Lucha Underground Championship

Last updated

Lucha Underground Championship
Lucha Underground Championship Belt.jpg
Lucha Underground Championship belt
(2014 — 2018)
Details
Promotion Lucha Underground
Date establishedOctober 5, 2014
Date retiredMarch 19, 2018
Statistics
First champion(s) Prince Puma
Final champion(s) Jake Strong
Most reignsPrince Puma and Pentagón Dark (2 reigns)
Longest reignPentagón Dark (622 days)
Shortest reignPrince Puma, Pentagón Dark, and Jake Strong (<1 day)
Oldest champion Mil Muertes (39 years, 330 days)
Youngest champion Fénix (24 years, 7 days)
Heaviest championJake Strong (275 lbs)
Lightest championFénix (74 kg (163 lb))

The Lucha Underground Championship was a professional wrestling world championship [1] 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. [2] The championship was introduced in episode 8 ("A Unique Opportunity") taped on October 4, 2014, and broadcast on December 17, 2014, with the first champion being determined on episode 9 ("Aztec Warfare") 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.

Contents

As it was a professional wrestling championship, the title was not won by actual competition, but by a scripted ending to a match determined by the bookers and match makers. [lower-alpha 1] On occasion the promotion declares a championship vacant, which means there is no champion at that point in time. This can either be due to a storyline, [lower-alpha 2] or real life issues such as a champion suffering an injury being unable to defend the championship, [lower-alpha 3] or leaving the company. [lower-alpha 4]

History

During Episode 8 ("A Unique Opportunity") of Lucha Underground's first season the storyline owner of Lucha Underground, Dario Cueto, announced that he was introducing the "top prize" in the promotion, the Lucha Underground Championship, revealing the belt to the audience in the arena and viewers at home. He explained that on the following week's show 20 wrestlers would compete in an Aztec Warfare match, featuring a mixture of male, female and Mini-Estrella competitors in the ring at the same time. [7] During episode 8 Mil Muertes defeated Fénix in a match, earning him the number 20 spot, while forcing Fénix to be the first man in the match. [7] Episode 9 ("Aztec Warfare") was dedicated to the championship match and saw Prince Puma pin Johnny Mundo to eliminate him from the match and become the inaugural Lucha Underground Champion. [8] [9] [10] During the broadcast a couple weeks later ("They Call Him Cage") after Puma defeated Cage by disqualification to retain the championship, Cage tore the championship belt apart in a fit of anger, ripping the leather strap in half. [11] As a result, Dario Cueto introduced a new Lucha Underground Championship belt in Episode 20 ("The Art of War") that was presented to Prince Puma. [12]

Prince Puma retained his championship in many matches for the title against Fénix, Cage, King Cuerno, Drago, Hernandez, Johnny Mundo, and Chavo Guerrero Jr.

On Episode 31 ("The Desolation of Drago") Drago defeated King Cuerno, Cage and Hernandez to earn a match against Prince Puma at Ultima Lucha , Lucha Underground's season finale. Afterwards Cueto announced that Drago would face Mil Muertes on episode 33 for the right to challenge the champion. [13] Episode 33 was taped on April 11, 2015 and had Muertes defeat Drago to earn the match against Prince Puma. [14] At Ultima Lucha Mil Muertes defeated Prince Puma to win the title and end the last episode of the first season as the champion.

Overall, Prince Puma and Pentagón Dark hold the record for most reigns, with two. With 622, Pentagón Dark's first reign is the longest in the title's history. Puma's second reign, Pentagón's second reign, and Jake Strong's first reign hold the record for shortest reign in the title's history at less than one day. Overall, there have been 11 reigns shared among 9 wrestlers, with 0 vacancies.

