History Wrestling / LuchaUnderground

In 2016, episodes of the series were made available for purchase on iTunes. On March 15th, 2017, Creator/{{Netflix}} began to stream the first two seasons in the United States, Mexico and Canada, with the potential for more in the future. The show finished airing its fourth season on November 7th, 2018. A fifth season presently looks unlikely due to several contract disputes, and a number of the performers being signed by other promotions.

* AnyoneCanDie: Due to Lucha Underground being more of a TV show about Wrestling then a Wrestling TV show, They aren't afraid to kill off characters. While some characters come BackFromTheDead, others are KilledOffForReal.

In 2016, episodes of the series were made available for purchase on iTunes. On March 15th, 2017, Creator/{{Netflix}} began to stream the first two seasons in the United States, Mexico and Canada, with the potential for more in the future. The show finished airing its fourth season on November 7th, 2018.

And that includes other wrestling shows. Instead of airing as a continually-running weekly show in the vein of Wrestling/{{WWE}} or Wrestling/{{TNA}}/Impact programming, ''Lucha Underground'' films episodes in batches and airs episodes on a weekly basis under a seasonal structure. Matches are taped first, then out-of-ring story segments are filmed later on; this method allows for tighter control of storylines and helps the production team when it comes to writing around injuries. ''Lucha Underground'' also stands out from other wrestling shows by having an overarching storyline that falls more in line with dramatic shows such as ''Series/BreakingBad'' or ''Series/GameOfThrones''.

* CrossOver: Lucha Underground was originally spun off from Wrestling/{{AAA}}, but has developed a close working relationship with [[Wrestling/{{TNA}} IMPACT Wrestling]], with a lot of wrestlers made stars (or even bigger stars) by LU showing up in the Impact Zone (with Pentagon even becoming World Champion in 2018) and some IMPACT stars even crossing back into LU (such as Dezmond Xavier, who joined the show as 'Dezmond X' in Season 4). They even staged a very well-received company vs company show together at [=WrestleCon=] 2018.

* {{Tweener}}: Many of the wrestlers look out for themselves and no-one else. Mil Muertes, being the [[WrestlingMonster monster wrestler]], is obviously this, but Drago is also one and has become a fan favorite for it.

* GorgeousGeorge: Pimpinela Escarlata. Oh so much. Likewise in season 4, Sonny Kiss a/k/a XO Lishus.

* WhamShot: After 2 seasons of buildup, who is the Unknown Benefactor? [[spoiler: Wade Barrett!]]

* GorgeousGeorge: Pimpinela Escarlata. Oh so much.

''Lucha Underground'' is an hour-long wrestling program that airs on Creator/RobertRodriguez's [[Creator/{{Univision}} El Rey Network]] (and in Spanish on [=UniMas=]). The show features ''luchadores'' from Mexican promotion Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (Wrestling/{{AAA}}) as well as American wrestlers from the independents. The show is shot in a grindhouse style--it is Robert Rodriguez's network, after all--and storylines feature an episodic, dramatic style that ticks all the boxes of the pro wrestling storytelling checklist but feels just different enough to anything else on TV.

''Lucha Underground'' is an hour-long wrestling program that airs on Creator/RobertRodriguez's [[Creator/{{Univision}} El Rey Network]] (and in Spanish on [=UniMas=]). The show features ''luchadores'' from Mexican promotion Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (Wrestling/{{AAA}}) as well as American wrestlers from the independents. The show is shot in a grindhouse style--it is Robert Rodriguez's channel, after all--and storylines feature an episodic, dramatic style that ticks all the boxes of the pro wrestling storytelling checklist but feels just different enough to anything else on TV.

And that includes other wrestling shows. Instead of airing as a continually-running weekly show in the vein of Wrestling/{{WWE}} or Wrestling/{{TNA}} programming, ''Lucha Underground'' films episodes in batches and airs episodes on a weekly basis under a seasonal structure. Matches are taped first, then out-of-ring story segments are filmed later on; this method allows for tighter control of storylines and helps the production team when it comes to writing around injuries.

''Lucha Underground'' also stands out from other wrestling shows by having an overarching storyline that falls more in line with dramatic shows such as ''Series/BreakingBad'' or ''Series/GameOfThrones''. The primary plot revolves around [[BigBad Dario Cueto]], the man who runs the building ("The Temple") in which Lucha Underground events take place. He operates the venue as an underground fight club, through which he can satiate his love of violence by staging the hottest ''lucha libre'' action around (and making people pay to watch it). But behind closed doors, Dario has an agenda of nefarious and [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane possibly supernatural]] purposes--and he will do whatever he can to see that agenda realized. Within this main storyline, the ''luchadores'' and ''luchadoras'' who wrestle in The Temple become entwined in their own personal feuds and subplots, many of which cross into one another and give their stories (and Dario's) an amount of complexity and cohesiveness rarely found in a professional wrestling show.

