El Deporte de las Mil Emociones: Puerto Rico 1991

Week 41: Puerto Rico 1991

EB: As 1991 approaches, we have a couple of pending results from the 1990 Christmas Day show. We’ve already talked about Bronco #1 winning the Caribbean title, Sasha regaining the Women's World title from Monster Ripper, Scott Hall turning on Giant Warrior, and the Super Medicos defeating Eric Embry & Rick Valentine in a fire match. Still, there are two key results we need to mention.

The first result is the tag match between Invader #1 and TNT vs. the Texas Hangmen. The Hangmen's strategy for this match was focusing their attacks on one opponent, resulting in TNT being busted open and suffering enough damage and blood loss where he had to be helped back to the locker room. This left Invader #1 trying to continue at a disadvantage against Psycho and Killer. However, Bronco #1 came out to even the odds and help Invader fight off the Hangmen.

The other result to discuss is the Carlos Colon vs Greg Valentine rematch for the held up Universal title. Valentine was disqualified for using his shin guard as a weapon to bust open Carlos. Valentine continued attacking Colon after the bell and attempted to put on a shin guard assisted figure four leglock in order to hurt Carlos. However, Carlos was able to kick Valentine away and Greg ended up hitting the ringpost. Carlos took the opening to grab Valentine’s shin guard and attack Greg with it as payback before Valentine left the ring. As a result, Colon won the match but the Universal title was still vacant since the match ended by disqualification. 

MD: Of all the footage we've missed out on so far, other than some specific 60 minute draws between Burke and people that sounded amazing, I am probably most frustrated we're not getting a bunch of full Greg Valentine squashes and matches.

EB: As 1991 approaches, the customary Three Kings Day season opener is going to kick off the year. Based on how 1990 closed we can expect a few rematches or grudge matches stemming from Christmas. We’re also going to be without TNT and Miguelito Perez for a few weeks, both are currently on tour in New Japan and will be back in the second half of January. With TNT on tour, this means Invader is going to need a tag partner to go up against the Texas Hangmen. Let’s go to a clip from an episode of Superestrellas de la Lucha Libre from New Year’s Eve weekend, where we have Giant Warrior in a handicap match and an interview from Invader #1 and his new tag partner.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXjxuDfr_U8

Giant Warrior’s opponents are Gran Mendoza and El Exotico. Both rudos jump Warrior at the bell to try to get the advantage, but it is short lived as Warrior is able to knock their heads together. Despite the best efforts of Mendoza and Exotico, Giant Warrior is able to keep control of the match by fighting them off and eventually Warrior hits a big boot that sends Mendoza to the outside. Exotico gets hit with a backdrop and, after Giant Warrior stomps his foot, gets hit with what Hugo calls the controversial big boot. Warrior pins Exotico with one foot on his chest (as Mendoza thinks better of getting in the ring) and it is another impressive win for Giant Warrior.

We go to El Profe in the locker room with the Hangmen, and Profe says that January 6 will be a war. Most expect the Magi but the Hangmen are expecting Invader and Bronco to finish them off. Psycho makes his threats, making note that they are stepping into a war zone on a holy day. El Profe translates as the Hangmen ham it up for the camera and Profe promises they will show who the World tag team champions are on Three Kings Day.

We then go to the interview area, as Hugo is with Invader #1 and Bronco #1, who got involved on Christmas Day and will now team with Invader to challenge the Texas hangmen for the World tag team titles.  

Hugo: With us the number one contenders to the World tag titles, Invader #1 and from the Dominican Republic, the Dominican champion and Caribbean champion Bronco #1. They challenge the Texas Hangmen for the World tag titles, but this is more than a title match, this is something personal. What's going to happen Bronco #1?

Bronco: Look, the 6th in Bayamon, you have to be paying attention to what's going to happen. Invader #1 and Bronco #1 are not just going for the World tag titles, but are also going after the heads of the Texas Hangmen. Danger Texas Hangmen, look at what Invader has in his hands., the bullrope that hurt Invader. Let me tell you one thing Hangmen, your heads, besides the titles you are going to lose, your heads are going through this noose. Danger Texas Hangmen, danger January 6th in Bayamon.
Hugo: Wow, Invader #1 your comments.

