LUCHA LIVES GENESIS - APRIL 14th 2020
Live from Warehouse 5.05 in Lincoln Acres, San Diego, CA. & Live on AXS TV
We accompany two men in their mid-twenties leaving a bar somewhat in a hurry, in the outskirts of San Diego, California. "It was worth the shot!" one of them says mid-laugh, pulling a streak of purple hair over his ear, offering a brown paper bag to the other. His friend takes it and downs a swig, just as the bar's bouncer erupts from the establishment: "Next time I see you lowlifes in this neighborhood you'll have no reason, nor teeth, to laugh!"
"Should we call it a night? I do have work in the morning... Yo, what was that?". Right in front of them as they turned the corner towards the alleyway where they had left their beat-up sedan, they see a masked individual, down on one knee, next to a woman that looked like she was recently mugged, an empty purse in front of her, driver's license and some receipts scattered about in the puddles that just started forming from the recent rainfall. "Leave the girl alone, you creep! We'll teach you a lesson!" The second of the friends steps up towards the masked individual, the whisky bottle now in his hand, fully out of the brown bag that went to join the other discarded papers amongst the puddles of this back alley.
"No guys, it's fine, he was actually helping me. I told him to try and catch the bastards who robbed me, but he wanted to stay and see if I needed help... Don't think he speaks much English. But let's go, if you guys help it's four against two and I don't think the idiots realize that this alley comes up to a dead end." said the woman, pointing in the direction the muggers went. The alley continued for another 100 or so feet, before it turned to left. The girl, bruised but not broken, got up, gathered her documents and took off to give chase.
Without need for words, the three circumstantial friends soon followed, turned left and continued on for another couple of seconds before arriving at their destination - a poorly lit cul-de-sac, a couple of dumpsters flanking the backdoor of a mexican diner and a long abandoned car were the only things visible to them, no sign of the muggers nor the girl. For now, at least. Stepping out of the car, flanked by three thugs, she formed a sadistic smirk. "Hook, line and sinker. Let's **** these fools up."
TRIOS BACK ALLEY STREET FIGHT
w/ 
vs. 
Belfast Brawlers (Taya Valkyrie, Junior & Ramiro) w/ David Finlay Sr. vs Ace Austin, "Beyblade" Chris Bey & Laredo Kid
Ace Austin didn't even have time to properly register his confusion about the events that just transpired before a shillelagh struck him full-force in the back of the head, leaving him prone on the ground. Chris Bey turned towards the two leather jacket wearing men that approached, while a third, older, man, David Finlay Sr., the one that just attacked Ace Austin, just stood over him, smiling as the blood from the cut in the back of Austin's neck began to pool under his face.
With the numbers disadvantage and still quite in shock about the situation, Chris Bey and Laredo Kid tried valiantly to fight back against the assault from the Belfast gang, but they would eventually succumb: Taya Valkyrie threw Laredo Kid over the abandoned car with a Northern Light Suplex, landing hard with his back in the concrete; Junior kept Ace Austin, who started to regain consciousness, pinned down; while Ramiro applied a Camel Clutch on "Beyblade" Chris Bey until he started to pass out, then letting go just in time to see his chin fall on the first step of the stair that led to the diner's backdoor.
Belfast Brawlers def. Ace Austin, "Beyblade" Chris Bey & Laredo Kid
"Nice work kidos. Let's see if these fools have anything worth stealing. Too bad they drank pretty much all the booze." said David Finlay Sr. while starting to rummage in Ace Austin's pockets. He didn't have much time though, before another noise distracted him, the sound of a metal door scraping against the cement. In the door-frame stood a tall male figure, fully dressed in back, or so it seemed, as it was difficult to see with the low light and the shadows that almost fully engulfed the figure. Coming from behind him, a strange, low, almost guttural sound could be heard, quite an unusual sound to come from a mexican restaurant.
"Jefe, you are talented, I could see." - said the stranger towards David Finlay Sr. - "If you are looking for a payday, there are better ways than to grovel in the pockets of kids in the street. Follow me and you'll see, if you dare. Oh, and bring the bodies inside, I might still have a use for them." Before waiting for an answer, the man turned around, went in and started descending the stairs that led down to the basement of what is most certainly not just a mexican diner, as the camera's image follow him, lunging us into the shadows.
