SEASON 1 / EPISODE 18

There is no doubt that “Raging Bull” Manny Fernandez is a legend and having him as a major player in Lucha Xtreme Wrestling Entertainment gives the organization a level of legitimacy that is unparalleled.  Whether it’s training the younger Luchastars, being the locker room leader, or kicking butt in the ring, Manny Fernandez continues to be a legend in the world of wrestling.  Episode 18 opens with a promo from “Raging Bull” calling out “INS Legacy”.  It was classic “Raging Bull” and he let everyone who opposed him know that it was going to be “A long hard ride!”

The episode’s first match was between two high flyers, D-Torch and the masked luchador, Shinoby.  This was a fast paced match with lots of lucha style wrestling.  Shinoby made his debut with this match on “Lucha Xtreme” and he did not disappoint.  He was very quick and agile, flipping around the ring and showing of his ninja-like skills.  I thought Shinoby broke D-Torch’s neck when he hit him with a brutal Frankensteiner .  However, D-Torch was determined to fight back and accomplished an amazing rope-run dropkick to the cornered Shinoby.  I had never seen anyone do that in a match before; I seriously had to GOOGLE it to see if it had previously been done.  Shinoby was defeated after D-Torch finished him off with his signature “GOJIRA Driver.”
 

Seriously, go to http://www.luchaxtreme.com/LuchaXtreme.com/LX_TV.html and watch D-Torch defy death and gravity running that rope like some kind of spider-man.  Strangely enough, Savanah Riley was nowhere in sight during the match.

Before the next match started, the Suburban Commandos entered the studio and grabbed the mic to call out any and all tag teams in Lucha Xtreme Wrestling Entertainment, especially members of Sheik’s Army.  The undefeated twin tag team of D-Unit and T-Rent taunted Sheik’s Army’s “Financial Advisor” Mr. Franks as “Ball Park Frankie” in reference to Mr. Franks getting “Something Nasty” at the Showdown In ‘No Town event at Chukchansi Park.  Is there any team that can take out 600 lbs. of Suburban Commandos?

In the next match Jeckles the Jester squared off against “Pizza Man” Vinnie Massaro.  This was a fun match between two wrestlers who had mutual admiration for each other.  Vinnie fired up the studio audience with his “AYE!” cheer and Jeckles was enjoying himself playing along laughing and clapping.  But all joking aside,  both of these wrestlers put on a clinic on what a wrestling match should be.  “Pizza Man” and the Clown Prince of Wrestling, Jeckles, might be friendly outside the ring, but inside the ring Vinnie hit Jeckles  with a powerful neckbreaker.  Jeckles was deadly serious when he managed to execute his finisher the “Joke Slam”, but Vinnie managed to get a rope break, avoiding the loss.  Vinnie Massaro put Jeckles the Jester away with a stiff forearm and got the win by pinfall.

Manny Fernandez showed why they call him “Raging Bull” as he destroyed LJ Summers in the 3rd match of the night.  Manny demonstrated textbook technical wrestling, working on LJ’s legs and knees. Even though scrappy LJ Summers managed to land a heavy double axehandle from the second rope, that didn’t stop the “Raging Bull” from powering out of the smaller man’s headlock, suplexing LJ and finishing him off with a “Flying Burrito.”  Even though Manny sometimes feels “tied to the whipping post”, he still continues to be a dominating force in Lucha Xtreme Wrestling Entertainment.

The main event was a Lucha Xtreme World Championship elimination match and it was truly an epic bout between two highly skilled wrestlers.  “Owner of the Spotlight” Brian Cage sought victory against Reno’s “Rock Legend Scum” Adam Thornstowe.  Cage took charge at the start of the match, sweeping Thornstowe and going over the rope from outside the ring to deliver a diving headbutt to “Rock Legend Scum’s” abdomen.  Cage was on fire, hitting Adam with a hiptoss backbreaker , but Thornstowe is one tough athlete and dangerous inside the ring as he used his street smarts and brawling skills to try and level the playing field.  This match continued to go back and forth with each wrestler trying to get the upper hand.  Cage shined with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and seemed to have the match wrapped up, but Thornstowe broke the hold by getting his foot up on the rope.

“Mr. GMSI” Brian Cage went to springboard crossbody the “Rock Legend Scum,” but he missed and caught a dropkick in the gut for his efforts.  Watching Brian Cage work in the ring, you can tell, he truly is a “Multi-move Paragon” using power, skill and finesse.  The match ended with Wiseguy entering the studio to try and eliminate his toughest competition Brian Cage, but Cage walloped him and threw “Rock Legend Scum” into the dazed Wiseguy, nullifying the competition and allowing him to pin the stunned Thornstowe, winning the match.  “Mr. GMSI” gets the win and the next spot in the Semi-Final in the Elimination Tournament for the Lucha Xtreme World Championship.

If you want to see these matches go to http://www.luchaxtreme.com/LuchaXtreme.com/LX_TV.html if you want to see quick recaps and get the inside scoop go to http://www.luchaxtreme.com/LuchaXtreme.com/Post_show.html. While you are there check out all the new features on the website.  Next week there is another elimination match and more” Lucha Xtreme” action.  Remember, follow us on Twitter @luchaxtreme and like us on Facebook.com/LuchaXtreme.  Thanks for supporting Lucha Xtreme Wrestling Entertainment!  Adios and “Blog ya later!” - Byron Rush

SEASON 1 / EPISODE 17

It’s time for Lucha Xtreme Wrestling Entertainment’s “XTREME BLOG”!  This week episode 17 aired and it was packed full of action.  It opened with a promo from Wiseguy who went on to say he was going to be the next contender for the LX World Championship.  Wiseguy was cocky for a guy about to face the massive Supercabra in an elimination match.

