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.

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El Deporte de las Mil Emociones: The Tag Team Ides of March

Week 22: The Tag Team Ides of March

EB: Last time we covered the first weekend of March where the TNT vs Abdullah Universal title series kicked off. Although we touched upon the end result of that Universal title series between TNT and Abdullah, there were  other happenings in CSP across those weeks, which will be our focus in this installment. As was previously mentioned, there is a Caribbean tag title tournament approaching on March 10. The titles are vacant due to Gerry Morrow leaving the territory and we have eight teams in contention: the Super Medicos, the Invaders, the Caribbean Express, Carlos Colon & TNT, the Alaskan Hunters, Los Mercenarios, Carl Styles & Rick Valentine, and Chicky Starr & Leo Burke. The tournament is taking place at Estadio Sola Morales in Caguas. While we don’t have the tournament bracket results available, we do have video of two matches from that night, that TNT & Carlos Colon were scheduled to take on Chicky Starr & Leo Burke in the first round ,and which team walked away as the winners and new Caribbean tag champions.

The first of the two matches we’ll review from the tournament features two teams that had spent most of February in a rivalry for the World tag team titles. The newest version of the Super Medicos quickly ascended the tag ranks and became the number one contenders to the World tag team titles held by Los Mercenarios. They face each other once more, this time with advancement in the Caribbean title tournament on the line.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31S6k1O6Mb0

This match video is from a Campeones airing in early April, so there is some reference on commentary to future upcoming events (some which will be covered in this post and others in the next installment).  Ron Starr and Super Medico #3 (that’s what Hugo calls Estrada Jr on commentary for this match) start off. Carlos on commentary reiterates that 1990 is the year of the tag team and it’s kind of hard to argue with the influx of new versions of legacy teams. There is a nice rope running exchange between Ron and Medico #3, which Ron ends with an elbow. A follow up elbow drop misses, and Medico #3 counters with a dropkick that sends Ron to a corner. Acevedo tries to come in and help his partner, but Medico #3 sends Acevedo into the same corner as Ron and hits a monkey flip on both men. Medico #1 gets in the ring and the Medicos hit stereo monkey flips but a follow up stereo dropkick attempt is evaded by Los Mercenarios. Acevedo misses an elbow drop on Medico #3 but Ron hits his elbow drop on Medico #1. Still, Medico #1 recovers quickly and both Mercenarios end up on the outside. Carlos mentions that he feels that the reason the Super Medicos have been a great team so far is that it is a father and son teaming up (so by April they have acknowledge who the new Medico is) and that it allows for communication and the willingness to listen to each other (and learn in the case of Medico #3). 

Ron Starr gets back in the ring and we get an inset promo from El Profe and Los Mercenarios. The two teams are set to face each other that night in Bayamon for the World tag titles (and in a bit of a spoiler, yes the Super Medicos have won the World tag team titles from Los Mercenarios by this point in time). Carlos on commentary also makes mention of a new opponent he is facing on that night’s card, but we will discuss this more in depth in future installments. In the ring, Ron has tagged in Acevedo but Medico #3 armdrags Acevedo to the mat and works an armbar. Both men end up colliding off the ropes, with Medico #3 rolling out of the ring. The Medicos do a switch and Medico #1 rolls back into the ring instead. Medico #1 comes off the top rope with a couple of his signature punches, causing Acevedo to tag Ron back in. Starr doesn’t fare any better and falls victim to several punches from Medico #1, including a sequence where he pinballs back and forth between the Medicos and their punches. Carlos and Hugo on commentary start talking about if it is justified for the tecnicos to pull tactics like the switches against the rudos, with both agreeing that you have to fight fire with fire when you’re against opponents who will not hesitate to use such tactics and who have repeatedly done so before. Ron throws Medico #1 out of the ring and again the Medicos pull another switch (with El Profe yelling at the referee afterwards about the switches). The Medicos continue in control as we go to a commercial break.

Back from commercial we see Ron is in control against Medico #1, it appears Acevedo kneed Medico #1 in the back to give Ron the opening. Acevedo is tagged in as we get an inset promo from the Super Medicos about tonight;s match. It appears that Los Mercenarios tried to hurt Estrada Jr but the Medicos will be out for revenge tonight and also look to keep the World tag titles. What exactly happened? We’ll discuss it more next time. Los Mercenarios continue working over Medico #1 for a few minutes, with Medico #3 running in to break up a few pin attempts and sleeperholds. The tide turns in the Medicos favor when Medico #1 ducks an attempted clothesline from Ron and hits acevedo with a clothesline off his own, giving him the opening to make the ta. Medico #3 come sin and cleans house on both Mercenarios, with Medico #3 eventually attempting a few covers on Acevedo. Medico #1 is tagged in and gets a hit machine on Acevedo. A pin attempt is broken up when Medico #1 sees Ron come in and Medico #1 unleashes punches on Ron. All four men get in the ring but the referee tries to get Medico #3 to leave the ring. With the ref distracted, Los Mercenarios take advantage and hit an assisted back suplex on Medico #1 (who had been up on the middle turnbuckle punching Acevedo). This gets the three count and Los Mercenarios advance in the tournament. They will eventually be one of the two finalists in the tournament. Which team will join them?

MD: Really fun tag tournament match, more or less everything you’d want it to be for this part of the tournament. They’re calling Estrada, Jr. Medico 3 now and admitting that he’s Medico 1’s son so things continue to progress. Medicos have a fun shine early, with rope running, lots of stooging by Starr, a lot of Medico 3 in there to look good with his youthful athleticism, some sneaky masked confusion switching, control of the arm, and even Medico 3 monkeyflipping both Mercenarios at the same time which not a spot I think would have worked with Morrow. We miss the transition due to a break unfortunately, but they’re leaning hard on Medico 1 when we come back. That includes Medico 3 leaping into the ring off the top repeatedly to try to save his father but it just leading to illegal switches behind the refs back by the heels. Eventually he dodges enough to get the hot tag and Medico 3’s stuff looks pretty good as he comes in hot. Then Medico 1 looks even better after he comes back in, but Starr turns a ten count punch on Assassin in the corner into an assisted back suplex to pick up the win. It’s a bit of a shame they didn’t run Invaders vs Super Medicos because that would have been a fun babyface match but I get that they wanted heels in there deeper into the tournament. By the way, one other thing here that we haven’t seen much before: inset promos. I don’t remember them using those much. They were talking about the match at hand instead of something in the future (as best as I could tell) so I’m not sure how useful it was but it did add some color.

