El Deporte de las Mil Emociones: So That's Where The Stairs In Caguas Lead To...

Week 49: So That's Where The Stairs In Caguas Lead To...

MD: We are back covering the untapped gold of 1991 Puerto Rico. If you want to catch up, here's the Master List.

EB: We don’t have results for the March 16 card in Bayamon, so we don’t know with certainty the end result of the Colon brothers tag against Dick Murdoch and Joe Don Smith. As we’ll soon see, Murdoch seems pretty pleased with what went down, so at the very least it seems that Murdoch and Joe Don came out on top. And riding that high, Dick Murdoch has decided to throw out a challenge to Carlos Colon for one more match with the Universal title on the line. Only there is a stipulation attached. It also seems that the issue between TNT and Action Jackson has not yet been settled and we have a big stipulation match coming tonight in Caguas as a result of an altercation that happened at the most recent TV taping.

Let’s go to the Campeones episode from March 23 (please note that the video title says 3/16 but this is the 3/23 episode) so we can see what the latest developments are in CSP.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtK3dcOEyik

Hugo and El Profe welcome the viewers to the program, with Profe remarking that he has Akbar on some scouting trips at the moment. They run down the matches we’ll have on today’s program (some of which we have previously covered). Hugo also mentions they will have a look at what happened last Wednesday in Miramar between Action Jackson and TNT. Profe says that it will be a chance for the people to see what kind of garbage TNT is, because he cowardly attacked someone from  behind while getting involved in something that didn’t concern him. Hugo says the viewers can be the judge of that. The main event for today’s program is the match from February 2 where the Texas Hangmen defended the World tag team titles against Invader #1 (with taped fist) and Bronco #1. Profe is not happy with the match selection since there are so many matches they could show (obviously not happy with how that match ended). Hugo says it is a very important bout and the fans deserve to watch those types of matches.

They move on to tonight’s house show in Caguas where the main event will be a falls count anywhere match between TNT and Action Jackson. Profe starts talking about all of the different things they could get away with like dunking TNT in a toilet, taking TNT out to the parking lot and other things. Hugo counters what if TNT is the one that gets the upper hand, to which Profe tries to change the subject and claim he’s never gotten involved in anything (Hugo isn;t buying that claim at all). Hugo mentions that Scott Hall retained the Caribbean title but almost lost it to Kim Duk, with el Profe complaining that Duk tried to steal the title by throwing salt in Hall’s face but thanks to him the ref was made aware of what happened. He also says that he would never accept any of his guys doing anything underhanded like that, with Hugo just mocking Profe for lying. Tonight, Hall and Duk will have a rematch and Hugo says that Kim Duk told Hugo that he was going to make sure that the ref wouldn’t see any salt throwing this time around.  With that, they send it to the first match, the Caribbean tag title match from March 9 in Carolina.

MD: I’m pretty sure Profe said they’d flush TNT’s head in the toilet for a few minutes before beating him. I think that’s a thing that happened here. 

Caribbean Express vs Gran Mendoza/Rick Valentine

EB: The Caribbean Express are the challengers and Hugo says that they are in their hometown for this match. The champions, Valentine and Mendoza ,are already in the ring, with Monster Ripper accompanying them at ringside. Castillo and Valentine start off for their teams. Castillo controls the early minutes of the match by working the arm of Valentine and then Mendoza. Galan Mendoza is able to back Castillo to his team’s corner and he and Valentine double team Castillo. This brings in Perez, who is momentarily cut off by Mendoza. Miguelito recovers and charges into  the corner, monkey flipping Castillo out of there and Castillo lands on his feet, chagrin at Mendoza. Perez is tagged in but falls prey to the champs and is worked over for the next couple of minutes. Perez and Mendoza collide and this leads to Castillo and Valentine getting the tag. Castillo starts cleaning house, with Miguelito sending Mendoza outside and fighting with him on the floor. In the ring, Castillo gets a sunset flip for the three count. New Caribbean tag champs! The crowd cheers as the new champions head back to the locker room with their newly won title belts.  

