By Liz@Ms_Deathwish
The long wait is finally over! After weeks of insanity and extreme Lucha Libre antics, the finale of Lucha Underground’s 4th season is here! The end of season event, Ultima Lucha Cuatro, kicked off last week but the last two hours are broadcast as one feature length episode.
So let’s get our teeth into it!
This episode opens with a quick recap of events leading up to tonight’s matches. Tonight we see El Dragon Azteca Jr take on Fenix in a “2 out of 3 falls” match, The Mack vs Mil Muertes in a “Death Match”, Johnny Mundo and “The Monster” Matanza Cueto in a “Sacrifice to the Gods” match and the main event is a “Cero Miedo” match for the Lucha Underground Championship with Pentagon Dark attempting to take the gold from the reigning champ, Marty “The Moth” Martinez.
Following the recap we cut to a scene with Johnny Mundo and Taya in the locker room backstage. Johnny is wearing the gauntlet recently given to him by Aerostar and Drago. This gauntlet has imbued him with a power he doesn’t fully understand. He is warming up ready for his match, seemingly hypnotised by the power radiating from the glove. Jolts of electricity swirl around it, reflected in his eyes. Johnny asks Taya to be in his corner if he needs her and that he loves her, before leaving her alone in the locker room. She hears a little girl’s voice speaking to her saying “I love you too”. She opens a locker to find Rosa, the doll who was controlling Ricky Mundo and causing him to go on a murderous rampage. Taya dealt with Ricky last week but it seems that Rosa has unfinished business in The Temple. Taya looks confused, remarking how she didn’t have to pull a string to get the doll to talk and checking the doll over. The disturbing child’s voice speaks again, telling Taya she is pretty…and a perfect host. Taya gazes into the doll’s eyes as the evil being inside it enters its new home.
Match 1: El Dragon Azteca Jr vs Fenix: 2 out of 3 Falls Match
The culmination of this rivalry promises to be an event not to be missed. Since being brought back to life by Aerostar, Fenix hasn’t been the same. The evil soul of Katrina has corrupted him, turning him dark. He has been increasingly hostile to the woman he loved, ring announcer Melissa Santos, to the point that El Dragon Azteca Jr felt the need to step in. He is on this crusade as Melissa’s friend but I think there is more to it that that. While Melissa only has eyes for Fenix, I think El Dragon Azteca Jr is hoping for something more than friendship from her.
This matchup features two young luchadores in a league of their own, meaning it is bound to be a thrilling ride. As the bell rings, the action starts off fairly evenly matched. Both men trade chops and kicks, with Dragon Azteca hitting some beautiful precision kicks on Fenix. The first fall is called quite quickly when Fenix lands his Blackbird Driver finisher and pins for a three count. Following his successful pin, Fenix decides to add some unpredictable elements to the match, pulling a chair out from under the ring, followed by a table. He positions the chair across one of the turnbuckles, held up by the ropes, while the table is set up on the floor outside. Already I’m trying to picture exactly what they are going to do with this arrangement of classic wrestling furniture. In the ring, El Dragon Azteca Jr has sufficiently recovered enough to score the 2nd fall of the match, executing an absolutely insane Satellite DDT.
Following the second fall, Papa Cueto enters The Temple to make an announcement. He informs us that he has now made the last fall of this match “Falls Count Anywhere”, meaning that a pin or submission can happen anywhere at all, not just in the ring. This stipulation usually makes for crazy matches so it’s time for the action to go up a gear!
As Papa Cueto finishes his announcement, Fenix takes advantage of the distraction and takes out Dragon Azteca with a chair shot to the head, leaving him laid out on the mat. Fenix assembles an assortment of chairs on the floor next to the ring. He attempts to suplex Dragon Azteca over the top rope and onto the chairs but Azteca manages to reverse the move and escape, resulting in Fenix falling and bouncing his head off the table he set up earlier. He sold this move so well, it was almost cartoonish. This shot to the head allows Dragon Azteca to get the upper hand as he brings a chair into play, hitting Fenix in the head again before manhandling him into the announce table.
