El Deporte de las Mil Emociones: Hangmen Out

Week 46: Hangmen Out

EB: As we head into March, several long running rivalries are coming to a head. Two in particular have big apuestas matches signed to hopefully settle things. The Texas Hangmen have been on quite the run in Puerto Rico, becoming World tag champions and feuding with the top stars in CSP. Their main issue in 1991 has been against Invader #1 and Bronco #1. This has been a heated rivalry and now we have arrived at what has been deemed the final battle between the two trams. Everything will be on the line in this match as the World tag titles will be defended but also each team will be risking their masks or (in the case of Invader) hair.

Also reaching a big apuestas match is TNT in his feud with Original TNT. It seems that the two men have agreed to a match where the winner will get the name and paint of TNT, while the loser must stop using the TNT identity. This was the originally planned match for Aniversario 1989, and while it has taken about a year and a half, it looks like the issue will finally be settled.

One feud that has just gotten started is the one between Carlos Colon and Dick Murdoch. This feud has featured Dick Murdoch hitting a brainbuster on Carlos Colon on a ballfield and hurling some heavy insults at Colon and his family. They've played up that Murdoch is a racist and a member of the KKK, and also hinted that he and Colon had run-ins in the past. They’ve just  had their first match on February 26 but this rivalry is just getting going. 

All of these matches are set for March 2, so we have a big card to start the month of March. Let;s go to the March 2  tv shows, starting with that weekend’s Campeones episode.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a24xU7ZHWwE

Hugo Savinocih and El Profe are our hosts as usual, with Hugo mentioning Skandor Akbar during the opening and talking up how impressed he is that El Profe was able to get such an ally. They run down what will air on the program, with El Profe mentioning that we’ll have a video special for ‘Ñico’ Santana (and also insults Ricky being Cuban), a Greg valentine match and ou featured match is a hair vs mask match between the Super Medicos and Eric Embry & Rick Valentine (although it’s the last person eliminated from each team that will lose their mask or hair). The reason for showing this match is that tonight there will be a match with similar stakes, the apuestas match for the World tag team titles between the Texas Hangmen and Invader #1 & Bronco #1. The Hangmen are putting up their masks vs Invader’s hair and Bronco’s mask. El Profe says that there’s no way the Hangmen are losing tonight and that he’ll be there to personally cut Invader’s hair. They won’t bother keeping Bronco’s mask as a  trophy since it’s so ugly, instead they will cut it up right there. It’s not the only apuestas match happening tonight, as TNT and Original TNT will face off for the rights to the TNT name, paint and identity. This was the match they were scheduled to have at Aniversario 89 and now it will finally take place. 

Hugo hypes where the fans can get the VHS tapes and the merchandise the promotion has, then introduces the Ricky Santana music video set to the song ‘Extranjero’ (although it looks like the video is cut from this version). We then get a still shot of Ricky Santana with Hugo doing  a voiceover talking about how tonight Ricky will be in action against Moondog Spot and how Ricky is looking forward to the fans showing up and supporting him.

TNT is next with a promo about tonight’s match against Original TNT. TNT is very worried about tonight’s match at Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel because his name and paint will be on the line. He has not misled anyone, it's been the other guy, and in a few short hours the truth will be evident. TNT wants the fans to go tonight and support him with their cheers and applause. His opponent is a dangerous man but the real TNT will come out on top, he’ll do whatever it takes to keep his name and paint.

El Profe and Original TNT offer their response, with El Profe saying TNT is shaking because he knows the world will finally see his ugly face without paint. TNT will no longer be able to use the name. Original TNT chimes in holding a towel, promising to wipe all the paint off the faker’s face. 

MD: They’re going back to the well here. A lot of rematches on the card they’re hyping actually. But also Moondog Spot, so that’s something (vs Ricky Santana, who still does feel fresh to me). Kind of a fun promo from Original TNT where he threatened to wipe the paint off of TNT though (towel in hand).

EB: We get a rundown for tonight’s big card at Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel in Bayamon: the rematch between Carlos Colon and Dick Murdoch; for the World tag titles and there must be a winner in a hair/mask vs mask match as Invader #1 & Bronco #1 challenge the Texas Hangmen; TNT vs Original TNT to determine who gets the rights to the name and paint of TNT and there must be a winner; Ricky Santana vs Moondog Spot; Kim Duk vs Motor City Madman; Miguelito Perez defends the Caribbean title against Scott Hall; Huracan Castillo challenges Mr. Pogo for the World Junior title; and the Super Medicos vs Rick Valentine & Galan Mendoza. 

