The Mack defeated Cage in a falls count anywhere 4 A Unique Opportunity semifinal (7:16, inside cradle, good)
Son of Havoc defeated Texano Jr. in a Boyle Heights bar fight 4 A Unique Opportunity semifinal (7:21, big boot into glass, good)
Son of Havoc defeated the Mack in a falls count anywhere 4 A Unique Opportunity semifinal (4:38, shooting star press headbutt, good)
Dr. Wagner Jr. defeated Son of Havoc to win $250,000 (2:03, Wagner Driver, OK)
Developments
Mack splash
This show was solely the unique opportunity tournament. Only the people part of the tournament appeared. There were no vignettes with other luchadors. Striker & Vampiro did go over the entire Ultima Lucha card.
Dario made stipulations for each match right before took place. Cage/Mack was a rematch from last yeat’s Ultima Lucha, and got the same stipulation. Cage attempted to put Mack’s head thru a cinder block again, but slipped due to beer poured on the ground and Mack cradled him. Son of Havoc & Texano was a bar fight because a cowboy and a biker made Dario think of a bar. The final was also a falls count anywhere match, but it didn’t really come into play.
a lot of liquor wasted
After Havoc beat Mack, Black Lotus and Dario Cueto came to the ring with two briefcases. One contained $250K, which Dario was said would be more than Havoc would make in his career. The other had a contract for the title match at Ultima Lucha 3. Havoc picked the contract with little hesitation. Dario congratulated him, but then revealed the unique opportunity: Havoc would simply get a chance at winning the title shot, while his opponent would fight for the 250K. Famous B introduced his new client as Havoc’s final opponent: Dr. Wagner Junior. Havoc fought hard, but was no match for Wagner after having fought twice earlier the night. Wagner won clean with the Wagner Driver, and Famous B celebrated with the cash.
Thoughts
this looked not fun
This kind of felt like a variation of the one match shows LU has done each year, a bit different because it was many matches, but with a small crew of people. It’s almost the Lucha Underground equivalent of a bottle episode, trying to put a show together as cheap as possible because you used up the money on your space aliens, but a pinata with beer cans can’t be all that cheap. It’s a clever way to extend Ultima Lucha 2 another week and lend more meaning to this tournament than it would’ve had been a random episode, but it did still feel like a random episode. I was really surprised there wasn’t something with Pentagon or Puma or Ivelisse or anyone else to connect this back to the other matches. It’s a pretty free standing hour, one you could skip over on a marathon and never pick up on.
It’d be too bad if you did skip it because the tournament itself was enjoyable, especially the first two matches. Mack/Cage was a crazy opener to Pinatas with objects that don’t belong in a pinata was good. Last year’s match was more epic, but this was a lot of fun. The splash thru the table looked painful for both guys. A beer slip into an inside cradle was creative but also a bit of a strange crafty end to what was had been a violent match up. The Havoc/Texano match was notable for the amount of brutality Texano took at the end, obliterating the bar set and then going back in for even more glass. It was hard for them to follow the previous match, but they created a few memorable spots and some solid wrestling around it.
Mack is absurd
Havoc/Mack also had a couple moments, but was also much shorter than the other matches and much more about the guys selling the previous matches. Havoc & Mack probably have a much better singles match in them. Havoc & Wagner never really got going, didn’t really feel like Havoc had a chance, and seemed just long enough for them to get in Wagner’s resume. (It’s an odd tradeoff: either you know who Dr. Wagner is and understand he’s never losing in a situation like this, or you don’t know Dr. Wagner and have no idea why you should care.) The crowd didn’t react strongly to Wagner as they (or he!) probably hoped. This has to be the start of something for Season 3 for it to really payoff.
AAA officially announced TripleMania as taking place on August 28th in Arena Ciudad de Mexico. The date had been out there for at least a month, but AAA hadn’t confirmed it yet. The show is listed as a 6pm start.
LA Park, who notes he never actually was beat for the AAA Latin American championship and claims he only gave it up because he had no contenders, says he wants to challenge for it again (now that Pentagon’s champ.)
The preview for tomorrow’s Elite show doesn’t mention Negro Casas’ scheduled match with Xtreme Tiger. There’s no mention of another match, it’s just treated as a five match card. Casas just started training after minor surgery, perhaps he won’t be wrestling on Thursday or they’re not sure. Elite could pull Caristico out his match to face Tiger instead, but there may be a reason they’re doing Caristico & Elgin vs Kushida & Tonga.
Daniel Bryan spoke highly of Mascara Dorada/Gran Metalik in an interview to build up the CWC tournament. Bryan thinks WWE could use more masked men and Dorada would do well in NXT. WWE is supposed to reveal the bracket for the CWC tonight, which will give us an indication of Dorada’s chances in this tournament.
Titan was officially announced for NJPW’s Super J Cup today. The first round will take place on 07/20, with the final three rounds a month later on 08/21. Titan should do well, but might not have to worry about round two since he’s drawn Will Ospreay in round 1. Titan’s been scheduled to work this show for months; he shouldn’t be see as a replacement for Dragon Lee.
