We’ve got brackets! I love a good bracket. I am lousy at predicting them -- I had Michigan going all the way in the NCAA and that didn’t exactly work out -- but I enjoy filling one out nonetheless. Between the brackets for the Owen Hart Tournament being announced yesterday, Dynasty coming up this weekend, and Project Lucha Underground Season 1 Episode one publishing Thursday, I figured it’s as good a time as any to get a Dynasty preview up before the big show on Sunday. I’ll write up my predictions for the Owen later, although 3/14ths of the matches will be decided on this very show.

Since this will drop well before Collision, and since I want to watch that spoiler-free to enjoy the madness of a Harley Cameron/Mercedes Moné/Puppet Mercedes trios match, we’ll probably end up with some matches that we’ll miss out on predicting. As of this moment, Wikipedia says that there are ten matches announced for Dynasty, and that’s around where we usually end up for an AEW PPV. There will probably be a couple Zero Hour matches announced, but the main card is probably set. So, we will head into the preview without hesitation, and when Tony Khan adds five matches, well, I’ll just post the match graphics on BlueSky and circle my winners there.

The Let’s Watch Some Wrestling AEW Dynasty Preview!

Mercedes Moné versus Julia Hart, Owen Hart Tournament First Round Match

Wow, if you consider that the Owen tournament winners get title shots at Y’all In in July, literally every announced match on Dynamite is for an AEW championship. I guess we’ll just go in reverse Wikipedia order, then. Julia hasn’t looked fantastic since she returned from injury, and her stable has been kinda lousy, too. I believe Buddy Matthews is out with an injury, and while Brody King has had some great hoss matches, he’s also lost a lot lately. Not great for a new stable…well, newish considering it’s a rebrand after Malakai Black got his release. 

Mercedes, on the other hand, has been on a roll. I think her match with Kris Statlander back at last year’s Full Gear really got her on a hot streak, and Moné has had solid matches since. She’s also clearly having fun helping younger/newer talent like Billie Starkz and Harley Cameron get over, while also cementing herself as one of AEW’s top talents. She’ll win here, although Julia will put up a good fight. This will be a good test of Mercedes ability to put over another young opponent, while also helping us get a better read on Julia’s current level of ring work. 

Mercedes wins, moves on in the tournament

Will Ospreay versus Kevin Knight, Owen Hart Tournament First Round Match

Kind of the same story here. Ospreay doesn’t take pay-per-views off. Hell, it’s not like the guy is phoning in his weekly TV matches, either. Kevin Knight only just signed with AEW, and in a week he’s gone from getting an All Elite graphic after a Collision match with Knife Pervert Jay White to replacing White in the Owen. The Dynamite match that featured Ospreay and Knight was a lot of fun, with Knight getting to show off more of his abilities in an exhibition than he did in the Switchblade match. He and Ospreay had a lot of chemistry as partners, and even though there’s no doubt Ospreay moves on in the tournament, he’ll put a lot of effort into making this a great match and putting Kevin Knight over as a superstar. Knight lucked into some incredible booking, and by all accounts he’s prepared to take advantage of that. Should be a blast.

Will Ospreay wins, moves on in the tournament

Kyle Fletcher versus Mark Briscoe, Owen Hart Tournament First Round Match

This will only be the fourth time these two meet in singles competition, at least according to Cagematch. Briscoe beat Fletcher for the Ring of Honor championship last June, and again during the Continental Classic in December. But Fletcher picked up a win over the master of Redneck Kung Fu on Collision back in February, and he’s been on a hot streak for the better part of this year. Even his loss to Will Ospreay in that bloody cage match at Revolution hasn’t slowed his momentum. I feel like Briscoe can always overcome a loss, since he’s absolutely beloved, and Fletcher needs a strong run in the Owen to continue his singles push. So…

Kyle Fletcher moves on in the tournament

The Hurt Syndicate © versus The Learning Tree for the AEW Tag Team Championship

Lots of moving parts in this match. The Learning Tree is subbing in for the Murder Machines after Brian Cage went down with an injury. Shelton Benjamin missed Dynamite, although that was a weather/travel issue. And MJF is currently gunning for a spot in the Hurt Business, despite Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin arguing against him to MVP. Max doesn’t have his own match at the show, so I think he’ll join MVP in accompanying the Hurt Business to the ring. He may even get involved to help out the Business, establishing that he’s really in it for a mutually beneficial relationship (until his sudden but inevitable betrayal.) 

