21st Sep2018

‘Lucha Underground’ Review (Sept 19th 2018)

by Nathan Favel

lucha-under-s4-poster

Welcome to this week’s Lucha Underground review, right here on Nerdly. I’m Nathan Favel and we have some big surprises to get to! Shin Lim! Also, we will use a recent review of Lucha Underground from Josiah MacDonald of the Wrestling Observer, to provide some context for this review. Please feel free to visit www.f4wonline.com to enjoy all that the Wrestling Observer and Figure Four Online have to offer. Let’s get right to it!

Match #1: Fenix defeated Aerostar

The following is courtesy of the Wrestling Observer and Josiah MacDonald:

Fenix nearly killed Aerostar in the opening seconds of this match, but Aerostar followed up with a few moves and a codebreaker. Fenix countered with a jumping spin kick and then a cutter, but Aerostar kicked out. Fenix started hitting ground and pound on Aerostar, which was very uncharacteristic. Aerostar got up and hit a headscissors takedown and followed up with a plancha to the outside of the ring. Fenix did a cartwheel off the apron, then picked up Aerostar and smashed him into one of the guardrails at ringside. Fenix passed by Melissa Santos on the outside, and looked at her with anger. Fenix hit a dropkick, sending Aerostar onto the ground before sending him back into the ring, hitting a moonsault and a Swanton Bomb for a two count. Fenix took out Aerostar with a kick, and the crowd looked on horrified. Aerostar managed to turn Fenix, picking him up into a Canadian Destroyer and then hitting a slingshot DDT. That was incredible. Fenix kicked out. Aerostar hit a series of big boots, but Fenix ate them all and kept getting up. Fenix kicked out after a Code Red. He drove Aerostar to the corner before hitting a dropkick and a Black Fire Driver for the pinfall!

My Take: 3 out of 5 – This was a really good match that had all sorts of break-neck action from two nut-job pro wrestlers. Fenix was like a demented version of his brother, Pentagon, with every move amounting to a cannon with legs kicking the life out of any-one who got in its way. Aerostar worked hard here and should be so much farther up the ladder than just doing well in Lucha Underground. These guys have a lot of chemistry together, which is not a statement I make often… because it sounds stupid. Over-all, this match was quite the thing.

Match #2: Marty “The Moth” Martinez defeated Dragon Azteca Jr. – Gift of the Gods Championship Match

The following is courtesy of the Wrestling Observer and Josiah MacDonald:

Marty the Moth looked a lot different than normal here, seeming very intense. He opened the match with a big boot to Dragon Azteca Jr. and threw him across the ring. Marty yelled at the referee trying to stop the beatdown. Azteca Jr. hit an arm drag, but Marty caught him while he was trying to do a wheelbarrow and tossed him into the turnbuckle before pulling on his mask and driving his face into the turnbuckle repeatedly. Dragon Azteca shoved Marty to the outside, hit a flying hurricanrana to the outside, and then landed a massive tope con giro. Dragon Azteca hit a DDTJ, but Marty kicked out. Dragon Azteca went for a hurricanrana, but Marty blocked it before hitting a massive implant DDT and pinning him to win the championship.

My Take: 1.5 out of 5 – This was a decent match that had a surprise finish. Marty is not much of a wrestler, but he has a great look and lots of personality. Dragon did a great job playing the part of an empathetic victim her, as he was screwed out of his title by Antonio’s evil booking. Over-all, the finish was the reason to watch this match.

Match #3: Lucha Underground Champion Pentagon Dark defeated King Cuerno and Mil Muertes – Three-Way Dance of Destruction For The Lucha Underground Title

The following is courtesy of the Wrestling Observer and Josiah MacDonald:

Pentagon and Cuerno tried to double team Muertes a bit, but Muertes is a monster and beat up both men with lariats in the corner before chopping the crap out of Cuerno. Cuerno and Pentagon hit a double superkick that took Muertes to the ground before attempting a dive. Pentagon cut Cuerno off with a kick, then hit a tope con giro on Muertes. Cuerno hit a suicide dive on Pentagon before Muertes hit a shoulder block on him. Muertes ripped at Pentagon’s mask and left his face partially exposed. Pentagon ran at Muertes before getting hit with an arm drag up and over the guardrail into the front row! Cuerno and Muertes ended up back in the ring, and Cuerno hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker on Muertes before Muertes hit a powerslam. Pentagon came in and started fighting with Muertes again. Pentagon dodged out of the way from a spear, and Muertes hit the ring post and Pentagon hit two slingblades soon thereafter. Pentagon climbed to the top rope and hit a big double stomp on Muertes. Cuerno hit a sunset flip and rolled through into a knee strike on Pentagon. Cuerno hit the Thrill of the Hunt, but Muertes broke it up. Muertes hit a chokeslam on Cuerno, but Pentagon hit two backstabbers on Muertes before hitting a package piledriver on Cuerno for the pinfall victory! I expected more from this match, but it was still very good.

My Take: 3 out of 5 – This was a fine match that was a worthy title bout. Pentagon is as good a champion in wrestling today and can really hit a home run under any circumstances. While this match was not an absolute classic, it was a great show-case for the likes of the challengers, King Cuerno and Mil Muertes. These three guys smacked away at each other like they were three burly lumber-jacks hacking at every tree in the forest. Needless to say, I wouldn’t wanna run into these guys in a dark alley when they’re pissed off. Over-all, this was a blast that should’ve been classic but wasn’t.

Match #4: Main Event – Marty “The Moth” Martinez defeated Pentagon Dark – Lucha Underground Championship Match

The following is courtesy of the Wrestling Observer and Josiah MacDonald:

Marty immediately covered Pentagon, but Pentagon kicked out. Marty attacked, but Pentagon kicked out again. Marty tied Pentagon’s mask to the middle rope, as the crowd showered him with boos. Marty untied the mask after beating on him for a little bit, but Pentagon kicked out again. Pentagon chopped the crap out of Marty when Marty tried to do a move off the top rope. Pentagon jumped off the middle rope and hit a Canadian Destroyer. Marty the Moth rolled to the outside of the ring. The debuting Chelsea Green then came into the ring and hit a Canadian Destroyer on Pentagon! Marty the Moth hit a package piledriver on Pentagon and got the pinfall. Your new Lucha Underground Champion is Marty the Moth. I’m not a fan of this. We’re going to have to see how it goes.

My Take: 2 out of 5 – This was more about the new champion, Marty Martinez, who won the title with this victory. Marty probably won’t offer much in the way of great wrestling, but he is a dynamic character, so at least he’ll be able to offer a good moment for the athlete who does take him out in the future.

News Of The Night:

  1. Antonio Cueto announced that the Gift of the Gods can be used at any time, just like Money in the Bank.
  2. Fenix is almost completely crazy.
  3. Killer Kross will likely become Paul London’s next tag team partner.
  4. Chelsea Green debuted and helped Marty The Moth win the Lucha Underground Title.

Final Verdict: 2.5 out of 5 – This was an episode that had tremendous suspense and magnificent surprises, but the good wrestling wasn’t enough to make a mark when it counted.

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