____________________ x ____________________
Announcer Mauro Ranallo & Commentator Ivélisse Velez
Mauro Ranallo: Welcome to the Genesis of Lucha Lives, live from Warehouse 5.05 in the outskirts of San Diego, and on demand at axsTV and axsTV.com. I am Mauro Ranallo...
Ivelisse Velez: And I am Ivelisse...
Mauro Ranallo: And we start things off with an exciting announcement from the Messiah of Lucha Libre in our United States of America, our Director, Señor Américo Cortéz!
We see a video package that starts with a montage filled with supremely athletic moves, devastating maneuvers and completely filled stadium south of the border. It then transitions to a shot of a mexican family, crossing the border with their heads held low to avoid detection but still with smiles filled with the hope that only the American Dream can provide. We see images of a struggling family, meals being skipped and long hours looking after his younger siblings, but for young Américo, there was always that one escape that Lucha Libre provided. The few bucks he was able to scrounge, mowing lawns and in his paper route, were always spent on action figures of Mil Máscaras, King Vikingo or Blue Demon, difficult to find in the US, but young Américo got them nonetheless, with help from uncle António back in Mexico. The action figures turned into VHS's and then DVD's as Américo got older, the only connection that the now not-so young Américo Cortéz still had with the motherland were he spent not even half a dozen years.
Américo Cortéz: Lucha Libre saved me. Lucha Libre kept me going. Lucha Libre is life! And now, I will show all of you, to the entirety of the United States of America, how Lucha Libre can also be death!
The video package continues after the voiceover, but now darker, in both gamma and sound. Moments of both in-ring and out-of-ring action; championship belts being won and lost; streamers raining down from the stands; tears of despair as luchadores lose their masks in the oh so cruel Lucha de Apuestas; individual and team success... Trios action, the heart that helps the soul of Lucha Libre keep pumping.
Américo Cortéz: And today, the Trios come to Lucha Lives, as I am proud to announce that in tonight's Main Event, we will have the first match in the Torneo de Trios, to crown the first Lucha Trios Champions in our history. Uno... dos... Trios!
____________________ x ____________________
We come back from a commercial break to see a badly lit hallway in which Allysin Kay is massaging a clearly nervous Evil Uno's shoulders. "I believe in you. Remember that your journey starts today, it doesn't end, no matter what happens! I believe in you, always, go out there and make those fans in the crowd believe in Uno too!" With a good-luck kiss, Evil Uno breathes deeply one last time, and plunges down the entrance ramp towards a ring where his opponent already waits.
SINGLES MATCH
vs. 
w/ 
"The Good Looking Emperor" Jake Lee vs. Evil Uno w/ Allysin Kay
Even though he was starring in the first ever official match of the inaugural show of Lucha Lives, "The Good Looking Emperor" Jake Lee seemed disappointed, annoyed even, for going up against someone that he deemed to be below his level, like Evil Uno. Perhaps due to that overconfidence, every time Jake Lee managed to land a combination of strikes or an impactful maneuver against Evil Uno, he seemed more worried in showing off to the crowd and shouting to the cameras than to actually finish his opponent off.
Fueled by these unexpected opportunities, or perhaps motivated by having Allysin Kay on his corner (Allysin Kay that, somewhat oddly, didn't accompany Evil Uno to the ring, but coming a bit later down the ramp instead, a couple of minutes already elapsed in the bout), Evil Uno started to ground himself and actually began to be able to show some of his offense, eventually landed an Inside Out Flatliner that left Jake Lee down on the mat. Evil Uno climbed the top turnbuckle and, fueled by the crowd's roar, attempted an always dangerous Moonsault to try and put the japanese Jake Lee down for good. Evil Uno balanced himself, flexed his knees and launched himself through the air. Unfortunately for him, something went wrong, as his left knee gave out as he gathered, making the luchador land awkwardly, his knee completely buckled. The referee approached Evil Uno who has screeching an agonizing scream, asking him if he was able to continue as, outside the ring, Allysin Kay begged him to "live to fight another day!"
All of this gave Jake Lee enough time to recover and, after pushing the refereee out of his way, launches at full speed towards Evil Uno, and lands his Face Break Shot. Cover from Jake Lee, 1, 2... 3! "The Good Looking Emperor" is the first wrestler to enjoy an official victory in a Lucha Lives ring!