After the card rundown, we have a match from WWF television where Greg Valentine takes on Brian Johnson. It’s a squash match for Valentine, one where Hugo and El Profe talk about Greg’s run earlier in the year where he battled Carlos Colon for the Universal title. Profe promises that it won’t be the same result when Dick Murdoch faces Carlos. Profe even mentions  that it is a big deal for Murdoch since he’s getting in the ring with a person of color and that may mean expulsion from the KKK for doing so. Hugo quickly shuts down that talking point by saying  they should kick Murdoch out of wrestling for his insults and antics. This match is relatively old, since it has Ron Garvin pop up  in a picture in picture promo (so it’s likely  from 1989). Hugo takes the opportunity to mention that Ron Garvin is also a former Universal champion and that we may see him back in Puerto Rico sometime soon. Profe says that if Garvin comes back then he is more than welcome to join up with El Club Deportivo. Valentine wins the match with a shin guard assisted figure four.  I’m guessing they had Greg scheduled for the March 2 card initially (which is why they’re airing this match),  but he couldn't make it. It also seems they have plans for him to pop back in soon.

MD: Maybe coincidence because some of this is us missing footage but to me this is a testament to how little Valentine footage we’ve gotten throughout this run. It’s a shame. And he is pulling double duty too. I hadn’t even thought of that. He turns babyface right at the turn of 1991 in the WWF and feuds with Jimmy Hart into WM VII where he faces Earthquake. This clips was back during the Garvin feud though as there was an inset promo from him. Anyway, a nice butterfly suplex (he didn’t really go over with it) and belly to back before he moved the shinguard and won it with the figure-four.

EB: The Texas Hangmen and El Profe are here to talk about tonight’s winner take all apuestas match. Psycho says that the clock is ticking for Invader and Bronco to step one more time into the war zone with the Hangmen. They don’t care that the mask and titles are on the line, they are that confident in winning and they can remain the champions forever.  Killer adds that Invader will be left bald and looking stupid, while Bronco’s ugly face will be seen by the Puerto Rican fans. Bronco and Invader give their response, with Bronco promising that they will take the masks and titles. To defeat them the Hangmen will have to basically leave them motionless. Invader adds that they’ve battled with the Hangmen all across the island and know that they are a tremendous team, but tonight everything's on the line and they want to humiliate the Hangmen, they want their ugly masks. Tonight the fans will see who is the better team.

Super Medico #1 follows with a quick promo about tonight’s match against Valentine & Mendoza. This has been another long feud and Medico #1 promises that tonight the Medicos will pay the rudos back for everything they have done.

MD: Well we’re in business now. Masks vs hair. Or Masks vs Bronco’s Mask and Invader’s hair. I imagine this did business. They almost didn’t need to cut promos here, but the promos were good. I’m afraid to look ahead to see if we actually have this match or not. I hope we do.

EB: Our featured match is from around Thanksgiving of 1990 during the Super Medicos vs Eric Embry & Rick Valentine feud. It is an apuestas match where the last person eliminated from the losing team will lose their mask (if it’s the Medicos) or their hair (if it’s Embry & Valentine). Hugo explains the stipulations before the match, with El Profe giving Hugo some static for confusing people with his explanation. Hugo responds by saying that he feels Profe is nervous about tonight’s apuestas match and that is why he’s a bit ornery. El Profe denies this and says that the Hangmen are risking everything tonight but they will be triumphant. Hugo worries that the rudos may have something up their sleeve against Bronco and Invader tonight.

The rest of the show is the elimination tag match, with the match starting almost immediately when the Medicos come out of the dugout. Embry and Valentine try to get the jump on them but the Medcios manage to fight back. The two teams fight on the field, with Valentine at one point trying to go after Sasha. Valentine and Medico #3 end up in the ring while Medico #1 and Embry continue fighting on the outside (with Embry being rammed into a table). Medico #1 throws Embry into the ringpost, busting him open, and then rams Embry’s face into some fencing. Medico #3 gets distracted by Monster Ripper, allowing Valentine to jump him from behind. Once again, all four men are fighting on the field, with Embry’s cut being opened up more. Medico #1  and Embry end up in the ring while Medico #3 fights with Valentine near the dugout. Medico #1 attempts a cover but Embry gets his foot on the rope. Meanwhile, Medico #3 piledrives Valentine in front of the dugout. 