EB: The second match we have from the Caribbean tag title tournament features the new Invaders (one week after their official debut) taking on the team they faced in their debut match. In their previous encounter, the Invaders and the Hunters went to a time limit draw. Will things be different this time? Let’s find out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeE15J97LC4

This match video is from the English language version of Caribbean Championship Wrestling from the weekend of March 17. Hugo provides the context of who is competing in the tournament and the rules for advancing. Invader #1 starts off with Hunter #1 and the initial minutes are controlled by the Invaders, with some quick tags and Invader #1 working a side headlock on the mat. Hugo promises the viewers that they will reveal who won the tournament before the show ends (as will we when this match review is done). The Hunters try a double team maneuver, with Hunter #4 holding Invader #1 against the ropes. The move backfires when Invader #1 dodges, which results in Hunter #1 kicking Hunter #4 to the floor. Invader #1 hits a dropkick that sends Hunter #1 outside of the ring as well. The Hunters get into a shoving contest with each other and also shove El Jeque a bit when he tries to break it up. Hunter # 1 gets back in the ring and another attempted double team backfires. Another shoving contest breaks out and Hugo mentions that the newer Hunter is the brother of the other original Hunter. Hunter #4 is tagged in and does not fare any better. This match so far has been the Invaders getting the better of the Hunters, with the Hunters breaking down in terms of communication and teamwork.
The Hunters never seem to get it in gear, as we come back from commercial break and Hunter #4 is not doing well. Hunter #1 is tagged in and finally there is some semblance of teamwork from the Hunters, with a slingshot clothesline getting a two count on Invader #1. Hunter #4 works on Invader #1’s arm and spits at Invader #4. The Hunters do some double teams (including a nice suplex into a crossbody maneuver) when the ref’s back is turned from trying to stop Invader #4 from entering the ring . It’s not enough to put Invader #1 away and this brief moment of control ends when the Hunters yet again have a communication breakdown (they went for the suplex into a crossbody maneuver again but Invader #1 countered by putting Hunter #1 in front of the jumping Hunter #4). The tag is made and Invader #4 cleans house on both Hunters. All four men end up in the ring, with the finish being Invader #1 slingshotting Invader #4 into the ring for a sunset flip pin on Hunter #1. The Invaders win and advance in the tournament. As the Invaders run off the Hunters, Hugo mentions that the Invaders ended up reaching the finals and defeated Los Mercenarios to become the new Caribbean tag team champions. Not bad for a team that is officially in their second week of competition.

MD: I have been high on all of the booking but I do wonder a little about having both the New Medicos and the New Invaders at the same time. I half wonder if you don’t team up Invader 1 and Medico 1 as a super team and then have Estrada, Jr. pal around with Castillo/Perez/Savoldi. It’s a bit of diminishing returns as is. That said, this is worked very differently, with more heel miscommunication, basically two giant lunkheads who keep crashing into each other due to the Invaders. Invader 4 is more of a seasoned vet and can set this stuff up a bit more confidently (and according to commentary, he spent four months learning the special skills of being an Invader). Invader 1 does the usual great selling job when they take over on him. He actually kicks out of their finish (the suplex/wrecking ball off the top combo) but he hadn’t taken too much damage as of yet so it makes sense. They go for it again shortly thereafter and he plays into the story of the match by having one crash into the other to set up the hot tag and the eventual Invaders win. Tecnicos who knew what they were doing and bad guys that would play into it well, so this worked.

EB: This is not the only tag team action we have featuring these teams from this week. Thursday in Humacao (likely March 8) these four teams were in action. These matches again are from TV episodes that aired in the weeks that followed, so the commentary may have spoilers for future developments (which may be touched upon in the review) and the reason why we covered the Caribbean tag title matches first in this installment.  Our first match from Humacao is the Super Medicos against the Hunters.

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

The match is joined in progress with the Medicos trading off and a headlock on the smaller Hunter (who was identified as #4 previously). Hugo is solo on commentary and is not helping matters by just calling them Super Medico and Hunter without the numbers. I believe it’s Estrada Jr who tagged in. We got a nice sequence where Hunter #1 tries to come in and help his partner, but Medico #4 (or is it #3 by this point?) hits him with a dropkick without releasing the headlock, then gets a headscissors on Hunter #1 and flips both Hunters over. A monkey flip is hit on Hunter #4, followed by a body drop and some punches for a two count. Medico #1 is tagged in. Hunter #1 makes a move to get in the ring but Medico #1 cuts him off and crotches him on the top rope.  A slam gets a two count on Hunter #4. The Medicos continue in control of the match, with Estrada Jr. being tagged back in and working the arm. The Hunters gain control via a double team as Hugo reminds fans that they are managed by El Jeque (who is also Abdullah the Butcher’s manager). Estrada Jr. reverses a whip into the corner on Hunter #4 and gets a two count on an inside cradle. As Hunter #1 is tagged in and starts clubbing on Estrada Jr, Hugo mentions that the newer Hunter is the youngest of the Hunters and is the brother of the other original Hunter, who suffered nerve damage to his arm in Japan. Now his brother is carrying on the Hunter tradition. The Hunters maintain control via illegal switches behind the referee’s back.  A Demolition Decapitation by the Hunters results in Medico #1 coming off the top to break up the pin attempt. Medico #1 tries to get in and help but this allows the Hunters to continue double teaming and switching behind the refs back. The Hunters hit a nice slingshot clothesline but Estrada Jr surprises Hunter #4 with a small package for an unsuccessful pin attempt. The Hunters continue in control but remain unsuccessful in pinning Estrada Jr. Hugo on commentary mention that we know for sure that Medico #1 is Puerto Rican but we are not sure about the newest member (so it seems they have yet to acknowledge that they are father and son when this aired).  Estrada Jr finally gets the tag and Medico #1 cleans house on both Hunters (including a hit machine for each of the Hunters). Medico #1 has things well in hand, attempting a few pins off a small package and a backslide. All four men end up in the ring and it results in a double pin situation. The ref makes the three count and awards the match to the Super Medicos. 

MD: This is a good way to get fans ready for the tournament. I think of all the tag matches we saw this week, this had the strongest heat actually, despite having lower stakes. While we do come in a little JIP, the match just had a more evened out balance overall, where the shine didn’t take up more than half the match. That’s not to say that they didn’t make fools out of the Hunters, who were more than happy to get crotched or crash into each other. It just didn’t last quite as long relative to the Hunters isolating an Invader and hitting him with a bunch of stuff: decapitation, slingshot clothesline, Bushwhacker Battering Ram (!) as well as lots of illegal switches and a missed babyface tag or two. The comeback was nice and fiery and lead to a double pin where the ref noted that the legal man was the Medico doing the pinning.

EB: The Hunters did not have a good couple of weeks and this is pretty much it for the Hunters team in CSP. El Jeque is down two clients but he still has Abdullah the Butcher (who won the Universal title from TNT). As for our second match from Humacao, we have a rematch between the two finalists of the Caribbean tag title tournament. The Invaders take on Los Mercenarios.

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

There’s a brief cut at the start so the match is joined in progress as Invader #4 dropkicks Mercenario #1. It looks like Acevedo tried to surprise Invader #4 from behind but was caught. Invader #4 whips Acevedo into the corner where Ron already is and proceeds to hit a monkey flip on both Mercenarios at the same time. Invader #4 gets back to attacking Ron and tags in Invader #1, who works Ron’s arm over with an arm wringer. Carlos on commentary mentions that this may be the best Invaders combination yet. Hugo mentions that they had been in training for several months and the results can be seen. The Invaders continue to tag in and out and work over Ron’s arm. On commentary they are talking about the matches these two teams have had (again, this is airing after the Caribbean tag tournament has taken place), with a third match scheduled for that night.  Ron hiptosses Invader #4 and tags in Acevedo, but Invader #1 is tagged in and takes down Acevedo with an armlock. The Invaders maintain control with another sequence of quick tags. The Invaders do a switch behind the ref’s back, with the crowd backing them up when the ref asks if the tag was made. Acevedo fights to make the tag but, in a reversal, the ref doesn’t see it and forces Ron Starr back to the corner as the Invaders tag out. Invader #4 shows off his skills by going through the ropes but holding on and skinning the cat, hitting a headscissors on Acevedo. This first part of the match has been mainly the Invaders in control. We go to commercial break but come right back where we left off, with Ron attempting to break up a pin attempt and instead accidentally elbowing and legdropping his partner. The Invaders continue in control of the match for several minutes, working over Acevedo’s arm and foiling any attempts at double teaming by the Mercenarios. Carlos on commentary mentions that masked wrestlers have an advantage since it helps to hide any reaction the face can make and it is harder for your opponent to get a read on you. After about ten minutes, the Mercenarios are finally able to get control over the Invaders. We go to commercial break as Acevedo starts stomping on Invader #1.