Invader: Bronco's already said it all. We are going to do everything possible. The Dominican champion, the Caribbean champion and now we are going after the World tag titles. And we are going to do everything possible to become the new champs, and especially because we have this bullrope, which has caused a lot of damage here in Puerto Rico. So Profe, tell your boys that they better be really prepared, because on January 6th we are going to do everything in our power to become the new World tag champs.

Hugo: Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic united in search of the World tag titles.

After the interview, we get a rundown of the lineup for the January 6 show:

• No DQ for the held up Universal title - Carlos Colon vs Greg Valentine
• WWC World tag titles - Invader #1 & Bronco #1 challenge TheTexas Hangmen
• Grudge Match - Giant Warrior vs. Scott Hall
• Jimmy Snuka vs Dick Murdoch
• Caribbean tag titles - Los Super Medicos challenge Eric Embry & Rick Valentine
• Mascarita Sagrada & Aguilita Solitaria vs. Espectrito & Piratita Morgan
• Super Medico #4 vs. Kim Duk
• And other great stars.

MD: Just two minutes bell to bell here, though there were promos from Bronco/Invader and the Hangmen after (maybe Killer has more hair coming out the back?). Not much to say about the 2-on-1. Exotico didn’t get to do much but he did jump at Warrior comedically at one point before getting put down with the boot.

EB: We have a mix of matches and results from the 1991 Three Kings Day show. Let;s begin with a singles match between Kim Duk and Super Medico #4.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQEX-ohradA

Super Medico #4 is Julio Estrada, the younger son of Jose Estrada Sr. He had previously appeared a few times in 1990 and again makes an appearance on the Three Kings Day card to take on former Caribbean champion Kim Duk. If you recall, Duk ended the year by being The Barbarian’s tag partner in the match where Scott Hall turned on Giant Warrior. This match is joined in progress with Medico #4 working an armbar on Duk, but Duk fights out of it and proceeds to get the advantage with punches and chops. Hugo and Eliud are on commentary and Hugo takes the opportunity to send a hello to the wife of Super Medico #1  and mother of the other active Medicos, with Hugo and Elud talking about the special kind of lady it takes to handle seeing three of her family members take the risks they do when they get in the ring. Meanwhile , Kim Duk has Medico #4 down with eye rakes and chops. Medico #4 makes a comeback after Duk puts his head down too early, getting a pin attempt after a nice spinning elbow off the ropes. Medico #4 works a side headlock but Duk takes him down with a toehold and works the arm. Duk continues with punches and even hits a slap (earning a warning from the ref). Duk stops a Medico #4 counter with a thrust kick. The cobra sleeper is applied and Duk wins the match. .  

MD: Six minutes JIP, primarily of Duk beating on Medico IV. Medico IV is the one that looks most like a Memphis mid-card heel given his physique by the way. It’s crazy to think since we last wrote about him, we discovered the 1978 South Korea match where Duk was a super babyface. Here he was an effective heel. Medico got tiny bits of hope but got cut off fairly quickly and was doomed to run into the kick and fall to the cobra. Duk was certainly making a run here. It’s been a bit.

EB: We have another appearance from the Mexican mini luchadores. While we don’t have footage from the tag match from Three Kings Day, here is a singles match between Mascarita Sagrada and Piratita Morgan that occurred sometime during the holiday season.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qE0gClUi5_0

