Siesta: On Lucha Underground, and the Off-Season in Wrestling

It seems like a lot of wrestling fans are really getting tired of wrestling these days. It’s almost hard not to, when you think about how many hours of content WWE pumps out consistently (nearly 10 hours a week!), and how the televised competition to the company is not exactly compelling, nor does it have the same level of production behind it. A lot of my friends often bemoan how boring, stale, or just plain stupid WWE can get week after week, and how there is no room to let stories breathe because of the breakneck pace of the show; I tend to agree. The argument for wrestling getting an off-season has really taken a leap forward in the past couple of years, and the worst part of the situation is, one promotion this year proved that the conversation about time off in wrestling is nowhere near over.

The El Rey Network’s wrestling show, Lucha Underground, was a success in so many ways this year, but one frequently cited is the storyline progression of the characters and feuds: Over the course of nearly 40 weeks, Lucha Underground managed to introduce varied and complex characters, before proceeding to put them in meaningful feuds, and pay them off in satisfying ways. These three steps are exactly what pro wrestling storytelling, and TV writing in general, should try and accomplish. It was in the run of one single season that we saw the development of characters like the inaugural LU champion Prince Puma, the intimidating villain Mil Muertes, and the spunky woman-in-a-man’s-world Sexy Star; these characters were not only interesting for their look and slug-line back stories, but grew as people and wrestling characters within a finite time to where we definitely felt something for them, good or bad. I went from originally growing tired of commentator Vampiro and his half-baked witticisms, to absolutely loving his interactions with gifted rudo luchadore Pentagon Jr; I may even call theirs my Feud of the Year by the end of the year. Unlike WWE, Lucha Underground will not be continuing indefinitely, as it has seen its first season finale already, with various storylines wrapping up to more-or-less logical conclusions, much like a season of The Walking Dead or any other popular episodic TV show. Thanks to the mega-event Ultima Lucha, and these interesting story conclusions, Lucha Underground finished as strongly as it began, something that mainstream wrestling can certainly learn from.

Mil Muertes & Prince Puma, a stellar feud in Lucha Underground’s first season; Muertes (left) boasted perhaps the best character of the lot.

Let me level with you for a second about what kind of fan I am: I’m the type of fan that needs things to have a definite end. Whether it’s mowing the lawn, or watching a season of a TV show, it really helps me to know that there is an end to something. Once something is over, it gives you a chance to miss it, so that you want it more, or it allows for something to be remembered well because of how complete of a package it became with its ending. I know a lot of people want things that they love to go on forever, but honestly, I don’t: I prefer when TV shows, video game series, and especially wrestling storylines, have a definite finale, so that we can achieve closure, and move forward with new ideas and characters. Unfortunately, the way WWE and professional wrestling is formed now, the “24/7/365” way of presenting a product is beginning to inspire burnout. Instead of having definite endings and periods of rest, storylines find themselves wheezing their way into new configurations of guys rather than actually end: Did Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns ever gain a measure of vengeance on Seth Rollins? Not really. Is Ryback still feuding with Miz and/or Big Show? Hell if I know. So many feuds these days end up being dropped, or simply run out of steam due to viewer or writer fatigue; you can’t keep writing the same old s***, or watching it, without getting bored. Compare this to Lucha Underground, which saw a massive incline in viewer interest as the stories and angles went along, and now that it’s gone for the season, is seeing tremendous viewer interest in the form of social media campaigns and favorable word-of-mouth. Lucha Underground, thanks to the fact that it had an end that left its audience wanting more (instead of bored and resigned), is now more popular than ever, and will surely be hailed as a front-runner for 2015’s most popular wrestling product.

I’m not saying that indefinite programming cannot produce conclusive storytelling and compelling television; far from it, as we’ve seen as long as wrestling has been a televised product. WWE, and its competition, can still have very interesting and exciting storylines…but just imagine what would change if we actually had a time in the year when we actually MISSED watching WWE. Wrestling’s off-season is a multi-layered issue that includes the controversial topic of unions in the business, as well as pay and contracts, so it’s not one that can be solved in a fan-written column. What I want is for you to realize that wrestling does not have to be presented in simply “what we’re used to”, and that we as viewers are not beholden to what is mass-produced for us on the weekly. This year, Lucha Underground proved that unconventional wrestling production, presentation, and storytelling is not doomed to failure; if anything, it can find its audience and flourish within and without it. Wrestling is at its best when it is fostering change, not blocking it, and Lucha Underground’s first season was a strong proponent for just that change in 2015.

Want an example of what I mean? Check out Lucha Underground’s phenomenal series recap “37 Hours of Lucha Underground in 37 Minutes” to see how LU approached finite, complete storytelling in the way it did:

Puro-File: Jushin “Thunder” Liger

Welcome to the first edition of Puro-File! In these articles, I will do my best to give you an overlook of some of the hottest and most legendary figures in puroresu, (Japanese pro wrestling), and why you should give this burgeoning art form of wrestling a second look, if you haven’t already. These articles will contain a brief profile and commentary on a Japanese wrestler and their career, and will feature recommendations on matches of theirs to check out to better understand the intent of the column. These columns are best enjoyed with a subscription to New Japan World, NJPW’s new streaming service, though some of the recommended matches can be found through other means (wink). With that said…

You’ve seen him astound the NXT universe, and you may have looked him up on the WWE Network, but just who is Jushin “Thunder” Liger?