We come back with Ron Starrr ramming Invader#1 into the top turnbuckle and tagging Acevedo back in. Invader #4 breaks up a pin attempt but Ron takes down Invader #1 and works over the arm. Invader #1 tries to make a comeback but misses a charge into the corner and rams his shoulder into the post. Invader #1 falls to the outside and Invader #4 rushes over to prevent the Mercenarios from attacking his brother. Invader #1 gets back in the ring, holding his shoulder. Ron takes advantage and works over Invader #1’s arm. Carlos mentions that it’s impressive what the Invaders have accomplished after only being active as team for a couple of weeks and that he thinks they’ll get even better with more experience. Invader #1 starts a comeback but the ref does not see the tag to Invader #4 and Los Mercenarios regain control with a double team maneuver. A pin attempt by Ron is broken up by Invader #4, and Invader #1 counters being thrown into the ropes with a sunset flip for two. Ron goes back to working on Invader #1’s arm. A rope running counter sequence leads to both men hitting a clothesline and knocking each other down, as you can hear the timekeeper make the time announcement in the background. Both men make the tag to their partners and Invader #4 cleans house on both Mercenarios. Invader # 1 eventually joins the others in the ring. All four men fight and make several flash pin attempts as the time limit starts counting down. The bell rings and we have a time limit draw. 

MD: This is not the tournament match between them but instead a time limit draw independent of that. You still get the same sense of the tag scene in the moment, however. I thought Invader 4 looked good, including a skin the cat headscissors takeover and some fire towards the end. This was a big opportunity for him and he was taking it. They did the double monkey flip spot again, as it was a big crowd pleasure. Long, long shine here, ten minutes out of seventeen (on the idea there’s some clipping at the start and during the break) with a lot of quick switches and armwork and stooging, especially from Starr. Mercenarios were able to lean hard on Invader 1 for the heat with some revenge control on the arm. That meant things were ready to boil over for the comeback. The finish had lots of quick roll ups and pin attempts by the Invaders but all for naught as time expires. 

EB: Los Mercenarios would get a rematch for the Caribbean tag titles but were unsuccessful in getting the titles. Still, Los Mercenarios remain the World tag team champions and have the challenge of the Super Medicos coming up on March 31.  

The tag team tournament and the rivalries stemming from it are not the only feuds going on. Eddie Watts remains the World Junior champion and Huracan Castillo jr and Joe Savoldi both are chasing the title. Joe Savoldi gets another crack at Eddie Watts on the same show as the TNT vs. Abdullah rematch. That night Watts was able to escape again with the title but Savoldi still had his sights on Watts. Let’s watch a TV match featuring Savoldi taking on Assassin #3. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9EpQANttuU

This match is pretty basic and, surprisingly, Assassin #3 gets a bit of offense throughout. Savoldi is in control early and then Assassin #3 takes over for a little while (although they seem to get crossed up on a rope throw spot). Assassin goes for a pin and complains to the ref that the count was slow after Savoldi kicked out. Savoldi takes over and hits a gutwrench suplex on Assassin #3 for a pin attempt that gets broken up with an eye gouge. Hugo on commentary mentions the hot action in the Junior division and that Savoldi still has his sights set on Eddie Watts. Savoldi comes back with a  backdrop and then does a rollover bridge to get the pin. Savoldi celebrates the win and leaps over the top rope to the floor to exit the ring. We’ll have to see if either Savoldi or Castillo will be able to topple Watts from his perch.

MD: Assassin 3 is the one in red who is slimmer. Assassin 1 is the bigger guy. This is the least important bit of wrestling trivia I know, at least this week. Savoldi had all the 1990 Jr. babyface offense you’d expect, including dropkicks worth the Jumping moniker. He won with a deep jackknife pin which was a bit more sweeping than usual. You’d buy him as #3 on the card vs Watts and probably wouldn’t complain too much.

EB: The Invaders are the new Caribbean tag champions and it just so happens that there is a TV taping from their hometown in San Lorenzo. Let’s watch the Invaders wrestle in their hometown against the team of Gran Mendoza and Assassin #1.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIQH6LFHk7Y

The Invaders make their entrance in their jumpsuits and music, although this time they have the Caribbean tag titles round their waist. This match is a quick showcase for the hometown boys, as the Invaders take the fight quickly to the rudos and show off their quick tag teamwork. Mendoza and Assassin try a double team maneuver, but Invader #1 backdrops Assassin (while Mendoza is still holding him) and then tosses Mendoza off him. The Invaders continue on offense against Mendoza but assassin #1 manages to get  a brief offensive flurry when tagged in. This doesn't last long and the Invaders win when Invader #4 hits a reverse crossbody from the top onto Assassin #1. A strong win for the Invaders in their hometown.

MD: Nice showcase match for the champs. They came down with their jackets/robes and music (we don’t get such entrances often). Invader 1 let himself get outnumbered but overcame as he always knew how to present himself like a star. Invader 4 had some slick agility moves and did add something different to the team along those lines. Mendoza and Assassin would try to double team or clubber down but they didn’t do much memorable here except for getting beat.

EB: Another rivalry that has been brewing throughout March is between Miguelito Perez and Carl Styles. This stems from the indent where Styles put Perez in the full nelson and refused to release the hold. They’ve had a few matches between them and are facing each other again at the TV taping in San Lorenzo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi2ycHjp-KU 

Another match that is JIP, with Perez having Styles in a headlock to start. Carl sends Miguelito into the ropes and both men stay standing after a shoulder tackle. Perez ducks a clothesline off the ropes and counters with a crossbody for a two count. Perez takes down Carl with a side headlock, leading to a reverse pin attempt by Styles on the mat. Miguelito gets his foot on the rope and the ref El Vikingo flips them over (causing Hugo to question the validity of doing that instead of breaking the hold, but in the end he says it's the referee's discretion). Styles manages to stand up and sends Perez into the ropes, but an attempted kick to the midsection is blocked by Perez. Carl gets hit with an atomic drop but is able to duck a followup clothesline and almost gets the full nelson on Miguelito (who makes the ropes before it’s locked in to force a break). Carl hits several blows on Perez, but Perez leapfrogs over Carl when coming off the ropes and hits a slam on Styles. Perez gets a side headlock but Styles fights out of it and takes Perez down with a hair pull. Carl works the arm on the mat but falls victim to another counter when Perez is sent into the ropes (this time it’s a sunset flip for a two count). Perez works a side headlock on the mat but Styles counters into a headscissors. Perez flips out of it and goes back to the side headlock. Hugo mentions that this has been quite the rivalry between Perez and Styles, with Perez only losing in their previous encounter because of Rick Valentine’s interference. Perez sends Styles into the ropes and attempts a dropkick, but Styles holds onto the ropes and Perez crashes to the mat. Carl hits an elbow on Perez and does a double bicep pose to the crowd. Carl hits a suplex for a pin attempt but Perez grabs the ropes. Styles throws Perez to the outside and does more poses towards the crowd. Perez rolls back in without incident. Styles hits a slam but misses an elbow drop, which gives Miguelito the opening to fire back with several punches and a couple of turnbuckle rams. A rope running sequence leads to Carl knocking Perez down with a clothesline. Carl goes for a cradle cover and grabs onto the ropes for leverage. The ref doesn’t see it and counts the three. Styles has stolen the win against Perez.   