Hugo and Profe are on commentary for this bout, it is from one of the commercial tape releases. Profe mentions that few can match the speed of these wrestlers, while Hugo talks about how they were inspired by watching wrestlers from the U.S. like Sky Low Low and Little Beaver. Sagrada and Morgan start off with a nice counter sequence, with both wrestlers missing dropkicks and then kipping up. Morgan immediately slaps the back of Sagrada’s head and knocks him to the mat. Profe says that the action is so fast that they can barely keep up announcing it, which Hugo agrees with. Morgan hits a tilt a whirl backbreaker and, after yelling at the crowd, does a front drop to Sagrada. Morgan continues in control with some nice punches, but Sagrada counters with a spin kick when Morgan attempts a corner charge. Sagrada briefly takes over but again Morgan knocks Sagrada down with some punches. Sagrada eventually comes back, including doing a headstand on the top turnbuckle into a headscissors and a series of ranas. Morgan gets dropkicked out of the ring and takes a while to gather his breath. While Morgan is outside, Profe notices Victor Quiñones at ringside and starts mocking him, but changes his tune when Hugo points out Victor is the one paying them for commentating the video. Back in the ring, Sagrada gets a moonsault body block for a pin attempt.  Sagrada successfully does a switch but a second attempt gets countered by Morgan into a version of a chokeslam that gets the pinfall win. Morgan gets his hand raised and does  muscle pose for the crowd.  

MD: Plenty worse ways to spend five minutes then with this fun, very complete sprint. Profe is on color commentary which is just a sign of how much he’s tasked with right now. Morgan controls for most of it but with escalating hope spots. His offense looks great. Just really good strikes and bullying. He bases well for everything Sagrada does too and all of it is good and imaginative and flashy. I feel like they often put the rudos over in these for some reason and they do so here as well with him turning a Sagrada cazadora into a one arm slam. This felt like the biggest hit from these guys so far in Puerto Rico even if it was only five minutes or so.

EB: Continuing with the results from January 6, Jimmy Snuka no-showed the event and Huracan Castillo Jr took his place as Dick Murdoch’s opponent. We will talk more about Murdoch next time. Also not appearing at the show was Eric Embry, although in his case he either left or had been fired sometime over the holiday break. As a result of Embry no longer being there, the Super Medicos regained the Caribbean tag titles (although I’m not sure if it was via forfeit). Embry’s departure was explained as him suffering a serious eye injury from having his face thrown into the flames during the fire match and being advised by doctors to not get in the ring. So the Super Medicos have successfully run Erci Embry out of Puerto Rico. However, Rick Valentine has found a new tag partner to  help avenge Embry, none other than Gran Mendoza (who is now going by the moniker of Galan Mendoza).
We have footage of the World tag title match between the Texas Hangmen and Invader #1 and Bronco #1. The video has no sound but we can still see the action that unfolded between the two teams on Three Kings Day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_a3ANsZTPE

The match is in progress with Invader working the arm of one of the Hangmen and tagging in Bronco (who is wearing an animal print version of his mask and attire). Bronco comes off the top with a punch but soon loses a punch exchange to Killer. Psycho is tagged in and continues in control with punches on Bronco. The Hangmen tag in and out and do double teams on Bronco. The Hangmen continue to work over Bronco as a frustrated Invader paces on the apron. The Hangmen taunt the crowd and block Bronco’s attempts to make the tag. Invader tries to help Bronco a few times, but only gets some blows in each time before the ref escorts him out of the ring. Finally, after being worked over for several minutes, Bronco makes the tag after the Hangmen miss an elbow drop. Invader quickly comes in and fights off both Hangmen. Bronco comes back in and all four men fight, with Invader eventually sending one of the Hangmen outside of the ring. Invader follows the Hangmen to the outside as Bronco is taking care of the other Hangmen in the ring. El Profe comes over with the bullrope to hit Invader from behind, but Invader takes away the bullrope and chases Profe to the dugout.  Bronco is attacked by both Hangmen in the ring. The Hangmen start to hang Bronco as Invader emerges from the dugout with the bullrope around Profe’s neck.When Invader notices that Bronco is being hanged, he releases El Profe and heads to the ring to make the save. Invader fends off both Hangmen and keeps the bullrope in his possession.