As the action nears her seat, Melissa is becoming noticeably upset by what is unfolding in front of her. Both men show off their outstanding athleticism as the match continues, both in the ring and outside of it. Dragon Azteca nails another satellite DDT, this time on the floor outside the ring. He could have gone for a cover, but he decides he isn’t done yet and positions a table under the nearby balcony. While he climbs up to the higher platform, Fenix gets to his feet and starts to follow him. They both climb up onto the balcony’s railings, slugging it out as they go.
These moments can be a little hard to watch sometimes as you know SOMETHING is coming…and it’s going to be ridiculous…but you don’t know what. The answer to that this time is a Hurricanrana from El Dragon Azteca Jr from the balcony which tosses Fenix brutally through the table that was set up below. This spot led to the first “Holy Shit!” chant of the evening, although I doubt it will be the last. In spite of this, Fenix is on his feet quite quickly. He hits back with a Swanton Bomb from the turnbuckle to the outside, putting Dragon Azteca through a table of his own.
Another table is snapped in half not long afterwards when Dragon Azteca hits a pile driver from the top turnbuckle leading to yet another unsuccessful pin attempt. His frustration starts to take over as he grabs a chair to finish Fenix. This drives Melissa to plead with him to stop as she rushes to the side of the ring. While he is distracted, Fenix hits him with a chair shot before driving him through yet another table set up in the corner of the ring. Melissa is still pleading for them to stop this madness as Fenix hits another Blackbird Driver to pick up the third and final pin, winning the match.
Result: Fenix wins with 2 falls, El Dragon Azteca Jr picks up 1 fall
This match promised excellence and delivered on all counts. Fenix is arguably the most talented and impressive luchador working today and El Dragon Azteca Jr shows he is also a force to be reckoned with. With some high risk spots, extreme brutality and emotional storytelling, this was probably in my top 5 matches so far this season. Really good stuff.
Intermission
Before the next match, Papa Cueto informs the believers that Melissa Santos has left the building, so he has a new ring announcer for the rest of the evening. He goes on to introduce Shaul Guererro, daughter of Eddie and Vickie Guererro of the Guererro wrestling dynasty. As she tries to introduce the next match, she is interrupted by Famous B, He claims that he is the only ring announcer anyone wants to see and mocks Shaul Guererro, disparaging her family (never a popular thing to do).
She chats back with an impressive amount of sass, quipping “excuse me!” as a homage to her mother and calling Famous B a “Famous Bitch”. As she spits out this last jibe, her uncle Chavo Guererro makes an appearance and taps Famous B on the shoulder. Using infamous Guererro tactics, they cause a distraction, Shaul pokes him in the eye and in a beautiful tribute to her father, she pulls off a picture perfect 3 Amigos series of suplexes. Leaving Famous B laid out on the floor, they finish the job with a signature Frog-Splash from Chavo to an uproarious crowd.
This was a lovely introduction to Shaul and I look forward to seeing more of her in the future. The references to her family were well received by the crowd for obvious reasons. They are legends in Lucha Libre and deserve every ounce of respect shown. I like women with a bit of fire in them and she has it in spades, with a voice much easier on the ear than her mother!
Mil Muertes vs The Mack: Death Match
These two performers have had some pretty heavy matches already, including a Haunted House Match earlier in the season. The prospect of a Death Match between them is nothing short of scintillating. The stage is set with a large coffin at ringside, “Death Match” emblazoned on the lid in red spray-paint.