MD: Pretty even match up here, more so than I expected considering how Styles had been presented so far. He tried for the full nelson early and almost took over on a panicked Perez due to the response, but Perez came back immediately. They traded holds mostly, with Perez more or less having the advantage on points (and headlock takeovers). Eventually, Perez ran into a clothesline and Styles pressed the advantage with a dubious looking illegal pin in the ropes. This was perfectly fine wrestling and the fans were behind Perez but it didn’t do Styles a lot of favors, even in victory. 

EB: The Super Medicos did not win the Caribbean tag titles but have stayed in contention for the World tag titles. Let’s see them in action against the team of Gran Mendoza and Assassin #1.

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

Estrada Jr.is called #3 here. This match is all Medicos as they control Mendoza with arm work and quick tags in and out. Mendoza cuts off Medico #3 with an elbow and tags in Assassin #1, who gets a hotshot on Medico #3 for a pin attempt. Assassin #1 hits a backdrop but misses an elbow drop, which allows Medico #3 to tag in his partner. Medico #1 does a hit machine on Assassin #1 and cleans house on both opponents when Mendoza tries to attack him. An inside cradle pin attempt goes nowhere and all four men are in the ring. Both rudos are thrown into each other, with the Medicos hitting a double dropkick on Mendoza to send him outside. A double suplex on Assassin #1 leads to the assisted splash and the Medicos get the win. They’re next stop is challenging Los Mercenarios once more for the World tag team titles on March 31. 

MD: Another straightforward enhancement tag here. Mendoza had a nice back elbow to cut them off but they were able to fire back before long, including impressively double suplexing the sizable Assassin before Medico 1 pressed up Medico 3 into a splash and a pin.

EB: As March rolls on we have a newcomer to CSP. El Profe has brought in another formidable looking wrestler, one that may look familiar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6R_sPY3-tX4 

We have Atkie Malumba taking on Victor Jovica. You may know Malumba as Kamala 2. He is El Profe’s newest acquisition, billed from Mozambique and weighing around 400 pounds. Jovica attacks Atkie at the bell with several punches and a turnbuckle ram. Atkie immediately counters with an eye rake and goes on offense with a headbutt, chop and a choke against the ropes. Hugo mentions that Malumba is undefeated so far since coming over to Puerto Rico and the United States. Atkie sends Victore into a corner and hits a corner splash. Jovica mounts  a short comeback with some punches and chops, but Atkie counters an attempt to send him into the ropes and hits Victor with a foot to the face. Atkie goes for a splash but does not cover and decides to do another one (Hugo: He’s made Jovica into a pancake!). The ref gets a count of one before Atkie again gets up and hits a third splash. This gets the win. El Profe comes in with what looks like a shrunken head and Hugo mentions that they call it Malumba’s warrior spirit. El Profe shows it to Malumba in order to keep him calm and Atkie starts bowing in reverence. Meanwhile, Jovica is twitching on the mat and looks to be in need of medical assistance. El Profe ties up the ref and Atkie goes for another splash on the prone Jovica. Profe once again shows Malumba his ‘warrior spirit’ and Atkie calmly crawls out of the ring. This Malumba may well be a dangerous threat to El Ejercito de la Justicia. 

MD: Jovica wasn’t a small guy, not really, but Malumba just crushed him, especially in the corner. He finished things off with a series of big splashes where he kept getting up at one and backpedaled with his hands waving about before charging in again. Very definitive stuff. Post match he was drawn away by a mystical object, nominally to spare Jovica’s life.

EB: TNT has had a bit of an up down month. He lost the Universal title against Abdullah the Butcher and it is up in the air who the next challenger will be. Still, the challenges keep coming and TNT is facing Carl Styles on TV.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1i_j-3x7dk 

The match is joined in progress as Styles has TNT in the corner and fires off a series of kicks and punches. Styles is facing a tecnico that is higher up on the hierarchy, so it’s a test of his skills. TNT is coming off the uUniversal title loss and looking to remain near the top of the contender rankings, while a win for Styles would really boost him up the rankings. Styles sends TNT into the ropes and puts on a bearhug. They fall to the ground but Styles keeps the bearhug on. After a while, Styles gets into a mount position and starts punching TNT. Back on their feet, Styles again sends TNT into the ropes and puts on another bearhug. TNT fights out of the hold, but Styles shoves TNT back first into the corner and puts on the bearhug again. Styles works the bearhug and it looks like TNT may be out. However, TNT keeps his arm raised on the third check by the ref and breaks the bearhug with some elbows and punches to Carl’s head. A shoulder tackle off the ropes takes down TNT and Styles makes a cover for a two count. TNT ducks a clothesline and comes back with a dynamite kick. TNT starts getting fired up and hits some blows and a hiptoss. A charge is dodged by Carl and he uses TNT’s momentum to send him to the outside. TNT quickly gets back on the apron and surprises Styles with a  sunset flip for a two count. As Carl argues with the ref, TNT hits a reverse cradle for the three count. TNT picks up the win and we’ll have to see what’s next for him. 

MD: We have three or four minutes of this JIP. I’m not sure these two synched up well. Styles was big and lumbering but TNT was just big enough that some of what Styles did, like the long bearhug, didn’t quite work for me visually. TNT worked well from underneath and ultimately won this with a roll up, and maybe if we had the early feeling out, I’d feel differently, but I think I would have liked more of a clash of the Titans sort of encounter. Remember, we had just seen Perez work even with Styles after all.

EB: Next time on El Deporte de las Mil Emociones, as the end of March approaches, a decision is made about who will be the next challenger to Abdullah. It will be Carlos Colon and the match will take place on March 31. Who will end the month as Universal champion? Also, the last week of March sees some upheaval at the top of the tag team scene, a former World champion and Universal title contender makes his return to CSP, and we get one of the most surprising ‘he worked Puerto Rico in 1990’ appearances.

Read more!

El Deporte de las Mil Emociones: The Universal Ninja

Week 21: The Universal Ninja

EB: As March begins we have quite a few developments occurring in CSP. TNT is set to defend the Universal title against the number one contender Abdullah the Butcher (since Carlos Colon stepped aside because he did not want to fight a fellow Ejercito de la Justicia member). The issue between TNT and Abdullah has become a bit more persoanl with the attacks both men perpetrated on each other. We also have Carlos Colon and Manny Fernandez scheduled to clash in what may be a resolution to their feud. The weekend also has several other titles being defended and the debut of the new Invaders tag team. 

We have video of some of the matches and happenings from March 3 but let's mention first some of the results for which we do not have any video.The card featured Rick Valentine defeating Victor Jovica, Carl Styled defeating Miguelito Perez (an issue we saw starts in our previous post), Huracan Castillo Jr defeat Eddie Watts by dq (Watts escapes with the World junior title), Los Mercenarios and Super Medicos went to a  double disqualification in a match for the World tag titles, and (in a bit of a surprise) the Invaders went to a time limit draw against the Alaskan Hunters in their debut. Also schedule for that card was a TV title defense by Leo burke against the returning Pierre Martel.