Hurt Business will win this match, and big meaty Bob and big meaty Bill should have a fun meat-off in the process. I do think Max successfully interferes on the Hurt Business’ behalf, and the story will progress from there.

Hurt Business retain thanks in part to MJF

Daniel Garcia © versus Adam Cole for the TNT Championship

This interminable feud will, I assume, terminate here. There’s no time limit and no outside interference, meaning Cole’s buddies Kyle O’Reilly and Roddy Strong won’t be at ringside, and Garcia won’t benefit from a time stoppage. I have literally forgotten that Daniel Garcia both a) has the TNT title and b) exists multiple times during this championship reign. I’ve also been pretty unimpressed with Adam Cole of late. I guess Cole should win, as maybe he’ll breathe some life back into the TNT title picture, but right now I’m not invested enough in either guy, or the TNT title, to really care.

Adam Cole takes the TNT Championship, does something with it

Death Riders versus Rated FTR for the AEW Trios Championship

Speaking of interminable feuds…it’s the Death Riders vs Cope and pals! I’m being a little harsh, though, especially since there’s some interesting directions this one could go in. Two weeks ago, I would have said it’s a lock that Rated FTR were gonna take the Trios belts as a “we’re sorry, we know” to the fans before another “Mox so cool” title defense. But with the developments between Hanger and Swerve on Dynamite, as well as the growing rift between FTR Bald, FTR Gun, and the former Edge, this might be interesting.

And, I mean, these guys will all work to put on a great match. FTR and Copeland love them some drama, so it’ll go like twenty minutes and there will be a few of those spots where they almost hit a teammate before pulling up at the last second. I don’t think the Riders will lose here, because an FTR split and/or a match between Uncle Dax and Cope will depend on the good guys eating yet another loss. In my little brain, that will eventually lead to FTR making up, Cope going heel, and if things play out the way I hope, FTR versus a reunited Edge and Christian at Y’all In. A man can dream. But to get us on the road to the return of the Five Second Pose, we’ll need…

The Death Riders to retain via a lack of coexisting between the goodies.

Chris Jericho © versus Bandido in a Title vs Mask match for the Ring of Honor World Championship

This feud, and Chris Jericho, have improved lately. I don’t understand why Ring of Honor continues to exist if its biggest title is defended on a different brand, but that’s neither here nor there. Bandido’s mask is one of the most unique luchador masks out there, and there’s no way he’s losing that thing. So that means Bandido will win the Ring of Honor championship, and maybe Jericho turns on his Learning Tree pals and sets them free. He’s already been pretty annoyed with them, and it’s not like they’re winning the championship tonight.

Bandido wins the Ring of Honor championship, and we don’t see him on Dynamite for months

Kenny Omega © versus Ricochet versus “Speedball” Mike Bailey for the International Championship

There’s like an 80% chance this match steals the show, and I think every other match on the card is going to step up to meet the potential of this triple header. I know this isn’t “peak” Omega, but even just a healthy, fine Kenny matched with this iteration of Pretty Ricky and the recently-signed Speedball is…man, it’s exciting. This is one of those matches you put your pizza and your phone down for and just witness things as they happen. BlueSky will be fine without you for 15 minutes as these guys try their best to create magic. And what’s great is that all three know what they are capable of, and aren’t afraid to go all out to make something amazing happen. Hold your breath for this one.

Kenny Omega retains and we all remember to breathe once he raises that belt above his head

“Timeless” Toni Storm © versus Megan Bayne for the AEW Women’s World Championship

This should be cut and dry, right? Toni just won her title back in Australia and defended it in an all-timer at Revolution. I know there’s some folks out there who already want newcomer Megan Bayne to both win the belt and step on them, but I don’t think she’s there yet. It always seems like the first thing that pops into a fantasy booker’s brain when anyone wins a title is picking who will take the strap off of them, but it’s way too soon to give in to that. Mariah May held that title for around six months before Toni got it back, after all. It’s not like it’s been this super long Storm championship run.

