Havoc.



Havoc follows up the shot with Chekhov's beer bottle with a SSP to get the win, he claims his medallion and reclaims his colours as he leaves victorious.

That was one of those quietly great episodes. It didn’t proclaim how great it was going to be, just went along doing its thing and turned out really enjoyable. Almost the opposite of last week, which as pointed out, didn't match the hype.
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Next time: Career Opportunities

[Deleted]

Dario: Rey gave me a 619

Matanza: I never did like San Diego...Sacramento is where it's at

What a web we have weaved here because this entire opening scene is technically because of Mundo , he put the threat on Dario that if he did not protect his champion he would leave for another company which then caused Dario to get involved which then lead to the 619 and now Dario wants Rey turned into the area code for the nevada desert.

And let us not forget that Dario's goal before Matanza wanted Rey was to get Matanza back his LU championship...which ties nicely back to Aztec Warfare 3 when Mundo shit talked Dario and then sent to death row (not the record label) to start it off , but also what I love about this is now it is sort of the reverse of a coversation they had before where Dario told Matanza not to give into his urges and here is Dario going against everything he himself said...damned the consequences I guess.

.....................................................................................................................................

The easiest way to get heat in the temple...just beat up Mascarita

Easiest way to get a lizard to belly laugh? kick Mascarita in the face

Not a whole lot to say about this match it is a short (no not a pun I promise but damn it) sprint of a match that sets up the main event ..which isn't usually what LU does as typically their main events are set from the offset of the show so this was unique in that case.

I love the long term storytelling here that WAyyyyyyyyy back when Mascarita got the club colors wondered if anything was going to come of it and they nicely tie it back here and also nice little tie to the carrot worshiping wackos...normally when Paul London shows up to take away your half unconscience body you probably mark out...in this case Mascarita is probably shitting his white outfit.....where is that lucky rabbits foot he gave way.

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Marty is so f***ing great not just good but great at being the creepiest f***ing guy in any room and really whenever disucissions come up about the best creepy characters in wrestling IMO Marty should be right up there if not at the top because he is completely unsettling.

And I love how this is played with Marty being super focused and agressive because he sees Fenix in Argenis (no not like that you pervs) and really bullet pointing it by opening him and making him bleed a whole lot , it really nicely sells how far Marty is going to go here if not more.

And Melissa is great at selling how terrified she is because she clearly does not want harm to come to Fenix again as she has seen what happened before.

And Argenis got a nice bit of shine here but ends as it usually does for him by getting just masscared at the end and never seeing them again for months....kinda his thing nice little niche.

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Taya selling the well done sign is the highlight here lol

Although to be fair it is not a bad match between the dick and the prick..I mean sorry Sexy Star , Joey for all his faults in recent years was terrific at the intergender wrestling and at the time ladies always found it very easy to work with him and were complimentary to him on that front.

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Cortez and Dario have fantastic vingettes together and this is no different and so many little things here make this so well done.

Dario fast talking to throw off Cortez's immediate instinct to not only beat him down but arrest him.

Dario grabbing his bull (no not like that you sickos) the immediate chance he gets but to protect himself but also a big call back to the end of poor Mr Cisco.

But also Dario putting so much on the table for Cortez that it made him change his tune (just enough) shows that Cortez for how upstanding a cop he supposedly can be swayed.

But also creates this real interesting WHAT IF scenario...especially as it pretains to things yet to come ...WHAT if Cortez had just grabbed Dario and arrested him right then and there and how many things might have been altered in this one moment.

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The main event is alot of fun but the funny thing about it is and I get the view on it but alot of people at the time did not like this match and that is simply because it is a match that very uncharacteriscally of LU doesn't do a whole lot with the stipulation itself here.

The bike doesn't really come into play at all and really just kind of ends up being a pretty basic brawl.

And I remember some peoples thoughts before the match that we were gonna see more members of ICMC debut here and they were dissapointed we did not get anything really fleshing it out here.

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Like the lizard king himself said this is a solid and quietly fun episode and a nice bounce back from the underwhelming last episode but I promise the next batch before Ultima Lucha are jam packed and remember what I just said about the biker brawling doing nothing with their stip....I promise you they make up for this 100x times over in the five-O street fight it is so much damn fun.

[Gecko]

I'm a busy, busy Gecko, so probably don't expect an episode at the usual time this week. However, since there won't be one next week either due to it being Wrestlemania weekend, I'll try and fit in at least one between now and when things are back to normal in a couple of weeks.

[Gecko]

You know what's crazy? Staying up all night, multiple days in a row to watch wrestling. Silly Americans and their silly American time.

You know what's crazier? Watching Formula 1 early in the morning as well on the same weekend. Silly Australians and their silly Australian time.

We invented time, everybody should be at the same time as us! And what's with those accents you've all developed? And don't get me started on how you messed about with the language itself...

...several hours later...

...and that's why I should be allowed to run over stupid people. Right, where was I? Oh, yes.

Even more stupid is deciding my sleep is ruined anyway and I might as well throw in even more stuff to stay awake for.

S03E34 – Career Opportunities

Last time
- Dario tells his brother that he was wrong and will let him have Rey in two weeks.
- Son of Madness beat Mascarita Sagrada, and is then attacked by Havoc
- Paul London “rescues” Sagrada in the post-match confusion as Dario makes a biker brawl for later on
- Marty defeated and destroyed Argenis. Fenix turned up to keep Marty away from Melissa, who then mocked Marty as Fenix challenged him to a hair vs mask match
- Joey Ryan beat Sexy Star after she was distracted by Taya. Joey is attacked by Cortez
- Dario tempts Cortez into a Five-O street fight with a prize of a Medallion and the opportunity to show who is the baddest
- Havoc beat Madness in the biker brawl, claiming his colours again as well as the medallion

Recaps of
- The end of the Cueto Cup, with Vamp backing Puma against Penta
- Worldwide Underground failing to beat The Rabbit Tribe for some Medallions
- Dario preventing Rey beating Mundo “unfairly”, leading to Rey attacking him and Mundo retaining the title
- Dario telling Matanza that he’s finally giving him Rey to destroy

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It’s Vamp’s turn to introduce himself, Striker, and Slapbak. He says that we’re just three weeks away from UL3, but next week will be a huge celebration as it is the 100th episode!
Dario will be in the ring tonight and will have a very special announcement about the 100th episode. Well, it wouldn’t be wrestling without hyped up announcements.

Aztec Medallion #5: Drago w/Kobra Moon vs The Mack

So, the medallions are currently held by: Paul London, Mala Suertes, Saltador, & Son of Havoc. We’ve got this one to be decided, one up for grabs between Joey Ryan and Cortez Castro, and a final one to go (possibly in a big multi-man match?).

Drago is in his red get up tonight, which kind of makes him look like he’s inside out or at least has been skinned.



Striker talks about how Drago has changed and asks Vamp for some insight, which he provides. He says Drago is obviously part of a sect or cult and tried to go his separate way, but if you cross that line and go to dark places, they will eventually come to claim what is theirs. It may take time, but they will take your soul back.

Mack’s not been up to much recently; he lost in the second round of the Cueto Cup, and then was part of the big brawl a few episodes back.

It takes a minute for Mack to get caught up to Drago’s fast start, but once he does, he shows what he thinks of it



I’m with Vamp, upside down Mack gyrations is not something that I need to be seeing at 9:34 am on whatever day this is (which is when I’m typing this bit).

Kobra Moon is very surprised when Drago doesn’t get the win:



Mack starts building up momentum, so Moon gets up on the apron as a distraction and ends up getting shoved in the face, but it does its job. Drago hits a trio of kicks before his fancy rollup bags him a win and a medallion.