We have footage from the Universal title match, the TV title match and the Carlos Colon match from March 3. We’ll discuss these in this installment, but the order will be different due to when the matches aired on TV. The reasons for this is that the commentary and talking head segments that accompany some of these matches make reference to the events that surround the TNT vs Abdullah rivalry and covering these matches with the videos means we need to address how their feud unfolds throughout March. We’ll begin with the Universal title match between TNT and Abdullah the Butcher. Let’s go to a segment of Profe’s Wrestling Class where Profe’s guest is El Jeque (this likely aired either March 17 or 24).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lvsl1K8O-qY

The video starts with TNT hitting a legdrop on a downed Abdullah as El Profe is narrating. Prpfe comments that TNT is giving all he had but it still isn't enough to put Abdullah away. TNT goes to the top turnbuckle, but Abdullah gets to his feet and catches TNT with a thrust to the throat as TNT comes flying down. Abdullah follows up with his elbowdrop and goes for the pin. TNT manages to get his leg on the bottom rope before the three count, but the ref doesn't see it and counts three. El Vikingo raises Abdullah’s hand as the winner, as TNT continues lying on the mat with his leg still on the bottom rope. Profe starts saying that Abdullah won fair and square and he should be given the title. El Jeque gets in the ring and jumps around in celebration as Profe continues saying that TNT should admit that he was beaten cleanly. All of a sudden, the entire Ejercito de la Justicia has arrived at ringside and starts telling the ref that TNT’s leg was on the rope before the three count. El Profe is irate on commentary, mentioning that ‘El Ejercito de la Inmundicia’ is out here lying to the ref and putting TNT’s leg on the rope in an attempt to get the decision overturned. The ref decides to restart the match and Abdullah starts attacking TNT (who is still lying on the mat). The footage stops as Abdullah continues attacking a downed TNT, the match ends up being a double disqualification with no winner. Profe says that Abdullah had the Universal title belt stolen from him and that the Real Academia condemns this attitude and action from ‘El Ejercito de la Inmundicia’. While he is neutral towards Abdullah the Butcher, El Profe has invited El Jeque to the segment in order for him to explain what will be done about this injustice that was done to Abdullah. El Jeque says that he admits that Abdullah made a mistake in not destroying TNT, but this Saturday Abdullah will finish TNT, will break every bone in his body and send him to the hospital.  At the end, there will be no doubt that Abdullah will be the Universal champion. El Jeque walks off as El Profe starts saying that this guy is a bit arrogant, isn’t he? El Profe signs off and starts muttering under his breath "What an imprudent guy…” as the segment ends. We then get the card lineups for that coming week’s shows, including the full lineup for that Saturday's card featuring the TNT vs Adullah the Butcher rematch.

Abdullah showed off just how aggressive he was feeling on TV in a match vs Huracan Castillo Jr. from a tv taping in San Lorenzo (we’ll cover other matches from that TV taping in our next installment).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUzoNcFf3PA

Castillo wastes no time in going right after Abdullah, as soon as Castillo gets in the ring he fires off a series of kicks on Abdullah, who is backed into a corner. Castillo tries to send Abdullah into the opposite corner but is cut off by a thrust to the throat. Castillo recovers quickly and backs Abdullah into another corner with several punches, but one thrust from Abdullah is enough to knock Castillo down. Abdullah follows with a headbutt and knocks Castillo outside. Castillo is trying to recover, but he is bleeding from his head. Abdullah stops Castillo on the ring apron and just assaults him with several headbutts, busting Castillo up even more. Castillo gets dragged into the ring and the headbutts continue. The bleeding is noticeable on Castillo’s forehead and Abdullah knocks Castillo down. El Jeque distracts the ref as Abdullah gouges Castillo’s eyes and continues trying to open up the cut more. Castillo tries to fire back,exchanging blows with Abudllah’s headbutts, but the punishment is too much and Castillo falls down. The blood loss is taking its toll. Abdullah hits his elbowdrop and gets the pinfall. Abdullah is showing what he has planned against TNT in their rematch. 

MD: It’s great to see Abdullah as a weekly character again. He was obviously instantly credible and dangerous, including getting that contested win over a TNT with his foot on the rope. Castillo charged him at the bell but got headbutted into a bloody oblivion. Abby is one of the best cut off guys in wrestling history but he also had a great sense of knowing how much was enough to get across what he was trying to achieve. You didn’t hold it against Castillo that he didn’t do better than lasting three minutes against Abdullah and being a bloody mess; you just thought that Abby was all the more dangerous for his victory.

EB: We’ll discuss the other two matches from March 3rd that we have footage of later on, as we will need to address what happened in the Universal title rematch when we do. In the meantime, there is a new development that we have not covered and that is the status of the Caribbean tag titles. If you recall, the titles were held by the team of Los Mercenarios, specifically the Cuban Assassin and Gerry Morrow. Morrow has been replaced by Ron Starr and the new Mercenarios combination of Cuban Assassin and Ron Starr won the World tag team titles from the Youngbloods. However, we have not yet received clarification on what the team member switch means for the Caribbean tag titles. Well, it has been decided that the Caribbean tag titles are vacant. Los Mercenarios remain the World tag team champions because the current version of the team is the one that won the World tag titles. But it was Acevedo and Morrow who held the Caribbean tag titles and that version of the team is no more. As such, there will be a tournament for the vacant Caribbean tag titles that will be held on March 10. Eight teams will participate in order to crown a new Caribbean tag champion. The teams scheduled to take part are the Super Medicos, the new Invaders, the Caribbean Express, the super team of Carlos Colon and TNT, the Alaskan Hunters, Los Mercenarios, Carl Styles and Rick Valentine, and the team of Leo Burke and Chicky Starr. 

We’ll discuss the results of the Caribbean tag title tournament next time but, in the leadup to the tournament, several of the teams were showcased on TV. Let’s go to several different matches with some of our participating teams, including our first look at the current day Hunters and the new Invaders. Let’s begin with a showcase for the Super Medicos.as they take on the Assassins.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sR8cmT6j3TQ

To be clear, the Medicos are #1 and #4, while the Assassins are #1 (in black) and #3 (in red).  Medico #4 and Assassin #3 start us off and this match is a good showcase for the still relatively new Super Medico team. It's been about a month since their debut but so far they have managed to work their way into being top contenders for the World tag team titles. A headlock by Medico #4 leads to a slam off the ropes and then a tag to Medico #1. Assassin #3 is able to push Medico #1 into the Assassins’ corner, which leads to Assassin #1 tagging in. Medico #1 is able to cut off Assassin #1’s attack by punching him and putting on a side headlock. This allows Medico #4 to tag in and he continues to work a side headlock on Assassin #1, although it is broken by several knees to the midsection from Assassin #1. Medico #4 is sent to the ropes and counters with a flying body press for a two count. Medico #4 attempts a backbreaker but rolls out as soon as Assassin #1 kicks out. As Medico #4 rolls out you can see Medico #1 jump off the apron to the floor in the same direction, and when a Medico rolls back into the ring it’s Medico #1 instead. They’ve pulled off a switch and the ref hasn’t noticed. So now we have both #1’s in there. Medico #1 does a headlock takedown which eventually leads to a rope running sequence where Medico #1 hits a shoulder tackle, a hiptoss and a dropkick that sends Assassin #1 to the outside. Assassin #3 tries his luck but also gets dropkicked to the outside. The Assassins regroup and lure Medico #1 into their corner, where they use the younger Estarda’s inexperience to cause him to try to help his tag partner. This distracts the ref, leading to double team attacks in the corner on Medico #1.  Assassin #3 is tagged in but gets caught by Medico #1 with a knee off the ropes. Medico #4 is tagged in and  hits Assassin #3 with several punches before getting an inside cradle. It’s broken up by Assassin #1, as is a follow up backslide pin attempt. Medico #4 manages a standing switch into a roll up and this time Medico #1 cuts off Assassin #1 with a dropkick as the pinfall is made. The Super Medicos pick up the win and next for them is the Caribbean tag title tournament. 

MD: It is a lot of fun to see these enhancement matches because they don’t exist anymore, not with a familiar set of undercard talent like this. Granted, we don’t know who were under the Assassin masks here, but they had mismatching suits and were big bulky guys. That rationalized the little bit of offense they had on Medico 1. For those keeping track, Jr. was Medico 4 on this night and not 2 or 3 as we’d seen. No great punches out of Medico 1 unfortunately, but the finishing stretch was a series of roll ups from the Medicos. Given the Assassins’ superior size, it still felt like they accomplished something.

