A Note

 All Books reviewed here are  received  from Blogging for Books. Thank you and have a great day. 

Lucha Underground: Take Five

Smooth Moves to Smooth Jazz

So guys, it's Sunday, I am stuffed still from the food and frivolity of this Thursday But the night before was for lucha. We get Dario and Konnan having a little drink between friendly enemies. Business takes precedence over personal any day of the week.

This leads to a little dance of a street fight with Prince Puma and Big Ryck; no rules just bloodshed. Main event settled, we move on to the action.

One Thousand Ways to Slay A Dragon, AKA The Hunt Continues:

Mil Muertes and Drago have one beauty of a match, with power meeting aerial maneuvers with satisfying force while the hunter King Cuerno watched from on high. Muertes pulls off the win with a flat liner. The good news is Drago got enough solid action that this was shown not to be just some squash match. Caterina gets her licks in, too, and a lot of boys become men at the end of a solid start.

In comes Cuerno, who then plants the fallen dragon with authority. It furthers the story but keeps that little feud in the ring, heel established on the tweener and we are good to go. At least in my eyes, mind you Lucha is still a new world, but one that is fresh, right?

Around the World with Johnny

Up next was a good and solid promo from Johnny Mundo, playing up the Tecnico who has control issues to a tee while still having a good time in the off hours. Thank God he kept it all about the ring, about being the best at what he has done and will do. Champagne and caviar are treated as a poor second to ring and the rush of the fans chanting your name. It wasn't about his feelings or how X dude called him a poop head. Nope, it's all about the gold around his waist and being The Guy. To quote a very well known gentleman “Stylin' and Profilin'”

He knows what darkness lurks below.

Caterina, with Mil Muertes staying silent in the back, have a little chat with the boss. Keeping it simple, they know him and his darkness. More to come as the fear comes through Dario's Eyes. These back stage moments are a much better show within the show then most current popular wrestling shows.

Lucha is Havok on Little People:

One of the things I am still getting used to is the fact that the little people get the big stage. While a novelty in some ways, the fight still is crisp, clean, and fun to watch, no matter the size. Son of Havok got his story-line butt whooped by Mascarita Sagrada while his roadie Ivelisse did the ladies Rudo right by helping her man beat up the little guy.

Sexy taking it out of Chavo:

Vengeance is a stone cold lady and sexy star, and proved that tonight on a referee and Chavo Guerro. I mean having the face go for the low blow for vendetta is a nice breath of fresh air is all I am saying. Really the match was a no go from the start but for that moment, well for me and the ref it was breath taking.

Wednesday Night Street Fight:

So its main event time, and Puma and Big Ryck put on a show. The rest of the boys all get into the dance as the heels stomp the stuffing out of the kitty. Not that he doesn't get his shots in. And while the three on one mixer happens in the middle of the ring, you watch the top and Bam! in comes Batman...I mean Johnny Mundo.

Harry Dresden fans scream “Parkour Bitch!”

While Johnny gets his licks in, that little razzle dazzle however ends with Mundo clocking the Prince with a chair, and Ryck, then adding injury to insult by putting the young Prince through a table.

Round up:

Keeping it simple here. I enjoyed this week's show, and I am hoping that the story seems to keep on this track. People are settling into roles and the lines may be drawn, but there is still growth available. I almost hope they get the show ready for DVD release, because it's nature as a drama with action means I get my story with a smile.

So what moment caught your eye, what do you think could or should be added. Hell what do you think of the DVD thing?

As Always!:

Like Subscribe and comment. And I will be keeping an eye on the underground. 

Round 1 Fight: Lucha Underground-A Mat Sense Review

Starting out

Warning, I am new to this for the names and faces and masks, so as a new fan this leads to some misunderstandings, but the fact that I am going to be all over this one tells you, my readers something. However I saw the commercial for this and had the EL Rey network, so I thought what the hell and checked it out.