Taking the belt off Storm and slapping it on a woman who hasn’t even cut a good promo yet would be to the detriment of both women, and to the division as a whole. 

Toni will eat a lot of power offense in this one, but she’ll come out on top. 

Jon Moxley © versus Swerve Strickland for the AEW Men’s World Championship

So let’s say I’ve been right so far, and that Rated FTR lose to the Death Riders trio of Claudio Castignoli, Wheeler Yuta, and PAC. That promo from Wednesday…you know the one….

Man, that’s a win for mental health if I’ve ever seen one. Growth as people? In a wrestling storyline? Wonderful stuff. Just tremendous.

But I’m gushing here. This all means something, but we’re not gonna know what just yet, I don’t think. Maybe Hangman will forgive himself and go full good guy. Maybe he can’t forgive himself yet and goes all in on being EVIL. Maybe Swerve was arguing with Prince Nana because he can’t focus on the championship without making every single rivalry he’s in so personal. Who’s to say? 

Me, since I’m the one at the keyboard. I don’t want Hanger to show up just yet. I also can’t say I want Swerve to begin his next championship run in what feels like a transitional role. Y’all In feels like the place to end the Death Riders run. I know a lot of fans are tired of it; believe me, I know, I’m right there with you. But Swerve/ Mox has had very little build, and while the shock and relief of a Swerve win on Sunday night would have me screaming, I just don’t think the immediate joy is worth throwing out this long, depressing storyline. The ‘Mania of AEW just feels like the right place for the company to depose this vile monarch, and while Swerve is incredibly worthy of the honor, he’s also a great guy to have lose here.

I don’t think anyone thought Cope was going to defeat Mox at Revolution, but a lot of us talked ourselves into it on the night because we’re tired of the Death Riders routine. The same could be said for any of the other challengers, albeit for different reasons. It was too soon for Orange Cassidy, Knife Pervert Jay White, or Hangman Adam Page at Full Gear and World’s End. Powerhouse Hobbs isn’t ready yet, and Christian Cage only felt like he might win if Cope pulled off the upset and Cage cashed in his Clipboard From The Bank contract. 

This is different. Swerve is a former World Champ; the champ before Brian Danielson, who Moxley beat for the title (and possibly murdered) back in October. If Strickland wins, while it’s not expected, it shouldn’t feel shocking. But if Swerve loses…if the Death Riders pull the same shit they always do, with interference and weapons and a twenty minute beatdown after Mox slithers away with Marina Shafir and his briefcase…then we’re in uncharted territory. Then we need a hero.

If we can’t count on Swerve (whether or not Hanger tries to help) it feels to me like Y’all In will be a coronation moment. Whether that’s Will Ospreay, Darby Allin, or someone else who steps up, that will be a helluva moment, made even more important now that the company has embraced All In as its biggest show of the year. So, while I really, really want to be wrong…

Jon Moxley retains, we hopefully endure the last show-ending Death Riders beatdown at a pay per view.

So Long For Now

Follow me on BlueSky for updates and live watch-along commentary for AEW Dynamite and Collision (occasionally). And, if you’re looking into purchasing anything from a smart fridge to a new drill, check out the tech writing I do over at SlashGear -- my lists are heavily researched, and ranked after thorough aggregation of expert opinions, reviews, and my own experience as a professional auto mechanic, an unprofessional handyman and a somehow even less professional homeowner. Enjoy the show Sunday, and hopefully I find time to talk about it with you after!

Until next time…Let’s Watch Some Wrestling!

Project Lucha Underground: Season One, Episode One

Variety, El Rey Network

 

Good Morning!

Welcome to the first edition of Project Lucha Underground Season 1. I’ve wanted to rewatch this series for a while now (read here for more on that) and I’m excited to finally sit down and do it. The catchphrase my wife and I have been throwing around for 2025 has been “Just fuckin’ do it” and it’s served us well so far. So, I did it!