Things kick off with these two heavy hitters each trying to dominate in the opening moments. The Mack exhibits impressive athleticism for a man of his stature, something I am continuously blown away by. Mil Muertes takes an early advantage by nailing The Mack with a brutal DDT on the apron. While The Mack is trying to regain his faculties, Mil Muertes brings in another coffin. One of the coffins is full of nasty looking weapons. Axes, crowbars, hammers, chains and more. The first to get used is a large woodcutter’s axe that gets swung through the air, narrowly missing Mil Muertes. First blood drawn is by Mil Muertes by sticking an ice pick into The Mack’s head. With blood flowing freely, The Mack claws back control striking Mil with a heavy steel chain. He follows this up with a huge Coast to Coast, made even more impressive by the rusty old dustbin that was placed on Mil’s lap as he was slumped in the corner. The Mack rips Mil’s mask before hitting him with a head shot using a Kendo stick. Following some high impact takedowns from both men and some unsuccessful pin attempts, The Mack draws for his Stunner finisher. He lands two but Mil Muertes is still standing. In a final attempt to subdue him, Mack grabs a house brick and smashes Mil over the head with it. This is enough for him to hit a third Stunner and take the win. As a nod to the inspiration for his finisher, Mack rolls his fallen opponent into one of the coffins and celebrates with a couple of brews, Stone Cold style.
Result: The Mack wins by pinfall
I’m a massive fan of The Mack and I always love his matches. He brings a happy-go-lucky confidence, exciting move-set and endearing charisma. To put him up against the legitimately intimidating “Man of a Thousand Deaths” is an excellent pick for certain carnage. This was a great match with lots of brutality.
Johnny Mundo vs “The Monster” Matanza Cueto
Last week Taya had her chance for revenge with Ricky Mundo. This week, Johnny gets his hands on the monster who laid waste to their wedding celebrations. The gauntlet worn by Johnny Mundo adds an extra element of drama to proceedings, while Matanza makes a breathtaking entrance in full Aztec ceremonial garb. An outlandish headdress with a skull shaped mask creates a fearsome exterior, an Aztec seal on his chest bears a resemblance to the seal that has marked the centre of the ring since The Temple’s inception. The whole ensemble together really brings something we are not used to seeing on The Monster…majesty. He looks like an ancient god, or perhaps a tribal leader about to perform a sacred ritual. It truly is beautiful to see.
As soon as the match starts, Johnny allows Matanza to see that his glove holds power. Cueto’s response to this is to rip the glove from Johnny’s hand and throw it across The Temple onto the concrete steps. Then begins a long battle to try and get the gauntlet back. Matanza tries to cripple Johnny with a ferocious series of high-impact slams. Johnny manages to land a Moonlight Drive and Starship Pain combination but still cannot put the monster away. The Mayor Of Slamtown attempts to outwit Cueto by scurrying under the ring to escape and then reappearing on the other side. He grabs the glove but is stopped from putting it back on by Matanza running full pelt into him. This time the glove is thrown far up into the rafters, presenting an even bigger challenge to Johnny.
It’s a challenge he rises to though as he puts his skill at parkour into practise. Clambering up through the different levels of The Temple with Matanza hot on his heels, Johnny eventually reaches the glove. This time when Matanza catches up to him, he chokeslams Johnny with an almost inhuman amount of power, driving him through the roof of the structure they are standing on. Thinking that victory is his, Matanza makes his way back down towards the ring. Suddenly from behind him the doors to that structure open, revealing Johnny Mundo stood there and wearing the magical armoured glove.
With visible fear wracking his body, Matanza lifts a chair up in front of his face. Johnny uses the power from the glove to punch this chair into the face of the monster. This begins a relentless pursuit back to the ring, with Johnny swinging wildly hoping to land more blows. Matanza somehow manages to slam Johnny onto the mat using his Wrath of the Gods finishing move. No-one has ever kicked out of this move, but Johnny does the unthinkable and the match continues. Feeding off the crowd and the power gripping in his body from this supernatural artefact, Johnny lands punch after punch. A final punch from the top rope knocks the last bit of life out of Matanza and Johnny pins him to the mat, winning the match.
