Dante Fox (AR Fox) vs Killshot (Swerve Strickland)

Let's discuss Dante Fox (AR Fox) and Killshot (Swerve Strickland) in an intense and memorable Ultima Lucha Tres. A reflection on one of the greatest matches in Lucha Underground history.

Credit to elreynetwork.com

Lucha Underground will go down as one of the most cinematically appealing professional wrestling products of the last 20 years. At least in my "not so humble" opinion. This match between who are now known as AR Fox and Swerve Strickland is the exact reason why Lucha Underground was so special. Two impeccable performers stood toe-to-toe and put on an all-time bloody, brutal classic, at Lucha Underground: Ultima Lucha Tres in a Hell of War Match.

This Hell of War Match would be a two out of three falls match with stipulations attached to each fall. First blood, No Disqualification, and Medical Evac (Ambulance Match) would be the chosen stipulations for the two great athletes to battle it out in The Temple at Boyle Heights in Los Angeles, California.

First Blood

It's hard to believe that Swerve Strickland used to wear a mask. His facial expressions are intense and explosive and deserve to be seen in the fullest. Although the current AEW Champion at the time of this writing, is more known for his catchy theme and die hard attitude and talent in the ring, one cannot go without saying that the character "Killshot" was something special. The two start off with a quick back and forth that leads to Killshot getting the upper hand early. Fox hops out of the ring which allows Killshot to dive through the ropes with a running dropkick. He then throws Fox back first against the barricade, leaving the sound of a dramatic "splat." Killshot sets up the ladder between the ring and the barricade before getting out a steel chair. After dodging a chair shot, Fox gets ahold of the chair, and launches it at Killshot head first. Next, is the first "holy shit" spot of the match. Fox gets Killshot onto the ladder and hops up on the apron. He then pursues to do inhuman things. He does what commentator Vampiro calls a Step-up Ringpost Moonsault. Holy shit, indeed.

Though Killshot takes over momentarily, Fox quickly gains the advantage after faking out Killshot with the steel chair, to which Killshot responds with a kip-up, not anticipating a steel chair would be tossed directly in his face when he landed. Fox throws the chair into the ring and gets Killshot into the ring next. He then proceeds to wedge the steel chair in the corner and attempts to irish whip Killshot into it. Killshot counters, Fox blocks, and Killshot dropkicks Fox head first into the wedged chair.

After another exchange on the outside, Fox aligns Killshot under the bottom rope, on the apron, with a chair on top of him. He makes his way into the crowd, stands on top of the barricade with the help of a tall and buff ass fan in the audience, and hits a leg drop onto the back of Fox. He then has the audacity to go get a sheet of glass the size of a 4x4 truck windshield. Fox marches to the referee and says, "You are gonna help me, or you are gonna bleed." You certainly don't have to threaten me twice. Whatever you say mister scary man, sir. With the help of the referee, Fox sets the glass on top of two steel chairs that are spread a good distance apart. Both men make their way onto the apron and Killshot gets Fox up in a fireman's carry. Fox reverses, and lands back into the ring, he hops back out and makes Killshot eat a sick Enziguri. Just when it looks like they are going through the glass, Killshot is able to shift the momentum and give Fox a Uranage onto the apron.

Killshot sits Fox into a chair and makes his way into the ring and onto the turnbuckle. Fox quickly makes his way up to avoid any further damage. Before Killshot can do anything, Fox nails Killshot with a Spanish Fly from the top rope. Fox sets up the chairs and the glass inside the ring. Fox leads Killshot into the corner and brings him to the top turnbuckle. Killshot tries to get Dante Fox into a double underhook-something. We are unable to see what he was going for because Dante Fox reverses into a back body drop, putting Killshot directly through the glass. As Killshot turns onto his stomach in pain, glass shards stuck to his body expose blood, giving the win of the First Blood Match and the first fall to Dante Fox.

What an explorative and explosive opening to what was an overall hellacious battle. Could you imagine going through all of this, just to continue to get your ass whooped for 15-20 more minutes? I'd need a drink and a hot meal after first fall alone. With more to come in a No Disqualification match, followed by a Medical Evac match, what else can Dante Fox and Killshot possibly do that will top the First Blood stage of the Hell of War Match?

