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!

Some thoughts on the discourse around Jon Moxley, and a belated recap of my AEW Revolution trip!

 One thing I’ve noticed about Bluesky, as opposed to other social media platforms, is that it learns pretty quickly what you want to see. Not that it’s forcing content on you, just that it respects your curation. Case in point: after this week’s AEW Dynamite, which featured Jon Moxley condensing the old “bed of nails” magic trick onto a 2x4, and then walking around the ring so everyone in the crowd could see that, yeah, that thing was really stuck to his back, I saw a lot of people complain about the perceived incoming complaints from Fed-heads or general tsk-tskers. What I didn’t see was any of the latter -- nary a “that’s too violent for TV” to be seen. 

To me, that might mean either one of two things. Either A, I’ve done such a good job weeding out trolls and bad-faith arguers that I’ve single-handedly turned my feed into a magical land with only the finest in vine-ripened wrestling takes. Or B, people want to argue so badly that they have taken to prematurely picking fights with people that may not even exist. I doubt either of those is completely true -- after all, a quick trip over to the vanilla #wrestlesky feed shows plenty of people still watching and talking about the dozens of pro wrestling companies they support, and hating on the companies they don’t. And I’m sure there were people who did find that match a bit much, but aside from the board spot, we’ve seen far, far worse on both AEW and other shows. 

Then I had a thought, and Googled “Jon Moxley violent.” And, as we mechanics often say with a dirty red rag in our hands, there’s your problem. It’s not regular people saying these things. It’s the hot take crowd. It’s the people who write about this stuff, usually for money or clicks. The first results (after the requisite four ads, and Reddit posts) are from sites like The Sportster, ITR Wrestling, Ringside News. And they all use the most spicy of headlines -- “Jon Moxley’s AEW Match Sparks Outrage…” and “Wild Backstage Reaction To Gruesome Jon Moxley…” 

I get that those sites make their money based on clicks and ads, because I got my start writing for one of them. And I get that sensational headlines are what get clicks. But I think it makes wrestling fandom into my little pug, chasing its tail just because it saw it out of the corner of its eye. Let me explain, because that’s not the clearest analogy. Right now, there’s a certain group of fans that feel defensive of their favorite promotion. You’ve got AEW fans that are aware of smaller crowd sizes, but the product is improving after a lull and there’s plenty of reasons to be hopeful. There’s WWE fans, who get grief for supporting a company that has no shortage of bad press, between the lawsuits and the Saudi blood money deals and the ties to the current US government, but it’s also inarguably the biggest, hottest wrestling promotion on the planet. GCW fans are getting it from both sides as their smaller promotion has gotten in bed, indirectly, with WWE while still doling out its particular brand of ultraviolence.

As a publisher or website owner, you see that powder keg and you can figure out how to get the most engagement pretty easily, rage-baiting fans to click on a sensationalized headline just to scroll down to the comments and argue for their brand. Detractors will reply, and next thing you know the comment section is a mile long and the article -- which probably didn’t have a lot to say in the first place -- makes you a good amount of ad revenue. 

There’s no end to it, and I wouldn’t want to live in a world where all wrestling fans watch and love just one type of promotion. I mostly watch North American wrestling, but as a Latino I love and respect the history of Lucha Libre enough to enjoy the occasional CMLL or AAA show too. I’ve seen some GCW, some New Japan, and checked out Joshi promotions like TJPW and Stardom too. This is to say, I don’t think of myself as a filthy casual by any means (I don’t even think that mythical “casual wrestling fan” exists anymore, but that’s another rant entirely) but I’m not nearly as invested as some fans. Hell, that’s part of why I stay on social media -- it’s great to get recaps and highlights of shows from real, die-hard fans who know the strong points of their favorite promotions. 

However, I don’t understand the constant sniping at other promotions. Nobody wins if a company shuts down, and aside from moral arguments for not watching the Fed, there’s really no reason to go after anybody aside from just being a dick. Don’t yuck someone else’s yum! I guess I’m not the arguing type, and a civil discussion about how far is too far is fine, but when was the last time a civil discussion happened on the internet? 

The AEW Revolution Trip!

Enough monologuing. What I’d like to do is tell you about the trip with my buddy to LA for AEW Revolution! It’s not the most timely recap, but I got a pretty nasty cold on the back half of the trip that I’m still trying to shake, so I haven’t felt up to writing about it. But I woke up early with a rant in my head, and since we’re already here, I figured now is as good a time as any to recap the trip before all my memories leak out of my head.

