Lucha Underground 2×11: Bird of War

Matches

Ivelisse beat Kobra Moon (6:29, Code Red, OK)

Cortez Castro, Mr. Cisco, Joey Ryan [O] defeated the Mack, Marty Martinez [X], Mariposa (8:30, Psycho Realm → Ryan steals pin, OK) in the trios tournament

Matanza destroys Fenix (4:47, Wrath of the Gods, good)

Developments

Matanza is the center of things. The announcers revealed early on Fenix would be getting his title match in the main event (and that’s all that was said about the match on a show busy with vignettes.) Fenix fared better than in Aztec Warfare in that he lasted more than 20 seconds, but didn’t really accomplish any more than Pentagon Jr. did last week. He kind of lost more impressive, but that’s more Matanza impressing by throwing the former champion around. Matanza attemped to rip Fenix’s mask and/or face off after the match, with Catrina and Mil Muertes surprisingly making the save. It appeared to be about Muertes wanting to be next in line for a shot, but the scene of Mil making the save for Fenix was surprising.

Vampiro notable did not make the save. Dario ran into him in the bathroom at the start of the show, noting that Pentagon Jr. was still alive after fightning Matanza but Vampiro might not be so lucky if he tries the same. Vampiro very much wanted revenge, but didn’t go for it and seems to be on his medicine. Later, Striker said he heard Pentagon had a fractured vertabreea nd Vampiro refused to confirm.

The trios tournament is underway, with all new combinations. The announcers were unsure what the winner got, which seems like a little issue, but we got a sense of who’s in the tournament. The first tournament had two oddball teams: the Crew teaming with Joey Ryan and the Moths (Marty & Mariposa) with the Mack. The Crew are apparently faces now – hanging around Joey Ryan makes everyone likable by comparison. Neither team totally got along, but the issues were bigger on the second team’s side. Mack and Marty fought, Mack dropped Marty with a stunner, the Crew added their finish, and Ryan stole the pin. Mariposa attacked Mack after the match with Sexy Star – who had early been too scared to get involved – fighting thru her fears to attack her tormentor.

Earlier, Ryan & Cortez met with their commanding officer. We learned Ryan had met with Dario to set up the Cortez/Ryan team, their boss wanted them to win the trios titles to get event closer, and Joey Ryan’s real name is “Officer Meehan.”

Next week’s match is half revealed. Dragon Azteca re-painted the question mark back on the roof (or some old footage was used?) to call Rey Mysterio. Mysterio reminded Azteca how easily he got beat by Matanza – Dragon needs to get better before he seeks revenge. Mysterio had an alternate plan for the moment, to take part in the trios tournament. Mysterio revealed the team would be Rey, Dragon Azteca and Prince Puma (who said his first word on the show: “me”.) They wrestle next week.

I’m not sure if Famous B is putting together his own trio, but he did appear to pitch Máscarita Sagrada on his fame making service. Famous B seemed to have his eye on Sagrada during the Aztec Warfare match too. Famous B didn’t seem to extend his pitch to the Mack or Sexy Star despite going past them.

Killshot got a profile video. He enlisted in (unspecifed military service) the day he turned 18 and became an expert sniper, which is where he got his name. He had 37 confirmed kills, but he and the fellow members of his off the books elite strike force were captured. Killshot was prisoner for 13 months before he shot his way out, and doesn’t know what happened to the rest of his group or if they’re still alive.

Ivelisse and Kobra Moon had a match. Ivelisse won. The Kobra Moon win streak is over. There’s nothing much that connected that too anything else, except to maybe to remind you that Ivelisse is a trios champion and that might matter for the trios tournament.

Thoughts

I can not come up with a lot of stuff to write about this show, which doesn’t seem great. I did like the show overall more than last week, more because they were more clearly moving things along in different stories.

The Ivelisse/Kobra Moon match got strongly negative reviews live. They managed to make it OK on video, though the submission focus was a lot different than a normal Lucha Underground match and they had more problems as they sped up. With Moon not in Aztec Warfare, still with no storyline, and now losing a match, it feels like they’re pulled back a bit on her.

The trios tournament match was fine; I could go OK or good on it. It’s really strange that the Crew are suddenly técnicos – Striker tried to sell it as people getting behind on them for ditchign Chavo, but it feels like there needs to be something stronger. Match was alright, with Mack being the highlight. Or the crazy dancing guy being the highlight.

I liked this main event better than last week. Fenix is better at dying impressively, and his dive being caught into a powerslam is about as impressive as it comes. Mil rocked Matanza enough to give the impression someone might be able to evetnaully harm him.

The “I don’t what happened to my fellow soldiers” is a story that has never ever ended well for the guy who got out. Killshot should keep an eye out for any laser pointers in his direction. It was a good profile vignette and it did give us more reason to care about Killshot besides being a random guy in a mask.

Puma, Rey and Dragon should be an awesome trio. Looking forward to next week. It’s amusing that Prince Puma just started talking like a normal person after 49 episodes of not talking, but that’s OK.

Vampiro name dropped Bas Rutten, Dan Gable and Andy Hug in the first half hour alone. That must be some medicine!