Mack isn’t too pleased and interrupts the victory celebration with a stunner to Drago. Kobra Moon escapes hers by being saved by Pindar as Vibora also makes his way in. A pretty nice chokeslam leaves Mack down at the feet of the Reptiles.
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Dario is in the ring and makes sure his nose is clear of any suspicious substances before addressing the believers. Next week will be exciting for everybody as it is the 100th episode of Lucha Underground! And he is here to announce the line-up for that very special event.



For an Aztec Medallion: El Dragon Azteca Jr vs Pentagon Dark!
An atomicos match involving the two men who will main event UL, Johnny Mundo and Prince Puma. Mundo will lead Taya, PJ Black, & Ricky Mandel. They will go against Puma, who Dario told he could pick anybody he wants and will announce it later tonight.
And the main event of episode 100: Matanza vs Rey Mysterio!

Dario wants Rey to come out as he has something to say to him before next week.
Rey makes his way out to the ring, and Dario tells him to listen closely. Tonight, he’s giving his brother a little warm up. It’ll be a taste of what’s waiting for Rey. Matanza is going to destroy three men, tonight he takes on the entire Rabbit Tribe.
Aw, poor wittle wabbits. Maybe Mascarita will return the favour and save them all?

Dario is also sending Rey home as he doesn’t want him out here getting involved in Matanza’s match. He orders Rey to leave, and Rey looks like he will… but he pauses and turns back. He tells Dario that he’s going nowhere. He’s going to stay right here.
Dario thought he might say that, so he wants to make himself clear: If Rey doesn’t go home, not only will Dario call off his match, he will also call off Dragon’s match! Actually, no, if Rey doesn’t leave right now, Dario will fire Dragon Azteca!

Rey says that he can wait a week, but he wants to make himself clear too: Next week he will end the Cueto family legacy. After he’s done with Matanza, he’s coming after Dario!

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Welp, they’re back to dressing the place up appropriately for matches. Flashing lights, Riot police, crime scene tape, wooden barricades, shooting range targets, and a whole police car. I’m sure some of the believers probably have a criminal record too.

Aztec Medallion #6 – Five-0 Street Fight: Joey Ryan vs Cortez Castro

Joey throws his lollypop at Cortez and then goes on the run.
On his second time running away, he tries going further and is blocked by the riot police.

Add handcuffs, nightsticks, and a riot shield into the mix. Joey uses the handcuffs as a weapon and splits Cortez’s head open.

Joey is the one with the crowd support, which Vamp points out is a little surprising.

Luckily, Joey putting on a latex glove and lubing it up does not end in the cavity search that the crowd are chanting for, for some reason.



Doesn’t mean it wasn’t painful.

The smaller lights on the ringposts aren’t too bad, but the big red/blue flashing light in the background is really distracting.

If they’re actual police that know both competitors, you know which side they’re going to be on.



Joey breaks out of containment by throwing Cortez at a few different people, and then steals the riot shields and chucks them in the ring.

A police? baseball bat… and that car is so nice and shiny... A swing and a miss by Cortez, who only connects with a headlight.
Joey’s turn to grab something from under the ring, and he gets a police sledgehammer. He also misses a couple of times and ruins the windshield.

Oh, I missed a prop: a doughnut & coffee table.
Joey ends up getting a pot of hot coffee poured down his trunks and then tased in the nuts.

As they climb on the commentary desk, I notice one of the riot police looking a little shifty in the background. Or maybe I’m just too suspicious.



Joey gets maced… probably not for the first time. Cortez puts slams him down on a pile of riot shields to win and claim a medallion!

That was a fun one. I don't think anybody would call it the best street fight ever, but it was enjoyable and they played into the gimmick well as usual.
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3 on 1: The Rabbit Tribe (Paul London, Mala Suertes, Saltador) vs “The Monster” Matanza Cueto w/Dario Cueto

Not that they take anything (apart from their worship of Sagrada) seriously, but now might be a time to start.

Aw, that’s nice. They offer Matanza a pop-up top hat.



That doesn’t work, so they try to include him in their holding hands and spinning ritual. It does not go well.

The Rabbits aren’t getting obliterated, and by working as a trio are managing to get some offence in. It doesn’t do much damage, but at least it’s something.

No, don’t stop to celebrate, you loons!!



Matanza gets hit with a couple of glitter filled easter eggs, superkicks and then a SSP. All three rabbits pile on for the pin, but the monster powers out. A few big power moves later, and Matanza pins Saltador.

Probably not as dominating a performance as Dario was hoping it would be, but Matanza still beat three solid opponents.

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Puma is in the ring to announce his team mates for next week’s atomicos match.

But before we get to find out, he is interrupted by Johnny Mundo. He tells Puma that nobody cares who is partners are going to be on the 100th episode, because it doesn’t change the fact that Mundo is going to take him to Slamtown at UL3, just like he did in the very first episode of LU.

Puma acknowledges that loss, but hits back by reminding Mundo that a few months later, he took Mundo to Slamtown and became the first LU champion!

If Puma is so confident that he can beat Mundo, why not make things interesting? Mundo is putting his title on the line, why doesn’t Puma put his mask on the line?

Puma has no hesitation in agreeing, but Dario probably isn’t pleased with things getting done without his say so, and, yup, exits his office on cue.
He tells Johnny that he loves the idea, but they already have a mask on the line at UL, and the last thing he wants is for it to seem like Dario Cueto has run out of original ideas. (never gonna happen)
Maybe there’s something else Puma can put up for grabs? What does he have that is as valuable to him as the LU title is to Johnny Mundo?
Dario’s got it! Puma’s career! (which is where I thought it was going in the first place)



As Mundo is pleased about this twist, Puma is taking some time to answer, and Vamp is standing up indicating that Puma should turn it down.

A running knee sends Mundo out of the ring, before Puma says that he’s very confident that he can win and accepts the deal.
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Next time: Cien

Post Episode & General Thoughts/Questions
- Just two more standard episodes before we head into UL3
- Who was the Konnan impersonator at the Hall of Fame?

[Deleted]

Been a hell of a week with so much going on and ontop of just life in general I have completely forgotten what sleep is...which is why I will probably sleep for a month idk which month will be subjected to my majestic snoring but it shall be soon.

And so I am gonna keep this one short for the moment and then edit it for more thoughts in the coming days when I no longer feel like the walking dead.

But the opening match is fun and not one we have gotten...I shall hear no hating on Mack upside down twerking we all need it on our life.

The 5.0 street fight is amazing and so damn fun just for the all out asthetics and this is what I said about it making up for the biker street fight the previous episode , this match did everything that match did not. It goes completely all in on its gimmick...THEY GOT A COMPLETE GAWD DAMN POLICE CAR INTO THE TEMPLE!! LIKE WTF lol and really plasy with it in everyway.

It was really nice to see Cortez get his moment after the character has been shit on for the majority of the season and Joey Ryan getting the shit beat out of him is always gonna put a smile.

Striker coughing and talking about burnt hair was an amazing sell on commentary about the tazer spot.

Rabbit tribe vs Matanza...on paper this should end in about 30 seconds 10 seconds each to kill a wabbit but LU did not fall into that trap and let the carrot worshiping wackos really show out...individually , as a trio and the character work and this really is another show of why character work is so important because usually this would end with the rabbit tribe falling down the preverbial rabbit hole after being squashed and barely getting in any offence but even knowing Matanza was winning did not harm the trio because their character work is so strong that doesn't harm them if anything this match incrimentally elevates them because they took it to Matanza on the verge of him wrestling Rey Mysterio.

The last segment and the earlier segment...Dario is on his shit this episode just outright being the villan , no pretenses about walking that middle ground , here he is being out and out an evil bastard from posturing against Rey because he is so sure Matanza is just gonna wreck this terrible father.

And then he basically forces Puma in putting up his career.

and now we get to the final 2 episodes untill what is to me the best Ultima Lucha.

