When it comes to professional wrestling and its fans, everyone has a favourite promotion. A promotion that is familiar; where you know what to expect. Personally, I have been loyal to WWE for as long as I have been a fan. For 30 years I have been watching WWE. I would watch the occasional WCW Nitro or Thunder during the peak of the Monday Night War, but I still preferred WWE. I watched some of the original ECW, and TNA in their prime during the mid 2000s, but I stayed loyal to the house that McMahon built. That all changed, however, in 2014.

Late in the year I was captivated by Lucha Underground. I can’t put a finger on what specifically drew me to it, because the reasons are numerous, but from the moment I watched I was hooked. There was no turning back. I’m not saying I am a complete traitor, I still watch and enjoy WWE very much, but this is the first time in 30 years that something has come along and made me stand up and take notice. This may be the first time that, if forced to only watch one promotion, it probably would not be WWE; it would be Lucha Underground. Allow me to illustrate just why I love Lucha Underground so much, and if you haven’t already, why you should give it a shot.

Commentary

I have been a big, big fan of Matt Striker’s commentating right from the start. Nothing against his in-ring ability, but his transition to the booth was the best move he could have made. He is one of the best, and in my opinion, one of the most underrated commentators working today. Whether he is doing colour or play by play, shooting straight or playing the heel, his work is always top notch. To have him doing play by play is WWE’s loss and Lucha Underground’s gain.

Alongside Striker doing colour commentary is ring veteran Vampiro. Vamp may not be the best colour guy in the business, but what he lacks in finesse he more than makes up for in knowledge. He has wrestled in both Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) and Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA), the two premiere wrestling promotions of Mexico, giving him a real insider viewpoint into the world of lucha libre. In what has become the modern standard, Vampiro doesn’t so much play the heel but more of a Devil’s Advocate, willing to give credit to baby faces when it is due, while not completely chastising the heels for their actions either. He has a good chemistry with Striker, and as an added bonus to Lucha Underground and its parent network El Rey, he not only does commentary for the English broadcast, but for the Spanish as well.

Roster

Lucha Underground is based out of Los Angeles, putting it very close to its Mexican roots. This also makes it very easy to attract some of the best luchadores that Mexico has to offer. CMLL and AAA veterans such as Blue Demon Jr., Fenix, King Cuerno, and Pentagon Jr. lace up their boots for Lucha Underground. There are a few guys who have donned new identities for Lucha Underground as well. Matt Capiccioni, some may know from WWE’s fifth season of Tough Enough, goes by the name of Son of Havoc, while many would know Lucha Underground’s Prince Puma by his unmasked persona Ricochet.

Along with the men there are several women involved in Lucha Underground. Most function in a valet role, such as Catrina who adds a sexy, creepiness when with Mil Muertes, or Melissa Santos who, as the Lucha Underground ring announcer, brings out the drama and excitement of each match. The standout female on the roster however, is Sexy Star. A woman who, despite her smaller stature, isn’t afraid to mix it up with the men. She isn’t as imposing as Chyna or Beth Phoenix were, yet when you watch Sexy Star in the ring, it isn’t difficult to believe that she can be victorious over her male counterparts.

Even if you aren’t familiar with many of the luchadores on the roster, Lucha Underground has a few former WWE wrestlers that might be a little more familiar to you. Chavo Guererro Jr. quickly established himself as one of the most despised members of the locker room, while Johnny Mundo, better known to many as John Morrison, returned to the ring after three years away, with Lucha Underground. There have even been rumours (fueled by Chavo Guererro on Twitter) that Rey Mysterio might make an appearance in the future.

If the speed of the cruiserweights isn’t for you, there are a couple of bigger guys to even things out. One of the breakout heels of the promotion is Big Ryck. WWE fans would know him as Ezekiel Jackson, and he isn’t shy about throwing his muscle around. Another big man on the roster, and a personal favourite of mine is Mil Muertes. Known to TNA fans as Judas Mesias, his name means the Thousand Deaths, and his dark, imposing demeanor lends credence to such a name.

Different & Unique

One of the things that was a pleasant surprise for me when I first watched Lucha Underground was how differently the backstage footage was presented. It plays out with all the noir and intrigue of a primetime television drama, complete with a subtle music bed playing under the scenes. Many of these scenes are used to build on personalities of the non-wrestling talent, such as trainer Konnan and the kayfabe authority figure, Dario Cueto. These backstage scenes play out very differently than anything that other wrestling promotions have presented, and they add to the dark and gritty nature that Lucha Underground provides.

The venue, dubbed the Aztec Temple, is small compared to the arenas that fans might be used to, but instead of looking like a half full gymnasium that you see from some independent promotions, the Temple has a more intimate feel. It reminds me of the ECW Arena in that it may be small, but the fans, along with proper mood lighting, make it seem much bigger. The Temple also adds a unique twist with a few tiered structures which have been used during matches, either for wrestlers to dive off of, or simply for a third-party to get a better vantage point to scout prospective opponents.

Fresh & New

Lucha Underground debuted on the El Rey Network on October 29, 2014 so it is still very new. Many episodes can be found online and the official El Rey Network youtube channel often posts highlights and a match of the week. It isn’t difficult to get up to speed on this young promotion, and no better time to jump onboard as they prepare to crown the first Lucha Underground champion on January 7, 2015 in a match called ‘Aztec Warfare’.

If you are tired of the wrestling options that exist, or just want to try something new, now is the time to check out Lucha Undergound.

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