Lucha Underground Gift of the Gods Championship

Last updated

Lucha Underground Gift of the Gods Championship
Lucha Underground Gift of the Gods Championship.jpg
The championship belt with all seven medallions in place
Details
Promotion Lucha Underground
Date establishedApril 19, 2015
Date retiredMarch 19, 2018
Statistics
First champion(s) Fénix
Final champion(s) Jake Strong
Most reignsFénix (2 reigns)
Longest reignFénix (209 days)
Shortest reign Marty Martinez (<1 day)
Oldest champion Chavo Guerrero Jr. (45 years, 6 days)
Youngest championFénix (24 years, 110 days)
Heaviest championCage (128.5 kg (283 lb))
Lightest championFénix (74 kg (163 lb))

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.

Contents

As it was a professional wrestling championship, the championship was not won not 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]

Background

In season 1, episode 27 ("Ancient Medallions") Dario Cueto, the storyline owner of Lucha Underground, revealed that he had gathered seven ancient Aztec medallions during a taped segment. [5] He explained that they represented the seven tribes of the ancient Aztec world and that whoever held all seven of them would gain a "gift from the gods". Later on he ordered seven wrestlers to come to the ring; Cage, Fénix, Killshot, King Cuerno, Pentagón Jr, Sexy Star and Willie Mack. The winner of the seven-way match would win the first of seven medallions. Fénix won the match and the first of the medallions. [5] In episode 30 ("Submit to the Master") Cueto announced that Jack Evans and Argenis would wrestle for the second of the medallions in a match that Jack Evans won. [6] Episodes showing how the remaining five medallions were awarded has not yet aired, but reports from the taping of the final match revealed that Aero Star, Bengala, Big Ryck, King Cuerno and Sexy Star win the remaining medallions at some point prior to episode 39 Ultima Lucha . [7] During Ultima Lucha Cueto revealed that the seven medallions all slotted into a wrestling championship called the "Gift of the Gods Championship", which would grant the champion a match for the Lucha Underground Championship any time they wanted, provided they gave Cueto a week's notice so he could promote the match. Fénix outlasted the other six competitors and won the Gift of the Gods Championship [7] After the Gift of the Gods Champion is vacated to challenge for the Lucha Underground Championship, the medallions are redistributed among the roster and the seven winners face off to determine a new champion. [8]

Title history

Key
No.Overall reign number
ReignReign number for the specific champion
DaysNumber of days held
<1Reign lasted less than a day
+Current reign is changing daily
No.ChampionChampionship changeReign statisticsNotesRef.
DateEventLocationReignDays
1 Fénix April 19, 2015 Ultima Lucha Boyle Heights, CA 1209Defeated Aero Star, Bengala, Big Ryck, Jack Evans, King Cuerno and Sexy Star to become the inaugural champion. This episode aired on tape delay on August 5, 2015. [7]
2 King Cuerno November 14, 2015 Lucha Underground Boyle Heights, CA 17This episode aired on tape delay on January 27, 2016. [9] [10]
3 Fénix November 21, 2015 Lucha Underground Boyle Heights, CA 21This was a ladder match. The episode aired on tape delay on March 2, 2016. [11]
— Vacated November 22, 2015 Lucha Underground Boyle Heights, CA ——Vacated when Fénix cashed in his shot at the Lucha Underground Champion Mil Muertes. This episode aired on tape delay on March 16, 2016. [12]
4 Chavo Guerrero Jr. January 10, 2016 Lucha Underground Boyle Heights, CA 16Defeated Aero Star, El Siniestro de la Muerte, Joey Ryan, Sexy Star, Texano, and Willie Mack for the vacant championship. This episode aired on tape delay on May 18, 2016. [13]
5 Cage January 16, 2016 Lucha Underground Boyle Heights, CA 11This episode aired on tape delay on May 25, 2016.
— Vacated January 17, 2016 Lucha Underground Boyle Heights, CA ——Vacated when Cage cashed in his shot at the Lucha Underground Champion Matanza Cueto.
6 Sexy Star January 31, 2016 Ultima Lucha Dos Boyle Heights, CA 148Sexy Star became the first female talent to hold the title. She defeated Daga, El Siniestro de la Muerte, Killshot, Mariposa, Marty Martinez and Nightclaw, to win the vacant championship. [14]
7 Johnny Mundo March 19, 2016 Lucha Underground Boyle Heights, CA 122This episode aired on tape delay on October 26, 2016. [15]
— Vacated April 10, 2016 Lucha Underground Boyle Heights, CA ——Vacated when Johnny Mundo cashed in his match for the Lucha Underground Champion Sexy Star. This episode aired on tape delay on November 23, 2016.
8 Pentagón Dark June 25, 2016 Ultima Lucha Tres Boyle Heights, CA 11Defeated Son of Havoc in a ladder match for the vacant title. This episode aired on tape delay on October 11, 2017. [16]
— Vacated June 26, 2016 Ultima Lucha Tres Boyle Heights, CA ——Vacated when Pentagón Dark cashed in his match for the Lucha Underground Champion Prince Puma. This episode aired on tape delay on October 18, 2017. [16]
9 El Dragon Azteca Jr. March 1, 2018 Lucha Underground Los Angeles, CA 19This was a Three Way Match including Dezmond X and King Cueno for the vacant title. This episode aired on tape delay on July 25, 2018. [17]
10 Marty Martinez March 10, 2018 Lucha Underground Los Angeles, CA 1<1This episode aired on tape delay on September 19, 2018. [18]
— Vacated March 10, 2018 Lucha Underground Los Angeles, CA ——Vacated when Martinez cashed in his match for the Lucha Underground Champion Pentagón Dark. This episode aired on tape delay on September 19, 2018. [18]
11 Jake Strong March 17, 2018 Ultima Lucha Cuatro Los Angeles, CA 11Defeated King Cuerno, Big Bad Steve, Aero Star, Hernandez, PJ Black, and Dante Fox for the vacant championship. This episode aired on tape delay on October 24, 2018. [19]
— Vacated March 18, 2018 Ultima Lucha Cuatro Los Angeles, CA ——Vacated when Strong cashed in his match for the Lucha Underground Champion Pentagón Dark. This episode aired on tape delay on November 7, 2018. [19]
—DeactivatedMarch 19, 2018————Date of the last Lucha Underground taping.