We finally get some semblance of a tag match when Medico #3 and Valentine make their way back to the ring. The Medicos remain in control but are unable to pin Embry. Medico #1 fires off a series of punches on the bleeding Embry, before tagging in Medico #3. We go to a commercial with Embry managing to knock down Medico #3 with a blow and come back virtually at the same moment. Valentine is tagged in and proceeds to toss Medico #3 outside (where Embry rams him into the post). Medico #1 comes over to help his partner out, rolling Medico #3 back into the ring. Valentien goes for a sleeper but Medico #1 breaks it up. Valentine misses a charge into the corner but Embry cuts off Medico #3 from making the tag. The rudos botch a double team and all four men are now in the ring and fighting. Medico #3 attempts a cover on Embry while the ref is getting Medico #1 out of the ring. Behind the ref’s back, Valentine grabs Monster Ripper’s boot and hits Medico #3 on the head. Embry makes the cover and Medico #3 is eliminated. That means that Medico #1 is now at a disadvantage and if he gets eliminated will lose his mask.

Sasha argues with the ref about the use of the boot, but to no avail. She then attacks Monster Ripper, chasing her into the ring and continuing the attack. The ref has had enough of this and ejects both Sasha and Monster Ripper from ringside. Ripper heads to the locker room, while Medico #3 and Sasha go to the dugout to watch the rest of the match. The bell rings for the next fall and it is time for Medico #1 to fight for his mask. The rudos try to charge Medico #1, but he fends them off with several dropkicks. Embry is able to grab Medico #1 in a full nelson hold and Valentine charges with a clothesline. Medico #1 ducks and Embry gets hit instead. Valentine tries the full nelson grab and this time Embyr hits him by mistake.  Medico gets a machine and a near fall. A small package is broken up by Valentine. Embry tags out and Valentine briefly is in control until he misses an elbow from the top turnbuckle. We come back from a commercial break with the rudos botching another double team attempt and Medico #1 gets a backslide on Embry for a three count. Enbry is eliminated! 

Embry quickly gets up and tosses Medico #1 over the top rope to the outside. Embry is able to ram Medico’s head twice into the ringpost before the ref is able to get outside and force Embry to the dugout. We cut to Valentine choking Medico #1 with a camera cable, taking advantage of the attack Embry did before leaving. Valentine ends up tossing Medico #1 onto a steel box that is near the stands and then heads back to the ring. Valentine goes back out to attack Medico #1, leaving him staggering outside as Valentine gets back in the ring. Medico #1 is able to get back to the ring  but is put in a sleeperhold. Valentine lets go and tries a cover, but Medico #1 kicks out. The camera shows Medico #3 in the dugout clapping and cheering his dad on. Valentine gets an elbow for another pin attempt but Medico #1 gets his leg on the rope. Valentine gets another near fall and then a sleeperhold, but Medico #1 is able to hold on. Valentine goes for another top rope elbow and misses, allowing Medico #1 to come back. They exchange some pin counters and Medico #1 gets the three count on a roll up. Medico #1 has saved his mask and Rick Valentine must lose his hair. Valentine attacks Medico #1 and tries to go for his mask, but Medico #3 runs out with a towel that he sprays with something. He then uses that towel to smother Valentine. Knocking him out. The Medicos proceed to start cutting his hair. Profe says that this will be Invader after tonight. The video ends with Ripper running out to try to stop the haircut but the Medicos grab her before we go back to the studio. Hugo and Profe make their final hype for tonight’s big card and they argue as the show credits roll.

MD: Coming into this we’ve got 22 minutes left on the episode and nothing else listed. This bodes well. This was from the last few months of 1990 and they’re giving it to us to hype the Hangmen match. It was an elimination match where the last guy pinned loses his hair. Really just a unique sort of match the way it’s structured. You get eliminations in lucha apuestas but it doesn’t feel like this. 

The match started with an absolute destruction of Embry/Valentine inside and outside the ring. Crimson mixing with blonde hair. A pile driver on the field. Great Medico 1 punches. Everything you’d expect. Everything Embry took over with an eyerake and a clothesline. They build a heat segment on Medico 3 and even build to a big comeback due to heel miscommunication but Ripper gets an object in and they eliminate Medico 3. Medico 1 has to fight back two-on-one but he’s able to manage it by being smarter and quicker. He gets Embry on a banana peel slip but Embry stays on him after getting pinned and leaves him laying on the outside. The last fall has Valentine missing (a second) top rope elbow and Medico 1 coming back with his great punches before they go into nearfalls. They show Medico 3 in the dugout which is a great touch. Eventually, Medico 1 is able to get the right amount of leverage and pick up the win and it’s a great scene all around. Just another awesome Puerto Rico tag match that we can now put into context.

