El Deporte de las Mil Emociones: Where's Chicky?

Week 61: Where's Chicky?

EB: The August 3 house show was a memorable one, with a wild brawl between Carlos Colon and Abdulalht Butcher that had Profe humiliated due to Carlos tearing Profe’s pants off. We also had the first match between Miguelito Perez and Huracan Castillo, and any hope of a reconciliation was gone once Huracan attacked Miguel Perez Sr when he got involved to try to stop them from fighting. An angry Miguelito is not going to let that pass and a rematch has been set for Fan Appreciation Day weekend on August 10. One other notable development from August 3 was Fidel Sierra defeating Super Medico #3 to win the Caribbean title, so there are changes occurring in CSP. 

As we move to August 10, a large new arrival has joined the ranks of El Ejercito de la Justicia, a man named Solomon Grundy. August 10 is also the annual Fan Appreciation Day, headlined by the Bronca Boricua match. The big rivalry of Castillo vs Perez will have two chances to get at each other that night as both are entered in the Bronca Borcicua. Let’s go to the August 10 west coast version of Super estrellas de la Lucha Libre, where  we will hear all about their lineup for the August 11 Fan Appreciation Day show.

WWC Super Estrellas 8/10/91 west coast edition

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbVC5EjlzKo

EB: We join the episode with Hugo already in the midst of his show intro, where he announces we will see the debut of the enormous Solomn Grundy on this week’s episode. We will also have the new Caribbean champion Fidel Sierra, who defeated Super Medico #3 last week in Bayamon to become the new champion. Since this is the west coast version of Superstrellas, the big news is that tomorrow in Aguadilla it is Fan Appreciation Day with special prices and a meet and greet with the tecnico wrestlers before the show. It also means the return of the Bronca Boricua match, where wrestlers will compete for a $10,000 cash prize. Hugo also mentions some of the other matches scheduled for tomorrow, with the big one being a rematch between Huracan Castillo and Miguelito Perez. They had a big brawl last Sunday that ended with Castillo knocking out Perez with an object and then Miguelito dragging Castillo out of the locker room afterwards. Let’s go to our first match.

The State Patrol vs. Super Medico #3 & Invader #4

We have another version of the State Patrol, this time Lt. James Earl Wright is joined by Sgt. Billy Joe Barber. Their opponents are the team of Super Medico #3 and Invader #4. Wright and Medico start off for their teams, with Wright complaining about hair pulls and Medico keeping the upper hand on their early lock ups. Wright briefly works Medico’s arm, but that gets countered and the tecnico team tags in and out while working over Wright’s arm. Barber is tagged in and does not fare any better. The State Patrol takes control once they are able to back Medico into their corner, giving them an opening to bait Invader #4 into the ring and double team Medico behind the ref’s back. Wright and Barber control the next few minutes, keeping Medico in the ring and cutting off any hope spots. An elbow to the back of Wright’s head gives the opening for the hot tag to Invader #4, who briefly handles both Patrol members. All four men end up in the ring but despite the tecnicos whipping the State Patrol into each other, Wright recovers quickly and hits a neckbreaker on Invader #4. This sets up an interesting finisher for the State Patrol (like a Doomsday Device only with a shoulder tackler to the body) and the State Patrol get the win.

MD: Theoretically, the State Patrol are perfect for Puerto Rico. Very much a Rock’n’Roll RPMs deal where they have the skills to really shine with the opportunity, but so far we just never get the real State Patrol. Here it’s James Earl Wright with “Billy Joe Barber” and other than being from Florida, as we’re told by Hugo, we don’t know much about him. He’s competent, but that’s not the same as being an arch stooge. This was pretty straightforward for the most part. Babyfaces controlled the arm. Heels ground down once they took over. Transitions weren’t super interesting. Finish was good after the hot tag as Medico and Invader were firing off hot, and the finishing move, which was a Suplex with a top rope shoulder block was good (set up by Wright cutting Invader off with a neckbreaker out of nowhere, so not even a cheating win). 

EB: Our first round of promos for this episode features the combatants in tomorrow’s Caribbean title match. Up first is new champion Fidel Sierra, who first talks about the Bronca Boricua. He expects to win the $10,000 prize and already knows what weapon he is bringing with him to the match. It seems there was some controversy last Sunday in Aguadilla, where the fans feel Sierra tried to steal the match from Medico #3 (something Sierra denies). Sierra is defending his newly won title tomorrow against the former champion, Sierra is going to show Medico #3 why Cubans are number one.

Medico #3 is next and also first mentions that he wants to win the Bronca Boricua tomorrow before talking about tomorrow’s rematch. Looks like last Sunday Sierra got caught with his legs on the ropes trying to gain leverage for a pin. The ref caught it but tomorrow Medico will be ready for Sierra’s shenanigans. He is also looking forward to the fan meet and greet before the show.

MD: Sierra won the Caribbean Championship from Medico III, though I think it was a little contested. They’re hyping up the Bronca Boricua. Fidel Sierra fashion watch has him less Cuban Assassin here with the flag, but a button down shirt and hat and sunglasses. So he is bouncing around a bit I suppose. They’re also hyping up a rematch and Fan Day where you can ask the wrestlers questions and get autographs with special prices for tickets.

EB: We get our first look at new arrival Solomon Grundy, who will be in a handicap match tomorrow against El Profe and Alex Porteau. Grundy is happy to be in Puerto Rico and is counting on his size to help him win the Bronca Boricua. Grundy is not worried about taking on two men tomorrow and sends a message in Spanish to the Puerto Rico fans (including sending a lot of kisses to all the ladies).We then get the card rundown for tomorrow’s Fan appreciation Day show featuring a fan meet and greet before the show and special prices: A 14 wrestler $10,000 Bronca Boricua match; the rematch between Miguelito Perez and Huracan Castillo; Giant Warrior vs. Great Kokina; Caribbean title rematch as Super Medico #3 challenges Fidel Sierra; The Invaders vs The State Patrol; Solomon Grundy vs. El Profe & Alex Porteau and Ray Gonzalez vs El Galan Mendoza.

MD: Grundy did pretty well here, talking about how he was bigger and meaner than everyone, but seeming like the nicest guy as he did. Bronca Boricua is a natural fit for him. It’s 14 guys (Invader #1, Castillo, Warrior, Sierra, Perez, Kokina, Grundy, State Patrol, Super Medico, Invader #4, Gonzalez, Porteau, Mendoza). We don’t have it. He tried to say some things in Spanish at the end which no babyfaces ever do. Again, it felt endearing. He’d be facing Porteau and Profe 2 on 1 as well, which sounds like it was probably fun. 

Great Kokina vs. Mr. Ito

EB: Kokina is back in Puerto Rico for Fan Appreciation weekend, so we get a match from his earlier appearance from about two months ago. His opponent is Mr. Ito and Kokina just steamrolls the poor guy. Ito gets a couple of dropkicks late in the match but Kokina brushes them off. A Samoan Drop quickly follows and Kokina gets the pin.

MD: This is a month or two old as Akbar was still there and Kokina had only been in for a limited run before. As weird as Nogami vs Yoko is on paper, there wasn’t a ton here. Nogami brushed him back with a few karate kicks but Kokina took over quickly and barely looked back. Nogami came back with a couple of dropkicks but got flattened with a clothesline and samoan drop.

EB: El Profe is in the studio to talk up the Bronca Borciua, specifically that Great Kokina will handle ‘El Ejercito de la Inmundicia’ and maybe some of their fellow rudos as well in order to win the cash prize. But more importantly, Profe expects Kokina to finish Giant Warrior. This is followed by Giant Warrior talking about how he wants to win the Bronca Borica and that Kokina is stepping into his backyard tomorrow.

MD: They talk up the 10k prize and the upcoming Kokina vs Warrior match. Warrior is an AJPW guy and Kokina is a NJPW guy so that’s kind of interesting I guess and a natural match. I bet it was probably pretty decent too.

EB: Invader is next in the promo lineup and also hypes up tomorrow's Bronca Boricua match. Also, they’ll see tomorrow who the better tag team as the Invaders take on the State Patrol 

MD: Invader is teaming with Invader IV against the State Patrol. Bronco’s off doing whatever I guess. With Colon out for this week and TNT MIA too, Invader’s sort of the top guy alongside the Castillo vs Perez feud.

The Samoan Swat Team vs. Ricky Santana & Kim Duk

EB: We get a repeat of the SST vs. Ricky Santana & Kim Duk match from back in May. The SST are still around and gunning for tag gold.

MD: It’s more Memphis SST. Actually, I think we saw this already. This is the one where Santana takes a huge beating, Duk comes in, immediately screws up by doing a double nogging knocker and loses.

EB: The State Patrol makes sure that we all know they hate Puerto Ricans and they want to win the $10,000 tomorrow. Barber talks about putting down the Invaders tomorrow.

MD: This was pretty bleak. Wright references LA riots. Barber’s definitely got the accent for this. They would not be using the money for good things if they win it. That’s for sure.

EB: Galan Mendoza talks about all the luxury stuff he could buy and do with the $10,000 prize. He also says it will be difficult for Ray Gonzalez to defeat him tomorrow.

MD: Mendoza on the other hand, would be living the high life with the money! Lobster dinner. An island getaway. Good for him. I hope he won it. (He did not win it).

Handicap Match: Solomon Grundy vs. El Exotico & The Fly

EB: Matt’s going to be happy to see Exotico back. It’s very brief screen time though, as The Fly lives up to his name and gets squashed in about a minute by Solomon Grundy.

MD: Hey, it’s El Exotico! My favorite enhancement guy. We haven’t seen him in ages. This did not go well for him. Grundy made short work out of these two. I think he got off his feet once for a dropkick of sorts but hard to tell with the camera cut.

EB: The hottest rivalry in Puerto Rico wrestling is set for a rematch tomorrow as Huracan Castillo is in the studio to talk about tomorrow’s match against Miguelito Perez. Hugo says that the fans are saying a lot of unpleasant things about Castillo, that last Sunday Castillo knocked Miguelito out with a foreign object as they were fighting after the dq. Castillo does not understand what the fans and Miguelito have against him, he does not need objects to knock down Perez. Castillo is complaining about Miguelito going into the locker room to attack him after he had laid Miguelito out. They’ll settle things tomorrow, even if they have to fight in the street or beach. 

Miguelito responds by saying that he does not care about the prize money tomorrow, he just wants to get his hands on Castillo in the Bronca Boricua and in their singles match. Hugo brings up that Castillo denied using a foreign object last week and an indignant Perez says of course he’s going to lie and deny doing that even though everyone saw him do it. That’s why he chased Castillo down to the locker room and kicked his butt back out. If Castillo is going to be using objects, then Miguelito will bring them as well.

MD: Got to keep the big feud churning. I still would have liked to see a heel Castillo squash match but ah well. Strong stuff from Castillo where he talks about how he didn’t need a knuckle duster to defeat Perez and how Perez was an out of control savage (obviously lies but he’s leaning well into the delusion). He mentioned how his teaming with Perez is why he never won these big money matches and how he didn’t care about the money, just getting his hands on Perez. It’s a good act.

Perez could barely even respond to such absurdity and he was obviously flustered. He said he didn’t care about the money either and he came off as very sympathetic in the face of Castillo’s behavior.

Fidel Sierra vs. Jerry Mercado

EB: We join in progress our next match, as the new Caribbean champion is making a point of making an example of Jerry Mercado. Hugo reminds the viewers about not using holds such as the sleeper (which Sierra uses to win the match) at home and also brings up that he feels that the way Sierra uses the flag to cover his opponents is disrespectful. Hugo then closes the show by hyping up tomorrow's Fan Appreciation Day show.

MD: Total control by Sierra here. He’s quick to pull Mercado up just to beat him down again. He wins with the sleeper (but does wake him up post match). No one had been using it like this for a couple of years in Puerto Rico so it’s a nice touch.

EB: Before moving to the next weekend, a quick note about the August 10 card in Bayamon. The WWE Vault just uploaded a Great Kokina vs Solomon Grundy match from that house show (something we did not have available before). We’ll make sure to cover this match in our next post, but what tremendous timing for the drop.

With that said, let's now go to the August 17 Campeones episode, where we have an announcement regarding the vacant Caribbean tag titles.

