Wednesday, September 7, 2016

WWE Cruiserweight Classic 9/7/16 Review

WWE Crusierweight Classic
September 7th, 2016 | Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida

Corey Graves reminds everyone of the final two Quarterfinal matches taking place tonight. TJ Perkins goes one on one with Rich Swann, while Noam Dar faces Zack Sabre Jr.

Zack Sabre Jr. def. Noam Dar in 15:46
I've complained about Dar being one of the most unimpressive guys so far in the tournament. They trade stuff on the mat with Dar attacking Sabre's leg throughout. Dar busted out a sweet combo that included a great uppercut but Sabre answered with a half nelson suplex. To combat Dar's leg work, Sabre went after the left arm, with both guys trying to set up their respective finishers. When Sabre hit the PK, Mauro name dropped Katsuyori Shibata. I love it. Dar had the arm submissions well scouted. He countered a triangle right into a great kneebar. Sabre survived and they continued to have really good exchanges. Dar came close to winning by countering an armbar into a pin. Dar sold the arm well, but Sabre's selling of the leg left a lot to be desired. In the end, Sabre applied a fantastic variation of the rings of Saturn, where he used his legs instead of his arms. It was really cool looking, but didn't make much sense. They said his arm was too hurt to apply it regularly, but it was his leg that was worked over for the majority of the match. A really good match, but not enough to reach great status. ***1/2

TJ Perkins def. Rich Swann in 17:03
Swann is the feel good story of the tournament, while Perkins is the one arrogant prick remaining. TJ's offense is so smooth and we got his now trademark dab during a headscissors, but Swann was able to apply one of his own. When TJ got free, he dabbed, so Swann does it back to him after getting the upper hand on him. Swann missed a moonsault outside and landed on his knee, which buckled. Swann showed Sabre how to sell leg work as he held it whenever trying offense on it and Perkins kept going back to it. Perkins got a near fall on a great chicken wing knee buster. Swann continued to have leg issues. He couldn't land on his feet to stop a super rana, which was a nice touch. He sold it during a flurry of offense as well for the most part. The final few minutes were great but Swann's leg came into play again. Perkins nailed him with the Detonation Kick and made him tap to the kneebar. Swann brought this match to the next level with his selling and role as a sympathetic babyface. Major props to him, helping to really hammer home the point in a really good match. ***3/4

Next week, the semi-finals and finals air in a live two hour special.

Overall: 8/10. Again, great presentation and good wrestling make for a very enjoyable hour of wrestling. Sabre/Dar was good and easily the best work from Dar so far. Swann looked like a star in defeat, while Perkins continued to shine. A really good episode here.

Lucha Underground "Wheel of Misfortune" Review

It's back! It was only gone for about a month and a half, but I really missed Lucha Underground. The episode opens to show Dario Cueto working out in jail. The officer says that he must have friends in high places as he releases him. Dario says "you have no idea." Oh wow, the officer giving him back his items is played by the HONKY TONK MAN! Lucha Underground is amazing. He is picked up in a limo and he gets told that the charges are dropped. Someone with a deep voice tells him that if he messes up again he will die. All we see of this person is a black glove.

Commentary is still Matt Striker and Vampiro. Vamp says that he isn't anyone's master and he just wants to commentate.

In the ring, Dario welcomes back the believers. Matanza menacingly stands in the corner with his title. Dario announces tonight's main event of Rey Mysterio Jr. vs. Pentagon Dark! Dario says that he would have fired Pentagon for trying to break his arm, but he loves his violent nature too much. He continues by revealing his new concept, which is "Dario's Dial of Doom". It's basically a Raw Roulette wheel with names of luchadors. Whoever it lands on, gets a shot at Matanza as long as they never faced him before. No Mysterio since Matanza pinned him in Aztec Warfare. Dario spins and it lands on Son of Havoc!