Reigns

Key
No.Overall reign number
ReignReign number for the specific champion
DaysNumber of days held
N/AUnknown information
<1Reign lasted less than a day
No.ChampionChampionship changeReign statisticsNotesRef.
DateEventLocationReignDays
1 Prince Puma October 5, 2014 Lucha Underground Boyle Heights, California1196This was a 20–man elimination Aztec Warfare match. Prince Puma lastly eliminated Johnny Mundo to become the inaugural champion. This episode aired on tape delay on January 7, 2015. [15] [16]
2 Mil Muertes April 19, 2015 Ultima Lucha 1 Boyle Heights, California1217This episode aired on tape delay on August 5, 2015. [17] [18]
3 Fénix November 22, 2015 Lucha Underground Boyle Heights, California120Cashed in his Gift of the Gods Championship on Muertes. This episode aired on tape delay on March 16, 2016. [19] [20]
4 Matanza Cueto December 12, 2015 Aztec Warfare II Boyle Heights, California1119This was a 21–man elimination Aztec Warfare match. Matanza lastly eliminated Rey Mysterio Jr. to win the championship. This episode aired on tape delay on March 23, 2016. [21] [22]
5 Sexy Star April 9, 2016 Aztec Warfare III Boyle Heights, California11This was an Aztec Warfare match. Sexy Star lastly eliminated Mil Muertes to win the championship. This episode aired on tape delay on November 16, 2016. [23] [24]
6 Johnny Mundo April 10, 2016 Lucha Underground Boyle Heights, California177Cashed in his Gift of the Gods Championship on Sexy Star. Aired on tape delay on November 23, 2016. [25] [26]
7 Prince Puma June 26, 2016 Ultima Lucha Tres Boyle Heights, California2<1This was a Career vs. Title match. This episode aired on tape delay on October 18, 2017. [27]
8 Pentagón Dark June 26, 2016 Ultima Lucha Tres Boyle Heights, California1622Cashed in his Gift of the Gods Championship on Prince Puma. This was a "Loser Must Retire" match. This episode aired on tape delay on October 18, 2017. [28] [27]
9 Marty The Moth March 10, 2018 Lucha Underground Los Angeles, California18Cashed in his Gift of the Gods Championship on Pentagón Dark. This episode aired on tape delay on September 19, 2018. [29]
10 Pentagón Dark March 18, 2018 Ultima Lucha Cuatro Los Angeles, California2<1This episode aired on tape delay on November 7, 2018. [30]
11 Jake Strong March 18, 2018 Ultima Lucha Cuatro Los Angeles, California1<1Cashed in his Gift of the Gods Championship on Pentagón Dark. This episode aired on tape delay on November 7, 2018. [31]
—DeactivatedMarch 19, 2018————Date of the last Lucha Underground taping.

Combined reigns

RankWrestlerNo. of
reigns		Combined
days
1 Pentagón Dark 2622
2 Mil Muertes 1217
3 Prince Puma 2196
4 Matanza Cueto 1119
5 Johnny Mundo 177
6 Fénix 120
7 Marty the Moth 18
8 Sexy Star 11
9 Jake Strong 1<1

Explanatory notes

  1. ↑ Hornbaker (2016) p. 550: "Professional wrestling is a sport in which match finishes are predetermined. Thus, win–loss records are not indicative of a wrestler's genuine success based on their legitimate abilities – but on now much, or how little they were pushed by promoters" [3]
  2. ↑ Duncan & Will (2000) p. 271, Chapter: Texas: NWA American Tag Team Title [World Class, Adkisson] "Championship held up and rematch ordered because of the interference of manager Gary Hart" [4]
  3. ↑ Duncan & Will (2000) p. 20, Chapter: (United States: 19th Century & widely defended titles – NWA, WWF, AWA, IW, ECW, NWA) NWA/WCW TV Title "Rhodes stripped on 85/10/19 for not defending the belt after having his leg broken by Ric Flair and Ole & Arn Anderson" [5]
  4. ↑ Duncan & Will (2000) p. 201, Chapter: (Memphis, Nashville) Memphis: USWA Tag Team Title "Vacant on 93/01/18 when Spike leaves the USWA." [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Morrison (wrestler)</span> American professional wrestler

John Randall Hennigan is an American professional wrestler and actor, better known by the ring name John Morrison. He is best known for his time in WWE, Impact Wrestling and Lucha Underground. Hennigan currently makes appearances for Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide as Johnny Caballero and Major League Wrestling under his real name, where he is the current MLW National Openweight Champion in his first reign. He also makes appearances for the independent circuit under various ring names.

Martin Casaus is an American professional wrestler. Casaus is known for his work in El Rey Network series Lucha Underground under the ring name of Marty "The Moth" Martinez, where he is a former Lucha Underground Champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ricochet (wrestler)</span> American professional wrestler (born 1988)

Trevor Dean Mann is an American professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE, where he performs on the SmackDown brand under the ring name Ricochet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sami Callihan</span> American professional wrestler

Samuel Alton Johnston is an American professional wrestler and promoter, currently signed with Impact Wrestling, where he performs under the ring name Callihan as a member of the Design and is a former Impact World Champion. He also wrestled for Lucha Underground under the ring names Jeremiah Crane, and later, Jeremiah Snake, and on the independent circuit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willie Mack</span> American professional wrestler

