By Liz@Ms_Deathwish
In tonight’s pre-show recap, we are reminded of the heat that has been building between Son Of Havoc and Killshot over the past few weeks, including the recent incident where Son of Havoc unmasked Killshot. Next we see XO-Lishus and Joey Ryan inviting Ivelisse to join them in their quest for Trios gold, followed by the Temple’s introduction to the new and improved Rabbit Tribe, headed up by the ominous White Rabbit, who was accompanied by El Bunny and original member Paul London. Their anticipated in ring debut is teased for this week. We are then shown the resurrection and subsequent fall of Fenix into Fenix Dark. His long time friend Aerostar saved his soul from the clutches of Catrina, only for him to not quite come back as he was before (a Lucha Cemetery kind of situation?). It seems that not even his beloved Melissa Santos can reach him, so where does he go from here?
Introduction:
This week’s episode opens with a scene on a rooftop at sunset with Aero Star and Melissa Santos discussing Fenix and the manner of his return. Aero Star expresses his regret at bringing him back despite the fact he only wanted to save his friend. He explains to Melissa that Catrina’s evil soul is responsible for corrupting Fenix and he is beyond help. Melissa believes she can still save him, but Aero Star insists it is too late. He implies he has seen the future and therefore, the end of EVERYTHING. The amulet he carries is held in his hand and he looks at it, seemingly with a heavy heart.
We enter the Temple to the up tempo beats of the masked band El Conjunto Nueva Ola. The long time commentary team of Vampiro and Matt Striker welcome all believers to the show with their usual gusto. They address the controversial new champion Marty “The Moth” Martinez and the manner in which he took the gold from the previous champ, Pentagon Dark. We see the introduction of The Moth’s mysterious new female companion (played by indie wrestler and former Impact Knockout’s champion “Hot Mess” Chelsea Green) and how her interference sealed Pentagon’s fate and allowed Marty to pick up the belt. We get the announcement that Marty will be addressing the Believers of the Temple later on regarding his new title reign, and hopefully his new accomplice.
Match One: Ivelisse, XO-Lishus and Joey Ryan vs The Rabbit Tribe
The highly anticipated in ring debut of The White Rabbit has been hinted at for weeks, and this week we finally get to see this character step into the ring at The Temple. The ominous White Rabbit is played by Impact Wrestling’s “Killer Kross”, who has been making waves in Mexico with Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide as well as more recently by assisting current Impact World Champion Austin Aries. He has been taking the wrestling world by storm with his intimidating presence, smash-mouth style and brutal athleticism. I for one have been seriously looking forward to seeing what he can do in the fantastical setting of Lucha Underground’s Temple.
As Melissa announces this first lucha, the team of Ivelisse, XO-Lishus and Joey Ryan are already in the ring. The Rabbit Tribe make their entrance from “down the rabbit hole” to a receptive crowd. On White Rabbit’s signal, London and El Bunny split up and move around the ring, reminiscent of the S.H.I.E.L.D and their signature surrounding ring attack. The leader jumps up into the ring and Ivelisse, the brave soul she is, squares up to him. Joey Ryan and XO-Lishus move to support her and, taking advantage of the distraction, Paul London and El Bunny attack the trio from behind in a classic heel move.
Smiling at a job well done, White Rabbit steps out of the ring and takes up the position of the detached observer. What follows is an energetic exchange between Ivelisse and Paul London who are the two legal competitors. Ivelisse yet again proves why she is one of the top women workers out there, who never looks out of place when she works inter-gender matches. London plays the crazed lunatic to perfection. El Bunny and XO-Lishus tag in and proceed to showcase both XO’s amazing athletic ability and also El Bunny’s skill and power that belies his diminutive stature.
While this is all unfolding, White Rabbit watches on with a cold, calculated stare. Following a tag by London, a pin attempt by XO who was then turned inside out by a powerful clothesline, London goes for the pin while looking up for his master’s approval. White Rabbit gently shakes his head. They’re not done yet. XO manages to tag in Ivelisse who then pulls off a great spot with a triple German suplex involving London and El Bunny, much to White Rabbit’s chagrin. Ivelisse’s team seem to get upper hand for a minute but it’s not long before both her and XO are out on the floor and Joey is left in the ring by himself.