EB: We also have the west coast version of Superestrellas de la Lucha Libre, focusing on hyping up the March 3 house show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4KwgcIr_WY

Hugo welcomes the viewers to the show and runs down what will air on today’s program. The main event will feature Carlos Colon in action against the Motor City Madman. Tomorrow they will have a big show in Cabo Rojo, with the main event being Carlos Colon vs Dick Murdoch. The match will be heated since Murdoch has spent the past weeks making some controversial comments about Colon’s race and family, along with past issues the two men have had, so it will be a hot one. Invader #1 & Bronco #1 will take on the Texas Hangmen and the fans in Cabo Rojo will be the first to know who lost the apuestas match on Saturday. The same thing will happen when TNT and Original TNT square off, the fans there will be the first to know who kept the TNT identity. Hugo runs down the rest of the card (the same as the one in Bayamon) before talking about how the WWC is going through its best moment. El Eejrcito de la Justicia is fighting the good fight and El Club Deportivo has been bringing in reinforcements. Right now, Hugo feels confident in saying that tomorrow’s card in Cabo Rojo will mark a new era for wrestling in Puerto Rico, a more competitive era. Hugo again talks about the Colon vs Murdoch match, indicating that Carlos has said he is going there for a fight and Murdoch has said he wants to end Carlos. 

We cut to match already in progress, with Dick Murdoch tossing Giant Warrior to the outside. Dick grabs a chair and smacks Warrior in the face with it. Hugo mentions that Murdoch’s apprentice is at ringside. Murdoch casually rolls back in and out of the ring, then slams Warrior’s head against the post. Hugo makes note that Warrior is bleeding. Warrior tries to get back in but Murdch punches him several times, keeping Warrior on the apron. Hugo says that the ref should consider stopping the match  since Warrior seems to be in danger of being severely hurt. Murdoch continues focusing his attacks on Warrior’s bleeding head and then starts choking Warrior. The ref tries to break it up, but Murdoch responds by punching El Vikingo. This causes a DQ (which Hugo complains should have been called for earlier). Murdoch continues attacking Warrior and fights off the ref and some  of the job guys that make an attempt to help Warrior. Finally, Carlos Colon runs out and Murdoch leaves the ring to avoid engaging with Colon.  Hugo calls out Murdoch for running away after running his mouth for the past weeks. Murdoch tosses a chair into the ring but Carlos grabs it before Murdoch is able to get in the ring. The video ends with Murdoch leaving and Carlos checking on Giant Warrior.

MD: We come in fairly late here, I think, with Warrior on the floor and Murdoch clocking him with a chair right in the skull, the great equalizer. He plays king of the mountain for a little bit and then lets him in to work over the wound with punches and knees. They cycle it into an angle as he chokes Warrior until hitting the ref to get him out of his way. The prelim guys come in and get nailed, including a brutal stomping foul and then Colon runs him off to keep the heat on their feud. I would have liked to see Murdoch stooging for Warrior but this was effective overall.

EB: Hugo introduces a recap of what has happened so far between Kim Duk and Motor City Madman. This starts with the finish of the pole march, where Profe cost Duk the match and the Caribbean title, and then Madman comes in to attack Duk after the match. We also see what happened when Duk faced El Profe at the TV taping, where Madman and Skandor Akbar showed up to save Profe. We then go to last Sunday in Carolina, where Duk has Madman backed into a corner. Both men continue fighting in the corner and referee Victor Quiñonez gets tossed by both wrestlers when he tries to break it up. It’s a double disqualification. Akbar comes in and hits Duk from behind with the kendo stick, leading to Madman getting some more hits in with the stick.

We return to the studio with Kim Duk there to talk about the upcoming match vs the Motor City Madman. Duk is tired of Madman and will show him tomorrow how Duk can get mean and vicious. Skandor Akbar and Madman respond, with Akbar calling out Duk for double crossing him and Profe. Madman will finish him off tomorrow and then Akbar will kick Duk’s teeth out when comes crawling back. Madman is wearing his shades and has the kendo stick in his possession. Madman makes  a Peking duck crack and says tomorrow Kim Duk will be served up as the main course. 

We then get a  rundown for the card tomorrow in Cabo Rojo, a carbon copy of the one in Bayamon except without the apuestas stipulations. 