EB: Although they are the World tag team champions, Los Mercenarios are also entered into the Caribbean tag title tournament, giving Mercenario #1 a chance to regain the title he had to vacate. 

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

Los Mercenarios are facing a team of the two top contenders for the World Junior title in Huracan Castillo Jr and Joe Savoldi (a pairing that Moyano on commentary says should work well since they are both young, quick, move well in the ring and have a similar style).  Castillo and Acevedo start off and the initial exchanges go in favor of Castillo (including a shoulder tackle and a couple of dropkicks). Ron Starr gets tagged in and, after jawing at the crowd, takes Castillo down with a side headlock. Castillo eventually counters out of it, hitting a dropkick that sends Ron Starr near the tecnico corner and causing Starr to ping pong between punches from Castillo and Savoldi. Moyano on commentary explains that everyone had been surprised by Ron Starr leaving the tecnico side but apparently Ron was saying in interviews  that he had only been there to spy and that he preferred being a mercenary because that is how you get paid well. Castillo takes down Ron with a side headlock but Ron quickly counters into a pin for two. Castillo keeps hold of the headlock but Ron manages to get to his feet and tries to counter the hold. However, Castillo makes the tag to Savoldi, who jumps into the ring with a kick to Ron’s back. Savoldi does a couple of arm wringers and a hiptoss but Ron stays back to stop Savoldi’s momentum. They circle each other, but Ron shoves Savoldi off a lockup and tags in Acevedo. Savoldi sees Acevedo charging and is able to armdrag him down. Savoldi continues to work the arm but Acevedo tries to go for Savoldi’s leg, resulting in Savoldi just catapulting Acevedo over and keeping the hold on. Castillo tags in, but Acevedo yanks Castillo by the hair and tags in Ron. Again. the tecnicos see the rudos making their charge, with Castillo hitting a back body drop on Ron. This match has been going the tecnicos way so far. Castillo keeps working Ron’s arm, but the tide turns when Ron comes out of the corner with a clothesline. Acevedo comes back in and looks to finally have an advantage, but Castillo flips Acevedo to the mat to stop his momentum. Both men tag in their partners and Savoldi gets the better of Ron in their exchange, leading to Savoldi doing a quick tag to Castillo. Castillo hits a high knee on Ron and punches Acevedo in the corner, leading to all four men getting in the ring. It looks like the tecnicos have the upper hand but as the referee is distracted getting Savoldi out of the ring, Acevedo sneaks up behind Castillo (who has Ron in an abdominal stretch) and hits him from behind. One double DDT behind the ref's back leads to Los Mercenarios getting the pinfall win. 

MD: Savoldi feels like the Action Andretti to Castillo and Perez’ Top Flight. He fits in quite well despite being a little different. In some ways, he feels a little closer to Castillo than Perez actually. That means lots of armdrags and hiptosses and monkey flips here, lots of feeding by Starr and the Assassin. They didn’t have control for long and even the finish was a banana peel where they had a split second to doubleteam and get the double DDT in. Since they were great at feeding and the babyfaces were at least game and energetic, this moved well and was a fun if somewhat empty seven minutes. 

EB: We’ve mentioned before that the new version of the Invaders made their debut on March 3. While we don’t have that match, we do have one of their first appearances on TV. Let’s watch them in action against the team of El Exotico and El Gran Mendoza.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0HJm-vnysc

The video starts with Mendoza and Exotico already in the ring as we wait for the entrance of the Invaders. Exotico fluffs his hair and poses for the crowd when he is introduced. We hear a dance remix version of the Close Encounters of the Third Kind theme as the Invaders come out in matching masks and jumpsuits. They do stereo jumps over the top rope into the ring. This is Invader #1 and #4, with Maelo Huertas teaming up with his older brother. Eliud makes a comment about how nice the Invaders’ jumpsuits look as they help each other take them off. We get Exotico and Invader #1 to start. We get some early tags as Invader #1 tags in #4 after taking Exotico down with a shoulder tackle and Exotico tags Mendoza in after being backdropped by Invader #4. Mendoza backs Invader #4 into a corner and sends him across the ring to the opposite turnbuckle. Mendoza attempts a monkey flip but Invader #4 lands on his feet from the flip and quickly hits a dropkick on Mendoza. Gran Mendoza rolls out of the ring but Invader #4 immediately goes to the top and dives off the top to the floor with a bodypress onto Mendoza. Back in the ring, the Invaders do a series of quick tags while applying arm wringers on Mendoza (this is actually a staple of the Invader #1 and #3 tag team). Exotico charges in and hits Invader #1 from behind. A double team clothesline attempt is ducked by Invader #1, and he stops by the ropes to slingshot Invader #4 into the ring with a double clothesline on Exotico and Mendoza. The Invaders do a quick tag again and then, when Exotico tries to come in, do a switch when the refs back is turned. The Invaders hit a double back drop on Mendoza and Invader #1 continues working over Mendoza’s arm. Invader #1 keeps going over to the rudo corner and hitting Exotico every now and then. The Invaders continue in control, with Invader #1 actually going over to Exotico and yanking him into the ring. All four men end up in the ring, with the rudos being thrown into each other to set up the finish. It’s a doomsday crossbody basically. The new Invaders pick up the win.

MD: The Invaders looked good here. Huertas is Invader 4, so you have two 4s running around. I was going to say that at least Estrada, Jr. was younger but then you had Invader 4 leap off the top rope to the floor onto Mendoza just in the middle of the match like it was nothing. I’m not kidding either. It was in the middle of an arm control bit and just the spot that they chose to work in. A little later, Invader 1 did the same thing with a slingshot double clothesline on Exotico and Mendoza. Only one moment where Exotico hit a back body drop and sold it as you’d expect. This was wrestled pretty standard otherwise, though definitely heel-in-peril. Sometimes they’d get a brief advantage by doubleteaming but they never held it for long. Finish was a Doomsday Device but with a flying body press instead of a clothesline so that was pretty neat.

EB: We’ve previously seen matches from 1987 featuring the Alaskan Hunters and now we get a chance to see them in action in 1990. At first glance though, it looks like there is a change in terms of the team lineup, with a new Hunter forming part of the team. Here they are in action against the team of La Sombra and Armando Fernandez.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0Emk8T90pA

The Alaskan Hunters are being managed by El Jeque, so that’s another client for the newly arrived manager. Sombra and Fernandez do not fare well at all against the Hunters. What’s amazing is that, if we go by the commentary, they’re being called Hunter #1 and Hunter #4, so that’s yet another tag team with a 1 and 4 combination in the territory. The Hunters do not look alike and it seems that we have a new version of them (that’s why there’s a number 4 then, not sure who it is but he reminds me of Buddy Lee Parker). Fernandez starts the match for his team but is quickly overwhelmed and tags in La Sombra. It doesn’t go any better for him. The Hunters tag in and out and show off their power against La Sombra. They hit a nice double team decapitation elbow off the turnbuckle and just bulldoze Sombra with their offense. A nice double team suplex into a crossbody finish gets the win for the Hunters. They look good heading into the Caribbean tag title tournament.

MD: Just a straight up mauling here. Not a lot to say. Sombra and Fernandez got nothing. Hunters kept it moving, a few throws or suplexes, a lot of clubbing. They hit a decapitation midway through just for fun and then finished things a minute or two later with a suplex/top rope shoulderblock combo. They came off as capable and formidable, guys who knew what they were doing even if maybe they learned on the other end of a squash against even bigger guys.

