Lucha Underground
{{short description|American professional wrestling promotion and TV series}}
{{Infobox television
|italic_title = no
| image = Lucha Underground Logo.jpg
| genre = Professional wrestling
Action drama
Fantasy
| creator =
| developer = Mark Burnett
Robert Rodriguez
| presenter =
| starring = Lucha Underground roster
| narrated = Matt Striker
Vampiro
| opentheme =
| endtheme =
| country = United States
| num_seasons = 4
| num_episodes = 127
| list_episodes = List of Lucha Underground episodes
| executive_producer = Mark Burnett
Robert Rodriguez
Eric van Wagenen
Anthony Jensen
Chris DeJoseph
| producer = Matthew Stollman
Chris Roach
Chavo Guerrero Jr.
Sue Vial
Ryan Hermosura
Nick Staller
Barry Murphy
| location = Boyle Heights, California
Downtown Los Angeles, California{{cite web|url=https://uproxx.com/prowrestling/lucha-underground-season-4-new-temple-pics-tickets/ |title=Your First Look At The Ice Cold New 'Temple' For Lucha Underground Season 4 |first=Brandon |last=Stroud |publisher=Uproxx |date=February 12, 2018 |access-date=May 19, 2018}}
| camera = Multicamera setup
| runtime = 60 minutes
| company = United Artists Media Group
MGM Television
Rodriguez International Pictures
FactoryMade Ventures
AG Studios Content
| network = El Rey Network
| first_aired = {{Start date|2014|10|29}}
| last_aired = {{end date|2018|11|7}}
}}
Lucha Underground was an American professional wrestling promotion founded in 2014 by United Artists Media Group. Lucha Underground also refers to its weekly television program, which featured characters portrayed by wrestlers from Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide and the American and Mexican independent circuits. The series originally aired in English on El Rey Network and in Spanish on UniMás.{{cite web|url=http://pwinsider.com/article/99604/more-on-issues-with-konnan-aaa-and-others-in-recent-weeks.html?p=1|title=More on issues with Konnan, AAA and others in recent weeks|last=Johnson|first=Mike|date=7 February 2016|access-date=7 February 2016|work=Pro Wrestling Insider}}
The series was developed by Mark Burnett and Robert Rodriguez and produced by United Artists, MGM Television, and One Three Media. It premiered on October 29, 2014 and aired until November 7, 2018, consisting of four seasons for a total of 127 episodes. It was set and filmed in Boyle Heights and Downtown Los Angeles, California, while the series later forged creative and production partnerships with other North American promotions.
Lucha Underground received generally positive reviews throughout its run, with praise for its action, characters, and cinematic presentation, with critics noting its in-universe style and departure from depicting professional wrestling as a legitimate sporting contest. The series had moderate viewership in its first two seasons, but the third and fourth season saw fluctuations in viewership after it was made available on Netflix prior to the fourth season premiere. The series was eventually cancelled due to budget concerns.{{cite web |last1=Lambert |first1=Jeremy |title=Vampiro: Lack Of Communication And Accountability Led To The End Of Lucha Underground |url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/vampiro-lack-communication-and-accountability-led-end-lucha-underground |website=Fightful |access-date=16 October 2020 |date=18 January 2020}}
History
In January 2014, it was confirmed Mark Burnett would partner with Robert Rodriguez's El Rey Network to launch a weekly hour-long professional wrestling television series in the second half of the year; it would be affiliated with the Mexican wrestling promotion Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA).{{cite web|last1=de Moraes|first1=Lisa|title=TCA: Mark Burnett To Launch Lucha Libre AAA League In U.S. With El Rey Network; 'From Dusk Till Dawn' To Premiere In March|url=https://deadline.com/2014/01/tca-mark-burnett-to-launch-lucha-libre-aaa-league-in-u-s-with-el-rey-network-662728/|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=12 January 2014|access-date=4 February 2015}} In July, it was tentatively titled Lucha: Uprising,{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/Other_News_4/article_79511.shtml|title=AAA news: El Rey announces AAA Lucha Libre show for U.S. TV - timeslot, show title, more details|last=Caldwell|first=James|date=2014-07-10|access-date=2014-09-16|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}} before officially announced as Lucha Underground in August, with AAA wrestlers Blue Demon Jr., Pentagón Jr., Sexy Star, Fénix, and Drago joining the cast.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-learn-to-speak-lucha-20150422-story.html|title=Learn to speak lucha: The secret language of the squared circle|work=Los Angeles Times|date= April 22, 2015|first=James|last=Queally}} It was to be narrated by Matt Striker and Vampiro and began filming on September 6 in front of a studio audience in Boyle Heights, California.{{cite web|url=http://www.f4wonline.com/more/more-top-stories/101-mexico/38664|title=El Rey Network announces more details of AAA Lucha Libre project|date=2014-08-27|access-date=2014-08-28|work=Wrestling Observer Newsletter}}