Willie McClinton Jr. is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Willie Mack, currently appearing in Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide. He is best known for his tenure with Impact Wrestling, where he is a former Impact X Division Champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Cage</span> American professional wrestler

Brian Christopher Button, better known by the ring name Brian Cage, is an American professional wrestler and bodybuilder signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW). Cage also performs in AEW's sister promotion Ring of Honor (ROH), where he is part of The Embassy and currently one-third of the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Champions. In AEW, he is a former FTW Champion. He also competes on the independent circuit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fénix (wrestler)</span> Mexican professional wrestler

Fénix is a Mexican luchador enmascarado signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA), where in the latter promotion, he is a current double champion as the Latin American and World Cruiserweight Champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taya Valkyrie</span> Canadian professional wrestler

Kira Renée Magnin-Forster is a Canadian professional wrestler, fitness competitor, and model better known by the ring name Taya Valkyrie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pentagón Jr.</span> Mexican professional wrestler

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. He also appears in Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA), where he is a former AAA World Tag Team Champion, also with Fénix.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swerve Strickland</span> American professional wrestler

Stephon Strickland is an American professional wrestler currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he performs under the ring name Swerve Strickland and is a former AEW World Tag Team Champion. He is also known for his time with WWE, where he performed under the ring name Isaiah "Swerve" Scott, where he is a former one-time NXT North American Champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucha Underground Trios Championship</span> Professional wrestling trios tag team championship

The Lucha Underground Trios Championship was a professional wrestling world tag team championship promoted by Lucha Underground. In contrast to usual tag team championships for two wrestlers, it is exclusively for three-man tag teams, also known as trios in Lucha libre. The titles were announced by the storyline owner of Lucha Underground, Dario Cueto on a show that aired on January 25, 2015, followed by a trios tournament that played out over several episodes of Lucha Underground. The final champions were The Reptile Tribe.

Rey Horus is a Mexican luchador enmascarado, or masked professional wrestler currently signed to Ring of Honor (ROH). Formerly he wrestled for Major League Wrestling (MLW). 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. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucha Underground Gift of the Gods Championship</span> Professional wrestling championship

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ultima Lucha 1</span> 38th and 39th episodes of the 1st season of Lucha Underground

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luchasaurus</span> American professional wrestler

Austin Matelson is an American professional wrestler and television personality currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he performs under the ring name Luchasaurus, where he is a former AEW World Tag Team Champion. He is also known for his work in Lucha Underground as Vibora and also works the independent circuit under the Luchasaurus gimmick. He was signed to WWE where he wrestled under the ring name Judas Devlin in NXT. He was also a house-guest on the reality competition, Big Brother 17, in which he placed 5th.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tessa Blanchard</span> American professional wrestler

Tessa Blanchard is an American professional wrestler. She is best known for her time in Impact Wrestling, where she became the first female wrestler to win the Impact World Championship and is also a former Impact Knockouts Champion. A second-generation professional wrestler, Blanchard is the daughter of Four Horsemen member Tully Blanchard,granddaughter of wrestling promoter Joe Blanchard, and the stepdaughter of Tully Blanchard's rival Magnum T. A. In addition, Blanchard is a former The Crash Women's Champion, AAA Reina de Reinas Champion, and WOW World Champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucha Brothers</span> Professional wrestling tag team

The Lucha Brothers, also known as The Lucha Bros or Los Lucha Bros, are a Mexican professional wrestling tag team consisting of brothers Penta El Zero Miedo/Penta Oscuro and Rey Fénix, and their manager Alex Abrahantes. They currently compete for All Elite Wrestling (AEW) in the United States, where they are former AEW World Tag Team Champions as well as former AEW World Trios Champions with Pac. In Mexico, they wrestle for Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA), where they are two-time AAA World Tag Team Champions. They previously appeared in Impact Wrestling, where they are former World Tag Team Champions, as well as Major League Wrestling (MLW), where they are also former World Tag Team Champions, making them the only team to be AEW, Impact, MLW, and AAA World Tag Team Champions.

References

General references

  • Hornbaker, Tim (2016). "Statistical notes". Legends of Pro Wrestling: 150 years of headlocks, body slams, and piledrivers (Revised ed.). New York: Sports Publishing. ISBN   978-1-61321-808-2.
  • Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Waterloo, ON: Archeus Communications. ISBN   0-9698161-5-4.