EB: Leo Burke and Chicky Starr have been quite the duo in Burke’s singles run so far.  But with the upcoming tournament, they have the opportunity to win gold together as a team. Here they face the team of Tito Carrion and Herbert Gonzalez as they tune up for the tournament.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9m_LazLJ7g

Burke and Chicky have teamed up before, but this time they have title aspirations as they are in the Caribbean tag title tournament. This is a chance for Chicky and Leo to work on their teamwork and flow. Burke has his TV title belt with him and Chicky has his crown. Chicky and Carrion start off, but Chicky tags Burke in after hitting a slam. Burke goes to work on Carrion, hitting a kick to the shoulder and an atomic drop. Carrion eventually is able to back Burke into his corner and tag Herbert in, but despite a brief offensive flurry, Leo regains control when Herbert puts his head down too soon after sending Leo into the ropes. Burke kicks Herbert in the head and tags Chicky in. Chicky gets into a chop exchange with Herbert, but cuts Herbert off with some knees and tags Burke back in. A quick snapmare and kneedrop by Leo leads to Chicky getting tagged back in. Chicky goes for a splash but hits Herbert’s knees, allowing Herbert to tag Carrion back in. Tito immediately goes after Chicky with several kicks, but makes the mistake of backing Chicky into the rudo corner, which allows Chicky to make a tag to Burke. Leo blindsides Carrion with a shoulder tackle and from there is able to eventually put Carrion in the figure four for the win. They celebrate with a hug. It’s an easy victory for the team of Chicky Starr and Leo Burke, although they’ll have their hands full in the Caribbean tag title tournament. Their first round match is against the super team of Carlos Colon and TNT, two men that have no love lost for Chicky and Leo.

MD: Chicky had a goatee and his hair had grown in nicely once again. Once they got going it was a lot of quick tags, a brief comeback as Chicky leaped right into a pair of knees, and then a cutoff out of nowhere after a Burke blind tag. I bet that they would have done something neat if this went another minute or two but as it was it was effective in showing us that Chicky could still go if he had to but that Burke was the real threat.

EB: We also have a new pairing for the tag tournament as recent arrivals Rick Valentine and Carl Styles have decided to team up together. It’s not just a teamup of wrestlers but also of managers, as Valentine is managed by Chicky Starr and Styles is managed by El Profe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k12jkj4vC0o

We briefly saw Rick Valentine in the battle royale and, while this match is short, we’ll be seeing a lot more of him going forward. You may know him as Kerry Brown, but I’m guessing due to the resemblance he is billed as a Valentine here in CSP. Rick is accompanied by his manager Chicky Starr but also by Carl styles and El Profe. Valentine and Styles are teaming up for the Caribbean tag title tournament and Styles and Profe are here in support of Valentine. The match is a showcase for the recent arrival, with Valentine taking most of the match against Armandito Salgado. There is a brief instance where Salgado mounts a bit of offense, but Valentine cuts it off with an eyerake. Valentine seems to favor the elbow as an offensive attack. Profe heads to the commentary desk to brag about this new team and the potential they have to dominate the division. Armandito gets another flurry of offense but once again is cut off when Valentine counters a charge into the corner by raising his legs and knocking Armandito down. A powerslam sets up Valentine's elbow drop and that gets the pin.

MD: Basically a showcase for Valentine’s elbow drop. Salgado had some good fire but his stuff didn’t move Valentine much. Profe was out with Styles since those two would be teaming upcoming but there wasn’t a lot to see here. A nice view for the nice elbow drop though.

EB: Let’s circle back to the other two matches we have pending from March 3. As mentioned before, we’re talking about them now because these matches aired a week after the TNTR vs Abdullah rematch and the commentary makes mention of the result. We don’t have clear information on how the match result came about, but Abdullah the Butcher emerged victorious in the rematch and is the new Universal champion. TNT’s reign as the Universal champion has ended after only a month and a half.  
With that said, we have the scheduled match between Carlos Colon and Manny Fernandez to talk about now. Carlos and Manny have been embroiled in a hot feud stemming form Manny costing Carlos Colon the chance to regain  Universal title in a match against Leo burke and then severely injuring his trainer Barba Roja with a flying kneedrop of the top rope. We’ve seen Carlos and Manny brawl on TV and fight in a tag match, and the singles matches they’ve had so far have been inconclusive. It’s been about a month and a half since Manny injured Barab Roja but Carlos is looking to get his revenge against Manny on March 3 and…it’s not happening. It was announced onTV that Manny Fernandez was not going to appear because of an injury (not sure if he was actually injured or if it’s the reason given to cover the no show). So no blowoff for Colon and Manny. We’ll have to see when Manny will be able to come back (if at all) and what his injury may mean for the Puerto Rico title. But, there's still a card taking place on March 3 and Colon will wrestle against a replacement opponent.  It is someone who has previously been in Puerto Rico under a different name and who as recently as the previous month had main evented a Clash of the Champions show for WCW.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgzwVYdW-m8

It’s the Dragon Master (aka Kendo Nagasaki) who is facing Carlos as Manny’s replacement. Hugo, Carlos and Chicky are on commentary and talking up how dangerous Dragon Master is, with Chicky in particular mentioning how Dragon Master is looking to destroy Carlos Colon and he’s come in from Japan specifically to hurt Carlos. Dragon Master immediately goes on the attack as the bell rings and aggressively goes after Colon. On commentary Carlos mentions that this must be due to the instructions El Profe and Chicky had given Dragon Master. The first couple of minutes of this match are all Dragon Master in control, as his immediate charge at the bell has resulted in a continued attack on Carlos. Dragon Master throws Carlos outside and attempts to ram Carlos into the ringpost. Carlos blocks the attempt and instead it's Dragon Master who gets rammed. This stuns Master momentarily and the two men exchange blows outside before getting back into the ring. Master gets a snapmare and works a rear chinlock on Carlos Colon. Carlos tries to fight out of it but Master cuts him off with some elbows. However, Carlos comes back with chops in the corner and regains control as the crowd cheers. A punch sends Master down and Carlos gets fired up with a hop and a cartwheel. Carlos goes on the attack and tries to put on the figure four, but Master yanks Carlos by the hair in order to stop the attempt. Colon again goes after Master’s leg with several kicks, but another figure four attempt is thwarted by Master yanking Colon’s singlet strap. Carlos is relentless in going after the leg but yet again the figure four is countered with a yank of the tights. Master hits an atomic drop, but the move hurts his leg and Master crumples to the mat in pain. Carlos makes another attempt to put on the figure four but Master counters again. Dragon Master grabs Carlos and throws him to the outside. Dragon Master follows outside, grabs one of the camera cables and starts choking Carlos with it. Master hits several punches and they get back in the ring. A side slam gets two for Master. Dragon Master sends Carlos into the ropes, with Carlos ducking the first chop attempt and then both men collide on the rebound. Master is up first and hits a slam, but Carlos counters with a move from the Leo Burke playbook and grabs a hold of Master’s leg as he hits the mat. This trips Dragon Master up and Carlos immediately puts on the figure four. Master submits and Carlos Colon has won the match as the crowd cheers.

MD: Pretty much a paint by numbers Colon match, but we like the numbers and we like the paint. Nagasaki was very good at just eating guys up and this was no exception. It meant some chinlocks, sure, but plenty of strikes and ominous presence. Colon took it and took it until he’d take it no more and started firing back, cartwheeling, and targeting the leg. Nagasaki made a real sport of it, tossing Colon off on every figure-four attempt, and even managing some late match offense like an atomic drop and side slam while favoring the leg. He even was able to take things to the outside and choke Carlos with a wire, but all it took was a bit too much celebrating after a bodyslam and Colon was able to pull out a leg and finally get the figure-four locked in and triumph.

