Lucha Underground

TNA is still arguably the closest wrestling competition the WWE has, but there are these other feds popping up that are picking up stars and might one day make some noise. Lucha Underground is one of those. It started just last year.

It is something different. It has that lucha twist to it. But it does not showcase only Latino wrestlers. It does have some former WWE guys, including Alberto Del Rio (Alberto El Patron) and John Morrison (Johnny Mundo). El Patron is a guy I can imagine being pushed as the top star of that company. He is no spring chicken, but this is not a guy that needs to be groomed to be a star, like Roman Reigns in the WWE. He is a good in-ring performer, he can talk, and he has charisma. With more freedom in Lucha Underground and a target audience that will be drawn to him and his story, he should be great. As for Johnny Mundo, he is obviously amazing in the ring and can help appeal to an even wider audience.

As far as women's wrestling goes, they do not really have a women's division. That does not stop them from having some women on the roster and utilizing them. They have Karlee Perez, who was Maxine in WWE. I liked her. But the true star for their women is Sexy Star, a Mexican talent. Lucha Underground actually has their women wrestle the men. I think that is a great idea. They are not in a position to just feature women's wrestling like TNA does. And they do not need to build top stars at the expense of people they do not want to be top stars like the WWE does. One day? Maybe. Right now? Just make do with what you have. And they are doing that. They have valets and they have women wrestling the men, which I previously mentioned. Although Sexy Star is not the only one that does that, I feel she would be the best choice to really feature as a top star. They have Ivelisse Velez, who was in the WWE briefly, but Sexy Star has been around longer and has had more success.

It seems the promotion does not want to keep their women's division that small. There were reports as recently as last month that Torrie Wilson and Victoria were in talks to join the company. Jim Ross even brought this up. Let's say these two women were to join Lucha Underground. I mentioned that Alberto Del Rio is not a young guy right now. Both Torrie Wilson and Victoria are older than him. Torrie Wilson will turn 40 this year and Victoria turned 44 last month. And yet, signing either one would be great. They have been around mainstream wrestling in the United States longer than any of the other women already on the roster. Torrie Wilson is still beautiful and can be a great manager/valet. I can imagine Victoria being useful in how the company utilizes female wrestlers. She can mix it up with the men.

Can Lucha Underground ever be real competition for the WWE? Or is it just an alternative? Some people might say that it will only appeal to a Latino audience. Keep in mind that it is also pro wrestling and features some mainstream names and good action. That would make it a draw even to wrestling fans. This promotion is not just trying to aim at one demographic. They still have a lot of growing to do, but they can be an exciting promotion that does one day makes some noise. If nothing else, I can buy them eventually taking TNA's spot as the WWE's closest competition.

Victoria Back To WWE?

Victoria (Tara) is gone from TNA. That is old news. The talk about her possibly returning to the WWE must now come up. I am sure diva fans are clapping their hands and are all giddy at Victoria possibly returning. If I still cared about women's wrestling as much as I used to, I am sure many would be expecting me to have a big smile on my face and give false hope to all the great things that will happen with her potential return. Even if I was writing a pro-diva blog, I would still feel that it would be hypocritically stupid of both parties involved if this deal went through.


Why would the WWE be so specifically eager to get Victoria back? I understand that their recent stupidity has left them with a division needing a little more credible women wrestlers. However, I am sure they can remedy that by finally pushing Serena, Natalya, and Gail Kim better. Repeating what I just said, why specifically Victoria? She did not really reach the level Gail Kim did in TNA. Taking Victoria will not really cripple TNA that much. Let me rephrase the question. Why NOT Victoria? Why should the WWE not want her back? How about how she left the company? She gave off the impression that she wanted to retire. The WWE did not hand her a title in her final match, but they let her give a farewell in the WWE ring. There is a bit of respect to her in that. Victoria goes on to jump to TNA. At least when Ric Flair retired years ago, he initially intended to actually never wrestle again. When Victoria "retired" last year, she knew exactly what she intended to do next, and it was not to retire from wrestling. Fine, maybe she meant "retire" from the WWE. Fine. But now she wants to come back? Why should the WWE respect that? Victoria played with the WWE before. I do not feel that is something they should overlook in deciding whether they want her back.


Was the grass not greener, Victoria? It is not hard to see why Victoria wanted to "retire" from the WWE when she did. She was not being respected. Last time I checked, things are getting worse, not better. Is Victoria that desperate for money? The fact that she was not enjoying her treatment before is obviously a main reason in her decision to jump ship. The treatment will not improve. Does she not remember being left off of a commercial for the Smackdown women that included everyone else but her and Natalya? I remember her complaining a few months ago about the WWE not showing proper appreciation to her when they left her off a list of influential women in the WWE. Really, Victoria? The WWE dropped both Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair from their intro since they went to TNA, but you expect them to include someone they saw as a tool like you on a list honoring women, none of whom were in TNA at the time but you? I do not feel Victoria may properly appreciate working in the WWE. Then again, maybe the fact that she left TNA may have opened her eyes. The WWE does treat their women like crap. But if you want to return their, you better be prepared for it.


Victoria played with the WWE. The WWE mistreated her. Why would either of them want to enter this again? Victoria has not gotten any younger. She has not done anything to really warrant the WWE to take her back. The WWE has been putting titles more and more on the eye-candy women. That is a sign of the direction they are headed. If Victoria actually wants back in the WWE, and gets it, I hope she gets exactly what she deserves.