BRM Reviews the 7/22/2015 Lucha Underground

[Big Red Machine]

DARIO & BIG RYCK IN DARIO’S OFFICE- good stuff. Dario offers Ryck the final Aztec medallion in exchange for Ryck no longer being on Daivari’s payroll.

EL TEXANO JR. vs. JOHNNY MUNDO- 5.75/10
As soon as the match started I was disappointed because I knew there would be a DQ or interference or something like that. Then they put on a match that was enough fun to make me forget about the obviously impending bad finish until The Crew showed up and I got so disappointed again.

POST-MATCH- Texano gets beaten down until Alberto El Patron shows up to make the save. Mundo bails while Alberto beats up The Crew, then Alberto and Texano have a stare-down. Great stuff.


DARIO & HERNANDEZ IN DARIO’S OFFICE- good execution, but I’m not so hot on the concept.
At Ultima Lucha it will be Hernandez vs. Drago in what is essentially the “Fan’s Revenge” match from TNA No Surrender 2006: Fans as leather strap-swinging lumberjacks. At least Hernandez called out how insane Dario would have to be to book this due to the legal risks (I hope you have insurance”), but I didn’t like a lot of the little details here. Stuff like Dario getting Tweets from fans or having liability insurance. The atmosphere and stories of Lucha Underground are at their best when it is treated as an underground fight club. Not with Dario having a Twitter account and people wanting to sue him if they get hurt from taking an obvious risk.
Hernandez threatened to beat the crap out of any fans who actually dare to whip him with the straps.

THE MACK vs. CAGE- no rating. Good segment.
FINALLY we’re getting a payoff for that segment a few months ago! Hooray! Then Striker said that neither of these guys has a match for Ultima Lucha yet and it immediately occurred to me that this would have been a great undercard match for that show(s). Then they did something that builds to that very well anyway. It was also at this point when I had a startling (and interesting) revelation: Of all of the big matches for Ultima Lucha, the only two gimmick matches are relatively low on the card.

DARIO EXPLAINS THE AZTEC MEDALLIONS- disappointing. I was expecting some backstory. Instead it’s another “championship.” Basically it’s a combination of G1 #1 Contendership contract but you only have to defend it once. You must notify Dario one week in advance before cashing in because Dario is actually a good promoter. It sets up some interesting possibilities but it also feels very underwhelming. How is this the “power” or “immortality” that Dario kept claiming that the medallions granted? The way the belt is set up made me hope it would somehow work like the Infinity Gauntlet.
The competitors each put their medallion in the slot in the belt. Dario shoos them all away and then reminds us that Fenix cannot put his medallion in the belt because Mil Muertes killed him dead. Dario, being Dario, sounded surprisingly happy about this. To fill the last spot, we’re having a TNA-style gauntlet match.
Or not, because Fenix is here and has apparently fully recovered from his case of death that was previously afflicting him. Good for him.
Wait. No. Dario is still doing the Battle Royale, but he is kind enough to let Fenix enter.

BATTLE ROYALE (WITH A SINGLES MATCH AT THE END) FOR THE FINAL AZTEC MEDALLION- 6/10
Fenix won, as if there was ever any doubt.

ULTIMA LUCHA RUNDOWN- I’m really looking forward to this, but I’ actually afraid that two weeks won’t be enough for everything to get the time it needs.

PRINCE PUMA SPEAKS- didn’t like it.
Before he can say anything, Mil Muertes and Catrina show up. Mil is wearing a suit and tie, which just looks SOOOOOO wrong on him. Then the Disciples of Death jump him but Prince Puma beats them up. Them Mil attacks him put Prince Puma takes him down with, like, two kicks, knocking him down long enough for Prince Puma to first to the Taker throat slash and then hit the 630.

A good show from Lucha Underground, aside from the last segment. ULTIMA LUCHA is NEXT WEEK! I’M SO EXCITED!

STUPID ANNOUNCER QUOTES:
1. Striker described how Bengala put his medallion in the belt “in exciting fashion.” IT WAS DUDE PUTTING A TOKEN IN A SLOT!!!