EB: Our other match from March 3 we are covering is the TV title match between Leo Burke and the returning Pierre Martel. I’ve mentioned before that Pierre Martel was a key star in CSP in the mid 70s to early 80s, first as a top rudo act with the Martel family (including a huge feud with Invader #1) and then in the early 80s as a fan favorite. It’s been a few years but he is making a return and going after Leo Burke. First let's see a match of Pierre’s from late 1982 to get a feel for him in the ring.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCAAXbTZ70I 

This match is originally from 1982 but is being aired on the March 3 Campeones episode with new commentary as a way to reintroduce Pierre Martel. His opponent is a familiar face, as we get Mercenario #1 (Angel Acevedo), back during his original run in Los Mercenarios. Pierre has been a tecnico for about two years at that point and was in a tag feud against Los Mercenarios. Hector Moyano is on commentary with Carlos and Chicky, and brings up Pierre’s experience in the ring as Carlos calls Pierre one of the fans’ favorites. Moyano talks with Chicky about Mercenario #1’s skills as well, with Chicky reminding the fans that Acevedo is currently half of the World tag team champions and is very capable in the ring. Carlos says it’s been about three to four years since Pierre’s been in Puerto Rico (it may be closer to six actually) and that he’s coming in to challenge Leo Burke for the TV title tonight in Bayamon. Chicky thinks that the years have passed Pierre by and he won't be successful against Leo. The match itself so far has been Pierre working Acevedo’s arm and controlling most of the match on the mat. Pierre and Acevedo fight against the ropes but Pierre gets the better of that exchange. Carlos mentions that he had thought that Chicky would have learned his lesson and not shown up after the beating Carlos gave him the previous week (they had wrestled because Chicky had attacked Carlos with a chair two weeks before as part of Colon’s feud with Manny Fernandez). Chicky gets annoyed and says to Moyano that he should tell Carlos to stick to calling the action and be a professional. In the ring, Acevedo is in control, working Pierre over in the corner. Acevedo hits a knee to Pierre’s back and puts a submission hold on Martel.  Pierre is able to get the win when he surprises Acevedo with a roll up for the three. 

MD: Nice to see the Assassin (Still Mercanario #1 even in 82) with a dark black shaggy beard. He looked a lot more like a wild man and less like a canny operator. Most of his offense when he took over mid-match was to press Martel up against the ropes, bend him backward, and knee him in the back. It wasn’t a bad piece of business but he did it three or four times and I don’t remember him doing it much in 89-90. Martel didn’t do anything flashy but everything he did do was sound and most especially confident. This went back and forth for a bit until he was able to roll the Assassin back off the ropes. 

EB: We now go to the TV title match from March 3, but before the match itself we have a talking head segment featuring Hugo, Carlos and Chicky. This is airing a week after the Universal title rematch between TNT and Abdullah and the talk of the segment is about what resulted from that match.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3tcSphtZdo

The video starts with Hugo Savinovich, Carlos Colon and Chcky Starr running down what’s happening that night in Caguas. It appears that Carlos Colon had faced and defeated Leo Burke the previous week, which gave him a TV title shot that night against Burke. More importantly, Hugo makes reference to the big happening of the previous week, Abdullah the Butcher has won the Universal title from TNT. Chicky remarks that he really doesn’t care who is the Universal champion at the moment and talks up Leo Burke having defeated most of his opponents and being a top contender for the Universal title. Chicky isn’t either happy or sad that Abdullah is the Universal champion, all he cares about is that it isn’t TNT. Hugo addresses Carlos and brings up two points: Carlos is challenging tonight for the TV title and what does it mean for him now that Abdullah is the Universal champion. Carlos responds that it means a lot because now that Abdullah is the champion the door is open for him to challenge once more for the Universal title and win it for a ninth time (remember that Carlos had said that as lons as another El Ejercito de la Justicia member was champion he would not challenge them for the Universal title). So tonight’s match against Leo Burke is special since he’s not only challenging for the TV title but a loss tonight would damper his attempt at being the top contender for the Universal title once more. Chciky starts laughing at the thought of Carlos trying to beat Burke. Carlos asks Chicky straight out “Did or did I not defeat Leo Burke last week?” Chicky feigns ignorance and Carlos throws it to the match.

We go to March 3 where Leo Burke is facing the returning Pierre Martel. Burke is defending his recently won TV title. Burke rushes Pierre at the bell and hits Pierre over the head with the title belt. Burke maintains the upper hand with several kicks and then immediately starts working on Pierre’s leg. Burke’s already thinking about the figure four. Burke drags Pierre over to the ringpost and slams Pierre’s leg against it. The focused attack on Pierre’s left leg continues in the ring. Leo attempts the figure four but Pierre kicks him off. Still, Burke regains control by kicking Pierre’s left leg repeatedly. Leo puts on a submission hold on the leg and Pierre tries to kick Burke off, eventually breaking the hold. Pierre staggers to his feet, but his injured leg is hampering him. This gives Burke the opening to go on the attack once more and focus on Pierre’s left leg. Burke has been very aggressive so far, a different approach than we usually see from him. Pierre kicks Burke away and is finally able to mount a sustained offensive flurry with several punches. The crowd cheers as Burke is knocked down and starts to beg off from Pierre. Martel sends Burke into the ropes and hits him with an elbow, still showing signs of discomfort in the leg.Pierre continues on the attack but a hitposs by Burke changes the momentum. Burke hits a kneedrop and tries to punch Pierre when both are standing, but Pierrre blocks and answers back with a series of punches. Burke counters a charge into the corner with a sunset flip, but Martel kicks out at two. Pierre goes back to punching Burke and stops him from leaving the ring to continue his attack. Pierre gets a little too exuberant in his attack and ignores the ref’s warning to back off from the corner. The ref more forcibly gets Pierre to back away and Burke takes advantage of the ref having his back turned to get a foreign object from his tights. When Burke approaches once more, Burke hits him with a  loaded punch to knock him down. Burke gets a three count and retains the TV title. 

We go back to the studio where Hugo reminds fans of tonight’s show, with Chicky interrupting and saying that tonight will see the end of any Universal title aspirations for Carlos Colon at the hand of Leo Burke. Carlos responds by saying to the fans that tonight we start with the TV title and then it’s on to the Universal title. We’ll see how this story progresses in future installments.      

MD: As someone who has only seen so much of his PR stuff, it’s still fun to think that Frenchy Martin can just show up in Puerto Rico and instantly be a threat. Here he was a bit thicker, with big thudding blows. This was sort of an inversion of the usual Burke match as he gained an early advantage and went right to the leg. Martel sold everything big and broad and even when he was trying for offense, but he was able to fire back eventually and Burke did his early match stooging late. He eventually was able to sneak out some brass knucks and get the underhanded win though. Martel fit right in with Invader and Colon as a babyface who could get a ton of sympathy and could go quite far with just punches alone.
EB: As the end of March approaches we have a new Universal champion in Abdullah the Butcher. It remains to be seen who will be the next top contender but in the meantime let’s enjoy a music video of the new Universal champion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5d7qKvDahqw

Next time on El Deporte de las Mil Emociones, we may have already covered what happened with the Universal title throughout March but there are still a lot of other developments to recap. Who will win the Caribbean tag title tournament? Will any other titles change hands? Will there be any new debuts? We’ll find out as we continue our journey through March 1990.

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