Tag: Lucha Underground

Lucha Underground Possibly Returning Soon?

There has been talk of reviving the Lucha Underground promotion.

It was reported this week by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that there is at least the beginning of talks to revive the promotion. However, the revival would just be the same type of ideas, with a different name.

MLW has used several aspects of Lucha Underground in recent months, but it appears that this revival is something separate.

Lucha Underground aired on the El Rey Network on Wednesday nights, first premiering in late October 24. The show ran for 4 seasons with the last episode airing in early November 2018. Vampiro worked on the project and noted last year that the series and the promotion were done. Before that there had been reports of budget issues that prevented a fifth season from happening.

“90% of the roster is in AEW, the other 10% is in WWE. The writers are gone, the production crew is gone, the company is split. I would pretty much put my money on, it’s over and done,” Vampiro told Chris Van Vliet in early 2020.

The promotion featured several current WWE and AEW stars working various gimmicks, including Ricochet, Karrion Kross, Brian Cage, Lucha Brothers, Taya Valkyrie, Rey Mysterio, john Morrison, Sammy Guevara, and many others.

There’s no word on when this revival might be happening.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Angelico Reportedly Signs With AEW

Former Lucha Underground star, Angelico, has reportedly signed with All Elite Wrestling, according to Pro Wrestling Sheet. An announcement is expected soon for the 32-year old South African wrestler.

The report noted WWE had interest for Angelico to be part of the NXT brand, but didn’t want to get into a bidding war with AEW over him. WWE’s interest has been there for quite some time with reports of their interest surfacing last year.

It actually went back even further with Angelico noting to Metro in 2017 that WWE had made an offer before he signed with Lucha Underground in 2014.

“I can’t really talk about the details, but there was contact made by WWE before we signed with Lucha Underground in 2014 to both me and Jack,” Angelico said. “We talked it over and decided at that time that Lucha Underground were going to take the risk with it because we really believed in the project. We also had the mentality that if WWE were interested in us in 2014 and if every year we’re still getting better as individuals and as a tag-team, why wouldn’t they still want us a few years later a few years on.

“With a few years to play with we went with the Lucha Underground project, which was fun and new. I can’t speak for Jack, but we don’t regret not going, I think he’s happy with the decision he made as am I. Who’s to say we won’t turn up there one day, but with how wrestling is in this day and age it’s great to be a free agent and travel the world.”

Source: Wrestling Inc.

More Lucha Underground Stars Reportedly Seek Legal Help To Obtain Releases

Lucha Underground may have recently settled a class action lawsuit with some of their wrestlers, but it sounds like they could be heading back to court soon with more.

Lucha Central reports Matanza Cueto (ROH star Jeff Cobb), Famous B and XO Lishus (AEW’s Sonny Kiss) have all sought legal representation in order to get their releases from Lucha Underground.

Cobb is the most surprising name on the list, as it was assumed he was released from the company after Season 4 when his character was killed off. Lucha Central claims that despite Jeff signing a contract with ROH, his previous employer has tried to block him from working there because they insist he’s still under contract.

The site also suggests Willie Mack could soon be seeking representation as well due to speculation over his LU contract status being the reason for his NWA National title loss over the weekend.

As we previously reported … El Hijo del Fantasma, Ivelisse, Joey Ryan and Kobra Moon were also recently let out of their LU contracts after banding together in a class-action lawsuit.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

Impact Wrestling United We Stand 4/4/19

Impact United We Stand will take place from the Rahway Reaction Center in Rahway, New Jersey at 11 pm ET!

The event will air live on FITE for $19.99.

The Pre Pre-Show for United We Stand starts at 9PM ET with the Pre-Show starting at 10:30PM ET and will be broadcast on Twitch.

(Pre-Show)  KM & Fallah Bahh in a WrestlePro Showcase

Extreme Death Match: Rob Van Dam & Sabu vs. Lucha Bros (Pentagon Jr. & Fenix)

Impact Knockouts Championship: (C) Taya Valkyrie vs. Rosemary vs. Jordynne Grace vs. Katie Forbes

Ultimate X Match: Johnny Impact vs. Jake Crist vs. Kotto Brazil vs. Jake Evans vs. Dante Fox vs. Pat Buck

Monsters Ball: Sami Callihan vs. Jimmy Havoc

Team Impact (Brian Cage, Eddie Edward, Moose & TBD) vs. Team Lucha Underground (Aerostar, Drago, Daga & Marty the Moth)

Intergender Match: Tessa Blanchard vs. Joey Ryan

Impact X-Division Championship: (C) Rich Swann vs. Flamita

Impact vs. MLW: LAX (Santana & Ortiz) vs. Promociones Dorado (Low-Ki & Ricky Martinez)

 

 

Lucha Underground Reportedly Settles With Talent, Given Immediate Releases

Back in February it was reported King Cuerno (aka El Hijo del Fantasma) had filed documents in Los Angeles against the El Rey Network and Lucha Underground’s production Baba-G Productions, claiming his contract “illegally restricts” wrestlers from finding work in wrestling.