MD: We’ll take what we can get, sound or no. But when that hot tag hit here, I wish I could have heard the pop. On the other hand, we’ve been doing this long enough, we could imagine it perfectly. We get a little bit of shine here, just a bit, with Bronco being his usual theatrical, bombastic self, but the numbers game takeover. Then we get a long-ish heat of them just beating him down with kicks and stomps. It feels effective to me. Invader finally comes in hot. They’re not quite on the same page. I get the sense that he wanted to toss one Hangman into the other but Bronco was doing his own thing. That inadvertently plays into what happens next as Invader heads out of the ring with a Hangman and ends up chasing Profe into the dugout. That allows for a 2x1 and the Hangmen to get some new year's heat back after the big matches that had recently happened by hanging Bronco. Eventually, Invader makes the save with the rope Profe had and clears the ring after they almost got him too. Another good tag.

EB: The no-DQ rematch between Carlos Colon and Greg Valentine ended with controversy. Carlos Colon had Greg Valentine in the figure four leglock and it looked like Valentine was going to submit. El Profe jumped on the ring apron and grabbed onto the referee when El Vikingo went to tell him to get down. With the ref distracted, Dick Murdoch ran in and dropped an elbow on Colon to break up the figure four. Later in the match Valentine ducked a Colon charge and instead Carlos took out El Vikingo by accident. With no referee, Valentine got his figure four on and waited for the ref, as Colon tried to fight out of the hold. However, this time Giant Warrior rushed to the ring and broke up Valentine’s figure four with a legdrop. Warrior then stomped his foot and sent Valentine into the ropes for a big boot. Valentine was knocked out and Warrior proceeded to drag Carlos over Valentine as the crowd cheered on. Warrior tossed the ref back into the ring and Colon got the three count. Post-match, Valentine attacked Colon and put on the figure four as rain started falling. Colon had to be helped out afterwards and Profe and Valentine lodged a protest about the match result. Colon had won the match and the Universal title, but controversy reigned as well.

The weeknd of January 12, Carlos Colon announced on TV that he was not going to accept winning the Universal title the way things happened on Three Kings Day and thus the Universal title remained officially vacant. Colon would issue a challenge to Valentine and El Profe to have one more match to settle the Universal title vacancy. To avoid any further controversy or interference, Carlos wants it to be a steel cage match. We await Profe and Valentine’s response.

Also on January 12, a house show was held in Carolina. The Super Medicos faced the new team of Rick Valentine and Galan Mrndoza in a non-title match, with Mendoza using his glove to knock out one of the Medicos while Valentine was being pinned, resulting in the rudos stealing the win and earning a shot at the Caribbean tag titles.

There was a rematch between the Texas Hangmen and Invader #1 & Bronco#1. This match resulted in Invader being bloodied and laid out outside of the ring. As the Hangmen proceeded to double team Bronco, a dazed Invader left the ring area and headed to the back. He would come back with the bullrope he had kept from the previous encounters and saved Bronco from the Hangmen.

The main event of that January 12 house show was a Royal Rumble match, with the winner being TNT. Wait… isn’t TNT on tour in Japan? Yes, he is. Turns out that the TNT that showed up to compete that night and win the event was none other than the Original TNT that was last seen around September of 1989. Yes, the same one that Chicky Starr had brought in claiming to be the true TNT is back, this time with El Profe as his manager.

With all of these happenings in the first half of January, let’s go now to the TV shows from January 19, starting with Campeones.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7j8TJ1QiWg

The Campeones opening has clips of one of the Colon & TNT vs Hangmen matches and of one of the mixed trios matches between the Super Medicos & Sasha and Embry, Valentine & Ripper. Our hosts are Hugo and Profe.. Hugo greets the viewers as Profe starts peacocking around showing off his outfit. Hugo asks why he is doing that, and Profe says that Hugo is jealous because he can’t match his face to his outfit like Profe can. Hugo and Profe run down the matches and Ptrofe says that he has to congratulate CSP on the tremendous production they did on the Duk & Barbarian vs Hall & Warrior match, where they edited the video to make it look like Profe was the one that hit Giant Warrior. Hugo takes exception at Profe insinuating that they (Hugo is part of the production team) did something like that. Profe keeps saying that it’s a setup by production and Hugo responds that he thinks Scott Hall is an imbecile for believing Profe.

