Viva La Lucha: The Best Matches From Lucha Underground

What's happening kind folks?!  By now, we've all at least heard of this phenomenon called Lucha Underground.  It's a concept of famed director Richard Rodriguez, as well as Steve DeJoseph (former character in WWE known as Big Dick Johnson) and Chavo Guerrero Jr.  This is not a legit promotion in terms of traveling the world over, and it's even a seasonal series.  However, the level of excitement this show presents is damn near unparalleled and continues to reach audiences everywhere for those who either have the El Rey Network, or who subscribe to their YouTube channel or now catch them on Netflix, as the first two seasons appear.  This promotion involves mostly luchadors and luchadoras from the AAA promotion, as well as former WWE stars (Johnny Mundo, Mysterio) and famed indie stars (Prince Puma, Killshot, The Mack, Dante Fox, and others).  Mixing in soap opera-esque storylines with unbelievable athleticism, LU is virtually the CORRECT way to do the term "sports entertainment".  Basically it's WWE on steroids (I could go everywhere with that one), only with more intricate twists and turns.  This has garnered a mass cult following and now that we're approaching the end of season three, let's get into the best matches up to this point with the three seasons of LU.

15. Prince Puma vs. Mil Muertes
Ultima Lucha

The promotion's main fixture, or their franchise, is Prince Puma (world renowned high flyer Ricochet under a mask).  Puma is arguably the best overall competitor in the entire promotion and never fails to put on show-stealing performances in Dario Cueto's temple.  In the main event of their signature big event, Ultima Lucha, he defended the LU Title, against residential brute, Mil Muertes (former TNA, WWC, and AAA talent Ricky Banderas under a mask).  Muertes had been ravaging everything in his path, but Puma gave him a huge fight and an enormous effort.  Unfortunately, Puma's best wasn't good enough as Muertes captured the LU Title in a match that showed that Puma could in fact hang with the most physical of them all.  However, this also set up Muertes' role as the official head heel in the company and created a "darker atmosphere" for the temple for the following season.

14. Mil Muertes vs. Matanaza Cuerto
Season 2

If there were two men meant to beat on each other, they would be the two biggest, unstoppable behemoths, Mil Muertes and Dario's maniacal psychopathic brother Matanza Cuerto (excellent indie powerhouse Jeff Cobb in a mask and body suit).  These two three hundred pounders had the first of their two encounters midway in season two, and they beat on each others bones profoundly in a truly punishing match.  Nobody had taken it to "The Monster" the way Muertes had, and it would only get worse lkater in the season.

13. Aero Star vs. Drago (Match 5 out of 5)
Season 2

Dario wanted to put two of the most underrated, yet excellent, talents of LU against each other for a shot at the Gift Of The Gods Title (their version of the Money In The Bank contract).  These two legit luchadores had been tearing the house down with their best of five series, and when it came down to the final match, these two took the rest of the show with them.  This was a truly great match and showed the superb abilities of two of the most known luchadores in the AAA promotion and two of the most slept-on as well within Lucha.

12. The Mack vs. Cage/Falls Count Anywhere
Ultima Lucha

The Mack (known as Willie Mack in the indies, primarily in PWG) is a super tough, yet very agile and quick big man, and he met another man who is even more powerful, but every bit as agile and quick in Cage. These two had fought previously a week or two before, but these two men engaged in a WAR at Ultima Lucha I, and it's a surprise neither man saw a hospital bed.  This match had the people out of the palm of their hands from the beginning.  They had a rematch at the next Ultima Lucha but it didn't quite match the unbelievable display of straight toughness like the first one did.

11. Aztec Warfare
Season 1

Their signature match is a match called Aztec Warfare, which is a Royal Rumble formatted battle royal, only with pinfall or submission being how one gets eliminated.  This unique style of a match brought out some excellent in and out-of-ring action.  Everyone from Cage to Sexy Star to legendary masked mini-luchador Mascarita Sagrada competed furiously at the chance to become the first Lucha Underground, in which Prince Puma won the match in grueling fashion.  This match was hard-hitting from the jump and became one of the most exciting matches in all of Lucha Underground.

10. Mil Muertes vs. Matanza Cuerto/Graver Consequences
Season 3

While the first battle between Muertes and Cuerto was grueling and enough of an intense struggle, the rematch was even more intense, as impossible of a thought as that was.  These two big bulls competed in a Graver Consequences match and it was truly a vicious match.  We even saw some blood as Muertes had his mask ripped and was lacerated by "The Monster".  Keep in mind, this was for the Lucha Title that Cuerto had owned.  At the end, Muertes, and his valet Katrina, were both put in caskets, and the huge battle was over, but this was arguably the toughest fight that Cuerto had been involved in up to that point.