Lucha Libre is an old style of combat sport, one with a hundred traditions and a flair for theatricality/technique not really found here in the States One of my favorite stars as a short kid was Rey Mysterio. Recent TV spots told me that it has ties to the Aztecs. Lucha Underground's premise is simple: come to the ring to win honor, glory...and a fat stack of cash. The mat is roped tightly and with steel posts that are barely covered. Seating is arena style without the padding. Benches really, and it makes it easy to believe the cops are about to show up or are on the take.

Its mastermind, Dario Cueto, owner, promoter, and evil genius, calls the ring and its environs his“Temple.” As he spoke, the feeling I got was not some million dollar enterprise. No, it was the vibe of an underground fighting ring, where great and terrible things can happen. Blood would be spilled and honor gained in the City of Angels.

Blood Sport meeting pro wrestling from Mexico. The only thing missing was sand to throw in your opponent's eyes. That is the vibe and for me it was awesome. Dario wanted three things to come from his temple; Courage, Honor and best of all Violence. He offered up one hundred grand to the wrestler who caught his eye best. First thought was Paul Heyman with a Castelian accent -all that was missing was a riot.

Announce team was introduced, play by play was done by Matt Striker and color was provided by Vampiro. They seem solid together and encourage some serious looks on my part. Going to research Vampiro, since again, this is all new to me.

Note:things were so cool notes stopped for a long time during matches.

First Match

Chavo Guerro vs Blue demon

The match started on a handshake, that was a nice touch of respect. First words out of my mouth were holy shit that's Chavo Guerro!

Match was the most traditional, tied to generations of luchadores and the pride behind their names. It was good to see a Guerro back in the ring on TV. Demon Won by submission and Chavo left to soak in his anger.

Backstage action 1

Next came the plot unfolding, Dario had this trainer named Konnan, they discuss motivations. Konnan wants the green, very much the heel manager with the face star. Thinking he has the young star to do it in Prince Puma. This again added to that vibe of being a movie or TV show that was about Combat Sports in an underground setting. All shadows and threats. Dario says he picked up the biggest free agent in the luche world in Johnny Mundo AKA John Morrison. This was going to be fun to watch.

Vignette 1

Another vignette voiced over by Konnan discusses his young protege, Prince Puma is shown to be a warrior, young and untried but with the heart and spirit of ancient times. Konnan discusses the history of the mask and the reason losing that mask was so vital to the people in Mexico. The nice touches also were that when training, Lucha Libre looked like an actual martial art or combat sport not weight lifting with suplexes.

Next match was a inter-gender match, which surprised the hell out of me.

Match 2

Son of Havok vs Sexy Star

This surprised the hell out of me with our modern breakdown of things in mainstream wrestling. Sexy Star had a great story to tell, trying to be a character that women can emulate. She cuts a nice promo even with the thick accent as well. The Lucha Libre saved my life thing, if not an angle, makes this even more awesome.

Son Of Havok is a by the numbers heel or Rudo, not willing to fight a girl because its not worth his time. The match starts on a false count out to 5 and bang things get heated. I was honestly sad to see a loss for Sexy Star, I know that there will be wins for the lady. Back breaker with tights pulled boom done and a win for Son of Havok.

Honestly it was nice to see this kind of match, I know many ladies that can duke it out better then the boys and hopefully this will be ingrained in the show and not just the first episode. Time will tell and I will keep watching.

Back stage action 2

Dario comes in to shame and berate Chavo. He verbally beats the loser of the first match about the head and shoulders. Calling in family to add sting to his words, saying that the cash was not his and now he had to bring in someone to finish off The Blue Demon. Again a nice establishing moment. Dario is coming to look like the best kind of villain, the man in the shadows, pulling strings and making deals.

Chavo silently takes his, head down and shoulders hunched, quietly stewing and vibrating. Saying more with less. This normally would have been a shouting match in a certain promotion, here...the calm before the storms.

Main Event:

Johnny Mundo(John Morrison) vs Prince Puma

Match went everywhere in the ring area and was a knockdown drag-out fight with more high flying moves then WWE have in their budget all year, leading to serious "This is awesome" chants.  Mundo pulls out the win but Prince Puma is shown to be young true, but a super star in the making. The final few minutes of the hour included some nice moments and establishing moments as well. Mundo goes over to the fallen youngster and gives him a hands up and hand shake. When has that happened on WWE in recent memory? The faces now established here come the heels.