Combined reigns

RankWrestlerNo. of
reigns		Combined days
1 Fénix 2210
2 Sexy Star 148
3 Johnny Mundo 122
4 El Dragon Azteca Jr. 19
5 King Cuerno 17
6 Chavo Guerrero Jr. 16
7 Cage 11
Pentagón Dark 11
Jake Strong 11
10 Marty Martinez 1<1

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" [1]
  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" [2]
  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" [3]
  4. ↑ Duncan & Will (2000) p. 201, Chapter: (Memphis, Nashville) Memphis: USWA Tag Team Title "Vacant on 93/01/18 when Spike leaves the USWA." [4]

Related Research Articles

The UWA World Junior Light Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling championship that was originally promoted by the Mexican lucha libre professional wrestling) promotion Universal Wrestling Association (UWA). the UWA operated from 1975 to 1995 but the title is still defended on the Mexican independent circuit after the UWA closed. The weight range for this championship is 97 kg (214 lb) to 107 kg (236 lb) but is not strictly enforced to these days. The UWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship has also been promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling and was at one time one of the eight championships that made up the J-Crown Championship. Following the breakup of the J-Crown, the championship was used by the Toryumon promotion but has since then returned to Mexico where it's defended on the independent circuit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UWA World Welterweight Championship</span>

The UWA World Welterweight Championship is a championship in professional wrestling that is primarily contested for in various Lucha Libre promotions in Mexico. In 1993, the championship was recognized by the Japanese professional wrestling promotion Michinoku Pro, following Super Delfin's victory over then champion Celestial. In 1995, Gran Hamada was stripped of the championship, because he exceeded the weight limit. The championship returned to being primarily contested for in Mexico, and it wasn't until Taiji Ishimori's victory over Super Crazy in 2003 that a Japanese wrestler would hold the championship again.

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.

The WWA World Women's Championship is an inactive professional wrestling women's professional wrestling championship promoted by the Mexican wrestling promotion World Wrestling Association (WWA). The title was created in 1989 but not very often defended, from 1991 to 2003 and 2003 to 2014 no record of any title defenses have been found, the title may have been inactive in those periods. Lady Apache is the current champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sexy Star</span> Mexican wrestler, MMA fighter (born 1982)

Dulce Maria García Rivas is a Mexican luchadoraenmascarada, or masked female professional wrestler, mixed martial artist and professional boxer who is better known by the ring name Sexy Star. She is best known for her work in Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA), where she is a three-time AAA Reina de Reinas Champion, while also being a former one-time AAA World Mixed Tag Team Champion. She previously wrestled under the name Dulce Poly and held both the FILL Women's Championship and the FILL Mixed Tag Team Championship under that name. She worked for Lucha Underground, where she was a former Lucha Underground Champion and Gift of the Gods Champion. She is the first woman to win the Lucha Underground Championship and, by extension, the first woman to hold a World Heavyweight Championship in a major wrestling promotion.

