El Deporte de las Mil Emociones: No Vacancy

Week 43: No Vacancy

EB:  The TV title tournament was held on January 26, and while we do not have the complete brackets of who faced who in the first round, we do know that the final match of the tournament was between TNT and Original TNT. When the numbers were drawn, Original TNTr received the bye to the finals, where he faced a tired and bloody TNT. Thanks to these circumstances (and a well placed salt throw) Original TNT became the new TV champion.In addition, the two tag title matches held that day resulted in disqualification wins for the tecnicos, with the circumstances surrounding those wins leading to stipulation rematches for February 2.  In the case of the Super Medicos vs. Rick Valentine & Galan Mendoza we have a no DQ rematch. For the Texas Hangmen and Invader #1 & Bronco #1, the Hangmen’s actions resulted in them stealing Bronco’s mask and Invader making the save with his fist taped up. If you have been following along on our journey you know that the taped fist appearing means things have reached a serious point.

Adding to everything going on heading into February 2 is the awaited cage match between Carlos Colon and Greg Valentine to settle the Universal title vacancy. Overall, there is a lot that’s been happening so far in 1991 and it looks like a lot of issues may be settled on February 2. Lucky for us, the Superestrellas de la Lucha Libe episode we have for the February 2 weekend gives us the opportunity to put a lot of these ongoing feuds in context, since it consists almost entirely of highlight videos for each of the ongoing feuds. It is the west coast version of Superestrellas that we have, so the focus is on promoting the February 3 card in Hormigueros, but as usual it’s basically the same card that will be held on February 2 in Bayamon (so we’re getting the build up here). If you were wanting to have a fuller context of what has been happening in CSP throughout January of 1991, this is the TV episode to watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c78Y1d8JfiA

Hugo welcomes the viewers to the program and runs down what will be on today’s show. Hugo mentions that we will see Norman the Lunatic and Dick Murdoch in action (although we do not get any Norman in the episode, so it may be edited out of this version we have).  Hugo also mentions that we will have some special videos going over the ongoing feuds, with highlights about what has led up to this weekend’s house show matches.

We cut to the feud highlight video for Miguelito Perez vs. Kim Duk. This started January 19 in Caguas, upon Miguelito’s return from a Japan tour. Miguelito gets his signature powerslam and makes the cover, but Duk gets a foot on the ropes to stop the count. Miguelito thinks he has won the match and briefly celebrates, but the ref explains to him that the count was stopped due to Duk’s foot being on the ropes. While Perez has his back turned, El Profe hands Kim Duk something. Miguelito heads back towards Duk and sends him into the ropes to set up another powerslam, but on the rebound Duk throws salt into Miguelito’s face.  Duk is disqualified but Perez is down and temporarily blinded on the mat. Duk takes the opening to start attacking Migueltio with a kendo stick, hitting several blows on the defenseless Perez. Some days.later, Miguelito got a surprise when he was leaving the studio and found his vehicle’s windshield smashed up. Fans that were nearby informed Miguelito that it was Kim Duk that had done it with a baseball bat.

El Profe and Kim Duk cut a promo on the upcoming match with Miguelito Perez, with Profe saying that Kim Duk’s leg is all better now (it seems that Duk claimed he was injured last Sunday to avoid facing Miguelito) and there will be no excuses when Kim Duk  finishes Perez this weekend. We go to Miguelito with Hugo, and Hugo talks about everything that has happened so far, such as the salt being thrown in Miguelito’s face, Duk’s knee being hurt last week, and now the incident with the windshield. Perez wants all of the fans to be there tomorrow night because he wants revenge. It’s true that he didn;t see Kim Duk break the windshield of the car, but the fans that were there said they saw Duk do it. Miguelito is also convinced that last week Duk was faking that he was hurt or ill so that he wouldn’t have to face Miguelito. Tomorrow night in Hormigueros, both of them will be there and Duk will pay for what he has done. Perez asks what is up with Duk no longer coming out here with the baseball bat, all of a sudden he is back with the kendo stick. Hugo and Miguelito talk that maybe Duk is hiding it due to a guilty conscience or that he does not want to get any more fines for carrying it around. Miguelito also sends a warning to El Profe about not getting involved. Miguelito is coming for Duk’s head.

