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Re: Lucha Underground thread

Posted: Wed May 27, 2015 12:18 pm
by donkitrk99
Thanks (again) Rob

Re: Lucha Underground thread

Posted: Fri May 29, 2015 7:30 am
by WDRLeavelle
I absolutely love most of the in ring matches in L.U.

I absolutely love nearly all of the roster

I really like Stryker as a commentator and Vamps goofiness is growing on me

However, I struggle with the over the top angles like Mil Muertes being the Mexican Undertaker. Catrina is hot as hell, but she's Paul Bearer with a rock, instead of an urn. Also, she can appear and disappear now at will apparently? WTF?

What in the hell is Dario's brother going to be when finally revealed? Goro from Mortal Kombat? The guy just murdered one of The Crew because they failed to win the trios titles!

Chavo and Black Lotus are teaming up in the ring to seek revenge on Dario's brother (Goro) for killing Lotus's parents...okay then.

As I said I love the in ring stuff, but some of these stories are just way too out there for me. I loved the show for a long while now, but recently find myself cringing at the outside the ring stuff.

Re: Lucha Underground thread

Posted: Fri May 29, 2015 1:58 pm
by Leo C
B-Boy being legit murdered was great entertainment.

Re: Lucha Underground thread

Posted: Fri May 29, 2015 7:30 pm
by DBSommer
WDRLeavelle wrote:I absolutely love most of the in ring matches in L.U.

I absolutely love nearly all of the roster

I really like Stryker as a commentator and Vamps goofiness is growing on me

However, I struggle with the over the top angles like Mil Muertes being the Mexican Undertaker. Catrina is hot as hell, but she's Paul Bearer with a rock, instead of an urn. Also, she can appear and disappear now at will apparently? WTF?

What in the hell is Dario's brother going to be when finally revealed? Goro from Mortal Kombat? The guy just murdered one of The Crew because they failed to win the trios titles!

Chavo and Black Lotus are teaming up in the ring to seek revenge on Dario's brother (Goro) for killing Lotus's parents...okay then.

As I said I love the in ring stuff, but some of these stories are just way too out there for me. I loved the show for a long while now, but recently find myself cringing at the outside the ring stuff.
Probably a good thing I watch only the matches, then. I like those. I had no idea how over the top the storylines were. Okay, lucha is not about subtlty, but still...

Re: Lucha Underground thread

Posted: Fri May 29, 2015 8:01 pm
by WDRLeavelle
The matches are second to none, and most of the story lines are cool, but those three or four that are over the top, are way, way, over the top.

Re: Lucha Underground thread

Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2015 9:36 pm
by BigTChamp
Getting season 1 on Netflix would be a great way to spread the word about their product and increase demand for season 2

Re: Lucha Underground thread

Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2015 2:11 pm
by Sandy Fork
Lucha Underground is apparently in the emmy ballot for outstanding structured reality program.

Good on them

Re: Lucha Underground thread

Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2015 3:31 pm
by supersonic
Observer:
Arrangements are being made for a second season of Lucha Underground back at the same building they ran the first season in, in Boyle Heights, CA, but until there is a public announcement of the season and talent gets specific dates, I don't take any of this to be solid news. There had been talk of moving the tapings to different locations in Texas to save on money, since one of the reasons they ran so deeply in red ink and had financial troubles coming out of the first season was the rent on the Boyle Heights building. It had also been talked about trying to tape in Mexico to save costs, but the feeling was that some of the major executives involved in the production weren't going to be happy constantly going to Mexico. The talent with the promotion still hasn't heard anything. Just the idea that Big Ryck took the date in Mexico for All Elite, considered a rival of AAA, and working for All Elite pretty much is what ended Hernandez's run here, spells major uncertainty.

Re: Lucha Underground thread

Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2015 4:49 pm
by DXvsNWO1994
I've never really heard of All Elite. What is their position in Mexico? Presumably (with my limited knowledge of Mexican Lucha Libre) they'd be behind AAA & CMLL. If you had to compare them to a US Company, what would be the best comparison?