                   Jushin “Thunder” Liger

Jushin “Thunder” Liger, who made his WWE debut only weeks ago, has actually been around a lot longer than you may realize! Debuting in New Japan Pro Wrestling in the mid-80’s (after working overseas for the likes of Stu Hart), Liger (previously known by his real name, Keiichi Yamada) actually has anime to thank for his garish and recognizable gimmick. New Japan, in a deal with the creators of the Jushin Liger anime, agreed to base one of its wrestlers off of the character. Think along the lines of Tiger Mask, a legendary gimmick also based off an anime, or imagine if Sin Cara was based on a Saturday morning cartoon. Liger ran with the strange role he was given, and he is better for it; the Liger outfit is immediately recognizable, imitated and loved by fans everywhere, with its horned mask and red/white color (or its gold and white variations).

Liger is more than just a cool look, as he would spend the next 20+ years after his debut innovating and improving on the junior heavyweight style he began in. In that time, Liger has faced many world-famous opponents, a roster that includes Ultimo Dragon, Great Sasuke, and even the Great Muta; you may be familiar with him from his runs in North America as well, either with WCW and his series with “Flyin’” Brian’ Pillman, or his times in ROH dating even this year (2015) facing the likes of Bryan Danielson and Jay Lethal. Liger is a versatile opponent, and although he is literally 50 years old, his style is immediately recognizable for its combination of strikes, power moves, and a bit of high-flying. Liger is best known for his Shotei (palm strike), the Koppu kick (forward roll heel kick), and his trademark running “Liger Bomb” which is his most well-known finisher. Plus, did you know that Liger himself invented the Shooting Star Press? It’s true!

The thing to remember about Liger is that he was doing junior heavyweight/cruiserweight wrestling before it was cool: Today, independent feds across the world are filled with smaller, light-weight wrestlers adept at both flying and technical skill, but Jushin Liger (along with many others) was wrestling the father of these modern styles in the muscle-and-cocaine 80’s and well into the Crash TV era of the 90’s. Liger was a main fixture in the tape trading circles of the 1990s with events like the Super J Cup, which would go on to inspire generations of wrestlers who wanted to be as exciting and talented as wrestlers like Liger. Consider that we may have never had successful junior-style wrestlers like Chris Jericho, or flamboyant and eye-catching gimmicks like Rey Mysterio, without Jushin Liger to be known around the world for his exceptional technique and crazy-ass look. The fact that Liger wrestles today, and on the regular for NJPW, is something to be said, and is proof that his place in wrestling history continues to be cemented every time we hear this awesome theme song.

Would you like to know more? Check out these classic Liger matches (most available on New Japan World):

vs Kuniaki Kobayashi (1989): The debut match of Liger. Although not his technical best, you can see the prototype of the Liger look (before his more well-known “Thunder” attire) and the promise of what was to come. Plus, it’s in the Tokyo Dome, with a very hot atmosphere.

vs El Samurai (1992): Liger defends the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against the less well-known, but every bit as important, El Samurai. Samurai was a main-stay junior talent for NJPW in the 1990s, and brings out the best in Liger. This match has phenomenal selling by Liger, plus a bit of his now-rarer high-flying, and is a great junior match for the title.

vs Hayabusa, vs Great Sasuke (Super J Cup 1994): Some of Liger’s most well-known matches initially came from the tape trading scene in North America (yes, people really swapped VHS tapes for fun, kids), and from tournaments like the Super J Cup that were circulated underground. This is Liger in his prime, facing some of the greatest junior heavyweight talents of all time, and for many it was their first exposure to the garish but talented “Beast God”. Dave Meltzer rated this tournament as the best major wrestling event of 1994.

vs Great Muta (1996): This Liger match is significant for introducing the concept of “Kishin Liger”, which is a new form that Liger would take on in extreme situations to become especially violent and blood-thirsty. Liger only used this character a handful of times, but its debut here is really damn cool, as he sheds his familiar attire to become this crazy demon-man. The mystique around its rare usage makes it all the more interesting, and it remains a cool moment in Liger’s storied career. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJIzfghH5AI)

vs Ultimo Dragon (1997): Liger battles world-class junior heavyweight talent Ultimo Dragon for the prestigious J-Crown, in NJPW’s annual January 4^th Tokyo Dome event! If you’ve ever seen the picture of Dragon holding, like, 20 belts and looking like an absolute pimp, this is the title he was wearing; it was a means of unifying several junior titles from across Japan and Mexico into one uber-prestigious honor. Some of the best junior wrestlers held the Crown, and here, two of the best go at it on a grand stage.

vs PAC (2012): The old-school meets the new-school, as Liger takes on WWE’s Neville in the 2012 Best of the Super Junior! Similar to Liger’s impressive showing against up-and-comer Tyler Breeze at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn, this is a cool meeting of past and present, and shows that Liger is still valuable into his middle age, and can keep up with speedsters like PAC (who looks kinda like Breckin Meyer here). There may not have been a “Man That Gravity Forgot” without a “Beast God”.

 

Happy hunting, wrestling fans!