Lucha Underground 1×12: They Call Him Cage

maybe don’t run straight at him

the matches

Fenix b Mil Muertes (3:48. superplex reversal into a small package)

Bael, Mr. Cisco, Cortez Castro [O] b Aerostar [X], Super Fly, Argenis (10:53, flapjack/frontcracker )

Prince Puma (C) DQ Cage [Lucha Underground Championship (10:18, foul kick)

all the GIFs from the show are here.

the developments

Mil Muertes dominated his match, but Fenix got the shock upset.

Big Ryck is still in the hospital.

when the crate doesn’t work, why would you try a kick?

A sit down interview with Vampiro, Konnan and Prince Puma ended in Vampiro and Konnan problems (and Prince Puma continuing to say nothing.)

Cage beat up the referee. Konnan attempted to get involved and got beat up. Cage hit Konnan with the belt and Konnan bled a lot. Cage ripped up the belt. Puma tried to put it together (while medics checked on Konnan)

Dario, who made it clear he was rooting for Cage to start the show, was please to see Konnan hurt. The Mystery Woman surprised Dario in his office, revealing she was looking for someone and knew they were somewhere in the temple. Dario, feeling threatened, offered to help however he could and asked for a name. Mystery Lady said she only had a word – Matanza. Dario said he had no idea what that word meant (and it appeared he was telling the truth.) Mystery Lady walked away and literally seemed to vanish.

the questions

Matanza???

Does Cage get another shot, thanks to Dario’s support?

is Prince Puma actually a mute?

stray thoughts

he did it first

This was the last show from the 2014 tapings. It’s been so long, I could not exactly remember what the finish of main event was, except that the feud kept going. The foul really caught me by surprise and didn’t feel like a good ending for the match, but it wasn’t really meant to be an ending. Cage dominated the match, which felt totally different than the Fenix/Puma title match. There was only one dive, which was really before the match, and most of Puma’s bigger flying moves were counted. Cage shoved the ref into the ropes when Puma went for the 630, and that led into the finish.

That belt looked kind of cheap when it was ripped up. Glad they’re getting a new one. Felt like a plot point that Puma was more concerned with it than Konnan, who was bleeding so much.

The sit down interview came off as a build to Vampiro vs Konnan, which they’re not doing and don’t seem to have any plans of doing. I think it was intended to be so heated as to explain why Prince Puma couldn’t get a word in, but in more came off as pushing the older rivalry. The Cage vignette was much better at getting over today’s match.

Cage/Puma is going to be the web match because obviously, but the trios match is worth tracking down. Both teams worked their styles well and it created a nice contrast for the match. The Crew feels like a group that’s been together for a while, working well of each other. Aerostar shined on his side, looking a cut above his partners, but everyone had a good match and this beat expectations. This was a really good episode, in-ring in particular.

just not going to work against Cage

Fenix/Muertes was good too, though it was a bit like the main event (flyer vs indestructible object) over a shorter timespan. Crowd was chanting for Muertes and doing dueling “let’s go Fenix/Fenix sucks chants”, which was surprising. Crowd was generally much better than last week.

So happy Mystery Lady got some advancement after two months, even if I don’t know what it means and it’s only led me to listening to Brazilian music. The vanishing superpower may be a little too much, but there’s also a human dragon here so it doesn’t feel a huge leap. (Also Dario may be high and just imagined the whole thing.)

Next episode doesn’t have a title or a description in the guide yet. (It’s listed as “EPISODE 14” on LocateTV – they’re off by one because they had two different names for the premiere.) I don’t think we’ll really notice any difference, except maybe Matt Striker’s voice might have recovered.

Dragon Rojo vs Niebla Roja title match set, Lucha Underground

photo by Alexis Salzar

CMLL (TUE) 01/27/2015 Arena México
1) Acero & Aéreo b Pequeño Olímpico & Pequeño Universo 2000
2) Akuma, Disturbio, Espiritu Negro b Flyer, Magnus, Sensei
Magnus took a selfie in the ring before the match and ended his portion with a Spanish Fly off the apron to the floor but the rudos still won the match.
3) Dark Angel, Estrellita, Princesa Sugehit b La Seductora, Tiffany, Zeuxis
Estrellita’s run of losses ends.
4) Raziel b Hombre Bala Jr. [lightning]  (posted by VideosOficialesCMLL)
Dropkick to the head won it for Raziel.
5) Hechicero, Hombre sin Nombre, Pólvora b Fuego, Stuka Jr., Tritón
Stuka was injured early in the third fall and stretchered out. Rudos won, then took the tecnicos mask to further humiliate them.
6) Ephesto, Mephisto, Niebla Roja b Dragón Rojo Jr., Super Porky, Titán
Titan replaced Angel de Oro on Tuesday.

Magnus lost but he also won on this show.

Tonight’s Lucha Underground show is named “They Call Him Cage”.

The champion sets his title aside for the second time in the hopes of defeating Cage and taking home the title again.