Hugo changes topics and announces that soon there will be a tournament  for the vacant TV title, which has been inactive since TNT vacated the belt during his previous run as Universal champion. Hugo also mentions that we are all waiting to see if Profe and Greg Valentine have the guts to answer Carlos Colon’s challenge for one more match to settle the Universal title vacancy in a steel cage. Profe says that how can you dare stick Valentine in a cage, and then says some over the top remarks about how Colon is used to being in cages, with Hugo cutting him off so they can talk about tonight’s house show in Caguas. Last week, Profe’s new charge Original TNT surprised everyone by winning the Royal Rumble match. Profe says he knew his guy could do it, but Hugo says he was able to win because Carlos had been busted open by Scott Hall earlier in the match. Tonight it will be one on one as Carlos Colon faces the Original TNT.

Our first match of the show is one from March 1990, where the actual TNT is facing Carl Styles back during Carl’s original rudo run. The match serves more as a backdrop for Hugo and Profe to argue over who the real TNT is, with Hugo saying the one we’re watching is the real one and Profe saying that the one they are currently watching is a cheap copy. Hugo mentions that TNT is currently in Japan, although Profe is incredulous and thinks he may be hiding in a corner somewhere. Hugo mentions that soon both TNTs will be in Puerto Rico and we will see what happens then. The match itself is surprisingly more of a showcase for Carl Styles ,who controls most of the bout. Profe takes the chance to run down Styles for turning on him, to which Hugo calls Profe out as shameless. Profe again is incredulous on TNT being in Japan, with Hugo saying that TNT had sent them a magazine from over there and they had talked with him as well. Hugo says they told TNT that Original TNT had returned. Profe says that after hearing that, TNT likely will not come back for a month, maybe six months, from being afraid. Hugo responds that TNT will be back next week, so Profe can calm down about that. The match ends with TNT making a comeback and getting a roll up for the win.    

MD: At first I had thought this was Original TNT vs mid-card face Styles but it’s 1990 TNT vs heel Styles. This was before Styles had been depushed upon his return. I had been confused why they were having Original TNT, their returning lead heel work so weak. It makes a lot more sense now that I realize what’s going on. Styles takes most of this but TNT gest a kick and the Cobra to win it.

EB: Hugo mentions that they have a clip of something that happened at Miramar between the Super Medicos and Mendoza and Valentine (again, can’t mention it’s from Superestrellas due to being on different channels). We go to a singles match between Rick Valentine and Super Medico #3, where Monster Ripper gets on the apron and accidentally is knocked into the ring after Valentine hits the ropes. As the ref is tending to Ripper, Medico #3 makes a pin attempt on Valentine. However, Mendoza runs in and hits Medico #3 with his glove. Mendoza quickly puts Valentine on top of Medico #3 and runs off. Ripper conveniently rolls out of the ring at that moment and the ref starts making the count, only for Super Medico #3 to run in and attack Valentine. The ref disqualifies Super Medico #3, and Medico #1 fights both Mendoza and Valentine. Medico #1 is overwhelmed by the odds and is hit repeatedly by Mendoza with the glove. Medico #3 enters the ring with a chair and clears the rudos from the ring.

The Super Medicos cut an interview about their upcoming Caribbean tag title defense against Valentine and Mendoza, with Medico #1 saying that the rudos will find out what being hit by a B-52 is like when they face them tonight. The rudos respond, with Monster Ripper promising that her new team will win the Caribbean tag titles. Mendoza promises that they will win by any means necessary while holding up his gloved hand.   

MD: Mendoza feels like a lateral move from Idol but a drop down from Embry. He’s looking particularly like Chicky in some ways here, actually, but also has the glove. I imagine he was glad for this push and was going to work hard with it. The match itself had a good finish with Valentine crashing into Ripper and in the ensuing chaos, Mendoza intervening only for the ref seeing Medico making the save instead.

