Best Of Lucha Underground Season 1, 2
Here’s what you need to watch before Netflix pulls it on November 15.
If you haven’t caught up on the first two seasons of Lucha Underground, hurry up.
Netflix will be pulling them on November 15, giving you one week to catch all the magical chaos from the early years in The Temple. There are 65 episodes listed, which is quite the commitment unless you’re willing to sacrifice your job, spouse, family and all the hours of fresh wrestling content between now and next Thursday.
Don’t worry, we’ve made it more manageable for you. Here are the matches you need to see:
Aztec Warfare (Season 1, Ep. 9)
Yes, it took nine episodes to crown the first Lucha Underground Champion, but they’re telling stories, damnit. Invented by devious kingpin Dario Cueto, Aztec Warfare is a 20-man Royal Rumble with hardcore rules, and the only ways to eliminate your opponents are by pinfall or submission. You’ve got the whole cast of characters in this lucha demolition derby, so it’s the perfect introduction to the promotion.
Grave Consequences (Season 1, Ep. 19)
After decades of snoozefest casket matches, Lucha Underground has rejuvenated the concept by incorporating a “Day of the Dead” flavor and emphasizing the whole murder undertone. Taking a page out of Undertaker’s book, Mil Muertes considers “Grave Consequences” his specialty match, reserved for opponents he hates so much that he wants to kill them. After his main squeeze Catrina jumped to Fenix’s aid, the “Man of a Thousand Deaths” vowed to destroy the high-flyer in this extremely violent brawl.
Death Match (Season 1, Ep. 29)
Ten episodes later, we get the rematch from Grave Consequences, which is also essential viewing. Muertes and Fenix had one of the greatest rivalries in not only Lucha Underground, but in all of wrestling history. It’s that classic combination of size vs. speed, mixed with the pathos of life vs. death and of course, a woman’s touch.
All Night Long (Season 1, Ep. 32)
One of the greatest Ironman Matches took place between Prince Puma and Johnny Mundo. If you watch on Netflix, it’s not a full 60-minute match, but the action took up an entire episode. Makes sense considering the participants – two unbelievable athletes that not only delivered a 5-star outing, but weaved several compelling stories throughout the bout. I guarantee you won’t be bored at any point in this epic battle.
Ultima Lucha Part 2 (Season 1, Ep. 39)
The season finale is two parts spread out to two weeks, running three hours total. With so many anticipated matches and intriguing storylines to conclude, LU needed as much time as possible. Earlier in the season, Johnny Mundo turned heel by throwing Alberto El Patron through Dario Cueto’s office window, sick of the former WWE Superstar getting all the attention. So they finally met in the ring to settle their differences, and Mundo just so happened to have an ace up his fury jacket sleeve.
Cero Miedo (Season 1, Ep. 39)
Same show – watch the whole thing if you have time. But make sure you definitely check this one out, as it became the talk of the wrestling world. After weeks of challenging commentator Vampiro to a match, vowing to sacrifice him for his mysterious “master,” Pentagon Jr. finally convinced the legend to take off the headset and lace up the boots. What proceeded is one of the craziest matches I’ve ever seen: lightbulb tubes, thumbtacks, fire, oh my GOD!
Aztec Warfare 2 (Season 2, Ep. 9)
Similar to the inaugural Aztec Warfare laying the groundwork for the rest of the first season, Aztec Warfare 2 paid off the first eight weeks of the second season while resetting everything. Rey Mysterio makes his in-ring debut, drawing a gigantic pop from the believers. Dario Cueto makes his return, drawing an equally impressive pop. And then he reveals his brother Matanza, the unleashed monster with a penchant for murder. If Survivor Series 1998 is the best booked tournament in wrestling, Aztec Warfare 2 is the best booked battle royal.
Monster meets Monster (Season 2, Ep. 13)
It was only a matter of time before Matanza met Muertes to decide who is the biggest badass in The Temple. Of course, when you have two bulls in a china shop, everything gets broken. The squared circle couldn’t contain these behemoths as the action spills all over, much to the fear of Catrina and Dario. It’s also the first instance of a non-finish, but unlike in WWE, this one made sense.
Steel Cage (Season 2, Ep. 14)
After weeks of getting one over on Cage by using every dirty tactic imaginable, Mundo was locked inside the steel structure with nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. They use the cage to their advantage, adding more spectacle to their moves while settling a festering grudge. The cage couldn’t keep out Taya, though, who foolishly entered the confines with the man who gives no fucks what gender you are.
No Mas (Season 2, Ep. 15)
No Mas is the lucha version of an I Quit match. Sexy Star faced Mariposa in the culmination of their psychological warfare. Instead of me telling you how this was the most violent women’s match I’ve ever seen, let Star tell you its importance, from her interview with Forbes.
“My match against Mariposa has been one of the best things that have ever happened to me because it allowed me to make it clear to everyone what true women wrestling is. It’s not scratching each other followed by glamorous poses. We are not two beautiful women pulling each other’s hair. A real female match is a match between to gladiators, two warriors who are ready for anything and who are willing to leave their blood splattered in the ring if it’s necessary. In a true female match, participants defend their dignity with their moves, high flying action, hits, chairs and whatever else might be need, because when two women truly want to win, they are willing to risk it all, including their lives.
“Thanks to Lucha Underground and their belief in women and their power, we have been allowed the platform we deserve and we the women have made sure to defend our space and value within the company at all costs, even blood. That match was only a little sample of the type of fight women who truly love lucha and defend their dignity with much more than a nice body and pretty face are capable of.”
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