| Dario Cueto | |
|---|---|
| Lucha Underground character | |
| First appearance | "Welcome to the Temple" |
| Portrayed by | Luis Fernandez-Gil |
| In-universe information | |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | Owner and proprietor of Lucha Underground |
| Family | Matanza Cueto (brother) |
Dario Cueto is a fictional character from the El Rey Network lucha libre (or professional wrestling) television series, portrayed by actor Luis Fernandez-Gil. Cueto is the the owner of the "Lucha Underground Temple" in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles. He uses his money and influence to stage fights, promoting violence and often rewarding rule breakers while punishing those that play by the rules.
Fernandez-Gil's portrayal of the character earned him the Best Non-Wrestler award in 2015 and 2016, as part of the annual awards given by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.[1][2]
Background edit
Fernandez-Gil portrays the character of Dario Cueto in the professional wrestling television series Lucha Underground, as the storyline Spanish owner and promoter of Lucha Underground.[3][4][5] El Rey Network, which airs Lucha Underground,[3] described the character as Lucha Underground's "proprietor" with characteristic "bloodlust" and "seemingly endless amounts of money". It also added that Cueto's "crowning achievement" is his Temple in Boyle Heights,[6] in reference to the warehouse where the seasons of the television series have been filmed.[7]
Storylines edit
Season one edit
The first taping of Lucha Underground occurred on September 6, 2014,[8][9] with Cueto debuting in the series' first episode on October 29.[10] Cueto had made an earlier appearance with a speech at Triplemanía XXII in 2014 where he invited the luchadores of AAA to participate in his Temple.[5][10]
On the December 17 episode, Cueto introduced the Lucha Underground Championship, declaring that the winner of his created Aztec Warfare match would be the new champion.[11] On the April 1, 2015 episode, Cueto introduced the Lucha Underground Trios Championship and started a tournament to crown the inaugural champions.[12]
On the May 27 episode, Cueto ordered that for their failings, one of the Crew would be sacrificed to Cueto's brother. Cortez Castro and Mr. Cisco turned on Bael, assisting in the implied killing by Cueto's brother.[13] On the next episode, Cueto imprisoned Black Lotus for trying to kill his brother. Lotus was captured by Chavo Guerrero and the Crew, as Guerrero betrayed Lotus to Cueto in exchange for protection from Mexican enemies.[14]
At part one of Ultima Lucha, Cueto admitted to Black Lotus that his brother is "the Monster" Matanza, forced by their father to partake in underground fighting. He claimed that it was El Dragon Azteca who had killed Lotus' parents while framing Mantanza for the deed. Despite Azteca trying to save Lotus,[15] Lotus attacked and seemingly killed Azteca on part two of Ultima Lucha on August 5, also the first season finale. Cueto then freed Lotus, claiming that Azteca's death had endangered them and they needed to leave, so Cueto and Lotus fled along with Matanza, while the show closed with the Temple being abandoned.[16][17]
Season two edit
In season two, Cueto's absence from the temple led to Catrina taking over with Mil Muertes and The Disciples of Death (Barrio Negro, El Sinestro de la Muerte and Trece) controlling the operation.[18] Cueto returned to the temple on the March 23, 2016 episode during the second Aztec Warfare match, when Matanza wins the match, and the Lucha Underground Championship.[19] On the March 30 episode, Cueto is confronted by Pentagón Jr., who was not involved in Aztec Warfare II. Cueto dismisses Pentagón as not being championship material, but does grant him a title match with Matanza, after Pentagón threatens to break his arm. In the episode's main event, Matanza defeats Pentagón in just under four minutes.[20] After a title match between Matanza and Muertes ended in a no-contest due to both men collapsing through the roof of Cueto's office,[21] a rematch was granted weeks later, with the stipulation being a Grave Consequences match. On the May 11 episode, Cueto accompanied his brother to the ring and had an altercation with Muertes' manager Catrina, allowing Matanza to take her Stone of Death and put her lifeless body into a casket. Matanza retained the title by eventually putting Muertes in the coffin, ending the feud and the potential threat to the Temple.[22]
Over the season, Cueto was involved in a subplot, as his illegal activities had caught the attention of the Los Angeles Police Department, with two undercover police officers already part of the roster. Joey Ryan was introduced in the February 10 episode,[23] and Cortez Castro, in the February 17 episode,[24] who had previously dealt with Cueto in season one, when he was affiliated with the Crew. Cueto is tipped off by Councilman Delgado (Lorenzo Lamas), a corrupt politician who tried to stop the LAPD's investigation from continuing (as shown in the season two premiere). Delgado warns him that he was getting sloppy, and would not be surprised if there was already someone on the inside.[22] At part two of Ultima Lucha Dos, Ryan and Castro convinced Mr. Cisco to wear a wire during a conversation with Cueto. However, Cueto sensed Cisco's nervousness and quickly figured out that he was wearing a wire. Grabbing the wire, he told Ryan and Castro to come to the Temple and make themselves known, before beating Cisco to death with a bull statue. He then made a call to an unknown participant, declaring that it was time.[25] At the end of part three of Ultima Lucha Dos, Cueto was arrested for his part in Cisco's death.[26]
References edit
- ^ Meltzer, Dave (25 January 2016). "January 25, 2016 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: 2015 Observer Awards Issue". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Campbell, California: 31. ISSN 1083-9593.
