By John Moore
Lucha Underground TV
Taped at Los Angeles, CA on November 14, 2015
Aired on the El Rey Network on January 27, 2016
Vampiro was shown sitting in a mental ward being evaluated by a doctor. A voice called out to “Ian” and asked him what day it is. Ian/Vamp said it was graduation day. The doctor went over several tests which Vamp gave favorable answers to, but he was holding back his thoughts on violence and gore. The doctor told Vampiro to take two pills of an antipsychotic per day.
The doc said that in order to be set free, he has to avoid the people that set off these violent urges. Vampiro couldn’t say now and proceeded to beat the hell out of the doctor. He also beat up a lesser doctor. Vampiro bit the doctor’s neck to top off his attack. We found out that this scene was all in his head as he agreed to the doctor’s demands. Matt Striker was Vamp’s escort and Vamp wondered if they still had a job, Matt Striker said that they were invited back to the Temple, but now it was a “Much Darker Place”, which was the episode’s title.
John’s Thoughts: I didn’t know what to expect, but the cinematic parts of the show seemed to have taken a step up. It may not be for everyone, but I love these psychological aides and cinematic fight scenes. I can even deal with Vampiro eating people’s blood, he a vampire!
At Dario Cueto’s office, Catrina was having a meeting with Fenix. Fenix asked to challenge Mil Muertes. Catrina said it was her job to make him wait, til next week. Catrina said a man was hunting Fenix for months and wants the title. Catrina said that Mil will be watching. Mil Muertes was sitting in the area where the live band used to be as he watched Lucha Underground with the crowd.
Matt Striker and Vampiro checked in on commentary from the Temple. Vampiro was as hyped as usual. Vampiro said he loved Matt Striker. Vamp said that Mil has ascended to dark Olympus and is the new boss. They passed things over to Melissa Santos who introduced the upcoming title match.
1. Fenix vs. King Cuerno for the Gift of the Gods Championship. Cuerno grabbed the wrist to take down Fenix, but Fenix utilized his quickness to escape all of Cuerno’s mat work. Fenix missed wildly with Trouble in Paradise which made Cuerno want to take a rest outside. Cuerno caught Fenix off the baseball slide and have him a hanging DDT on the mat. Cuerno took out his arrow from hell and hit the best Tope in the business, and it still looks sweet.
Mil Muertes was still watching like a stone statue, not budging. Fenix made a comeback with a springboard dropkick. Fenix rode the ropes like a tightrope to land an armdrag on Cuerno. Fenix hit a Lethal Injection on Cuerno. Cuerno went to rest outside again. Fenix stopped that rest period with a Corkscrew plancha to the outside.
Fenix yelled viva Mexico as he hit a running boot to the corner on Cuerno. Cuerno pulled a desperation crossbody out of nowhere. Fenix battled right back with a superkick. Cuerno came right back at him with a flying leg lariat. Fenix hit the Lethal Injection to the dragon sleeper to get a submission sequence. Cuerno fought out and locked Fenix in his crossbow surfboard. Cuerno couldn’t lock it in so he sent Fenix’s face into the bottom turnbuckle.
Fenix ran at Cuerno when he was on the top rope and got a uppercut followed by a double footstomp. Fenix went for a combo move and got caught into Cuerno’s Thrill of the Hunt Finisher. Fenix kicked out of the finisher. Cuerno put the boots to Fenix and shot another arrow. Fenix met that arrow with a superkick to knock out Cuerno. Fenix missed a high risk move and got planted into the mat with an innovative package piledrver like move to earn Cuerno the win and the title.
King Cuerno defeated Fenix via pinfall in 7:49 to earn the Gift of the Gods Championship.
Son of Havoc, Ivelisse, and Angelico all met each other outside and were heading back into the temple as we head to our first commercial…
John’s Thoughts: Hot match to start of the second season and a much better start than the beginning of Season 1 (remember Chavo vs. Blue Demon? I honestly don’t remember how that match went but I knew it was lame). It’s a smart move to get people hooked with a hot title change to start and the action carried its end of the bargain. It’s interesting seeing Fenix lose his first title defense, and I hope they have more planned for the talented luchador because he is too good to be brushed aside.
Team Havoc met with Catrina in the Lucha Underground locker room. Ivelisse said they wanted their titles back and were ready to fight. Catrina simply said “no!”. Catrina said that Mil wants to see the Trio face each other. Havoc brought up how it took a year for the three to get along. Catrina sweetened the pot by adding a Lucha Underground Title Match in the main event. The Trios agreed to fight. Ivelisse said that after she wins the title, she’s coming after Catrina…
At the Temple, Catrina called Melissa Santos over and whispered something in her ear. Melissa Santos went in the ring and introduced the upcoming number one contenders match for the top title in the promotion…
King Cuerno was in the locker room with Catrina as she was trying to reaffirm a deal they had. Cuerno said that Catrina and Mil have nothing to worry about. Catrina did her instant transmission teleport…[c]
John’s Thoughts: They are really trying to put a lot of strong matches to start off the season, and so far I like it. They are getting a handful of new viewers so, it would have helped if they had some flashbacks to why Son of Havoc, Ivelisse, and Angelico are where they are now. Hopefully the announce team can help do that during the match.
2. Son of Havoc vs. Ivelisse vs. Angelico in a number one contenders match for the Lucha Underground Championship. Son of Havoc and Ivelisse had the crowd split. The three friends tried quick pins on each other, all to no avail. This popped the crowd when they all stood at a stalemate. Son of Havoc started a three person strength. Angelico was teasing Ivelisse which caused her to strike him and attack Havoc too. Ivelisse grounded Angelico with a huracanrana.