WWC Campeones 8/17/91

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

EB; As usual our hosts are Hugo and El Profe, with El Profe doing his usual preening and posing during the show intro. They talk about the matches they will feature on today’s episode. Tonight we’re getting another Fan Appreciation Day, this time in Ponce. The main event is Carlos Colon vs Kareem Muhammad. There will also be a tournament for the vacant Caribbean tag titles, Hugo explains the rules and mentions the teams participating. When Hugo mentions the team of the Latin Connection (the new pairing of Ricky Santana and Ray Gonzalez), a surprised Profe remarks ‘They teamed up the Barbie dolls.’  Profe feels confident the SST will win. Hugo also mentions that their latest VHS releases highlighting Carlos Colon's greatest battles and Volume 4 of Super Estrellas  are now available for rent and purchase. Also tonight the World Kickboxing Federation is holding an event in Manati so make sure to check that out if you are in the area. 

MD: We lead off talking about upcoming events, including Fan Appreciation Day and the upcoming tournament for the Caribbean Tag Titles. 8 teams. 20 minute time limits for all matches until the final. Some of the teams are Super Medico III and Perez, Sierra and Castillo, Gonzalez and Santana, State Patrol, Mendoza/Porteau, Warrior/Grundy, Samoan Swat Team, and maybe Invader and Bronco. Not a bad look at the roster overall, noting that Colon vs a returning Kareem Muhammad is on top. 

Atkie Mulumba vs. Giant Warrior - No DQ match from July 20

EB: This match is from Carolina and is a no DQ. Hugo mentions that this was when Profe brought in wrestlers to get back at Giant Warrior for injuring his jaw with the big boot. Giant Warrior runs to the ring and immediately attacks Atkie by choking him with Atkie’s attire. Mulumba bails to the outside and takes his time heading back in, while Hugo on commentary mentions that Mulumba is the size of a hippopotamus and is bigger than before. Atkei heads abc in, Warrior gets the advantage again before Mulumba takes over and controls most of the match. Back from a commercial break and both men are outside of the ring with Warrior making a comeback. They fight by the barricade before heading back into the ring, where Mulumba again takes over. The match ends when Mulumba goes for his top rope splash but Warrior gets a boot up to counter. Warrior follows up with the big boot and gets the win. El Profe was not avenged.

MD: Not sure when this was from, but it was a good win for Warrior. He controlled early using Mulumba’s garb to choke him. Mulumbua got some shots in out of the corner and took over with chokes (including over the top rope) and nerve holds. It spilled to the floor and Warrior fought back tossing Mulumba around, which looked good. Back in the ring, Mulumba got the advantage but leaped off the top for a splash right into Warrior’s boot and he loaded it with a stomp and hit a mafia kick for the win. Not the world’s most compelling match, but it had a moment or two and, like I said, was a good win for Warrior.

Abdullah the Butcher vs. TNT

EB: This match is joined in progress and likely is from one of the late July TV tapings when Abdullah made a short return.TNT hasn’t been featured much in recent months, it seems he has been doing more foreign tours. TNT is getting the better of Abdullah here, with several strikes keeping Abdullah against the ropes. A well timed karate thrust from Abdullah cuts off TNT however,  and Adbullah starts his attack. Headbutts, biting and gouging. Eventually the fight spills to the outside where they keep attacking each other and are counted out.

MD: This went how you’d expect. They barely moved ever further than a foot away from one another, just all close up combat, starting with TNT headbutts, then a lot of Abby choking and headbutts of his own. He tried to use the claw a lot, even as they spilled to the floor, but TNT kept cutting that off, and they brawled to a countout.

EB: Alex Porteau and Galan Mendoza cut a promo on going for the Caribbean tag titles tonight. The bigger news is that Alex Porteau beat Ricky Santana last Friday for the World Junior title. Mendoza says luck is everywhere for them and they’ll be the next Caribbean tag champions. 

MD: Porteau is the Junior Champ now apparently, having just won it. Now he and Mendoza are coming for the tag titles. 

EB: Fidel Sierra and Huracan Castillo are also competing in tonight’s tournament. Huracan tells Fidel that the fans are already looking at the Caribbean tag champions and that he's hoping to get a shot at facing Miguelito Perez in the tournament so he can wipe the floor with Perez. Fidel says that they are the number one team whether the fans like it or not. 

We then get a card rundown for tonight in Ponce: Carlos Colon vs Kareem Muhammad; the Caribbean tag title tournament featuring Invader #1 & Bronco #1, Miguelito Perez & Super Medico #3, the Samoan Swat Team, Alex Porteau & Galan Mendoza, Giant Warrior & Solomon Grundy, Ricky Santana & Ray Gonzalez, the State Patrol, and Huracan Castillo & Fidel Sierra. 

Also this Wednesday at the TV taping in Miramar featuring a main event of Miguelito Perez & Invader #1 vs. Fidel Sierra & Huracan Castillo, and a 15 wrestler coal miners pole battle royale featuring Solomon Grundy, Giant Warrior, Bronco #1, Ricky Santana, Super Medico #3, Alex Porteau, The Heartbreakers, Galan Mendoza, Dusty Wolfe, Ray Gonzalez, and more.

MD: I had missed the Castillo/Sierra announcement at the top of the show but these two make sense as a team. Same sense of swagger so long as Sierra isn’t in the camo. 

EB: The last match on this episode of Campeones is the barbed wire match between Carlos Colon and the Polynesian Prince from early June. In between match segments there is a promo from Invader #1 and Bronco #1 where they talk about wanting to become double tag champs and that they know it’s a tough field tonight. Hugo and Profe close the show by doing a final hype job for tonight’s house show.

Before ending this week’s post, it has been about a year since we last saw Chicky Starr in CSP. I think it’s about time we checked in on what he’s currently up to  around this time period in summer 1991.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p900bECT9qE

EB: This is footage from an independent company that is running on the west coast of the island. I remember seeing this show on one of the local channels (either channel 12 or 13) and I mainly remember Chicky and the host doing talking head segments and airing matches from different places. This specific clip is a compilation of interview promos hyping up one of this company's house shows.  The presentation reminds me of the early 80s TV from CSP where Rickin Sanchez was at the studio sitting and wrestlers would pop in and out to do their promos. Chicky is in the middle of cutting promos for the matches his guys are having, we see someone leaving as Chicky brings in two more of his organization's wrestlers. Chicky says his organization keeps growing and now he has brought in Crusher #2 to team up with Crusher #1. The Crushers are doing the black glove claw gimmick and Chicky wants the cameraman to zoom in on their hands. They will deal pain to any who stand against them. Chicky then rattles off the names of his wrestlers: The Crushers, Cubano Loco (which I’m guessing was the guy we saw leaving the interview area as the clip started) Solid Gold (hmm…), Los Vaqueros, and his Sports Organization is on the upswing and will keep growing. Chciky then starts rattling off the names of the tecnicos that need to watch out, such as Ricky Sexton, the Super Medicos (hmm...), Los Acrobatas, El Cobra, El Rockero, they have open contracts for any and all of them. 

The next clip is of the North American champion of the company, Ricky Sexton. His opponent is Cubano Loco and we get a promo from Sexton about being wary of how dangerous Cubano Loco and Chicky Starr are, how he beat Loco last time they faced each other and how he will do everything in his ability to keep the title. We also get the Super Medicos in the studio, this is Super Medico #2 and Super Medico #4. They are facing The Crushers and Medico # 4 does the talking for the team. If you're wondering who they are, Super Medico #4 is the same one we’ve seen before in CSP, one Julio Estrada. The silent Super Medico #2 is Nick Ayala, someone we have also seen before in CSP. 

This is a rare look at some of the other goings on in Puerto Rico wrestling. Chicky seems to be earning a paycheck at least but this seems a bit low rent (it is an independent company based in the western region after all). Ricky Sexton as North American champion, second rate Super Medicos, a bunch of generic sounding team names (just what the heck is a Solid Gold anyway?)…probably the last we’ll hear about them in any shape or form.

MD: The second you see Chicky on screen here, no matter what happens around him, he feels instantly iconic. I miss the guy, even though Profe is doing an admirable job and Akbar was fun. No idea what’s going on here but he’s got two masked guys flexing their hands over and over and over ago and then we see some fake Medicos too. It feels like Public Access Puerto Rican wrestling.

EB: Next time on El Deporte de las Mil Emociones, the feud between Miguelito Perez and Huracan Castillo rages on and brings Carlos Colon and Fidel Sierra into its orbit, new Caribbean tag champions are crowned, and Great Kokina vs Solomon Grundy (thanks WWE Vault!). 

Read more!

El Deporte de las Mil Emociones: The Road to Aniversario 91

Week 58: The Road to Aniversario 91

EB: We are getting into the final stretches of the road to Aniversario 91. The June 15 show saw Dino Bravo get a win over TNT. Bravo has been facing different tecnicos during the month of June to set him up for Aniversario and we’ll see some more of these encounters shortly. The biggest development from that June 15 card in Carolina was Carlos Colon taking on a hired gun, Great Kokina. El Profe and Gen Akbar had failed with the Polynesian Prince, but were hoping Kokina would be successful in derailing Carlos Colon and stop him from making it to the Universal title match at Aniversario 91. That June 15 match ended in a disqualification (unclear on the winner since some results have Colon winning by dq while others list Kokina winning by dq). There will be a rematch between them before Aniversario.

Speaking of Aniversario, the card is being finalized in the final weeks before the event, so let’s go to the west coast version of Super Estrellas for a pair of episodes that will help make clear what the final Aniversario card will look like. Up first is an episode from what we believe is June 15.

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

This is another edited down version of the west coast version of Super Estrella and we go right into the June 1 match between Dino Brav and Giant Warrior, which we join in progress.This would have been Bravo’s first match in Puerto Rico, so let’s see how he fares on his way to challenge Carlos Colon for the Universal title at Aniversario.

Dino Bravo vs. Giant Warrior

Bravo has Warrior down on the mat with a chinlock. Warrior fights to his feet, breaks the hold and starts backing Bravo into a corner with some punches. A quick eye rake from Bravo cuts that off and Bravo follows up with a back suplex for a two count. Back to the chinlock. Bravo then switches to chokes and then a bearhug. Hugo and Eliud on commentary mention that this is a strategy on the part of Bravo to try to keep Warrior close and neutralized. Warrior fades, the ref does the arm drop check, and Warrior keeps his arm up on the third check. Warrior starts coming back and punches his way out of the bearhug. Warrior whips Bravo into the corner a few times and then sends him into the ropes. Bravo counters and gets Warrior up on his shoulders. In an impressive feat, Bravo airplane spins Warrior and follows up with a clothesline. This sets up the full nelson and Bravo wins via submission. A notable win for Bravo in his first major match in Puerto Rico.

MD: This is the sort of weird stuff we’re looking for. Honestly, this whole episode of TV is. We get the last few minutes of this and it’s good stuff, save for the ill-conceived idea to put a bearhug on Giant Warrior. Bravo hits a really nice belly to back as we come in, and after Warrior fights out of the bearhug, he whips Bravo back and forth effectively until Bravo gets him into an airplane spin(!) and then hits a really nice clothesline out of it. He then finished Warrior off with the full nelson in the sort of definitive win you need to give the challenger for Aniversario. Now I kind of want to see Bravo vs Castillo, Perez, TNT, and Invader too.

Ronnie Garvin vs. Mr. Ito

EB: We cut from the start of a Profe promo and what looked to be a control center segment and go to the next match, Ron Garvin taking on Mr. Ito. This match is from Manati and Hugo mentions this is one of Ito’s first matches competing for the World Wrestling Council. The match is short but Ito is competitive with Garvin for most of it. Garvin gets the better of Ito in an exchange and sets up his knockout punch to get the pin. They are clearly putting over how dangerous and potent Garvin’s punching prowess is on the way to his match against Invader at Aniversario.

After the match we get an updated card ad for the Friday night Aniversario show in San German. This rundown reveals what we missed out during the previous week’s control center segment that was cut off. It’s official, Giant Warrior will be teaming with TNT to take on none other than Demolition (Smash & Crush). That’s 8 of the 10 matches confirmed with a couple of weeks to go. 

MD: Because of course we got Ronnie Garvin vs Akira Nogami in Puerto Rico in 1991. Sure, why not? Unfortunately, we just get a couple of minutes of this. A headscissors by Garvin, a comeback of chops by Ito. He’s not able to open things up though and Garvin cuts him off with a kick and a back body drop before finishing him with the Hand of Stone.

Samoan Swat Team vs. Ricky Santana & Kim Duk

EB: We go to another match already in progress as we head back to May when the Samoan Swat Team took on Ricky Santana & Kim Duk. The SST are challenging the Caribbean Express for the Caribbean tag titles at Aniversario, so here's a showcase rematch to remind the fans of how strong of a team they are. 