Re: Lucha Underground thread

Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2015 6:15 pm
by supersonic
Observer:
Talent under contract was told that maybe filming for a new season would start in September, but they've been given no dates. This was the first official word that they can book weekends for August, which many have done. A lot of guys are also booking weekends in September, not trusting there are dates here, but at least some are letting promoters know that due to LU contracts, they may have to pull out of the dates. I'd be worried that the television deal in Mexico that a month ago looked to be finalized any day now still hasn't come to fruition, and that the most important piece of the puzzle, a potential Univision deal in the U.S. has gone almost completely quiet. The reality is even if they have the money for a second season and it's only on Unimas and El Rey in the U.S. without a paying deal in Mexico, it's just another huge money loss to continue with almost no significant revenue coming in. I do know that has been talked about internally at a high level that even though Robert Rodriguez is one of the key investors, that the El Rey Network just isn't a strong enough platform that will deliver enough viewers given the expense of putting together the shows, and really, neither is Unimas. The fact they haven't even tried house shows indicates no confidence that the product can draw, and even with the cool look of the product and great action, they have no international deals in place. While it could happen some day, there is still no example of a promotion lasting any length of time being just a TV promotion, with the exception of TNA this year and money pits that are bad businesses don't really count as good examples. Plus, unless you are sport, most television shows don't last very long these days. Lucha Underground audience with the heavy DVR usage as opposed to live usage doesn't have the audience qualities of a sport, which lessens its value.

Re: Lucha Underground thread

Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 5:54 am
by TYFDK
Card for Ultima Lucha on 8/5


Re: Lucha Underground thread

Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 6:08 am
by Sandy Fork
So, Hernandez is either getting got by Mexico or Mantanza next right?

Re: Lucha Underground thread

Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2015 9:19 pm
by supersonic
Observer:
Eric Van Wagenen, the Executive Prouder of Lucha Underground, did a Reddit talk this past week and when asked about the future, said this: “Let’s break it down into parts, if and when and where. There is very little doubt in my mind about the if. I’d say it’s a 99.9% chance that a second season is happening. LU is a partnership and each of the partners are committed to making season two happen. The `to be continued’ at the end of Ultima Lucha was not just us trolling you. It was more of a promise. The issues about money and production costs are indeed real, although vastly overstated. We didn’t spend $20 million–not even close. El Rey is one of the best networks I’ve ever worked with, but what they have to spend doesn’t quite cover the costs of a show like Lucha Underground. So our choices are to either raise the money from another source, or make the show cheaper. We are currently looking for a second broadcasting partner, either a streaming service or even an additional broadcast network. We are also aggressively going after foreign sales, sponsorships and integrated partners. Those deals take time to secure, and that is why there has been a delay in announcing an official pick-up. The when of this is what’s up in the air. Of course we’d like to be back on the air in October, but realistically that date is likely to push. I’d put January of 2016 as the latest date of our return. The where is being debated and is part of option two. Los Angeles is expensive. As much as we all want to stay in Boyle Heights, we may need to investigate a different location for season two. There are other locations with tax incentives or where resources are cheaper. Of course, story-wise, we can make anything work. We all saw Dario leave the temple and where he ends up is anyone’s guess.” One of the partners has given the figure of $400,000 per episode spent for season one, and there were 39 episodes taped. That doesn’t include other start-up costs. We know that locations in both Texas and Mexico have been at least discussed. There was the feeling that some of the partners wouldn’t be comfortable shooting in Mexico, although it can be done there for far less, so Texas was in the lead but no decisions have been made. Everyone is talking like there will be a second season, but with a lower budget. Ultimately, this still all depends on getting new financing or new broadcast partners. The Televisa deal in Mexico that would have guaranteed a second season and may have been a game changer for pro wrestling in Mexico wasn’t completed and talk of that has quieted down. A Univision deal, which would be a game-changer in the U.S., also hasn’t materialized and we don’t even hear talk in the latter direction. Even if there is a second season, the idea of maybe 60,000 to 80,000 viewers on El Rey and another 200,000 to 250,000 on Unimas simply isn’t enough of an audience given the costs involved, so they need a new deal for wider exposure, that would allow them to do things like merchandise the product, run live events or PPVs or something that can generate revenue past just the television rights fees, unless they can sign a big money TV deal.