This is the time when White Rabbit decides to involve himself in the match. Joey tries to take him out with a couple of super-kicks, which only really serve to anger the big man, and have little effect. He reaches for his lollipop but gets taken out with Rabbit’s signature Saito suplex. While Ryan is on the floor, White Rabbit pulls out a white glove. He proceeds to incapacitate Ryan with a Mandible Claw (that Striker dubs “Down The Rabbit Hole”) and wins the match.
Kross’s intensity and facial expression really sells this move, doubly so when he removes his hand from Ryan’s mouth and reveals that the glove is soaked in blood. He stares at the blood with those soulless eyes and produces his pendulum watch which he swings in front of the maniacal eyes of a hypnotised Paul London, while the crowd chants “Tick Tock!”. For me this just adds even more drama to the bizarre scene that ends this exciting match.
Before the next match, Striker and Vampiro inform us that it is only four weeks until the upcoming event, Ultima Lucha Cuatro. This event will take place over two weeks on the televised schedule. Matches announced so far include Mil Muertes vs The Mack in a Death Match, Dragon Azteca Jr vs Fenix and Marty “The Moth” Martinez vs Pentagon Dark for the Lucha Underground Championship.
Match Two: Son Of Havoc vs Killshot
This rivalry has been bubbling away for a few weeks, with obvious tensions even before these two lost their Trios Championship belts that they held along with The Mack. There have been many references made to the masks that both these luchadors wear and the honour and respect they are both fighting for.
As they both enter the ring, they come out to markedly different receptions. Killshot clearly does not have the support of the crowd, whereas Son Of Havoc is met with cheers and chants of his name.
This match is a wonderful showcase of the fast-paced, athletic style of both these wrestlers. Killshot initially goes for Son of Havoc’s mask in an attempt at revenge for him being unmasked the previous week. Killshot gains the advantage early on with some nasty stomps and a throw from his shoulders into the raised barrier. When back in the ring, Killshot tries to pin Havoc down by standing on his hand and attempts to go for the mask again, this time by untying the laces at the back.
Havoc manages to free himself and we are treated to a brutal exchange of chops, forearms and elbows from both men. Killshot then finds himself outside the ring and is hit by an excellent suicide dive from Havoc that leaves him fallen on the concrete steps of the Temple. Havoc pushes him back into the ring and scores a pin attempt following a double stomp right to Killshot’s spine.
Both men are struggling back to their feet at this point. Killshot goes for Havoc’s mask one more time, followed by a hitting a running knee on Havoc into the corner, finishing up with his signature Kill Stomp. A few kicks from Havoc lead to a wheelbarrow hold that is reversed by Killshot into an arm-bar submission attempt. He struggled to fully lock in the move and eventually Havoc gets a quick roll-up pin to win the match.
After the match, Killshot attacks Son Of Havoc and rains down punches on him with his dog-tags wrapped around his fist. He then finally manages to rip the mask from Havoc’s face, leaving him clutching at his head and trying to hide his identity. The crowd make their feelings known towards Killshot and the disrespect he has shown the beloved Son Of Havoc.
Gravel-throated ruler of the Temple, the silver-haired Antonio Cueto, appears and berates Killshot for his actions. He talks of the importance of the masks to both himself and Son Of Havoc, pointing out that they are both men who have run from past lives and assumed new identities. In order to finally resolve this rivalry, he announces that at Ultima Lucha Cuatro the two will face off in a “Mask vs Mask” match. This match can only be won by removing your opponents mask. Knowing Cueto’s lust for violence and the fact this match basically has no rules, we can be sure it will get messy.
Marty’s Championship Address:
It’s time to hail the new champ and poor Melissa Santos couldn’t look any less happy about it. For anyone who has watched since season 1, you will have seen the harassment and abuse she has endured at the hands of The Moth and his sister, Mariposa.
Marty appeared at the top of the stairs, sporting new entrance attire and a new partner in crime. I admit I was unsure when I first heard he had taken the belt from Pentagon Dark, as I am a huge fan of the Lucha Brother, but honestly, Marty looked every inch a champion as he came down to the ring. He has bags of character and charisma and he plays the role of creepy villain brilliantly. His new First Lady sported spiderweb makeup and motifs on her ring gear and on reaching the ring hung upside down, lithe and spider-like. She is introduced to us as “Reklusa”.
