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Lucha Underground

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Lucha Underground
GenreProfessional wrestling
Lucha libre
Hardcore wrestling
Drama
Action
Developed byOne Three Media
StarringLucha Underground roster
Narrated byMatt Striker
Vampiro
Country of originUnited States
Mexico
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes45 (as of March 2, 2016 (2016-03-02))
Production
Executive producersMark Burnett
Robert Rodriguez
Eric van Wagenen
Anthony Jensen
Chris DeJoseph
ProducersMatthew Stollman
Chris Roach
Chavo Guerrero Jr.
Sue Vial
Barry Murphy
Ryan Hermosura
Nick Staller
Production locationsLucha Underground Arena
Boyle Heights, California
Camera setupMulticamera setup
Running time60 minutes
Production companyUnited Artists Media Group
Original release
NetworkEl Rey Network (English)
UniMás (Spanish)
ReleaseOctober 29, 2014 (2014-10-29) –
present

Lucha Underground is a professional wrestling franchise produced by the United Artists Media Group. The weekly television series airs in English on the El Rey Network and in Spanish on UniMás, featuring wrestlers from the American independent circuit and Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA), one of the biggest wrestling promotions in Mexico.[1] AAA also owns a percentage of Lucha Underground.[2]

The series premiered with its first season on October 29, 2014, that ran for 39 episodes. The second season of Lucha Underground started on January 27, 2016. Prior to the taping of the last Lucha Underground show for season 2 it was announced that the show had been renewed for a third season. It was also revealed that the show would be available on iTunes for purchase.

History and broadcasting

In January 2014 it was announced that producer Mark Burnett of One Three Media would be partnering with filmmaker Robert Rodriguez's El Rey Network to launch a weekly hour-long television show in the United States in the second half of the year; the show would be affiliated with Mexico's Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA).[3] In July 2014, the show was tentatively called "Lucha: Uprising".[4] In August 2014, the show was renamed as "Lucha Underground", and it was announced that five AAA wrestlers would join the show, namely Blue Demon Jr., Sexy Star, Fénix, Drago and Pentagón Jr. The show would be taped in front of a live audience in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, with the first taping being on September 6, 2014.[5][6]

The series premiered on October 29, 2014, on the El Rey Network and airs on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET.[7] and in Spanish on November 1, 2014, on UniMás where it airs on Saturdays at 4:00 p.m.[8] El Rey is available through cable and satellite television companies Comcast, Time Warner, Cox Communications, DirecTV,[9] Bright House Networks, Dish Network, and Suddenlink Communications.[10] UniMás is available on DirecTV and Dish Network.[11] Unlike other promotions, matches are typically shown in their entirety without commercials. Video packages highlighting wrestlers or storylines, air throughout each broadcast as well as several interactions between either the wrestlers themselves or with storyline promoter Dario Cueto, who is portrayed as a heel.

On January 7, 2015, Prince Puma was crowned the first Lucha Underground Champion when he won the Aztec Warfare match.[12] On April 22, 2015, Angélico, Ivelisse and Son of Havoc were crowned the first Lucha Underground Trios Champions when they won the Trios Tournament. On March 25, 2015, it was announced that Lucha Underground will be holding their first major event in early August 2015 entitled Ultima Lucha.[13] On May 24, 2015, Lucha Underground was represented in the Lucha Libre World Cup by wrestlers Johnny Mundo, Angélico, Alberto El Patrón, El Mesías (Mil Muertes), Cage and senior official Marty Elias.

During Ultima Lucha, it was established that Lucha Underground would be moving out of the Temple in Boyle Heights to "Find someplace safe" as "a war has been started." Following the "death" of El Dragon Azteca. Dario Cueto had taken Lotus and his brother and got into an SUV, leaving the Temple and setting up a possible second season.

On September 21, 2015, it was announced that Lucha Underground would be returning for a second season.[14] The first tapings for Season 2 took place on November 14/15, 2015, and began airing on January 27, 2016.[15] The storyline will be that Dario Cueto is missing and in his absence Catrina & Mil Muertes are in charge of The Temple.

Prior to the taping of the last show for Season 2 the producer announced to the cast that the show had been renewed for a third season after just airing one episode of the second season.[16] El Rey made the official announcement on February 1, 2016.[17]

Reception

Lucha Underground was well received by critics and fans. In IMDB, the first season received over 9 out of 10[18] and a 98% from Rotten Tomato[19] John Moore, from ProWrestling.net, praised the show for "[knowing] their identity and [weaving] together an amazing universe".[20] Lucha Underground has also gained praise from media sites like UPROXX, which said Lucha Underground had two of top ten matches of 2015.

Roster

Main article: List of Lucha Underground personnel

Champions

Championships Current champion(s) Reign Date won Days
held 		Location
Lucha Underground Championship Matanza 1 December 12, 2015 3,161+ Boyle Heights, California
Gift of the Gods Championship Sexy Star 1 January 31, 2016 3,111+ Boyle Heights, California
Lucha Underground Trios Championship Aero Star, Drago and Fénix 1 January 31, 2016 3,111+ Boyle Heights, California

References

  1. ^ "Los Angeles, CA (September 25, 2015) – Lucha Underground, the Lucha Libre wrestling franchise from United Artists Media Group and FactoryMade Ventures".
  2. ^ Johnson, Mike (7 February 2016). "More on issues with Konnan, AAA and others in recent weeks". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  3. ^ de Moraes, Lisa. "TCA: Mark Burnett To Launch Lucha Libre AAA League In U.S. With El Rey Network; 'From Dusk Till Dawn' To Premiere In March". Deadline.com. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  4. ^ Caldwell, James (2014-07-10). "AAA news: El Rey announces AAA Lucha Libre show for U.S. TV - timeslot, show title, more details". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2014-09-16.
  5. ^ "El Rey Network announces more details of AAA Lucha Libre project". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. 2014-08-27. Retrieved 2014-08-28.
  6. ^ Queally, James (April 22, 2015). "Learn to speak lucha: The secret language of the squared circle". Los Angeles Times.
  7. ^ "Lucha Underground promotion TV debut moved back three weeks". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. 2014-09-22. Retrieved 2014-09-23.
  8. ^ Steinberg, Brian. "Univision To Use El Rey Wrestling Show To Bolster UniMas". Variety. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  9. ^ de la Fuente, Anna Marie. "Univision's Fourth Quarter, Full Year Revenue Rises". Variety. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  10. ^ Farrell, Mike. "Suddenlink Launches El Rey Network". Multichannel News. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  11. ^ "Television Station Information KFSF Channel 66 Programming: Unimas". Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  12. ^ Johnson, Mike (2014-10-05). "Lucha Underground spoiler". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved 2014-10-06.
  13. ^ "Big Update on "Ultimo Lucha" TV Special".
  14. ^ "Believers, are you ready? #LuchaUnderground season 2 is coming in 2016!". Lucha Underground. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  15. ^ Peeples, Jeremy (January 27, 2016). "Lucha Underground Results: Season 2 Kicks off with an Intergender word title match". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  16. ^ Thomas, Jeremy (January 31, 2016). "Lucha Underground renewed for Season Three". 411Mania. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  17. ^ "Lucha Underground gets picked up for a third season". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  18. ^ "Lucha Underground". IMDB.
  19. ^ "Lucha Underground". Rotten Tomatoes.
  20. ^ "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". Prowrestling.net. Retrieved 2015-11-04.
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