 We arrived early Saturday in Los Angeles, way too early to check in to the hotel. So we did some tourist stuff. Had Randy’s Donuts -- you might recognize the place by the giant donut on the roof, it’s been seen in plenty of movies -- and then went to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. It was pretty cool, there was an exhibit on transformation that had stages of the legendary werewolf metamorphosis scene from “An American Werewolf in London.” Other exhibits included a study on color in film that featured a rainbow of costumes from various movies, and a temporary exhibit on Cyberpunk in movies that had some props and sketches from films like “The Matrix” and “Blade Runner.” Overall, it was pretty dope! 

After a stop at Trejo’s Tacos, where the kid managing the place noticed my Willow Nightingale shirt and chatted with us about the show, since he was also attending, we got checked into our place, and then headed to Santa Monica for the magic show. 

“A magic show?” you ask, incredulously. “What are you, a small child at a birthday party?” Firstly, I never went to a birthday party with a magician, so there. Secondly, rude. Thirdly, this wasn’t just ANY magic show, it was a performance by former Ring of Honor star and current Collision commentator Nigel McGuinness! The venue was a small place that looked incredible, with a waiting room full of 1950s-looking posters for magic acts and a bar with very friendly bartenders. We got drinks, had a nice guy do a little close-up magic with some quarters for us, and eventually headed into the performance room. 

That room held about 60, and Nigel’s assistant/partner introduced herself to several of us in the room. My buddy and I sat in the front row, and both of us ended up participating in the show. If you ever get the chance, I cannot recommend it enough. It was less tricks and more … I guess “mentalism” is how Mr. McGuinness described it? It was a lot of fun, and as the victim/guest for the finale I still can’t tell you how he pulled off any of it. Nor would I want to! We got to stick around after and chat with a few other fans, as well as Nigel and his mom, who joined the crowd for the second half of the act. All in all, it was a lovely night, Nigel was a lovely person, and the crowd was a good mix of wrestling fans and people who just wanted to see a show. 

The next day was the show. I woke up not feeling great, but not dying, so we headed to a market my friend had heard about. Just an amazing atmosphere, rows of every kind of eatery you can imagine. A nearby farmer’s market had fresh fruits, veggies, juices, and more. Unfortunately, my not-great feeling persisted, and after having a big juice, I opted to go back to the room and crash while my buddy explored the city before the show. 

I survived, felt a bit better after a nap, and we got a ride over to the arena. The Crypto Arena was really nice! The pavilion around the arena had tons of statues of LA Lakers and Kings statues, including Magic Johnson, Wayne Gretzky, and Shaq. We were only lined up for about twenty minutes before heading in, security was light and fast, and we were in line at the merch table in no time. I ended up with a unique looking Hangman Adam Page shirt that I got for my wife and a Kenny Omega shirt and Revolution hat for myself. We met our seat neighbors, grabbed some very overpriced beers, and enjoyed the show.

By now you’ve probably seen Revolution, or at least heard about it. We were right across from Leslie Jones, who delighted fans with her reactions to Swerve/Ricochet and Mercedes/Momo. The crowd definitely was at its lowest at the beginning of the TBS Championship match, but those women fought to get the arena invested and earned the noise they got by the end. And man…Toni Storm vs Mariah May in their brutal Hollywood Ending match, followed by my sweet Cinnabon son Konosuke Takeshita taking on living legend Kenny Omega, followed by a steel cage match between Will Ospreay and Kyle Fletcher was a hell of a triple header. The main event was a bit of a turd, especially after three match of the year candidates in a row, but I think everyone was sent home happy after Swerve Strickland made his presence known, pouncing on Jon Moxley before delivering a promo to the crowd as fans started leaving the building. 

I don’t think it’ll ever happen, but I would like to propose that fans who purchase a ticket to a PPV get a voucher to order a replay of the show, if not for free than at least at a discount. I’d love to watch Revolution with commentary, but I’m not paying another $50 to do so. If any company was gonna do it, AEW would be the one, but I won’t hold my breath.

So Long For Now

So that’s gonna be where I wrap things up for now. Things are still gonna be a little sporadic from here on out -- my sister just had her first kid yesterday (!) so a trip to visit is coming soon. My wife also has a few trips lined up, and with the weather getting nicer I’m trying to commit to doing some yard work for the good of both my land and my body. There’s also college basketball, which will hold my interest until my bracket fails me, as well as my puppy to train up and some other house projects. 

But I’m not abandoning this thing. I love writing about AEW, and I think I may start watching and writing about some other promotions, too. In short, I guess stay tuned to my socials!

Follow me on BlueSky for updates and live watch-along commentary for AEW Dynamite and, occasionally, Collision. And, if you’re looking to buy 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 mechanic, an unprofessional handyman and an even less professional homeowner. 

And in between my stuff, if you’re looking for some good writing, Erika and Suit Williams both do some good work. Anyways, take care, stay safe out there, and we’ll see you next time. Until then, let’s watch some wrestling! 

A month of trying to get something written, all wrapped into one convenient post

 

Good Morning!