The series premiered on October 29, 2014, on the El Rey Network where it aired on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. E.T.,{{cite web|url=http://www.f4wonline.com/more/more-top-stories/118-daily-updates/39066-lucha-underground-promotion-tv-debut-moved-back-three-weeks|title=Lucha Underground promotion TV debut moved back three weeks|date=2014-09-22|access-date=2014-09-23|work=Wrestling Observer Newsletter}} and in Spanish on November 1, 2014, on UniMás where it aired on Saturdays at 4:00 p.m. E.T.{{cite web|last1=Steinberg|first1=Brian|title=Univision To Use El Rey Wrestling Show To Bolster UniMas|url=https://variety.com/2014/tv/news/univision-to-use-el-rey-wrestling-show-to-bolster-unimas-1201340092/|work=Variety|date=27 October 2014|access-date=4 February 2015}}
Johnny Mundo won the main event of the pilot episode. Prince Puma was the first Lucha Underground Champion after winning the first Aztec Warfare match on January 7, 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.pwinsider.com/article/88692/lucha-underground-spoiler.html?p=1|title=Lucha Underground spoiler|last=Johnson|first=Mike|date=2014-10-05|access-date=2014-10-06|work=Pro Wrestling Insider}} On April 22, Ivelisse, Son of Havoc, and Angélico became the first Lucha Underground Trios Champions after winning the inaugural Trios Tournament. The season's two-part finale, Ultima Lucha, which doubled as the promotion's first annual special event, received acclaim.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mandatory.com/wrestlezone/news/564691-top-lucha-underground-star-undergoes-character-change-big-update-on-ultimo-lucha-tv-special-spoilers|title="Ultimo Lucha" TV Special Planned for Lucha Underground|date=March 25, 2015|website=Wrestlezone}} Lucha Underground was subsequently renewed for a second season on September 21, 2015.{{cite web|title=Believers, are you ready? #LuchaUnderground season 2 is coming in 2016!|url=https://twitter.com/LuchaElRey/status/646085205581697024|publisher=Lucha Underground|access-date=23 September 2015}}
The second season began production on November 14, 2015, and premiered on January 27, 2016.{{cite web | url=http://www.f4wonline.com/mexico/lucha-underground-results-season-2-kicks-intergender-world-title-match-206426 | title=Lucha Underground Results: Season 2 Kicks off with an Intergender world title match | first=Jeremy | last=Peeples | publisher=Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online | date=January 27, 2016 | access-date=January 28, 2016}} Prior to filming, it was leaked the series had been renewed for a third season;{{cite web | url=http://411mania.com/wrestling/lucha-underground-renewed-for-season-three/ | title=Lucha Underground renewed for Season Three | date=January 31, 2016 | access-date=January 31, 2016 | publisher=411Mania | first=Jeremy | last=Thomas}} El Rey announced the renewal on February 1, 2016.{{cite web | url=http://www.f4wonline.com/mexico/lucha-underground-gets-picked-third-season-206761 | title=Lucha Underground gets picked up for a third season | access-date=February 1, 2016 | work=Wrestling Observer Newsletter| date=February 2016 }} During this period, the Lucha Underground promotion began a collaborative partnership with the International Wrestling Syndicate (IWS),[https://www.facebook.com/IWSHardcore/posts/820574471389632 "IWS forms partnership with AAA wrestling and Lucha Underground"], International Wrestling Syndicate, Retrieved on July 5, 2015.Laprade, Patric. (2016-03-07) [https://archive.today/20161009210656/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2016/03/07/22610766.html "Mysterio at IWS latest in Montreal-Mexico exchange"], SLAM! Wrestling, Retrieved on March 07, 2016. and held its first touring event, Austin Warfare, in Austin, Texas, as part of South by Southwest in 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytexanonline.com/2016/03/17/lucha-underground-wrestlers-battle-at-austin-music-hall-at-sxsw|title=Lucha Underground wrestlers battle at Austin Music Hall at SXSW - The Daily Texan|website=www.dailytexanonline.com}} The promotion was also represented by different teams at three editions of the Lucha Libre World Cup, between 2015 and 2017.
