Partial Source: The Wrestling Observer Newsletter
UPDATE: We reported several weeks ago here on eWrestlingNews.com that the Lucha Underground promotion would be returning for several more seasons. With that being said, there is talk that there will be some major changes in store for the company. According to reports, Lucha Underground is taking a “more laid back” approach on the previously strict exclusivity policy on their talent contracts. Several examples of this are that Johnny Impact, Taya, Sami Callihan, Texano, & Fantasma, who are all currently signed with iMPACT! Wrestling, can stick around if iMPACT! still wants to use them in the future.
As previously reported, much of the current talent for Lucha Underground were signed to seven season deals. At the time, this was fine as most of those who signed contracts were either not planning on going anywhere else on television, or were people who had no “major name” in the United States market to begin with. It’s possible that some of those talents could take their contracts to court because they weren’t paid at all during the summer of 2016. It begs the question of Lucha Underground being able to hold somebody to a contract from the summer of 2016 until the spring of 2018 without paying them.
According to new reports, Lucha Underground is willing to grant release requests to the talents who no longer want to be a part of their roster. That is a big deal as many had been thinking about filing lawsuits.
ORIGINAL: Here is the latest on the fourth season of Lucha Underground.
The El Rey Network had reportedly always been open to the show making a return, but the question was where the financing for it would come from. According to sources, The El Rey Network itself will be funding the fourth season but they will do so under a reduced budget. One good thing for the network is that they won’t have any huge contracts (Alberto El Patron/Rey Mysterio) to cover this time around.
As things stand right now, the network will be taping their TV episodes from March – May of 2018. The show is expected to make its return in May of 2018. Also, the hope within the company is that there won’t be nearly as long a gap between TV tapings going forward. The new deal in place should allow the company to feature an additional two seasons, which would run in 2019 and 2020.
There is talk that there will be significant budget cutbacks, especially as it pertains to the vignettes.
Talent within Lucha Underground reportedly found out about the fourth season when the announcement surfaced online. Some of the talents were excited as they weren’t working elsewhere, while other talents were hoping the company wouldn’t do another season and they could be looked at by WWE, NJPW, ROH or iMPACT! Wrestling.
The deal between Lucha Underground and iMPACT! Wrestling is still in place, so LU talents can work for iMPACT!. At one point, there was a “talent ban” preventing Lucha Underground talent from working for iMPACT! Wrestling. The deal in place states that Lucha Underground gets their first rights for when they tape TV and can pull their talent from other appearances. That would mean that Johnny “John Morrison” Impact, Taya, Sami Callihan, Texano, & Fantasma can stick around if iMPACT! Wrestling wants to continue using them.
It should also be noted that most of the Lucha Underground talent was signed for seven season deals. At the time, this was fine as most of those who signed contracts were either not planning on going anywhere else on television, or were people who had no “major name” in the United States market to begin with. It’s possible that some of those talents could take their contracts to court because they weren’t paid at all during the summer of 2016. It begs the question of Lucha Underground being able to hold somebody to a contract from the summer of 2016 until the spring of 2018 without paying them.