The first match was held between “Submission Machine” Bobby Hart and newcomer  to Lucha Xtreme Wrestling Entertainment, Johnny Plinko.  This was a quick match dominated by Hart who got the win by sweeping Plinko and catching him up in a submission hold, forcing Plinko to tap out.  Bobby Hart is no joke in Lucha Xtreme,  I’m sure that if given a chance at an Elimination Match for the World title, Bobby would be a top contender.

Next on the show we had a montage of clips from the “LX POST SHOW” featuring yours truly, Byron Rush, interviewing the LUCHASTARS.  It had clips from previous LX POST SHOWS and never before seen clips including D-Torch talking about how important heart (not Hart) is in wrestling, Brian Cage talking about redemption, and El Mariachi teaching me how to do his dance (lol).  Be sure to watch the “LX POST SHOW” at http://www.luchaxtreme.com/LuchaXtreme.com/LX_TV.html.

The second match was a tag team match between the Suburban Commandos (D-Unit and T-Rent) and D-Torch and LJ Summers.  The Commandos outweighed their opponents by nearly 300 lbs.  The Commandos are always exciting to watch and D-Torch and LJ are lightning-quick in the ring.  The Commandos manhandled the other team, devastating D-Torch with a “Grenade Toss” and slamming LJ with “Something Nasty.” LJ fought back with his missile drop kick and D-Torch was no pushover, showing off his athleticism with amazing flying hurricanranas.  D-Torch, going for a 3rd straight hurricanrana, gets caught in mid-air by the Commandos, who drop the “Rizz Bomb” on him for the victory.  Still undefeated in Lucha Xtreme, the self-proclaimed “Best tag-team in the world” Suburban Commandos are sitting pretty.

Next in the lineup we had Crimson Plague taking on the “Multi-Move Paragon” Brian Cage.  This is Brian’s first match after his elimination match against Homicide.  Since he was not eliminated by Homicide (10 min time limit draw) Brian hopes to redeem himself by winning this match and earning another chance at LX World Championship contention.  Crimson Plague starts off by attacking Cage from behind before the bell even rings.  Cage quickly regains control of the match using his superior strength and skill set to even the field against Crimson Plague.  It doesn’t take long for Crimson to cheat again, as he pulls a foreign object from his trunks and hits Cage in the throat.  Crimson seizes control of the match and had Brian on the mat until “Mr. GMSI”  Brian Cage powers to his feet, in superhero fashion, and levels Crimson Plague with his clothesline, back elbow, kick combo.  Cage then springboard moonsaults onto the downed Plague and puts Crimson Plague away with his signature, “Weapon X”.

Primal Warrior makes his second appearance on “Lucha Xtreme,” taking on “Notorious 187” Homicide.  Primal Warrior seems to have the edge using his size to his advantage.  But we all know Homicide is one tough hombre and the match was far from over.  Homicide seems to take pleasure in dealing out a series of painful chops to Primal Warrior’s chest.  Watching Homicide work is like watching a sadistic dentist drilling on his patients with glee.  I’m saying the guy is MEAN!  He raked the back of Primal Warrior and used his forearm to crush the Warrior’s face.  Despite almost pinning Homicide with a bridging suplex, it’s Homicide who gets the win by finishing off Primal Warrior with his “Ace Crusher.”

The main event was a contention match for Lucha Xtreme’s World Championship between Wiseguy and Supercabra.  Wiseguy made his entrance with Sheik Khan Abadi  and “Financial Advisor”  Mr. Franks.  Supercabra was led to the ring on a leash by “Mexican Werewolf” El Chupacabra.  Supercabra showed off his power, roughing up Wiseguy in the ring and taking his head off with a big clothesline.  Wiseguy patiently waited for an opening to deliver a spinning heel kick to the head of the big green-masked luchador.  Wiseguy distracted the ref so Sheik could add some more damage to the beast, Supercabra.   Wiseguy then worked over Supercabra’s leg and knee with multiple headbutts, knees and forearms, and then moonsaulted onto the downed Supercabra.  Wiseguy then goes to the top ropes in the corner for a second moonsault, but Supercabra scoots out of the way, leaving nobody home.  Supercabra charges back hitting Wiseguy with a back elbow, clothesline and CHOKESLAM!  Supercabra would have won the match at this point if not for “Financial Advisor” Mr. Franks getting up on the apron to distract the Beast from beyond the Border.  Sensing an opportunity to help his man win, Sheik Khan Abadi tries to enter the ring with his hard metal briefcase.   El Chupacabra stops the Sheik from entering the ring, but he further distracts Supercabra allowing the recovered Wiseguy to hit his opponent with his finisher “Forgettaboutit.”  The ref counts 1-2-3 and victory goes to the crafty Wiseguy.  Wiseguy joins Chavo Guerrero as one of the top contenders for the LX World Championship.  Will the Sheik’s Army get their hands on gold?  Time will tell as we continue to have Elimination Matches every week  to determine who will fight it out over the belt.

Catch the next episode of “Lucha Xtreme” Saturday at  8 PM on KAIL-TV My 7.1 (Comcast Channel 13/713 HD, DISH Network, DirecTV, and AT&T U-verse Channel 53) in central California.  Like us on Facebook.com/LuchaXtreme, follow us on Twitter @luchaxtreme, and tune into past episodes and the “LX POST SHOW” at www.LuchaXtreme.com.  Also, get your tickets NOW for the next “Lucha Xtreme” TV tapings, coming to the Lucha Xtreme Studios in Fresno, CA on Saturday, August 11.  More information is on www.LuchaXtreme.com.  Until next week, “Blog ya later!”
-Byron Rush.