Marty proceeds to regale us with an explanation of why the luchadora Sexy Star has been absent from this season of Lucha Underground. If you have not followed the story outside the show, Star was dropped by many promotions after an alleged deliberate injury against a fellow worker. She has not been mentioned as yet this season and I did wonder if they were just going to ignore it, as so often happens in kayfabe. Lucha Underground doesn’t follow kayfabe in the normal way. It exists in a different universe with supernatural beings and wholly unrealistic scenarios. It’s one of the reasons I love it so much. Marty called out Sexy Star for her embarrassment of him in previous seasons. He revealed that he had used the “Queen Of Arachnids” Reklusa to do away with Sexy Star for good. This was emphasised by Reklusa holding Star’s bloodstained mask aloft for all to see. This removes the possibility of her return and ties up the loose end of her absence without having to bring even more attention to the harsh reality of the situation.
Once this bit is over, he then calls out not only Pentagon Dark, but also his sister Mariposa (The Butterfly). He announces his desire to “play together, like we did when we were kids”, by offering her a title shot, right here, right now.
Match Three: Marty “The Moth” Martinez vs Mariposa – The Moth and The Butterfly
As Mariposa makes her entrance, Matt Striker mentions that Marty has been granted a No Disqualification stipulation for this match by Papa Cueto. Any Lucha Underground fan knows this usually leads to blood and mayhem.
The bell rings and Marty quickly rains down blows on his sister with quickness and fury. He throws her onto a load of wooden chairs, then head-first into the announce table. I guess this is how they played as kids, right? Immediately we hear from commentary that Mariposa’s head is bleeding onto the floor at their feet. He hits her with more head shots on the table while shrieking “Bleed sister, bleed!” He uses a wheelbarrow hold to swing her head into the table a final time and rolls her into the ring for the first pin attempt. Mariposa briefly gets some control back by throwing her crazed brother into the railings, but is floored again with a sit out power-bomb outside the ring.
Thinking he more than has the upper hand, he calls to Reklusa for a chair. However, Mariposa ducks the chairshot and super-kicks the chair back into his face, laying him out for the first time. The Butterfly is apoplectic with rage and screaming at her brother. She hits him with chair after chair until he is buried by them. The Believers are fully behind her, chanting her name and going crazy. Finally she decides to pull him up, knowing she can only win the title in the ring. He looks punch drunk while she rolls him back into the ring for a pin attempt.
A chair is set up in the ring and each of them attempt to take the other out. Mariposa nails Marty with a beautiful Samoan Drop onto the chair, followed by an extremely close pin fall, with Marty only just managing to kick out in time. She goes to use The Butterfly Effect to finish when Reklusa intervenes and kicks her square in the chest, knocking her to the floor. Marty picks her up, signs Pentagon Dark’s famous “Cero Miedo” to the crowd and finishes the match with the Fear Factor, a package pile-driver used by Pentagon Dark.
After the match, Marty addresses Pentagon directly. He requests a “Cero Miedo” (No Fear) match at Ultima Lucha Cuatro. He then breaks Mariposa’s arm in the style made famous by his masked rival. This is enough to bring Pentagon out of the shadows and he sprints down to the ring with a steel chair in hand. A chorus of “Cero Miedo” chants break out from the crowd. Penta goes for Marty with his chair but Marty escapes unscathed. In Spanish, Penta accepts Marty’s challenge, and promises to all the Believers in the Temple that he will win the match by breaking his bones. Penta’s music plays as the episode draws to a close.
As the hype builds up towards Ultima Lucha Cuatro, I can’t wait to see what else they have in store for us. So far they have announced:
Mil Muertes vs The Mack (Death Match)
Dragon Azteca Jr vs Fenix
Killshot vs Sons Of Havoc (Mask vs Mask)
Marty “The Moth” Martinez vs Pentagon Dark for the Lucha Underground Championship (Cero Miedo Match)
I look forward to reviewing the next episode next week and seeing what is next for the Temple’s luchadors.