On November 10, 2017, it was announced that Lucha Underground had been renewed for a fourth season to premiere in 2018.{{cite magazine|last1=Gartland|first1=Dan|title=Lucha Underground Will Return for a Fourth Season|url=https://www.si.com/wrestling/2017/11/10/lucha-underground-season-four-renewal-announcement|magazine=Sports Illustrated|access-date=10 November 2017}} In February 2018, filming of the series was moved to Downtown Los Angeles. The following month it was announced that the promotion had entered into a working relationship with Impact Wrestling, holding a joint promotional event on Twitch on April 6.{{cite web|url=https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2018/03/impact-wrestling-vs-lucha-underground-event-announced-for-637471/|title=Impact Wrestling Vs. Lucha Underground Event Announced For WrestleMania Weekend|date=1 March 2018|website=Wrestling Inc.}} The fourth season premiered on June 13, and concluded on November 7,{{cite web|url=http://www.comicsbeat.com/no-spandex-saturday-lucha-underground-is-coming-back/|title=No Spandex Saturday: Lucha Underground is coming back|first=Davey|last=Nieves|date=7 April 2018}} after which producer Eric van Wagenen stated that the series had amassed budget concerns, and would require "a major reboot on a lot of levels" to produce a fifth season.{{cite web|url=https://allwrestling.com/news/120554/lucha-underground-exec-producer-unsure/|title=Lucha Underground Exec Producer Unsure If Season 5 Will Happen|website=allwrestling.com|access-date=2019-01-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421000144/https://allwrestling.com/news/120554/lucha-underground-exec-producer-unsure/|archive-date=2019-04-21|url-status=dead}}
A fifth season was not produced in 2019, and in a 2020 interview with Chris Van Vliet, Vampiro stated the series was effectively cancelled, and the promotion dissolved.{{Cite web|url=http://411mania.com/wrestling/vampiro-says-lucha-underground-paved-the-way-for-aew-discusses-why-lucha-underground-failed/|title=Vampiro Says Lucha Underground Paved The Way For AEW, Discusses Why Lucha Underground Failed|website=411MANIA}}
Roster
{{main|List of former Lucha Underground personnel}}
Championships
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |
| Championship
!Final champion(s) !Reign !Date won !Location !Notes | |
|---|---|
| align="left"|Lucha Underground Championship
|1 |{{dts|2018|03|18}} |align="left"|Defeated Pentagón Dark at Ultima Lucha Cuatro. | |
| align="left"|Gift of the Gods Championship
|1 |March 17, 2018 | Los Angeles, California
|align="left"|Defeated King Cuerno, Big Bad Steve, Aero Star, Hernandez, PJ Black, and A. R. Fox for the vacant Championship. Vacated once Strong cashed in at Ultima Lucha Cuatro. |
| align="left"|Lucha Underground Trios Championship
|The Reptile Tribe |1 |{{dts|2018|03|9}} | Boyle Heights, Los Angeles
|align="left"| Defeated The Mack, Killshot, and Son of Havoc in a trios tornado match. |
=Other accomplishments=
{{main|Lucha Underground tournaments}}
| class="wikitable" style="background:#fcfdff; text-align: center;" |
| Accomplishment
!Last winner !Date !Episode |
|---|
| Aztec Warfare
|{{dts|2018|2|24}} |El Jefe |
| The Cueto Cup
|{{dts|2016|6|11}} |The Cueto Cup |
| Battle of the Bulls Tournament
|{{dts|2016|4|23}} |The Battle Of The Bulls |
| Unique Opportunity Tournament
|{{dts|2016|1|30}} |
| Trios Tournament