MD: This feud seems to have come out of nowhere but it’s a solid mid-card feud that moves Perez up the ladder a little bit if they need him to be moved up. I keep waiting for them to cycle the Hangmen (or Valentine/Mendoza) to the Caribbean Express but I guess it’s not time for that yet. Here Duk got DQed for using the salt in front of the ref, attacked with the kendo stick post-match and then trashed Perez’s car with it. So obviously Perez was out for blood. They got a ton of mileage out of 90-91 Duk all things considered. 

EB: We cut to the feud highlights for Giant Warrior vs. Scott Hall. We get the highlights from the Christmas Day tag match where Scott Hall turned on Giant Warrior due to Hall believing it was Warrior who had hit him with the chair. Hall had left Warrior laying and the feud was on from there. We go to their most recent encounter from January 27 in Hormigueros, where Warrior was well in control of the match and attempting several pin attempts. However, Hall made his way to the ring apron and was able to catch Giant Warrior when the latter attempted to bring Hall back in. Hall took advantage of having Warrior on the ropes and grabbed his bullrope from the turnbuckle. Hall then proceeded to choke Warrior out with the bullrope as the ref rang the bell, signalling a disqualification. Hall snapmared Warrior down with the rope and then started whipping Warrior with the bullrope. This has resulted in a bullrope match being signed for this weekend.

The interview with Hall is edited out of this version of the episode but we do get Warrior’s interview. Warrior has the bullrope with him and makes note that they will find out if Hall is man enough to be attached to the other end of the bullrope when facing Warrior.   The bell can do a lot of damage to a man’s head and Warrior is looking forward to defeating Hall and paying him back. Hall can’t run anywhere.

We then have a rundown for tomorrow’s card in Hormigueros (which is likely the same card scheduled for that night in Bayamon): Carlos Colon vs. Greg valentine for the vacant Universal title in a cage match; a rematch for the World tag team titles as Invader #1 (with his taped fist) and Bronco #1 challenge the Texas Hangmen; TNT challenges the new TV champion Original TNT; Giant Warrior vs Scott Hall in a bullrope match; Norman the Lunatic vs Dick Murdoch; a no DQ rematch for the Caribbean tag titles as  the Super Medicos challenge Rick Valentine & Galan Mendoza; Miguelito Perez vs. Kim Duk; and Huracan Castillo Jr. defends the World Junior title against Mr. Pogo. 

MD: The 1/27 match between these two actually looks pretty good. They’re working well together. It ends with Hall using the bullrope which, I mean, great, and it sets up a bullrope match for the upcoming card (which looks really good by the way, one of the best single cards I’ve seen them promote in ages and that’s saying something). But, they have the Texas Hangmen! They use a noose. It’s really similar! Maybe they should have clearly put Hall and the Hangment together as a unit? 

EB: We join a Dick Murdoch vs Nick Ayala match in progress just in time for Murdoch to hit a brainbuster and get the pinfall win. Hugo makes note that Murdoch has a young man with him at ringside, it appears Murdoch has said that he is training this person and wants to make him into a wrestler. Murdoch speaks briefly with the unnamed man and they shake hands before leaving the ring. We go to an interview with ‘Captain Redneck’ Dick Murdoch and this unidentified man. Murdoch calls Hugo ‘Herman’ and quickly moves past talking about Norman the Lunatic in order to complain about the loss of a beautiful lady on an island where there are none to be found. Murdoch also says that he found the man that made Puerto Rico famous in major league baseball by striking out in the World Series. The man is named Jose but Murdoch quickly tells Jose that he will get him to stop speaking ‘that trashy Mexican talk, that trashy Puerto Rican talk’, he will learn English like the rest of the world speaks. and that from now on his name will be Joe Smith. Murdoch insults the viewers and then tells ‘Herman’ that after Norman, he wants Carlos Colon.