"The Good Looking Emperor" Jake Lee def. Evil Uno by pinfall following the Face Break Shot
While Lee celebrated in the ring, a dejected Evil Uno, still without being able to put any weight on his left knee, exited the ring, supported by Allysin Kay. A sad moment for the luchador that nonetheless seems to have gathered some sympathy amongst the crowd that showered him with an ovation as he exited backstage, something that annoyed Jake Lee to no end, Lee that felt that the moment was supposed to be his, the winner of the match.
____________________ x ____________________
We now go to an office, somewhere inside this basement warehouse that functions as Lucha Lives headquarters, where we see Señor Américo Cortéz gathering two whisky glasses, one for him, and one for the famous mexican actor Danny Trejo.
Américo Cortéz: Mr. Trejo, please, have a drink with me. You could've reached out and I would've made sure we had tickets waiting for you.
Danny Trejo: Thank you, but it's a no on the whiskyfor me I'm afraid. And it's no problem at all, I am more than welcome to support your efforts of bringing here the magic of Lucha Libre from our beloved Mexico. And also... I couldn't in good conscience accept your offer, not when I'm here to discuss business, Señor Cortéz.
Américo Cortéz: Business, you say... - Américo Cortéz downs his whisky, ice and all, loudly chewing with a crunch - I can't say I was expecting it, but I'm always ready to talk business. And please, call me Américo!
Danny Trejo: Thank you for your time, Américo. You see, my oldest always struggled living in my shadow. We always liked acting and the theater, but he never felt confident enough in following in my footsteps. I am partially to blame, I was never able to make him see that the only expectations that matter are the ones you put upon yourself, screw what others think. And besides, I always tried to teach my children to value what they have and to work for what they want, but Icannot in fairness say that I didn't spoil them a bit too much, that I didn't give them what I never had as kid, tenfold. And so I failed in giving him the tools to succeed: it's no easy to yearn for something, to fight against the oppression and the injustices that I tried to taught them to fight, when, at the end of the day, they come from privilege. And so... He was lost. Fortunately, he eventually found himself, found what he loved, and much to my surprise, found it in Lucha Libre, in his roots, my roots, our roots. And so tonight, Señ... Américo, am I'm asking you to give him a chance that I was never capable of, let him prove to you, to the crowd out there, but especially to himself, that he too can succeed on his own, like his father did.
Señor Cortéz smiles, takes down his sunglasses and peers intently at Danny Trejo for a couple of seconds before finally saying "Tell your boy to be ready in five."
____________________ x ____________________
SINGLES MATCH
w/ vs. 
Trejo Jr. w/ Danny Trejo vs. "Dark Brit" Will Ospreay
We return from another commercial break (this is mexican lucha libre but we are still in the United States after all) to see Trejo Jr. entering the ring, with his father Danny Trejo by his corner who receiving a loud ovation as he was announced, where his opponent, the brit Will Ospreay was already waiting.
The match start with Ospreay having the initiative, Trejo Jr.'s nerves showing a little bit as his father intently analyzed his performance from the outside, and the first five minutes are completely dominated by the "Dark Brit", with the choke holds and match wrestling that he showed all throughout his career in other companies. Even still, Ospreay seemed to be having difficulties in keeping a connected offense as, despite the constant pressure, Trejo Jr. was able to just barely counteract some of the moves. With that and with time passing, Trejo Jr. settled down, manage to even the bout and even landed a couple of nice strikes that left Will Ospreay a bit more on the defensive. However, the far larger experience of the brit came through and, in an opportune moment, was able to strike his foe in the back of the head in a move that left Danny Trejo worried for his son. This gave Will Ospreay the time and space necessary to attempt his Stormbreaker finisher. There was however, a slight miscalculation on Ospreay's part, positioning Trejo Jr. way too close to the ropes, allowing him to break the count when Ospreay went for the cover, almost instinctively rolling out of the ring, getting a much needed break to catch his breath.
With both his father's and the audience's support, Trejo Jr. returned to the ring, took the initiative and was able to use the high-flying offense of his opponent to his own advantage, eventually countering an Ospreay move and going the ropes himself to apply the South of the Border in a massive impact that made the whole ring shake. Trejo Jr. goes for the cover, the referee counts and Trejo Jr. gets the upset win in his debut!
Trejo Jr. (w/Danny Trejo) def. "Dark Brit" Will Ospreay by pinfall following the South of the Border
After the match, Trejo Jr. raised his arms high to the crowd, but everyone was waiting for Danny Trejo to join his son before erupting in cheers. And so they did when Danny Trejo finally answer their request, hugging his son... who didn't appear to be to keen on hugging him back, perhaps resenting once again being in his father's shadow.