I’ve never done a review of a regular TV show, and since these are relatively short programs at around 45 minutes a pop, I figured I can sum up scenes and then talk a bit about each one after. For matches, I’ll tell you what I thought, along with some of the spots I liked. And, where possible, I’ll add the ratings from Cagematch, too. I don’t do star ratings -- if we’re being honest, I don’t feel like I’m at all qualified to establish the difference between a 4 ½ and a 4 ¾ star match. We’ll evolve a template as things go on, letting us ease into a system around here instead of me rambling and inserting asides and digressions wherever. Until then, well, we will be doing those things.

Speaking of …I was pleasantly surprised to see the overall ratings for Lucha Underground on Cagematch; the promotion as a whole currently sits at an 8.79, and the lowest ratings (aside from the ones in German) are pretty consistent in their criticisms -- it’s “not real lucha libre,” it’s “overhyped,” and “they’re running a house show and giving away tickets” probably seemed like edgy criticisms when they were posted in 2016. Today, it just feels like the tribalism we see in everything, all the time, every day (sighs). Overall, though, it seems like the show is largely regarded as a success, and one that a lot of people still love to this day, based on the more recent reviews. And, even if that’s not the case, who cares? I love this stuff, and I hope it holds up!

Before we get into it, I should mention some notes/disclaimers. Lucha Underground touches on some themes that get a bit dark, like violence, the occult, depression, and murder. It’s not, like, super gory or super deep, but if that stuff bugs you, this may not be for you. It’s also deeply rooted in Latino culture, a culture that I feel deeply connected to; however, there are terms that are thrown around that might get a little … culturally insensitive, and I won’t quote a lot of that here unless it’s for context, or to make a specific point. And finally, there are some performers on this show who, either at the time Lucha Underground was made or in the time since, have made some pretty shitty life choices. If I’m aware of it, I’ll mention it -- we’ll have to do that in this first episode, unfortunately -- and life will go on. 

Ready? Then strap in and let's go underground!

LINK SIX UNDERGROUND VIDEO FOR FUNSIES

Lucha Underground: S1E1 “Welcome to the Temple”

We open in a dimly lit alley, with a dude in a hoodie fighting some other guys. He’s quickly overwhelmed, but then a masked fella in a hoodie and jeans joins the fight, does some cool lucha libre stuff, saves the day, and offers his hand to the downed hoodie man. We then got that sweet sound cue and the first look at the Lucha Underground logo. 

El Rey Network

From there, we’re off to ancient Mexico for a history lesson on lucha libre from the two guys who won the fight in the intro. Seven tribes of our ancestors, warriors who built the Aztec empire, things of that nature. A tall, thin man with slicked back hair and a suit then introduced himself as Dario Cueto, the on-screen owner of Lucha Underground. A clip from AAA TripleMania XXII, which happened three months before this series premiere, showed Cueto emptying a briefcase full of cash in the middle of a ring for any luchadores willing to compete for him. We’re then treated to the first showing of the Lucha Underground intro, and we’re officially ready to begin.

After that introduction, an LA flyover brought us to the Lucha Underground Temple, where Melissa Santos welcomed us to Lucha Underground. Melissa has worked in TNA and AEW, and she’s also done some voiceover work and acting. Oh, and after a quick scroll on her Insta I learned she’s also been married to Brian Cage since 2019! [More on that guy later in the series.] I think she’s excellent as the ring announcer for Lucha Underground, adding the right amount of authenticity to Latino names, and showing a good balance of professionalism and irritation when working with Dario Cueto right off the bat.

El Rey Network

We got a live mariachi band (I’d assume this is the Robert Rodriguez influence), some excited fans, and announcers Matt Striker and Vampiro talked up the show and its fans. Matt Striker was in the WWE for about five years, and has over 600 matches under his belt according to IMDB. Vampiro was tentatively retired (in storyline, anyway) when he was brought in as Lucha Underground’s color commentator -- in real life, he’s wrestled over a thousand matches, with the majority being in Mexico and the US, and he's still semi-active to this day. Like Konnan, Chavo Guerrero, Rocky Romero, and countless others, Vampiro worked in the ring while developing relationships, and politicked his way into the good graces of management of several different organizations including AAA, which was sort of the big brother to Lucha Underground. That standing allowed Vampiro some say in booking, and he worked as kind of a liaison behind the scenes while also providing on-screen commentary.

