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. 

This is Awesome! No This Is LUCHA: Mat Sense Review

Day Three of my mind blown:

Okay I am hooked, Lucha underground is DVR material like no other currently on the wrestling scene. When you can't even check your texts or email on the phone, man it is something to see. Match by match is not going to happen since I am enjoying the quick but action stuffed matches more then I can analyze at points.

Matches have been crisp, clean, and straight up cool. The last main event I saw was a three way dance, and had movement and rhythms like a jazz musician.It was hard, syncopated and too cool for the rest. Pentagon Jr. ,Dragon and Fenix mixed it up with spots out of a video game. The plot stays on point with backstage moments giving the show a gritty harsh feel, even when a small person takes on a crazy mariachi. Even the silly is awesome in Lucha Underground.

Feeling Real:

The Underground is real here for story. Deals made, opponents found, and nightmares born as Chavo Guerro, playing the lone gunslinger still trying to prove his name. And the facts are kept on point; he is the best and he wants to prove it. Simple, elegant. No snores from the authority and no $9.99 crap. To get to the manager, his goons go down and cash changes hands to break a pretty boy.

Mil Muertes' personal plot is something that could give a claustrophobic fits, and his manager/valet Caterina is that flavor of sexy but creepy that could make someone voiceless become terrifying without saying a word. That little flicker of the lights and you knew the darkness was on point. While I am still a student of the Lucha world, this gives me references and vibes of a certain dead man.

An Issue:

The only weakness of this show is honestly the fact that it is an El Rey show, but the strength of having a movie director with solid action chops is that instead of feeling disjointed ala WWE and some others. The plot is feeding itself. Dario may be running an old beat up trope of the sleazy promoter, but the cast around him and atmosphere make it seem like there are more then just shady deals in his future. Its obscurity on some levels gives it freedom, but that freedom is at the cost of a wider audience.

Main Event:

No Fear was the name of the game as Fenix flew, Dragon roared, and Pentagon Jr. dropped some bombs. There were moments where my jaw dropped so hard I got dents in my floor. If this was Philly in the 90's it would have been all “ECW” but now its “LUCHA LUCHA LUCHA” as Fenix did aerial tricks that would make the blue angels puke.

Spots after Spots and yet I want more, technique power and and a solid groove.

Jazz bands roll it tight and so does Lucha underground.

Empire of Sin Review: Mat Sense Reviews

So I have fallen in love with book reviews, sue me...gives me something to do during the chatty bits of RAW.

In keeping with the reviews of books from Blogging for Books. I am next going to be checking Gary Krist's Empire of Sin: A Story of Sex, Jazz, Murder, and the Battle for Modern New Orleans. I am linking the book to see if there are others who want to put their own two pennies into the bank. I am a sucker for True Crime and History. So this is going to be awesomeness all over the place.  I am getting my hard copy in a few week or two. Got my digital copy for a read, but I want the latest version to give the best review, not an ARC.

The Big Easy has a very unique vibe to say the least, and reading about its germination and growth as a town is something that intrigues me. Seeing a city on the edge of greatness and corruption is fascinating to say the least. Also let no one say the folks in that town are not survivors.

What does this have to do with combat sports, honestly not probably enough, but hell...there has to be time between the fights right?   New Orleans is a place that breeds characters. Sweet southern vibe, spicy Cajun food and Voodoo, these all lend themselves to unique faces, heels and even the Tweener if going the Pro Wrestling Route.

So let's step inside the Crescent City, hearing the strains of jazz and enjoying that perfect hurricane. Its time to get my and your read on!

Hot Jazz and Good times

After this bad boy is done, I am going on to review more books in the spy genre, so lets get our James Bond and George Smiley on!