Lucha Underground | |
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Season 2 | |
No. of episodes | 26 |
Release | |
Original network | El Rey Network |
Original release | January 27 – July 20, 2016 |
Season chronology | |
The second season of Lucha Underground , a Lucha libre or professional wrestling television show, began on January 27, 2016 and is broadcast on the El Rey Network in the United States. The show chronicles events that take place in the "Lucha Underground Temple". The producers behind Lucha Underground announced that the second season was a reality on September 21. [1] Unlike the first season the second season of Lucha Underground was not picked up by UniMás and thus not broadcast in Mexico. The first episode was taped on November 15, 2015 in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, California.
At the beginning of season two, Lucha Underground Temple owner Dario Cueto (Luis Fernandez-Gil) has been absent from the Temple since the end of season 1 and Catrina (Karlee Perez) has taken charge of the temple, leaving it a "much darker place" as Matt Striker comments during the opening scene. Under her management Lucha Underground Champion Mil Muertes (Gilbert Cosme) and Lucha Underground Trios Champions the Disciples of Death control the operation. In their quest to control everything, Catrina hires King Cuerno to take the Gift of the Gods Championship from Fénix. Fénix defeated Mil Muertes to win the championship, only for Catrina to force him to defend the title during Aztec Warfare II. During the match Cueto dramatically returns, unleashing his brother Matanza on the temple, winning the Lucha Underground Championship in the process. Over the next few weeks, running alongside a tournament for the Lucha Underground Trios Championship, The Monster Matanza Cueto would go on to easily dispatch top technicos in the promotion like Pentagon Jr. and Fenix. [2] Matanza's first real challenge came in the form of the former Lucha Underground Champion Mil Muertes. In their initial encounter, Mil Muertes delivered his finisher, the flatliner, to the Monster which sent both monsters through the roof of Dario Cueto's office. This put both monsters out of commission for several weeks and gave the crowd something that's rare in Lucha Underground, a no-contest finish. [3]
No. in series | No. in season | Title | Taped date | Original air date | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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40 | 1 | "A Much Darker Place" | November 14, 2015 | January 27, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Luchadors return to compete, but with Dario Cueto on the run, darkness has taken over the temple.
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41 | 2 | "The Dark and the Mysterious" | November 14, 2015 | February 3, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prince Puma teams with an unlikely partner; Johnny Mundo returns to the temple with his sights set on the championship.
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42 | 3 | "The Hunt is On..." | November 15, 2015 | February 10, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Catrina enlists King Cuerno to help her destroy Fenix; Kobra Moon in her debut faces off against Bengala; Jack Evans versus Drago.
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43 | 4 | "Cero Miedo" | November 15, 2015 | February 17, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prince Puma takes on Pentagon Jr. for the first time; Rey Mysterio Jr. reveals the Cueto family's history.
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44 | 5 | "The Machine" | November 21, 2015 | February 24, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Johnny Mundo battles the Machine Cage; Texano returns for revenge against Chavo Guerrero and the crew.
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45 | 6 | "Gift of the Gods Ladder Match" | November 21, 2015 | March 2, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
King Cuerno defends his Gift of the Gods Championship against Fenix in a ladder match; Kobra Moon takes on Sexy Star; Pentagon Jr. and Prince Puma face off for the number one contender spot for the Lucha Underground Championship.
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46 | 7 | "Death Comes In Threes" | November 22, 2015 | March 9, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mil Muertes defends his Lucha Underground Championship in a triple threat match against Prince Puma and Pentagon Jr.
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47 | 8 | "Life After Death" | November 22, 2015 | March 16, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fenix exchanges his Gift of the Gods Championship for a Lucha Underground Championship Match; the Trios Titles are defended. This episode was dedicated to Eiji "Hayabusa" Ezaki.
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48 | 9 | "Aztec Warfare II" | December 12, 2015 | March 23, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Twenty luchadors compete for the Lucha Underground Championship in the second Aztec Warfare. A few new luchadors debut in the ring.