I like the rapport these guys have so early in their partnership; Striker often deferred to Vampiro despite having a good amount of in-ring experience himself. It’s probably because I watched too much Psych and listened to the Smashing Pumpkins that led me to refer to them as “wrestling Shawn Spencer and Billy Corgan” throughout the episode. And yeah, actual Billy Corgan has become wrestling Billy Corgan, but real life isn’t nearly as fun. But I digress.

Dario Cueto was introduced and headed to the ring, and after briefly bullying Melissa Santos, he announced that whoever impressed him the most tonight will get the briefcase he’s holding, with $100k. He sold the importance of the temple, and of the combat to follow. He’s one of the stronger actors in the show, because he’s not a wrestler. He’s got 121 credits on his IMDB page, and it looks like he’s still acting to this day. So, you know, we should expect a little more from him! 

El Rey Network

MATCH 1

BLUE DEMON, JR. versus CHAVO GUERRERO, JR.

Striker and Vampiro put over Blue Demon’s father as a luchador that transcended the sport, since he was in movies like El Santo and Mil Mascaras. [One of my favorite lucha movies, “The Mummies of Guanajuato,” featured all three of these legendary luchadores.] Vampiro compared them to the Guardians of the Galaxy, a reference that reminded me that this series isn’t as old as I originally thought. And Chavo, well, we know Chavo, right? The beloved nephew, rival, and tag partner of the late Eddie Guerrero, and a superstar in his own right, Chavo has worked in just about every promotion in the world. He also played Kerwin White in WWE, in possibly one of the dumbest and most offensive characters of the Attitude Era -- and that’s really saying something. 

This was a great introduction to the kind of wrestling we’d see in Lucha Underground. While it was the classic “honorable battle between two evenly matched faces,” there was a good amount of creativity, both in the match itself and in how it was shot. Chain wrestling started us off, and whenever a submission or pinfall was broken, a rotating overhead camera was used. It focused on the center of the ring, allowing the iconic Aztec-inspired symbol that adorned the middle of the mat to always be visible during important moments. If Lucha Underground survived to today, that probably would have been replaced with a logo for Trejo’s Tacos or Modelo. Actually, Danny Trejo staring up into the camera during a wrestling match would probably be pretty cool. 

El Rey Network

The match didn’t go too long, which was good because both of these performers, while still able to work admirably, weren’t exactly spring chickens. Blue Demon, Jr. won by submission in the middle of the ring, both men showed respect afterward, and … oh my God, that’s famously useless AEW official Rick Knox in the striped shirt! I’m shocked nobody cheated just on instinct. 

Cagematch says…5.04 stars, which feels a little harsh on a ten point scale. I’d lean towards six, personally. I liked the chain wrestling in this match that started things off, and the unique setup outside the ring came into play a bit -- near the entrance, the fans are on a riser, making it a little dangerous to go outside. I still don’t have a good feel for the dimensions of the Temple yet. It’s kind of like an MLB stadium, versus an NFL one. You know where certain things are, but they’re all a little different in this venue. 

El Rey Network

Dario Cueto’s incredible looking office was the scene for the next … scene. Cueto was seated behind his desk, enjoying some tequila with Konnan, and thanked the influential veteran wrestler for wanting to work for him. Konnan didn’t like that… he said he’s not here to work for Cueto, but to bring in the best luchador around, a guy from right here in the barrio. Cueto said nah, he already signed the best free agent. He’s brash, he’s cocky, and he’s had many names (Drip Drip comes to mind) but here, he’s Johnny Mundo. BUT Cueto said Mundo doesn’t respect the Temple, and he only signed him to make an example of him. Cueto proposed that the pair have Konnan’s man make an example of Mundo and maybe earn that 100K briefcase.

