10 Former WWE Talents Who Thrived in Lucha Underground

When Lucha Underground premiered on the El Rey Network in the fall of 2014, fans weren't sure what to expect from the mysterious new project, but it quickly became apparent that it was unlike anything we had witnessed before. It lived up to its name in growing into a revolutionary underground-esque promotion, going from the best kept secret in pro wrestling to the hottest thing going.

It has a unique roster as well that features a wide array of incredible talent from all over the world, though a handful of its most prominent stars from Seasons 1 and 2 journeyed over from WWE. Regardless of whether they were ever given a chance at super stardom in that organization, it didn't take them long to win over the faithful fans inside The Temple by showcasing their skills and proving their worth.

And no, not every ex-WWE Superstar that has found success in Lucha Underground has been a lucha libre competitor. In fact, the average viewer would have never guessed that a number of the names that signed with the promotion following their departure from WWE would have fit in so well in such in an environment. But alas, they have, thus paving the way other former WWE stars that are hungry to revitalize their character and career.

Former WWE wrestlers aren't the only ones who have experienced career resurgences since migrating over to Lucha Underground. Technically, Matt Striker did spend the first few years of his WWE tenure as an in-ring competitor, but he is better known for his work behind the booth.

Striker's commentary work was average at best, and he never seemed to find coherent chemistry with his broadcast partners Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler. It wasn't uncommon for the seasoned announcers to give Striker a hard time for his vast knowledge of the business and constantly poke fun at him throughout the show. Perhaps it was all a part of the act, but Striker wasn't able to truly showcase his skills as an announcer as a result.

Thankfully, that hasn't been an issue for the former school teacher since signing with Lucha Underground. He and Vampiro have been calling the action inside The Temple since the start of the show and have been a surprisingly pleasant pairing.

At first, there were concerns how Vampiro would fare behind the booth, but he has actually developed into an excellent announcer. Combine that with Striker's passion for pro wrestling and fun facts and they make a great duo. It also helps that they genuinely seem to be enjoying themselves at the announcer's desk each week, a vast comparison to Striker's WWE days.