MD: The weird matches keep coming. I don’t think we’ve seen this one, though some of it is very familiar to me. That might have just been the SST’s act. I’ll move quick. We come come in on a nerve-hold. Santana gets a hope spot of slamming a Samoan’s head into the mat. Obviously that doesn’t work. The hot tag comes after one falls off the top rope for seemingly no reason but Duk tries the double nogging knocker which doesn’t work. Pile-driver. Top rope splash (great camera angle). And that’s that. It did feel very familiar.

EB: After we get an interview with Rod Price, who is challenging for the Caribbean title at Aniversario. Price asks Super Medico #3 if he's willing to pay the price. 

MD: We don’t get to hear Akbar talk. Price is going for the Caribbean Championship. Both he and Hugo call Medico 3 “Super Medic 3” which is one of those things I just pretend not to have to deal with. Price ends by saying “You better think about it once. You better think about it twice. Are you willing to pay the price?” which is definitely a catch phrase.

EB: Ron Garvin follows with a promo about his match against Invader #1 at Aniversario. Hugo reminds Garvin that Invader will be allowed to have his fist taped and Garvin says that when he steps in the ring with such a weapon, then Garvin has no choice but to beat his opponent nearly to death. 

MD: Another good Garvin interview. He’s goes on about how Invader’s taped fist means he can’t hold back and that he should be an honest man. Unfortunately we don’t get to see Hugo’s translation because he was great shadowboxing last time with that.

Invader I vs. Chicky Starr - April 90 

EB: The next match takes us back to mid April 1990, when the Invaders were feuding with Leo Burke and Chicky Starr (which segued into the Invader #1 vs. Leo Burke singles feud).Here Invader is facing Burke and Chicky in a handicap match challenge. Invader #4 had been taken out by the rudos the week before and Invader was facing both of them in a match where he had to wrestle both opponents. According to Hugo on commentary, we join this match after Burke had been eliminated (which is why Burke is sitting n a chair at ringside). Invader is in control and Chicky is already bleeding. However, Invader misses a charge in the corner and goes shoulder first into the post, giving Chicky an opening to go on the attack. Chicky controls most of the match that is shown ,with some invader hope spots mixed in. The match ends when Invader ducks a clothesline and comes off the ropes with a heart punch to win as the crowd cheers on. Another match that puts over the heart punch as we head to Aniversario. Seeing him here, I wonder what Chicky has been up to since leaving CSP? Hmm. Well, let’s move on.

MD: I guess we get an old Invader I match to heat him up (since he’s recovering from whatever Garvin did we didn’t get to see) and I’m not going to say no to that. It’s just not fair how good Invader is at selling. It’s not. This is such a great example. When we come in, Chicky seems to already be bloody but Invader misses a corner charge. Chicky hammers on the shoulder again and again and again and slowly Invader starts absorbing it, seemingly daring Chicky to continue his onslaught, and he stands and frames and fires back. Chicky keeps on him with stomps and kicks and this neat falling over pile driver and again Invader slowly makes it back to his feet, ducks a clothesline and hits the Heart Punch out of nowhere and it’s as close to perfect pro wrestling as I can imagine. Just not fair.

EB: The next math is a repeat airing of the Colon vs. Strong barbed wire mach from Aniversario 89. Afterwards, we get another Hugo training video, this time with Giant Warrior. Hugo gets put through his paces and then finishes with a promo on Billy Joe Travis,  promising that the effort will be worth it when he makes Travis pay at Aniversario. 

We then get the show close with Hugo again hyping up Aniversario 91.

MD: It’s the Giant Warrior training video! More doing stuff with weights at least. This goes way too long again and isn’t broken up enough like a proper montage. The best part is him pushing against Warrior, trying to move him. At the end Warrior says it’s time to train a monster and get him in the ring.

EB: We also have a west coast episode of Super Estrellas that may be from June 22 or June 29. This seems to be the go home show of sorts for the Aniversario card on Friday July 5 in San German. We’ll see some of the major feuds recapped and also see the final announcements for Aniversario, so let’s go to the episode.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BFLNcwECqU

Hugo opens the show but gets interrupted by a long station ID message. Hugo mentioned we’ll see what has happened in the top feuds heading into Aniversario plus the matches and music videos we’ll see on today’s program. One other segment we’ll have is a segment where Dino Bravo will be showing off his power, Bravo is claiming that the figure four will not affect him and wants to prove it with a demonstration. Hugo promotes the locations where you can buy tickets for Aniversario and the related promotions they are doing with radio station Cosmos 94.

Our first feud recap is Carlos Colon vs Dino Bravo starting with the attack at Noche de Campeones. We cut from the Bravo attack to the Ron Garvin vs Invader #1 recap, with Garvin and Invader doing the contract signing for their match at Aniversario. Garvin is laughing and saying he already knocked Invader out before, referencing their match from June 1. They show the clip of when Garvin knocked out Invader with a punch during the match and made the cover, only for the time limit to expire before the count of three. Back to the contract signing and Invader responds that when he hit the heart punch (which was not taped up), he had Garvin out. Only the ropes and El Profe helped save him. They show a clip of that part of the match and then we go back to the contract signing. Garvin is standing and angrily shouting that Invader is gutless, causing Invader to start standing up. Almost immediately, Garvin punches Invader in the face and knocks him out.

MD: This was set up well as they show a clip of Garvin hitting the hands of stone punch on invader, using the ref as a distraction first, and Invader hitting the heart punch, with Garvin getting a foot on the rope and Profe getting his heart going again on the outside. Then, out of nowhere, Garvin clocked Invader during the contract signing and Invader dropped like a pile of bricks. 

Polynesian Prince vs. Invader I

EB: We continue with the feud recaps, going over the incidents that have led to Bronco vs. Skandor Akbar, Monster Ripper vs. El Profe, and Hugo Savinovich vs. Billy Joe Travis.  Then we immediately go to our first match, which is Invader #1 vs. Polynesian Prince from June 15. The match is joined in progress with Prince doing a stunner or jawbreaker like move and making a cover for two. Some headbutts and a nerve hold follow, but Invader fights out by stomping Prince’s bare feet and then biting him. An eye rake by Prince cuts off Invader, and Invader is tossed to the outside. Akbar tries to get a shot in on Invader but instead hits Prince when Invader gets out of the way, Invader attacks Akbar, Prince attacks Invader from behind, but an attempted Irish whip into the post is reversed by Invader. The match heads back into the ring and they exchange missed moves until Prince misses a diving headbutt. This allows Invader to hit two heart punches and get the win. 

MD: We come in with Prince using a jawbreaker to take over. He has headbutts and a nerve hold, opening and closing his mouth again and again. Invader comes back beautifully, stomping on the feet, raking the eyes, and biting the face all in one flurry. Prince cuts him off with an eyerake. The rest of the match is a great bit of sputtering comebacks and cutoffs. First Akbar misses a shot on the outside and hits Prince. Then when Invader goes after Akbar, Prince ambushes, only to get reversed into the post. Back in the ring, he takes over, no-sells a reversed whip into the corner (hard head), but takes too long to leap off the top and misses. That lets Invader finally hit two heart punches for the win. A well done piece of business here. It really got over the heart punch since Prince was surviving everything else.

EB: Hugo Savinovich is in a gym somewhere, with Dino Bravo, El Profe, Skandor Akbar and Polynesian Prince there as well. They are all in a ring and Bravo wants to show off how he will deal with the figure four leglock come Aniversario. Prince is there since he is a bigger and stronger man than Carlos Colon, so if Bravo can successfully show off his power against Prince, what hope does Colon have against him at Aniversario? Prince puts a figure four leglock on Bravo, who reverses the maneuver. Bravo keeps the reversal applied and Prince is struggling but not making any noise. After a few moments, Akbar starts getting worried based on how Prince is acting and tries to break the hold. It looks like Bravo’s power ended up breaking Prince’s leg. Ouch! Dino is exasperated, asking Prince why he didn't say anything or complain.

MD: Legitimately funny to me. They have Polynesian Prince be the one to put the figure four on. “Well over 300 pounds.” And then Bravo just turns it over. This would have been way better if they got some enhancement guy to do it and Bravo just powered out of it. I get what they were trying in theory but this didn’t hit the mark. Everyone knows you just turn over the figure four!

EB: Skandor Akbar is in the studio to talk about his match against Bronco (which to be upfront, we don’t have footage for). Akbar talks about the pain of being burned in the face and that he knows Bronco is disfigured for life. The biggest mistake Bronco made is coming back because this time Akbar has a plan and Bronco will  be finished for good.

MD: I’ve been informed this is the match we don’t have from the show and I am not convinced we will ever find out what Akbar’s big plan for Bronco was.

EB: We get a replay of Bronco's interview from the Dominican Republic (conducted by Mario Medina), followed by an in studio promo from TNT. He is teaming with Giant Warrior at Aniversario to face Demolition. TNT says that everyone in Puerto Rico has seen these two animals on TV before, and he calls them animals because of their size. TNT promises that Demolition will not have it easy because they are facing two Puerto Ricans because TNT says that Giant Warrior had told him that he considers himself Puerto Rican.

We then get a final card rundown for Aniversario 91 in San German with the previously confirmed matches plus two additional ones. We have Ricky Santana vs. Action Jackson (the Saturday match has the stipulation where the loser must leave Puerto Rico, not sure what set this up) and Koko B Ware taking on Galan Mendoza. 

MD: And lo, we lose Murdoch to WCW. A shame. Instead we have Giant Warrior and TNT vs Demolition. I can imagine 1988 or even 1989 Demolition in Puerto Rico and that would have been amazing. No Bill Eadie now. Still a pretty fun sounding clash of the Titans though. Ok, get this, there’s a match in New Haven from early 1984 where Masked Superstar teamed with Sgt. Slaughter against the Invaders. Wild. Anyway, that’s our match. 

EB: We get a repeat of the Bronco music video. This is followed by a Monster Ripper promo for her match against El Profe. Ripper promises that all the bad stuff Prof likes to talk about everyone is going to stop and she will be the one to put Profe down. She wants all of the women to come out and watch what she’ll do to Profe, she’ll be his worst nightmare.

MD: Very weird to me that Ripper is now cutting a promo in English with Hugo translating. Maybe they trusted her with cackling heel promos or to translate but not with her own babyface promos? She wants all the women (and men if they can handle it) to come see her beat up Profe.

EB: Galan Mendoza is next to talk about Koko B Ware. Mendoza says that they know each other from before in the UWF, but this time it’ll be Mendoza who will put a stop to Koko. Next are the DJs from Cosmos 94 to promote their involvement with Aniversario, followed by another Aniversario card ad. Then we get a Koko B Ware music video set to ‘Piledriver’.

MD: And here’s our bonus match for Aniversario, Koko vs Mendoza. Interesting that they’ve brought Koko in at the bottom of the card again. He’s a guy who could definitely have a run but they just use him as an attraction like this. The music video is basically just taken from the Profe match.

EB: Billy Joe Travis has a message for Hugo, he wants Hugo’s family (and ‘my kids’)  to be at the event, because he’s going to embarrass Hugo.

MD: Travis cuts a good promo talking about Hugo’s family and how everyone should come see him beat up Hugo. He’s not allowed to touch him until the match, which is a good stip. I see this and see no reason why he couldn’t have a long run on the island too.

EB: Ron Garvin is next, saying he has built quite the reputation and Invader has gotten him mad with what Garvin believes was an attempt to put Garvin out of wrestling. Garvin promises to end Invader's career and knock him out. Invader responds by putting over Garvin's quality but reminds everyone that he will have his fist taped, so let;s see if Garvin is able to get up from that when the heart punch is hit.We close this segment with another card rundown prefaced by another Cosmos DJ.

MD: Garvin invokes the fact he’s a big name in wrestling, a former world champion, something he couldn’t tout for most of his major post-NWA run. This feels like good closure for him honestly, as this run lasted a bit longer than I had expected. Invader’s with Hugo for his response and it looks like he’d been training Hugo maybe from the locale and the garb. 

Samoan Swat Team vs. Ricky Santana & Invader IV

EB: The SST are challenging for the Caribbean tag titles at Aniversario, so we get another showcase match for them against the team of Ricky Santana and Invader #4. The match is a bit more competitive with Santana in there, but the SST steamroll Invader #4 and get the pin. 

MD: Not a ton here. Santana and Invader (especially Santana) control Savage's arm. Fatu gets in and destroys Invader with backbreakers. They knock Santana off the apron and hit a Samoan Drop followed by a top rope splash for the win.

EB: We then get some followup of the Dino Bravo power showcase from earlier where Polynesian Prince got his leg broken. Prince has his leg in a cast and Profe is mentioning how Colon won’t be able to withstand Bravo's power if Prince couldn't . We also get words from an exasperated Dino Bravo, saying that he’s been apologizing to the Prince and General because he did not know how much pain the Prince was in. Bravo warns Carlos that if he’s not careful, Bravo might end up breaking both of Colon’s legs at Aniversario.