Result: Johnny Mundo wins by pinfall
There are many people who can’t seem to get on board with the over the top style of storytelling in Lucha Underground. It is nowhere near realistic, instead being closer to Rodriguez’s cinematic style. For me it is the thing which sets this promotion apart from all others. I love it’s ridiculousness. A match with a magical glove? Count me in! This was great fun, with Johnny getting a chance to really go crazy with his athletic ability. Both men gave it their all and fully committed to the narrative. This type of match is everything I love about Lucha Underground.
Intermission
Following the match, we cut to a scene backstage. Johnny is still entranced by the glove. Aerostar appears to ask for it back now that Johnny has dispatched his foe. Johnny tells him he wants to keep it but is warned that the power it holds will consume him. For a moment it looks as though it is already to late but in the end Johnny hands back the glove and leaves to celebrate with his wife. But what has happened to her?
Main Event: “Cero Miedo” Match for the Lucha Underground Championship – Marty “The Moth” Martinez vs Pentagon Dark
Pentagon wastes no time in his mission to regain the championship belt tonight. He strides purposefully to the ring with a steel chair in hand. As soon as Marty is close enough Pentagon launches the chair at him catching him off guard, then throwing him into nearby rows of seating. When Marty gets to his feet, he is already bleeding badly from his head. This doesn’t slow down Pentagon however, as he folds a steel dustbin over Marty’s head anyway, leaving a bloody print on the bin.
The blood makes for a gruesome sight as a twisted grin spreads across Marty’s face. He overcomes Pentagon, putting him through a table. This match is certainly not for the faint of heart with Marty leaving a trail of gore behind him as he stumbles about. From underneath the ring he pulls out a metal lunchbox. Inside the lunchbox is a fork. It doesn’t take long to see what Marty’s intentions are as he grabs Pentagon and tears at his mask. A rip on the forehead exposes enough skin for Marty to bury the metal fork in his skull. With both men bleeding, Marty buries Pentagon under a slew of chairs, reminiscent of what his sister Mariposa did to him some weeks previously.
After a vicious onslaught of chair shots, Pentagon bounces back, leaping up onto a table and throwing a chair at Marty’s head. The intense action continues back into the ring where Marty uses dirty tactics, laying out Pentagon with a low blow. While he is incapacitated, Marty hangs him up on the ropes. With his head dangling near the floor, Marty dumps him head first into a trashcan, legs splayed up in the air. The trashcan is battered with a barbed wire baseball bat as Marty continues his frenzied attack.
Pentagon is done for in the middle of the ring and Marty returns to the outside, going underneath for a final time and bringing out a red can of gasoline. He empties the flammable liquid onto his weakened opponent and pulls out a lighter. Turning his back for just a second is enough for Pentagon to kick the lighter from his hand. Marty picks up the barbed wire bat and tries to take out Pentagon with it, but it bounces back off the rope hitting him in the face. This gives Pentagon the opportunity to fight back, which he does, by throwing Marty out of the ring through a table, then headfirst through a large pane of glass.
Pentagon returns to the ring and sets up 6 chairs in two rows facing each other. I have seen him do this before so I know what’s coming. He drags Marty up on to the chairs and smashes him back through them with the devastating Fear Factor. Exhausted, he folds Marty up for the pin and wins the match, regaining his championship gold.
Result: Pentagon Dark wins by pinfall and is the new Lucha Underground Champion
After the match, Reklusa makes an appearance. She attacks Pentagon and helps Marty to his feet and out of the ring. During the commotion, Vampiro starts towards the ring. Long time fans will remember that Pentagon and Vampiro have a long history, and in fact competed in the first Cero Miedo match in season 1.
In what appears to be a mark of respect, Vampiro picks up the belt and presents it to the champion. Something is amiss however and Vampiro suddenly turns on his former protege, attacking him. The two trade blows and a mystery luchador appears, joining in with Vampiro and attacking the champ. Vampiro then introduces this newcomer as his master, before kneeling before him.
