Post by Slade on Jan 6, 2024 8:30:32 GMT -5
Season 5, Episode 1
From the Temple in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, California
Commentary Team: Matt Striker and Vampiro
Ring Announcer: Melissa Santos
* All descriptions of in-ring action start when the match is already in progress. *
***
Our show opened with a variety of shots of the Los Angeles metropolitan area at night. An overhead drone view of the highways cut through the city to Boyle Heights, where we find the Lucha Underground Temple. On the street in front of the Temple, its parishioners, the Believers, flocked to the entrance to go inside. Watching over them from above, standing on the Temple’s roofline, was the Lucha Underground Champion, Prince Puma. In the distance, on another rooftop, he was being watched through binoculars. When the luchador lowered the binoculars, his face was revealed.
***
VS.
Aero Star & Drago vs. Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro
Aero Star & Drago vs. Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro
To kick-off the new season of Lucha Underground right, Dario Cueto booked this match featuring two Lucha Underground originals and two newcomers to the Temple. High-flying, death-defying, high-risk/high-reward attacks were on full display in this one with luchadores diving through the ropes, jumping over the ropes, and springboarding off the ropes to attack their opponents on the floor. They also used the ropes and turnbuckles to springboard onto their opponents inside the ring. The end of the match came when Joaquin Wilde ran from the ring apron through two sets of ropes near the turnbuckles to hit Drago with a suicide dive. He His partner, Cruz Del Toro, tossed Drago into the ring and climbed onto the ring apron. Meanwhile, Aero Star ran from one corner of the ring to the other to execute a running double jump springboard tope con hilo on Joaquin Wilde. Del Toro attempted a phoenix splash, but Drago put his knees up, then executed a running blockbuster on Del Toro and made the pin to get the win for his team.
WINNERS : Aero Star & Drago
***
Santos Escobar was shown sitting on a throne, pouring red wine into a large golden chalice. As he spoke, the camera slowly panned out to reveal a room full of treasures - expensive gold jewelry, rare tableau paintings, various antiques, and Magnum T.A.’s severed head (a callback to Ultima Lucha Tres). Escobar spoke of his history in the Temple, noting that he used to be known as King Cuerno and was unmasked at Ultima Lucha Cuatro. Before he was unmasked, he hunted precious things. Losing his mask doesn’t change that. If there is something of great value worth acquiring, he will get it. Whether it is Trios gold, the Gift of the Gods, or the Lucha Underground Championship. When the opportunity strikes, he will add these championships to his collection of prized possessions.
***
VS. VS. VS.
El Generico vs. Carmelo Hayes vs. Thunder Rosa vs. “The Bastard” PAC
El Generico vs. Carmelo Hayes vs. Thunder Rosa vs. “The Bastard” PAC
This action-packed match saw a hot finish that came after El Generico gave PAC a springboard moonsault. He went for the cover, but Thunder Rosa broke up the pinfall attempt and gave him a step-up enzuigiri kick followed by a reverse falling DDT. Before she could go for the pin, Carmelo Hayes gave her Nothing But Net and made the cover. PAC broke it up with a Black Arrow. He made the cover on Hayes, but El Generico broke that up with a slingshot elbow drop. El Generico went for an Ole! Kick but PAC moved out of the corner and took him down with a bridging German suplex. El Generico managed to kick out at two, but PAC immediately put him in the Brutalizer, which forced him to give up.
WINNER : PAC
***
The scene switches to the inside of Dario Cueto’s office. Sitting across Cueto’s desk from him is Dijak. Cueto told Dijak that he was impressed with his showing at Ultima Lucha Cuatro, where Dijak defeated Mike Awesome in a Hell of War match. This victory was so impressive that it ran Awesome out of the Temple and now he has heard a rumour that Famous B is looking for new clients. Dijak said that it was too bad he didn’t run Famous B out of the Temple with him. But that was yesterday. Today, he is ready for the Believers to see him in a whole new light as the champion he knows he deserves to be. Cueto poured two glasses of tequila and handed one to Dijak. Then, he told him that he was going to give him the biggest opportunity of his career: a chance to become the Lucha Underground Champion. Dijak will be the first luchador this season to challenge Prince Puma for the Lucha Underground Champion. Dijak clinked his glass against Cueto’s, took a drink, and said that the Believers will get to feast their eyes on a new Lucha Underground Champion next week.