We cut to Hugo and Carlos Colon, they are on a break from training and look to be relaxing on someone’s balcony. Hugo says that Bravo is a scary challenger because he combines power with wrestling knowledge and is highly ranked in the WWF (uh, sure Hugo). Carlos says it’s the biggest challenge of his life since Bravo is like a war tank. No one has been able to break Bravo’s full nelson yet but he is ready for the challenge. As to Bravo saying he is not afraid of the figure four, Carlos says he has other holds and moves besides the figure four if it comes to that. Hugo promotes a party they’ll have Thursday on the beach in Aguada for July 4 with Carlos, TNT and Hugo there. Carlos invites the fans to the July 4 beach party and to Aniversario on July 5. 

MD: Ok the previous skit redeemed itself. Prince and Akbar are sitting on a couch. Prince has a cast on his leg. He’s beside himself. Akbar is reassuring him. Bravo’s there with a gym logo tank top apologizing to Prince and Akbar for breaking Prince’s leg. He had turned the hold over for like four seconds and this is all very funny. He said he didn’t even use half his strength either. This would be great but maybe not for the main event build?

EB: Another Hugo training video and they are in the countryside. Hugo is chopping down trees, pickaxing the ground, running with logs on his shoulders, and chasing a horse as part of his training. Hugo thanks the fans for their support and Carlos and Giant Warrior for their help. He’s not going to wrestle Travis, he’s going there to fight. We then get a message from the manager of Cosmos 94 inviting the fans to Aniversario.

MD: They end up on the farm? Hugo’s family farm? I have no idea. But we’ve got Hugo chopping trees, pickaxing the ground, chasing a little horse around! Thankfully this one only lasts a few minutes. 

Miguelito Perez vs. Dino Bravo

EB: Another match to put over Dino Bravo before Aniversario, this time against Miguelito Perez. We join the match in progress, with Miguelito in the middle of an offensive flurry that sends Bravo to regroup on the outside. Bravo takes a while to come back in and Miguelito is able to counter some Bravo punches. A whip into the corner backfires as Bravo grabs Perez and atomic drops him. Bravo does a chinlock and then a bearhug.  Bravo gets a near fall off the bearhug, but Perez fights out of it. Bravo cuts Perez off and hits a piledriver to set up the full nelson but Miguelito counters with a roll up. An offensive flurry is stopped by Bravo with an airplane spin and this time he is able to put Perez in the full nelsons.  Miguelito can’t break the hold and submits.

Hugo closes the show by reminding fans about the beach party on July 4 and Aniversario on Friday July 5.

MD: Ah here’s the Dino Bravo we know and (don’t) love. After feeding a bit for dropkicks, he came back in with a chinlock and a long, long bearhug. Very long. Not much there even if Perez worked well from underneath. Finishing stretch was good though. Perez went behind on the full nelson attempt and they went back and forth a bit after that until Bravo got the airplane spin on him, softening him up for the nelson. Bravo is still Bravo deep down, that’s for sure.

EB: We have a couple of matches from June that we would like to cover before heading into Aniversario 91. The first match is a tag match where Invader #1 (during the period where Invader had the bandage on his nose) and Mr. Ito are facing Action Jackson and Rod Price. This match may be from June 8.

Invader #1 & Mr. Itoi vs. Action Jackson & Rod Price 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiphTT8snjw

This video is from a VHS release early in 1992, so the commentary is not really focused on what was happening at the time. Invader and Mr. Ito are an interesting tag team though, so let’s see how they fare against Rod Price and Action Jackson. Invader and Action start for their teams and we get a bit of stalling tactics from Actin to start the match. They square up for a punch exchange and that goes badly for Action, who ends up on the outside again. Ito is tagged in and works over Jackson’s arm. He hits a jumping elbow and tags Invader back in. Action quickly tags out to Price but Invader and Ito continue with their strategy of working over their opponent’s arm. Price turns the tide with a hair pull on Ito and the rudos work over Ito for a few minutes. They build to a hot tag to Invader, who cleans house on both rudos. Eventually all four men end up in the ring and it is Invader and Ito who are in control. However, Profe hands a foreign object to Action while the ref is busy with Invader and Price, and Action hits Ito with it to get the pin. But wait… Ricky Santana comes out of the locker room and grabs the foreign object out of Action Jackson’s tights. He shows the ref, who restarts the match. This may be the beginning of what sets up the Santana vs. Jackson match at Aniversario. With the match restarted, Action misses a flying kneedrop on Ito, who then tags in Invader. A quick offensive burst leads to a heart punch and win for the tecnicos.

MD: This was aired years later on a video tape. The commentary is very funny but that’s beside the point. Jackson and Price have matching tights. Ito has his beard and wig to come out but then takes it off. Invader has the bandaging we’ve seen him wear in promos lately. And hey, this was a good one. Standard very good PR tag. Invader and Jackson were just great to start. Lots of shadow boxing, dodging Jackson’s big shots and hitting jab after jab as he stooged away. Nogami hit a spin wheel kick but the heels took over fairly quickly by working over the arm and double teaming. Good FIP with a lot of varied offense (Price with a press slam and Russian leg sweep, Jackson with a power slam) and double teams after they drew Invader in. Invader went nuts on the hot tag as you’d expect. They did a false finish where Profe slipped knucks on Jackson and he pinned Nogami but Santana ran out to tell the ref. I’m proud of myself because I had the sense that was going to happen. I’ve seen enough of these to know when it will and when it won’t. The match restarted and they did a second hot tag with Invader coming back in and getting that heart punch out of nowhere which always pops everyone. Good stuff.

EB: We also have one match from Great Kokina’s brief excursion to Puerto Rico during the month of June. As stated before, Carlos Colon and Great Kokina faced off on June 15 in a match that ended in a disqualification. They had a subsequent rematch (likely June 22 or 29) inside a steel cage. Let’s see if Kokina is able to take out Carlos Colon before Aniversario.

Carlos Colón vs. Great Kokina - Cage Match  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWIAo8oxquM

Another monster for Carlos to overcome and it’s inside a cage. Profe is with Kokina and it is Kokiha who controls early on with a lot of headbutt based offense and some biting. Kokina continues focusing on Colon’s head with a claw and then ramming Colon into the cage. Another ram attempt is countered by Carlos and it is Kokina who gets rammed instead. After several rams, Carlos bites Kokina in the forehead. Carlos keeps punching and biting Kokina’s head as Kokian tries to escape through the door. The escape attempts are unsuccessful. Kokina begs off and Carlos continues punching, but a Kokina headbutt to the stomach stops the attack. Carlos stops another Kokian escape attempt and the match continues with some back and forth momentum swings. Carlos stops another forehead claw by stomping on Kokina’s bare feet and then hitting a foul kick. A bearhug by Carlos leads to Kokina regaining control. Another escape attempt by Kokina and Carlos stops him by ramming Kokina’s head into the steel frame of the door. Some more momentum shifts lead to Carlos slamming Kokina. Carlos tries to go for the door but is stopped, and the two wrestlers fight right by the cage wall. Carlos is able to ram Kokina’s head a few times into the cage, allowing Colon enough time to go out the door and win the match. Looks like another failure for Profe in taking out Colon before Aniversario. 

MD: We think that Kokina had a tour here in between a UWA tour that ended at the start of June and his July NJPW tour. Obviously, they’d already gotten to a cage match at this point. Speaking of cagematch, it has Kokina beating Carlos by DQ on July 15. And this is a good one! We get nine minutes of it but they do the job here in a bit way. Kokina takes over almost immediately and they don’t hesitate to use the cage. He’s happy to toss Carlos right into it. But he looks to the crowd once too often and Carlos comes back, using it as a great equalizer. There’s a great shot here of Kokina lodged in between the post and the cage, his head draped over the top turnbuckle, with Carlos working the wound. Carlos goes for the door and Kokina cuts him off. Things get pretty dire for Carlos, who bleeds heavily, but Kokina misses an elbow drop and Carlos finally gets a huge slam on him. Kokina still cuts him off one more time from making it to the door, but Carlos slams his head into the cage repeatedly until he can just barely make it out. It’s a good use of ten minutes if you’ve got them.

EB: Next time on El Deporte de las Mil Emociones, it is time for Aniversario 91! We review 7 of the 10 matches (plus a clip of an eighth match) as Carlos Colon defends the Universal title against Dino Bravo, Invader #1 has his fist taped against Ron Garvin, for the first time in Puerto Rico a man faces a woman as El Profe faces the wrath of Monster Ripper, Demolition takes on TNT and Giant Warrior, and Hugo Savinovich brings his walking hardware store out of mothballs to get revenge on Billy Joe Travis. 

Read more!

Found Footage Friday: SAD GENIUS~! GRANS HAMADA & GUERRA~! GYPSY JOE~!

La Gran Guerra: Jason the Terrible/Chicky Starr/Iron Sheik/Ron Starr vs. Carlos Colon/Ricky Santana/Rufus R. Jones/TNT WWC 10/29/88

EB: On December 12 and 13 of 1987, Capitol Sports Promotions held for the first time ever the La Gran Guerra match, which pitted members of the heroic El Ejercito de la Justicia against members of the villainous El Club Deportivo. La Gran Guerra is two rings enclosed by a steel cage with all team members starting the match together. Handcuffs are located around the sides of the cage and the objective is to handcuff your opponents in order to neutralize and take them out of the fight. The winners are the team that is able to handcuff all of the opposing team’s members first. And the prize for winning is that you get to uncuff your teammates and then get 5 minutes to attack your neutralized opponents at your own leisure. The two sides have each won one La Gran Guerra match and now, ten and half months after the first two matches were held, a third La Gran Guerra is set to happen.

The date is October 29, 1988 and we are almost two months removed from the big Aniversario show main evented by Carlos Colon vs Hercules Ayala in a fire match. This feud continued beyond Aniversario, with Colon and Ayala engaging in several rematches that escalated to a stretcher match and most recently a Texas Death match on October 8. Colon and Ayala are captaining their respective teams for this third La Gran Guerra, but while Colon is competing in the match for El Ejercito de la Justicia, Ayala will be captaining from ringside for El Club Deportivo. Ayala is unable to compete due to a neck injury suffered when Carlos Colon piledrove him on the arena floor during their Texas Death match. He’ll be here supporting his team, even if he’s there in a neck brace at ringside.

Joining Carlos Colon on the El Ejercito de la Justicia are a veteran of the previous two La Gran Guerra matches in TNT and two first timers in Rufus R Jones and Ricky Santana. For El Club Deportivo it is none other than Chicky Starr leading the charge, joined by his cousin Ron Starr, the Iron Sheik (a key member of the team that won the second La Gran Guerra) and Jason the Terrible (who is making his return to Puerto Rico after a year and half away). Ron and Jason are competing in their first La Gran Guerra match. All combatants are in the ring so let the war begin. 

MD: There has been a lot of talk about modern cage matches and about how the cage is seen as something to climb or something to escape or something to fight on top of. That's in contrast to decades ago where a cage was somewhere where there could be no interference, where there could be no running, where feuds had to end. Gran Guerra takes it a step further even. In these, the goal is not to contain the action, but to constrain it. Instead of one more person entering every few minutes, wrestlers are removed instead. The action becomes tighter and more focused as it goes on and more and more wrestlers are handcuffed. 

Here the blood came quickly as people were tossed into the cage. Santana bled first but he was soon joined by almost everyone, with Jason as the obvious and striking exception. For the first few minutes, they stayed in one ring and ignored the other, just making everything feel all the more claustrophobic. When they did venture out into the second, it was more to allow for the handcuffing to be spaced out geographically than anything else. Colon and Jason were matched up for most of this and they would be the ones to end it.

These days interference happens in almost every cage match, just another way the gimmick has been diminished over time. But matches should serve purposes, not just to entertain and titillate. Dissonance creates heat. The cage is supposed to be a way to end feuds, to allow violence to run its course. In a world where that is true, where the last thing people expect is interference, it can cause amazing heat. In a world where it happens all the time, then there's much more to be gained by NOT having interference, because that's what goes against expectation. Then, one time out of ten, do it. That's how things played out here, with Ayala throwing in salt as Colon was about to win. Not only did it cost the babyfaces match, it also meant that they were beat on mercilessly for the next five minutes as per the stipulation. Here, because it was set up to matter, that meant even hotter rematches between the babyfaces and the heels and more tickets sold. So yes, there was interference here, but it's shown to be the exception that proves the rule.

