5 reasons why WWE should buy Lucha Underground
Lucha Underground broadcasted for three seasons on the El Rey Network. Rumour has it that the money has dried up and, at present, a new season can only happen with a fraction of the budget the promotion is used to.
There are pretty serious questions now as to whether the company will carry on for a fourth season with a small roster, lesser production value, or fewer episodes. The alternative? We may have already seen the last match filmed from The Temple in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles.
If the fate of the company rests in money, one potential shift in the landscape could see WWE buy Lucha Underground. This might mean WWE absorbing the promotion, its history, its roster, and perhaps most importantly its tape library.
Alternatively, given WWE’s demonstrated interest in partnering with smaller promotions of late, including testing the waters of airing indies on the WWE Network, is it possible Lucha Underground could continue, only bankrolled by WWE?
While the mechanics are very much up in the air, this article offers up five reasons why WWE should try to buy Lucha Underground.
#5 A Truly Alternative Platform
WWE has its separate brands — Raw and SmackDown. They’ve got NXT, too, which has largely succeeded in coming across as a back to basics product and a prime spot for up and coming talents and new signees to ready themselves for the spotlight.
NXT is growing increasingly popular, though. As it gets more and more specials each year, and even tours nationally, it becomes more difficult to accept it as a purely developmental brand.
Lucha Underground offers an entirely different platform from any existing WWE programming. The Temple looks dirty and rundown by design. Moreover, the style is more violent, fast-paced, and of course lucha libre oriented than anything WWE has to offer.
Just look at the Hell of War Match between Killshot and Dante Fox from Ultima Lucha Tres and you’ll see a hardcore style WWE doesn’t really broach these days. Lucha Underground can represent an entirely different platform and truly distinct brand for WWE to make money from, entertain an audience, and later cherry pick top talents for its other rosters.