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49 | 10 | "El Jefe is Back" | December 12, 2015 | March 30, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dario Cueto returns to the temple and makes the champion defend the Lucha Underground Championship. Mariposa takes on Sexy Star. This episode features the musical guest Chingon.
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50 | 11 | "Bird of War" | December 13, 2015 | April 6, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Trios Tournament begins; Fenix faces the Monster Matanza Cueto for the championship; Famous B seeks his first client; Vampiro fights with his personal demons. This episode features the musical guest El Conjunto Nueva Ola.
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51 | 12 | "Three's a Crowd" | December 13, 2015 | April 13, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rey Mysterio, Prince Puma and El Dragon Azteca Jr. must compete in the Trios Tournament; Dario Cueto redistributes the Seven Ancient Aztec Medallions and lets a new luchador compete for one. This episode features the musical guest El Conjunto Nueva Ola.
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52 | 13 | "Monster meets Monster" | December 13, 2015 | April 20, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mil Muertes faces the Monster Matanza Cueto in a title match; an old rivalry is renewed over an Aztec Medallion. This episode features the musical guest El Conjunto Nueva Ola.
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53 | 14 | "Cage in a Cage" | December 13, 2015 | April 27, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Johnny Mundo takes on Cage in a Steel Cage Match for an Aztec Medallion; four teams compete in the Trios Tournament Finals; Pentagon Jr. struggles with his injuries. This episode features the musical guest Bang Data.
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54 | 15 | "No Mas" | December 13, 2015 | May 4, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sexy Star battles Mariposa for an Aztec Medallion in the first "No Mas" match; Catrina confronts Dario Cueto; Luchadors have matches for the other available Medallions. This episode features the musical guest Bang Data.
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55 | 16 | "Graver Consequences" | December 13, 2015 | May 11, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mil Muertes battles the Monster Matanza Cueto in a casket match for the Lucha Underground Championship; Triple Threat match between Joey Ryan, Cortez Castro and Mr.Cisco; Rey Mysterio Jr, Dragon Azteca Jr and Prince Puma defend their titles. This episode features the musical guest El Conjunto Nueva Ola.
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56 | 17 | "Crime & Punishment" | January 10, 2016 | May 18, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Seven Luchadors compete for the Gift of the Gods Championship; Cage seeks revenge. This episode features the musical guest El Conjunto Nueva Ola.
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57 | 18 | "Enter The Mundo" | January 17, 2016 | May 25, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rey Mysterio, Prince Puma and El Dragon Azteca Jr. defend their Trios Championship; Joey Ryan and Cortez Castro's cover gets blown; The Gift of the Gods Championship is defended. This episode features the musical guest Voodoo Glow Skulls.
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58 | 19 | "Judgement Day" | January 17, 2016 | June 1, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Monster Matanza Cueto defends his title against the Gift of the Gods Champion; The Trios Champions defend their titles. Dragon Azteca Jr. searches for his mentor's killer. This episode features the musical guest Voodoo Glow Skulls.
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59 | 20 | "The Contenders" | January 16, 2016 | June 8, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Drago & Aerostar face Jack Evans and P. J. Black in a Nunchuck Match; Pentagon Jr. returns to the Temple. This episode features the musical guest Voodoo Glow Skulls.
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60 | 21 | "Six To Survive" | January 16, 2016 | June 15, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Six luchadors compete in the first ever Six to Survive Match for a Championship Match at Ultima Lucha Dos. This episode features the musical guest Voodoo Glow Skulls.
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61 | 22 | "Fame And Fortune" | January 17, 2016 | June 22, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The 7 Ancient Aztec Medallions are redistributed; Prince Puma addresses the Believers and reveals his plans for Ultima Lucha Dos; new luchador arrives at the Temple. This episode features the musical guest Voodoo Glow Skulls.
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62 | 23 | "The Phoenix, the Dragon, and the Spaceman" | January 17, 2016 | June 29, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dario Cueto announces a new opportunity that can be won at Ultima Lucha Dos; El Dragon Azteca faces Prince Puma. This episode features the musical guest El Conjunto Nueva Ola.