MD: We’re robbed of the Ayala match as we come in just with the brainbuster. Murdoch’s promo is something else. He calls Hugo Herman. He has a guy with him who he calls Jose and says is a famous baseball player who struck out in a key moment who he will teach wrestling and call Joe Smith. He goes on about a bunch of other stuff and it’s all exactly what you’d expect. After Norman, his eyes are on Colon.

EB: Next is the recap of the feud between the Super Medicos and Rick Valentine & Galan Mendoza. This feud began with Embry getting injured during the fire match held on Christmas Day and thus a new tag team was formed with Valentine & Mendoza looking to avenge what happened to Embry. January 12 in Carolina saw Mendoza use his loaded glove to help his team get the win. The two teams faced off on January 19 for the Caribbean tag titles, where once again Mendoza used his loaded punch to hit one of the Medicos. Valentine made the cover but the time limit rang before the three count was completed. The rudos complained about there being irregularities with the timekeeper ringing the bell when he did, so a rematch was held at the January 23 TV tapings in Miramar. Once again Mendoza used his loaded glove to hit one of the Medicos and this time the rudos were able to get the win and became the new Caribbean tag champions. The Medicos wanted a rematch and they got it on January 26 jn Caguas. The Medicos had the match in hand with several pin and submission attempts on Valentine. However, Mendoza kept breaking up the pinfall and submission attempts. Finally, Medico #1 got Valentine in a sleeperhold, which caused Mendoza to leap off the top rope in an attempt to break the hold up. Medico #3 had rushed in though, and instead was able to intercept Mendoza and put him in a sleeperhold as well. The ref had seen enough of Mendoza’s interference and called for a disqualification, which meant the rudos remained the champions. The Medicos kept the sleeperholds on and left Valentine and Mendoza laid out in the ring. This weekend they face off in a no DQ match.

We cut over the rudo team's interview and go to the Super Medicos. Hugo asks Medico #3 for his thoughts and Medico #3 says that everyone knows that the rudos stole the belts from them but they will regain them tomorrow. Hugo then asks Medico #1 for his thoughts, since the fans saw how Valentine & Mendoza cheated to win the belts in that bloody match they had on TV.  Tomorrow it is no DQ, so anything goes from either team. Medico #1 says that moments ago the fans saw clips of the battles the Medicos have had with Valentine & Embry and now Mendoza, and also the ways that the rudos have cheated, It’s now no DQ and the rudos say that they have the tiles and now want to get rid the Super Medicos. They may have the titles, but getting rid of the Medicos will be impossible for them to do.

MD: Not a lot to say here because we’ve covered a bunch of this but it’s been a very solid feud overall. Again, they got a ton of mileage out of Rick Valentine between 90-91 and multiple partners. Everything’s built to a big No DQ match which you think would favor Valentine/Mendoza but we shall see.

EB: We go to the feud highlight video for TNT and the Original TNT. El Profe is the narrator for the first part of this highlight video (so we are going to get his slant on things), where he recounts the start of this feud in 1989. Original TNT found out through a wrestling magazine that here in Puerto Rico there was a faker named Juan Rivera, who had gone to Loiusiana and decided to copy the name and style of TNT (which is not true). So Original TNT made his way to Puerto Rico to put a stop to this fake (again, this is Profe’s rudo slant on what happened). Hugo then continues the narration, indicating the two men were scheduled to face off at Aniversario 1989 in a winner take all match for the identity of TNT, but Original TNT did not show up.  Now in 1991 Original TNt has returned and the feud restarted on January 19, when TNT made a surprise appearance to save Carlos colon from Original TNT’s attack. TNT put Original TNT in the Cobra Dinamita and left him knocked out in the ring. They faced off for the TV title in the tournament finals on January 26, where Original TNt was able to steal the win. The next day in Hormigueros, they faced off in a singles match, where TNT hit a spin kick in the corner that sent him flying to the outside. TNT landed on his feet and surprised Original TNt with a sunset flip pin attempt to get back in the ring. They continue fighting, with Original TNt getting a back suplex. Both men’s shoulders are down as the ref makes the count. At two, TNT gets one of his shoulders up. The ref completed the three count and Profe celebrated thinning Original TNT had won. The ref raises TNT’s hand as the winner instead.