____________________ x ____________________
We are once again backstage where we see Señor Américo Cortéz once more, this time shaking David Finlay's hand as he was exiting his office, just as El Hijo del Vikingo approached, demanding a match on tonight's Lucha Lives Genesis card in the best english he could muster.
El Hijo del Vikingo: Mister Cortéz, I beg of you, put me on a match like I have been rogandote, and I'll make you convencido!
Américo Cortéz: You are persistent, I'll tell you that. Unfortunately son, this is a business, and with this being our opening show, the great GENESIS for Lucha Lives, spots are very limited... We have our champion to compete in a match and then there is the inaugural match of the Torneo de Trios. I'm sorry, maybe next week.
El Hijo del Vikingo: Pero... You just gave that kidTrejo a match, just because his father is a hot-shot! Now, el niño did good, but still, I have proven myself una y otra vez back in Mexico, that I am the real deal! You tell me that the champ will have a match esta noche? Put me against him, I'll show you!
Américo Cortéz: Do you even have any idea who the Champion is? Kiddo, you have fought many different luchadores in Mexico,but you have never met someone like him. I handpicked him to be the face of Lucha Lives! He's an attraction! He's, quite frankly, probably unbeatable by anyone in that locker room. And you of all people want to go againt him? You never faced anyone like him in Mexico, or in your dreams even.
El Hijo del Vikingo: I can do it! I swear! And if he's so unbeatable, certainly I will not be able to spoil your plans, right? Let me do it, VAMOS!
Américo Cortéz: We are getting ever so close to Día de los Muertos, I guess. Very well, it's your funeral.
____________________ x ____________________
We follow that exchange with a video package going over the place that trios action have in Lucha Libre tradition, that also explains the format for the previously announce "Torneo de Trios" that will crown the first Lucha Trios Champion in company history - eight teams will compete in a single elimination bracket until a winner is found. Those that are eliminated will not be out of contention just yet though, as the winners of the loser's bracket will fight for the number one contenders status. It will be in tonight's Main Event that the first match will take place, in which a trio that carries with them a legacy will go face to face with three experienced electrifying athletes that have made a name for themselves in Mexico, the United States and even in Europe or in Japan!
____________________ x ____________________
We then go to the commentators table where Ivélisse and Mauro go over some accomplishments that the still very young El Hijo del Vikingo has achieved already in his career, as the mexican standout begins his entrance.
Up next, the giant imposing figure of WALTER, the large Lucha World Championship belt around his waist appearing rather small, goes down the entrance ramp, Señor Cortéz by his side. The two men enter the ring, WALTER takes off his leather jacket, hands the title over to Américo Cortéz that raises it up, shows it to the crowd and puts it in his shoulders before requesting a microphone.
Américo Cortéz: Ladies and gentlemen, señoras e señores, it is my pleasure to give you the first ever title defense, right here on San Diego an on AXS TV. The challenger is a new name for many of you here in America, but by no means an unknown in my home country of Mexico. He stands at 169 centimeters tall and weighs... - Cortéz can't help but chuckle as he reads the weight differnce - 73 kilos. From Puebla, México, El Hijo del VIKIIIIIINGOOOOO! His opponent, the inaugural Lucha World Champion, standing at 193 centimetres and weighing in at 141 kilos, the Mountain Man from the Alps himself, WALTER! This bout will have a thirty minute time limit, and at request of myself, something that our champion so kindly agreed to, this is a Submission Match for the Lucha World Championship!
Señor Américo Cortéz sarcastically wishes El Hijo del Vikingo good luck, Vikingo who was clearly caught by surprise by the match's stipulation, before joining Mauro Ranallo and Ivélisse Velez for commentary on this bout.
LUCHA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SUBMISSION MATCH
vs.
"The Inaugural Champion" WALTER vs. El Hijo del Vikingo
Even though one might feel a match between two competitors with such large discrepancy in size between them is unfair by itself, it was hard to argue that the submission stipulation put on this match wouldn't tip the scales even more in WALTER's favor.
Mauro Ranallo: Mister Director, if I may ask, can you let us in on your thought process of having this championship match have a Submission stipulation? It seems inherently unfair to our challenger tonight...