EB: We get a promo from Johnny Ringo, who is facing Huracan Castillo Jr for the World Junior title tonight. Ringo says that he’ll do more damage than Hurricane Hugo and make history tonight. We then get the rundown of tonight’s show in Caguas: Carlos Colon vs Original TNT;  in a lumberjack match (I’m guessing due to the wrestlers continuously going back to the dugout to get the bullropes) for the WWC World tag titles we have the Texas Hangmen defending against Invader #1 and Bronco #1; Giant Warrior vs Scott Hall; the Super Medicos defend the Caribbean tag titles against Rick Valentine & Galan Mendoza; Miguelito Perez makes his return to take on Kim Duk; and  Huracan Castillo Jr defends the World Junior title against Johnny Ringo.

MD: I have no idea who this Johnny Ringo is but he cuts a promo in English saying he’s more dangerous than Hurricane Hugo and that he’s going for Castillo’s Jr. Belt. It is funny to see him kill time as off screen Hugo (not the hurricane) translates.

EB: Our next match is a TV studio match that that occurred on Jan 9th between Invader #1 and Psycho. Invader comes out with the bullrope he had taken from the Hangmen during their earlier matches (it was the one he used on them during the Three Kings Day match). Invader controls the first part of the match to the crowd’s cheers. During the match, Profe makes off with Invader's bullrope, leaving only Psycho's at ringside. Psycho takes control of the match and Profe is pleased with the results. 

Eventually, Invader makes the comeback and wins the match when Profe and Killer's interference backfires. Post match, Invader fights both Hangmen but eventually succumbs to the cowbell. The ref gets tossed and the Hangmen beat up Invader again. It's deja vu, as Carlos comes out to help Invader but is cut off by the Original TNT. The Hangmen continue beating up Invader. Giant Warrior comes out and is cut off by Kim Duk. Los Super Medicos are held off by Galan Mendoza and Rick Valentine. Huracan Castillo tries to get to the ring and El Profe heads him off. Finally, Bronco runs out and makes the save (Profe: We didn't know he was in the building!). The Hangmen leave, but the bullrope is left behind. Invader is dazed and bleeding, but firmly holds the bullrope in his hands.

MD: Another good one. Invader wrestles with such amazing confidence. Just total conviction in everything he does. Even just a stomp that leads right into a foot on chest pin. Profe stole back the noose that Invader had after the last match and Psycho took over on him with a lot of stomps and facewashes. This led to Killer coming out and the Hangmen miscommunicating for an Invader roll up. Post match they tried to have lightning strike twice with another huge beatdown in the ring while all the locker room fought to prevent the save. I get the sense Bronco had been away selling the effects of the hanging from the last match and he’s the one that ultimately makes the big save for a bloody Invader. It hits but it doesn’t hit quite as hard because you don’t have Embry menacing Sasha and a huge turn like TNT. But it still does hit. I don’t think they could get away with it again though.

EB: El Profe and Original TNT cut a promo about their match tonight against Carlos Colon, where they show a quick clip of how Original TNT beat Carlos to win the Rumble (Carlos took a version of the Slaughter bump after missing a charge into the corner). ‘TNT’ says he’ll put Colon’s lights out and may not bother waking him up afterwards. Carlos responds by putting over last week’s Royal Rumble match and saying that ‘TNT’ has reason to celebrate. But Carlos says that he should not be going around saying he beat Carlos Colon ono on one, because that match was everyone vs everyone, Original TNT was the last entrant and took everyone by surprise when they were tired, and that Carlos had been busted open and bleeding for a while. Tonight it is one on one and Carlos will be fresh. Tonight ‘TNT’ will not have the same luck.