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

Brian Christopher Joseph Button, better known by the ring name Brian Cage, is an American professional wrestler and bodybuilder currently 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 is a former 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 (born 1990)

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 Cero Miedo.

<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, who is currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW). She also performs AEW's sister promotion Ring of Honor (ROH).

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

The Lucha Underground Championship was a professional wrestling world championship owned by the Lucha Underground promotion. The championship was the top championship of the promotion and was 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.

<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. 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.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rey Horus</span> Mexican professional wrestler

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.

<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">Flamita</span> Mexican professional wrestler

Flamita is a Mexican luchador enmascarado. In addition to working for promotions such as Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA) and Desastre Total Ultraviolento (DTU) in his native country, Flamita is also known for his work in Japanese promotions Dragon Gate and Gleat.

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.

<i>Lucha Underground</i> season 2 Season of television series

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. 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.

<i>Lucha Underground</i> season 1 Season of television series

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ultima Lucha Dos</span> Episode of the 2nd season of Lucha Underground

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Crash Cruiserweight Championship</span> Mexican professional wrestling championship

The Crash Cruiserweight Championship is a professional wrestling championship contested for in the Mexican lucha libre promotion The Crash Lucha Libre based in Tijuana, Baja California. Traditionally most lucha libre promotions promote a division labelled as the "Junior Heavyweight" division, while "Cruiserweight" is a term more used in the United States or Canada but The Crash uses the term "Cruiserweight". The official definition of the Cruiserweight class in Mexico is between 97 kg (214 lb) and 107 kg (236 lb), but is not always strictly enforced. As it was a professional wrestling championship, the championship was not won not by actual competition, but by a scripted ending to a match determined by the bookers and match makers. 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, or real life issues such as a champion suffering an injury being unable to defend the championship, or leaving the company.

References

  1. ↑ Hornbaker 2016, p. 550.
  2. ↑ Duncan & Will 2000, p. 271.
  3. ↑ Duncan & Will 2000, p. 20.
  4. ↑ Duncan & Will 2000, p. 201.
  5. 1 2 "Ancient Medallions". Lucha Underground . Season 1. Episode 27. May 13, 2015. El Rey Network (US), UniMás (MX).
  6. ↑ "Submit to the Master". Lucha Underground . Season 1. Episode 30. June 3, 2015. El Rey Network (US), UniMás (MX).
  7. 1 2 3 Boutwell, Josh (April 26, 2015). "Viva la Raza! Lucha Weekly for 4/26/15". Wrestleview. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Dehnel's Lucha Underground report 7/22: The Medallions explained, Battle Royal for final medallion, Johnny Mundo, Big Ryck, Cage vs. Mack, more; Overall Reax". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Lucha Underground season 2 taping spoilers: what's Mil Muertes up to?". Wrestling Observer Newsletter . November 14, 2015. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  10. ↑ Peeples, Jeremy (January 27, 2016). "Lucha Underground Results: Season 2 Kicks off with an Intergender world title match". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Lucha Underground season 2 taping spoilers: Prince Puma, Johnny Mundo, PJ Black". Wrestling Observer Newsletter . November 22, 2015. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Lucha Underground Season 2 Episode 8 Taping". The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  13. ↑ Stuckey, Dan (January 15, 2016). "1/10 Lucha Underground TV Taping Spoilers". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
  14. ↑ Boutwell, Josh (February 8, 2016). "Viva La Raza: Lucha Weekly (2/8/16)". WrestleView. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
  15. ↑ Boutwell, Josh (April 2, 2016). "Viva La Raza Lucha Weekly (4/2/16): Several stars leaving AAA, Mysterio Vs. Angle, Callahan signs with Lucha Underground". WrestleView. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
  16. 1 2 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: 28–32. ISSN   1083-9593.
  17. ↑ "Lucha Underground News & Notes 03/01/2018". March 4, 2018.
  18. 1 2 "SPOILERS: Lucha Underground Tapings For 3/10 & 3/11: BIG Title Change".
  19. 1 2 "Major Spoilers For Lucha Underground Season 4; Top Star Sacrificed to the Gods & New Champions Crowned". March 29, 2018.
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.