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63 | 24 | "Ultima Lucha Dos Part 1" | January 30, 2016 | July 6, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Son of Havoc, Cage, Texano and the Mack compete for a unique opportunity where the winner is faced with a career defining decision. This episode features the musical guest El Conjunto Nueva Ola.
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64 | 25 | "Ultima Lucha Dos Part 2" | January 31, 2016 | July 13, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
King Cuerno faces Mil Muertes in a Death Match; 7 Way Gift of the Gods Elimination Match. This episode features the musical guest El Conjunto Nueva Ola.
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65 | 26 | "Ultima Lucha Dos Part 3" | January 31, 2016 | July 20, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rey Mysterio vs. Prince Puma; Pentagon vs. the Monster Matanza Cueto; Fenix, Drago and Aerostar vs. Worldwide Underground; Ivelisse vs. Taya; El Dragon Azteca Jr. vs. Black Lotus. This episode features the musical guest El Conjunto Nueva Ola.
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Lucha Underground's second season has received a mixed reception critically compared to the first, with more fans and professional wrestling media outlets aware of the product in its sophomore season. Loyal Lucha Underground fans have commended its storytelling and match quality, as well as its portrayal of women's wrestling, which some consider to be revolutionary while others remain uncomfortable with the concept of women wrestling men (particularly when the male opponent is a much larger and more powerful fighter, cf., Taya vs Cage) [6] At Prowrestling.net, journalists Will Pruett and John Moore who were huge proponents of Lucha Underground's initial direction have criticized the second part of Season 2 as being both deflating and unorganized. Will Pruett in particular has stated that "Where Lucha Underground failed in 2016 was their storytelling. They didn’t support these great matches and moments wrestlers created in The Temple. They didn’t honor the experiences they wanted fans to have. The structure of the show felt fragmented, with far fewer episodes naturally leading into the next." [7] PwTorch.com contributor Joel Dehnel has praised Lucha Underground for being "capable of doing some really great things" but "They are going to the well too many times in these matches with having no rules and high spots in the crowd that ultimately lead to nothing." He also stated that "they have gotten away far too many times with stories that make no sense and matches that are about entertaining the fans instead of telling a great story through visuals." [8]
Episode | First run viewership | Repeat viewership | Change from previous | Ref(s) |
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s2e1 | 130,000 | 105,000 | n/a | [9] |
s2e2 | 125,000 | 76,000 | -6% | [10] |
s2e3 | 136,000 | 81,000 | +8% | [11] |
s2e4 | 152,000 | 52,000 | +6% | [12] |
s2e5 | 99,000 | 62,000 | -21% | [13] |
s2e6 | 124,000 | 63,000 | +16% | [14] |
s2e7 | 95,000 | 41,000 | -27% | [15] |
s2e8 | 100,000 | 57,000 | +15% | [16] |
s2e9 | 163,000 | 69,000 | +48% | [17] |
s2e10 | 159,000 | 63,000 | -4% | [18] |
s2e11 | 156,000 | 78,000 | +5% | [19] |
s2e12 | 139,000 | 66,000 | -12% | [20] |
s2e13 | 149,000 | 49,000 | -3% | [21] |
s2e14 | 107,000 | 52,000 | -20% | [22] |
s2e15 | 138,000 | 42,000 | +12% | [23] |
s2e16 | 96,000 | 42,000 | -2% | [24] |
s2e17 | 127,000 | 37,000 | -7% | [25] |
s2e18 | 114,000 | 68,000 | +11% | [26] |
s2e19 | 111,000 | 40,000 | -17% | [27] |
s2e20 | 85,000 | 61,000 | -3% | [28] |
s2e21 | 89,000 | 39,000 | -12% | [29] |
s2e22 | 104,000 | 62,000 | +30% | [30] |
s2e23 | 116,000 | 103,000 | +32% | [31] |
s2e24 | 104,000 | 39,000 | -35% | [32] |
s2e25 | 108,000 | 56,000 | +14.7% | [33] |
s2e26 | 180,000 | 43,000 | +8% | [34] |
Shawn Hernandez is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his time with Impact Wrestling, where he performed under the ring name Hernandez. He is an eight-time tag team champion, having won the Impact World Tag Team Championship five times, the NWA World Tag Team Championship twice and IWA World Tag Team Championship once. He is also the co-promoter of the Houston, Texas-based promotion Latino Wrestling Entertainment (LWE).