Dario comes out and has the brief case in hand, almost giving it to Mundo, but look betrayal as he closes it and has his brute squad come in and wreck shop. “I have been scouting the best talent in the world.” He says, and that he had hired them, one snatches the money and the show closes.

Final Thoughts:

After recent WWE events I will state for the record that I now have a new show on Wednesday nights at eight o'clock. This show feels more honest, more real then recent episodes of some shows I could name. Maybe having a movie director leading the firm makes for better TV I am not sure. But its great in-ring work and simple but effective story vignettes, mean this is going to be a must see show. Hell if it were a DVD I would watch the vignettes alone as things get interesting. 

 Show can be found at eight o'clock on EL Rey.

Link below for more info:

Lucha Underground

Heat is Never Cheap: Reviewing “Ladies and Gentleman My Name is Paul Heyman” Blu-ray

We all know John Cena is about “Hustle, Loyalty and, Respect “ (my opinions on him not withstanding as you will see in future posts). But, after watching this program on Blu-ray on my beat-up PS3, I have come to realize that the wrong guy has those three words as his creed. Paul is known for his hustle, from the age of 13 to these days of being The Advocate. He’s got the loyalty of pro wrestlers, with ECW and Ohio Valley Wrestling. He earned the respect, if somewhat tinged with trepidation, of the pro wrestling world's movers and shakers. The American Dream in the son of a Honorable Trial lawyer and a Holocaust survivor.

As a boy, Paul saw the greatness of the ring and wanted to be that guy, like many of us. However unlike many of us, he got in the mix by doing the equivalent of my now more humble beginnings, getting pics and a fanzine going with his Bar Mitzvah money. Some of his hustle was some back door deals and moves, but he did it out of love of the game. Moments include using a New York free newspaper’s gossip column as a way to get a press pass. He had enough chutzpah to sneak into a closed door production meeting with Dusty Rhodes at the helm, and managed to sweet talk his way into more.

Paul is shown as a motivator and mentor, getting the young talent ready for the big time. He still has those moments of being a trickster as well, as 6 or so previous writers meetings can attest. But even today I can still see that kid who was a fan come out as each of his stories unfurls. Cards on the table, this show got me wanting to be the next fan made good on the managerial side, sensitive soul that I am. But, I am going to instead go the route of his younger self, by working on this little space to get my views, the news and all the rest on combat sports today out to the public, from the entertaining thrills of World Wrestling Entertainment(TM) to the hard slugging matches of The Octagon and beyond.

I am not a fan of hard number systems for review, but would I recommend this to even non fans of “Sports entertainment”? Hell yes! This is a great show to watch with the people you love on a Saturday night, you will laugh like hell, cry a little too, and get to see the story of a man of many talents and laser focused ambition who does what he does...for the love of the game.

Click the link below to check it out!
Ladies and Gentlemen, My Name is Paul Heyman [Blu-ray] 

Mat Sense Sports: A Brief Introduction

Why Mat Sense and who am I?

Okay, down and dirty, this blog is about the sports I love to watch, including Pro Wrestling, Boxing, Mixed Martial Arts and other martial sports, as I catch them. I know that I am not the expert, but I know a few things and I have my opinions. I am going to review the various DVDs, events/shows and gear of the competitors. I am going to link them up if I can so if you want a view for yourself,. Plus you help a fellow fan out, if you buy but I am not forcing that.  My name is Jamie, I am an old new fan, coming back into things but wanting to share my thoughts.

Getting into the Weeds

Some warnings though, because I would rather be honest about this then get my business caught in a vice. I want comments, but I will fight my fight. I want discussion, but be polite. I want to bring what I see as truths to the masses, and hell I might even be wrong too. Hell, I will probably be wrong frequently, its half the joy of the Internet.

Final Notes

This is a work in progress and I will let you know when I get new features or work on new projects. So take a look, subscribe, and leave a comment.

And thanks to for the help with getting this little thing rolling stronger.
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