Lucha Underground Championship: Matanza Cueto (c) w/ Dario Cueto def. Son of Havoc in 7:24
We got the awesome "RING THE BELL" from Dario to kick it off. Havoc started quickly and used his speed and agility to gain an upper hand. He wisely avoided the grip and hard strikes of the champion, while picking up some near falls. Dario questioned his brother, saying that he's "baby food." Once Matanza takes over, he just tosses Havoc around  and does his insane moonsault/shooting star press headbutt combination. Even so, Havoc got in some awesome hop spots that had the crowd on the edge of their seats. In a great moment, Matanza powered out of a pin, only for Havoc to go right into an armbar. Havoc even hit the shooting star press for the closest near fall of the match. Matanza won after a popup Wrath of the Gods in a really good opener. They made you believe Havoc would win even though deep down you knew he wouldn't and worked a smart match in front of a hot crowd. ***1/2

Dario gets greeted by Worldwide Underground in his office. Johnny Mundo wants his Lucha Underground Title shot and he should get shots, not douchbag bikers. Dario brings up the loss they took at Ultima Lucha. Mundo blames it on Angelico and we get a flashback to Ultima Lucha Dos, where they jumped Angelico outside and slammed a car door on his leg several times. Dario laughed at this but won't give him his shot. He decides to give Taya a shot at Sexy Star and the Gift of the Gods Title tonight since she actually won at Ultima Lucha Dos.

In the ring, Ivelisse addressed Catrina and how she cost Ivelisse her two Ultima Lucha matches. She wants an Ultima Lucha match and wants to crush Catrina. She challenges Catrina for Ultima Lucha Tres. Catrina appears and accepts with a "bring it on bitch." THEY ARE GIVING THESE GIRLS AN ULTIMA LUCHA TRES BUILD FROM THE PREMIERE! This is like, a three season rivalry and I love it.

Gift of the Gods Championship: Sexy Star (c) def. Taya in 4:32
Striker notes that every single time the GOTG Title has been defended, it has changed hands (Fenix to Cuerno, Cuerno back to Fenix and Chavo to Cage). They traded some early stuff, including vicious slaps. Taya took over but missed a top rope moonsault. That opened the door for the Sexy Star come back. Mundo came out but his distraction backfired and Sexy won with a small package. Decent match that didn't really get to go where it could have. **1/4

The Worldwide Underground attacked and put the boots to Sexy Star. The Trios Champions, Aerostar, Drago and Fenix, ran out to make the save. Looks like we may have an eight person tag in the coming weeks.

Dario is in his office again, talking on the infamous red phone. Creepy Marty Martinez enters and is glad "El Jefe" is back. Marty apparently sent him gifts in prison. Marty wants to conquer the Temple. Dario sees that Marty still has Killshot's dog tags and says that next week, Marty will face Killshot in a Weapons of Mass Destruction match next week. Marty maniacally laughed.

Rey Myserio Jr. def. Pentagon Dark in 8:17
I will forever love Pentagon's theme. A fast pace stared this and they tried playing into Pentagon being darker. He kicked at Rey's leg and the crowd still seemed to everything he did up. Rey took his trademark slide out of the ring bump as Pentagon held serve. He delivered a viciously loud kick to the skull. Though he was in control, Pentagon took the time to stop and talk smack to Vampiro. He went for the Package Piledriver inside but Rey got free and hits a rana. Vampiro walked away from the Temple. Rey nailed the 619 and a Canadian Destroyer for the win. While I'm not a fan of Rey winning another big match against a top LU guy, the match itself was really good. ***1/2

Pentagon attacked Rey after the loss and looked to break Rey's arm. Dragon Azteca Jr. showed up to make the save and send Pentagon packing. Azteca vs. Pentagon has all the makings of a great match.

In the back, Prince Puma is sulking about the loss to Rey Mysterio at Ultima Lucha Dos. Vampiro comes up to him and tells him that he needs guidance. Puma declines, but Vamp says that Puma hasn't been the same since losing to Muertes and Muertes taking away Konnan. Vamp believes that if Puma wants to be the man again, he has to take out Mil Muertes. I love the idea of Vamp still playing mind games.

Overall: 7.5/10. Lucha Underground returns with a strong season premiere. It wasn't quite as good as the season two start, but still strong. You get two really good matches, but the real treat was the story advancement. Some great segments including Puma and especially Dario, while setting things up for down the line. As always, everything in Lucha Underground not only looks good, but means something in the grand scheme of things.

If you do want to check out Lucha Underground, which you absolutely should, and don't get El Rey Network (like me), you can sign up for the streaming service Fubo.TV. It's a great way to support the company and channel while streaming the show online. You can sign up and get Lucha Underground right here with Fubo.tv!