Gilbert Cosme Ramírez is a Puerto Rican professional wrestler, better known by his ring names El Mesías, Mil Muertes, Ricky Banderas and King Muertes. He began his career in the International Wrestling Association based in Puerto Rico. While performing in the company, he won the IWA World Heavyweight Championship on five instances and held minor championships on fifteen separate occasions, before leaving the company in 2006. On March 12, 2006, he debuted in Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA), a promotion based in Mexico, as a character named Muerte Cibernetica and was involved in an angle where this character was "killed". In November 2006, Cosme was involved in the tapings of the Wrestling Society X television series, where he was the second and last wrestler to win the WSX Championship.
José Alberto Rodríguez Chucuan is a Mexican-American professional wrestler, professional wrestling promoter, sports commentator, and mixed martial artist, currently signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) as a commentator. He also makes appearances for Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA) as a wrestler. In professional wrestling, he is best known for his time in WWE under the ring name Alberto Del Rio, and Impact Wrestling under the ring name Alberto El Patrón.
Stuart Alexander Bennett is an English professional wrestling commentator, actor, and retired professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE, where he performs under the ring name Wade Barrett as a colour commentator on the SmackDown brand.
Donald Jacob Hager Jr. is an American professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist. He is currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he performs under the ring name Jake Hager. He is also known for his tenure in WWE, where he performed under the ring name Jack Swagger. As a mixed martial artist, he was signed to Bellator MMA and competed in the heavyweight division.
Angela Carolyn Fong is a Canadian professional wrestler, model, ring announcer, cheerleader and actress. She is best known for her time at WWE from 2007 to 2010 under the ring name Savannah, and at Lucha Underground from 2014 to 2019, under the ring name Black Lotus.
Karlee Leilani Perez is an American actress, model, professional wrestler, and valet, best known for her work in WWE under the ring name Maxine. She is also known for her appearances with Lucha Underground under the ring name Catrina between 2015 and 2016.
Fénix is a Mexican luchador enmascarado. He is currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) where he is a former AEW International Champion. He also appears for AEW's sister promotion, Ring of Honor (ROH), where he is a previous holder of the ROH World Tag Team Champions with his older brother, Penta El Zero Miedo.
Lucha Underground was an American professional wrestling promotion founded in 2014 by United Artists Media Group. Partly owned by Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA), Lucha Underground also refers to its weekly television program, which featured characters portrayed by wrestlers from AAA and the American and Mexican independent circuits. The series originally aired in English on El Rey Network and in Spanish on UniMás.
The Lucha Underground Championship was a professional wrestling world championship owned by the Lucha Underground promotion. The championship is the top championship of the promotion and is generally contested in professional wrestling matches, in which participants execute scripted finishes rather than in direct competition. The championship was introduced in episode 8 taped on October 4, 2014, and broadcast on December 17, 2014, with the first champion being determined on episode 9 which was taped on October 5, 2014, and broadcast on television on January 7, 2015. The final champion was Jake Strong, who won the title on the last episode of Lucha Underground.
Pentagón Jr. is a Mexican luchador enmascarado signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) under the ring name Penta El Zero Miedo. He is a former AEW World Trios Champion with his Death Triangle stablemates Pac and his real-life younger brother, Rey Fénix. Penta and Fénix also team as the Lucha Brothers and are former one-time AEW World Tag Team Champions. They also appear for AEW's sister promotion, Ring of Honor (ROH), where they are former ROH World Tag Team Champions. He also appears in Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA), where he is a former AAA World Tag Team Champion, also with Fénix.
Rey Horus is a Mexican luchador enmascarado, or masked professional wrestler. Formerly he wrestled for Major League Wrestling (MLW) and Ring Of Honor (ROH). He was also known as the second El Hijo de Rey Misterio, Spanish for "The Son of Rey Misterio", the second wrestler under that name after the first El Hijo de Rey Misterio, though he is not from the same family. He also works on the independent circuit in the United States and in Mexico. His real name is not a matter of public record, as is often the case with masked wrestlers in Mexico where their private lives are kept a secret from the wrestling fans.