We go to Original TNT and El Profe in the studio, talking about the upcoming TV title defense against TNT. Profe says that there cannot be two TNTs in wrestling, one will cease to be tomorrow. Original TNT reiterates that he is the real TNT and the other is an impostor. We then go to Hugo and TNT, with Hugo reminding the fans that this started back in 1989. TNT mentions that the dog impostor forgot to mention how he won the TV title. TNT had two matches before the final (meaning Original TNT got the bye) , TNT was very bloody and, to top it off, Original TNT had to use salt to help him win the TV title. Tomorrow it is one on one, face to face, and this time TNT will be fresh. He proved last week that he can beat the dog impostor despite also bleeding, because he was born and raised in Puerto Rico. He’s looking to get rid of the impostor and hurt him in the process as well.  

MD: Nice to finally hear AC/DC over the TNTs fighting. Looks like the TV title was decided with Original TNT winning the coin flip, so TNT had to wrestle an extra match that he didn’t. Then the finish the next night was him winning  on a banana peel slip by getting his shoulder up after Original TNT belly to back suplexed him. So now they face off again in fairer circumstances for the title.

EB: We have now the feud highlight video for Invader #1 & Bronco #1 vs the Texas Hangmen. This starts on January 6 in the first teamup of Invader and Bronco. The Hangmen are attacking Bronco in the ring, since Invader had chased Profe back to the dugout.  The Hangmen get Bronco up to hang him, but Invader (who had emerged from the dugout dragging Profe with the other noose) noticed what was happening and went to the ring to make the save. We go to January 26 where the two teams are facing off again. Invader makes the hot tag to Bronco, who starts cleaning house on both Hangmen. However, Invader fell to the floor after the tag from the damage taken in the match. Bronco continued attacking the Hangmen and remained in control, but one of the Hangmen snuck around to where Invader was outside of the ring and hit him over the head with a chair. The Super Medicos came out to check on Invader and help him back to the locker room area. This left Bronco alone with both Hangmen and he was eventually overwhelmed. The Hangmen signal that they are going to unmask Bronco and actually follow through on the threat, taking off his mask. Bronco quickly fell to the mat and covered up his face, as Hugo reminds the fans that this is the ultimate insult to a masked wrestler. The ref disqualifies the Hangmen but they don’t care and attack the defenseless Bronco. All of a sudden, Invader emerges from the stairwell and he has his fist taped! Remember that Invader’s  taped fist heart punch is considered to be a very dangerous maneuver in Puerto Rico. The Hangmen do not seem to notice and send Invader into the ropes, but before Invader can wind up and let it fly, El Profe grabs Invader’s legs and trips him up. Invader decides to go after the unsuspecting  Profe for interfering and hits him with the taped fist heart punch. Profe is laid out on the arena floor and Invader chases both Hangmen off before checking on Bronco. The Hangmen notice Profe on the floor and check on their manager. 

In the studio, El Profe is with the Texas Hangmen. Profe mentions that they know how dangerous the taped fist, with Profe knowing from experience, but they won’t be afraid tomorrow night. The Hangmen have Bronco’s mask with them, mocking Bronco for being unmasked and repeating that they are not afraid of Invader’s taped fist. They will keep the World tag titles. 

Invader and Bronco are somewhere in the arena for their promo, with Invader showing off his taped fist. Bronco is irate about the Hangmen going for his mask, something that they shouldn't have done. The mask is to be respected and Bronco and Invader will teach the Hangmen a lesson. Invader says they have the taped fist and that when the final bell rings, they will be the new World tag team champions. 