An interesting note will involve both Rey Mysterio Jr. and Alberto El Patron. Both left WWE at least partially with the idea they’d be the focused on superstars of this promotion and could make big money with less work. Alberto got a great deal. Mysterio Jr. is expected to be in if there is a second season although that has not been announced. But I think both thought of this as a pretty much full-time (39 weeks per year) that would give them a strong six figure paycheck and they could augment that with indie bookings and AAA bookings and earn the same or more than they did with WWE. It gave both no incentive to go back, but if they can’t expect to earn similar money, that incentive changes.

I have a copy of a contract for this season and the standard contract is this: The term is until the final episode airs of the seventh season of the show, however the promotion has six options, basically after every season, they can drop the performer from their contract. There are no minimum number of episodes guaranteed. The producers can drop a performer from a contract no later than nine months after the last broadcast of the preceding season, or, if the show is canceled before the last broadcast, 12 months after the last episode airs. The pay rate is flat, with no increase for rerun airings. The contract gives the promotion exclusivity over the performer for use in all media, which would basically mean television, iPPVs, internet matches in theory, unless the performer gets written approval from Baba-G Productions, or anything they believe would be in competition for the series. Even after the seventh season, there is a six month non-compete for pro wrestling or “sports-based entertainment” (there to cover MMA or boxing). All competitors are also banned from saying anything derogatory in public about the television show the producer or the promotion. Essentially, there is no time frame between seasons to where the contract becomes void, so as long as they don’t announce the cancellation of the series, the talent would not be able to go to WWE, TNA, GFW, New Japan, ROH, etc. and appear on television in the U.S. market or do any type of performance in the media without the approval of the promotion, until six months after airing of the final episode of season seven. Granted, after a certain period of time with no pay, I think anyone would be able to challenge the legality of being held to the contract.

However, in the Reddit interview, Van Wagenen openly talked about Angelico being on the radar of WWE and WWE maybe trying to take him, and mentioned that he and Canyon Ceman were friends before either got involved in their current jobs and how weird it is that they are both going to possibly be competing for the same talent.

Re: Lucha Underground thread

Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2015 10:03 pm
by Big Red Machine
Here is Dave's write-up of that whole losing montage:
The show ended with lots of the guys bidding farewell. Black Lotus and Dario Cueto were still packing money and finally left with the monster. Marty the Moth was still in the building and tied up Sexy Star and was laughing at her being helpless. Ivelisse and Havoc left together on a motorcycle so I guess their romance is back on. Vampiro and Pentagon cut a promo together and disappeared. Then we found out that Dragon Azteca is still alive, and there was a ? (for the season two debut of Rey Mysterio if this comes to fruition) as the show ended.
He missed so much important stuff it makes you wonder if he was really paying attention.

Re: Lucha Underground thread

Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 7:23 am
by DXvsNWO1994
Highspots has a limited quantity of Pentagon Jr. & Drago T-Shirts available. If you're a fan of either guy, I'd get them before they're gone.

Re: Lucha Underground thread

Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2015 3:16 pm
by DXvsNWO1994
@LuchaElRey
Believers, are you ready? #LuchaUnderground season 2 is coming in 2016!
Image

Re: Lucha Underground thread

Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2015 4:00 pm
by Big Red Machine
HOORAY!

Re: Lucha Underground thread

Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2015 4:10 pm
by AndyDiaz
Is there any spot where I catch the entire first season? I.E. DVD or something?

Re: Lucha Underground thread

Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2015 7:56 pm
by JTCole
Welp, Del Rio really fucked over AAA.

But you can do that with financial security I guess.

Re: Lucha Underground thread

Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2015 1:57 am
by Kabla
AndyDiaz wrote:Is there any spot where I catch the entire first season? I.E. DVD or something?
I don't know of any official place where the full episodes are available. However, when my DVR was acting up and didn't record a couple episodes, I was able to find the ones I missed on dailymotion. If all else fails, you could try looking there.

The best we could probably hope for as far as a DVD would be some sort of Best of comp, and even that is somewhat unlikely. I certainly wouldn't count on there ever being a full DVD set of all 39 episodes.