|El Dragon Azteca Jr., Prince Puma, and Rey Mysterio |{{dts|2016|1|10}} |Cage In A Cage |
Reception
Lucha Underground was well received by critics. John Moore, from ProWrestling.net, praised the show for "[knowing] their identity and [weaving] together an amazing universe".{{cite web|url=http://prowrestling.net/article.php?5-20-Moore-s-Lucha-Underground-Review-The-Crew-vs.-Son-of-Havoc-Ivelisse-and-Angelico-in-a-Ladder-Match-for-the-Lucha-Underground-Trios-Championship-Marty-The-Moth-vs.-Prince-Puma-Daivari-vs.-Texano-42342 |title=5/20 Moore's Lucha Underground Review: The Crew vs. Son of Havoc, Ivelisse, and Angelico in a Ladder Match for the Lucha Underground Trios Championship, Marty The Moth vs. Prince Puma, Daivari vs. Texano |publisher=Prowrestling.net |access-date=2015-11-04}} Lucha Underground has also gained praise from media sites like Uproxx, which said Lucha Underground had two of the top ten matches of 2015.{{cite web|url=https://uproxx.com/prowrestling/10-best-wrestling-matches-of-2015/|title=The Beast, The Boss, And The Blood: The 10 Best Pro Wrestling Matches Of 2015|date=21 December 2015}} In 2015, the show was featured on ESPN's SportsCenter{{cite web | url=http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=14656680 | title=Lucha Underground: A new era in wrestling | date=January 27, 2016 | archive-date=September 15, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160915092550/http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=14656680 | publisher=ESPN}} and won SoCal Uncensored's 2015 Southern California promotion of the year award, ending Pro Wrestling Guerrilla's 12 year streak of winning the award.{{cite web|url=http://socaluncensored.com/2016/03/07/2015-socal-year-end-awards/|title=2015 SoCal Year End Awards|first=Jay|last=Cal|date=7 March 2016}}
In comparison to WWE, Sports Illustrated described the promotion as "vastly different", with the show creating a "cinematic approach with supernatural elements and science fiction that also embeds wrestling psychology and storylines".
Broadcasters
Lawsuit
On February 6, 2019, it was reported that Jorge Luis Alcantar, who played King Cuerno (now wrestles in the WWE as Santos Escobar), had filed a lawsuit in California against the El Rey Network and the Baba-G production company that made Lucha Underground. The lawsuit claimed that Lucha Underground's contracts "illegally restricted" wrestlers from working in their "lawful profession," by blocking them working for other wrestling companies until their multi-year contracts expired. Production of the series ended in less than 4 years, despite producers signing some original cast member wrestlers to 5-year, exclusive contracts.{{cite web | url=https://www.f4wonline.com/mexico/two-lawsuits-filed-over-lucha-underground-contract-issues-276361| title=Two lawsuits filed over Lucha Underground contract issues. | date=February 6, 2019 | access-date=February 6, 2019 | work=Wrestling Observer Newsletter | first=Bryan | last=Rose}}{{cite web|last=Satin |first=Ryan |url=http://www.prowrestlingsheet.com/lucha-underground-king-cuerno-dispute/#.XFx33h6IY0O |title=Lucha Underground Star Files Dispute Against El Rey Network |publisher=Prowrestlingsheet.com |date=1981-11-19 |access-date=2019-02-07}} Alcantar stated that wrestler pay was usually less than $1,000 per appearance, with some wrestling cast members earning only about $4,000 a year from the show.