[Gecko]

S03E35 – Cien

Last time
- Drago beat Mack for an Aztec Medallion thanks to a Kobra Moon distraction. After the match, Mack tried to get revenge but was taken out by the rest of the Reptiles.
- Dario announces the line up for the 100th episode. He also sends Rey home by threatening to cancel his match and fire Dragon Azteca.
- Cortez Castro beat Joey Ryan for an Aztec Medallion in a Five-O Street Fight
- Matanza beat the Rabbit Tribe in a handicap match as a warm up
- Puma is so confident that he can beat Mundo that he agrees to put his career on the line

Recaps of
- As Dario runs down the matches for tonight, we get background on:
- Penta vs Dragon Azteca
- The Atomicos match with Puma and Mundo
- Rey and Matanza

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We start in the Lucha Locker room with Worldwide Underground. PJ Black exclaims, “Wow, you actually did it!”, while looking at some sort of ID of the intern. He hands it over to Jack Evans who provides his own reaction:



It has to be something screwy that Discount Mundo (I was legit blanking on his name here) has done on his ID?
Taya gets a look at the subject in question and says that Johnny is not going to like it.
Surprise Mundo!! He slides out from behind some lockers and asks what he’s not going to like.

Ricky dismisses the thoughts of the others and tells Mundo that he is going to love it, he’s finally figured out the perfect homage.



Nope, I’m with the others, that’s not going over well. From now on, you can call him Ricky Mundo! (I’m also expecting info on the address used, I’m too lazy to go look myself).
To much laughter from the others, Mundo (Johnny) throws the license back and says he’s not calling him that. Ricky says that they have to, he had it changed legally. Mundo tells him to change it back since there’s only one Mundo in Worldwide Underground.

What does Ricky take from that? The fact that he’s officially in Worldwide Underground! He engulfs Mundo in a bearhug as a distressed Mundo calls for the others to help him.

Onto business, tonight they’ve got a match and, just like in the first episode, Mundo will be taking Puma to Slamtown!

Just before we head to the intro graphic, we get a random shot of a single light. I’m guessing Moth related.
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A hyped Vamp does the introductions of himself, Striker, and Slapbak as the celebrations get started. Striker lets us know who Puma’s partners in the atomicos match are after the news was broken by social media. Sexy Star, Fenix, and Cage.
Nothing too out of place with the first two picks, but that last one is a potentially disastrous choice.
Striker covers the other matches before handing it up to a sparkly Melissa Santos.

Atomicos: Sexy Star, Fenix, Cage, & Prince Puma vs Worldwide Underground (Taya, “The Darewolf” PJ Black, Ricky Mundo Mandel, & Johnny Mundo w/Jack Evans)

Ha, on the way down the stairs, Puma signals to a fan that they’ve got their sign upside down.

As the team of individuals (who would be called something like 'The Royal Cats' in a classic Survivor Series) talk strategy, Ricky gets on the mic to correct Melissa. It’s not Ricky Mandel, it’s Ricky Mundo.
Doing this in private is one thing, but Mundo isn’t happy about this becoming public knowledge and informs Ricky that since he didn’t ask permission for the name change, he will be sitting on the sidelines for this match…
Wait, does this mean…? No ☹ not Jack (sign says: “Man buns only”)

The bandana wearing, man-bun having, replacement arrives and it is Marty the Moth!

I notice as the match gets underway that Cage is standing on the apron just admiring his gauntlet instead of paying attention to the match.

Ok, so let’s see:

Cage is unreliable at best and will attack his own team at worst,

Fenix will be too focused on Marty and what he’s up to when not in the ring and any interactions with Melissa Santos he might attempt,

Sexy Star is entirely targeted at Taya and will get carried away and forget about the match she's currently in,

which leaves Puma pretty much on his own. He's not great at picking partners.

Mundo gets the tag in, and Fenix manages to dive for a tag to Cage. Mundo tags back out and Taya gets in the ring. Maybe she doesn’t remember what happened last time? But maybe she won’t have to deal with Cage again as the ref is struggling to get Cage to remove the gauntlet.

Cage finally de-gauntlets and after a dropkick to his back from Taya, he gets to work dismantling her. Striker mentions that Taya will have a last luchadora standing match with Sexy Star at UL3.
The rest of the Worldwide Underground run in, knock the other team off the apron and then pummel Cage in the corner.

Aww, they wouldn’t let Marty get in on their celebration pose, so he just flaps around them a bit instead.

Cage is back up and Taya is abandoned and then sacrificed to the Machine as a (failed) distraction.

Jeremiah Crane sneaks out like the Repo Man and picks up the gauntlet. Cage spots him and points at him… oh, yeah, he casually does it in the middle of a suplex that’s already been going on for a while



Crane runs away with the gauntlet and an enraged Cage in pursuit. Well, that’s not going to make it any easier to convince him to remove it for matches if he manages to get it back. This is Jeremiah's idea to impress Catrina, right? He can do something that Mil hasn't yet.

Puma doesn’t care that his team’s a man down and fights the other team by himself.

Say bye to Taya and Sexy Star for the time being, their brawl is heading towards the back. Fenix is also out of the picture for the time being.
I think Mundo screwed up the End of the World there when he tried jumping in from the apron to start it. There was a cut in the middle and what sounded like a “You f***ed Up!” Chant. It’s still enough for him to get the pin on the outnumbered Puma.

Not a bad match, but it was all to set up and further the individual stuff coming up.

As the triumphant Worldwide Underground leave, the replacement part has another task on his mind.



As Marty grabs Melissa by the hair, she starts off with screaming “NO!”, but when that doesn’t work, she escalates to slaps. Unfortunately, Marty seems to be enjoying them.
She is saved by a superkick from Fenix… and not by Sexy Star who appears just to gloat and was apparently sitting just off screen watching the whole thing.

Going by her actions here and the next episode title, are we looking at Melissa Santos in a match? Probably a tag with her and Fenix against the Moths?
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Catrina has her meditations interrupted by Jeremiah Crane.



He tells her that he’s brought her a gift. She teleports so that she's face to face with him (saves wear and tear on the knees from standing up) and says that he’s more useful than she thought.
When she reaches for the gauntlet, he pulls it away and says that she has something that he wants too. He signals that he wants a smooch… which doesn’t happen as he gets tackled by Mil and fumbles the gauntlet.

In a non-shocking turn of events, Cage shows up and pins her to a column after she picks up the gauntlet. As she looks a little glitchy, Cage asks she bets she’s wondering why she can’t disappear. It’s because the gauntlet is more powerful than she’ll ever be, and it ain’t going anywhere with her.

As Cage starts to exert pressure on her neck, Catrina makes her choice and drops the gauntlet so that she can teleport to safety.

Cage reaches down… and the gauntlet is kicked away as Mil and Crane’s fight circles back around to him. So, triple threat coming up?

As the trio trade blows (and it seems pretty even), a new player enters: Dario quietly grabs the gauntlet and sneaks away with it.

Make that a triple threat gauntlet on a pole match.

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We come back from break with commentary telling us there’s some huge breaking news. Based on what happened at the end of the last match, next week it will be Marty and Mariposa taking on Fenix… and Melissa Santos!

Aztec Medallion #7: El Dragon Azteca Jr vs Pentagon Dark

I don’t think I’ve mentioned it before, but Penta’s music is amazing.

Something a bit new, the believers have gone all European for this match with their chanting and we’re getting a “♫Ole, ole ole ole. Lucha, lucha♫” sing song.

Penta starting off aggressively with a running dropkick, catching Dragon off guard. Penta takes time during his beating of Dragon to stare at Vamp and shout at him. This slight break gives Dragon his first chance to do something in the match, which leads (eventually, it seemed to take him an age to climb up) to a very nice corkscrew moonsault from the top to the outside.

