PB

After professional wrestling was outlawed during the global pandemic, the only option that remained was to go underground.

Lucha Underground Championship

Rey Mysterio ( c ) vs. Eddie Guerrero

When Lucha Underground made its triumphant return a champion was crowned through the Aztec Warfare match. Prince Puma, JBL, El Patrón, and Pentagón all impressed but the final two in the match were, quite poetically, long-time friends Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero. When Mysterio won the match and the championship it felt like the perfect ending to the relaunched brand as Mysterio was able to celebrate with his best friend. Yet for Guerrero, the sight of Mysterio with the championship was too much - he snapped, and brutally attacked his former tag team partner. This rivalry, turned friendship, turned rivalry again is everything lucha libre is about. Elite level athleticism partnered with the most bitter of personal feuds.


Mysterio: Eddie Guerrero was not just a friend, he was ma familia. Not only am I going to prove myself as champion, I’m going to teach him the meaning of respect.
Guerrero: Rey Mysterio is not my friend. Rey Mysterio is not a worthy champion. I am a Guerrero - which means that the Lucha Underground Championship is rightly mine - and I don’t care what I have to do to Rey to prove that.

Ricochet vs. John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield

After failing to capture the LU Championship, JBL was keen to blame anyone but himself. Adamant that Lucha Underground is full of misfits and degenerates, he is making it his personal mission to purify professional wrestling. That begins by getting rid of cowardly Luchadores who, instead of fighting like men, hide behind masks. Bradshaw lashed at at anyone who got in his way, and after defeating an up-and-coming luchadore, he tried to remove his mask. Enter Prince Puma who ran to the ring and fourth JBL off. Puma explained that for a luchadore his mask is not a costume, but is sacred, and JBL can’t use his fear of others as an excuse to deflect from his own failures. Puma paid the price for his heroics, and was attacked the next week by JBL from behind. Bradshaw removed Puma’s mask, revealing him to be Ricochet. This match is Ricochet’s shot at revenge.

Ricochet: JBL can take my mask, but he cannot take away my heart and my pride. I’m going to show him that his ignorance and hatred is no match for my passion and desire.
JBL: Let me get one thing straight - JBL does not hate anyone - JBL believes in equal opportunities for all. But just because I want everyone to have a fair shot, I don’t think it should be an option for cowards to hide behind masks and deception. I’ve exposed Ricochet’s identity and now I’m going to expose him as a wrestler.

The Lucha Bros (Pentagón y Rey Fenix) vs. Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas y Angel Garza

Johnny Mundo vs. Alberto el Patrón

Triple Threat Ladder Match
L.A.X. (Homicide y Hernandez) vs. The Inner Circle (Jake Hager y Sammy Guevara) vs. Proud and Powerful (Santana y Ortiz)

THE KID

DOPE SHOW

MAIN EVENT:
The Rock vs Rowdy Roddy Piper

Co-Main Event:
Sting vs Ultimate Warrior

Falls Count Anywhere:
Cactus Jack vs Brian Pillman

Singles Match:
Doink the Clown vs R Truth

TLC MATCH:
Road Warriors vs Hardy Boys vs The USOS

Opening Match:
Goldust vs Velveteen Dream

Gotta give it to Kid for being no nonsense like Bret's WM12 entrance.

I could see PB's gimmick coming a mile away and was in love and highly anticipating what we were going to get. But the card he delivered is lackluster. Big time disappointed at the weak uses of JBL and REAL AMERICAN Jack Swagger. Missed opportunity for monster Latino-hating racist heels in this. PB also loses like ciem puntos for drafting Sammy Guevara. He's the fucking WORST.

Excuse Queen KING KID earns my dimes tonight with Sting/Warrior and Cactus/Pillman. Rock/Piper is either going to be way better than expected, or the disaster expected. At least the trash talk in the pre-match promos will be epic.

Disappointed KING KID didn't give us one of his epic writeups....

And I hate voting against PB since he actually put in the work....