[cero2k]

DARIO EXPLAINS THE AZTEC MEDALLIONS- disappointing. I was expecting some backstory. Instead it’s another “championship.” Basically it’s a combination of G1 #1 Contendership contract but you only have to defend it once. You must notify Dario one week in advance before cashing in because Dario is actually a good promoter. It sets up some interesting possibilities but it also feels very underwhelming. How is this the “power” or “immortality” that Dario kept claiming that the medallions granted? The way the belt is set up made me hope it would somehow work like the Infinity Gauntlet.
really? i thought it was the most innovating booking i've seen since the original MITB was created. It's a MITB with the 7 Dragon Balls! And it gives it far more longevity and it's easier to book and show off than 'immortality'. I'm 150% happy with this booking.

ULTIMA LUCHA RUNDOWN- I’m really looking forward to this, but I’ actually afraid that two weeks won’t be enough for everything to get the time it needs.
next week gets 1 hr, last week will get 2 hrs according to Alvarez

PRINCE PUMA SPEAKS- didn’t like it.
Before he can say anything, Mil Muertes and Catrina show up. Mil is wearing a suit and tie, which just looks SOOOOOO wrong on him. Then the Disciples of Death jump him but Prince Puma beats them up. Them Mil attacks him put Prince Puma takes him down with, like, two kicks, knocking him down long enough for Prince Puma to first to the Taker throat slash and then hit the 630.
Mil looked like one of the classic luchadors in the movies, it was fantastic. I expect luchadors to always dress in normal clothes with their mask.

I didn't agree with the last segment, but i didn't think it was bad. I would have had the trios champions fed off the disciples and then have Puma take out Mil

[Big Red Machine]

DARIO EXPLAINS THE AZTEC MEDALLIONS- disappointing. I was expecting some backstory. Instead it’s another “championship.” Basically it’s a combination of G1 #1 Contendership contract but you only have to defend it once. You must notify Dario one week in advance before cashing in because Dario is actually a good promoter. It sets up some interesting possibilities but it also feels very underwhelming. How is this the “power” or “immortality” that Dario kept claiming that the medallions granted? The way the belt is set up made me hope it would somehow work like the Infinity Gauntlet.
really? i thought it was the most innovating booking i've seen since the original MITB was created. It's a MITB with the 7 Dragon Balls! And it gives it far more longevity and it's easier to book and show off than 'immortality'. I'm 150% happy with this booking.
I like the "defend the briefcase" bit but I don't like how restrictive the "one week notice" clause is. Yes, you can promote your match in one week, but doing things MITB-style (theoretically) makes every show must-see.
I do like the medallions as qualifiers part. I just... in a show with this much backstory and death-spirits and monsters and disappearing Maxine, don't talk about immortality if there isn't actual immortality on the line! Why not just call it another Dario Cueto "opportunity" (hell... if I were them, I'd make "opportunity" Dario's catchphrase).
ULTIMA LUCHA RUNDOWN- I’m really looking forward to this, but I’ actually afraid that two weeks won’t be enough for everything to get the time it needs.
next week gets 1 hr, last week will get 2 hrs according to Alvarez
Ah. That's good then.
PRINCE PUMA SPEAKS- didn’t like it.
Before he can say anything, Mil Muertes and Catrina show up. Mil is wearing a suit and tie, which just looks SOOOOOO wrong on him. Then the Disciples of Death jump him but Prince Puma beats them up. Them Mil attacks him put Prince Puma takes him down with, like, two kicks, knocking him down long enough for Prince Puma to first to the Taker throat slash and then hit the 630.
Mil looked like one of the classic luchadors in the movies, it was fantastic. I expect luchadors to always dress in normal clothes with their mask.
My issue was't with the mask. My issue was with the suit. It doesn't work for someone who is a death-spirit thing. He's not El Santo or Blue Demon or Mil Mascaras.
I didn't agree with the last segment, but i didn't think it was bad. I would have had the trios champions fed off the disciples and then have Puma take out Mil

I was expecting the trios champs to make the save and was surprised that they didn't. Either way, though, I just don't think Puma laying Mil out was the right way to go into the PPV (and especially not that easily).