MD: While I’m ok with us moving on from Valentine/Mendoza as Valentine had a long run which had a high floor but maybe not the highest ceiling, it does feel like there was another month they could have gotten out of this pairing, considering how long the Super Medicos feud went. This was yet another quality tag. Valentine pinballed early. The heat really came from controlling the corner. There was a great switch of the FIP/hope spot with Perez monkey flipping Castillo who turned around into a clothesline as he landed which is just a beautiful lost spot but the VQ is pretty rough here so you don’t get the full effect. They crashed heads to set up the hot tag and after a bit of chaos, Perez and Castillo got a quick pin and the belts. 

EB: The California Studs (specifically Brian Lee) talk about their match tonight against Giant Warrior and Ricky Santana. Speaking of tonight’’s card in Caguas, we get a partial rundown of what is set for tonight: Falls count anywhere for the TV title as TNT faces Action Jackson; a rematch as Invader #1 faces Motor City Madman; Giant Warrior & Ricky Santana vs The California Studs; and Scott Hall defends the Caribbean title against Kim Duk.

Afterwards we get the Dick Murdoch vs. El Corsario match from February 2 that we previously covered. We then get a snippet of a Dick Murdoch promo where he says that Joe Don is the first thing from Puerto Rico he has been proud of (so I’m guessing he did well in the tag match the previous week). We then cut to El Profe who says let’s hear what that coward Carlos Colon has to say. Carlos is here to accept a challenge Dick Murdoch has made. It’’s a cage match for the Universal title, with a roof on the cage and a lock on the door. Carlos wishes Murdoch had the guts to show up tonight in Caguas or even now to the studio so they could have that match right now. Carlos challenges Murdoch to show up tonight if he dares, but he will accept the challenge for the cage match.

We then get comments from the Motor City Madman about his match against Invader tonight. He left Invader hanging last week in Bayamon and tonight it will be Invader’s last match. 

MD: We get a tiny glimpse of a Murdoch promo here which makes me think that Murdoch and Joe Don did win the mixed tag, a good way to get heat for the upcoming cage match. Not too much else to say for this show given that we have it clipped and it has things we’ve already covered. The upcoming show looked to have a lot of return matches (TNT/Jackson, Hall/Duk) but Santana/Giant Warrior vs Anthony/Lee is a weird and interesting one.

EB: The episode closes out with an airing of the Invader& Bronco vs. Texas Hangmen from February 2. Now let's go to the west coast version of the Super Estrellas episode from that same day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGt0ykdKNPg

Hugo welcomes the viewers and runs down what we will see on today’s show. Afterwards, Hugo starts talking about tomorrow’s house show lineup but the video cuts to the end of the TNT Evolution music video. From there we get a promo from the California Studs about their tag match tomorrow in Aguadilla against the team of Kim Duk and Ricky Santana. It looks like Tony Anthony has a score to settle with Ricky Santana for busting his nose and eye up in a previous match. Kim Duk and Ricky Santana follow with their comments, with Duk talking about the conditioning he and Ricky have, while Ricky promises to leave Tony Anthony laying this time around.

We get a rundown for tomorrow’s card in Aguadilla: Falls count anywhere for the TV title as TNT faces Action Jackson; Invader #1 & Giant Warrior vs. Scott Hall & Motor City Madman; Kim Duk & Ricky Santana vs The California Studs; Huracana  Castillo Jr vs Rick Valentine; and Invader #4 vs. Doug Gilbert.

Our first match of the program is the California Studs vs Invader #4 and Jerry Mercado. Hugo makes note that Skandor Akbar is not there because he is on a scouting trip, which means El Club Deportivo is likely getting reinforcements. The match is short, as the Studs isolate Jerry Mercado and work him over, getting the pinfall after the powerslam / flying kneedrop combo.

MD: Santana had tagged Anthony previously and now they were going to get revenge. Santana/Partner vs the Studs seemed to be what they were doing this week as here he was teamed with Duk. No Akbar here (he was off scouting for Devastation Inc. apparently). The highlight was Anthony trying to figure out what to do when Hugo was talking and tearing at his own eye. Duk said that both he and Santana were in superior condition and I’m not sure about that visually looking at him, but then he sort of always looked like this, just more grey in his beard now. The squash was efficient (even with Lee pulling Mercado up once). Invader was a non-factor and they won with a bombs away kneedrop from Lee which is a good thing to do if you’re billed from California I guess.