- ^ Meltzer, Dave (6 March 2017). "March 6, 2017 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: 2016 Awards issue, talent departing TNA, more". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Campbell, California: 16. ISSN 1083-9593.
- ^ a b Varsallone, Jim. "Former WWE superstar John Morrison on One Three Media's 'Lucha Underground' on El Rey Network". Miami Herald. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
- ^ Keller, Wade. "News: Bringing Sexay Back! New Attitude Era WWE DVD details, WWE Network in Canada, scoop on lead heel promoter on Lucha Underground". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
- ^ a b Johnson, Mike. "The Temple is open, Prince Puma vs. Johnny Mundo & more". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
- ^ "Lucha Underground -> Roster -> Dario Cueto". El Rey Network. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
- ^ Karp, Jensen. "Lucha Underground's Last Stand". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
- ^ Johnson, Mike. "Early spoiler notes from first Lucha Underground TV taping". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
- ^ Johnson, Mike. "Lucha Underground episode 1 spoilers". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
- ^ a b Peeples, Jeremy. "Lucha Underground TV report: Prince Puma (Ricochet) vs. Johnny Mundo (John Morrison)". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Archived from the original on 4 February 2015.
- ^ Dehnel, Joel. "Lucha Underground report 12/17: Battle Royal & 10-way match set up main event (w/Analysis of Booking 101)". Pro Wrestling Torch Newsletter.
- ^ Peeples, Jeremy. "Lucha Underground TV Report 4-1-2015: Trios title tournament begins". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Archived from the original on 26 May 2015. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
- ^ Moore, John. "5/27 Moore's Lucha Underground Review". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
- ^ Namako, Jason. "Lucha Underground Results – 6/3/15 (Star vs. Pentagon Jr.)". Wrestleview. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
- ^ Moore, John. "7/29 Moore's Lucha Underground Ultima Lucha Night One Review: The Black Lotus Saga continues". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
- ^ Peeples, Jeremy. "Lucha Underground August 5 TV results: Prince Puma vs. Mil Muertes headlines Ultima Lucha season one finale". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
- ^ Moore, John. "8/5 Moore's Lucha Underground Season Finale Review: Ultima Lucha part two". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
- ^ Dehnel, Joel (January 27, 2016). "1/27 Lucha Underground Report – Season 2 returns with LU Title match, new champion, more". Pro Wrestling Torch.
- ^ Dehnel, Joel (March 23, 2016). "3/23 Lucha Underground Results – Dehnel's Report on huge Aztec Warfare match including Rey Mysterio's LU debut". Pro Wrestling Torch.
- ^ Dehnel, Joel (March 30, 2016). "3/30 Lucha Underground Results – Dehnel's Report on Matanza vs. Pentagon for LU Title, Johnny Mundo, Mysterio, Trios Title match, more". Pro Wrestling Torch.
- ^ Dehnel, Joel (April 20, 2016). "4/20 Lucha Underground Results – Dehnel's Report on LU Title match, Trios tournament, Aztec Medallion, Overall Reax". Pro Wrestling Torch.
- ^ a b Dehnel, Joel (May 11, 2016). "5/11 Lucha Underground TV Results – Dehnel's Report on Grave Consequences match for LU Title, Team Rey Mysterio defends Trios Titles, Joey Ryan". Pro Wrestling Torch.
- ^ Dehnel, Joel (February 10, 2016). "2/10 Lucha Underground TV Report – Cuerno vs. Fenix main event, Joey Ryan, lots happening". Pro Wrestling Torch.
- ^ Dehnel, Joel (February 17, 2016). "2/17 Lucha Underground TV Report – Puma vs. Pentagon main event, Joey Ryan in-ring debut, Mysterio trains, more".
- ^ Dehnel, Joel (July 13, 2016). "7/13 Lucha Underground Results – Dehnel's Report on "Ultima Lucha Dos" Week 2".
- ^ Dehnel, Joel (July 21, 2016). "7/20 Lucha Underground Results – Dehnel's Report on "Ultima Lucha Dos" conclusion – Rey Mysterio vs. Prince Puma, LU Title match, new Trios champs".