I’ve been trying to post something for over a month now. My most recent attempt (current section excluded) is a decent, if melancholy, bit of writing I did on New Year’s Eve…Eve. I don’t want to just dump that, so I’ll include it at the end of what I’m putting together right now. I’m currently watching AEW Collision, because I was out of town for my little sister’s baby shower -- she’s expecting the first kid of our generation, the first grandchild for my mom. Dad missed little Dani by just a couple years, but she probably wouldn’t have that cool name if Mr. Dan was still around, so I guess that’s the way of it, as Kermit once told us. Life is full of comings and goings.

But being away from things, and diving back into both my house responsibilities and social media has given me a little perspective. I don’t know when we decided we weren’t going to have fun watching wrestling anymore, or when we decided that people who watch the show we don’t like are bad people. And I have seen people on BlueSky post that if you post about WWE, you’re dead to them. Well, I’m gonna keep watching the little TV shows I like. That means AEW Dynamite, Collision, and pay-per-views, but it also means I’m watching RAW and WWE PLEs because I have for the better part of my life, and because I would like to make another go at the professional version of this blog. 

I don’t owe anyone an explanation for that, but I will offer up one anyway. I’m aware that people with politics different from my own run that company; I’m also aware that I’m going to be dealing with people with politics different from my own in everyday life for the rest of my time here in the United States, and on Earth for that matter. Even putting that aside, I was lucky enough to get a job, a paying job, writing about pro wrestling for a legit wrestling website because of this blog. If I don’t discuss the biggest wrestling company in the world, during one of the most monumental times in its history, I’m not doing my reader(s?) any favors, and I’m not making myself informed enough to get another job if somebody is hiring. So I’ll keep watching the shows, and I’ll keep writing about them, and hopefully you all keep reading what I have to say. And if not, well, I’ll miss you and we probably had some fun interactions, but you do you.

Speaking of perspective, I experienced another little epiphany while I was in Tennessee. I’m gonna have to start treating myself a little nicer. I have let myself fall into, let’s say disrepair since I started writing. I know everybody says this in January, but it feels pretty important that I get a little healthier if I’m gonna be an uncle. This kid is gonna need all the support she can get -- every kid does -- and I won’t do her any good if I’m not around. Plus, as the oldest of three I technically knew her grandpa longer than either of my sisters, so I’m gonna need to share all the memories of our dad with the kid. 

Aside from spending a little more time outside and a little less time on social media, I’m gonna need to eat a little better and sit on my ass a little less. Fortunately, I have a wife who encourages me to be a better version of myself, a treadmill in the basement, and a TV in front of said treadmill. I should try watching wrestling on that thing so I’m moving while I watch this goofy, incredible sport.

The Wrestling Portion Of Our Program

All that being said, a LOT has happened in wrestling since last we spoke. AEW has made its much-rumored switch to smaller venues, and I think it’s been successful. The buildings it has chosen look incredible, and the smaller capacity means packed-looking houses rather than cavernous buildings with large swaths of seats tarped off. The verticality of these places is cool too -- seeing a wall of fans makes me happy. 

WWE made its Netflix debut, and it was … well, I guess it was what we should have expected. A lot of “hey look how great we are here’s famous people” and not a lot of actual wrestling in over three hours of programming. We did get a full stadium booing noted turd Hulk Hogan, so that was pretty dope. And since the debut episode, things have evened out and the shows since have hit a nice 2 ½ hour mark. I still think two hours is perfect for a weekly pro wrestling show, and some RAW episodes feel even longer than three, but so far the Netflix thing is working for Triple H and company.

Obviously we will have a lot to talk about in the coming weeks. AEW continues to push its Death Riders angle despite me not liking it. That’s not the same as saying that it’s BAD -- it’s just not for me. I have a lot of (possibly misplaced) faith in AEW, and I’d really like to come around on Mox and pals. We do have some big shows coming up in Australia, and even next week in Jacksonville. Things will progress, and maybe we’ll get a better idea of who will step up to the Riders with Darby climbing a mountain and Hobbs getting kinda pushed aside by Adam Copeland. 

Toni Storm’s angle is cool as hell, though, and even if I didn’t like anything else on Dynamite I would still tune in just for her. 

WWE has Saturday Night’s Main Event coming up this weekend, and I think I’d like to write a full-on preview for that. I do love a preview and/or review, and it’s a nice way to separate my random banter blogs from my show focused ones. Hell, maybe that means people who like my writing but not my choice of programming can read the stuff that they DO like. WHO SAYS NO? 

Oh damn, the Acclaimed breakup FINALLY happened as I’m writing/watching! Sure, the team hasn’t been super over in months, but better late than never! I’m really interested to see if Bowens gets the push a lot of us have hoped for, and what happens with Billy Gunn and Max Caster, too. There are a lot of directions all three men could go, and while The Hurt Business felt like the right direction a few weeks ago, some unaffiliated singles work could also be fun.