EB: Giant Warrior and Invader are here to talk about facing Scott Hall and Motor City Madman tomorrow. We get the back half of the interview with Hugo translating, where he says that tomorrow it is not going to be two on one. The size difference is really stark here when you have Giant Warrior standing next to Hugo and Invader (although I think Invader may be standing lower just to make the contrast even more since here he’s at Hugo’s height when he’s taller).

MD: Warrior and Invader vs Hall and Madman feels like a pretty solid match that they could put on right now. I think this is the first time I fully realized that Warrior’s face paint was supposed to be like Ultimate Warrior. I saw him in Japan first so I think I took that for granted. I always saw him as an answer to El Gigante. Anyway, this was just them clasping hands as Hugo spoke for a few seconds.

EB: Up next is another showcase for Doug Gilbert as he takes on Tito Carrion. Hugo mentions that Doug looks like a pirate with that bandanna on. The commentators again talk about the places Doug has wrestled and that he is a  dangerous individual. Carrion gets a brief hit of offense but this all Doug as he wins with the slingshot suplex.

MD: Doug really does feel like a herald for what is to come like when Lanny Poffo came into Mid-South and they started to mention Randy (even though that never came to be). Doug has pretty good execution of his suplexes and what not, but you can tell he hasn’t quite put it all together yet just yet in how he goes from point A to point B. Good energy and enthusiasm though. Carrion outwrestles him for a second here but that’s all he gets as Gilbert steamrolls him. When we hear his promo later on Invader IV, he was sure shouty.

EB: We get promos from Huracan Castillo Jr and Rick Valentine on their singles match tomorrow. Valentine wants revenge for the cheaters (according to him) taking the Caribbean tag tiles. 

MD: They’re doing a singles match between these two and Valentine complains that Castillo stole the belts and the best way to get revenge is one-on-one. Straightforward stuff.

EB: We get a name vs name matchup next as Kim Duk faces the current TV champion. Action Jackson. Profe is with Jackson, and I’m sure Duk has not forgotten his resentment towards his former manager. Duk works over Jackson’s arm to start but then Action starts getting aggressive by going for the eyes. Jackson controls the middle portion, mainly working Duk’s neck with a nerve hold, but when Duk fights out of it they start exchanging blows. Profe gets involved by tripping up Duk when he runs off the ropes. Jackson gets the cobra clutch, but TNT runs in to attack Action and send him from the ring. This causes Duk to be disqualified, but it’s clear that TNT still has his issues with Action as the two men start brawling around the ring area. They ram each other into the posts, Action bites TNT’s head, TNT spin kicks Action over the barricade into the crowd. We see them fight through the crowd and then cut to them still fighting outside the arena, as the fans run after them to see the action. They end up reentering the ringside area from the other side and continue fighting. I guess we now know why we’re getting the falls count anywhere stipulation.

We also get another series of promos for tomorrow, as Doug Gilbert is excitedly shouty about facing Invader #4, Action Jackson has a bandage on his forehead as he promises to retain the TV title no matter where he has to beat TNT up, and a fired up TNT angrily says that if they have to go to the town square or the outskirts it won’t matter as he promises to get that TV title. 

MD: The Duk vs Jackson match was a little rough. A lot of Duk hiding little shots while he had a hold on to start. Then a nerve hold. Worked fine overall but the first part wasn’t wry and fun enough and the second was pretty dull. It did pick up with some big Duk shots in the corner before Profe tripped him and we got the cobra. They kept cutting to a wide shot before anything happened so you had a sense that TNT was about to run out and he did, leading to a legitimately crazy brawl that went all over. Between that and the promos that followed, with Jackson doing so much better as himself (with his hair growing back and the Zubaz pants and him talking over Profe hyperactively) and TNT bloody and passionate, they sure sold me on this Falls Count Anywhere match, no matter how long the feud has been going on. Good pro wrestling right here.

EB: Our main event of the program is Miguelito Perez vs. Dick Murdoch. This an even matchup but Murdoch takes his shortcuts to try to gain the advantage. Perez actually holds his own and has Murdoch against the ropes punching him. When the ref tries to get Perez to back off, Joe Don Smith sneaks up and trips Perez up from the outside, allowing Murdoch to drop an elbow and steal the win. 

