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INSANE TRIOS MATCH, CAGE VS. FENIX & MORE: 9/21 LUCHA UNDERGROUND TV REPORT

By Bill Bodkin on 2016-09-22 09:00:00

Previously on Lucha Underground

  • We look back at the first Dial of Doom match in which Mantanza beat Son of Havoc.
  • A recap of Pentagon Dark vs. Rey Mysterio Jr., and then Pentagon going to break Rey’s arm only to be saved by Dragon Azteca Jr.
  • A recap of the Taya/Sexy Star Gift of the Gods match, then the tease of Worldwide Underground vs. Super Friends and Sexy Star

Vignette: Rey Mysterio and El Dragon Azteca Jr. are sparring in the ring. Rey keeps talking about focus. Dragon says Pentagon tried to break their arms and they should seek justice. Rey says let Pentagon’s other enemies destroy him. They have their own battle to fight – one that’s more dangerous than Pentagon. Chavo Guerrero enters the ring. Dragon charges him, but Chavo wraps him up in the Laso from El Paso. He says Rey hasn’t taught him enough, but maybe he will.

In the ring: Dario in the ring and hypes Dario’s Dial of Doom.  Mantanza is already in the ring.  Dario runs down Son of Havoc losing the first Dial of Doom Match, but then says no one believed he could win. He spins the wheel and it lands on THE MACK.

Lucha Underground Title Match: Mantanza Cueto (C) vs. The Mack.

Mantanza is waiting on the main stairs for The Mack, but The Mack runs out from another enrance and jumps the champ as Dario yells “RING THE BELLLLL!!”

The Mack lights Mantanza up with punches, and then hits a Stunner which pops the entire crowd.  Mack keeps going for pins but Mantana kicks out at one every time. Mack hits a spin kick and follows it up with a rana. Mack hits a pump kick in the corner and then folds Mantanza with a Saito suplex. Mantanza quidkly kicks out of a pin once again. Mack is taking too much time waiting for the champ to get to his feet. He goes a for a Stunner but the champ counters with a massive deadlift German suplex.

Mantnanza goes for a choke, and then headbutts Mack in the back of the head. He hits a European uppercut, then drills a deadlift pumphandle fall away slam. Mantanza goes back to choking Mack which garners boos from the crowd. He kicks Mack hard, and Mack responds “That all you got bitch??” Mantnaza does it again, and goes for the pin, but only for a two. They trade forearms, and Mantanza ends up outside, and the Mack hits a a tope. The two get into the ring, and Mack runs the ropes for a huge Pounce. Mack calls for the end, and he goes to the top. He takes too long and when he tries for the bullfrog splash, Mantanza got the knees up.

This allows Mantanza to hit Wrath of the Gods.

Winner: Mantanza Cueto – retaining the title

Thoughts: While this wasn’t as a good as Mantanza vs. Son of Havoc from two weeks ago, this was still a very fun match. I wouldn’t mind to have seen these guys get an extended feud, but we’re not getting it. The match really re-established The Mack’s dominance in the ring, while  reinforcing Mantanza’s “give him an opening and he’ll crush you” capability.

Vignette: “Somewhere on the open road” – we hear The Famous B commercial, and we cut to Son of Havoc icing his shoulder in what looks like a basement. We cut and see the new Famous B commercial. We cut back to the couch and Son of Havoc is hanging on the couch with Mascarita Sagrada. Havoc says he hates these commercials, Sagrada ends up flipping the TV off. Son of Havoc’s mom comes out and says she made dinner, BAGEL BITES. The box glows. So weird.  Havoc and Mascarita say they are going to devise a plan.

Thoughts: This was a super goofy segment, but I enjoyed it. Mascarita and Havoc seemed to have a nice chemistry together, and this adds a nice new dimension to Son of Havoc -- a lighter, comedic side.

Vignette: Dario is seemingly doing coke off his desk. Mundo and Taya barge in. Mundo wants Dario to spin the wheel, because he wants a title shot. Dario says he has a title shot tonight, as it’s Worldwide Underground vs. The “Super Friends” (Drago, Fenix, Aerostar) for the Trios Titles.  Mundo says they don’t care about the Trios Title, they care about Mndo winning the title. Dario says, it’s Trios or nothing.  Mundo says he’s out, and he’ll be at the dojo. Taya stays behind, and says Dario need sa replacement  -- and she’s in. She says Dario has something around his nose, and he kicks him out.

Texano vs. Cage

Before the match starts, Dario comes out. He says both Cage and Texno lost in the first round of Unique Opportunity Title Tournament at Ultima Lucha Dos. It was a major disappointment for him. So what he’s going to do now is not make this a match for a unique opportunity, but the ULTIMATE opportunity. They’ll have to win the match to find out what that exactly is.