Ivelisse ate a running boot from Angelico. Angelico and Ivelisse took Son of Havoc’s corner elbow. Havoc earned a nearfall. Angelico dominated next by using his Eddy Gordo kick on Havoc. Ivelisse ended up getting a nearfall on Angelico after a crossbody. Ivelisse pummeled Havoc with ten roundhouse kicks. Ivelisse sent Angelico’s elbow into havoc. Ivelisse earned a nearfall on Angelico.
Havoc came back with a backbreaker on Ivelisse. Angelico tried to throw Havoc outside, but his shoulders blocked it. Angelico was sent outside, followed up by topes to everyone from Son of Havoc. Havoc hit a stomp into the standing moonsault to get a nearfall on Angelico. The three luchadors all were even. Angelico got a feint kick on Havoc as he was on the top rope and went for the superplex. Havoc got a front suplex instead. Ivelisse tripped Havoc. Ivelisse tangled Angelico in a cradle to earn a title shot in the main event.
Ivelisse defeated Angelico and Son of Havoc via pinfall to earn a title shot for the Lucha Underground Championship.
Three random guys were in a car in LA. Black Lotus (Angela Fong) asked them if they were lost. The random guys asked her about this random fight club, the temple. Lotus told them to follow her… [C]
John’s Thoughts: Fun match between the three friends. I would have liked to see more of a story told with them being friends, rather than just having a regular match, but it was still fun nonetheless. It’s also cool seeing Ivelisse fully healed after spending most of last season with a broken leg. It will be interesting tough, we’re getting an intergender “World” title match on national television.
Melissa Santos immediately introduced the Lucha Underground Title Match. Angelico and Son of Havoc stood by their trios partner side as she looked a bit nervous having to face the man of a thousand deaths. Catrina emerged from her office carrying Mil’s magic rock. Catrina used the magic rock to summon Mil’s putty patrol, the Disciples of Death. The Disciples carried Angelico and Havoc away as Mil held Ivelisse in place to watch. They cut to another commercial…[C]
3. Ivelisse vs. Mil Muertes for the Lucha Underground Championship. Matt Striker said that history was being made. Mil pushed Ivelisse down to show his power while also flexing his pecs. Ivelisse tried to come in with the punches and forearms but Mil no sold the moves. Mil followed up with a backbreaker. Striker pointed out how Mil was watching the last match from the throne and can pinpoint the back stress that Ivelisse picked up in the triple threat match.
Ivelisse tried to get up, but was set down with a boot. Mil went for a side slam, but Ivelisse countered into a guillotine choke. Mil bear hugged Ivelisse and threw her to the ground. Mil went to choke Ivelisse on the ground. Ivelisse tried to get a triangle armbar, but Mil pulled her up. Ivelisse managed to get a cross armbreaker on the ropes. Mil escaped by kicking Ivelisse several times in the head.
Ivelisse went to the top rope. Mil tried to slam her but Ivelisse managed to hit a tornado DDT to earn a nice nearfall. Catrina went in the ring to raise her power rock. Mil went for the spear and speared Catrina accidently. Ivelisse got another nearfall. Mil Muertes recovered and planted Ivelisse with a power slam. Mil hit the flatliner to earn the victory.
Mil Muertes defeated Ivelisse via pinfall in 4:31 to retain the Lucha Underground Championship.
Mil sent Catrina over and instructed Catrina to give Ivelisse the lick of death. Catrina teased a lick, but instead ordered Mil to hit Catrina with another flatliner. Suddenly, Prince Puma came in for the rescue with a superkick to the face of Mil. Puma took Ivelisse to the steps to safety. Prince Puma taunted Mil. Suddenly, Pentagon Jr blindsided Mil Muertes. Pentagon managed to break the arm of Mil as the crowd went nuts. The credits went up and the episode was over…
But wait? There was more. Black Lotus took the three random dudes to meet with El Jefe, Dario Cueto. They met in front of a building with “The Temple” written on it. Lotus said the men were here for underground fighting. Dario said that inside, it can get violent. One of the guys wondered why the chick was here. Lotus kicked and punched that guy. Dario asked the guys for $20 bucks a piece. Dario said “Wait! You need a key to get in there!” telling us, the viewer, that they were not going into the temple. One of the guys asked who was fighting. Dario said “You are!”. Dario Cueto closed the door to trap them in Mantaza’s cage, and they are now either just dead or eaten like B-Boy. This closed Lucha Underground…
John’s Thoughts: Intergender matches are hit or miss. This one was about to get a miss from me, but it had enough hope spots to make it really fun. My expectations were lowered with some of the clunkers Sexy Star had last year in intergender matches (most notably Big Ryck vs. Sexy Star). Ivelisse is a better worker so you had to know she was capable of a decent main event.
While it was a cliché’ rescue scene the end of the Temple coverage introduced Prince Puma as the hero very well. Pentagon Jr also looks like he is returning as a technico this season which was inevitable due to him being one of the most popular wrestlers in Los Angeles.
When I head to The Temple on Sunday, I’ll make sure not to head through Dario Cueto’s secret entrance. Now we know he’s in some random location that’s not the Temple and he’s feeding random dudes to Mantanza just like Rick Moranis would to Audrey II. Now I wonder if Vince McMahon could do the same thing at WWE live events by charging people $20 bucks to get eaten by The Ryback. Anyway, this was a solid first episode of Lucha Underground Season 2. They were really going for the hot matchups to start and all of the matches were solid. I hope that they try to splice in more Season 1 footage later on as they are getting a lot of new viewers. Thank you for reading my review and make sure to check out Will Pruett’s Audio Review coming up later today.
Awesome show . I’ve been waiting for the 2nd season to begin.
With LU back, tna being really good right now and wwe managing to actually interest me for the first time in awhile I would say it is a good time to be a wrestling fan.