Along with that individual lawsuit, a class action lawsuit was possibly in the works including other stars, Ivelisse, Joey Ryan, and Thunder Rosa (aka Kobra Moon), who were looking to get out of their contracts with the stalled out promotion. Despite being between production of season four and five, wrestlers were still locked down to the promotion.

In a new report from Lucha Central, the El Rey Network and Baba-G Productions were sent three lawsuits. Two were from El Hijo del Fantasma and Texano Jr., both seeking financial damages. The third was indeed a class action lawsuit from Fantasma, Ivelisse, Ryan, and Rosa.

The report stated Texano Jr. withdrew his lawsuit and a settlement was agreed on for the class action lawsuit, as part of that Fantasma agreed to withdraw his personal lawsuit against the companies. Exact terms are not known, but those involved in the class action lawsuit are now released from their Lucha Underground contracts and are allowed to sign with other promotions.

Still no word yet on a season five taking place, Lucha Underground Co-Executive Producer, Chris DeJoseph, commented last month that he thought the show was “dead.”

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Ivelisse Comments On Not Getting To Wrestle On Impact Events, Possible Reason Why

Lucha Underground and indie wrestling star, Ivelisse, has been using Twitter as of late to express her frustration with her contracted employer. The former two-time Trios Champion previously said that she has asked for her release from the company but continues to be denied, even claiming that she’s being “held hostage” by LU.

In Ivelisse’s most recent tweet of the situation, she questions why she is unable to work for Impact Wrestling if the two companies have been producing joint projects together. Casey Michael, owner of Squared Circle Sirens responded to Ivelisse’s tweet, calling her out for a previous statement she made about Tessa Blanchard.

Blanchard would actually add herself to the mix of messages, explaining to readers that Ivelisse once implied that a part of Blanchard’s success is her father’s doing.

Ivelisse began by writing, “Since the collaboration between brands, not once included in any of these joint projects, and when they did contact me out of the blue for a program, they canceled the night before I flew out for no reason whatsoever. Soooo uummmm, again, let me GO.”

Casey would then respond with: “Maybe it’s cause you s–t talked Tessa big time on an IG comment. I fail to see how everyone else on LU can work anywhere but they are “holding” Ivelisse.”

Lastly, Tessa would add: “Her exact words to me were “I never had a family name, I had to work for everything I have from the streets.”

I have dealt with people like that since I started and I am much stronger than those people.”

You can read the full tweets below:

https://twitter.com/Tess_Blanchard/status/1109871514948636672

Another Lucha Underground star, King Cuerno (aka El Hijo del Fantasma), previously took the time to file documents in Los Angeles against the El Rey Network and Lucha Underground’s production Baba-G Productions. In it, Cuerno’s lawyers claimed that LU’s contracts “illegally restricting” wrestlers from finding work in wrestling is in violation of California law.

Documents sent to Pro Wrestling Sheet detailed how wrestlers under contract make money based on the shows they appear on, and it doesn’t add up to much. You can see that statement below:

By contrast, Lucha Underground broadcasts between 22 and 40 television episodes per year, with no live events like the other described wrestling promotions. If a wrestler appears on a show, it is usually just a couple. The payment per episode is usually less than $1,000.
The current contract that wrestlers signed with Lucha Underground require that wrestlers not perform services for other wrestling companies anywhere in the world without Defendants permission, but does not require Defendants to use Plaintiffs in their wrestling-theme television show.While Plaintiffs are obligated to restrict their trade under the contract (which is illegal), Defendants are not required to use or pay Plaintiffs. Defendants have the option to use Plaintiffs, and IF Defendants use Plaintiffs, Defendants will pay Plaintiffs. IF Defendants chose not to use Plaintiffs, Plaintiffs are prohibited for working for years, are not paid, but still under the restrictive contract until it expires.