We returned after a break to catch Johnny Mundo just doing the most Johnny Mundo chin up things while covered in roughly a gallon of baby oil. Our announcer pals then tossed us over to some training videos to introduce us to Prince Puma. Konnan narrated, saying he’s been in THIS BUSINESS for 3 decades. I love the phrase THIS BUSINESS, and I turn into a cross between Booger Red Undertaker, FTR Bald, and Foghorn Leghorn whenever I read it. 

Konnan referenced the 7 Aztec tribes, each with a champion. He made a Game of Thrones reference, once again establishing the time this show aired, and said if those luchadores lost, they lost their heads -- these days, that dishonor is now represented by their masks. If a luchador loses his mask, he loses his entire livelihood. 

Prince Puma’s from here in Boyle Heights, and his spirit animal (yeah, we used that phrase then) is a jaguar. Konnan’s gonna help Prince Puma see his glory. 

MATCH 2

SON OF HAVOC versus SEXY STAR

Star came out wearing a mask and cape, and she narrated her own vignette that got into some triggery subjects like suicide ideation and abuse, but told us that her mask helped her to find her strength. Star laces up her boots and trains for every girl out there who needs a hero. “Every woman is sexy, every woman is a star, and I fight for them all.” Nice stuff. HOWEVER, this is the part where we need to talk about Sexy Star, if only for a moment.

In 2017 -- that would have been around season 3 of Lucha Underground -- Sexy Star was in a match with Rosemary, who’s known for her career in TNA, in which she intentionally injured Rosemary by way of an armbar. Star tried to use the excuse that she didn’t know she was torquing Rosemary’s arm; she also said she was defending herself after she thought other participants in the match were “going after her.” After Star tried to convince others that the whole situation was a work, Rosemary went on social media to say that wasn’t the case, and that several other workers (including Vampiro) had to diffuse the situation. It was a mess, and ended with Star being fired from AAA and blacklisted from several companies; Cody Rhodes and Road Dogg were notable in saying they would never work with Star. 

So that’s unfortunate, but as with a lot of wrestling stories, we’ll have to separate the character from the person under the mask. AAA did; in 2021, the company ended up re-using the Sexy Star character with another wrestler, which is a common practice in lucha libre. 

Tangent over. Back to the show!

Son of Havoc, who didn’t get an entrance, said he ain’t wrestling no woman so Star should leave his ring. Shockingly, Star leaves the ring…only to slide back in and attack SoH from behind after the ref gets to five. Contrary to what you might expect from that setup, Son of Havoc actually got a lot of power offense, dominating the match despite Sexy Star hitting a few good reversals and speed moves. Star looked tough as shit by fighting back after eating several ground and pound sequences in the corner along with powerful reversals to her stuff. 

SoH wins the short match with a backbreaker and a handful of tights. No Cagematch for this one, as it was kind of a squash to establish Star as a tough underdog and Son of Havoc as a dickhead for a future rivalry.

El Rey Network

After a break, we’re in the darkest locker room I’ve ever seen, non-condemned-building division. Chavo was hunched over on a bench dripping sweat, and was approached by Cueto. Cueto talked up the Guerrero family before laying into Chavo for tapping out. What would your grandfather think? Your uncles? Cueto says Chavo ain’t getting money, and he will have to bring someone in next week to finish the job against Azul (Blue Demon, Jr., that is). “One thousand deaths might be coming for us all.” FORESHADOWING? 

It’s been 3 years since Johnny Mundo has performed, per Matt Striker. He did the same entrance you’re familiar with if you’ve seen his work elsewhere, with the same pose and wind machine.  Konnan walked out with Prince Puma, who was introduced as being from Boyle Heights, where the Temple is located. Vampiro called Konnan a cancer to the company which…pot, kettle, black. Maybe setting up a faction war? I legitimately don’t remember most of the storylines on this show, so this is legitimate speculation (and probably wrong, given my history).