This mystery man is certainly impressive, pulling off some spectacular aerial moves. What I can only describe as a corkscrew shooting star press from the top turnbuckle was a thing of sheer beauty. This turn of events gets even more crazy with the arrival of Jake Strong. Strong holds the Gift of the Gods Championship which entitles the holder to a Lucha Underground Championship match at a time of his choosing.
Vampiro and his masked accomplice have left the champ in pieces in the middle of the ring. Strong informs us that Papa Cueto has promised him a title shot whenever he wants it, and he wants it now. He hands the belt to a ref and calls for the bell. Instantly he grabs the ankle of the champ and wrenches his foot in a despicable ankle lock. With the added extra of bone crunching sound effects, Strong breaks Pentagon’s ankle and he passes out from the pain. The referees calls for the bell and announces Strong as the new champ.
Result: Jake Strong wins by submission and is the new Lucha Underground Champion
This whole segment was an emotional rollercoaster for me. I wasn’t expecting Pentagon to win, so I was elated when he did. The arrival of Vampiro reminded us all of the epic journey Pentagon’s character has been on over the last 4 seasons of this amazing show. For him to then turn on his friend like he did and reveal a new master was heartbreaking. Add to that having to watch Pentagon lose the belt AGAIN after such a hard fought battle and I was in bits. I both love and hate the writers for this. Such great storylines, so much drama, never boring or predictable. Leaving us on this cliffhanger to wait and see if there will be another season is just evil. As the credits roll announcing the end of the PPV, I sit and wonder where they will go from here.
Epilogue
After the closing credits, we cut to a scene with Aerostar, El Dragon Azteca Jr and King Cuerno are gathered over the armoured gauntlet. They are deciding what to do with it. Is it too strong or can that power be harnessed to do some good? A decision is reached and they decide to commit one last act before making sure the glove never falls into the wrong hands.
We are taken to a scene where Black Lotus is confronting Matanza Cueto. She tells him she knows he is responsible for killing her parents. Using the gauntlet’s power, she rips out Matanza’s heart, leaving him dead on the floor. The glove is then handed back to El Dragon Azteca Jr, but before he can even move he is attacked by Strong. In a repeat performance of his championship win, he breaks Dragon Azteca’s ankle and takes the glove for himself. Still dripping with Matanza’s blood, Strong beats his chest with the glove, leaving a bloody handprint.
Johnny enters the locker room to find his wife waiting. He asks her where she was during his match as she said she would be there. Taya looks at him with lifeless eyes and tells him that she is not his wife. The sound of the doll laughing fills the room as she attacks Johnny, proclaiming herself as a God.
In the back of a limousine, Papa Cueto sits with the masked man who took out Pentagon earlier in the evening. Another man is discussing a prophecy that is being fulfilled. He states that the Championship is now back under their control, referring to Strong winning the belt just now. At this moment, Strong opens the car door and gets into the back with them, carrying the belt and the gauntlet, still with a bloody handprint on his shirt. The man asks him whose blood it is and he informs them it belongs to Matanza. Papa Cueto is visibly shaken by this news. He is thanked for his son’s sacrifice by a sinister figure from the shadows. This man leans into the light and is revealed to be Stu Bennett, former WWE superstar and GM for WOS wrestling.
One final scene focuses on what happened one year previous. Dario Cueto lies in his coffin, at peace. Aerostar appears, as he did with Fenix, and breathes life into the former owner and manager of The Temple, leaving us with the unexpected moment his eyes fly open and he sits up, exclaiming exactly what we are all thinking
WHAT THE…..?
I had to write a section dedicated to these post-show scenes. I feel like the whole show has just been blown wide open. Black Lotus is back? Matanza is dead? Jake Strong and Bad News Barrett part of an ancient order who want to take over the world? Dario is alive? If El Rey don’t give us a 5th season I’m writing an incredibly strong letter!