Américo Cortéz: You see Mauro, our challenger El Hijo del Vikingo, came to me tonight, and I must clarify that this is not the first time it happened, asking me for an opportunity to participate. In my point of view, I was more than generous, giving him not only the chance to work in this historic Genesis event, hopefully the first of many for our promotion, but I also gave him a title chance. You talk about fairness, but the way I see it, it was only fair, after giving someone a shot at the belt, without said individual having proven himself here to our fans and our audience at Lucha Lives, that I also asked our Champion if there was something that he would like for tonight's show, that's how the Submission Match came to be. That's fairness in my eyes.
Mauro Ranallo: I don't necessarily agree that your decision was all that...
Ivelisse Vélez: Oh, give me a break Mauro. Unfair was me being treated as inferior all my career because I was a women, didn't matter if was more capable than many of the men who stole my spot on the ring. Unfair was people belittling myself and my matches, calling them freak shows just because I had the gut to go toe to toe against men. What you are seeing today is just a specific type of match, same as a Ladder Match or a 2 out of 3 Falls Match, and if El Hijo del Vikingo wants to make a name for himself, if he wants to carry the top prize of this company, he must be prepared to compete in all kinds of matches, no matter how unfair they may seem.
Back in the ring, with over ten minutes passed already, the action has been perhaps surprisingly very technical and calculated, between the powerhouse WALTER and one of the most exciting high-flyers of this new generation in El Hijo del Vikingo. The initiative and control of the match have been mostly on WALTER's side, with El Hijo del Vikingo trying to stay as far away as possible for the potential grappling of his foe, but not without attempting, here and there, to find an opening where he could try to string together some of his own offense. And said patience on El Hijo del Vikingo's part ended up bearing fruits, with the mexican able to escape a grapple attempt at the last second and countering with a dropkick that busted WALTER open above his eyebrow.
Immediately after seeing this, Señor Cortéz got up, got closer to the ring and asked the referee to suspend the match briefly, for health reasons, in order to try and stop the champion's bleed, much to El Hijo del Vikingo as well as the audience's chagrin.
With El Hijo del Vikingo's momentum interrupted, after the match's restart, WALTER was able to make effective an offense that was, up to that point, not quite connecting, eventually being able to catch El Hijo del Vikingo mid-flight and countering his maneuver onto a Last Symphony, and transitioning into a Figure Four Leglock. El Hijo del Vikingo tried to crawl towards the ropes but the Champion's power and weight were just to much to counter, with Vikingo eventually having to tap out.
"The Inaugural Champion" WALTER def. El Hijo del Vikingo by submission with a Figure Four Leglock to retain the Lucha World Championship
With the retaining Champion getting his championship title back from Señor Cortéz, we exit for the last break of the evening before the Main Event of the night where we will see the first match in the "Torneo de Trios".
____________________ x ____________________
We get back to the 5.05 Warehouse just in time for introductions of the two trios competing next:
Mauro Ranallo: The first trio was brought together by strong bonds that connect not only their bloodline, but the story of professional wrestling in America as a whole. They are siblings, they are third-generation stars, they are wrestling royalty, presenting Ross, Marshall and Lacey, the Von Erichs!
Mauro Ranallo: And their opponents, veterans of professional wrestling in the four corners of the world, true ambassadors of the spirit of Lucha, they are "The Man that Gravity Forgot" PAC, Pentagón Jr. and Rey Fenix, the Frequent Flyer Miles!
TORNEO DE TRIOS - 1st ROUND MATCH
vs. 
The Von Erichs (Ross Von Erich, Marshall Von Erich & Lacey Von Erich) vs. Frequent Flyer Miles (PAC, Pentagón Jr. & Rey Fenix)
The match was all that one would hope for in a good old lucha libre style trios match. Backed by the audience, PAC, Pentagón Jr. and Rey Fenix, in what was somewhat unfair to the Von Erichs, they come, after all, from one of the most prolific wrestling families in history, the three luchadores were in control for most of the match, despite the good fight put up by their opponents.
There were a number of highlights in this one, like a Double Superkick on Ross and Marshall Von Erich after an hot tag from Rey Fenix on Pentagón Jr.; a Pentagón Driver on Marshall Von Erich, stopping him from tagging his sister in; and finally, as the two pair of brothers fought each other on the outside, a Black Arrow from PAC on Lacey Von Erich that eventually ended the bout.
Frequent Flyer Miles def. The Von Erichs by pinfall following a Black Arrow from PAC on Lacey Von Erich to Advance in "Torneo de Trios"
Quick Recap:
