Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Lucha Underground Review (S3E34, 9/6/2017): Career Opportunities

The opening recap covers the Cueto Cup final, the Rabbit Tribe vs. World Wide Underground, Rey Mysterio vs. Johnny Mundo and the aftermath of Dario's interference against Rey.

The Mack vs. Drago [Aztec Medallion]: ok

As expected, Kobra Moon accompanies (and controls) Drago.

There's not really too much interesting here, outside of The Mack handstanding on the turnbuckle for an extended period of time. Kobra climbs on the apron to distract The Mack long enough for Drago to execute his Whip of the Dragon's Tail pin for the win.

After the match, Mack gives a stunner to Drago, and is about to do the same to Kobra Moon when Pindar and Víbora run in for the save. Vibora chokeslams The Mack.



After the break, Dario is in the ring to announce the card for Lucha Underground's 100th episode:

  • Dragón Azteca Jr. vs. Pentagón Dark for an Aztec Medallion;
  • Johnny Mundo and the rest of World Wide Underground (Taya, Jack Evans, and Ricky Mandel) vs. Prince Puma and three others (his choice);
  • Rey Mysterio vs. Matanza.
Dario calls Rey out to tell him that Matanza will have a warm-up match tonight against all three Rabbit Tribe members and orders Rey to leave, threatening to cancel Rey's match and to fire Dragón Azteca Jr. when Rey initially refuses. Rey obliges but retorts that he'll end both Matanza and Dario.

Cortez Castro vs. Joey Ryan [Aztec Medallion, 5-0 street fight]: great

Ominously, a police car and police officers with riot shields are ringside. The twist on the street fight theme here is that all weapons and objects are police-themed, and so we have nightsticks and riot shields instead of the usual chairs, tables, and implements from the Temple environment. If it stopped with the riot shields, perhaps this match wouldn't have amounted to anything special, but in due time, the police car gets mutilated, and coffee, donuts, and a taser enter the fray. As a substitute for his usual baby oil, Joey Ryan gets hot coffee poured down his trunks, which Castro then subjects to tasing. This is an amusing twist on the usual Joey Ryan comedy spots.

Castro gets the win after spraying Ryan with something and then giving him an Attitude Adjustment onto a riot shield.

This match completely exceeds expectations. It's a gimmick match that manages to stand out in a show well-known for gimmick matches, by varying what gets used and by incorporating comedy in a creative way.

Paul London, Mala Suerte, Saltador vs. Matanza: ok

Like the opener, there's not much here, outside of a cool dive by Saltador off Mala Suerte's back. The Tribe does get in moments of offense, but the outcome was never in doubt: Matanza's just too strong, and catches a springboarding Saltador to hit his Wrath of the Gods.



In the ring, Prince Puma is about to announce his partners for next week when Johnny Mundo interrupts. Mundo wants to make their Última Lucha 3 match mask vs. title. Dario comes out of his office to object, since Fénix already has his mask on the line, and proposes career vs. title instead. Puma takes out Mundo and accepts, without announcing his team.

OVERALL: This is a one-match show; Castro vs. Ryan is definitely worth watching, but everything else is skippable.

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