Package piledriver > the ability to land and balance on the top rope. Penta picks up the win and the final Medallion. He joins Paul London, Mala Suertes, Saltador, Havoc, Drago, & Cortez Castro as the options for the next Gift of the Gods Champion.

Not a whole lot to say about that one (obviously), they worked together as well as expected, but you get the feeling that there should have been more to it with the history between them.

Oh, and of course, Penta halts as he’s leaving the ring as he’s forgotten something important. As he’s setting up for the arm break, Matanza slides into the ring as we hear Dario telling him no.
Dario still has enough control over his brother by holding up the key. Penta walks away, making sure to bump into Matanza hard. He has words with Dario and also bumps into him as he leaves.

Dario regains his own focus and that of his brother and instructs him to get Dragon, who is still down in the ring. Matanza starts throwing Dragon from one corner of the ring to the other, watched by a smiling Dario.



Matanza hits suplexes, and just starts pounding on Dragon’s head as a couple of refs are at ringside but reluctant to actually get in the ring.

Here comes Rey! He pulls his protégé out of the ring so that he can get some help as the Cueto brothers confer in the corner… well, I say confer, it’s Dario that’s doing all the talking.

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Back from break with Dragon still at ringside getting treated. Rey sees his chance and jumps into the ring to attack Matanza from behind while he’s listening to Dario. El Jefe hops down and says, “ring the bell!” so…

Rey Mysterio Jr vs “The Monster” Matanza Cueto w/Dario Cueto

Rey does Rey things to keep the bigger opponent off balance.



It doesn’t take much for Matanza to turn things around. Dropping Rey face first on the ring apron (hardest part of the ring, don’tcha know?) will do the job.

As Matanza repeatedly goes after Rey’s eye, I’m starting to suspect this is where the eye for an eye match idea came from.

Matanza slams Rey into the front of the commentary desk and has an uncomfortable moment locking eyes with Vamp. Dario tells him to do it again, so Matanza… throws Rey in the ring.

Rey bites Matanza’s hand to escape while they're on the turnbuckles. Ew, I know what that hand has been up to and I doubt it’s been washed. He almost loses his balance as he poses ahead of the next move, but manages to hang on:



Rey hits the springboard senton and then steals Dragon’s tilt-a-whirl DDT. Not enough. Another senton to a seated Matanza… still not enough. A big boot from Matanza halts any more Rey progress. Matanza grabs a chair from underneath the ring.

Matanza manages to connect on exactly zero chair shots to Rey. Rey finishes his dodges and counters by hitting a chair-enhanced 619



Matanza shows he’s more suited to pitching over batting (Hey, look at that, an American sports reference!) as he accurately chucks the chair at Mysterio.



Touchdown to the face! (Nope, I ruined it.)

Rey hurts his knee on landing, and Striker brings up his history of knee problems. Matanza hits a few big suplexes and then catches a desperation Rey moonsault and turns it into Wrath of the Gods.

It immediately stands out as Matanza doesn’t spin as normal so that they can land in the right place. Rey’s foot is on the nearby rope… until Dario pushes it off, several times. That’s enough for the monster to win. No giant slaying happening tonight.

Like the last match, it was fine but feels like there should have been more to it.

We’re not done yet though as Dario tells Matanza to destroy Rey. Matanza obliges with another Wrath of the Gods, this time while holding a chair against Rey’s back.

Chair around the neck, he runs Rey into the ringpost chair first.



Twice. Dario is loving this, unlike the crowd who are very vocal about how unhappy they are.

The credits roll as Matanza, lead by Dario, walks away into the darkness with an unconscious Rey over his shoulder.
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Next time: The Rise of the Ring Announcer

Post Episode & General Thoughts/Questions
- I only now realised that there was no Benji with Mundo. Eh, he’s probably off sorting out more deals for him.

- Will Melissa announce herself for her own match next week? What about the winners?

- It feels like they were a little unlucky with the timing here. Like they felt that they needed to do something special for it being the 100th episode, but being so close to UL3 they couldn't go all out with it. It was more of a setup episode than the big celebration that it could have been.

[Deleted]

Yea it tended to be the general consencous that the next episode feels more like a 100th episode than this one did.

It does not mean this was a bad episode IMO it was alot of fun and built on what is to come and has one of my absoloute favourite vingettes.

I know the lizard lord does not get to watch the trailers before each season so you never got to see this from the trailer before the now hilarious introduction of Ricky Mundo!



And I love how the WWU never bat an eye about this other than...Ricky is just f***ing weird..they never get the vibe of stalker , serial killer , single white gawd damn female. The temple has desensitzed them to any murderous intents lol.

But also would anyone trust ricky to actually successfully murder anyone the intern would trip over his own shoe laces which he tied together and Jack Evans continues to be the most chain smoking precious thing that needs to be protected at all costs this man should be an institution for he is an inspiration unable to talk but still showing up with his whiteboard to support his team.

The address on the I.D I could be mistaken as I do not think they ever revealed what it is but my guess it is probably where Johnny in real life lived a long time ago and it would make sense if everything on it was some little nod to Hennigan behind the Mundo.

It was a fun little opening segment that nicely transitions into the atomicos match which was a banger but what wanted out of it was Taya and Cage throwing down again but sadly not to be as they get interrupted.

I like that Puma's team is made up of everyone who has had major beef with Mundo...although I would have swapped out sexy star for The Mack but also can argue this makes slightly more sense since he did take both the GOTG and World Title from her.

Cage is fantastic for doing the bare minimum and just looked sometimes confused yet annoyed at everything around him...like when Fenix does his animo at the top and Cage is all  lol

This is a match where the small details really bring this match together....like Cage distancing himself as they come to the ring by walking noticably slower than the rest of his team and being last in line.

When gawd damn Vamprio tells you to get a restraining order you know something is seriously rotten in denmark.

I wonder if Mundo telling Ricky about him not asking him for permission to change his name might be a WWE reference of some kind because it totally feels like Vince would do.

Oh and great character moment to with Mundo already having a replacement lined up and that Ricky was never going to be in the match in the first place and Mundo being a dick waited untill the last possible moment to embarrass him , which is an interesting moral play here because while Ricky is not all that smart and really weird he has done nothing to be treated like dirt by Mundo and the rest...so a bit of does he deserve some skorn? maybe but they are treating him like a resident punching bag and he is so enamoured with being in WWU that it never even occurs to him how he is being treated.

And speaking of great character moments when Cage as lord lizard screencapped it  had Mundo up for a suplex or screwdriver and then noticed Jeremiah stealing the gauntlet was great because it reinterates Cage's entire focus when the match begain that he never ever took his eyes off of that gauntlet even in mid move in the match great touch.

The match was what you expected out of it a big fun schmoz with great character moments (like when Marty was not allowed in the WWU celebration) the only thing I really wanted out of it like I said was more Taya and Cage because they have great chemistry.

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And now we get to my favourite part of this episode.

This vingette was shot so amazingly (when are they not? lol) from the music to how the fight plays out to again great character moments and a great call back to something Grand Gecko noticed a few episodes ago , again there is nothing before or since that is on this level.

The lighting , the camera work and the music , everything here is the chefs kiss and then things like when Cage is choking Catrina and you hear her trying to grab air and breath even the foley artists were on their game here.

Jeremiah really is a very simple guy in love aint he...all he wants are those dead cold lips but what is interesting how Catrina is sort of in the Mil role when this starts as she is the one meditating where it is usually Mil at his deathshrine.

Oh and having the gauntlet being able to negate Catrina's power is a stroke of genius because otherwise she would have already gotten it but explains why she never made an immediate mad dash for it AND also explains why a few episodes back when she grabbed Cage by the arm she grabbed his opposite arm and really brings that scene with them at the lucha gym into perspective because Cage was so calm in that scene despite the gauntlet sitting on a bench he knew if she dared to grab it she was dead because there would be no ability to ninja vanish.