ER: It can be tough watching such a large scale two ring match in fuzzy video quality, action further obscured by being shot through a chain link cage, but here it feels like we're seeing what anyone sitting in the cheap seats would be seeing at a huge blowoff event. The action can be hard to follow, but when the action is all blood-drawing punches you know you're just seeing the universal pro wrestling language being spoken. Blood flows early and often (Ricky Santana is so bloody that for all I know he hit the blade in the dressing room) and my favorite thing about it was TNT in there throwing all variety of full extension high kicks and spin kicks. In a match where every man is punching and using the cage, it's awesome to be the guy throwing huge kicks that play to the back row. All of his kicks look great, especially the ones to Chicky and Jason. Chicky is a great guy to see sell a kick, but I loved the match long story of Jason just walked through every kick to his mask, no matter how hard or spectacular, and finally fell flat on his face after a high kick to the back of his head. This is fucking Jason! Conventional weapons cannot harm him, conventional kicks cannot move him, and finally TNT finds his weak spot. This doesn't seem like the kind of match they could have done in PR just a decade before, as I've heard of far smaller things causing riots. Ayala throwing salt in Colon's eyes leading to all the babyfaces taking an unprotected 5 minute beatdown should have brought back the glory days of rioting. I don't think it would have been possible for the heels to make it past one minute without the cage being swarmed. 

Sad Genius vs. Gran Hamada 9/5/00

MD: I know Genius has other Texas Death Matches but I haven't seen them. But on some level this is a brilliant exercise in futility and frustration for Gran Hamada. Genius comes in with this amazing level of confidence, belt around his waist, pulling his hand back on the shake, and then he immediately gets rolled up by Hamada. this is a Texas Death Match though (the traditional style that can ONLY end in the ten count after a fall), so no big deal. He just gets up and keeps wrestling. Then he ends up in a cross arm breaker and almost immediately taps out. And he just gets up, selling the arm a bit, but otherwise unperturbed. Why not tap out? You have ten seconds to get back up after that. There's no reason to stay in a hold in a Texas Death Match with these specific rules except for pride, and this guy is somehow perfectly delusional and self-aware at the exact same time. 

In the face of all of this, Hamada is Hamada. He is full of pride. He, even in 2000, can still land on his feet out of a takeover, no problem. And yet he's been tossed into this bizarre world against this bizarre wrestler who was obviously capable and talented, with these rules that drive him increasingly nuts. Yes, Genius would take advantage of the ability to escape any hold he wanted and would come back with a clubbering shot or two, but Hamada just plowed through and kept things coming, escalating his offense and those holds. There was a path where he could eventually get Genius either hurt enough, knocked out enough, or humiliated enough that he'd stay down and that journey might have be compelling, but everything just sort of fizzled out as either Hamada or Genius or the ref or god himself just had enough and this ended without meaningful conclusion.

ER: I'll be honest: I've watched a lot of wrestling in my life, but I can't pretend I knew who Sad Genius was before this week. Maybe I heard about him once, who's to say. I've already forgotten enough names of movies, bands, actors, whatever, to fill books. If I'd heard tale of Sad Genius before a few days ago, they've been forced out by newer but not necessarily more interesting knowledge. Sad Genius is essentially a trust fund kid who keeps trying to buy his way into high society but is never accepted by the peers he seeks. It feels like he's doing a fake title belt Andy Kaufman bit, only if Andy got actually good at pro wrestling fundamentals and wanted to be taken seriously as a wrestler instead of just using wrestling as a medium for chaos. Sad Genius even looks like Andy Kaufman, right down to the exact same grown out at the sides combover Kaufman was sporting in 1982. 

This match is about 10 minutes long, and the entire time it feels like something teetering into a shoot. You get a real sense that there were details Gran Hamada was not told and he is finding them out over the course of the match. Hamada recognizes this man, whose name sounds like a bedroom shoegaze project, is Up to No Good. I am positive that Hamada was not told about the Texas Death rules. I am positive about that, as the only interpretation of what happens in the first 30 seconds of this match, is that Hamada recognizes Sad Genius is Up to No Good and shoot pins him with an inside cradle. Hamada dragged this man into an inside cradle and looked upset to learn that the house style was Texas Death. He wrestled the rest of the match like that and looked constantly perturbed and guarded, like he couldn't wait to lace into Genius for this shit. And that's before Genius kicks Hamada in the stomach a couple times as hard as he can, or hits the most shootstyle rolling kappo kick possible, or drops him on the back of his head with a back suplex. I'm confident nobody has told me about MUGA-trained Andy Kaufman before. I would remember that. 

Hamada still does flying, but he does it in this fascinating untrusting way, knowing he has to force Genius to catch a pescado, he throws dropkicks like he's expecting his target to move, and he keeps taking Genius down with armbars that keep turning more serious...but Genius never does act up. He just looks like he keeps getting shoot taken down and arm barred by a 50 year old legend until somebody in jeans gets on the apron and starts yelling. Sad Genius is either a great salesman or Gran Hamada actually hurt his arm, and there's a feeling that no matter what happens in any of these matches, Sad Genius is getting awarded the title. There's a 10 minute post-match interview with him and it plays like a video deposition of a man hesitant to give up his family. Sad Genius would have made a 500. 

JR:The music swells. You need to hear it for yourself. It starts out like music you’d normally hear through shitty laptop speakers and suddenly it swells, like when something diegetic becomes the needle drop over a montage. It dawns on me at this moment that I’m watching a haunted object. Not something cursed but something possessed and controlled by the spirit of Sad Genius. It dawns on me again when he is pinned almost immediately via a small package that looks uncooperative. Hamada looks confused and part of me wonders if he knows the rules to the match and then the referee starts counting as though it’s a Texas Death Match without weapons or cowboy boots or hatred. You can see in Gran Hamada’s eyes that he is in a wrestler’s stress dream. He is in the ring and he has no idea what the finish is, what the rules are. It’s a dream and he can’t go anywhere. His eyes are narrowed and wet and confused and Sad Genius stares back with the eyes of the man who used to come in to the library and tell me that fractals and zeroes were gateways to other dimensions. Hamada has no alternatives. He fights, applying an arm bar and winning and then hearing a bell and then starting over. The referee got to eight that time. He is stuck chasing a ghost, hearing an invisible audience. Suddenly he leaves. He breaks out. He wakes up. We are left behind. Maybe it was our dream all along. We are the ones trapped. Sad Genius has his arm raised, and we follow him back to the locker room. He’s sitting in a folding chair and speaking, staring into space just beyond the plane of the camera. We can now see the cameraman. We must be in the room, it’s the only explanation. He is staring at us. We can’t understand what he’s saying. The camera man is gone by now. Sad Genius is staring at us when the video ends.

 

Sad Genius vs. Gypsy Joe 1/19/03 

MD: There were not many people in this crowd, which sort of tracks and is not at all a surprise, but it does give this a distinct feeling like it's being wrestled specifically for us almost twenty-three years later. If the Hamada match was a novelty, this was a spectacle and pretty much everything one might have expected. For the first few minutes of this, Genius (who had his music start back up as he disrobed) and Joe (who came out to Dust in the Wind, of course) absolutely kill each other. After a couple of clean breaks, Genius launches just the nastiest kicks and then Joe brutalizes him with chops. There was one little short elbow that Joe hit that I went back and watched ten times because it was the best peppering shot I've seen in ages. Genius finally has enough and hits the floor only to start in on Joe's legs on the posts. If we had another five minutes of this I imagine it would be just as imagined.  

Instead, two masked Karate Guys come running in and it becomes an impromptu tag match with both of them working over Genius until he could get a dragon screw leg whip on one. Joe comes in just mauls them in the best way including taking all their chops like they were nothing. Genius gets in on the act too including Inoki pumphandles, but he gets hit by this hilarious low blow kick. He comes back anyway and hits a belly to back to win it and it's just all wonderfully ridiculous. Post-match Joe is ready to fight anyone in Tokyo and wants more people to show up next time.

ER: Sometime between the Hamada match and this match, Sad Genius added disrobing music. He keeps his robe one right up to the bell, when a 3 second power riff plays, timed to his disrobing and kicking off the match. Joe is 70 and definitely doesn't know who Sad Genius is, and at first I thought he was going to wrestle this in a t-shirt but instead he treats this guy like Fujinami. Genius hits three stiff as hell kicks to Joe's chest and Joe treats him like an asshole, at one point throwing a jab of an elbow point into Genius's eye. The double ninja DQ robbed us of any kind of chaotic finish and means we never get to see Joe try to break this guy's nose. Joe does do a 70 year old kneedrop off the top to one of the ninjas and that feels like one of the most dangerous things a man his age could possibly do. 

JR: Sad Genius disrobes in time with a music cue that hits with the force of a horror movie jump scare or a hammer or a bottle breaking. At this point I think it is not farfetched to assume we are in the presence of a trickster god. The front row here is completely empty this time. I cannot tell if it is the same building. It looks like it. It might not even be a building but a dimension. A domain. Gypsy Joe looks incredible and looks as though he is decomposing. He is wondrous. Sad Genius is beautiful and it is easy to see why so many gave him so many chances. While I’m thinking this, two masked men in karate outfits attack everyone. They do not look like trained pro wrestlers. They are resplendent. Suddenly, Joe and Sad Genius are united. They are on our side. They are on a side together. It feels like a moral impossibility for Sad Genius to understand the idea of comradery. There is someone off camera yelling instructions in English. There are probably voices speaking in languages that do not exist if I dare turn the volume up any louder. 

The bell never ends anything in this match. There is a winner and the fight continues. The sacred space bleeds into something profane that only Sad Genius understands. He lays out wrestling matches like an alien who had wrestling explained to them by a child and then thought about it for a thousand years. He lays out wrestling matches like those chess computers that have only ever played chess against other computers. One of the karate men hits Sad Genius in the groin and he doubles in pain, and something so normal and recognizable and banal feels uncanny. Music plays and there is another winner and the two men with faces are attacked again. The bell never means anything. Eventually the karate men stop returning into the frame. It feels final and I can’t say how. The camera follows Joe and Sad Genius out, back into a locker room. They speak in English. They speak past one another. We are left with a still shot of a grey hallway, like something out of a Tsai Ming Liang film. I can still see it with my eyes closed.
 

Read more!

El Deporte de las Mil Emociones: August Rush

Week 34: August Rush

EB: We’ve once again reached a point in our journey where the footage and results we have are scattered about, so we're going to be skipping a bit in time depending on what we have available. Case in point, last week we finished the hype for Fan Appreciation Day  with the Super Sabados appearance. Unfortunately, we don’t have footage or definitive results for the actual Fan Appreciation Day card. We do know that almost all of the champions retained their titles. The one exception are the Super Medicos, they lost the World tag team titles to Lance Idol and Rick Valentine. Due to the footage gap, we’re going to be jumping towards the end of the month, to the TV from August 25. But before getting to the TV episodes, we do have some goodbyes to say.

First, we say goodbye to Scott Hall. The signs were there for anyone noticing. since Hall was not included on the Sunday Fan Appreciation card and the Bronca Boricua for that day had 16 wrestlers instead of 17 (Carl Styles seems to have slotted in Hall’s spot for now). The blonde outlaw had an interesting run here in CSP, first as a rudo and then becoming a solid fan favorite. It seems that Hall’s time in Puerto Rico was an important step in his development and, while we do not have one last clip of his run here to say a proper goodbye, overall it was a really good run for Hall and he will be missed.

Also leaving us after a 10 months here is Angel acevedo, known as Mercenario #1. It was honestly time to move on but what a run he had both with Gerry Morrow and then Ron Starr as his partners. As a farewell, we have a full match between the Caribbean Express and Los Mercenarios from a few months back, during the lead up to Aniversario 90.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KC4UMLR1uQ

This match starts off with Perez and Castillo taking it right to both Mercenarios, with Castillo sending Acevedo out of the ring and Perez handling Ron Starr in the ring. The fighting continues as Castillo attacks Acevedo on the outside by throwing him onto the announcers' table and hitting him with a chair. Perez throws Starr to the outside and Ron gets rammed onto the table and hit with a chair as well. The match settles back into the ring, as Castillo continues teeing off with several punches on Ron Starr. Castillo rams Ron’s head several times on the turnbuckle, with Ron then teetering between punches from Perez and Castillo. The Express do some quick tags and maintain control on Ron, but Starr is able to find an opening to cut off Castillo and tag in Acevedo. However, Acevedo runs into an armdrag and another series of quick tags by the Express has them working over Acevedo’s arm. Again the rudos are able to find an opening to make the tag, and again it does not work as Castillo counters Ron Starr’s kneedrop attempt and tags Perez in. Again the Express maintain control by working the arm and doing some quick tags. We go to a commercial break during a chop exchange and come back as the chops continue. Finally Los Mercenarios get some offense going after a double team maneuver. Now it is Los Mercenarios that keep the advantage with some quick tags and double teams of their own. The turning point for the match comes when Perez is able to hit a double clothesline on both Mercenarios and makes the tag to Castillo. Huracan cleans house on both rudos, including hitting a monkey flip on both Mercenarios at the same time. Perez comes in and the Express try to ram both Mercenarios into each other. The rudos reverse and it is Perez and Castillo that collide. Los Mercenarios whipped Castillo into the corner and set up Perez to be whipped into Castillo. However, Perez is able to stop himself before hitting the corner and vaults Huracan over him. Castillo lands on Starr with a bodypress as Perez holds off Acevedo. The Express get the three count and retain the Caribbean tag titles. Bon voyage Mercenario #1.. .