Miedo Extremo talks about his upcoming trip to Japan with Estrellas del Ring, saying he’ll be on tour there for six months. (That’s probably a reason DTU did the title change last weekend, so he’ll be carrying on his trip.) He’s facing Takashi Sasaki on 07/09 in Korakuen Hall, and teaming with Violento Jack to face Jun Kasai & Masaoka on 07/17.
Mistico was right, he’s getting his title match next week. And there’s a decent chance of Mistico winning the title from Mephisto (which is interesting if CMLL planned that outcome back when Mephisto was supposed to defend it against Caristico.)
Elsewhere, there’s a pointless tag team tournament where the teams are supposed to be tecnico/rudo mixed but half aren’t. Shocker & Negro Casas are teaming again, maybe that’s setting up something, or maybe they’ll have a team like Caristico & UG break up to a set a title match next week. Real question: is Sharlie a tecnico? I don’t know. I don’t think so, Ciber’s pretty solidly a rudo, but it would explain why the matches are so weird. Introducing Rockstar in two straight Relevos Incredibles is not optimum.
Ares & King Jaguar feud in the second match. True story: the last two weeks and this match are the first time King Jaguar and Ares have been in the same match in Arena Puebla since 2014.
CMLL (TUE) 07/12/2016Arena México
1) Astral, Fantasy, Stukita vs Mercurio, Pequeño Nitro, Pequeño Olímpico
2) Estrellita, Lluvia, Princesa Sugehit vs Amapola, Dalys, Zeuxis
3) Blue Panther Jr. vs Sagrado [lightning]
4) Blue Panther, Stuka Jr., Valiente vs Kráneo, Okumura, Ripper
5) Kushida & Marco Corleone vs Tama Tonga & Tangaroa and Rey Escorpión & Shocker and Felino & Niebla Roja
This might be the last show for the NJPW guys – Kushida was originally listed as sticking around thru Friday, btu the other guys are done. Main event seems set up for Tama & Tanga to get a win on the way out.
DTU’s Casta de Champions show, with the champions who won’t be in Japan defending their titles. Seventh match seems like the biggest match of Motocross’s life, and he’s been in a mask match. Check out the fifth match: the Cruiserweight Classic’s Raul Mendoza on one side, and guy who really wanted to be in the CWC Dragon Rojo on the other side.
CMLL (SAT) 07/16/2016Arena Coliseo Arkangel 30th Anniversary show
1) Tigre Rojo & Tigre Rojo Jr. vs Black Silver I & Black Silver II
2) Skándalo vs Fiero, Bobby Z, Canelo Casas, Magnus, Muerte Azteca, Oro Jr., Fireman, Asgard, Hanaoka, Sonic, Stigma, K-Fu, Súper X, Makiavelico, Thonder Strong [Torneo Dr. X] all are Arkangel students.
3) Dallys la Caribeña, La Comandante, Reina Isis vs Lady Boricua, Mima Shimoda, Princesa Sugehit
4) Fujin, Okumura, Raijin vs O.t. Fernandez, S.c. Navarro, Sensacional Carlitos
5) Arkángel de la Muerte, Ephesto, Luciferno vs Gallo, Pegasso, Starman
6) Brazo de Plata, Diamante Azul, Máximo vs Bárbaro Cavernario, Negro Casas, Rey Bucanero
This show was announced a month or two ago, but we didn’t get a lineup until now. Fernandez, Navarro, and Lady Boricua are Puerto Ricians who’ve been on Toryumon Mexico shows. Carlitos had the one AAA appearance a couple years ago. Opener is Puebla versus Acapulco.
Coliseo will go at least 4 weeks without a Sabado Retro.
LLDLJ (SUN) 07/17/2016Arena Victoria, Ecatepec, Estado de México
1) ? vs ??
2) Fulgor I & Fulgor II vs Fly Danger & Moria
3) Sádico vs Fandango, Rey Celestial
4) Andy Boy, Danger King, Guerrero Mixtico vs Kilvan, Shadow, Yoruba
5) Brole, Mini Multifacético, Prayer vs Arez, Belial, Impulso and Centvrión, Fly Warrior, Látigo
6) Wotan vs Terremoto Negro [super libre]
7) La Magnifica vs Ludark Shaitan [bull terrier]
Liga Justica ran on Coacalco previously when they came to the Mexico City area, and will run the arena recently used on the PROESA TV show for this show. Fifth match could be pretty good.
MDA (SUN) 07/17/2016Arena Coliseo Monterrey
1) Babe Fox vs Chocolata
2) Tekilita vs Chamaco Gurrola
3) Estrellita & Sanely vs Muñeca De Plata & Tiffany
4) Epydemius, Ninja Jr., Obsesión, Último Ninja vs Golden Magic, Lince, Metaleón, Tormento
5) Galactar & Xtreme Tiger vs Delta & Dragón Lee (CMLL)
6) Caifan, La Máscara, Volador Jr. vs Mr. Niebla, Pierroth, Rush
AAA is in Monterrey this week, and MDA back the week after that. I’m doubtful Dragon Lee is working these shows yet.
