Ninja vs Machine tonight on Lucha Underground

Week six of Lucha Underground’s fourth season will be featuring a ninja of the dark arts against a machine, not a man, for the Lucha Underground championship. A new debut, a mad rabbit, a serpent, and the mayor of Slamtown will also be making an appearance. Get ready for the action as it airs tonight at 8pm ET on El Rey Network.

If you missed last week’s show, catch up with the recap and reactions and a snazzy summary video from the Lucha Underground YouTube channel.

Here are three things I’ve got my eye on for this episode.

1. Roman Reigns Jr.?

Pentagon DARK has been on a roll since winning the Lucha Underground championship. He successfully retained during Aztec Warfare 4, then he dispatched of Matanza the very next week. Tonight, Pentagon won’t face a man. He will face a machine. Pentagon vs Cage for the Lucha Underground championship.

Pentagon has always had the fan support, but I felt he lacked the resume to match his popularity. If Pentagon beats Cage clean tonight, it will be another big notch in his belt in a very short period of time. It is as if Lucha Underground is giving Pentagon a hefty push to make him look strong. No shocker there. It makes sense to do so. However, if they aren’t careful, it could become a bit reminiscent of how WWE has treated Roman Reigns in the past, which disgruntled fans.

That leads me to ask, will the fans turn on Pentagon’s success? We all know wrestling fans can be fickle. I wouldn’t expect any resentment from the Believers in the Temple. They wouldn’t know what has been going on during the season. It would be more a question toward viewers and commenters, such as those right here on Cageside Seats. How many wins would be too many for Pentagon? Could he run the season as champ unscathed from criticism? How would you book Pentagon’s title reign?

As for the fight tonight, I don’t think Pentagon can break the machine. I’m picking Cage. And hopefully, we get a hint that Cage’s catchphrase isn’t just empty words. Many of us have long been suspecting that Cage is literally a machine, but there hasn’t been any evidence. Only that Lucha Underground has a ridiculous set of characters (a dragon, a reptile, a spaceman, a ghost woman, a god, etc.). A machine would fit right in with that motley crew.

2. Snake skin boots?

Chapter 3 in the Worldwide Underground vs the Reptile Tribe will take place tonight as Johnny Mundo appears to be going one-on-one with the prehistoric enforcer known as Vibora. Worldwide Underground has the edge in wins (Mundo eliminating Daga in Aztec Warfare 4 and Mundo & Taya defeating Kobra Moon & Daga in tag action), but the Reptile Tribe has the upper hand in destruction. Credit that to Vibora.

Will tonight be the night that Taya gets her snake skin boots?

Or will Johnny Mundo experience a rare defeat in the Temple?

Whatever the outcome, Vibora’s recent displays of athleticism combined with Mundo’s all-around greatness gives this match great potential for entertainment. If given enough time, we could be in for a real treat.

3. How far is Paul London willing to go?

In an awesome scene last week, Paul London finally met the White Rabbit. London stated that he would do anything to receive guidance from the White Rabbit. What was the White Rabbit’s first request? Oh, just bludgeon Mascarita Sagrada to death. No biggie.

Tonight will be Paul London’s first bout under his master’s tutelage. Last season, London wrestled in a drugged out haze. Giggles and all. It will be interesting to see if London now has an evil pep in his step. Will he wrestle with more physicality? Will London’s Rabbit Tribe cohorts up their rudo-ness or will they be hesitant bystanders?

Based on Twitter comments, London’s opponent appears to be Dezmond Xavier. I’m not familiar with that fellow, but it looks like he can fly high. I think it is safe to say that he will fit right in. Xavier is currently signed with Impact and also participates with Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG). For those in the know, how are excited are you to see Xavier in Lucha Underground?

Bonus: Kinesiology tape

Kinesiology tape is the goofy looking strips used in recent years. It seems to usually be placed on the shoulders or back. Part of the long explanation states, “The Kinesio Taping Method is a definitive rehabilitative taping technique that is designed to facilitate the body’s natural healing process while providing support and stability to muscles and joints...” To those that have used that special tape, does it really help in a 5 minute contest? How about 15 minutes?

Why do I mention kinesiology tape? Well, Matt Striker brought up an interesting idea. I think it was last week’s episode and I think it was in reference to Cage wearing tape on his shoulder. Why are wrestlers wearing tape like that? Doesn’t it tattle on themselves to reveal an injury to their opponent? I kind of agree with Striker’s line of questioning. It does seem counterproductive to give a target to your opponent. It also makes the opponent look a bit dull-witted if they don’t take advantage of the situation. Kinesiology tape kind of ruins the wrestling illusion to a very minor degree, but only if I actively think about it. I’ll probably watch the matches next week (it is too fresh in my thoughts this week) and not have it cross my mind. Where do you stand on the issue?

Enjoy the show tonight at 8pm ET on El Rey Network.

El Rey is available via the cable and satellite providers list on their webpage here. If one of those is your hook-up and you can’t find the channel on your box, reach out to them and ask for it. If you don’t see your provider listed or you’ve cut the cord, you can order the episodes on iTunes here and on Amazon here. Seasons one and two are available on Netflix here.

NOTE: Spoilers are out there for these pre-taped broadcast, but many Cagesiders don’t partake. If you are going to post or discuss spoilers for this show before they happen, or results of future shows, please use the spoiler bar in your comment.