MD: I feel like we’ve seen this match a dozen times now but it’s always good. It started hot with chairshots on the outside and the first half was all Express control as Starr and Assassin stooged. While part of me likes the idea of Los Mercenarios being an endless Ship of Theseus, ever changing members, it feels like it’s time to push Starr again with Chicky, Burke, and Assassin all gone. Nice transition with a drop toehold/elbow drop combo out of nowhere and solid heat until the big exciting finishing stretch. This had the hanging-on double monkey flip and that great vault ending. They could have wrestled two dozen more times and they’d all be good.

EB: We have one more goodby to make, and it is the biggest one we have had so far. We last saw Chicky Starr stirring things up as TNT’s second on Super Sabados. Chicky would be at ringside for TNT in the rematch against Carlos Colon on August 4, but unfortunately he has left CSP after being the top rudo in the company since the start of 1986. It is going to be different with Chicky Starr no longer around and we’ll talk about some of the changes made as a result of his departure in a bit. As a farewell to the incomparable self proclaimed king of wrestling, let’s look at a pair of matches featuring Chicky Starr. Our first match may actually be one the most recent matches he taped for TV (it is definitely in the weeks after Aniversario 90). It is a mixed tag match where Chicky is teaming with Espectrito to take on the tecnico team of Huracan Castillo Jr and Aguilita Solitaria.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwa0aKCoLGw

This match is from a Clasicos segment that aired much later, so the commentary is not the original one. The match is already in progress, with Espectrito landing a dropkick from the turnbuckle onto Aguilita. Espectrito picks up Aguilita in a fireman’s carry and takes him over to the rudo corner. However, the ref is right there and Chicky raises his arms up to show that he is not breaking the rules by attacking the wrong pair of his matchup. Espectrito kicks Aguilita out of the ring, prompting Castillo to go over and check on Aguilita as Espectrito shows off in the ring. Castillo helps Aguilita onto the ring apron, but Espectrito grabs Aguilita and runs him right into the post. Castillo again goes over to check on Aguilita on the floor. Chicky distracts the ref as Espectrito gets another kick in on the outside. Castillo protests to the ref as he holds Aguilita, trying to get the ref to get the rudos to back off. Castillo gets Aguilita on the ring apron and gets in the ring for his team. Castillo wants Chicky to be tagged in, but Chicky refuses and Espectrito remains in the ring. Huracan continues wanting Chicky to be tagged in but Espectrito takes the opportunity and kicks the injured Aguilita off the apron. Castillo goes over to make sure Aguilita is okay as Espectritot jumps on the turnbuckle to brag about what he did. Chicky finally decides to get in the ring and Castill comes in. Chicky works a side headlock and he and Castillo do a rope running sequence that ends with a Castillo armdrag takedown. Espectrito tries to come in but the ref heads him off. Chicky attempts an armdrag counter but Huracan keeps a hold on Chicky’s arm and armdrags him over to maintain control. Chicky fights out of the armdrag and now the minis are in for their sides. Espectrito continues attacking Aguilita’s head but misses when Aguilita tags Castillo in. Huracan stays in the corner and serves as a base for Aguilita to bounce off and hit Exepvtrito with a series of moves. The match ends when Castillo sends Aguilita off the top rope in a rocket launcher onto Espectrito, giving the pinfall win to the tecnicos. The clip ends with Espectrito and Chicky having a discussion about what happened. .

MD: At first I was going to shake my fist at Esteban for holding this back, but it’s ok. It’s better on paper. Which isn’t to say it’s bad. I just have great memories of all of those mixed tags from Houston and this isn’t that. The first half is Espectrito bullying Aguilita Solitaria repeatedly by knocking him out of the ring. Chicky is good at coaching here and Castillo is good in getting his partner back in. Back half has Chicky showing that he still had Juniors chops with rope running with Castillo. And then the finish is Castillo and Aguilita working well together on a couple of set up spots including a great rocket launcher flipping senton deal for the pin. No real comedy though and that’s what I came for.

EB: Our second match is one I held back for this moment. It is from the May 19 episode of Superestrellas, during the early stages of the Invader #1 vs  Leo Burke singles feud. This is likely the last time Chicky and Invader wrestled each other in a single match during this era of CSP. I can’t think of a more fitting farewell then to see the eternal rivals face each other one more time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3KZaGPdQNI

Hector Moyano is on commentary and mentions that we are about to witness a classic matchup. The man who was once trained by Invader #1 versus the man who nowadays is one of Chicky’s most hated enemies. Chicky goes to the apron and stalls by asking the ref to keep Invader back.The ref counts as Chicky refuses to get in the ring, and Invader starts getting impatient. Eliud Gonzalez is also on commentary, mentioning that this is a match between two champions, with Invader #1 being the Caribbean champion and Chicky being half of the Caribbean tag champions with Leo Burke. Chicky continues to avoid locking up with Invader, and we see Leo Burke make his way to ringside as Chicky exits the ring. Invader decides to chase after Leo outside of the ring and Chicky rolls back inside. Invader chases Leo back to the locker room and heads to the ring. However, it seems Invader’s attention is a bit diverted as he keeps glancing behind him to make sure Burke is really gone. Chicky is in a corner, again avoiding locking up with Invader. Chicky continues stalling by exiting and then reentering the ring, Finally the two wrestlers lock up and Invader gets an armdrag takedown on Chicky. Invader keeps working the arm and taking Chicky down each time he attempts to get up from the mat. Invader hits a couple of chops on Chicky and sends him into the ropes. Invader lands a kick to Chicky’s knee that sends him through the ropes to the outside. Chicky starts limping and asking for timeout, but the ref starts his count. Invader decides to go out after Chicky. They exchange chops and Chicky rolls back in after Invader gets an eye poke on him. Chicky begs off as Invader starts getting fired up. Invader smashes Chicky’s face against the mat and hits a backdrop for a two count. Chicky misses an elbow drop but recovers to land several chops on Invader. The chops are countered by Invader, leading to Chicky being put in an airplane spin. At that point, Leo Burke rushes into the ring wearing a boxing glove and knocks Invader down. Leo puts Chicky on top of Invader but all this happened right in front of the referee, so it is a disqualification victory for Invader. Chicky raises his arm in victory and argues with the ref when he indicates otherwise. We then get a couple of promos from Burke and Invader about their upcoming Caribbean title match on May 19. That is it for Chicky Starr in CSP, things will certainly be different without him around.

MD: Very sad to see Chicky go. But this is a good way to see him off. Lots of stalling and it’s all great. Lots of feeding for Invader, his head whipping all over the place for nasty shots and you can freeze frame in on his expressions and they’re all perfect pro wrestling. Then he fired back almost as well as he took, but not quite as well. What an absolutely great pro wrestler, and this felt iconic in its own way even in six minutes or so. Invader had chased Burke away early during Chicky’s stallfest antics, but he came back after an airplane spin to clock Invader, drawing the DQ even as Chicky added insult to injury by pretending to pin Invader. Good stuff that built to the Burke/Invader boxing match. Chicky, we barely knew ye.

EB: With Chicky out of the picture, there is the issue of what happens to El Club Deportivo. Well, it seems that El Club Deportivo has now fallen under the management of El Profe, so Profe now is seconding TNT and Kim Duk. In the case of Rick Valentine and Lance Idol (where I think Chicky was no longer actively managing Valentine by this point in time), they actually have a new manager. Making a return appearance to CSP as the new rudo manager is none other than the reigning Women’s World champion Monster Ripper. It is going to be interesting to see how Monster Ripper works as a manager, but I’m sure it will be fun to watch.

With El Profe now managing TNT, we go to a segment that has the latest developments in the Colon vs TNT feud. The video has some playback issues but it does play correctly from around 2:30 onwards, so you can skip ahead to that point.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASaRb1PdBmk

Hugo is narrating the footage as we go to August 4 and the big Universal title rematch. Carlos is putting TNT in the figure four leglock as Chicky Starr watches from ringside. As TNT struggles to hold on, Kim Duk appears in the ring and drops an elbow on Carlos. This results in a disqualification and saves TNT from having to submit. Duk puts Carlos in the cobra sleeper and keeps the pressure applied until the Super Medicos and Miguelito Perez run in for the save. We now go to what is likely August 18 in Caguas (which Hugo refers to as last week in the video). TNT and Carlos are both bloodied and we pick up the action with TNT reversing an irish whip and hitting a clothesline on Colon. TNT tries to do an irish whip on Carlos that Colon tries to reverse, but TNT does a reversal of that attempt that sends Colon right into the referee. As the ref is briefly down and Colon is dazed from the collision, TNT puts on the Cobra Dinamita. The ref struggles to get up as TNT takes Carlos down to the mat keeping the pressure on. El Profe, now seconding TNT at ringside, raises his arms in victory as Carlos struggles to get loose to no avail. Carlos is able to reach the ropes but Profe grabs the ropes and yanks them out of Colon’s hands, right in front of the referee. An argument breaks out between El Profe and the ref, as Hugo mentions that the hold should have been broken. Carlos tries to make the ropes again but can’t reach them, and he starts fading away in the hold. Carlos is down to his knees and it looks like TNT is going to win the Universal title. Suddenly, Invader #1 runs to the ring with a chair in hand and proceeds to hit TNT in the back with the chair. The ref disqualifies Colon but the Universal title remains with Colon and El Ejercito de la Justicia due to the disqualification.

We then go to El Profe and TNT for some comments about the rivalry so far, with Profe saying that TNT is the rightful Universal champion. TNT agrees with El Profe and goes on to say that the WWC and the people of Puerto Rico even more so should recognize him as the Universal champion, because last week he once more proved to be the real Universal champion by putting Colon to sleep. TNT calls out Invader for sticking his nose in what was not his business, and as such TNT has demanded a cage match to ensure no one can intervene in the next title match. We’ll see how ‘viejito’ Colon can handle being in a cage with a young man who is an expert in martial arts. TNT will leave Carlos Colon bathed in blood tonight. TNT has beaten Carlos up every time they have faced each other and tonight once more he will give a beating and walk away the champion.  

Carlos Colon is with Hugo and responds to TNT. Carlos believes TNT made a mistake in asking this to be a cage match, because this time it’s on TNT that it is a cage match. Carlos thinks TNT has been crying too much about Invader interfering last week and saving the title. Carlos admits that it may be so, but TNT conveniently forgets to mention how Carlos had TNT in the figure four on Fan Appreciation Day ready to break his leg, and that Kim Duk came in to save TNT. That's all in the past now, tonight no one from either side will be able to interfere, it just the two of them one on one. And if TNT thinks that he has more experience in cage matches or that his martial arts skills will be the difference maker, then TNT is mistaken. Carlos is going to show that spoiled kid exactly who Carlos Colon is when in a cage ‘I was wrestling in cages when you were still in diapers.’ Hugo thanks Carlos for his time and says to the fans that he has to remain neutral, but may the best man win tonight.  

MD: Profe’s in to manage TNT now. They’ve done the draw and some unclear finishes. Now, they add in a few more to keep things churning. First, Kim Duk breaks up the figure-four as he’s in the mix now. Then, in another match, Profe pulls the rope away from Colon while TNT has him in the Cobra. That brings out Invader with a chair. How do they solve this? A cage match. Makes sense to me. They can’t keep spinning this indefinitely but there’s still some air left in the tank.

EB: The Carlos Colon vs TNT feud has escalated to a cage match that is scheduled for August 25. Let’s go now to the two TV episodes we have from the August 25 weekend, first up is Campeones.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CiQk-2FeRM

Another sign that Chicky is gone is that we now have El Profe serving as the rudo co-host with Hugo. The video we have for this episode cuts in after the show has already started, with the two hosts finishing up their intro and comments on the current happenings in CSP. El Profe is in the middle of finishing up his comments about tonight’s cage match between TNT and Carlos Colon, indicating that it will just be the two of them in there and no one will be able to interfere (‘Carlos Colon will have no one to save him tonight’). Hugo closes by saying they will continue talking about what’s going to happen tonight throughout the show and we go to our first match of the program.