MD: You watch Murdoch and there’s no one else like him in 1991 anywhere in the world. Maybe a Negro Casas. Maybe Terry Funk. He’s just so self-aware and confident and treats pro wrestling differently than anyone else. There’s an element of vaudeville or being a character actor. It’s like watching Abbot and Costello or Laurel and Hardy or All in the Family. We come in with Joe Don and Murdoch sort of leaning on the apron while on the floor and it’s just this weirdly iconic image. Murdoch controls early but then gets it turned around on him and just stooges like wild for a few minutes. Joe Don grabs the leg between Murdoch’s legs while they’re in the ropes and a quick elbow ends it. Everything Murdoch has done during this run has been incredibly entertaining. 

EB: This episode closes with part of the Carlos Colon vs. Greg Valentine cage match we covered before, shown because next week we will have the Colon vs. Murdoch cage match at the house show. So, let’s find out what exactly happened in Caguas on March 23 as we go to the Campeones episode from March 30.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6TJdeB_Am8

Hugo and Profe open the show, with Profe preening and showing off his fit as usual. Hugo reminds the fans that tonight is the cage match for the Universal title, as Carlos Colon has accepted Dick Murdoch’s challenge. There will be a roof on the cage and a lock on the door, so the only way to win is by pinfall or submission. Profe says it’s high time for that coward Carlos Colont to have to face Dick Murdoch without being able to run away. Hugo says it won’t be an easy encounter for either man. They run down the matches for today’s program, with Profe calling the Caribbean Express the Chicken Express. They promise we’ll see highlights from the falls count anywhere match between TNT and Action Jackson, with Profe saying that the fans will see how they beat up TNT (Hugo clarifies that we’ll see in the video what really happened). 

We also have some new music video specials, as we’ll see new ones for  Dick Murdoch, the World tag team champions Invader #1 and Bronco #1, and Caribbean champion Scott Hall . Hugo wants Profe to comment about tonight’s semi main event, as we will have a last man standing streetfight that cannot be stopped due to blood between TNT and Action nJackson. Profe says that it is time to end this feud, it has gone on far enough, and what better way to settle it in a match where the only rule is there are no rules. TNT better say goodbye to his family and fans because it all ends tonight.  Hugo reminds the fans to purchase the tickets at the box office, please protect your money from cheats.

Our first match is from the March 16 house show in Bayamon, as the California Studs take on the Caribbean Express. This is a good solid match with both teams jockeying for control by working holds with the occasional counter. Skandor Akbar is seconding the Studs, who bail a  couple of times to regroup after the Express get the better of them (Castillo with a headscissors, Perez with some dropkicks). We go to commercials and come back as Perez is being worked over. This continues for a couple of minutes until he is able to make the tag to Castillo. The finish comes when Akbar distracts Perez, which allows the Studs to hit their powerslam / flying kneedrop finisher on Castillo. Another win for the California Studs and they keep climbing the tag ranks. That title shot may be coming soon.

MD: It’s amazing how well these tag matches work. It’s just magic, right? Pro wrestling’s most perfect form. You get the Invaders or the Super Medicos or Invader/Bronco or TNT/Invader (who would be defending against the Studs upcoming) or Colon/TNT or the Caribbean Express like here and put a couple of stooging, cheating, jerk heels against them and work that southern tag and it works. It works here. They just plugged Lee and Anthony in and it’s beautiful in its own way. Shine, Heat, Comeback. Stooging to start. Hope spots along the way. A surprisingly clean finish as Castillo comes in hot and hits a missile dropkick but misses another off the ropes and eats the power slam/bombs away combo. They could run this for a while honestly. They always can. 