Again LU with amazing attention to detail and it paying off down the line.

But speaking of someone who ends up having a pretty damn good night here is Jefe trying to save his own ass by retrieving the gauntlet and basically hard reseting his choice on who to give it to..maybe.

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Pentagon at this point and time was the coolest mofo in all of wrestling....I miss him and his god tier theme.

DAJ Vs Pentagon is a great match

I like that Pentagon started this almost the same way he did the black lotus triad match when he drop kicked KAIRI half way around the world lol.

And Dario's good night continues as Pentagon makes it even easier pickings for Matanza to wreck DAJ and then it draws out Rey and after a solid match Rey gets his shit pushed in as well , Matanza has not been around a whole lot in the latter part of the season so this was a solid way to really re-establish him by just destroying the greatest luchador of all time and his protege.

But also I like how Dario kept Matanza from going after Pentagon but because Dario wanted him to keep focus on the actual goal but also he surely remembers the last time Matanza tried to f*** with Pentagon Dark and Penta pretty much squash matched him untill Vamp screwed it all up.

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This episode is not a bad episode there are like any LU episode fun things you get out of it which always lays ground work for things to come but for being a 100th episode celebration the next episode ends up doing it better.

Wonder if I can get me a 100th episode mug on e-bay anywhere...hopefully un-used.

[Gecko]

S03E36 – The Rise of the Ring Announcer

Last time
- Ricky Mandel legally changed his name to Ricky Mundo… it does not go over well and he is replaced in the atomicos match
- Mundo pins Puma in the atomicos match while teaming with Taya, PJ Black, and the replacement Marty against Puma's team of Sexy Star, Fenix, & Cage
- Jeremiah Crane steals the gauntlet mid match and tries to give it to Catrina, but Mil interferes and, during the three way brawl also involving Cage, Dario sneaks in and grabs it
- Fenix saves Melissa from Marty yet again, it is announced that she will be in a match
- Pentagon wins the final Medallion over Dragon Azteca, is prevented breaking an arm by Matanza who destroys Dragon himself
- Matanaza defeats Rey then, under instruction from Dario, beats him down and carries him away

Recaps of
- The Rabbits, Havoc, Drago, Cortez, and Penta claiming the Medallions
- Famous B saving his future client, Texano, from an arm break only for himself and Brenda to have their arms broken instead
- Marty and Melissa and Fenix... oh my! (get your mind out of the gutter)

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We transition right into the Fenix and Melissa part of the story as we join an in ring training session. A sweaty Melissa (I notice the important details) makes Fenix tap. Right, maybe she should do all the work in the match and let Fenix stand on the apron.

We continue the flirt-fighting with them exchanging moves repeatedly ending with one on top of the other. As Melissa is on top, she tells Fenix that she wants to see him without his mask.



Gecko’s unsatisfying wrestling storyline writing: He takes his mask off, Melissa goes, “EWW! Marty was right!”, and leaves him. We never get to see how ugly Fenix is.

Fenix isn’t ready for that level of trust yet and throws her off when she starts to remove it. He explains to a frustrated Melissa that the mask is everything to him. Before he wore it, he was a nobody. When he put it on, he became the Fenix. He was reborn and rose from the ashes of his past life.

Melissa says he’s still Fenix to her, with or without the mask.
He says that if the mask is taken from him, he’ll have lost everything. Melissa, who must be feeling a little jealous of the mask by this point, says that he won’t lose her.

And we end on an inverted twisting liplock

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Into the Temple where the Believers are doing a Mexican wave… or is it just a wave?... to the sounds of Slapback as Striker introduces things. He says that they are just one week away from UL3, but that doesn’t mean that they're taking things easy tonight. As well as the tag match, we’re getting the Gift of the Gods title match!

Vamp hands it up to the guest ring announcer, Famous B, but ignores an important element:



Brenda is highly entertained by ringing the bell.

Famous B, with his arm still in a cast, starts off the introductions properly and seriously. I hope it doesn’t continue.

Dante Fox vs Texano*

Striker and Vampiro argue about which of them said that Dante was one to keep an eye on.

*The man who should be hailing from B’s agency, Infamous Inc. The man who he saved from having a broken arm. The man who he hopes sees the light and will become his client.

B holds the ropes open for Texano, who is not looking pleased. He is distracted shouting at B and gets attacked from behind by Dante.

As the match progresses, there is an observer.



Dante is aware of him and shoots him with his finger before his Swanton. I do like the lighting setup they’ve got going there with Killshot highlighted by the spotlight.

Ooh, thought that was it. Fox escaped the powerbomb, hit a big kick and then took Texano down with a crucifix bomb.

Ha, Dante kicks out of a backbreaker at two, but this doesn’t stop Famous B from announcing Texano as the winner!
He gets in the ring to congratulate Tay-tay and raise his hand. This is a huge distraction and leads to Dante rolling Texano up for the three.
Whoops. That’s not going to help him choose to join B’s agency.


How is Dante’s promo work? Cause if that’s not horrendous, he is one of those that are probably going to end up falling way short of the huge star that he could potentially be. I know he’s been around for a fair while now, and he’s in his mid 30s, but people are hanging around a lot longer these days, so there’s still time.

Just before we get into the main bit of this, it’s quickly mentioned that Dante will be facing Killshot at UL3.


B sheepishly announces Dante as the winner and tells Texano not to worry, he’ll get it next time. Before he can leave, Texano grabs him and threatens to powerbomb him. His pandering to the crowd gives enough time for Dario to leave his office and tell Texano to hold on. He needs Famous B as his ring announcer tonight, so he can’t have Texano hurting him… but he’ll give him a match with Famous B next week!
B points out that he still has a broken arm, and Dario goes for the obvious joke and says that he guesses that that makes it a handicap match!
Time for Dario’s twist. Since B wants Texano as a client so badly, if he can somehow, some way beat him, Dario will turn over Texano’s LU contract to him, making him a client of Famous B.
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We head to Dario’s office where Havoc is inserting his Medallion into the Gift of the Gods belt. When Dario tells him good luck, he lets El Jefe know that when he wins, he’s using it to put himself in the main event title match at UL3.

There’s history there with Havoc and the title match at UL3. At UL2, he won the Unique opportunity tournament and was offered $250k or a title match at UL3, he took the title match only to then have to face a surprise opponent (Dr Wagner who would get the cash if he won) that he could not defeat and so lost the opportunity.

As he turns and leaves, he runs into another participant in the GotG match



Another one not exactly on the best of terms with Dario. Penta puts his Medallion in the final spot and we’re set for the seven way tonight.

Penta says that he’s going to win the GotG tonight. Everyone that enters the ring… he will break their arms. Penta, whose eyes don’t seem to be pointing quite in the same direction tonight, leaves after making sure Dario knows about the Cero Miedo.

Dario then gets on his big red phone just to tell somebody that he’s going to need a couple of medics on standby for the main event, before rubbing his hands with glee and anticipation at the carnage that is promised.
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The Mariposa & Marty “The Moth” Martinez vs Melissa Santos & Fenix

Something of a rarity here, a standard 2-on-2 tag match.

Maybe it’s not an obsession with Melissa, but Marty just having a thing for ring announcers?



Melissa and Fenix come out looking confident. Maybe it’s something to do with the security guy that is following them… and this is a proper security guy with a uniform and everything.

We come back from break with the match ready to start. Mariposa and Fenix are kicking things off as Marty is standing in his corner waving at Melissa.

Now that the match is underway, Melissa’s smile is gone and she has her serious face on.

As expected, when the other team makes a tag, Fenix doesn’t even think about tagging Melissa in.



Hope the cameraman is getting hazard pay.