The show finished airing its third Season on October 18th, 2017. In 2016, episodes of the series were made available for purchase on iTunes. On March 15th, 2017, Creator/{{Netflix}} began to stream the first two seasons in the United States, Mexico and Canada, with the potential for more in the future. Despite doubts about the future of the series in November 2017, Season 4 was officially confirmed to be coming in 2018. At ''[=WrestleCon=] 2018'', during a versus event with [[Wrestling/{{TNA}} Impact Wrestling]], Season 4's premiere date was announced to be June 13th, 2018, with an [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFSai18nSHU extended trailer]] released on May 9th, 2018.

* ShooOutTheClowns: Wacky comedic wrestlers such as Pimpinela, Mascarita, and El Mariachi Loco almost completely disappeared as the series took a darker tone with Matanza, though Mascarita was later re-integrated [[spoiler: until his death in Season 4 which also had the goofiness of the Rabbit Tribe gone.]]

-->'''[[spoiler:Unknown]]''' ''[[VoiceOfTheLegion You have done well.]]''\\
'''[[spoiler:Vampiro]]:''' Thank you... Master.

-->'''White Rabbit:''' [[spoiler: Kill the man who brought you to me.]]

-->'''Mundo:''' Taya, Kobra Moon couldn't grant my wish...[[spoiler: Only you could. Taya...will you marry me?]]

** Strangely, after having been forgotten for about half the season, it was brought up again right at the very end of Ultima Lucha Tres, when a little girl approached Sexy during an autograph signing/photoshoot with another spider in a box and the creepy message "She hasn't forgotten you, you know." Unfortunately, most people don't really ''want'' to know any more, due to [[HateSink Sexy tanking her career in real life]] (thanks to her infamous shoot on Wrestling/{{Rosemary}}) and not having her LU contract renewed for season 4. It's later revealed that she was KilledOffscreen.

** Strangely, after having been forgotten for about half the season, it was brought up again right at the very end of Ultima Lucha Tres, when a little girl approached Sexy during an autograph signing/photoshoot with another spider in a box and the creepy message "She hasn't forgotten you, you know." Unfortunately, most people don't really ''want'' to know any more, due to [[HateSink Sexy tanking her career in real life]] (thanks to her infamous shoot on Wrestling/{{Rosemary}}) and not having her LU contract renewed for season 4.

** The end of "Sacrificio" has Mascarita Sacrada take the Rabbit Tribe to the White Rabbit. London states he would offer anything for the White Rabbit and his guidance. What does he say?

* [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse What Happened To The Spiders?]]: So who ''was'' responsible for putting spiders in Sexy Star's locker? First she mistakenly blamed Mariposa because of their previous feud, then Veneno (aka. Cortez Castro) because of his spider-patterned mask, then after Veneno was unmasked the whole thing was completely forgotten, with Sexy moving on to her feud with Taya instead.
** Strangely, after having been forgotten for about half the season, it was brought up again right at the very end of Ultima Lucha Tres, when a little girl approached Sexy during an autograph signing/photoshoot with another spider in a box and the creepy message "She hasn't forgotten you, you know." Unfortunately, most people don't really ''want'' to know any more, what with [[HateSink Sexy tanking her career in real life]] thanks to her infamous shoot on Wrestling/{{Rosemary}}.
* WholeCostumeReference: Sexy Star's outfit for the Aztec Warfare match was conspicuously similar to that of [[Comicbook/MsMarvel Ms. Marvel]].

** Subverted by Fenix and Pentagon Jr. who are brothers in real life, but their relationship is never mentioned.

* GreaterScopeVillain: Dario and Matanza Cueto's parents. [[AbusiveParents Their mother was a wicked woman who was]] [[OffingTheOffspring going to kill Dario when he finally stood up to her,]] [[SelfMadeOrphan until Matanza intervened]]. Their father, according to what Rey Mysterio told Dragon Azteca II at least, was fascinated by the dark side of Aztec legends and may even have [[HumanSacrifice sacrificed Matanza]] [[SealedInsideAPersonShapedCan to place an Aztec god inside his body]]. Their actions created the monster Matanza and set Dario on the path to being the evil man he is today, but their mother is clearly dead and their father's current status is unknown. The Aztec gods themselves may count as well.

** Konnan to Prince Puma. He DOES seem to have Puma's best interests in mind... but this is '''''Konnan''''' we're talking about. Might also have shades of TheSvengali, as Konnan is using Puma for his own goals.

*** In an ironic convergence of the above two entries, now Vampiro is mentoring Prince Puma after Konnan's death and Pentagon's betrayal.

* TheGiant: Big Ryck, during Season 1. He wasn't ''gigantic'', but he was the biggest wrestler on the roster. With Big Ryck gone after Season 1, Cage took his place as this. Mil Muertes, Matanza, and Season 3 debutant Vibora could also qualify.