We then get Original TNT taking on Huracan Castillo Jr. This match is joined in progress and is mainly to reintroduce Original TNT.  This looks to be from the previous week in Carolina. ‘TNT’ controls most of the match, although Huracan gets some comebacks in. On commentary, Hugo talks about Carlos being honorable in not accepting the Universal title while Profe calls Carlos stupid for doing that. Hugo says it was an act of integrity, Profe says it was a guilty conscience for the chicanery that went down. In the finishing stretch, Castillo comes off the top rope with a bodypress that ‘TNT’ rolls over for a near fall. Castillo sends ‘TNT’ into the ropes and puts his head down too early, allowing ‘TNT’ to kick him twice in the head and get the pinfall win.

MD: A little jarring to hear that voice come out of someone who looks at least somewhat like TNT. Colon had a big flag graphic behind him just like in the promo for the card (which looks overall good even if I’m a little doubtful of the match on top). The Castillo match itself had TNT taking a good chunk but when Castillo took over, TNT was just walking around ringside sucking air and it wasn’t a great look. Something of a banana peel finish too where he got his last advantage by turning around a body press. I think maybe he could have looked stronger but this was not unusual for Castillo putting someone over.

EB: Scott Hall talks about how the fans in Caguas will be behind him tonight against Giant Warrior, he has never lost in Caguas and tonight Profe says it won’t happen. Giant Warrior says that tonight it’ll be time for Hall to lose for the first time in Caguas. We then get the tag match from Christmas Day where Hall turned on Warrior. Profe again insists that this is a masterful editing job to make him look like the one that hit Warrior. Hugo remains exasperated about the accusation. At the end of the program, Hugo walks off in disgust as El Profe talks about what his guys will do tonight.

MD: Hall cut a good delusional heel promo about how all his fans would be there to cheer him vs Giant Warrior. Then he did all of his poses as Profe spoke. He’s the best at that. Warrior actually cut a promo and it was ok. Then they had Hugo (off screen) translate as he fumbled with the mic. Would have been better to have Hugo stand next to him for the size difference as he didn’t look big with the backdrop.
EB: We also have the west coast version  of the January 19 Superestrellas de la Lucha Libre.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDEeO7KuYdg

Hugo is talking about tomorrow’s house show in Hormigueros, and it looks like we have a similar card as the one in Caguas. Hugo mention the upcoming TV title tournament and sends some greetings to some fans before going to our first match, which is Super Medico #3 vs Rick Valentine (the one we saw a clip of in the Campeones episode). So if you want to see the full match here it is. Eliud Gonzalez introduces the combatants and the match has a feeling out process to start. The commentators talk about how Embry was injured during the fire match and now Valentine has got Mendoza as his new tag partner, promising to avenge Embry and get the Caribbean tag titles. Medico #3 takes over by working the arm as Hugo says that he doesn’t think the match will remain a straight up wrestling contest for long. Hugo also mentions the topic of Galan Mendoza’s controversial glove, with suspicions that it may be loaded. Rick Valentine controls the middle portion of the match and the finishing stretch we saw on Campeones stars with Valentine missing an elbow drop. We get a bit more of the post match, as the ref declares Valentine the winner.

MD: Aha! This is the entire match that we saw the finish of during the last show. It’s pretty good too, with Valentine stooging early, trapped in an armbar going in and out as Medico hangs on. There’s a great bit before the transition to heat (missed corner charge) where he tries to go for a tag forgetting it’s a singles match. I noted now Mendoza used the loaded glove in the post match beatdown too.

EB: Next is another Johnny Ringo promo, this time about tomorrow’s match in Hormigueros. We also get Valentine, Mendoza & Ripper and the Super Medicos talking about their match tomorrow in Hormigueros. They run down the show lineup for the January 20 house show, and it’s exactly the same as the one in Caguas.

MD: It’s too bad we don’t get a Ringo squash match in here because I’m real curious what this guy can do.

EB: Original TNT gets  a TV showcase match against Sabu (not that one). This match is all Original TNT, just a dominant win to reestablish him. The commentators talk about how the real TNT is in Japan but should be back soon. ‘TNT’ wins with the cobra sleeper, as Hugo makes sure to remind the kids watching to not try these moves at home since they are dangerous. The ref has to insist with ‘TNT’ to wake his opponent up, which he eventually does. After the match ,we get promos from Original TNT and Carlos Colon about their match in Hormigueros, similar to what we saw in Campeones.