But I have to. Even with a bare bones show, Kid's top 3 matches draw those sweet, sweet Baker dimes.

So you can all blame me if Kid gets by PB and has time to Kid it up in later rounds en route to another draft victory.

again two really good cards. But still the same old same old. PB Mundo vs Patron and Eddie vs Rey great matches but been there done that. KING KID much like Austin vs Hogan and Sting vs Taker. Sting vs Warrior has been talked about so much it lacks creativity.

KING KID nearly sold me with "DOPE SHOW", but PB takes it with an excellent presentation, simple but effective storylines, and a solid card from top to bottom.

I love doing some "tale of the tape"-type comparisons, so let's do them instead of real work!

Lucha Underground Championship: Rey Mysterio (c) vs. Eddie Guerrero

UP AGAINST...

The Rock vs. Rowdy Roddy Piper

While I'm sure the promos from Rock and Hot Rod in the buildup to their collision would be off-the-charts electrifying, I think Eddie and Rey have enough heat and personal history to more than hold their on with captivating stories on the mic as well. And once we get to the ring, odds are stacked way more in favor of Eddie/Rey... even if it's more stale than the fresh matchup in Rock/Piper. PB wins the main event point.

PB - 1 | 0 - KING KID

=====

Triple Threat Ladder Match: L.A.X. (Homicide y Hernandez) vs. The Inner Circle (Jake Hager y Sammy Guevara) vs. Proud and Powerful (Santana y Ortiz)

UP AGAINST...

TLC MATCH:
The Road Warriors (Hawk & Anima) vs. The Hardy Boyz (Matt & Jeff) vs. The Usos (Uso #1 & Uso #2)

Thankfully PB & KING KID both book the same match type to make a head-to-head comparison easier. I agree with what's been said elsewhere... I really don't like the Road Warriors in the TLC environment. However, I also HATE "The Real American" Jack Swagger being wasted in a meaningless tag with a TERRIBLE partner in Sammy Guevara. So those complaints cancel each other out. Speaking of meaningless, I wish PB & KING KID had clarified if these matches were for the tag belts. Not hard to add that, even considering that they didn't provide stories for these matches. Setting Road Warrior and Swagger/Guevara issues aside for a moment... I think I lean slightly more toward wanting to see Hardyz/Usos in a ladder match, but then again LAX/LAX has that hook to it too. In the end, I'm splitting hairs here by KING KID adding tables and chairs to his stips and also... I'm more OK with the Road Warriors being in a TLC match than I am with Swagger being WASTED. Plus, seeing Hawk hits Doomsday Device either off a ladder himself or off the top turnbuckle to knock someone else off a ladder would be a dope spot. So... point to KING KID.

PB - 1 | 1 - KING KID

=====

Ricochet vs. John Bradshaw Layfield

UP AGAINST...

Sting vs. The Ultimate Warrior

As best as I can tell, Ricochet/JBL is PB's co-main event. Honestly, after an unsure start with the Eddie/Rey main event... this is where PB's card started to fall apart for me. JBL should've been used so much more effectively than he was here. In fact, his use here feels so filler-ish that it almost feels like a waste. Even without a story behind it, the Blade Runners IMPLODE!!~ match has more of my attention and interest. In fact, the Blade Runners IMPLODE!!~ match alone is potentially enough to get me to buy a ticket to KING KID's Dope Show.

PB - 1 | 2 - KING KID

=====

Johnny Mundo vs. Alberto el Patrón

UP AGAINST...

Falls Count Anywhere: Cactus Jack vs. Brian Pillman

Perhaps the most lopsided matchup yet. Morrison/ADR screams (or sighs?) MEH whereas Jack/Pillman --especially in a Falls Count Anywhere-- garners almost as much attention and interest as the Blade Runners IMPLODE!!~ match. KING KID's easiest point so far. Total layup.

PB - 1 | 3 - KING KID

=====

The Lucha Bros (Pentagón y Rey Fenix) vs. Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas y Angel Garza

UP AGAINST...