Most wrestlers under a Lucha Underground contract make less than $4,000 a year. Wrestlers working for other wrestling promotions make a living wage, usually starting around $50,000 a year and entering either 6 or 7 figures.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Lucha Underground Executive Producer Believes The Show Is “Dead”

Earlier this week, Co-Executive Producer, Chris DeJoseph, gave his thoughts on the status of Lucha Underground Season 5 in a conversation on Twitter. DeJoseph was asked about the future of the show and he responded, “Personally I think it’s dead. But I hope not.”

A fan commented on how amazing the shows were to attend and DeJoseph responded, “Well, at this point it’s on the producers. If you want it, demand it!”

Season four of the show wrapped up last November and news on the next season has been non-existent. While the official decision remains to be made, some wrestlers are still being held to their contract with the promotion.

Earlier this month, King Cuerno filed documents in Los Angeles against the El Rey Network and Lucha Underground’s production Baba-G Productions, claiming the contract “illegally restricts” wrestlers from finding work in wrestling and is in violation of California law.

Meanwhile, in a now deleted tweet, Ivelisse said last month she was being “held hostage” by her contract with Lucha Underground.

“For a bit over 1 1/2 [years] now I’ve been battling LU to grant me my release,” Ivelisse wrote. “They convinced me to do S4 under the promise that I’d be released after the season concluded and was still unhappy. They currently are still refusing to do so despite having been told numerous times that they would.”

Shortly after her comments, Joey Ryan supported Ivelisse’s claims.

“I back Ivelisse 100% on this,” Ryan wrote. “Prior to S4, we were told anybody who requested a release would be granted one. Some did and left after the tapings. Others showed faith in the product and now seems are being punished for it. With no S5 in sight, it’s petty to keep anyone locked up.”

Source: Wrestling Inc

Lucha Underground Star Files Dispute Against El Rey Network

Image result for Lucha Underground Star Files Dispute Against El Rey Network

Pro Wrestling Sheet has obtained documents showing a Lucha Underground star recently filed a dispute against El Rey Network over his contract and posted the following:

Lawyers for King Cuerno aka El Hijo del Fantasma (real name Jorge Luis Alcantar Bolly) filed the documents in Los Angeles against El Rey Network and Lucha Underground’s production Baba-G Productions asking for arbitration “in accordance with the American Arbitration Association’s National Rules for the Resolutions of Employment Disputes.”

Pro Wrestling Sheet were sent a copy of the documents from a third party to the case who was asked if they wanted to be involved in potential legal proceedings.

The document states:

Plaintiff brings this action seeking to invalidate illegal provisions of a contract between himself and Defendants. Defendants is enforcing contracts with Plaintiff which are illusory, in that they require Plaintiffs to stop engaging in their lawful trade, while Defendants have no obligation to provide work to Plaintiffs, and only have an obligation to pay Plaintiffs if they are provided work on their show. This contract also violations California Business and Professions code 16600 and California public policy as they restrain Plaintiffs from working in their lawful profession.

Cuerno’s lawyer goes on to explain how Lucha Underground, LLC has the the authority to “illegally restrict” wrestlers from engaging in their profession in violation of California law:

Lucha Underground launched in 2014, a time when there was not a lot of options in the United States in the professional wrestling industry.

Though it is a violation of California law, all of the contracts offered by Defendants contained restrictions that prohibited the professional wrestlers from engaging in their lawful profession.

Since the creation of Lucha Underground, the professional wrestling has improved, and legitimate professional wrestling organizations started offering competitive contracts that did not exist when Lucha Underground was launching.

Specifically, Ring of Honor (ROH) wrestling is offering better contracts than where being offered in 2014. Ring of Honor is a highly respected legitimate wrestling company owed by Sinclair broadcasting. Contracts offered by ROH allow wrestlers to make a living wage.

A new wrestling company, All Elite Wrestling, is owned by a billionaire businessmen Shahid Khan and Tony Khan. They are offering top dollar contracts that allow wrestlers to make a good living working on a full time basis as professional wrestlers and attracting top talent – including talent from the WWE.

WWE is the king of the wrestling industry, and has been for decades. They have shown heightened interest in wrestlers currently working with Lucha Underground, partly due to the new competition posed by All Elite Wrestling and some of their biggest stars looking to jump from WWE to All Elite Wrestling. WWE wrestlers are well paid.