Fenix is doing well on his own here… nope, don’t do it Melissa. She did it. Fenix got too close to his own corner and Melissa tagged herself in. The ref accepts Fenix tagging himself back in even though he’s in the ring and Melissa is on the apron still. What this does provide is a distraction for the other team to take advantage of.

Mariposa waves at Melissa and then smooches Fenix.

Melissa’s first action in the match is a nice kick to Marty’s head when he’s sent into the corner. She gets in the ring and, holding Fenix’s hand, balances on the top turnbuckle before launching herself into space



Marty probably enjoyed that.

A few more moves and Melissa is doing pretty well for a first match. She’s not perfect of course, but she’s not embarrassing herself either.

While Melissa is busy trying to fend off Marty with slaps and screams, Mariposa is busy behind her tying Fenix to the ringpost. Melissa spots this and does the smart thing by trying to get away, but ends up trapped between the Moths.

As Fenix looks on helplessly, the Moths hit a nasty looking Pedigree. Marty does not release the hooked arms on the way down, and Mariposa was holding the legs horizontal. That’s more than enough for the win.



Where’s that security guy when you need him? Marty opens his lunchbox and pulls out a pair of scissors (Mariposa is interested in the bag of food), but luckily Fenix escapes his bonds before anything happens and scares the Moths away.

Well, that one did its job, the match between them feels more of a big deal now with more emotion behind it.

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Back to commentary for a rundown of what we can look forward to at Ultima Lucha Tres

Steel Cage Match: El Dragon Azteca Jr vs “The Monster” Matanza Cueto
Nice, I was thinking literally this morning that I wouldn’t mind seeing another cage match
Ivelisse vs Catrina
This was set up way back in the first episode of the season, and then Ivelisse got injured in episode 10
Mask vs Hair: Fenix vs Marty “The Moth” Martinez
Well, considering Fenix still has his mask, I think I might know how this one goes.
Last Luchador Standing: Sexy Star vs Taya
Any chance of switching out Star for Melissa Santos? We might end up with a better match
The Hell of War: Killshot vs Dante Fox
It’s a 3 stages of Hell match. This one could steal the whole show. In fact, I'm predicting it will.
Career vs Title: Prince Puma vs Johnny Mundo
Should be another great one

Yep, that is looking like a great card and there’ll be even more than that since we’re looking at about a 3:45 total run time. Texano vs Famous B, a Trios title match, Gotg title match maybe…
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Gift of the Gods Championship: Paul London vs Mala Suertes vs Saltador vs Cortez Castro vs Drago w/Kobra Moon vs Son of Havoc vs Pentagon Dark

B has inherited Melissa’s disdain for having to announce Penta.

On paper, the Rabbits have the advantage, but on the other hand have you been paying any attention to what they're like?

Immediately chaotic. Penta and Havoc face off alone in the ring until Saltador chucks Havoc out and confronts Penta. The Bunny stops Penta’s Cero Miedo hand gesture and does a hopping rabbit one instead.

We’re just on a cycle of working our way through everybody getting in the ring and eventually getting knocked out of it again.

Drago is spending a lot of his time on the outside next to Kobra Moon just watching and waiting.

It’d obviously take longer, but I’m wondering if this would have worked better as an elimination style.



That can’t be a comfy landing. Impressive though.

Everybody dive out the ring!

Penta avoids Paul London’s charge into the corner and then sidesteps Saltador who dropkicks London in the arse. He throws Saltador onto London for some extra damage and then hits the package piledriver on Saltador. He doesn’t go for the pin, instead hitting piledriver on London too. He then pins London, but the decision to dish out more punishment has given Havoc time to get positioned for a SSP on the downed Saltador.



That was perfectly timed impacts, but more importantly: A Double Pin! And no shenanigans with it, no multiple refs, no legal/illegal man, just two legit pins happening in tandem.

I think we may have another UL3 match set up here.

Here’s Dario to sort stuff out. He does the obvious thing, At UL3 it will be Penta vs Havoc for the GotG… in a ladder match!
Man, that card just keeps looking better and better.

The Skeleton and Biker face off as the credits roll.
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A slightly nervous Dario gets in the limo and tells Agent Winter that he has retrieved the Gauntlet, but he is worried…
Winter tells him that he should be worried, Dario told them that Cage was the perfect man for the job (psst, he’s not a man, he’s a machine!).



Dario says that maybe he really is a machine (Hey!) and that is why he has not been so easily possessed. He then puts forward two names that would be suitable replacements: Mil Muertes and Jeremiah Crane. He proposes a three way match between them and Cage at UL3, with the winner getting the gauntlet.

Winter asks what happens if Cage wins?
Cage gets the gauntlet back and if the Descension fails, he personally invites the other person in the limo to his Temple to destroy Cage himself. Dario adds, “my lord” at the end.
And we see the third man (not Hogan… I hope) light a cigar as Winter nods his agreement.
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Next time: Ultima Lucha Tres – Part 1

Post Episode & General Thoughts/Questions
- Melissa not having seen Fenix without his mask raises several thoughts about how far their relationship has progressed.

- Famous B isn’t bad as a ring announcer, which isn’t really surprising.

- Onto Ultima Lucha 3!

[Deleted]

The opening scene does put into question Melissa and Fenix's relationship and just how long it has been going because if Melissa is now only becoming frustrated about Fenix not fully trusting her with his identity then this can't be something that has been going that long but if it has then Melissa is a f***ing saint and Fenix has serious issues but it is left so ambiguous that it could fall into either.

But it adds a nice layer to the relationship and shows that while they are happy together there is underlying cracks to this entire thing and isn't the fairy tail it has been portrayed as to that live audience.

Also can't blame Fenix entirely I mean the last woman that showed him attention had been trying to basically kill him.

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Dante Fox Vs Texano was an ok match for what it was. Not a whole lot to say about it apart from both guys just kind of for a bit going in really REALLY slow motion and then a gaf moment of Rick Knox counting the pin only for him to then see his foot on the rope even though Fox had his foot on the rope the entire time and Knox was looking right at it lol.

Although the end with B jumping the gun (GET IT HA!) early declaring him the winner early , I am glad LU did not just roll with it like that and swerved the swerve by giving the win to Dante and having B's screw up play into their match getting set for Ultima Lucha Tres so that was nicely played.

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Pentagon wants to break everyones arms and Dario has medics on stand by.

I am shocked LU has medics I always though when someones arm got broken Dario just wished them well and told them be back to work in about 6 months or else....or atleast that is what he tells Argenis.

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Fenix and Melissa Vs the creepazoids

LU USED MELISSA ABSOLOUTLEY PERFECTLY here even though she has had prior experience (she wrestled on a previous iteration of WoW) they knew she was still very limited and really let the story be the centre piece here and not so much emphasis that this is gonna be some master class of a match.

Fenix is hesitant to tag Melissa in (which helps to limit Melissas time in the match) because he wants to protect her but also it nicely ties back to the opening scene of shaky trust between them and Melissa being headstrong that Fenix can and should trust her.

There are so many interesting things at play in this match that LU does well....Fenix being overly protective of Melissa where as in contrast Marty could not give less a shit about Mariposa other than her being a means to an end to have him get to Melissa.

A nice call back to an early interaction between Fenix and Mariposa and also between him and Iveliesse where he wanted to be mr chivalrous and not hit them where as now there is no real hesitation instead just a bit of trolling on his end before he kicks her head in.

It is a great match to see how they have evolved so much over this season , everyone plays their role so well and you really feel how high the stakes are even more by the end because of shaky Melissa and Fenix's relationship is now.

And the end sequence really plays into Melissa's inexperience is going for the cover and it not being a proper pin but then immediately goes for the proper one and props to striker he is on his game great stuff.
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God tier pop and god tier theme and god tier version of Pentagon.

The Rabbit tribe should be in every single feud ever because how they play off of everyone is absoloutley hilarious in every way...Saltador doesn't wanna hear CERO MIEDO he wants to do the bunny hop lol.