9. Killshot vs. Marty "The Moth" Martinez/Weapons Of Mass Destruction Match
Season 3

This match surprised a lot of people in terms of how good this match was.  Not because of the talents of these two, but because it wasn't a cheaply booked gimmick match.  In fact, this was an all-out assault from both men.  Killshot (indie fave Shane Strickland under a mask) and Marty Martinez (former Tough Enough contestant) had a somewhat peculiar and uninteresting rivalry going into this match, but the temperature was elevated way up for this match, as there were brutal spots, Martinez was lacerated, and his facial expressions and sells made him seem like a genuinely crazed man.  In the end, both men's clout was raided and they showed the world that they could turn out in the main event.  What an effort by both men.

8. The Mack vs. Johnny Mundo/All Night Long Ironman Match
Season 3

While we all know how incredible Mundo can be in a big match feel, or a main event, we needed to know just how good The Mack could be, as he definitely contained all the tools to be a big game player.  Well, in the All Night Long Ironman Match in season three, Mack became a bonafide star within Lucha Underground with this match.  The match was for the Lucha Underground Title and this was truly a match in which Mundo was more than willing to make Mack look incredible, and he did just that.  That's not taking anything away from Mack, as he's truly helping to redefine the big, agile super-heavyweight in the game, but with Mundo's nearly fifteen year experience and main event expertise, he ehlped Mack get to a new level, and the result became Mack's most exciting match to date in one of the best matches in entire three seasons trek of LU.

7. Aztec Warfare II
Season 2

With the fantastic success of the first Aztec Warfare, the levels were expected to get raised to even higher platforms, and the expectations were not just met, they were surpassed.  With the first one, it was strictly about the Lucha Title, and that was it.  This Aztec Warfare had a few different stories going into it.  For starters, the Lucha Title was on the line, as Fenix went into it as champion.  The second was the shocking and riveting debut in the temple of iconic superstar Rey Mysterio Jr.  The third story was the auspicious debut of Dario Cuerto's maniacal, homicidal brother "The Monster" Matanza Cuerto.  All of these elements made for a classic moment within LU history and one of the most genuinely exciting matches within the sport as a whole.  

6. Vampiro vs. Pentagon Jr./Ciero Miedo Match
Ultima Lucha

Ian Hodgkinson, also known as Vamprio, had been retired for over a decade due to back and neck issues.  He was also the voice of Lu alongside Matt Stryker (these two together are a great pairing together).  However, he was goated into a feud with resident sadist Pentagon Jr. and the result was Vampiro making a one night only in-ring appearance against Pentagon at Ultima Lucha in a Ciero Miedo Match (translated, it means "no fear", but it meant a No Holds Barred match).  This match was as intense and undoubtedly the most violent match in the short history of LU.  Both men lost blood, specifically Pentagon with his mask ripped, and it was truly for those that missed hardcore and edeath matches within the mainstream.  Blood, flaming tables, fluorescent light tubes, and thumbtacks were all used in this savage war with a twist so crazy it left the crowd in awe.  A memorable bloodbath but a hell of a showing for Vampiro to be willing to put his body through that kind of hell one time for the business.

5. Fenix vs. Mil Muertes
Season 2

The rivalry between Fenix and Mil Muertes had become quite an excellent one ot watch.  Fenix had gone from fantastic high flyer to a guy that could've seriously been considered as MVP for season two.  His Grave Consequences match with Muertes was unbelievable, and now he was getting a shot at the Lucha Underground Title held by Muertes.  Fenix has handed over his Gift Of The Gods Title for the LU title shot, and the match was almost every bit as excellent as their Grave Consequences match.  Once again Fenix bled profusely, but also once again, he continued to fight the big man tooth and nail.  A truly sweet moment, Fenix defied the odds and became LU Champion in a match that saw Fenix finally win the big one.

4. Prince Puma vs. Johnny Mundo/All Night Long Ironman Match
Season 2

Genuinely and legitimately, two of the best in the entire world put on a clinic for the Lucha Title as Prince Puma faced Johnny Mundo.  From the moment it was announced, we knew it would be nothing short of incredible, and didn't disappoint whatsoever.  Understand this, with commercial breaks and edits, it's very possible this match was not sixty minutes, and likely more so thirty minutes, just like Mundo and Mack.  Regardless, this match was a very sincere effort from both men to tear the house down and show themselves as certifiable phenomenons.  We already knew that about Mundo, but the more we see Puma (or Ricochet), the more we see him making every bit as much impact in the sport.  A benchmark in LU history.