Cage and Texano jockey for position using basic mat wrestling, Cage with a pin for a two. Cage whips Texano into the corner, but Texano floats over, hits a kick and then centans back in. He nails Cage with a forearm followed by a standing enzuigiri. He gets a two count. Cage hits two successive kicks, and then dumps Texano to the outside. Cage hits a huge tope suicida, and lands on his feet. Cage and Texano get back in the ring and Cage gets a two count. Texano gets hit with a knee into a swinging neckbreaker combo. Cage goes for a suplex, but the two jockey and counter for a bit. Cage goes for a roll-up, nearly gets a three and turns the roll-up into on a version of Billy Goat’s Curse.  He cannot get Texano to tap. Cage hits a massive German, goes for a second, but Texano rolls through and goes into ankle lock. Texano picks up Cage, but Cage counters. However The Machine (not a man) eats a clothesline and spinning heel kick. Texano hits the vintage tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Texano charges Cage in the corner, but misses and gets knocked around. Cage hits a spinebuster with a jackknife pin. Cage went for a Cloverleaf, but Texano rolled through. Texano hits an over the shoulder slam. Texano charges Cage again but eats a boot and German then a DVD. Two count only. Cage eats a elbow then Texano goes for a Rainmaker, but Cage ducks and hits a 360 discus lariat – for the win!

Winner: Cage

Post-Match: Dario comes out and congratulates Cage. He says in order for Cage to cash in on the Ultimate Opportunity…he needs to be Texano two more times because this is a best of seven series. Texano is stoked, but Cage is annoyed, but ultimately shows Texano respect.

Thoughts: This was better than anything Texano and Cage have done in AAA this year. This was a solid match, that probably could’ve gone about five more minutes – however the fact they’re going to keep fighting is music to my ears. Texano hasn’t had a awesome run yet in Lucha Underground, and these two have  great chemistry in the ring, so watching these guys fight isn’t a bad thing at all.

Vingette: Dario opens a box with a Famous B hat in it. He throws it to the side. He opens another package, that has photos of burnt dolls, and weird, crazy black and white photography. He throws them in the garbage. Dragon Azteca comes in and demands a match with Pentagon. Dario said he’d rather have him fight Black Lotus, but since she’s in Hong Kong, he’ll get Pentagon next week. In a very random moment, Ricky Landell, whose barely been on the show since Season One (he has wrestled as one of the Disciples of Death last season) comes in and asks about his next match…since he hasn’t one in forever. He then comments how cool the photos on Dario’s desk are…photos that have magically gone from the garbage can to his desk. Dario tells Ricky to take them. Ricky’s stoked by this, and leaves but bumps into Chavo. He tells Chavo it’s not a good time. Chavo doesn’t heed Ricky’s advice. He tells Dario they need to talk.

Thoughts: Solid vignette. The Landell cameo was funny. I have a feeling these photos were sent by someone new coming to the series -- maybe Sami Callihan, or Paul London?

Trios Title Match: Fenix, Aerostar and Drago (C) vs. Taya, PJ Black, and Jack Evans

Apologies for no recap, this was a little too nuts.

However, there were a number of stories being told here, and takeaways from this match.

  • There's trouble in Worldwide Underground paradise as PJ Black and Jack Evans did not get along at all. Evans consistently pouted throughout the match, and sat out the majority of the match sitting criss cross Applesauce (hey I have a one and a half year old, this is in my lexicon now) on the outside. Anytime he was near Black, Black would "tag" himself in by viciously chopping Evans. 
  • They definitely played up Taya as "on the level" with the guys as she able to chain wrestle with Drago and Aerostar
  • Fenix is a star. While everyone in the match is super talented - everything Fenix did here felt big time. He carried himself like a star, and everything he did the crowd was popping like mad dogs for.
  • Aerostar has improved dramatically. I always found him to be a one move (the "trust fall dive") type guy - but ever since the nunchucks match, he's gotten better and better. His rope assisted Code Breaker is a thing of beauty.

Winners: Drago, Aerostar, Fenix

Post-Match: Mundo comes out, which brings out Sexy Star. The teams battle. I smell an 8 person match coming soon!

Thoughts: The shenanigans outshone the in-ring work here, which was actually very good. However, the antics and angles slowed this done too much, and killed a lot of the juice it could've had. Still a fan match here, but nothing to go out and find.

Vignette: Dario is talking to Rey Mysterio about Dragon’s demand for Pentagon. Dario said it’s not happening because he’s facing Chavo Guerrero. Rey said it’s not a good idea. Dario has a better idea since he’s close to both men – Rey will be the special guest referee for the match.

Thoughts: Sure, that's fine. Nothing blow away about this.

Overall Thoughts: I sound like a broken record, but another damn good, go watch it now episode of Lucha Underground!

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