Lucha Underground recap & review (Oct. 3, 2018): Let’s play, b*%&#!

The seventeenth episode of season four (Oct. 3) for Lucha Underground featured the White Rabbit wrestling, an awesome twist on the mandible claw, the fate of Sexy Star, an unexpected championship match, and four official fights for Ultima Lucha Cuatro.

Move the ‘no deaths on site’ counter up to 1 week and running.

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Aerostar & Melissa Santos outdoors scene

I think they were on the roof, but I’m not positive. Melissa Santos walked up to Aerostar to ask, “What happened?” Aerostar, in Spanish, explained that he should not have brought Fenix back. When Catrina sucked Fenix’s essence, Fenix became infected. She changed him into something evil. Melissa believes that she can save him. Aerostar replied Fenix can not be saved. Melissa pressed, “How can you be so sure?” Aerostar commented that he has seen the end. The end of what, you ask? “Everything.”

El Conjunto Nueva Ola played us into the Temple. Whenever Vampiro has high energy during the intro, I always wonder if that means a fresh day of tapings.

Ivelisse, XO Lishus, & Joey Ryan vs The Rabbit Tribe

Paul London was wearing white face paint and possibly black lipstick. His lips looked darker, but I know nothing about makeup application to be certain it was lipstick. The face paint was a gloomy shade of white. The White Rabbit wore a black trench coat and black trunks with the Rabbit Tribe logo. His boots or leg pads had X and II on each walking limb to signify 12 o’clock. Tick, tock.

Trios action, bebe. Highlights include a trap arm drag throw by Ivelisse, El Bunny with a devastating crotch to face maneuver, and an Ivelisse German suplex to London who was holding El Bunny for a double whammy.

The White Rabbit tagged in himself to lead to the finish.

Paul London executed a dropkick through to the ropes to dispose of XO Lishus. El Bunny took down Ivelisse with a suicide dive. That left the White Rabbit and Joey Ryan in the ring.

Joey unloaded offense, but the White Rabbit was not phased. The White Rabbit had enough and folded Ryan with a belly to back suplex variation. The White Rabbit pulled out a white glove from the rump of his trunks. Vampiro chimed in, “Well, it’s a good thing it’s not a rubber glove.” To be honest, I was thinking the same thing, especially given the sleaziness of Ryan’s character.

Mandible Claw! Striker on announce, “I guess we could call this down the rabbit hole.” When the White Rabbit removed his hand from Ryan’s gullet, the fingers had blood stains.

The Rabbit Tribe defeated Ivelisse, XO Lishus, & Joey Ryan via oral cavity submission.

Son of Havoc vs Killshot

Killshot spent much effort trying to fiddle with Son of Havoc’s mask during the match. This fight was physical for a standard one-on-one affair. Killshot was downright mean.

Highlights of the back and forth bout include a suicide dive by Havoc, a flying double stomp by Havoc followed by a standing backflip splash, Killshot hopping up to the top rope for a double stomp onto a rope-hung Havoc, and a double underhook twist slam by Killshot.

For the finish, Killshot attempted a fancy pin maneuver, but Havoc countered by leaning forward with his weight to get the winning three count.

Son of Havoc defeated Killshot.

After the match, Killshot kneed Havoc in the head. He then grabbed his dog tag chain to wrap around his fist and deliver brutal blows. Killshot proceeded to remove Havoc’s mask. Havoc covered his face up with his arms.

Antonio Cueto came out of his office to make a mask vs mask match at Ultima Lucha Cuatro.

Marty Martinez in-ring promo

The Lucha Underground champion was accompanied by his lady friend, whose name is Reklusa.

Marty listed off his sources of motivation; humiliation from Sexy Star and Pentagon DARK. Marty sent Reklusa after Sexy Star. She terrorized Sexy Star and beat her to a pulp. Marty had Sexy Star’s mask as evidence. Pentagon broke Marty’s arm, but Marty took the only thing Pentagon cared about, the Lucha Underground Championship.

“But there’s one more person I haven’t forgotten. Someone more beautiful...” Marty glanced toward Melissa.

Cero miedo, sucka man.

“My sister, Mariposa.” She forced him to focus when he was at his lowest point. Marty owes her one, so he gave her the first championship defense. “Let’s play, just like we did when we were kids.”

Lucha Underground Championship Match: Marty Martinez vs Mariposa

No disqualification.

Marty Martinez dominated Mariposa early on. He smashed her against a chair to bust blood. “Bleed, sister, bleed.” Marty then swung his sister into the announce table.

Eventually, Mariposa turned the tide. She blocked a wall smash and gave it good to Marty. Mariposa tossed Marty side to side against the wall, while Marty smiled. Marty gained control again with a sitdown powerbomb on the floor.

Back in the ring, Reklusa handed Marty a chair. Swing, duck, superkick through the chair to Marty’s face. Nut kick. Marty rolled to the outside. Mariposa grabbed a mic, “Hey, Marty. You want to play with chairs? Let’s play, bitch.”