MD: The feud continues. This time a Hangman hits Invader with a chair from while he’s waiting to be tagged in and the Medicos take him to the back. That lets the Hangmen pull off Bronco’s mask. But Invader comes in now with the Heart Punch ready! Another bit of escalation. They started with a straight up match and had all these points they could escalate to. It’s just great week to week booking for a promotion like this and I think there’s a lot ot be learned for modern wrestling.

EB: We finally get a look at some highlights from the Carlos Colon and Greg Valentine feud that has been going on since December 15. While we have described what has happened so far,  it’s always better when we have footage to help show as well. We start with the match from December 15, where Greg tried to use his shin guard to assist with the figure four leglock, but Colon managed to push Greg away. This results in Valentine colliding with the ref and sending El Vikingo to the outside. Shenanigans occur when Profe interferes and helps break Colon’s figure four on Valentine. Greg gets his own figure four on Colon ,with a second ref coming in and calling for the bell. However, El Vikingo had seen Profe interfere and, after discussing it over, the second ref Victor Quiñones declared the Universal title was held up. A rematch on Christmas Day ended with Valentine disqualified for using the shin guard as a weapon. Valentine busted open Colon and attempted the figure four, but Carlos again kicked Valentine away. Carlos got hold of the shin guard and attacked Valentine in turn. Another rematch for the vacant Universal title happened on January 6, one that saw interference from Dick Murdoch and Giant Warrior. Colon ended up winning the match, but Profe and Greg filed a protest due to Giant Warrior interfering and helping Colon win. Carlos  announced on TV that he was not accepting the win this way and the Universal title remained vacant. To settle the matter, Colon and Valentine will face off in a cage match to decide once and for all who will be the Universal champion.

Direct from WWF we get a Greg Valentine interview conducted by announcer Miguel Alonso. Valentine talks about the title being held up the last three times they wrestled, outside of the last time when Colon won with Giant Warrior’s help. Valentine talks about stepping inside a steel cage for all the marbles when the video cuts to Colon in the middle of his interview. Carlos is inviting all of the fans to go to the new arena in Hormigueros so they can cheer him on and together they can win back the Universal title. It’s going to be a tough match, but Carlos is willing to give every drop of sweat and blood in order to win in the cage. Hugo wishes Carlos luck as the WWC representative in this match and Carlos says that you have to give Greg Valentine his due as a great professional wrestler. But Carlos has a commitment to the people of Puerto Rico, to represent them well and he doesn't plan to fail tomorrow. He has many reasons to win that match tomorrow and he’ll be dead before losing the match. The episode video cuts off just as Hugo starts his show closing.

MD: Finally we get all of the Valentine vs Colon matches at once, or at least the finishes of them, going back into December. What you can tell from these is that they looked very good. Valentine has great late match selling of exhaustion which makes you think they were long and grueling. It was another of Colon’s signature Figure-Four vs Figure-Four feuds with Valentine’s kneebrace factored in. Lots of ref bumps. Lots of overturned and unclear finishes. Plenty of Profe interference (that guy is doing so much work for the company). Occasionally Giant Warrior got involved to even the odds. The last match ended with Valentine having the figure four on but refusing to let go of the ropes for leverage. We can only learn so much from this recap video but it looks like a solid feud to anchor the territory.

EB: We have two of the top matches from February 2 in Bayamon. First let’s look at the World tag team title match where Invader #1 and Bronco #1 challenged the Texas Hangmen. Invader has his taped fist and Bronco is mad at being unmasked and humiliated by the Hangmen. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v35vTbPy_N8