Alcantar's lawyer also revealed that he had filed a class action lawsuit against Lucha Underground on behalf of other wrestlers, claiming their contracts, too, were illegal under California labor law. Other wrestlers Ivelisse Vélez, Joey Ryan, and Melissa Cervantes (who played Kobra Moon) joined the class, seeking to invalidate their contracts.{{cite web | url=https://luchacentral.com/exclusive-el-hijo-del-fantasma-ivelisse-joey-ryan-and-thunder-rosa-file-class-action-lawsuit-against-el-rey-network-and-baba-g-productions/ | title=EXCLUSIVE: EL HIJO DEL FANTASMA, IVELISSE, JOEY RYAN AND THUNDER ROSA FILE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST EL REY NETWORK AND BABA-G PRODUCTIONS | first=Eric | last=Mutter | date=February 6, 2019 | access-date=February 6, 2019 | work=Lucha Central}}
As of March 26, 2019, all lawsuits had been settled in the wrestlers' favor, and they were freed from their contracts.{{cite web | url= https://uproxx.com/prowrestling/lucha-underground-lawsuits-settled-wrestlers-freed/ | title=The Lucha Underground Lawsuits Are Settled, Freeing Several Wrestlers from Contracts | first=Elle | last=Collins | date=March 26, 2019 | access-date=October 6, 2019 | work=Uproxx}}
Legacy
{{main|Major League Wrestling|MLW Azteca}}
In the Fall of 2020, Major League Wrestling (MLW) began incorporating story elements from Lucha Underground into an angle on their weekly television series, MLW Fusion. Talent formerly associated with Lucha Underground were brought into MLW as part of the "Azteca" stable, with Cesar Duran (the former Dario Cueto) and other Lucha Underground alumni appearing for the promotion.{{Cite web|url=https://solowrestling.mundodeportivo.com/new/99163-richard-holliday-king-muertes-mlw-battle-riot-iii|title=MLW confirma su primer combate para Battle Riot III|date=18 June 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/wrestling/2021/05/13/court-bauer-mlw-azteca-underground|title=MLW: Court Bauer on Azteca Underground and the company's future|date=May 13, 2021|website=Sports Illustrated}} The stable would later become the central focus of MLW's mini-series, Fusion: Alpha, which premiered on September 22, 2021.{{cite web |url=https://www.f4wonline.com/mlw-results/mlw-battle-riot-iii-results-new-world-title-challenger-crowned-347891 |title=MLW Battle Riot III results: A new World title challenger is crowned |last=Oliver |first=Iain |date=July 24, 2021 |work=Wrestling Observer Newsletter}}{{Cite web|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2021/07/24/mlw-battle-riot-results-powells-review-of-the-battle-riot-iii-match-for-a-shot-at-the-mlw-heavyweight-championship-new-mlw-series-fusion-returning-to-a-new-home-in-the-fall/|title=MLW Battle Riot Results: Powell's review of the Battle Riot III match for a shot at the MLW Heavyweight Championship, new MLW series, Fusion returning to a new home in the fall|date=2021-07-24|website=Pro Wrestling Dot Com}}[https://mlw.com/2021/07/27/mini-series-fusion-alpha-announced/ Mini-series Fusion: ALPHA announced MLW.com]
Elements of Lucha Underground have since continued to appear in MLW programming, with the promotion also holding various Azteca-branded events.{{cite web |url=https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2021/12/mlw-azteca-premiere-date-and-details-revealed/|title=MLW Azteca Premiere Date And Details Revealed
|date=December 7, 2021|publisher=Wrestling Inc}}[https://mlw.com/2021/12/07/mlw-azteca-anthology-mini-series-coming/ MLW AZTECA anthology mini series coming]{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=335681|title=MLW AZTECA #5|work=Cagematch.net}}{{cite web |author1=Robert DeFelice |title=MLW Brings Azteca Underground To Dallas During WrestleMania Weekend |url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/mlw-brings-azteca-underground-dallas-during-wrestlemania-weekend |website=Fightful |access-date=February 5, 2022 |date=February 4, 2022}} The Azteca concept has been described as a spiritual successor to Lucha Underground.{{Cite web|url=https://solowrestling.mundodeportivo.com/new/99163-richard-holliday-king-muertes-mlw-battle-riot-iii|title=MLW confirma su primer combate para Battle Riot III|date=18 June 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/wrestling/2021/05/13/court-bauer-mlw-azteca-underground|title=MLW: Court Bauer on Azteca Underground and the company's future|date=May 13, 2021|website=Sports Illustrated}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://luchaunderground.com/ Official website]
- [http://www.mgm.com/#/our-titles/3062/Lucha-Underground MGM webpage for Lucha Underground]
{{Lucha Underground}}
{{Robert Rodriguez}}
{{Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide}}
{{Impact Wrestling}}
{{Professional wrestling in the United States}}
Category:Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide
Category:2014 American television series debuts
Category:2018 American television series endings
Category:Professional wrestling in Los Angeles
Category:Independent professional wrestling promotions based in California