UPDATE x 7: Here are some additional notes from the Lucha Underground
project:
* The first episodes for
Lucha Underground will be taped tonight in Boyle Heights in Los Angeles for the
El Rey Network. Several episodes of the show will reportedly be taped tonight
and tomorrow. More tapings are set for 9/13, 9/14, 9/27, 9/28, 10/4, 10/5,
10/18, 10/19, 10/25 and 10/26. This could give the show about 24-36 episodes
taped by late October.
*
Bands are being advertised for the tapings this weekend. However, it’s
unknown if this is part of the final broadcast product or not. The arena has
several different levels, which will likely provide the opportunity for some
crazy spots and dives.
*
Aaron Aguilera, Kaos and Ivelisse Velez are set to work dark matches for
the series. Based on the report, if they work out deals with Lucha Underground,
the footage for their matches could be worked into the series.
-*
Former WWE writer Chris DeJoseph is the head writer for the series. Other
former WWE writers Chris Roach and Matt Stollman are also working on the
series.
* Los
Ben Dejos and Los Banditos are rumored as possibilities for the series. However,
it is unconfirmed if they will be working any of the scheduled tapings over the
course of the next two months.
UPDATE x 6: Here are some
additional notes from the Lucha Underground project:
* Matt Striker has
signed on with Lucha Underground. Striker will be the lead announcer alongside
Vampiro for the show. John Hennigan and Chavo Guerrero have either signed or are
expected to sign as well.
* Ricochet is set to be one of the top stars in
the promotion. He has a deal with DG USA, so it would appear that they have
worked out a non-exclusive deal.
* All contracted talent will have new
characters (and thus names) for the show, so they won’t be using the same
gimmicks they’ve used in other promotions.
* Lucha Underground producers
have been telling talent to stay quiet about the show. They are said to be upset
with some of the contract details that were released and want all hype focused
on the show’s October 8th debut on El Rey.
UPDATE x 5:
Vampiro has joined the cast of El Rey’s Lucha Underground. He will be a
commentator for the series. Confirmed for the series are Blue Demon Jr., Sexy
Star, Drago, Fenix, Pentagon Jr., Ricky Reyes, B-Boy and former WWE Diva Karlee
Perez.
The promotion is set for an October 8th debut on the El Rey
network, and the following taping dates have been confirmed…
* September
6th
* September 7th
* September 13th
* September 14th
* September
27th
* September 28th
* October 4th
* October 5th
* October
18th
* October 19th
* October 25th
* October
26th
UPDATE x 4: Here are some additional talent notes
from the Lucha Underground project:
* Aaron Aguilera (WWE, WSX) and
former XPW performer Kaos have turned down deals with Lucha
Underground.
* Several talents have been hesitant to sign and or passed
on deals this week. Producers are now bringing in other wrestlers to try out for
roles that were originally designed and cast for the wrestlers that have decided
to move on.
* Several wrestlers will be brought in for the early tapings
to work dark matches. This is so they can be evaluated and also so they can get
uses to the feel of the promotion.
* The first tapings will be held in an
industrial style warehouse, will feature live bands playing, and will likely
have a feel similar to the Wrestling Society X promotion.
UPDATE
x 4: According to sources, the Lucha Underground project has offered
Ricochet a contract and reportedly have major plans for him. Ricochet is
currently under contract to WWNLive (who runs EVOLVE/DGUSA). In the past, they
have allowed talent out of contracts for a WWE deal, but no word on if they
would do the same for Lucha Underground. Gabe Sapolsky declined to comment when
asked about Ricochet last week.
UPDATE x 3: According
to sources, Joey Ryan and Candice LaRae have turned down deals with AAA’s Lucha
Underground series. Also, the show’s set looks like “a fight club inside an old
warehouse” similar to Wrestling Society X.
A source adds that there is
additionally a set that is designed to look like a gym for
vignettes.
UPDATE x 2: The El Rey network announced
today that Karlee Perez (formerly known as Maxine in WWE) has signed on for the
Lucha Underground project. Here is the official
announcement…
FORMER WWE DIVA KARLEE PEREZ SIGNS WITH PRODUCER
MARK BURNETT’S LUCHA LIBRE WRESTLING ON THE EL REY
NETWORK
TAMPA, FLA, September 3, 2014 – Former WWE Diva and
Actress Karlee Perez announces her new recurring role on producer Mark Burnett’s
new show; Lucha Libre, a weekly hour-long wrestling series on the El Rey
Network. Mark Burnett, the uber-producer behind Survivor, The Apprentice, The
Voice and The Bible is teaming with Robert Rodriguez’s new Latino-themed network
to create a weekly hour-long series featuring a new lucha libre league. The
Mexican wrestling series will debut in the second half of 2014.
Karlee
known as former WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) Diva “Maxine”, where she was
portrayed as an intimidating, sexy villain in heels; Karlee attracted audiences
around the world during the four years of her exciting career in wrestling. Her
non-stop action packed, body slamming wrestling career, resulting in endless
live camera promos and matches and a devoted social following of thousands of
fans and supporters.
The El Rey Network, which launched in December, is a
new 24-hour English-language network targeting the Latino 18-49 audience.
Founded and curated by Rodriguez, the network has a national distribution
agreement with Comcast.
About Karlee Perez: Born, April 19, 1986, to an
entrepreneur family in Tampa, Florida. Karlee Perez first gained fame with World
Wrestling Entertainment, as WWE’s Diva, “MAXINE”, a sexy, alluring, selfish
villain in heels, making her a household name and sex symbol. Described by
industry insiders and fans alike, as the perfect kind of woman… everybody “hates
to love”.Karlee is a unique twist of exotic multi-ethnic looks, from her ethnic
backgrounds of Spanish, Cuban, Italian, Hawaiian, Irish, English and
Chinese.
For more information and updates on the show, please visit,
www.karleeperez.com or follow on twitter
@karleeleilani
UPDATE: WWE Tough Enough alum Martin
Casaus has signed onto Lucha Underground. The site adds that UWF alumnus Famous
B was offered a deal and that Matt Sydal (Evan Bourne) and his brother Mike have
both turned down offers to be on the series.
The promotion also posted
the following to Twitter advertising their tapings, which start this
weekend:
Calling all #wrestling
fans: @LuchaElRey is
taping in Los Angeles. Tickets are FREE! Come see some #luchalibre
LIVE! pic.twitter.com/G8cUEQwYw9
—
El Rey Network (@Elreynetwork) September
2, 2014
ORIGINAL: Here are
some news & notes on the El Rey Network’s Lucha Underground
project:
* Former WWE wrestlers Ezekiel Jackson, Maxine and Savannah were
offered deals for the El Rey Network’s Lucah Underground series. Maxine wrote on
Twitter that she has signed on for the series.
* Meanwhile, Frankie
Kazarian was offered a deal and turned it down, as did the Young Bucks.
*
Talents were told that if they didn’t sign today, the offers would be null and
void. The wrestlers were negotiating with the series to get the deals done
yesterday but several names still haven’t agreed. Chavo Guerrero, who was going
to work backstage along with wrestling, hadn’t come to an agreement on a
deal.
* Several talents have been hesitant to sign due to the lack of
exclusivity, guaranteed pay and the fact they cant work independent dates
without getting clearance first. Some of the better known talents were offered
$750 per match while others (independent performers) were offered $200 per
match. Former WWE creative team members Chris Roach and Matt Stollman are
working on the series with Chris DeJoseph.