MD: We get a recap of more of the feud than just the pole match, with Akbar making his presence felt with the kendo stick even as Mad Man and Duk are going at it in the corner. Now it’s time for Duk to finally get revenge. His promo was pretty jumbled. Akbar’s was not. And Mad Man said that Duk was more like Peking Duck than Bruce Lee. Still, Akbar is a fun addition. 

EB: We get the Ricky Santana music video set to ‘Extranjero’ that was cut from the Campeones episode. This video features highlights from Ricky’s late 88 run, with highlights from previous matches against Mr. Pogo, El Profe and others. Hugo mentions afterwards that it’s always a treat to see this music special since it was the first one they made for Ricky when he first appeared in CSP (which explains why the highlights are mainly from 1988). Ricky has come back every now and then, giving the best of his talents. He’s gone from  arriving as a foreigner to now being a member of the Superestrellas family. He’s facing Moondog Spot tomorrow and the fans should remember the run the Moondogs had some years ago. Ricky sent a message by phone that he hopes all the fans and especially the ladies will be there tomorrow to support him.

MD: This is not the video with all the Colon daughters/nieces. Instead it’s him walking down a street and having an image of the globe spin behind him as he looks stoic/cool interspersed with his matches. There’s a good looking bloody deal with Pogo in there. Past that it’s just him hitting his top rope splash a bunch.

EB: Up next is the feud recap video for the Texas Hangmen and Invader #1 &  Bronco #1 rivalry. It all started October 17 in Miramar when the Hangmen attacked and hung Invader #1. He was badly injured and out for two months. He made a return in mid december with TNT as his partner, but when TNT was injured and sent back to the locker room on Christmas Day, it was Bronco who came to Invader’s aid. This set up a new tag partnership as Invader and Bronco took on the Texas Hangmen. We get highlights from their matches on January 6 (Invader saves Bronco from being hanged), January 26 (Bronco gets unmasked and Invader shows up to make the save with the taped fist), and February 16 (the street fight). Now it is time for the final battle. The Texas Hangmen cut a promo where they talk as if they’ve already won, saying that tomorrow the fans will see a bald Invader and a maskless Bronco. Invader and Bronco respond by saying that the fans tomorrow will see Invader with hair and Bronco with his mask, because the only way the Hangmen are winning is by leaving them practically motionless.

MD: What a feud. To see it all recapped like this really gets over how much they did and how far they came (and how much heat they had). And now it’s all on the line. Mask/Hair vs Masks. The Hangmen note that Profe’s a pretty good barber. Bronco’s impassioned and Invader gets over the weight of everything.

EB: We then get promos from Scott Hall and Miguelito Perez about their upcoming Caribbean title match. Profe does a voiceover as Hall poses for the camera and basically runs through the entire repertoire of taunts he has. Profe says that the Caribbean title rightfully belongs to El Club Deportivo and Hall will get it back for them. Miguelito counters by saying he is counting on the fans being there to support him and he will show that he can handle Scott Hall. Perez is going to have to watch out for El Profe as well ,but he promises to come out on  top.

MD: One of my absolute favorite things about this footage is watching Scott Hall figure out what to do with his hands while Profe is talking for him. Love it. Will miss it. Perez gives a pretty strong promo here about how he’s a new champion but that he’s got the crowd behind him and that he’d defend the title as best he could. Solid babyface stuff.

EB: The feud between TNT and Original TNT is coming to a head on Saturday. Here’s a recap of the feud so far, starting with the initial arrival of Original TNT in 1989 and the apuestas match that didn’t happen at Aniversario 1989. Original TNT made his return to Puerto Rico in January of this year and immediately started up with calling TNT an impostor. El Profe has also been insisting that the fake is Juan Rivera and that his guy is the real deal. The issue picked back up on January 19, when Original TNT was wrestling Carlos Colon and attempted to put Colon out with the cobra sleeper. TNT, who had been on tour in Japan, made his return by attacking Original TNT and putting him to sleep with the Cobra Dinamita. TNT said that this means that the impostor must drop the TNT identity since he put him out. The feud rekindled from there, with Original TNT defeating TNT in the TV title tournament finals. On February 6, Original TNT tried to put Huracan Castillo out with the cobra sleeper, causing TNT to come out and make the save. Both men brawled around the arena. On February 9, the match ended in a time limit draw as Original TNT had TNT in the cobra sleeper. Last Sunday in Carolina, Original TNT barely beat the count back in the ring to win the match, although TNT sent a message with a spin kick afterwards. Who will win on Saturday?

