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With the first Lucha Underground TV tapings set for this weekend, we are told that the El Rey Network series still has yet to get all of the talent under contract.
As noted last week on PWInsider.com, there's been concerns about the contractual terms by some of the wrestlers who have been offered deals due to the lack of guaranteed dates and pay (as well as no option for raises as the series continues to be "renewed" for new seasons), the length of the contracts (seven series cycles, which could mean seven years), the exclusivity requested by the production (no dates outside of the series except for promotions and dates approved by the production in advance) as we covered last week.
PWInsider.com has learned that the production has given talents who are dragging their feet until tomorrow 9/2 to sign their deals or else the contracts will be rescinded. We are told that is partially because the production wants to have all of their ducks in a row so they can have pre-filming meetings and rehearsals sometime this week with their roster. I am told the series does not want to use talents that are not signed, for obvious reasons.
PWInsider.com noted last week that Ricky Reyes and BBoy have signed on for the project. The series has already publicly announced Luchadors Blue Demon Jr., Sexy Star, Drago, Fenix and Pentagon Jr. and has publicly stated that additional Lucha talents will be announced.
American names that PWInsider.com have confirmed to have been offered deals (but have not signed, to the best of my knowledge) as of today include Konnan, former WWE star John "Morrison" Hennigan, former TNA star Shawn Hernandez, Chavo Guerrero, DGUSA Open The Freedom Gate champion Ricochet, Joey Ryan, Candace Laree, Scorpio Sky, Rocky Romero, Ivelisse Velez and Matt Cross.
PWInsider.com can also confirm that Nick and Matt Jackson, The Young Bucks, were offered deals but turned them down.
Former WWE creative team member Chris DeJoseph (who performed as Big Dick Johnson on camera) is involved with the production end of the series.
The series will be taped in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles with several episodes taped per taping. Currently there are taping dates of 9/6, 9/7, 9/13, 9/14, 9/27, 9/28, 10/4, 10/5, 10/18, 10/19, 10/25 and 10/26 set, which means the series could tape as many 24-36 episodes by late October.
Lucha Underground will debut on 10/8. Initial press releases for the project have indicated that the series would also develop "monthly and quarterly specials" as well as live PPV events as well as licensing and merchandising for the production, although more recent press releases have not cited those plans.
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