MD: I’ve seen two or three Sabus in wrestling in this is by far the least fearsome looking one. He does get to fire out of the corner once only to get crushed. Pretty solid intensity from Original TNT here. Some of the promos here are either the same or very similar to ones we saw on the other show.

EB: After an airing of the TNT ‘Evolution’ music video, we have a match from the TV studio with Scott Hall taking on Nick Ayala. We have seen Ayala before, but Hall makes relatively quick work of Nick. Hugo mentions that there are a lot of fans mad at El Profe for stealing Scott Hall away from El Ejercito de la Justicia, since they had a lot of appreciation for him. Hall gets the win with the crucifix.

MD: I feel like we haven’t seen a proper Hall match in a while. Ayala has been competitive before, but he’s not going to be here. Great bump on the crucifix (Razor’s Edge) as Ayala flips over as part of the bump.

EB: The Texas Hangmen and Invader & Bronco cut promos about their match tomorrow in Hormigueros, with Invader mentioning that everyone saw last week that the Hangmen are cowards, they ran off when things got rough, this time with the lumberjacks there is no running away. There is an unintentionally funny moment when Invader walks off after cutting his promo and Bronco stays behind to say his piece.We then get theTexas Hangmen music video we have seen before. 

We also have a TV showcase match for the team of Invader #1 and Bronco #1 vs Joe Casanova and El Condor. Invader and Bronco do quick tags to work over Condor, The rudos team gets almost no offense in, as this is a clear showcase to put over Invader and Bronco’s teamwork in their quest to win the World tag team titles. Bronco wins the match with his falling DDT maneuver.

MD: After Invader 1 chasing Profe last match, they’re coming back with a Lumberjack match. Obviously both teams think that’s to their advantage and call the other team cowards. In the music video what stood out the most was the variety of Hangmen masks. I hadn’t noticed that before. I’m left wondering what happened to Bronco’s valet. I’m annoyed Exotico isn’t Casanova’s partner for obvious reasons. Bronco and Invader work well together, control the arm. Invader sells a bit but only to make a comeback. It kind of amazes me that Bronco’s drop down DDT finisher wasn’t used by basically anyone else for years. 

EB: We end the episode with a match between the minis, as Espectrito and Piratita Morgan face Aguilita Solitaria & Mascarita Sagrada, this time in the TV studio. The match is joined in progress and the rudos are in control. Espectrito misses a knee charge into the corner, giving Aguilita a chance to fire off some off his impressive moves. Espectrito gets sent out of the ring and now we get Piratita and Mascarita in the ring for their teams. Mascarita gets the better of Morgan due to his speed, but the size advantage remains with the rudos. Still, Mascarita is able to dodge charges by both rudos that end up with them hitting the ringpost and going to the outside. We continue with a quick pace, with the wrestlers from both teams going in and out and some miscommunication from the tecnicos leading to the rudos gaining control. It does not last long and Sagrada gets a nearfall off a sunset flip. The match continues back and forth until the bell rings in a time limit draw. 

MD: This cuts out but I do think that the bell rang and it was a draw. I get bringing these guys in. I get putting them on shows. I get maybe having a match now and again on TV to let people know what they’re getting on the live show but they’re so detached from everything else, as an attraction is want to be, that I wonder about spending so much TV time on them. A couple of clips would probably do the trick and then you can sneak in a Giant Warrior promo too or something.

EB: Next week on El Deporte de las Mil Emociones, we reach the final weekend of January 1991. We’ll find out if Greg Valentine will accept Carlos Colon’s challenge for the steel cage match. We’ll also have an update on our ongoing tag feuds, our first look at Dick Murdoch in Puerto Rico, the TV title tournament is set to take place, and someone gets put to sleep when Carlos Colon takes on the Original TNT.