No Disqualification

To kick off the No Disqualification portion on the Hell of War Match, Fox sets up a chair upside down in the corner on the bottom turnbuckle. He then exits the ring to retrieve a ladder, to which he puts in another corner, bridging across the bottom turnbuckle and ring ropes. Fox makes his way to the steel chair and sets it up in a different position close to a corner. He sets Killshot on the top rope, and steps back to give himself the momentum to hit a Running Springboard Spanish Fly from the top rope onto the steel chair. After getting a two count, Fox wastes no time setting up Killshot on the ladder that rests on the bottom ropes. He climbs up to the top rope, and gives a 450 splash to Killshot on the ladder. You can see the moment Fox realizes that glass has gone into his hands, leaving him bleeding before going for another cover and getting only a two-count.

Killshot puts down Dante Fox with a DDT in the corner. Violence is chosen once again, as a wooden board full of barbed wire is pulled from underneath the ring. After making his way into the ring and setting up the wooden/barbed deathtrap, Killshot and Fox both struggle to throw each other into the board. Killshot hits a series of running sidekicks to Fox who looks completely wasted in the corner before making his way to the top rope and hitting a double stomp for a two-count. Next thing you know, Killshot is sending Dante Fox into the wooden board of barbed wire with a nasty powerbomb, followed by a Storm Cradle Driver to win the No Disqualification Match and second fall of the contest.

What can you even say after this? If they weren't beat up after the First Blood Match then they certainly were torn to pieces after the No Disqualification Match. I don't care who you are. No-damn-body is putting me through a big ass windshield and a wooden barbed wire contraption. No ma'am. No ham. No turkey. No baster. With only the Medical Evac Match left, who will leave the Temple standing tall?

Medical Evac

To start the final battle, both Killshot and Dante Fox throw a series of punches back and forth. Killshot gets Fox into a Suplex position and makes his way towards the ropes back first. He Suplexes Fox to the outside, who lands on his feet still holding onto Killshot, and turns it into a Spike DDT of sorts onto the apron. Fox gets Killshot against the barricade and gets his hands on a gurney. He rolls the gurney towards Killshot who sprints forward and jumps onto the gurney while giving Fox a Front Dropkick. Can you tap out? I'd definitely tap out if I could.

Making their way to the top rope again, Killshot gets Fox into a Fireman's Carry position before landing a Standing Fireman's Carry Powerslam, otherwise known as John Cena's "Attitude Adjustment" or the "FU" if you're a real fan, onto the gurney and leaving Dante's blood stains behind. Killshot ties up Fox on the gurney and drags him outside the ring near a barricade. Killshot leaps up to the barricade and Fox, who is trying to escape, sits up and it met with another Diving Foot Stomp, and breaking the gurney. Killshot attempts to get Fox back in the ring but Fox reverses with a kick to the head. Fox stands up in the ring and hits the ropes before diving onto Killshot outside the ring with a Running Somersault Plancha.

Both men make their way to what appears to be the back of the arena. They then make their way up a set of stairs where a Mariachi band sits. Fox grabs ahold of the cables on the ground nearby, and wraps them around Killshots head attempting to choke him out. Thinking quickly, Killshot grabs onto an empty glass bottle to smash Dante Fox in the side of the head. In dramatic Professional Wrestling fashion, Fox is knocked senseless and stands dazed and confused before falling forward at least 15-20 feet onto a display of wood and glass below. And THAT, ladies, gents, and non-binaries is what they call, THAT. Killshot slowly and sluggishly drags Dante Fox's lifeless and bloody body into the back of the Military Ambulance to score his second of three falls to end the Hell of War Match.

"This is awesome," and "Holy Shit," are not even dramatic enough reactions to describe the absolute rollercoaster that is this match. If everything noted here has not persuaded you to go watch the match, then I am not too sure what will. This Hell of War match is a great example of what can happen when you give two top-tier athletes 25-30 minutes to go out there and put on a certified banger with no restraints. Whether you are into traditional mat wrestling, technical wrestling, luchador wrestling, backyard wrestling, or the various forms of strong style, you cannot deny that Dante Fox (AR Fox) and Killshot (Swerve Strickland) are two of the best at what they do.