Doink the Clown vs. R-Truth --AND-- Goldust vs. Velveteen Dream

This is tough, and also has me wishing that either PB had booked a sixth match or KING KID had done Blade Runners vs. Road Warriors to make things more even. I'm giving KING KID the benefit of the doubt and assuming Doink and Goldust are in their physical primes. I think people sleep on Truth, Doink, and Goldust in that order. Truth is/can be good to great, especially given the right opponent... and Doink is enough of an unsung ring general I have zero doubts he could lead Truth to a great match. I wish this match had had a story, as I'm willing to bet it would've been highly entertaining and centered around R-Truth's crippling fear of clowns. Oh well... I can also imagine the build up to Goldust/Dream being WILD, and the match itself might be just as wild too.

BUT...

I shouldn't sleep on Almas & Garza. I wasn't very pleasantly surprised by their awesome work at CoronaMania this year. And from what little I've seen of the Lucha Bros, I'm willing to bet it would be a mindblowing tag match suited perfectly for the lucha vibe of PB's LU. Unlike Goldust/Dream and Doink/Truth which rely on story and/or at least require story to enhance the matches, Lucha Bros vs. Almas & Garza can be a straight-up exhibition and still be something I look forward to. If only KING KID had found time to serve us up those epic stories... I'm giving the point here to PB, not that it ultimately means much in the end since KING KID still eeks out the victory by a tit hair.

PB - 2 | 3 - KING KID

Since I still don't want to work, to harp more on what I would've personally enjoyed seeing out of PB's card...

JBL & Jack Swagger unite as the REAL AMERICAN ALLIANCE with a mission statement of ENDING Latin America's clown-like influence on their beloved sport of professional wrestling. As a natural despicable heel, maybe ADR unites with JBL & Swagger because wealth is greater than any cultural ties? I dunno... feel like he works as a the turncoat against his people.

- Cage Match for the World Title: Eddie Guerrero (c) vs. John Bradshaw Layfield
- United States Title: Rey Mysterio (c) vs. Jack Swagger
- Mexican Title: Alberto Del Rio (c) vs. John Morrison
- Tag Team Title: The Lucha Bros (Pentagon & Rey Fenix) (c) vs. Andrade Almas & Angel Garza
- LAX vs. LAX: Homicide & Hernandez vs. Santana & Ortiz
- Curtain Jerkin' Cruiserweights: Prince Puma vs. Sammy Guevara

Jul 6, 2020 20:39:01 GMT 🤯 said:

Since I still don't want to work, to harp more on what I would've personally enjoyed seeing out of PB 's card...

JBL & Jack Swagger unite as the REAL AMERICAN ALLIANCE with a mission statement of ENDING Latin America's clown-like influence on their beloved sport of professional wrestling. As a natural despicable heel, maybe ADR unites with JBL & Swagger because wealth is greater than any cultural ties? I dunno... feel like he works as a the turncoat against his people.

- Cage Match for the World Title: Eddie Guerrero (c) vs. John Bradshaw Layfield
- United States Title: Rey Mysterio (c) vs. Jack Swagger
- Mexican Title: Alberto Del Rio (c) vs. John Morrison
- Tag Team Title: The Lucha Bros (Pentagon & Rey Fenix) (c) vs. Andrade Almas & Angel Garza
- LAX vs. LAX: Homicide & Hernandez vs. Santana & Ortiz
- Curtain Jerkin' Cruiserweights: Prince Puma vs. Sammy Guevara

I’m building a world - can’t give away everything from the outset!

I’ve gotta say, super surprised that I won - I thought Kid had a lot more star power and big matches.

I’m stealing The Rock and Mick Foley.

Jul 11, 2020 8:15:17 GMT PB said:

I’ve gotta say, super surprised that I won - I thought Kid had a lot more star power and big matches.

I’m stealing The Rock and Mick Foley.

I’m surprised as well. -_-