Citations

  1. ↑ "Lucha Underground on Twitter". Twitter . Archived from the original on January 22, 2022. Retrieved July 16, 2020. A look at #LuchaUnderground World Champion Johnny Mundo ...
  2. ↑ Ed Grabianowski. "How Pro Wrestling Works". How Stuff Works. Archived from the original on November 29, 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2009.
  3. ↑ Hornbaker 2016, p. 550.
  4. ↑ Duncan & Will 2000, p. 271.
  5. ↑ Duncan & Will 2000, p. 20.
  6. ↑ Duncan & Will 2000, p. 201.
  7. 1 2 "A Unique Opportunity". Lucha Underground . Season 1. Episode 8. December 17, 2014. El Rey Network (US), UniMás (MX).
  8. ↑ "Aztec Warfare". Lucha Underground . Season 1. Episode 9. January 7, 2015. El Rey Network (US), UniMás (MX).
  9. ↑ Johnson, Mike (October 5, 2014). "Lucha Underground spoiler". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  10. ↑ Dehnel, Joel (January 8, 2015). "Dehnel's Lucha Underground report 1/7: First Lucha Underground champion determined in Aztec Warfare". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
  11. ↑ "They Call Him Cage". Lucha Underground . Season 1. Episode 12. January 28, 2015. El Rey Network (US), UniMás (MX).
  12. ↑ "The Art of War". Lucha Underground . Season 1. Episode 20. March 25, 2015. El Rey Network (US), UniMás (MX).
  13. ↑ "The Desolation of Drago". Lucha Underground . Season 1. Episode 31. June 10, 2015. El Rey Network (US), UniMás (MX).
  14. ↑ Boutwell, Josh (April 18, 2015). "Viva la Raza! Lucha Weekly for 4/18/15". WrestleView.
  15. ↑ "Lucha Underground Spoiler".
  16. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (October 5, 2014). "Lucha Underground #1.09 - Aztec Warfare - TV-Show @ Lucha Underground Arena in Los Angeles, California, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  17. ↑ Boutwell, Josh (April 26, 2015). "Viva la Raza! Lucha Weekly for 4/26/15". Wrestleview. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  18. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (April 19, 2015). "Lucha Underground #1.39 - Ultima Lucha Part 2 - TV-Show @ Lucha Underground Arena in Los Angeles, California, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Lucha Underground Season 2 Episode 8 Taping". The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  20. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (November 22, 2015). "Lucha Underground #2.08 - Life After Death - TV-Show @ Lucha Underground Arena in Los Angeles, California, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  21. ↑ "Lucha Underground TV taping results 12/12: Aztec Warfare match". Wrestling Observer Newsletter . December 13, 2015. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  22. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (December 12, 2015). "Lucha Underground #2.09 - Aztec Warfare II - TV-Show @ Lucha Underground Arena in Los Angeles, California, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  23. ↑ "Big Lucha Underground Aztec Warfare 3 spoiler". Wrestling Observer Newsletter . April 10, 2016. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  24. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (April 9, 2016). "Lucha Underground #3.11 - Aztec Warfare III - TV-Show @ Lucha Underground Arena in Los Angeles, California, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  25. ↑ Meltzer, Dave (April 18, 2016). "April 18, 2016 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Blackjack Mulligan and Balls Mahoney pass away, NJPW Invasion Attack review, plus tons of news". Wrestling Observer Newsletter . Campbell, California: 35. ISSN   1083-9593.
  26. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (April 10, 2016). "Lucha Underground #3.12 - Every Woman Is Sexy, Every Woman Is A Star - TV-Show @ Lucha Underground Arena in Los Angeles, California, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  27. 1 2 Kreikenbohm, Philip (June 26, 2016). "Lucha Underground #3.40 - Ultima Lucha Tres Part 4 - TV-Show @ Lucha Underground Arena in Los Angeles, California, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  28. ↑ Meltzer, Dave (July 4, 2016). "July 4, 2016 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: NJPW G1 tournament preview, Ali vs. Inoki anniversary, more". Wrestling Observer Newsletter . Campbell, California: 28–29. ISSN   1083-9593.
  29. ↑ "SPOILERS: Lucha Underground Tapings For 3/10 & 3/11: BIG Title Change".
  30. ↑ "Major Spoilers For Lucha Underground Season 4; Top Star Sacrificed to the Gods & New Champions Crowned". ProWrestling.com. March 29, 2018. Retrieved July 15, 2018.
  31. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (March 18, 2018). "Lucha Underground #4.22 - Ultima Lucha Cuatro Part 2- TV-Show @ New Lucha Underground Temple in Los Angeles, California, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.