Original TNT and TNT talk about tomorrow’s match, with Profe and Original TNT saying that the fans will see tomorrow how he won the match and kept the TNT identity. TNT in his promo says that he first threw out the challenge because he was angry, now he’s still a bit angry but knows the weight of what is at stake. He is a bit worried because his identity, career and life are at stake. He’s hoping the fans support him and that he will come away the winner.

MD: They’re making this feel like a pretty big show with a lot of matches with build and stakes. They have plenty of footage to show of these two feuding. Original TNT is all motion as Profe talks for him and TNT is stoic and it all works pretty well.

EB: We get a brief snippet of Hugo introducing a Dick Murdoch promo but then cut to our main event of Carlos Colon vs Motor City Madman but the match doesn’t happen because Dick Murdoch runs in and attacks Carlos.. Both men exchange several blows but when Carlos gets the upper hand, Motor City Madman runs out to attack Carlos (causing the ref to toss out the match). Madman drops Carlos with a side slam and then leaves the ring area, leaving Carlos there for Murdoch. Dick attacks Carlos with a foreign object, busting Carlos open.TNT and Duk try to help Carlos, but Murdoch fights them off. Eventually, Murdoch decides he has done enough damage and leaves the ring. Carlos follows him out but can’t really catch up to him due to the effects of the attack. An irate Carlos grabs a microphone and calls out Murdoch, promising that he will pay Murdoch back. 

We then go to Hugo for the show closing, with some final hype for tomorrow’s show in Cabo Rojo.

MD: Big heat angle to send things home. Murdoch comes in instead of the Mad Man but Colon meets him head on. Eventually Mad Man comes in for a side slam and the ref just calls it. Murdoch recovers and uses knucks or coins or something to load up the punch and bloody Colon. Instead of the prelim guys, TNT and Duk come out but he fights them off with the loaded fist. That lets Colon recover and chase him off though. Everyone protected, heat on both Murdoch and Mad Man, things building to a head.

EB: We unfortunately don’t have video of the top three matches from the March 2 card. So no footage of the big apuestas matches. But, we do have one final match we have not yet covered between Invader #1 &  Bronco #1 and the Texas Hangmen. We’re not completely sure of the date, but it’s from Cabo Rojo, so there is a possibility that this is the March 3 match. It’s also from a Clasicos segment from several years later, so the commentary is from that airing and does not provide much in context clues. It is the last match we have from this run of the Texas Hangmen though and what a run it has been.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fSPtBiw098

What is interesting about this match is that it is wrestled more straight forward than the previous matches we have seen, suggesting that the feud may be winding down. This match feels more like a victory lap of sorts for Invader & Bronco. Invader controls early on, the Hangmen get control when Bronco is in, Bronco eventually makes the hot tag to Invader , and eventually the tecnicos win after fighting off both Hangmen, with Bronco hitting his drop down DDT. Again ,I think this could be the March 3 match since it feels more like a coda to the feud than a heated part of what we’ve seen so far. You’ll notice that the Hangmen have their masks on, so it may be an earlier match, but they never did show the Hangmen unmasked on TV.

MD: This is the last match from the run we haven’t covered, but it really doesn’t feel like a blow off. It honestly feels like a house show version of their matches. Invader looks great to start fighting them off like a champ. Bronco looks pretty good too until he gets swept under. If I have one criticism of the Hangmen it’s that their transition to offense is never all that interesting/clever. They usually just sort of takeover. Anyway, lots of heat on Bronco and he sells big and broad like usual. For the last row (which wasn’t that far away here). Then Invader comes in to help him on a Sunset flip and they go into a comeback with Bronco hitting his finish out of nowhere for the win. Post match, Invader does the Bronco hop to celebrate. Just feels kind of house show-y for me. Still good though!

EB: This is it for the Texas Hangmen’s run in Puerto Rico. It’s been an amazing 6 month run that ended with the final battle, a match that (to my best recollection) we never got to see. As far as I know, they never aired that match on TV. And while they were unmasked that night, I’m not sure they followed it up afterwards.It ultimately didn’t matter, because the Hangmen are gone following March 3. A new tag team will arrive to take their place, one that may surprise you.

Next time on el Deporte de las Mil Emociones, find out who won the right to call themselves TNT. Also, the rivalry between Carlos Colon and Dick Murdoch continues, with a former World champion coming in to serve as a special referee. Plus, the arrival of the California Studs.