In ‘Lucha Underground’, The Most Compelling Characters Might Be The Fans

For those who haven’t jumped aboard the Lucha Underground bandwagon yet, let’s just say that the program is unlike any other wrestling show before it. A big part of this is due to its characters, who all benefit from its unique brand of storytelling by making it more like a drama about an underground fight club rather than an actual wrestling show. With this comes what has to be the most outlandish cast of characters to ever occupy a locker room, which only gets crazier as its own brand of Aztec mythology is expanded on throughout season two. For example, one character is a literal dragon, who’s arch enemy is a time traveling space ship that has taken human form. The promotion’s champion at the start of the season was brought back from the dead by his girlfriend with mystical powers, and has now been replaced by a monster who’s body houses an Aztec god. But for all of the insane characters that occupy The Temple, the ones who might be the most compelling are the fans themselves.

After attending multiple tapings, Lucha Underground is unlike any other live wrestling event I’ve ever been to. Not because of the close, intimate setting that the small venue provides, or the entire building serving as a giant TV set, (which definitely don’t hurt the experience,) but rather because witnessing the show makes you part of the show. Due to the nature of how other wrestling programs have been promoted, the fans are there to essentially witness a sporting event, cheering for their favorites and booing the ones that they hate. But in the context of The Temple, this isn’t a sporting event; it’s an underground fight club where only the best fighters in the world are invited to satisfy the owner and proprietor of Lucha Underground, Dario Cueto, and his insatiable love for violence. In this sense, the crowd is no different from Mr. Cueto himself, since in the context of the show, we’re all there to witness violence. In turn, we will give our respect to anyone who is able to deliver, regardless of whether or not that person is a babyface, or a heel, (wrestling terms for heroes and villains).

Take for example, Pentagon Jr., who is easily the most popular person within the promotion outside of Rey Mysterio. Starting off in season one as a heel, Pentagon made it his mission to collect sacrifices for his master in the form of broken arms. From attacking his own partners, to putting legendary wrestler and current Lucha Underground announcer, Vampiro, through a flaming table before proceeding to breaking his arm as well, we’re given very little reason to cheer him in a traditional sense. But there’s nothing traditional about this promotion, which is made even more prominent due to the fact that the crowd has no idea what the storylines behind the matches are. Unless we get a rare promo or interview segment between matches, the only thing we have to go by is what each performer does in the ring. Based on that, it’s clear that Pentagon is terrifying, but that’s why we love him. Whether he’s going against someone we generally love, or universally hate, we know we’re going to get a brutal reminder of how far he’s willing to go to win his matches.

Mil Muertes encompasses this attitude as well, as the self proclaimed ruler of The Temple at the start of the second season. Considering the nature of the show, characters can, (and have), been killed off as episodes progressed, and The Man of 1000 Deaths tries to use this to his advantage. Despite sitting on a throne made of the bones of his victims who literally killed one of the bands that played throughout the first season, the crowd loves him anyway since he promises a brand of brutality that only he can deliver. Whether he’s pushing around a much smaller opponent like Ivelisse, (in one of the promotion’s inter-gender matches, which have become a calling card for the promotion. Although I wonder whether or not you can really have a gender if you’re dead), or promising to kill his arch rival and fan favorite, Fenix, his following continues to grow due to his tendency to destroy anyone who crosses his path. Then again, we were just as excited to witness Pentagon break Mil’s arm as the season premiere came to a close, showing that actions are what drive us rather than a good vs. evil dynamic.

This fact extends to the entire roster, because while there are certain guys who consistently get boo’d, (take Johnny Mundo or Marty the Moth for instance,) that won’t stop what Dario calls his “believers”, from encouraging them from beating their favorites with their own chairs, or banging on the guard rails to show them where they want someone’s head to get smashed in. Respect isn’t given in The Temple based on alignment; it’s earned through how far each person is willing to go to put their opponent away. And despite each taping typically lasting for four hours at a time, you’ll rarely find a time where the crowd isn’t 100% invested in the matches that they’re witnessing. Despite all of the story lines, character development, and promos typically being done away from the crowd, we’re all excited for the promise of violence, which is where Lucha Underground always delivers. In this sense, it makes us no different from the evil proprietor himself, witnessing these men and women tear each other apart for our own need to watch fighting for the sake of fighting.

Because in The Temple, cheering is encouraged, passion is rewarded, and everyone has a good time. But most importantly, the Believers, are just as vital to the atmosphere of the show due to how unique its approach to the medium is. In a lot of ways, we’re just as sadistic as the promotion’s most violent performers, guiding the narrative that Lucha Underground is the where only the most destructive characters come to fight. Not only do we love the violence we’re presented, but we encourage it. And quite frankly, I couldn’t see it any other way.

Lucha Underground airs every Wednesday at 8 PM, with episodes and seasons are available for purchase at the iTunes store.