***
VS. w/
Mil Muertes vs. Andrade Cien Almas w/ Zelina Vega
Mil Muertes vs. Andrade Cien Almas w/ Zelina Vega
Zelina Vega made her presence felt throughout the contest. She distracted, took cheapshots at, and fed her client weapons to use against the Man of a Thousand Deaths. This often worked to give Andrade the advantage, but all it would take was one big power move for Mil Muertes to regain control of the contest. When Mil Muertes gave Andrade a snap powerslam and pinned him, Vega reached into the ring, grabbed Mil Muertes by the foot and pulled him out of the pin. Mil Muertes left the ring to go after her, buying Andrade time to recover, run to the corner and execute a springboard corkscrew plancha. After throwing Mil Muertes into the seats at ringside, Andrade set up a table in the ring and placed Mil Muertes on it. He climbed to the top rope and went for a frog splash, but Mil Muertes rolled off the table, causing Andrade to go through the table. When they both got to their feet, Mil Muertes hit Andrade with the Reaper’s Trident. Zelina Vega attempted a diving hurricanrana from the top rope, but Mil Muertes countered with a powerbomb. Then, he gave Andrade the Flatliner and pinned him for the win.
WINNER : Mil Muertes
***
A vignette introducing Killshot was played. In it, we see a luchador wearing a mask with a sniper’s target on the forehead and wearing dog tags. He spoke of his background as an elite army sniper and why Lucha Underground is the perfect place for him. The mask gives him anonymity, and in the Temple, he can nurture his killer instinct. Here, he feels he can thrive because he knows how to serve and survive violent encounters. As he spoke, a montage of Killshot shooting at targets and winning close quarters combat was played. Next week, Killshot comes to the Temple to start his journey to lucha libre greatness.
***
Dario Cueto stood in the ring wearing the three Lucha Underground Trios Champion title belts - one across his waist and one flung over each of his shoulders. Cueto welcomed the Believers back to the Temple and said he was in the ring to announce that the Trios Championships were vacant as two of the three Trios Champions have gone to Mexico and won’t be coming back. This has left him no choice but to strip Rey Misterio Jr. of his Trios Championship. However, he wished to thank Misterio for the big part he played in helping him return to power in his Temple, and so he wishes to present Misterio with one of two unique opportunities.
Misterio came to the ring to find out what his options were. Cueto told him that a tournament to crown new Trios Champions would begin next week. Option number one would be to pick two luchadores to join him with an automatic spot in the finals of the tournament to crown new Trios Champions. Misterio liked this option, but wanted to know what his other option was. Option number two would be an opportunity to challenge for the UWA Universal Men’s Championship at Aztec Warfare. Misterio could not pass up the chance to compete for the biggest prize in all of lucha. Then, Cueto told him there was just one small catch. He could have this opportunity if he could win a match right now against the head of another royal family. Misterio agreed to do it. When the other lucha king entered the ring, Dario Cueto demanded the time keeper "RING THE BELL!!!"
VS.
Rey Misterio Jr. vs. Rey Haku
Rey Misterio Jr. vs. Rey Haku
The much bigger, more intimidating, more powerful, and more dangerous, Haku dominated most of the match after weathering the early run-and-gun offensive attacks from Misterio. The Biggest Little Man in lucha wouldn’t stay down on the mat for more than a count of two from the referee, causing Haku to grow frustrated, which in turn, led to him taking a high risk that would not pan out. Haku went to the top rope and attempted a diving headbutt, but Misterio rolled out of the way. He mounted a quick comeback. After executing a wheelbarrow bulldog, Misterio sent Haku flying into the ropes with tilt-a-whirl headscissors. Misterio connected with a 6-1-9, then went for the West Coast Pop, but Haku stepped out of the way. He went for a savate kick, but Misterio ducked and rolled to avoid it. The kick hit the referee instead. Misterio ran to the ropes and executed a springboard back-flip cross body block, then followed it with the West Coast Pop. He had Haku pinned for more than three seconds before a group of luchadores dressed in black and wearing mostly white face paint hit the ring to attack Misterio. The giant of the group gave Misterio a running big boot and a chokeslam. The two smaller luchadores gave him a double-team double-arm DDT. After they left the ring, Haku gave Misterio a splash and covered him for the win. When the match was over, the other three luchadores entered the ring to congratulate Haku on the win. They celebrated as the show went off the air.
WINNER : Rey Haku
***