We are Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel and again we have the match from the raw house show footage, so it’s no commentary but all of the crowd noise and atmosphere. The tecnicos are in the ring as they are introduced, while the Texas Hangmen are outside on the field when introduced. One of the Hangmen (I think it’s Psycho) has Bronco’s mask on in order to mock his opponent, and he even starts doing Bronco’s dance to the crowd in order to further the mocking. The bell rings and Bronco charges out to attack both Hangmen and we are underway. Invader sends Psycho into the ropes for a chop but Psycho bails to the corner and then outside of the ring when threatened with the taped fist. Psycho gets into a tussle with referee Victor Quiñones over wanting to use the bullrope, but Victor eventually is able to hang the ropes over the ringpost in the rudo corner. Profe and the Hangmen start complaining that the ref needs to check Invader’s taped fist for any hidden objects, but the ref ignores them. The Hangmen back away every time Invader squares up with the taped fist during the first few minutes, with the tecnicos controlling the first half of the match via quick tags, working the Hangmen’s arms over,  and the continued fear and avoidance of Invader’s taped fist by the Hangmen.

The turning point for the Hangmen comes when Bronco is backed into the rudo corner and the Hangmen are able to double team Bronco. The Hangmen focus on keeping Bronco in the ring,as El Profe approves of their strategy since it keeps Invader and his taped fist out of the equation. The Hangmen are able to lure Invader into the ring a few times, allowing them to double team Bronco behind the referee’s back (including using the noose to choke Bronco). At one point, Bronco almost makes the tag but is stopped by Killer. Psycho grabs the rope and holds the cowbell behind his back as Killer works Bronco over with a chinlock in the ring. He is not able to use the bell but has the crowd on edge. The Hangmen continue in control (even doing an illegal switch), but a missed corner headbutt charge allows Bronco to tag in Invader. A quick flurry of offense has both Hangmen reeling and Bronco reenters the ring to even up the sides. Both Hangmen are rammed into each other and Bronco dropkicks one of them outside. Invader gets a small package but the pin attempt is broken up. Invader is sent into the ropes but gets a sunset flip for a near fall. A backslide pin attempt by Invader is also broken up, but this time Bronco comes in and dropkicks the interfering Hangmen. The ref is tied up with Bronco and the Hangmen attempt to use the ropes as a weapon against Invader. However, Invader ducks down and backdrops the interfering Hangman over the top to the outside. Invader is sent into the ropes but before anything can happen, he is tripped up by the other Hangman. Bronco jumps onto the Hangmen that is on the floor to break up the double team. Inside the ring, Invader gets slammed to the mat but rolls out of the way of a Hangman splash. Invader gets up, readies his fist and hits the Hangman with the heart punch. The crowd counts along with the referee and we have new World tag team champions. The crowd cheers as the tecnicos are awarded the belts and celebrate on the field.

MD: By this point, the Hangmen were not just a threat and dangerous, but they really had the stooging down. This starts awesome with one of them wearing the Bronco mask they stole and taunting the crowd with the Bronco hop. Then they stalled forever, presumably because they were afraid of the heart punch. Eventually, Invader and Bronco get their hands on one and just smack his arm around from corner to corner in a great moment. Things go as you’d expect from there, with Bronco getting too close to the corner and getting swept under. It builds to a big comeback (Bronco dodges a corner charge) and a hot tag and an exciting finishing stretch which ends with Invader and one Hangman in the ring. He misses a top rope headbutt and Invader hits the Heart Punch and it’s a huge celebratory scene. Great stuff after months of build.

EB: The other match we have from February 2 is the steel cage match between Carlos Colon and Greg Valentine. Will we finally have a Universal champion? Let’s find out as we join the match in progress.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9D5gGFbXXM

Hugo and Eliud are on commentary as Valentine drops a series of elbow drops on a prone Carlos. Hugo mentions that Carlos had been rammed into the side of the steel cage to knock him down just before Valentine started with the elbow drops. Greg tries to escape through the cage door but Carlos grabs him and stops the escape attempt with a turnbuckle smash (which almost results in Valentine falling out before Carlos quickly grabs him). Carlos rams Greg into the cage and stomps on him as the rain starts falling. Valentine pokes Carlos in the eyes and tries to send Colon into the side of the cage, but Carlos blocks it and instead sends Valentine head first into the side of the cage. Colon continues on the attack with punches and headbutts, staggering Valentine. As Carlos punches Valentine’s forehead to work over the cut, Hugo mentions that the rain is an advantage for Carlos since he is used to working in these open air environments compared to Valentine. At around the 2 minute mark of the video we get a 5 minute time call, so we really have not missed too much of the match. Carlos makes an attempt to leave via the door but Greg stops him. 