This is just one of those really fun multi person matches that LU is perfect at because of how strong the character work is and everyone gets their shine in instead of it just being about 1-2 guys and everyone else just falls by the wayside for them.

Striker being on his game here really teed it up during all the entrances just giving a bit of insight into each fighters reasoning for being in the match and what they may want out of it win or lose.

And that springboard leg drop by Saltador was a thing of absoloute beauty wish someone would use that as a finisher it is quick and looks devistating and easy enough to transition into.

That ending was just perfectly timed and from what I remember there was no redo on that so they nailed that in a single go which is impressive.
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Normally a complaint especially in modern wrestling atleast under Vince was that things were thrown together and only announced at the last min to rush to pad out a card.

But when LU does it it just works and this is a big example at the end because you kind of figured coming out of the previous episode something is gonna happen with Mil , Jeremiah and Cage at Ultima Lucha because those three are circling one of if not the biggest story all season and it being so close to that big even but they do not set it up untill the very last moments but it doesn't feel unearned because the story has been building for weeks.

And proves and shows you can hold off of announcing something untill the last moments IF that story is strong enough and this absoloutley is.

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But next up THE BEST ULTIMA LUCHA OF THEM ALL! and my personal favourite.

There is a whole bunch of small promos guys and gals cut for their matches to give all of it more weight too bad it is all on the LU youtube though.

Killshot in particular has a great one with the closing line "I WILL NOT LEAVE MY BROTHER FOR DEAD..I WILL DO MUCH WORSE".

[Gecko]

So, I was planning on trying to smush the remaining episodes closer together, but that whole pesky life thing got in the way. Oh, well. Standard schedule it is, unless a unique opportunity arises that lets me get it done quicker.

S03E37 – Ultima Lucha Tres – Part 1

Last time
- Fenix won’t show Melissa his (presumably hideous) face
- Dante Fox beats Texano thanks to Famous B prematurely announcing Texano as the winner
- Dario makes it Famous B vs Texano at UL3, and he’ll give Texano’s contract to B if he can win
- Marty and Mariposa defeated Fenix and Melissa Santos, Fenix saved Melissa from a post-match haircut
- Penta and Havoc both won the GotG match, Dario puts them in a ladder match to decide the ultimate winner
- Dario arranges a three way match between Cage, Mil, and Crane for the gauntlet.

Recaps of
- The recaps feel like extra care has been put into them this week as they’re covering whole story arcs. Love the music that is used during this whole bit
- The history of Killshot and Dante Fox
- Famous B’s attempts to recruit Texano

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Melissa Santos is back on ring announcer duties tonight and welcomes us to Ultima Lucha Tres!



I forgot about the banners that they put up for UL. I’m guessing Fenderbaum owns several of them now.

An excited Striker does the introductions this week: Himself, Vampiro, the Believers, & Mariachi El Bronx who are providing a slightly more traditional sounding backing track this week.
For some reason, Striker wearing a t-shirt seems weird. Commentary goes over the stipulations for the Killshot vs Fox match, but we’ll cover that later as right now we have a different match about to start:

Texano vs Famous B

So, if B, President and COO of Infamous Inc., can somehow pull out the victory here despite still having a broken arm, Texano will sign a contract and become his client.

Brenda is conspicuous by her absence. After Melissa’s "mediocre" intro, B gets on the mic and admits that he can not defeat Texano as he is still dealing with a broken hoof. So... he called Dario who agreed that he could have a partner to make it a real handicap match.
Famous B showing up with an unexpected person at UL? How familiar.
Oh, it’s even more familiar. His partner is somebody that makes house calls: Dr Wagner Jr!



And Brenda back in a nurse outfit!

Wagner hasn’t been seen since he took part in the Battle of the Bulls tournament, way back in episode 14.

Why am I suddenly noticing that the ring mat looks bloodier than normal?

Ok, so now it's Texano vs Dr Wagner Jr & Famous B w/Brenda

Nice monkeyflip by Texano, Wagner cleared the seal in the middle of the ring.

B smacks Texano on the back with his cast that he definitely still needs. He gets in the ring… to find Texano staring at him, so scoots right back out to the floor. He gets chased partially up the steps, where Texano rips his cast off! Hey, how did he get his shirt sleeve under there?

That’s quite the bump:



With a solid thud on landing.

Audio that makes you go ugh: Striker saying that they’ve had their first UL moment. Unless it was sarcasm.
Audio that makes you go ha: As B climbs back up on the apron, Brenda says, “I’m so crippled right now! I can’t help at all! It’s really bad.”

Texano hits the sitout powerbomb on Wagner, but the ref won’t count as he informs the cowboy that B is the legal man.

Brenda gets up on the apron and attracts Texano’s attention. She sounds like she enjoyed the kiss that she got, even if it was just for a distraction.

B rolls up Texano from behind and, with his feet on the ropes, pins Texano!

Nothing too heavy to start the show, they’re just easing us in gently with a fun one. B adds another name to his client list.
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Commentary welcomes us back and run down the rest of the card (which doesn’t include a Cage vs Mack match for once), before we go to the next match.

Added onto what we already know about is a Unique Opportunities battle royal, which includes a couple of unexpected names in Vinnie Massaro and Pimpinela Escarlata

Hell of War: Killshot vs Dante Fox

So, the stipulations for this three stages of hell completely original idea:

First fall is Primera Sangre aka First Blood. (Which might explain my earlier observation about the mat if they switched the order about). Melissa strangely chuckles at saying the only way to win is to make your opponent bleed. Her hidden violent side is showing.

Second fall is No DQ. No explanation needed for this one
Third fall is Medical Evac, which you might also call an ambulance match if you chose to copy Dario's idea for your own version

I would say that it’d make more sense to switch the first two around, so that you have to go further every fall to get the win. Beat ‘em up > make ‘em bleed > send them to the hospital

Hopefully Striker got all his war puns out the last time.

First Fall: Primera Sangre / First Blood

All the blood is still on the ring mat, so I guess I’m just imagining it being new... unless it's from a match coming up on a later part that they taped earlier.

Hey, get that ladder out of here, the ladder match isn’t on yet.

Dante Fox: world’s worst hide and seek player



He ducks down when a chair is swung at his head and the believers echo my thoughts with a “whack-a-mole!” chant.

Don’t know what game this would be though:

Oh, I just noticed that he clipped his leg on the ring steps when he rolled back. I was wondering why he was holding his leg after.

I’ve noticed a guy in the crowd and the camera eventually focuses on him



Add him to my list of suspicious persons, 90% of which turn out to be nothing of note. I bet it’s Vampiro somehow (Ok, I don’t really but it’s a fun reference going way back in this watch through).

I’ve made comparisons to RVD about Dante Fox before, and this is the kind of reason why:



Apron leg drop from the guard rail onto a Killshot sandwiched between two chairs.
Dante knows he has a bit of time after that to set something special up, and wanders backstage to the janitor’s closet in order to grab:



A handy sheet of glass, which Striker informs us is used for replacements to Dario’s office windows. Dante enlists the aid of the ref, who choses to help instead of bleed, to set up the plate glass and balance it on a couple of chairs.

We’re heading towards the end of this stage of the match, they’re fighting on the apron above the glass, but we’re not quite done yet as they end up back in the ring

Great save there. I think you have to credit both of them for keeping that safe while still hitting the move.

I’m guessing the second part of the match will be much shorter and almost used to give them a bit of a breather before the final bit.

The sheet of glass has teleported into the ring… or possibly there was an edit where it was moved. Dante gets the ref to help set it up on the chairs again.

Killshot trying for a Pepsi Plunge / Top Rope Pedigree to put Dante face first through the glass, but ends up taking a backdrop and shattering it himself!



As expected, Killshot’s back is all sliced up and that means that Dante Fox wins the first fall.

