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Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Sept 5, 2014 17:59:38 GMT -6
El Rey Network and AAA are filming the new Lucha Underground series in L.A. this weekend. We first reported this afternoon that Matt Striker will be the lead play-by-play man for the series, while Vampiro will be joining him on commentary. Former WWE writer Chris DeJoseph is serving as the executive producer and head writer of the series. He is running the project on a daily basis and is considered by most to be one of the bosses. Dorian Roldan has not had much of a presence in dealing with the production crew or talent. The 27 year old is a minority investor in the project.
DeJoseph is high on Chavo Guerrero and several other former WWE superstars for the project. He believes the familiarity of faces such as Ezekiel Jackson, Chavo Guerrero and John Morrison will help bring viewers to the series, despite their lack of lucha background. In fact, while Guerrero has worked Texas area indies before being signed by WCW in the 1990s, he has never worked traditional lucha libre matches.
AAA will use about 10 wrestlers and personalities from their Mexican company for the series. Ricochet is said to be pushed as one of the top stars. Ricochet and several other stars originally balked at signing on for the project, but Lucha Underground softened their stance on their contracts after a hardline approach. They are still hopeful of bringing in AR Fox, Uhaa Nation and many others on a per night deal. If this happens, there is a concern over how it will go over with the locker room because of the deals they were forced to sign.
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Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Sept 6, 2014 18:39:34 GMT -6
The El Rey Network will begin taping episodes for "Lucha Underground" tonight in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles. El Rey is very much behind the series and want it to be an important piece of original programming, becoming the third original series the network has created and launched since going on the airwaves.
Here's everything we know about the Lucha Underground series thus far:
The set is quite similar to the old Wrestling Society X, designed to look like a wrestling show set up inside a warehouse with bleachers on one side and raised seating in wooden chairs around the ring. There are "Lucha Underground" posters everywhere to add to the underground feel. In another WSX similarity, there are bands advertised as playing the tapings this weekend, but I don't know if that's scheduled to be part of the actual TV product or not. There are several different levels of the arena which should provide ample material for crazy dives.
Confirmed as working for the series are Luchadors Blue Demon Jr., Sexy Star, Drago, Fenix and Pentagon Jr., DGUSA Open the Freedom Gate champion Ricochet, Chavo Guerrero, John "Hennigan" Morrison, Ricky Banderas aka Messias in TNA, Martin Casaus, Famous B, Matt Cross, B-Boy and Ricky Reyes. Konnan will appear in a non-wrestling role. Former WWE referee Marty Elias is booked. Many of them will be wrestling as new personalities and characters created by the series.
Matt Striker and Vampiro will be the announcing team.
Aaron Aguilera, Kaos and Ivelisse Velez are all booked for the taping to work "dark" matches with the idea that should they come to terms, their footage could be incorporated into the show.
Rocky Romero had also been offered a deal for the series, but whether he signed or not is unknown as of this writing.
The series is headed by former WWE creative team member Chris DeJoseph with former WWE writers Chris Roach and Matt Stollman also working on the show.
Talents who have passed on the series are Mike "Evan Bourne" Sydal, Joey Ryan, Candice LaRae, Scorpio Sky, Mike Sydal, The Young Bucks, Kazarian and Erik Watts (Tough Enough alumni)
I've heard Los Ben Dejos and Los Banditos names also bandied about as possibilities for the series over the last two days, but have not confirmed whether either team will be working the tapings.
Several episodes will be taped tonight and tomorrow. They have additional taping dates of 9/13, 9/14, 9/27, 9/28, 10/4, 10/5, 10/18, 10/19, 10/25 and 10/26 set, which means the series could tape as many 24-36 episodes by late October.
Lucha Underground will debut on The El Rey Network on 10/8.
Initial press releases for the project have indicated that the series would also develop "monthly and quarterly specials" as well as live PPV events as well as licensing and merchandising for the production.
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Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Sept 6, 2014 18:48:40 GMT -6
Rocky Romero is not under a deal for the AAA - El Rey Network Lucha Underground series, and it is unlikely that he will sign one. Romero is a fixture within New Japan Pro Wrestling, and has been touring regularly with the company for several years at this point. Lucha Underground wants exclusivity on talent, and would have to put together an impressive deal for Rocky to even consider, especially with how much he loves New Japan, and how good they have been to him.
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Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Sept 7, 2014 8:27:01 GMT -6
Below are some notes from The El Rey Network's first Lucha Underground tapings last night in Los Angeles:
* Full results aren't available yet because fans were asked to keep their phones off. Apparently there were more extras than fans in the crowd.
* Vampiro and Matt Striker were the announcers.
* WWE Tough Enough competitor Martin Casaus is wrestling under the name Magnificent Martin. Matt Cross wrestled under a mask with the name Lord of Havok. He wrestled AAA female star Sexy Star.
* Former WWE star John Morrison wrestled international star Ricochet, working under the name Prince Puma. Chavo Guerrero Jr. wrestled Blue Demon Jr.
* Former WWE star Ezekiel Jackson is in a heel stable with Ricky Reyes and indie star Lil Cholo.
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Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Sept 7, 2014 20:35:08 GMT -6
Lucha Underground TV tapings from last night:
Dark matches: Famous B b B-Boy, Mil Muertas (Ricky Banderas under a mask) b Magnificent Martin Casaus, Blue Demon Jr. b Chavo Guerrero Jr., Sons of Havoc (Matt Cross) b Sexy Star, Johnny World (John Morrison) b Prince Puma (Ricochet). They taped what is likely to be the debut show that airs on 10/18. Vampiro & Matt Striker were there doing the announcing. They are taping again tonight. Very small crowd last night, and most of them were extras and not wrestling fans.
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