We have Ron Starr taking on Hurcana Castillo Jr. This match is from Caguas and I’m guessing it’s likely from August 18. Castillo is the reigning World Junior champion and this match is non-title. Starr is back in the singles ranks with the departure of Mercenario #1, still part of El Profe’s Real Academia. Ron jumps Huracan at the start, hitting him from behind when Castillo was setting down his jacket. Ron lands several blows and tosses Castillo through the ropes to the floor. Hugo asks Profe what he thinks about Starr’s attitude here and Profe responds ‘As the Puerto Ricans say, he who hits first hits two times, and Rambo Ron Starr is not timid about attacking valiantly that way.’ Starr goes after Castillo on the outside, ramming Huracan into the announcer’s table and hitting him with a chair. On commentary, Profe mentions that the Real Academia and El Club Deportivo are now one organization, so El Profe is in charge of both groups now (‘one organization that has united to end El Ejercito de la Inmundicia’). Ron stomps Castillo on the floor, but stops momentarily to roll into the ring to break the ref’s count. Ron goes back outside to continue attacking Castillo, including ramming him into the floorboard pile and ramming him back first onto the ring apron. Back in the ring, Ron maintains control with a back elbow on Castillo, as Hugo mentions Starr’s credentials, including his past reigns as NWA World Junior champion. Starr continues on offense with several hits on Castillo in the corner, but Castillo soon blocks the punches and counters back with a punch and some kicks of his own. Castillo gets fired up and continues punching Ron in the corner, but Starr cuts Castillo off with a punch when the referee attempts to get Castillo to back off. Ron gets a nice knee strike on Castillo as El Profe gushes about the acrobatics being displayed by Ron Starr.  Castillo gets a sunset flip for a two count but Ron goes back on the attack with a side headlock and cuts off Castillo’s attempt to power out of it.

Hugo reminds the fans that this Thursday they will be in Corozal with a card that includes Carlos Colon & Carl Styles taking on TNT & Atkie Mulumba, Invader #1 vs Kim Duk, the Super Medicos vs Lance Idol & Rick Valentine, Huracan Castillo Jr vs Ron Starr, and Gama Singh against Texas Hangman #1 (who?, we’ll discuss them next time). Castillo counters an irish whip and follows up with a clothesline into the corner that sends Ron down to the canvas. Starr staggers to his feet and Huracan pounces, hitting some punches and ramming Starr’s head into the top turnbuckle various times. Starr begs off, but Castillo gets a backdrop and tosses Ron to the outside. As Castillo goes out after Ron, Hugo mentions that Starr has been focusing on competing for the World Junior title and has been dropping weight in recent months for this.Outside of the ring, Castillo pays back Ron for earlier by ramming him into the announcer’s table and hitting him with a chair (with a great sell by Ron after getting hit with the chair). Both wrestlers get in the ring and Ron begs off, as Profe complains about Castillo doing these things after Ron has been wrestling cleanly. Castillo gets an inside cradle for two. A standing switch leads to a rollup by Castillo for two. Huracan throws Ron into a corner but runs into Starr’s knee on the follow through. Starr misses an elbow drop, and an irish whip reversal sees Castillo come off the top with a crossbody press. However, Starr uses the momentum to roll over and hook in a pin. The commentators argue over whether Ron is holding the trunks as well (Hugo thinks he is, Profe says no way) and Ron gets the three count pinfall win. Ron Starr celebrates his win outside of the ring and it looks like he will get his chance at the World Junior title now. It’s Ron Starr vs Huracan Castillo Jr. tonight in Caguas with the title on the line.     

MD: I’ve been saying they should make Starr a singles guy for a while, and now it makes sense. He’s not Leo Burke but he’s also not that far off of him and this was a match to show what he could do both on offense and taking stuff. He ambushed Castillo at the get go and they did a good job of giving Castillo the tiniest bits of hope only to get cut off. When it was time for Starr to stooge, he did so in a big way, going head over heels at times. Finish was fairly hot with stuff that was countered or missed before he rolled through on a cross body and held the tights for the win. Profe put him over on commentary the whole time.

EB: With Chicky gone we have an opening for a new manager in the rudo ranks, and it is none other than Monster Ripper. She has returned to CSP on a more full-time basis, taking over as manager for the new World tag team champions of Rick Valentine and Lance Idol. Ripper is here with the tag champs and they’re cutting a promo about the Super Medicos and their new second, someone Ripper knows well from her last run back in 1987. It seems that the Super Medicos have brought in Sasha to counteract Monster Ripper, and Ripper is threatening that she'll end up killing Sasha if they cross paths. Idol doesn’t care who the Medicos bring in, there is nothing they can do about Idoo and Valentine keeping the World tag titles. Valentine chimes in, saying he doesn't know what barrio they dug up Sasha from, he has no respect for her since she is associating with a bunch of losers. Ripper cuts another promo in Spanish (it’s more her cutting a promo that reiterates some of what Idol and Valentine said rather than translating what they were saying) and then laughs menacingly to close out their segment.

We then go Sasha and the Super Medicos. Sasha was at home with her husband and kids but was seeing the injustices that Idol, Valentine and Monster Ripper were doing to the Medicos. It seems the Medicos called her up to ask if she would be willing to second them tonight in order to counter Monster Ripper and she said yes. Medico #1 asks for the director to roll the tape of what happened last week in Caguas, and it is highlights from the World tag title match between the Super Medicos and Idol & Valentine. Medico #1 has Valentine in the corner, hitting him with several chops. The ref gets tied up with Idol and Monster Ripper steps into the ring and gets in front of Valentine. Medico #1 tells Ripper to get out of the way, but Ripper refuses. Medico #1 has enough and grabs Ripper, tossing her through the ropes and to the outside. Medico #1 gets an inside cradle for a pin attempt, but Idol comes in to break up the pin. This brings in Medico #3 and all four men are now in the ring. Medico #3 manages to knock Idol onto the ring apron, but the ref goes after Medico #3 and tells him to leave the ring. As the ref escorts Medico #3 out of the ring, Medico #1 attempts to bring in Valentine from the ring apron with a slam. Ripper interferes, grabbing Medico #1’s leg and causing Valentine to fall on top and score the pinfall. Idol and Valentine retain thanks to the interference from Monster Ripper. We go back the Super Medicos and Sasha, where Medico #1 says that everyone has now seen how MonsterRipper interfered and cost them the match. Tonight in Caguas it will be different because Sasha will be there and the World tag titles will be back where they belong around the Super Medicos’ waists.

MD: This is definitely a way to freshen things up a bit. Monster Ripper could cut promos for Idol and Valentine and we hadn’t seen mixed tags like this for a while. Sasha fit in with the Medicos in all white and presumably she could play face-in-peril given the size difference with Ripper. Ripper certainly caused enough chaos in the match clip they showed, both in and out of the ring. It’s all a pretty quick and effective pivot in a post-Chicky world.

EB: We’ll discuss a bit more of Sasha’s past history next time. Up next is a segment with a nuclear medicine physician (introduced by Hugo as the Super Medico Nuclear) named Dr. Angel Luis Rodriguez Rosado. The reigning Universal champion Carlos Colon is also with them. Dr. Rodriguez is here as an honorary member of El Ejercito de la Justicia and wants to talk to all the cadets of El Ejercito to tell their family members and neighbors that are medical graduates to not go anywhere on Labor Day weekend other than the annual Medical Graduates Convention (starting on August 31). He wants this to be a  new romance with the medical school and asks the cadets to help spread the word. Then the doctor then tells Carlos that he is aware of the money their time on TV costs, so he is willing to make it up with a match. He has seen some wrestlers in the gym he might be able to take on (this draws a chuckle from Carlos). In fact, he might be able to take on that guy over there in the red pants who now changed into a light blue shirt. The camera cuts to show Invader #1 talking with Miguelito Perez and the doctor calls Jose over to shake hands and say hello. Invader puts over the work the doctor has been doing and invites him to come over to Invader’s house to treat him to some ‘asopao’ and also asks the doctor to bring his neighbor Carmen Jovet along. Invader also invites Carlos but I’m not sure if Hugo’s invited as well. Carlos tells the doctor that a match won’t be necessary, just keep doing the great work that you do. The doctor says his goodbye and Carlos mentions that he hopes that the kids learn to love school, because that is the solution.

MD: Both I and Carlos got a kick out of him being introduced by the doctor as his mother’s son. But really, I’ll let Esteban explain nuclear medicine to everyone.

EB: We get a card rundown for tonight’s show in Caguas: Cage match for the Universal title as Carlos Colon defends against TNT; no time limit rematch for the Caribbean title as Invader #1 defends against Kim Duk; the debut of the Giant Warrior against Atkie Mulumba; World tag team title match as the Super Medicos with Sasha in their corner challenge Rick Valentine and Lance Idol with Monster Ripper in their corner; Huracan Castillo defends the World Junior title against Ron Starr; Carl Styles takes on El Profe in a lumberjack match, and other super bouts.

Also this Friday in Yabucoa, we have the following matches scheduled: Carlos Colon & Invader #1 vs TNT & Kim Duk; a no time limit rematch for the Caribbean tag titles where The Caribbean Express defend against Idol & Valentine; Carl Styles vs Atkie Mulumba; the Super Medicos vs the Texas Hangmen; Gama Singh vs Ron Starr; and other super bouts. And tomorrow Sunday August 26 they will be in Manati, where Invader #1 takes on TNT; Giant Warrior vs Kim Duk; Carl Styles vs Atkie Mulumba; Miguelito Perez & Gama Singh vs Lance Idol & Rick Valentine; Super Medico #1`vs Ron Starr; and Super Medico #3 vs El Profe.

After the house show rundowns, we get a video of the new arrival Giant Warrior walking around Old San Juan. He is making his debut tonight against Atkie Mulumba. After the video, El Profe is with Atkie Mulumab and cuts a promo about this 7 foot tall newcomer who wants to make a big impact on his debut by taking on Atkie Mulumba. After tonight, he is going to be 3 feet tall when Mulumba is done with him. It will be hello and goodbye tonight for the Gian Warrior. We then go to Giant Warrior, he is here to explain who he is and what his mission is. Warrior is here to destroy El Club Deportivo (which is now managed by El Profe).

MD: Wow. So, I mean, yeah. He stands around and walks slowly. In face paint. And then he has this throbbing glowing animated heart over his chest. And he holds his arms out. There’s a world where Hall stayed and feuded with TNT. Warrior kept mentioning the Sports Club in his monotone which felt weird but I guess Profe owns it now. Let’s move on.

EB: With Chicky’s departure it means we need some new interview segments to replace the Sports Shop and La Esquina Caliente, and it looks like Campeones now has Profe Confidencial. El Profe is at a desk and welcomes the viewers to his segment. It seems he has a report for El Club Deportivo on this new threat by the name of Giant Warrior. The report says that this man is over 7 feet tall and over 300 pounds and a great danger to El Club Deportivo. El Profe says that they are going to have a meeting and see how they deal with this new menace. The other order of business is that they are hoping that Invader #1 will be fined or punished in some way for the cowardly way he attacked TNT last week. Nothing has been done so far and they are waiting on the WWC to mete out some punishment. Invader won’t be able to serve as Carlos Colon’s protector tonight because the match is in a steel cage. TNT will become the new champion tonight and that is all for this segment of Profe Confidencial.

MD: I like Profe as much as the next guy but this is a lot of weight to put on him. The set up is funny with him going through files as they introduce the scene and then him sitting at a desk as if he was the principal and talking about various things happening (Giant Warrior, Invader 1 interfering, etc). I don’t think they cover it much on this episode but the Styles vs Profe bit is going to lead to a lumberjack match and that’s fun too. Still, a lot of Profe.

EB: This Campeones episode also includes two matches from the Aniversario 89 weekend we already covered, but we also get promos from TNT and Carlos Colon about tonight’s cage match. El Profe introduces TNT, saying that any Puerto Rican with a speck of dignity must recognize that this man is the rightful Universal champion. TNT says that all of Puerto Rico should celebrate, because he should have the Universal title in his hands at this moment. Last week he put old man Colon to sleep and he wants them to show the tape of what he is talking about. We go to last week in Caguas, as TNT has Colon in the Cobra Dinamita. The ref seems to be arguing with El Profe about something as TNT has the hold on. Colon starts fading and goes down to his knees. As TNT keeps the pressure on, we see Invader #1 run to the ring with a chair in hand. Invader gets in the ring and hits TNT in the back, causing a disqualification. TNT complains that he would be the champion right now if it were not for that meddling Invader. Tonight TNT asked for it to be a cage match so that Invader can’t get involved, it is just TNT and Colon tonight. He’ll be able to beat up Colon as much as he wants tonight and ‘not even the mother who birthed you will save you Colon!’.Tonight TNT will leave Carlos bathed in blood and the Universal title is coming with TNT and El Club Deportivo.

