Lucha Underground: Aztec Warfare III

November 16, 2016 – Los Angeles, California

Johnny Mundo tells Dario Cueto that he’s going to win Aztec Warfare tonight and become the first person to hold the Lucha Underground Championship and the Gift of the Gods Championship at the same time. And if that doesn’t happen, he’s cashing in his Gift of the Gods title match next week. Taya is recording the whole arrogant exchange for a documentary. Cueto doesn’t like Mundo’s blustering, and changes his entrance number from 12 to 2. 

Sexy Star def. Matanza Cueto, Dr. Wagner Jr., Drago, Famous B, Jack Evans, Jeremiah Crane, Joey Ryan, Johnny Mundo, Kobra Moon, Marty Martinez, Mascarita Sagrada, Mil Muertes, Pentagon Dark, PJ Black, Rey Mysterio, Ricky Mandel, Son Of Havoc, the Mack, and Mariposa {Lucha Underground Championship Aztec Warfare Match}
I thought this was going to be Cueto running through everyone gauntlet style, a la Brock Lesnar in the 2020 Royal Rumble, but everyone worked together to hold him off where they could. Mundo, Havoc, Crane, and Dark kept him on the floor as much as possible while fighting one another. Black came in next, putting him and Mundo in control. Mariposa came in and immediately got caught with a Tiger Driver ‘91 by Crane, only for Cueto to eliminate Crane first with the Wrath of the Gods. Then, Mariposa no-sold the Tiger Driver, which must have offended Cueto because he eliminated her with a chokeslam right after. We almost got Mysterio vs. Cueto after that, but the Worldwide Underground fought with Mysterio on the floor instead. Wagner came out and we got a cool lucha exchange with him, Mysterio, and Dark. Martinez came out next and brawled with Cueto. Evans came in at eleven and the Worldwide Underground worked together to eliminate Havoc. Star out next and immediately went after Mundo. That didn’t go well for her. Mandel came in and immediately got chewed up by Dark. Before Dark could break Mandel’s arm, Black Lotus returned with her Triad (Kairi Sane, Io Shirai, and Mayu Iwatane!!!!!) and beat the crap out of Dark. Mundo then cleaned up and eliminated Dark and Mandel. Sagrada came out and was instantly eliminated by Cueto. B, who had been ringside with Wagner, entered next. Rey doesn’t want to dial 423, so he hits the 619 and eliminates B. He follows that up by eliminating Martinez. Mack comes out next and gives Martinez a stunner on his way out. 

Ryan is out at 17 and like last year handcuffs himself to a railing on the floor. But Muertes is out after him tears him off. Cueto eliminates Wagner as Muertes does the same to Ryan, while staring each other down. Moon is out, but she just hangs out at the commentary table. Mack eliminates Evans with a stunner. He does the same to Black. Drago is out next and goes after Moon, eliminating her in short order. Cueto catches Drago and eliminates him. With only six people left, everyone goes after Cueto. Everyone hits their finisher on him and Mysterio eliminates the champ with the Code Red to a giant pop. Cueto flips out and beats the crap out of Mysterio. He stops listening even to Dario and shoves him. Mundo slithers in and eliminates Mysterio. Evans and Black return to help Mundo beat up Star. But then Angelico returns and hits them with a crossbody off of Dario’s office, allowing Star to eliminate Mundo. Muertes eliminates Mack with the gnarliest Flatliner you’ve ever seen. Down to Muertes and Star, Muertes brings plunder into the ring. It all backfires, as Star hits a DDT on a chair and then rips him with it over and over. She puts Muertes through a table and hits a diving double stomp for the win and the title at 37:35. I mean, this was terrific. As usual, it kept current rivalries strong while sparking new ones. Matanza finally looks beatable (I mean, he lost), and the first female champion was crowned (three years before Impact did it). This was definitely better than the previous season’s match and gave the first a run for its money. ****¼