* AdaptationalHeroism: Sexy Star. While {{Heel}} and {{Face}} dynamics are always different from promotion to promotion, she's notable for being one of the longest lasting female ''rudos'' (the Spanish term for what English-speaking fans know as "heels") in LU's parent promotion [=AAA=]. In LU? One of the most enduring faces on the entire roster, behind perhaps only Puma.
* AffablyEvil: Dario Cueto seems this way, skipping back and forth between ReasonableAuthorityFigure and BadBoss.

* AnachronicOrder: In an attempt to keep attendees from leaking accurate spoilers, matches for season 2 and 3 were taped at least somewhat out of order.

''Lucha Underground'' is an hour-long wrestling program that airs on Creator/RobertRodriguez's El Rey Network (and in Spanish on [=UniMas=]). The show features ''luchadores'' from Mexican promotion Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (Wrestling/{{AAA}}) as well as American wrestlers from the independents. The show is shot in a grindhouse style--it is Robert Rodriguez's channel, after all--and storylines feature an episodic, dramatic style that ticks all the boxes of the pro wrestling storytelling checklist but feels just different enough to anything else on TV.

** The end of "Sacrificio"has Mascarita Sacrada take the Rabbit Tribe to the White Rabbit. London states he would offer anything for the White Rabbit and his guidance. What does he say?

* ShooOutTheClowns: Wacky comedic wrestlers such as Pimpinela, Mascarita, and El Mariachi Loco almost completely disappeared as the series took a darker tone with Matanza, though Mascarita was later re-integrated.

-->'''spoiler:Unknown''' ''[[VoiceOfTheLegion You have done well.]]''\\
'''spoiler:Vampiro:''' Thank you... Master.

** Ultima Lucha Tres' post-show video package included one: Prince Puma removed his mask and left it behind as he left the Temple. King Cuerno had the Gauntlet of the Gods encased in glass in his trophy room. Sexy Star was approached by a little girl bearing a spider and a message that "She" hadn't forgotten about her. The Rabbit Tribe was again corrected by Mascarita Sagrada, with him revealing that he would take them to the White Rabbit. Fenix and Melissa Santos left the Temple together, unaware that they were being watched by Catrina and Jeremiah Crane. A shackled Drago looked on in anger as the returning Drago decapitated Pindar at the behest of Kobra Moon. Vampiro and his Master further plotted. Rey Mysterio was revealed to have been placed in a cell next to Matanza's. Finally, Agent Winter attempted to murder Dario Cueto, with a gravely wounded Cueto calling his father before passing out.

* GreaterScopeVillain: Dario and Matanza Cueto's parents. [[AbusiveParents Their mother was a wicked woman who was]] [[OffingTheOffspring going to kill Dario when he finally stood up to her,]] [[SelfMadeOrphan until Matanza intervened]]. Their father, according to what Rey Mysterio told Dragon Azteca II at least, was fascinated by the dark side of Aztec legends and may even have [[HumanSacrifice sacrificed Matanza]] [[SealedInsideAPersonShapedCan to place an Aztec god inside his body]]. Their actions created the monster Matanza and set Dario on the path to being the evil man he is today, but their mother is clearly dead and their father's current status is unknown. The Aztec gods themselves may count as well..

The show finished airing its third Season on October 18th, 2017. In 2016, episodes of the series were made available for purchase on iTunes. On March 15th, 2017, Creator/{{Netflix}} began to stream the first two seasons in the United States, Mexico and Canada, with the potential for more in the future. Despite doubts about the future of the series in November 2017, Season 4 was officially confirmed to be coming in 2018. At ''[=WrestleCon=] 2018'', during a versus event with [[Wrestling/{{TNA}} Impact Wrestling]], Season 4's premiere date was announced to be June 13th, 2018.

The show finished airing its third Season on October 18th, 2017. In 2016, episodes of the series were made available for purchase on iTunes. On March 15th, 2017, Creator/{{Netflix}} began to stream the first two seasons in the United States, Mexico and Canada, with the potential for more in the future. Despite doubts about the future of the series, in November 2017 Season 4 was officially confirmed to be coming in 2018. A versus event with [[Wrestling/{{TNA}} IMPACT Wrestling]] was announced for ''[=WrestleCon=] 2018'', during which it was announced that Season 4 would be premiering on June 13th, 2018.

The show finished airing its third Season on October 18th, 2017. In 2016, episodes of the series were made available for purchase on iTunes. On March 15th, 2017, Creator/{{Netflix}} began to stream the first two seasons in the United States, Mexico and Canada, with the potential for more in the future. Despite doubts about the future of the series, in November 2017 Season 4 was officially confirmed to be coming in 2018. A versus event with [[Wrestling/{{TNA}} IMPACT Wrestling]] was announced for ''[=WrestleCon=] 2018.''

The show finished airing its third Season on October 18th, 2017. In 2016, episodes of the series were made available for purchase on iTunes. On March 15th, 2017, Creator/{{Netflix}} began to stream the first two seasons in the United States, Mexico and Canada, with the potential for more in the future. Despite doubts about the future of the series, in November 2017 Season 4 was officially confirmed to be coming in 2018.