Fade in.
Previously on Lucha Underground: The Ancient Aztec Medallions formed the Gift of the Gods. And since Fénix cashed in the Gift of the Gods, the Medallions are set to be redistributed once again. Also, They Call Him Cage and Johnny Mundo have a thing going on. Also, Dario Cueto reclaimed his Temple. Also, Dario and Rey Mysterio put behind them the whole "Dario and Black Lotus murdered El Dragón Azteca." So things have been happening.
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Dario has called They Call Him Cage, Johnny Mundo and Taya into his office. He wants to make them his latest and perhaps MOST unlikely trio. They Call Him Cage would prefer if he fought Mundo tonight. Dario is like, "Yeah, nah, my idea is better." Dario then tries to introduce himself to Taya, but she already knows who he is.
Dario says if they win the tournament, they'll finally taste the Lucha Underground gold that has eluded them. They Call Him Cage says he'll win the tournament HIMSELF. Even Dario is sick of his catchphrase at this point.
This ruled, obviously.
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Matt Striker and Vampiro welcome us back to the Temple and remind us that the trios tournament will continue tonight. YEAH DUDE, WE KNOW.
Killshot def. Argenis
Stray observations: Killshot now comes to the ring with dogtags and a camo vest, having been bestowed with a backstory last week. Now that Killshot has been retconned with a character and purpose, he's really showing a new attitude and motivation. Striker is still making gun puns, though, so some things never change.
Poor Argenis. He's like Lucha Underground's own personal Barry Horowitz. HE'S THE NEW THE CREW. Killshot gets the win with a modified electric chair driver.
What we learned: Killshot is really benefitting from having a backstory, just like everyone else in Lucha Underground. This could really be considered the start of Killshot as a Lucha Underground competitor. We'll see where his storyline takes him from here.
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Black Lotus is guarding Dario's office. Dragón Azteca Jr. confronts her and asks how she can work for him. She feeds him what is mostly a line of bunk and says Matanza killed their mentor. Junior is instantly convinced she's still on his side and tells her to keep an eye on him.
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Inside said office, Dario meets with a shirtless new competitor, Daga, who is one of the hottest up and comers in AAA right now. Dario tells him about the medallions, but Daga isn't really impressed. Actually, with Daga sitting down, it sort of looks like NUDE DAGA is in Dario's office. I approve.
Dario says he will be competing for one of the Medallions tonight, but he'll be going up against one of the most vicious non-Cuetos he knows: Texano. Daga says he only feels that way about Texano because he doesn't know Daga.
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Ancient Aztec Medallion Match: Texano def. Daga
Stray observations: Texano is rocking a lot of tassels this week. He's like a beef CIMA. Texano uses a lot of power moves and chops and clearly doesn't think much of his opponent. Daga has some really nice kicks and hits a swank topé con hilo to the outside.
It gets real hot down the stretch and Texano eventually manages to land his powerbomb for the win.
What we learned: Texano is the first person to earn an ancient Aztec medallion as we ramp up toward crowning the next Gift of the Gods Champion. Daga continues the very proud Lucha Underground tradition of debuting talent not winning their first match in the Temple. Who will be the first to reverse the curse?
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Mil Muertes is praying at his shrine. Catrina appears behind him and says their disciples have gained entry into the trios tournament next week. They wish to beg Mil Muertes' forgiveness. They rematerialize behind her. He tells them to rise. Which I guess is his forgiveness, because Catrina dismisses them. She says they will not fail again. She also says Muertes will become the next champion, but he must be aware that Matanza is the most powerful force he has faced ... even more powerful than the earthquake that created him.
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Trios Tournament Match: Rey Mysterio, Prince Puma & El Dragón Azteca Jr. def. Johnny Mundo, Taya & They Call Him Cage
Stray observations: AZTECA IS WEARING A DRAGON COSTUME ON THE WAY TO THE RING. His and Puma's entrance gear is just cosplay delight. Azteca starts with They Call Him Cage and gets dragged around the ring in a headlock in a totally hilarious and very impressive visual.
Puma gets in next, so Mundo tags himself in. I'm sure you'll be shocked to hear this, but the latest unlikely trio doesn't get along so well. Puma plays face in peril and Mundo tries to get the Machine to cheat, but the entity from the FIVE FIVE NINE isn't interested, instead opting to tag Mundo in via hard slap to the face. Puma finally manages to get the hot tag to Azteca.
Azteca cleans house and then tags in Rey, then the dive train starts rolling as things break down in earnest. The supergroup takes advantage of dissent on the other team and everyone starts hitting top rope moves on Mundo, but Mundo kicks out. They Call Him Cage manages to beat up both teams at once, powerbombing Rey into Taya in the corner and wrecking shop. Finally, he and Mundo come to blows, hitting each other with big moves.
Rey manages to temporarily dispatch Cage, then hits 619 on Mundo. Azteca hits him with the craziest tornado DDT of all time and Puma lands the 630 to get the pin and advance.
What we learned: We all knew that unlikely trio was far too unlikely to survive any further in the tournament. I smell a two-on-one anything goes match between those three, probably at Ultima Lucha. If there's any feud in season 2 that is going to go wire to wire, it's that one.
And the supergroup is definitely going to keep rolling. My only complaint is that we need to see way, way more of Azteca Jr. More flips and dives, everyone.
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Down the hall, Dario talks to Matanza, who is back inside his cage. He tells him next week, the man with 1,000 deaths will not be so easy to break. He says nothing will stand in Matanza's way, not even Mil Muertes.
He beckons Matanza to come closer and he says he understands why he has to stay in the cage, doesn't he? Because he's the most valuable thing in the world to Dario. And what do we do with our valuables? We lock them away. He strokes Matanza's maskface and tells him he will be victorious next week.
Matanza grabs the bars and growls, rattling his cage. Dario smiles.
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And that's it for this week! See you next time, Believers!