In one of the best moments of the season, Mariposa went hog-wild with chair violence. She used 7 chairs for 17 hard tosses onto Marty’s body as he was buried under a pile.

Lucha Underground

The clang of each forceful chair toss rang out. The Believers stomped their feet and sang a lucha chant.

Mariposa rolled Marty back into the ring. Missile dropkick. Two count. Samoan drop onto a chair by Mariposa. Two count. Mariposa got in position for the Butterfly Effect, but Reklusa kicked her in the sternum. Marty flashed the Cero Miedo hand signal and crushed his sister with a package piledriver for the victory.

Marty Martinez retained the Lucha Underground Championship.

After the duel, Marty on the mic, “Sweet sister, you showed me the focus to beat you tonight. It’s that same focus that is going to keep me as Lucha Underground champion.” Mariposa let out an semi-conscious gargle scream noise, sort of like a Wookiee noise.

Marty challenged Pentagon DARK to a Cero Miedo match. That is hardcore to the extreme. Marty dedicated his future win to his sister and dedicated ‘this’ to Pentagon. ‘This’ being the broken arm of Mariposa. Marty just snapped his sister’s arm.

Pentagon charged out with a chair in hand. Marty fled and Pentagon cut a promo. Pentagon accepted the challenge for one simple reason. He promised the Believers that he is going to break Marty’s bones. It was much dirtier language in Spanish. The fans sang a Cero Miedo chant to close the show.

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A bonkers episode that delivered. The highs were really high. All the matches ended with intrigue for what will happen in upcoming episodes.

Holy, smokes. How about that opening scene with Aerostar and Melissa Santos? Aerostar dropped the bomb that Fenix is lost beyond hope. This is feeling like one of the Super Nintendo/Sega Genesis role-playing video games I enjoyed back in the day. The hero is informed that doom is foretold. Not on the hero’s watch, and the adventure begins. If Melissa truly believes in her love for Fenix, then she shouldn’t allow Aerostar’s words to stop her. Hopefully, she will have to go on a journey to make a special potion of stinkweed, crocodile toes, and Antonio Cueto sweat.

The new Rabbit Tribe looked fierce. El Bunny was more vicious than the bunnies in Night of the Lepus. Of all the times I have seen the White Rabbit wrestle elsewhere, I still don’t know what to make of him as a wrestler. He comes in, kicks ass in minimal time, then leaves. He looks cool in a menacing manner, but I still have no clue how he would do in a Lucha Underground main event.

I always thought the Mandible Claw was lame, but the White Rabbit tweaked it to satisfaction with the blood on his glove. It transforms a silly maneuver into a vicious one. To nitpick, I would have liked to see blood coming out of Joey Ryan’s mouth afterward. That would have added to the illusion.

Speaking of illusions, how did that white glove turn red? I would have assumed a blood capsule in Joey’s mouth, but he didn’t seem frothy in the aftermath. Is the White Rabbit a magician as well? What other tricks does the White Rabbit have up his sleeve?

Killshot vs Son of Havoc was a solid match and a nice set up for mask vs mask. I have zero clue who will win. Thumbs up for the uncertainty. That will help make the fight an even better viewing experience.

That was a pretty good way to acknowledge the absence of Sexy Star. It was open-ended enough that Sexy Star could be gone forever or return in a later season for revenge. Even though fans are angry at Sexy Star, I bet there would be a huge pop for a surprise return. Once the initial excitement wears off, then bad comments would commence.

Daaaaamn. That chair rage by Mariposa was spectacular. I thought the match was boring in the beginning when Marty kicked her ass. That wasn’t the tough as nails Mariposa character we have seen since her introduction to Lucha Underground. I didn’t get it. Then, the true Mariposa spirit showed up as she wrecked Marty. It was glorious.

I hope Mariposa still backs her brother. It would fit their wickedly psychotic family relationship. If she interferes against Marty at Ultima Lucha Cuatro, I think it would be a poor story decision.

Time to update the cumulative injured/dead/sacrificed list: Hernandez, Marty Martinez, Famous B, Big Bad Steve, Fenix, Jeremiah Crane, Mr. Pectacular, Cortez Castro, Mascarita Sagrada, Angelico, Sammy Guevara, Vinnie Massaro, the pizza delivery guy, Vibora, Mala Suerte, Saltador, Father Rick O’Shea, Cage, Benjamin Cook, Cage, Catrina, Joey Wrestling, Jack Evans, Drago, Sexy Star, and Mariposa.

Last but not least, here is the Ultima Lucha Cuatro card to date:

• Cero Miedo Match for the Lucha Underground Championship: Marty Martinez vs Pentagon DARK
• Death Match: Mil Muertes vs Mack
• 2 Out of 3 Falls: El Dragon Azteca Jr. vs Fenix
• Mask vs Mask: Son of Havoc vs Killshot

Share your thoughts about the episode. What did you think of the White Rabbit’s in-ring debut? Are you satisfied with the story explanation of Sexy Star’s departure? How does the Ultima Lucha Cuatro card look so far?