Don’t know about them, but I feel like I need a rest after that one. And we’re only partway through the match.
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Second Fall: No DQ

Wrestling rules say that Killshot has a 95% chance of winning this part to even things up and take us to the final fall.

We start the next fall in a glass strewn ring, which also features a couple of chairs, a sweating ref, a pained Dante Fox, and a blood covered Killshot.

Dante immediately goes and attacks Killshot’s back and ends up with a bleeding arm. He continues against an almost defenceless Killshot with a C4 from the turnbuckle onto an open chair and a 450 onto Killshot while he’s lying on a ladder that’s balanced on the bottom ropes in the corner.

Killshot manages to survive and even fights back with a ddt that’s the opposite of “didn’t get all of it.”



You know how I said they should switch the first two falls to make sure that the stakes were continuously raised? Well, the first fall didn’t have a barbed wire board involved.

As Killshot prevents a sneak attack by Dante, the ref helpfully finishes setting up the board in the corner.

The board doesn’t get used yet, as Killshot goes on the offence, ending with the Killstomp from the top. Dante kicks out at one! This gets a huge reaction and rightfully so. It's one of those things that you have to save up and use extremely rarely to get a proper reaction.

He might not kick out at one from this:

Powerbomb through the barbed wire covered board. After leaving enough time for everybody to get over their shock, Killshot finishes things with a driver onto the glass. That’s us evened up.

Ok, so they didn’t take it easy there. It was possibly even nastier than round one thanks to all the glass still hanging around.
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The Lucha Army guys bring out the stretcher for the final part of the match.

Third Fall: Medical Evac / Ambulance match

If they had a huge budget, I bet there would be a chopper involved in this somehow.

They start on their knees facing each other, patiently waiting for the bell.

Killshot suplexes Dante out of the ring over the top rope, but Dante holds on and drags Killshot over with him. You know the spot.

Dante is crawling away, Killshot is stalking him while also dragging the stretcher along with him and chucking chairs at him.



"You’ve got red on you." - wrestling edition

Add the gurney to the casualty list:



It was kind of awkward looking, the way he had to jump out and angle things to make sure the landing was on target, but I don't think he could have hit it better than that.

Killshot straps Dante down and, despite the stretcher being bent out of shape, starts rolling him towards the waiting military ambulance. Dante starts to fight out as they get to the entranceway, and I notice that there is some final contraption set up in the background. It has a wooden frame and is sitting on some chairs.

Killstomp from the guard rail onto Dante sitting on the stretcher.

It’s shiny whatever it is.



Striker says that it is something that Dario commissioned to make sure that they have to go through hell to win.

They make their way up to the platform that the band perform on. Dante wraps a cord round the neck of his opponent and starts choking him. He’s tells Killshot that he’s always been better than him, and then turns his attention to the crowd, which gives Killshot a chance to grab a nearby empty bottle.

A hit to the head staggers Dante and he tumbles to his doom…

It looked a little unnatural, but is perfectly understandable that he wanted to take his time to get things right with that fall.

Killshot makes his way down to his fallen foe the safe and slower way and, after extracting him from the debris, dumps him in the back of the ambulance without ceremony to win the fall and the overall match.

Killshot makes his way back to the ring to receive his plaudits as the ambulance drives away.

Woooo. Good luck following that one, rest of the roster. I said it could steal the show and I may be correct, cause it’s going to take something special to top that.
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Next time: UL3 – Part 2

Post Episode & General Thoughts/Questions
- If the rest of UL3 is anywhere close to that quality, I’m in for a treat.

[Deleted]

WHAT IS ARGUEABLY THE BEST MATCH IN LU HAS ARRIVED!!

Oh and there is hell of war

Not to take anything from B and Texano here but there is a reason their match got maybe 5min tops , it was there to just warm the crowd up and quickly tie up a story with a neat little bump off the steps which absoloutley had to suck for B.

But we aint here to dwell on that.



I will argue this is the best hardcore style match ever put to regular wrestling television because of how it was structured and the story told...this was not simply a match of hit eachother with shit and then go home , this is a match where if you took out the hardcore stuff IMO this is still an amazing match and that is a IMO a testiment to how good a hardcore match is that if you as a viewer can come out of it and go this match would still be amazing without all the plunder they have done something right.

And you know you are in for something special on a multi night show when THIS is on the first night , this LU having full confidence in what they were putting out that this basically went on first which would be insane to fathom if you were amongst the people putting the show together.

But as much times as I have watched this match it still blows me away and to describe everything means we would literally be here for days reading a war and peace length thought piece on it.

But this is the match and LU has a bit of a tendency to do it this is the match that really put these two on the map to more casual audience because when it happened there was not a single discussion that was not about this match...and remember that momentum I said LU had lost a bit of with that stupid 5 month break at around episode 18-19 , this is them gaining it back 100 fold because even people that shit on this show HAD to watch this.

Lord Lizard noticing the things yes there was an obvious sped up moment to get the glass into the ring and this is admitted by Chris Dejoseph.

I love the little detail though of Killshot making sure he is not gonna bleed by trying to get the glass into ring on his own but instead forced ric knox to help him....things like that really just IMO enhance because you as the audience are thinking well why doesn't he just force someone to help him and loe and behold he does just that and it makes you feel like the show isn't insulting your intellegence.


The way they got around the fact Killshot is wearing a mask to make him take the fall in the first blood match was so smart because normally you would think oh Dante Fox is so going to take that first fall because that what the story would usually dictate.

So here is a little insight and gonna be getting alot more into this now going forward because there is alot to cover and I have not touched on alot of BTS stuff because there is a massive chunk of stuff to come.

But for now here is a little diddy for ya Dante Fox was actually someone they wanted and contacted going into taping season 1 but they could not get him because he was under contract elsewhere.

I also appreciate Dejosephs take here he said this match would not become the norm but only if the story dictated it which is what you always hope to here but some companies just wanna pop the crowd and throw things at the wall leaving everyone with a WTF is this happening.

And here is a bit more BTS stuff...Chris Dejoseph was basically forced into bringing in a stunt man to show Dante Fox specifically how to take that insane last spot and this kind of stemed from the first spot with Vamp way back in season 1 , the legal department was scared shitless so lol they wanted to ensure it was done as safely and properly as possible.

And incase you were wondering what type of glass they used in this match was , it was tempered glass aka glass in sliding doors etc.



But yea this match is something practically indescribable to someone who has never heard of let alone watched this show.

And this is a story that had been building for nearly 2yrs which is insane to even comprehend now let alone that built that long and you get such an amazing pay off unlike other stories that made quite an ongoing bitch.

But everything about this was perfect and to reiterate that is not something I choose to use lightly but this was exectuted exactly the way Killshot and Fox wanted and that is what makes this a bit more special to me is that this is what THEY wanted to do , not something the writers pushed on them to do and I love that this is the artists going out there being allowed to create what they set out to create and is why IMO this creative team was the best in televised wrestling.

And just to add onto how special this match was IT MADE THE BELIEVERS GO SILENT! you know what you have to do to make us believers just go silent from pure shock to do that is putting this match alot atop a special place.

After this match I had no doubt and many others to had no doubt Dante would be LU world champion because I said this in my preview for the season that everyone this season brings their f***ing A. game , this ended up being a season so many talents just went all out especially by the end here and don't be fooled to think just because it starts like this that there isn't absoloute insanity still to come.

This not a match you can tell a first timer about IMO this is one where you sit them down to watch it because while yea we have had matches where people bleed alot (or constantly in one mans case) but idk if we will ever get one anytime soon that provides such a story , athleticisim and brutality and executed this well.

And to all those that keep saying only the first 2 seasons are worth watching ..well there is your proof you are full of shit.

And to close this out here is my gift to you...the state of Dante Fox's back after this match the next day.