A series of elbow smashes helps Valentine stun Colon and allows Greg the chance to gain control. Colon’s head is rammed into the ringpost as Valentine continues focusing his attacks on Colon’s head. Both men are busted open and exchanging punches as it continues to rain. A headbutt by Carlos sends Valentine down. After a clothesline, Carlos again attempts an escape through the door but Valentine stops him. Carlos wins another punch exchange and does a cartwheel as Greg begs off. Carlos again makes another escape attempt but is stopped.when Valentine grabs his legs and pulls Colon crotch first into the ropes. Valentine quickly crawls over Colon to try to escape but Carlos is able to stop Valentine. Carlos continues attacking Valentine, but it is becoming noticeable that both men are tiring a bit from the punishment and bleeding they have endured. Carlos makes an attempt towards the door but Valentine knees Colon in the back to stop him. Valentine does some clubbing blows on the mat and cinches on the figure four. Hugo makes note that this is to hurt Carlos since the only way to win is via leaving the cage. Carlos tries to break the hold by hitting Valentine’s leg, but Greg cinches the hold on even  more. Carlos tries to reverse the hold but is unsuccessful, as the crowd tries to cheer him on. Hugo takes a moment to send a hello to the fans watching the program in Curacao, all over Latin America and Panama. 

Valentine finally releases the hold as Carlos lies prone on the mat holding his knee in pain. Valentine starts crawling towards the door but Carlos is able to maneuver close enough to grab Valentine's leg. Carlos is able to pull Valentine back in and drops him crotch first on the top rope. Carlos falls down to the mat from the exertion, followed by Valentine .The air horns sound as both men get to their feet and a rope counter sequence leads to both men colliding. Carlos falls closer to the cage door than Valentine and starts limping in that direction. Valentine catches Carlos in a back suplex and both men are down again. The cage door remains open as the 15 minute time call is heard. Valentine is the first one to his feet but Carlos surprises Valentine from behind with a dropkick that sends Greg into the corner,  bouncing off it and falling to the mat. Calros gets a second wind and works over Valentine’s leg, he is setting up the figure four. Carlos starts applying the hold, but Valentine kicks Carlos away from him. However, the cage door had been left open for the last few minutes and the momentum of the kick sends Colon flying through the ropes and out the door. Carlos has escaped the cage and won the vacant Universal title. The video cuts out right as the ref raises Colon’s hand in victory.

MD: We get the last ten minutes of this but I don’t get the sense we missed more than five or six more? It feels almost like a Bruno cage match where he’s willing to go for the door but only after he’s satisfied he’s beaten on his opponent enough. Valentine’s constantly going for it. It builds to a hot bloody finish where Valentine caught Colon with a foot over the rope on the way out and started working the leg. He put on a long figure four and then it was down to Colon to find the strength in his leg to stop him. Valentine’s late match selling was excellent here and we get the bloody visual of him crawling away from Colon towards the door. Carlos does find the strength to come back and eventually gets the leg himself but he’s kicked while trying to put on his own figure four. Unfortunately for the Hammer, he’s kicked all the way through the cage for the finish. Pretty iconic stuff overall.

EB: We finally have settled the Universal title vacancy and the champion is Carlos Colon. We also have new World tag team champions in Invader #1 and Bronco #1. But what of the other title matches from this weekend? We’ll find out in due time if any others changed hands.

Next time on El Deporte de las Mil Emociones, Carlos Colon is not given much time to celebrate his Universal title win as Dick Murdoch makes his move. Also, has Invader finally gotten his revenge on the Texas Hangmen? And who is the new associate El Profe has brought in to help manage the rudo wrestlers?