The Gift of the Gods Championship was a professional wrestling championship promoted by Lucha Underground. Unlike most traditional professional wrestling championships, the Gift of the Gods Championship is promoted by what it grants the champion instead of being the main prize in itself; holding the Gift of the Gods Championship entitles the champion to a match for the Lucha Underground Championship at a time of their choosing, provided they give a one-week notice to properly promote such a high-profile match. The concept is similar to the WWE Money in the Bank contract that also grants a title match at the winner's option, but unlike Money in the Bank, it does not allow for an immediate championship match. If the Gift of the Gods champion redeems the championship for a Lucha Underground Championship match, the medallions are removed and redistributed to determine the competitors for the now vacant title.
"Ultima Lucha" is the name of the final episodes of the first season of professional wrestling TV series Lucha Underground. The first part of Ultima Lucha, episode 38, premiered on the El Rey Network on July 29 and the two-hour final episode Ultima Lucha, episode 39, premiered on August 5, 30 on the El Rey Network and he later shown in Mexico on the UniMás network in a version with Spanish commentary. The episodes was the season one zenith of several ongoing storylines that played out throughout the first season of Lucha Underground. As part of the season finale all three of the Lucha Underground championships were on the line in a match, including a match to determine the first ever Lucha Underground Gift of the Gods Champion. The episodes earned critical acclaim.
Luis Fernandez-Gil is a Spanish actor and professional wrestling personality. In the 2000s and 2010s, Fernandez-Gil appeared in films including The Boys & Girls Guide to Getting Down and Jack and Jill, as well as television shows including The Mentalist and Punk'd. He is also known for portraying the non-wrestler characters Dario Cueto and his father Antonio Cueto on the professional wrestling television series Lucha Underground. Fernandez-Gil is currently signed to the Major League Wrestling promotion, where he performs under the ring name Cesar Duran.
The first season of Lucha Underground, a lucha libre or professional wrestling show, aired from October 29, 2014 through August 5, 2015 on the El Rey Network in the United States and on later dates on UniMás in Mexico. The debut season of Lucha Underground had 39 episodes in total and presented Lucha libre as a mixture of reality and fiction, adding fantastical elements and movie style backstage clips mixed in with wrestling matches.
"Ultima Lucha Dos" is the name of the final episodes of the second season of professional wrestling TV series Lucha Underground. The first part of Ultima Lucha Dos premiered on the El Rey Network on July 6, 2016. The second part was shown on July 13 and the third part was broadcast July 20 on the El Rey Network and later shown in Mexico with Spanish commentary on the UniMás network. The episodes are the climax of several ongoing storylines that played out throughout the second season of Lucha Underground. As part of the season finale all three of the Lucha Underground championships were on the line. The episodes were taped on January 30 and 31, 2016.
"Ultima Lucha Tres" is the name of the final episodes of the third season of professional wrestling TV series Lucha Underground. The first part of Ultima Lucha Tres premiered on the El Rey Network on September 27, 2017. The second part was shown on October 4, The third part was shown on October 11 and the fourth part was broadcast October 18 on the El Rey Network and later shown in Mexico with Spanish commentary on the UniMás network. The episodes are the climax of several ongoing storylines that played out throughout the third season of Lucha Underground. As part of the season finale all three of the Lucha Underground championships were on the line. The episodes were taped on June 25 and 26, 2016.
"Ultima Lucha Cuatro" is the name of the final episodes of the fourth season of professional wrestling TV series Lucha Underground. The first part of Ultima Lucha Cuatro premiered on the El Rey Network on October 31, 2018 and the second part was broadcast November 7 on the El Rey Network and later shown in Mexico with Spanish commentary on the UniMás network. The episodes are the climax of several ongoing storylines that played out throughout the fourth season of Lucha Underground. As part of the season finale, all three of the Lucha Underground championships were on the line.