Carlos Colon responds by asking the director to show what happened earlier in the match against TNT, to show why Invader interfered in the match. They tried to steal the Universal title last week, and the members of El Ejercito de la Justicia have vowed not to let that happen because the title belongs to the people of Puerto Rico. The clip rolls and we see Carlos grab onto the rope to break the hold, but El Profe yanks the rope away right in front of the referee, something that Carlos points out and says that the ref should have broken the hold there due to that. Invader interfered to stop them from stealing the Universal title. The tecnicos are going to intervene as many times as necessary, they are tired of all this cheating and it is now an eye for an eye. And watch out, because now they have a 7 foot giant on their side, so tonight in Caguas we will see who comes out on top.

MD: TNT is a scary dude here, very passionate, very loud. Colon mentions that they have their own giant now (feels like El Gigante showing up in WCW around this time in its own way). I liked how they showed the footage TNT wanted to show first with Invader interfering and then the footage Colon wanted to show with Profe pulling back the rope.

EB: Campeones closes with some comments from Hugo and El Profe reminding fans about tonight’s card, talking about the cage match, Sasha’s return to wrestling and the debut of Giant Warrior. We also have the Superestrellas episode for August 25, so let’s go to that video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4YDnpQZsv0

Hugo opens the show talking about Monster Ripper costing the Medicos their World tag title match the previous week and as a result Sasha is making her return to back them up tonight. Also, the debut of the Giant Warrior as part of El ejercito de la Justicia. Hugo talks about the rest of the card, including the cage match that TNT requested and Carlos Colon accepted. Hugo runs down what we’ll see on today’s program, including the Monster Ripper’s Castle of Pain segment (looks like we have our Sports Shop replacement) and the tv debut of the Giant Warrior in a 3 on 1 handicap match. Once again tonight they have Gillette promoting their new Actra Plus product and they will have the commemorative photo of El Reto Para La historia available for the fans (and Carlos will also be available to sign the photo for the fans).

Our first match on this episode features Ron Starr taking on Gama Singh. Ron is now competing in the singles division and is focused specifically on going after the World Junior title. Ron is back in his wrestling trunks as opposed to the military pants he wore as part of Los Mercenarios. Hector Moyano is on commentary for this bout. Singh starts off with a side headlock and then a takedown when Starr tries to power out of it. Ron counters into a headscissors which Singh quickly gets out of. Both men stare at each other from a standing position, before locking up again. Starr briefly gets an arm lock on Gama but it is countered by an armdrag. Ron gets a side headlock but again Singh counters, this time with an arm lock takedown. Starr is able to break the hold by backing Gama into a corner, and whips him across the ring. However, Gama counters and hits an armdrag when Starr rebounds out of the corner. Another armdrag and Gama works the arm on the mat. Ron backs Gama into a corner and an Irish whip counter sees Starr hit Gama with a clothesline. Ron hits a short clothesline for a pin attempt. A slam and a kneedrop result in another unsuccessful pin attempt by Starr. A knee to the head keeps Ron in control and Starr controls most of the remainder of the match. Gama is able to get some pin attempts near the end with an inside cradle and a backslide, but soon after Ron hits a Russian leg sweep to score the pinfall win (with an assist from pulling the tights). Ron Starr is kicking off his singles journey on a good note.

We then go to a promo from Ron Starr, where he makes clear his intention to become the World Junior champion and is challenging Huracan Castillo for the title tonight in Caguas. Huracan responds, admitting that he lost last week to Starr due to a mistake Castillo made., But tonight, he won’t make the same mistake again and he’ll walk away still champion.

MD: They did a great job of using guys like Castillo, Perez, and Singh to put over new or refocused heels when they had to. Here, Starr gets a clean win with a Russian Leg Sweep out of nowhere. That match with Castillo had been non-title, but now Starr has dropped weight (not sure I see it but ok!) and was training hard and was going to challenge for the Jr. Title. You can really see the blade wrinkles on his forehead here. Or maybe they’re just wrinkles but they’re striking. Castillo admits his mistake in their last match but says the war isn’t over and if they are moving Starr into getting the Jr. title, that will be a good staple for the roster moving forward.

EB: Up next is Monster Ripper’s Castillo del Dolor (Castle of Pain) segment. The segment intro has Ripper in a fog and laughing maniacally. Her guests today are the World tag team champions, Lance Idol and Rick Valentine. Ripper shows off her Spanish speaking skills by threatening Sasha, calling her an embarrassment and that it is ridiculous to think Ripper would be afraid of anyone. Idol complains about the Medicos not being able to get the job done by themselves and having to bring in Sasha. The tag champs want payback for the Medicos putting their hands on their manager. Ripper closes the segment by again threatening Sasha and laughing maniacally.  

MD: Big fan of this in theory certainly. Ripper laughing with white smoke behind her gets the point across. Maybe an actual Castle backdrop or something would have helped. For the actual interview she has just a fenced area. I’d be curious what this looks like with someone other than Idol/Valentine.

EB: We have the debut of Giant Warrior, who is billed as being from the land of the giants. He is facing three opponents, a trio comprised of El Exotico, Mr, Tempest #2, and El Satanico (not that one). El Exotico wants to go first as his partners cheer him on from the apron. Exotico starts poking Warrior in the chest and follows up with a chop that has no effect. Exotico turns his back to Warrior and promptly gets kicked in the rear. A slam and back elbow send Exotico rolling out of the ring, and Tempest and Satanico jump in to attack Warrior. The attack only lasts a few seconds before Giant Warrior powers out and sends both men flying. Overhand chops knock both men down and Warrior is able to hold off all three rudos easily despite their best efforts at attacking him. Warrior eventually hits a big boot on Tempest and then Satanico, stacks them on top of each other, sends Exotico off the top rope to the floor and then pins both Satanico and Tempest with one foot on them. An impressive debut for the newest member of El Ejercito de la Justicia.

We then get El Profe and Arkie Mulumab talking about tonight's match, where Profe promises it will be hello and goodbye for Warrior. We then go to  Hugo interviewing Giant Warrior, who is ready for tonight’s match against Mulumba. Warrior promises to slam Mulumba’s 400 pound body tonight.
MD: Warrior moved pretty well in there actually. Satanico was a little bigger than I would have liked but the other guys were smaller. Warrior promised to slam Mulumba, which is interesting since he did basically nothing power-driven against the three guys he beat. Just shots to the guy and clubbing and big boots. I liked the idea that Warrior said he heard about Mulumba all around the world since he’s not really known of that anywhere else. I have some misgivings about that match up.

EB: We go to the clip of what happened last week during the World tag title match (which we also saw on Campeones) and then go to Hugo with the Super Medicos and Sasha. Hugo asks what is in store for tonight and Sasha says she would have accepted being there for free because she is going to stop the injustices committed by that ugly fat Monster Ripper. Medico #3 says that with Sasha in their corner they will be champions again. And Medico #1 says that every headache has its aspirin and this Ripper headache will be dealt with by Sasha. Medico #1 also closes out by sending a hello to some friends of his in Piñones.

MD: Lots of medical themed stuff in the promo. Going terminal and aspirin and what not. They said that Sasha could have just stayed at home and been a mom but she answered the call. This still does feel like something different at least.

EB: We get a card rundown for tonight’s show as well as a promo for the Wednesday tv taping that will feature Giant Warrior vs TNT, Invader #1 & Carl Styles vs Kim Duk & Atkie Mulumba, a rematch between the Caribbean Express and Idol & Valentine, and the Super Medicos taking on Ron Starr & El Profe. We then go to Carl Styles vs Kim Duk, with El Profe at ringside as Duk’s new manager. Duk starts the match by doing a salt throwing ceremony at each corner. Duk gets a side headlock to start, which Styles tries to power out of unsuccessfully. Styles does eventually send Duk into the ropes and, after being knocked down with a shoulder block, counters with an armdrag and a slam on Duk. A cover only gets one, Styles sends Duk into the corner but is hit with a knee to the midsection on the follow through. The match continues basically as a back and forth, with Duk and then Styles getting bits of offense and control of the match. Late in the bout, Styles gets control with a clothesline and attempts a backslide pin on Duk that only gets two. Styles runs the ropes but has his legs grabbed by El Profe, stopping Carl’s momentum. Styles kicks Profe away but the distraction was enough for Duk to surprise Carl with a kick to the head and get his cobra sleeper on Styles. Carl passes out and Duk wins the match. Styles still has a chance at getting some payback on El Profe tonight in Caguas when they face off in a lumberjack match. As for Kim Duk, he is angling to win the Caribbean title when faces Invader # 1 once more. Duk wakes up Styles while El Profe acts like he is going to hit Carl with the kendo stick. The ref moves in to make sure Profe does not follow through on his threat, and the rudos leave without any further incident.

We go to a series of promos. First up is El Profe and Kim Duk, who are talking about tonight's Caribbean title match. Duk asks for the tape of what happened last week to be shown. We go to the clip as Duk knocks down Invader and makes a cover for a two count. Duk puts Invader in the cobra sleeper and Invader manages to struggle in the hold until falling onto the mat. The bell rings as the time limit has been reached, but before the ref could check on Invader to see if he was out. Duk thinks he won the Caribbean title but it's actually a time limit draw. Tonight there is no time limit, so there will be no bell to save Invader this time.

Invader is with Hugo and Hugo says that we have to admit that you were saved by the bell. Invader looks at Hugo and asks what does he mean by that, and Hugo says he doesn't want to put words into Invader's mouth but it was dangerous for him last week with the bell. Invader says all right, let’s say I was saved by the bell. Invade puts over Duk’s experience, conditioning and skills, but he did not become the Caribbean champ last week. The bell may have saved Invader last week but this time there is no time limit and it is going to come down to conditioning. Invader has great conditioning, but does Kim Duk?

We end this segment of promos with a fired up Carl Styles promising that he’ll get his revenge on Profe tonight, the Puerto Rican people are behind him and want to see Carl put down El Profe. There is no running away for El Profe tonight.

MD: I thought the Profe angle went pretty well for Styles, so I’m not sure about feeding him to Duk. Profe does grab the leg at the end so that furthers their program, I guess. At the same time, Duk is wrestling Invader, second from the top and Styles is further down the card and they have theoretically replaced Hall with Giant Warrior, not Styles, so it’s fine overall. I’m not really sure that Styles can work as well as a babyface anyway. He seemed a lot smaller against Duk than when he was wrestling the good guys earlier in the year. Duk had some great backfists but not much to say about this past that.

The promos showed us a nice looking Invader vs Duk match that ended in a draw with the bell while Duk had a bloody Invader in the cobra. Nice way to build up interest for a rematch. I may not have fed Styles to Duk like this but they did cover a lot of ground in a short period of time.

EB: Our main event for the program is a continuation of our World tag title feud, as Lance Idol (with Monster Ripper at ringside) takes on Super Medico #1. Unfortunately, the video cuts out before the match ends, so we do not get the finish. The match starts with Ripper refusing to leave the ring and angering Medico #1. Both Idol and Ripper start to leave the ring area, and the ref starts talking with Ripper. As the conversation between the ref and Ripper is going on, Idol tries to sneak attack Medico #1 in the ring, but Medico was ready and caught Idol with a punch to the midsection. Medico hits several punches and a backdrop, causing Idol to beg off. Medico continues on the attack, including a ‘maquinita de golpes’, before sending Idol across the ring into the opposite corner. Medico hits a clothesline and a slam, and then goes for a cover as we hear the commercial break music start playing, This is where the video cuts out. I’m guessing Ripper got involved in the match but we don't really know how it ended. Still, these two will face off in tag action tonight with Sasha making her return to counter Monster Ripper.

MD: I like the idea of them doing singles matches here as they’re new matches to us. Monster Ripper is full on Sherri here, causing a stalling distraction early that didn’t work out for her guy. Medico has great punches but we knew that. Hard to say how this was overall as it cuts off pretty quickly.

EB: Next time on El Deporte de las Mil Emociones, we head into September as a new tag team debuts, we delve into Sasha’s previous run in CSP, and the Colon vs TNT feud reaches a bloody conclusion.

Read more!