El Rey Network

MAIN EVENT

JOHNNY MUNDO versus PRINCE PUMA

Marty Elias is our senior official, and therefore officiated the main. Striker was having a blast talking up other wrestlers, promotions and styles like Dynamite Kid and World of Sport style in England. “We can talk about these things here…go, they exist, use the internet, learn about all the great styles…” We still pop when we hear these kinds of references today in the big promotions, so it’s nice to hear a similar reference from nearly ten years ago. Vampiro continued to talk about Konnan’s evil influence, and that Puma may be corrupted, but he never really gave any examples of Konnan’s evil deeds. So I’m led to believe we either were expected to know about Konnan at the time, or I’m just naive. Or they’re planting seeds for later, who’s to say?

I noticed that there’s a little platform for the cameraman in the corner where Cueto’s office is, a great use of the space. Wrestlers enter from a door on the balcony and take stairs down to the ring. It’s unique!

The match itself was legit. Johnny Mundo was really good, leading the match and using his athleticism to sell the cocky, but not bad, character. Puma (who goes by Ricochet these days) was instantly recognizable, and I’d argue that you may have noticed even if you weren’t aware of who he is today. His moveset has evolved, but the raw athleticism Puma had is quick and powerful. Those arm gauntlets did look a little silly, though.

Fin de Mundo (Starship Pain) called for, Puma says nay…we continue. Puma springboard 450 miss, Moonlight Drive for two. 

C4 Spanish Fly, Fin de Mundo, pinfall victory for Mundo. Cagematch gave this a 7.55, and that feels about right to me. I’d probably go 8 because I like whole numbers and thought this really set the tone for what I hope, and vaguely remember, this series provided in terms of in-ring action. At the end of the day, even with the strong emphasis on production and storylines, a wrestling show still needs some good wrestling to hook the audience. This match showed that LU has that in spades.

After the match both competitors shook hands, hugged, Mundo raised Puma’s hand and vice versa. Dario Cueto arrived to some theme music with his briefcase. He congratulated Johnny and opened his briefcase o’ cash, but snapped it shut when Mundo reached for it. Both guys then got jumped by the most stereotypical cholos you’ve ever seen, and then a very large man climbed up to the apron and pounded Puma’s chest in. The good guys continued to get beat down, and a  HUGE chokeslam from that big dude to Johnny ended the brutality. Dario said it’s not just luchadores that’s gonna fight here, and these guys work for him. Welcome to Lucha Underground. 

Closing Thoughts

There was a time when AEW Rampage was dubbed “the fastest hour in television.” You usually got four matches, a few promos, and that was it. When it worked, it was because the booking worked in its favor. There was good wrestling on the show, as is the expectation for AEW, and storylines worked because they were just a continuation from Dynamite, and later Collision. But Lucha Underground, a show that focuses on its storylines over the in-ring action, does kinda suffer from that shorter runtime. At the time, the show was so unique that many of us probably didn’t notice. And now, with the benefit of owning literally the entire run of Lucha Underground, I could just watch a couple episodes back-to-back. While that’s not what I plan on doing, because I want to digest each episode and write about it before moving on, I think that’s how I’d suggest watching to someone else if I gave them my portable hard drive after I finish this project.

That being said, I really enjoyed this episode. Dario Cueto was firmly established as the slimy authority figure, albeit one with an air of mystery around him. The Temple already began to shine as a unique venue, with the entrance stairway, close quarters to fans and barriers, and cameraman platforms in the corners already coming into play during matches. We began to touch on what made this show so important for Latinos as well -- themes of family, history, and legacy came up in the vignettes between matches. I think the acting was as good as one can expect -- we’ll get into it as more characters are introduced, but several of the managers and non-wrestling characters are played by actual actors, and it shows. 

So that’s episode one! I hope you enjoyed reading through and if you’re able, watch along as I go through this series. It’s not hard to find for download.

So Long For Now

Follow me on BlueSky for updates and live watch-along commentary for AEW Dynamite and Collision (occasionally). And, if you’re looking into purchasing anything from a smart fridge to a new drill, check out the tech writing I do over at SlashGear -- my lists are heavily researched, and ranked after thorough aggregation of expert opinions, reviews, and my own experience as a professional auto mechanic, an unprofessional handyman and a somehow even less professional homeowner. 

Until next time…Let’s Watch Some Wrestling!