Finally, Impact Wrestling, often considered the #2 company over the last decade, recently was purchased by a Canadian company. The change in ownership has opened up opportunities that did not exist in 2014. Impact Wrestling wrestlers are well paid.

The docs go on to detail the drastic difference for wrestlers locked down to a contract with Lucha Underground:

By contrast, Lucha Underground broadcasts between 22 and 40 television episodes per year, with no live events like the other described wrestling promotions. If a wrestler appears on a show, it is usually just a couple. The payment per episode is usually less than $1,000.

The current contract that wrestlers signed with Lucha Underground require that wrestlers not perform services for other wrestling companies anywhere in the world without Defendants permission, but does not require Defendants to use Plaintiffs in their wrestling-theme television show.

While Plaintiffs are obligated to restrict their trade under the contract (which is illegal), Defendants are not required to use or pay Plaintiffs. Defendants have the option to use Plaintiffs, and IF Defendants use Plaintiffs, Defendants will pay Plaintiffs. IF Defendants chose not to use Plaintiffs, Plaintiffs are prohibited for working for years, are not paid, but still under the restrictive contract until it expires.

Most wrestlers under a Lucha Underground contract make less than $4,000 a year. Wrestlers working for other wrestling promotions make a living wage, usually starting around $50,000 a year and entering either 6 or 7 figures.

Cuerno claims he’s lost out on thousands of dollars because of this — as well as talks falling through with a company because of his contract — so he wants El Rey and Baba-G to pay up for putative and actual damages.

As you may recall, Ivelisse also recently spoke out against her contract with the company.

Cuerno’s attorney told LuchaCentral.com that there’s another lawsuit his office filed as “a class action to invalidate certain portions of their contracts that we believe are illegal.” The website claims Ivelisse, Joey Ryan and Kobra Moon (aka Thunder Rosa) are three of the wrestlers included in the class action lawsuit.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

As you may recall, Joey Ryan gave his support to Ivelisse, tweeting that he backs Ivelisse 100%.

Joey Ryan Supports Ivelisse In Contract Dispute With Lucha Underground

joey ryan lucha underground ivelisse contract dispute

Ivelisse isn’t the only wrestler looking to get out of their Lucha Underground contract, as Joey Ryan released a statement which implies he’s going through a similar battle.

As we noted, Ivelisse says she’s been requesting a release from her Lucha Underground contract for over a year and now feels like she’s being “legally held hostage.”

Joey echoed similar sentiments in a tweet on Tuesday saying,

“I back Ivelisse 100% on this. Prior to S4, we were told anybody who requested a release would be granted one. Some did and left after the tapings. Others showed faith in the product and now seems are being punished for it. With no S5 in sight, it’s petty to keep anyone locked up.”

https://twitter.com/JoeyRyanOnline/status/1085301692961181697

Pro Wrestling Sheet reports that the creative team behind the show are all for the cast working as much as possible and feel terrible about Dorian Roldan not granting release requests. One source says if it were up to the creative team making the show, talent would be allowed out of their contracts.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

Ivelisse Says She’s Being Legally Held Hostage By Lucha Underground

ivelissa lucha underground contract held hostage

Lucha Underground wrestler Ivelisse says she’s been fighting to get out of her contract for over a year and now feels like she’s being “legally held hostage.”

Ivelisse released a statement via social media saying:

l’ve done everything in my power to avoid having to do this but.. at this point I literally have no other choice.. For a bit over 1 1/2 [years] now l’ve been battling LU to grant me my release. They convinced me to do S4 under the promise that I’d be released after the season concluded and was still unhappy. They currently are still refusing to do so despite having been told numerous times that they would. This has caused me an unbearable amount of grief for so long now, I really have no words to describe and don’t know what else to do.. being legally held hostage while Pro Wrestling is booming is a matter not to be taken lightly, especially coming from someone who has dedicated their life to their work, its everything to me. I am at my wits end, so at this point, regardless what happens from here on out, at the very least my story is told.

Pro Wrestling Sheet reports that there hasn’t been a lot communication between MGM and Lucha Underground execs in regards to an additional season. We’re told things are currently in a stalemate because both sides are standing firm on what the budget needs to be.

The show’s Executive Producer Eric Van Wagenen tells Pro Wrestling Sheet, “None of the producers, executives, or lawyers at MGM make those decisions. All contracts are controlled by the LLC – currently run by Dorian Roldan and John Fogelman.”

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet