Lucha Underground S2 E1: A Much Darker Place – Recap Featuring Mil Muertes, Catrina, Fenix, King Cuerno, Ivelisse, and Many More!

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In the last few minutes of Part 2 of last season’s Ultima Lucha, we saw Black Lotus and Dario Cueto make a quick escape, Marty “The Moth” Martinez holding Sexy Star hostage, Ivelisse and her boyfriend Son of Havoc leaving on a motorcycle, Aero Star and Drago forming a friendship, and Pentagon Jr. asking his father, Vampiro, where to go from here.  Mil was Lucha Underground Champion, and Fenix held the Gift of the Gods Champion title.

Now, the Temple is a much darker place, and we still don’t have all of the answers.  Vampiro was in the Psychotic Break Divisions of the Youssef Floro Clinic, and hides behind some inner desires conflicted by violent thoughts as he’s released back into the supernatural wonder that is the Temple – now owned by Catrina.

Fenix lost his title to King Cuerno.  The Unlikely Trio of Ivelisse, Son of Havoc, and Angelico are back together but facing the odds that come with this new darkness – especially Ivelisse’s violent loss to Mil Muertes for the LU Championship Title.  But Prince Puma and Pentagon Jr. returned last night, seemingly not standing for the fact that Mil Muertes and Catrina are the new bosses of the Temple, with the Disciples of Death at their disposal.

And then there’s Dario Cueto and Black Lotus.  We discovered at the end of Season 1 that Black Lotus is avidly searching for new luchadors and luchadoras for Cueto’s second Temple, and we saw their bloodthirsty scheme unfold as three unknowing wrestling fans, miles away from Boyle Heights, were sacrificed behind closed doors.  But how will they fit in to the continuing events at the original Temple, where it all began?

Lastly, we still haven’t seen Sexy Star, The Moth, Johnny Mundo, and Rey Mysterio – and countless other much-anticipated returns.

For now, let’s think about Season 2 Episode 1.

 

The Gift of the Gods Title Match

King Cuerno vs. Fenix

Winner and new Gift of the Gods Champion: King Cuerno

Smart and impressive way to start off the new season – a sign that LU Creative wants to begin new storylines as soon as possible.  And Mil Muertes isn’t getting in the middle of these two just quite yet – and we know that’s the inevitable.

Cuerno and Fenix differences makes their in-ring dynamic stronger, combined with the title on the line.  However, Cuerno’s win and his meeting in the locker room with Catrina hints at big plans for his title reign. (I thought he was a masked Texano at first, dressed in everyday garb and a cowboy hat to boot – and Texano is another wrestler we should expect to see back in Season 2 down the line.) But where does Mil Muertes stand on this?  What should we expect from him?  We don’t have any clues just yet, as King Cuerno and Mil didn’t quite have any sort of relationship last season.  For that reason, it’s tough to predict what those two will bring, especially with Catrina in the mix.

And what about Fenix?  Catrina wasted no time making sure fans wouldn’t get a taste of a Fenix Season 2 title reign – and I would hope Fenix won’t stand for it, the mind games he endured from Catrina last season.

Because of what looks to be a powerful, manipulative reign consisting of Catrina, Mil, and the Disciples, Fenix could heroically take them on alone – or better yet, with allies.  We know from last season that Fenix wasn’t necessarily allied with anyone, but he was on decent terms with Aero Star and Drago, and those two have become friends since.  Should we expect a three-man tag team, or at least a temporary alliance, of these three?  Drago also had a feud with Cuerno last season, so this could be an excuse to come back for more with the help of Aero Star and Fenix.  Moreover, Pentagon Jr., Prince Puma, and the Unlikely Trio could join them (despite that the Trio once fought Dragon, Aero Star, and Fenix together for the Trios Championship), as they all appear to have a common enemy.

 

Three-Way Match for #1 Contender for the Lucha Underground Championship

Son of Havoc vs. Angelico vs. Ivelisse

Winner and #1 Contender: Ivelisse

Lucha Underground Championship Match

Mil Muertes vs. Ivelisse

Winner and still LU Champion: Mil Muertes

These two matches are very closely linked together, so we’ll look at them with both in mind.  Incredible matches with an equally incredible setup.  In the Three-Way, there were also some great dynamics, and all three wrestlers are strong characters as a result from their unlikely storyline last season.  These three went from beyond understated underdogs to the Trios Champions, defeating the likes of Drago, Aero Star, Fenix, Cage, Texano Jr., Cuerno, Big Ryck (who unfortunately won’t be appearing this season), and many more.

But out of the three, Catrina has the most beef with Ivelisse.  And Ivelisse has beef with Catrina.  We knew this would happen – so how far will Catrina push Ivelisse?  As far as she can.

Or will she?

After the match, the Disciples came to remove Havoc and Angelico from the ring, leaving Ivelisse on her own.  And while Ivelisse put on an incredible performance alongside Mil Muertes, she faced humiliation and danger before Catrina’s delivery of the Lick of Death.  There Ivelisse was, almost no longer the Baddest Bitch in the Building, a wrestler with a feud history with nearly half of the roster, a talented athlete in her own right, closing in on Catrina’s grasp… Before Catrina changed her mind.

Catrina likely wants to continue to toy with Ivelisse – intentions that may have nothing to do with the businesslike perspective of a wrestling promoter, and even more evidence that the Temple is even darker than before.  It’s also interesting to see Ivelisse go through at least a taste of the same humiliation she put her on-again off-again boyfriend, Son of Havoc, just to see him succeed in a match.

And then Prince Puma saves Ivelisse, despite that Ivelisse isn’t a woman who needs saving – though his intentions may have been more self-serving.  And same for Pentagon Jr., who breaks the arm of the Man of a Thousand Deaths.

With so many on the roster with reason to despise the new Temple leadership, we can only imagine what it has in store for the returning luchadors and luchadoras.

Stay tuned for an all-new episode of Lucha Underground next Wednesday at 8 P.M. EST, only on El Rey Network!

Kate witnessed the Litasault and has been hooked on wrestling ever since. She covers lucha libre and the independent circuit. She holds a B.A. from University of Maine at Machias in English, Art, and Communications, and assists at an indie publishing house in Maine.