So Long For Now

So that’s gonna be where I wrap things up for right now. I intend on doing that preview for SNME, along with the Royal Rumble and maybe the AEW Grand Slam Australia show too? I hate to commit to doing a lot when I’ve taken this long just to get this far, so I think I’ll just take it one week at a time. Thanks for reading this far! 

Follow me on BlueSky for blog updates, pics of my dogs, random musings, and live watch-along commentary for AEW Dynamite. If you happen to be looking to buy 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 an experienced, if unprofessional, handyman and an even less professional homeowner. 

As promised, the work I did from late last year follows. I think it is worth posting, even if it may not be as important to me as it was at the time I wrote it. 

12/30/2024

There’s always a reason. It’s not necessarily a good reason, but when I wander away and take a break there’s always a reason. The holidays can be stressful, but I try not to let them get to me. I miss a lot of people (and a pet) I’ve lost over the last few years, but I generally remain upbeat. My household gets a little stressful, but that’s just part of living with someone else -- they have different opinions on how Christmas should be celebrated, and their history with the holidays can have a striking effect on how they feel, and act, and just are during November, December, and January. 

All that is to say, I personally have been having a bit of a rough go of things, too. I always get introspective at the end of the year, and the ten minutes a day of sunlight we’re getting doesn’t exactly fill me with the energy I have in other months. I’ve been looking to cut back, to save a little more, and, yes, to try and get a little healthier. I’m not getting any younger, and now that I’m gonna be an uncle in 2025 it feels imperative that I, you know, live long enough to help raise this kid right, i.e. show them some wrestling.

I’ve closed the Ko-Fi donation link that, honestly, hasn’t shown up most of the time anyways. I’m not writing consistently enough to ask anyone for money, and I felt like I was letting the one guy with a monthly sub down. I appreciate the hell outta you, Ricky, and I’m sorry I couldn’t keep up with your stream, either.

I think part of my problem has been that I got real lucky when I started out. Writing has never been a true passion of mine in the way I know it is for a lot of people. But it is nice to talk about stuff I love, and since social media is a dumpster fire and I can only tell my wife about what happened on the night’s TV before her innocent eyes glaze over, blogging became the next best outlet. I enjoyed it, and that miraculously led to a short career writing Features for a real, legit website. 

Unfortunately, I guess the numbers weren’t supportive of a whole Features section, so we closed down about eight months after we started. I was, again, lucky enough to have an editor suggest me to a sister site of ours, and my relationship with SlashGear was born. And that’s fun, and researching products and writing lists while trying to shoehorn in some of that Midwest humor that burns in my heart is a good gig, and they even pay me in money. But I don’t have a deep love for that stuff, just an interest and the willingness to pound out an article or two a week so I don’t feel like a freeloader.

So my luck didn’t run out, per se -- I mean, I’m living a pretty blessed life these days -- but it certainly stopped being a motivator. I don’t feel great, in part due to a far more sedentary lifestyle but also just because I, well, don’t. I don’t know or care if I’m clinically sad or whatever, and I’m not about to figure that out in an official capacity. But 

Because that’s right -- I’m a true house cholo. I cook, I clean, I do dishes and laundry. I try to manage the house while also trying to knock out some work every week, even though it’s been made clear to me that it’s not that big a deal. And I’m not some kind of alpha male, frothing at the bit because MAH WOMMIN makes more money than me. She supports what I’m doing, but I think she’s also just very happy to work and have someone else take care of all the other things that are just part of adult life. I do kinda miss working on cars sometimes, and having the income that came with it, but at this point I don’t even think I’d be terribly useful at that work anymore -- it’s been almost three years now, and I’m so forgetful I’m sure I’d just end up forgetting to tighten a brake caliper or something equally terrible.

So wrestling has been on the back burner. I’ve been watching, but I don’t feel like I’ve been absorbing anything. Historically, this period between WWE’s Survivor Series and the Royal Rumble are pretty low-stakes, and AEW has done its damnedest to fill that void with a big company-wide “us vs them” storyline. And now that I write that out, maybe that’s my problem with the whole Death Riders thing. It, like literally everything else in life these days, has boiled down to two sides. AEW versus the Death Riders. 

I know if I post this without linking it on social media, it won’t get read. (I mean, if I’m being honest with myself it probably wouldn’t get read anyway, but that’s the whole point of telling people to read your stuff on social media, isn’t it?) And given that I’m just kinda venting and ranting, maybe that’s the way to go about this one. Put it out there so I can say to myself that I did, try to get back to writing more about things that are fun and up rather than bummers and downers. /