Ninja vs Machine 2 tonight on Lucha Underground

Week eight of Lucha Underground’s fourth season will be featuring a high caliber rematch. Get ready for the action as it airs tonight at 8pm ET on El Rey Network.

The only fight promoted on Lucha Underground’s Twitter so far is Pentagon DARK vs Cage in what their hashtag’s indicate is a championship match. I don’t recall any ‘beat the champ to become number one contender’ matches in Lucha Underground history. I hope they keep it that way. I’m not a supporter of that concept.

On one hand, I don’t mind the lack of hyped action as a fan. Not every week has to have matches preannounced before the show. There is surprise value with their loaded roster. On the other hand, I have a preview to write. Give me some sweetness.

If you missed last week’s show, catch up with the recap and reactions, the Tope 10, and a snazzy summary video from the Lucha Underground YouTube channel.

Here are three things I have my eye on for this episode.

1. Why is Cage getting a rematch?

I hope it is explained why Cage is getting another Lucha Underground championship opportunity with Pentagon DARK so soon after losing clean. I understand Pentagon has cero miedo of Cage or placing the belt on the line, but I need to hear something from promoter extraordinaire Antonio Cueto. That’s not a very good precedent to set. Dario must not have told his papá what it is like dealing with Johnny Mundo.

Whatever the reason for the rematch, let’s hope they get more time than their previous abbreviated affair. Hey, maybe the Lucha Underground Twitter only mentioning one match is for a reason. Machines are programmed to go All Night Long. Is Pentagon?

2. Gift of the Gods aftermath

El Dragon Azteca Jr. won the Gift of the Gods championship last week. That entitles Azteca to a future Lucha Underground championship match at his request, as long as there is at least one week’s notice for Antonio Cueto to promote it. Don’t forget that Azteca has to defend the prize at Antonio Cueto’s behest. Will Azteca be watching tonight’s match with close attention? Or will he be preparing for a defense of his own the following week?

After last week’s closing scene, it seems like Marty Martinez will be gunning for Pentagon’s teeth and his championship. Would it be a smarter move to go after the Gift of the Gods first so he has a guaranteed title shot? If that is his path, then I suspect Mariposa would be the brains behind that plan.

One other story will be the fallout from the interactions between Mack, Son of Havoc, Killshot, and Mil Muertes. Killshot has had beef with Havoc ever since Havoc was shoehorned in to replace Dante Fox as the third member of the Trios championship team. Mil Muertes is trying to make sure there will be no return of the Mack, after Mack chose to eliminate Mil from participating in the Gift of the Gods.

An amusing matchup would be tag action of Mack and Son of Havoc against Killshot and Mil Muertes. That is the kind of bout Antonio Cueto would schedule just to screw with them, because he can. It would also have high entertainment potential. Win, win for Sr. Cueto.

As for the others, King Cuerno is cool, so I’m always interested in his next move. Dezmond X was fantastic in defeat. Give that man a feud. Ivelisse is a scrapper with fighting spirit. She deserves some screen time after past injuries.

3. Who is next to be sacrificed?

I don’t know if Matanza will appear on this episode. If he does, I am very curious who will be sacrificed next. Antonio Cueto made mention last week about cleaning out contracts before offering Vinnie Massaro as a sacrifice to the gods. I scanned the roster, and they don’t have any dead weight left. Perhaps Joey Ryan, but he has story value as an undercover cop. I suppose El Mariachi Loco could make a return. I believe the same wrestler plays Saltador of the Rabbit Tribe.

At some point, Matanza will have to go after better game. Chavo Guerrero might be up. He is on the back end of his career and maybe his return was only for a sacrificial moment. Chavo is no fool. He would put up a hell of a fight. Or perhaps Jake Strong. I don’t see him being a long-term member of Lucha Underground. Strong would be strong game for Matanza to take on. It would probably be quite a rough and tumble clash. It is too soon for that matchup, but I’d be on board down the line.

Enjoy the show tonight at 8pm ET on El Rey Network. Are you excited for round two of Pentagon DARK vs Cage? Who should challenge El Dragon Azteca Jr. for the Gift of the Gods championship? Who would you like to see Matanza try to sacrifice to the gods?

Before we part, enjoy this GIF of Ivelisse with a funny context in the tweet. It is not Monday, but, heck, it should apply to every day of the week. I need to start getting out of bed like that. Roar!

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.