EB: The big news from last week is the falls count anywhere match between TNT and Action Jackson. Hugo says it was a wild encounter, Profe claims that we will see Action Jackson humiliate TNT. Hugo interrupts Profe to say that is now how it was, let’s go to the tape. We pick up with TNT at the top of the stairs, and for anyone who has ever wondered where those stairs in Caguas lead to, this is your moment. TNT heads down and we see him and Action Jackson tussle in a small hallway with the ref watching. TNT bites Action and they continue down the hallway and up a flight of stairs at the other end. We come out to a backstage hallway area and get highlights of TNT and Action fighting at different parts of the hallway. They eventually emerge at the upper part of the stands, still fighting. Down the stairs they go and we cut to them fighting on the arena floor. Both men are bleeding and are on their knees exchanging blows. Eventually, they collapse on the ground and are both counted out by the ref. So tonight, it’s a streetfight that cannot be stopped for blood and there must be a winner.  We hear from both Action Jackson and TNT and they are looking forward to coming out the winner tonight. 

MD: And they could run this for far longer I expected. We just get glimpses of the falls count anywhere match but it looks awesome, them going through stairwells and into the main area bloody and battered. They finally both collapse from exhaustion and get counted out. I think if we had all of this one it might be a classic. But it was inconclusive and they can come back for more with a street fight. TNT is in his street clothes for his promo including his fanny pack which is not what I was expecting. 

EB: Some quick comments from Kim Duk, who is facing Scott Hall in a no DQ match. Duk is happy because that means he can bring his salt or kendo stick with no issues.This is followed by the new music video for Invader #1 and El Bronco, set to Bronco’s music. Afterwards, Scott Hall asks Kim Duk how it feel to be a loser, to be in fear. Anything goes tonight and Duk can bring anything he wants, all Hall needs is his fist to come out on top.

MD: “Kim Duk, how does it feel to wake up in the morning and know you’re a loser?” That’s how Hall starts his promo and honestly, every promo we get from him where he fills every single second Hugo is talking with ridiculous mannerisms is a precious joy to be appreciated. 

EB: Motor City Madman and giant warrior are facing off tonight in a strap match, we get comments from both men. And for those curious, we get a card rundown for tonight in Bayamon: Enclosed cage match for the Universal title, must win by pinfall or submission as Carlos Colon defends against Dick Murdoch; in a streetfight for the TV title TNT challenges Action Jackson; Invader #1 and Bronco #1 defend the World tag titles against the California Studs; Giant Warrior vs Motor City Madman in an Indian strap match; No DQ for the Caribbean title as Scott Hall defends against Kim Duk; Ricky Santan vs Eddie Gilbert; and Huracan Castillo Jr vs Doug Gilbert.

MD: They were building to a strap match here. That’s a lot of gimmicks on one show since I think Murdoch and Colon were in the cage here too. Plus we finally get Eddie Gilbert! I don’t know if they weren’t drawing well enough or this was a bigger show or what but it was stacked. 

EB: It’s time for the Dick Murdoch music video and this one  includes clips of how Murdoch won the first two matches against Colon (using the ropes for leverage). Murdoch has gotten the better of Colon for the most part but the Universal title has eluded him. Will tonight be different? Carlos Colon promises that will not be the case, he plans to keep the Universal title.

MD: Murdoch really came off well in the video, using the stick as a weapon, doing wound work on Colon’s skull, fighting off all the babyfaces, and yes, getting two fluke roll up wins, one with his hands on the ropes. It’s a shame we don’t have these matches in full because it really does seem like a great feud. 

EB: We get a card rundown for tomorrow in Ponce, as Carlos Colon & Giant Warrior take on Dick Murdoch & Motor City Madman; TNT vs. Scott Hall; Kim Duk vs. Action Jackson; Invaders 1 &4 vs the California Studs; Bronco vs. Eddie Gilbert; Ricky Sanatna vs. Doug Gilbert; and Huracan Castillo Jr vs. El Profe. We then end the program with a new music video for the blond outlaw himself, Scott Hall, and a final push for tonight’s big card.

MD: Not much more to say here. If Hall had stayed in Puerto Rico for the rest of 91 I have no idea how good he could have gotten, especially if he shifted back to feuding with Invader and Colon. He got there eventually but he was very much fully formed here. He’d never be this character or this person again.

EB: Next time on El Deporte de las Mil Emociones, is the feud between Carlos Colon and Dick Murdoch finally over? Who won the streetfight between TNT and Action Jackson? And, we will meet Skandor Akbar’s newest acquisition as we reach April 1991.