The show name seems like a Vader reference, and I think that’s probably how Prince Puma’s title match is going to feel. They’ve announced The Crew vs Aerostar, Argenis and Super Fly and Fenix vs Prince Puma Mil Muertes as the other matches tonight, as well as posting a clip of a sitdown with Prince Puma, Konnan and Vampiro and a clip of the title match.

Comando Boricua talks about forming the group: they were all teaming anyway so they decided to get together as a group. A stirring tale. The group here is Comandante Pierroth, Sagrado, Misterioso (from Puerto Rico, Torreon), Pierrothito, and La Comandante. It’s unclear if Zeuxis is out or if she just had better things to do that day. This interview goes with the idea what the new Comando Boricua will have to be very good to live up to the original. I saw all those original Comando Boricua matches, it’s actually a pretty low bar. For one, this new Pierroth is easily as good as Poder Boricua ever was.

CMLL Informa is scheduled to have Mistico, Comando Boricua, Fuerza Guerrera, and Terrilble as guests.

ChilangaMask added Dragon Lee vs Belial to the 02/15 Coliseo Coacalco show. They also announced a return to Arena Roberto Paz in Guadalajara on 05/16.

LuchaWorld posted their interview with Mr. Niebla. The part where Mr. Niebla talks about what was left for his career was great.

Segunda Caida reviews a randomly found Espanto Jr./Santo vs Black Man/Blue Panther and more Mocha Cota. If there’s a entertaining context for AAA heel referees, I have yet to discover it.

Fenix hypes the Toluca AAA show as the return to where he started as Fenix.

CaraLucha has Hechicero, Flamita, and Aeroboy promos for their show next week.

Demus says he’s not making excused, but explains he lost the title in Puebla because he had the flu and they scheduled the match too low on the card.

The most interesting part of yesterday’s All Elite press conference was how Sombra’s mask appeared to be glowing in half the pictures. La Sombra talked about Mascara Dorada with +LuchaTV.

Stigma talks about his trip to Japan, saying he hopes he earns a return trip and that guys like Asturiano, Toro Bill Jr. and Astro get to go some day.

Guerrero Maya talks about his career, says he hopes to wrestle in the US or Europe.

Super Lucha looks back at a busy Sunday 41 years ago.

DJ Spectro looks back at La Fiera’s career.

Los Colisenos says lucha libre is inherently a commercial failure, I think. Or trying to actually make money of wrestling kills it? I’m not really sure. I know lots and lots of items were sold a couple weeks ago in Japan and I know many items have been sold in Los Angeles, but I guess those are considered part of Mexico now?

A Maximo card (and Kiss card) have been added to the NJPW affiliated King of Pro Wrestling card game.

Lineups

IWRG (SUN) 02/01/2015 Arena Naucalpan
1) Alfa & Galaxy vs Dowki & Power Bull
2) Emperador Azteca, Metaleón, Pantera I vs Avisman, El Hijo del Diablo, Hip Hop Man
3) Danny Casas, Golden Magic, Relámpago vs Canis Lupus, Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr., X-Fly
4) Hijo De Dos Caras & Súper Nova vs Hijo de Máscara Año 2000 & Universo 2000 Jr. [super libre]
5) Eterno vs Chicano [hair]

Front row seats should come with rain p0nches because there will be so much blood in that hair match.

I guess Casas & Chicano actually did turn at some point? Hijo de Dr. Wagner is back for unclear reasons.

CMLL (TUE) 02/03/2015 Arena México
1) Acero & Aéreo vs Mercurio & Pequeño Universo 2000
2) Flyer, Hombre Bala Jr., Súper Halcón Jr. vs Canelo Casas, Disturbio, Nitro
3) Dark Angel, Estrellita, Princesa Sugehit vs Dalys, Tiffany, Zeuxis
4) Fuego, Rey Cometa, Tritón vs Hombre sin Nombre, Morphosis, Pólvora
5) Atlantis, Delta, Guerrero Maya Jr. vs Bárbaro Cavernario, Felino, Terrible
6) Dragón Rojo Jr. © vs Niebla Roja [CMLL MIDDLE]
Dragon Rojo’s 10th defense.

Dragon Rojo has held that title since 2011. It kind of sneaks on you. He’s only defended it four times the last two years (with only two making TV), which is probably why it sneaks up on you. The long gaps are probably just as much because of his injury issues as CMLL’s forgetfulness.

Fifth match looks like it’d be really good if any one else was in Felino’s spot. That seems to happen a lot with Felino.

Mr. Niebla gave the impression he was taken off shows last week because he was out in Los Angeles all week. Mr. Niebla should be back in Mexico, but he’s still not on any cards.

CMLL (TUE) 02/03/2015 Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
1) Meteoro & Reycko vs Évola & Ráfaga
2) Frezzer, Magnus, Robin vs Furia Roja, Hijo del Signo, Metálico
3) Dragon Lee, Esfinge, Stigma vs Cancerbero, Okumura, Raziel
4) Blue Panther, Super Porky, Titán vs Kráneo, Rey Bucanero, Thunder
5) Mistico, Valiente, Volador Jr. vs Euforia, Negro Casas, Último Guerrero

Mistico continues to have Mistico matches.