3. Rey Mysterio Jr. vs. Prince Puma
Ultima Lucha Dos

The match the world was waiting on within the LU ranks was the icon vs. the franchise.  It was Mysterio against Prince Puma at Ultima Lucha Dos in a match that was truly phenomenal to watch and be invested in.  Puma showed why he was the star of the promotion all the way, but the iconic luchador showed that, after nearly thirty years in the business (don't forget he started when he was in his early teens in Mexico), Mysterio still had it, and had it well.  Multiple knee surgeries be damned, Rey Rey hung tough with the young phenom, and these two put on a match that will be forever remembered in LU history.

2. Fenix vs. Mil Muertes/Grave Consequences Match
Season 1

We are all compelled to be focused in on the David vs. Goliath stories within wrestling, and in the case of Fenix and Mil Muertes, that's what we got.  This match was phenomenal in showing the absolute brutality and viciousness of Muertes and the undying resilience and heart of Fenix.  This was their version of a Casket Match, and it was a doozy.  With his mask ripped and a bloody mess, Fenix looked like he was getting just short of killed in the match but would not stop coming at the big Muertes.  Somehow, the young luchador rose just like the mythical bird his named is penned after and scored a major win that put him officially as a star in that brand and put his career on a whole new level, especially in terms of respect.

1. Sexy Star vs. Mariposa/No Mas Match
Season 2

With the women's revolution all the rage within wrestling, seeing women main event a show where there's all or mostly men is a huge deal.  We've seen it with Charlotte vs. Sasha and Sasha vs. Bayley in the mainstream.  However, LU's version of Charlotte/Sasha was Sexy Star and Mariposa (indie vet Cheerleader Melissa in a mask).  The story going in was Sexy was stalked and kidnapped by Marty Martinez and his enigmatic sister, Mariposa.  The usually fearless Sexy was turned into a frightened, cowering luchadora when it came to them, but enough became enough and the match was on in a No Mas stipulation (translated: I Quit match).  Folks, these two put LU to a whole other platform.  These two ladies presented arguably the most physical and intense match in all three seasons of the promotion.  In spite of Sexy losing a lot of blood, she and Mariposa BRUTALIZED each other, and in arguably the most jaw-dropping moment of the match, Sexy let out an emphatic "FUCK YOU" when the ref asked her if she wanted to quit.  This match deserves a ton more credit in this game when it comes to how much women wrestling and main eventing has grown in the sport over the last couple years.  This was inspiring and hopeful of the future of women in the game, as Sexy and Mariposa put on a classic that should be mentioned when it comes to not just physicality, but its importance.  This was one of the most incredible I Quit matches this decade and the honors go completely to these two heroines.

Honorable Mentions

Prince Puma vs. Mil Muertes vs. Pentagon Jr. (Season 2)

Prince Puma vs. Drago (Title vs. Career)(Season 1)

Pentagon (Jr.) Dark vs. Matanza Cuerto (Ultima Lucha Dos)

Angelico/Ivalisse/Son Of Havoc vs. Disciples Of Death (Season 2)

Killshot vs. Dante Fox (Season 3)

Pentagon (Jr) Dark vs. The Black Lotus Triad(Season 3)

The Mack vs. Cage (Season 2/Ultima Lucha Dos)

Alberto El Patron vs. Johnny Mundo (Season 1)

Ivalisse vs. Muertes (Season 2)
Son Of Havoc vs. Texano (Bar Fight/Ultimo Lucha Dos)

Drago/Aero Star/Fenix vs. Mundo/Black/Evans (Season 3)
Drago/Aero Star/Fenix vs. Mundo/Black/Evans (Ultima Lucha Dos)

Mysterio/Puma/Azteca vs. Fenix/Drago/Aero Star (Season 2)

Aero Star vs. Drago (Match 3 out of 5) (Season 2)

Drago vs. King Cuerno (Last Lucha Standing) (Season 1)

Fenix vs. Prince Puma (Season 1)

Fenix vs. Pentagon Jr. (Season 1)

Fenix vs. Mil Muertes (Death Match) (Season 2)

Angelico/Ivalisse/Son Of Havoc vs. The Crew (Ladder Match) (Season 1)
Prince Puma vs. Pentagon Jr. (Season 2)
Fenix vs. King Cuerno (Ladder Match) (Season 2)
King Cuerto vs. Mil Muertes (Death Match) (Season 2)
Aztec Warfare III (Season 3)

With future of Lucha Underground in the air, cherish these moments and matches as much as possible.  Hopefully we will see more from LU, as it's bringing the lucha form of wrestling to a North American audience not seen since the days of WCW.  This is one of the single most fun promotions to watch and tune in to.  If the awesome athleticism isn't enough, the soap opera storylines that are written by some of the best writers around will keep you intrigued.  Here's to another season or five, as LU may be the refreshing and energetic promotion the industry needs.  Until next time!