El Deporte de las Mil Emociones: We Were Friends, We Were Brothers

Week 60: We Were Friends, We Were Brothers

EB: A lot has happened since Aniversario 91. Steve Strong was coming back, then he didn't, which resulted in Nikolai Volkoff coming in and having a brief rivalry with Carlos Colon. Abdullah the Butcher returned and got into a bloody match with Giant Warrior. Fidel Sierra has also made a return and has hired El Profe as his manager. A rematch between Carlos Colon and Dino Bravo is looming on August 3. But the biggest development has been the breakup of the Caribbean Express after Miguelito Perez decided to give up the World tag team titles due to how they won the match. Huracan Castillo and Monster Ripper were not happy with this decision, leading to Castillo refusing to tag in during a match with the Ring Lords and then attacking and busting open Miguelito when Perez tried to leave the match. The Caribbean tag titles have been vacated due to the team breakup, but more importantly it sears a years long friendship and bond has been broken. With the feeling of betrayal from both sides being evident, a grudge match between Perez and Castillo has been signed for August 3. That’s two big matches we have scheduled for August 3 , although an incident at the July 31 TV taping at Miramar is going to cause a change to the scheduled Universal title match.

Before going to the August 3 Cameens episode to catch up on what happened, we have an important bit of news to cover. While we don't have the exact date, it seems that during the latter half of July we had another debut, this time for El Ejercit de la Justicia. He is a promising newcomer that is getting a chance to ply his trade in CSP, someone with a lot of potential. His name is Ray Gonzalez.

Ray Gonzalez s. El Dragon (same match from two different broadcasts, one is JIP)

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

This is our first look at Ray Gonzalez as himself. His opponent is El Dragon and we've included the two links since the commentary is different. This is a showcase for a promising newcomer. In the JIP version from Super Estrellas, Hugo talks up his potential, while Eliud makes a comment about Ray’s good looks, calling him a ‘galan’. Hugo cautions Eliud about using that word since it may draw the ire of Galan Mendoza. On the Campeones version of the airing, Profe makes a joke about Ray being Don Eliud’s son and makes comments about his attire, but begrudgingly concedes he’s not too bad in the ring. Hugo thinks the ladies will love this latest competitor in Capitol Sports. Ray gets the win by surprising Dragon with a pinning combination. .

MD: We’ve seen Gonzalez as Condor a few times, but this is his debut without a mask. They presented him as a young, fresh, athletic good guy. Lots of rope running out of headlocks in this one, with Gonzalez getting the better with a dropkick, a reverse monkey flip, by stopping short and stomping. He was up against a masked guy we hadn’t seen much before and he didn’t offer much. Gonzalez had a nice charging, following corner clothesline, timed very well, and a running power slam, but he won it by getting a jackknife pin out of nowhere. Maybe not as definitive as it could have been given the way the match went. Still, he looked good in there for a “debut.”

EB: Let’s now go to the 8/3/91 Campeones episode and find out what happened in Miramar thats has caused a big card change for that night’s house show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJfLE1gcDuU

Hugo and Profe welcome us to the show and Hugo almost immediately pivots to an incident that happened this past Wednesday at the TV taping. Hugo says that he is supposed to remain neutral as producer of the program but he must criticize what Profe and Abdullah the Butcher did to Carlitos (Profe mockingly feigns ignorance and starts asking Moi?). Hugo goes on by saying that what they did was an affront, a professional embarrassment, and that athletic ethics should be respected. What they did was grotesque, something that truly should be condemned, and Hugo feels that something should be done so nothing like that happens again because Profe and Abdullah went too far, they have no respect for wrestling. Profe counters that there is no limit to what Abdullah can do, especially when he is being led by El Profe. Hugo tells the viewers that in moments they will show part of what happened that has caused a change to tonight’s card, Carlos Colon will now take on Abdullah the Butcher instead of defending the Universal title against Dino Bravo. Hugo quickly runs down the matches for today's program and then we get to what happened last Wednesday, with Profe being proud of what happened and Hugo saying he does not want one second to go by without publicly condemning what happened. The incident is not shown in its entirety, later on we’ll have a Giant Warrior vs. Abdullah match from that same Wednesday’s taping that is what started the incident.

We go to Cataño where Invader #1 is set to face The Fly when the camera cuts to Abdullah and Profe heading out of the locker room. Andullah has his head bandaged  and he and Profe go across the back of the arena to the opposite side. Hugo on commentary initially thinks Abdullahw was coming out to attack Invader but now he is asking for the director to send a camera to follow Abdullah and Profe since they have no idea what is going on. Hugo realizes that they have gone in the direction of the tecnico locker room. We switch cameras and catch a glimpse of Profe and Abdullah entering the tecnico locker room area. Abdullah grabs a metal case and continues entering further into the locker room. It soon becomes clear what is happening as Profe and Abdullah surprise a showering Carlos Colon and Abdullah proceeded to attack the naked Carlos in the shower. The attack goes on for a bit and they have a black circle censoring Colon's body. Abdullah uses the metal case to hit Colon, leaving him bleeding and laid out in the shower when reinforcements finally arrive to save Carlos. The camera focuses on the bleeding Carlos as Hugo is heard on the microphone informing the crowd in the arena what has happened. 

We then cut to Carlos making a phone call to WWC commissioner Hayden T Joseph. Carlos wants tonight’s Universal title match to be postponed because he wants payback on Abdullah tonight. The commissioner says this a highly unusual request and that he has to speak with Dino Bravo first since Bravo has to agree to the change as well. Carlos states that he will agree to wrestle Bravo at any other time under any condition that Bravo wants if Bravo agrees to change the match. Back to the studio with Hugo and Profe where Hugo recaps the request Carlos made. The commissioner got in touch with Dino Bravo, but Bravo still needed to talk things over with his manager El Profe. Let’s go to that conversation. We go to the control room where Profe is on the phone with Bravo, although Hugo gets annoyed because Profe had promised that they could film the conversation but now he is saying that they can't listen to Bravo’s side of the call. Profe says they can listen to his side of the conversation but anything said by Bravo is strictly personal and confidential between the two of them. Profe reassures Bravo that the title is not on the line tonight and they had already laid quite a beating on Carlos and were looking to finish the job tonight. Hug gets annoyed with the jokes Profe is making and wants Profe to get Bravo’s answer. It is a yes, so tonight’s match will be Colon vs Abdullah.

Back to Hugo who confirms that the commissioner has made the match official for tonight. Also scheduled for tonight is the grudge match between Miguelito Perez and Huracan Castillo, two men who were once like brothers but now due to Castillo’s greed or decisions (however you want to frame it) has led to this. Profe says that Castillo  will now see who his real friends are, his dad is rejecting him, his friends have rejected him, everyone rejects him, but here is El Profe to help out in any way. Hugo tries to interrupt Profe by saying it’s not that his dad rejected Castillo, he was trying to give him good advice and Castillo wouldn't listen. Hugo takes a moment to ask Profe that since he is offering to help Castillo does this mean Profe is going to make peace with Monster Ripper. Profe continues talking about Castillo and ignoring Hugo’s question about Monster Ripper, indicating that he has no interest in talking about her. There are other notable matches scheduled for tonight as Koko B Ware will be in action, Sky Walker makes his return to face Giant Warrior, and the SST are in singles action with TNT vs. Samoan Savage and Fatu vs Invader #1. Before going to our first match, Hugo reminds viewers that their sponsor Medalla has an activity tomorrow Sunday at 10am at the Salinas Speedway. It's a truck competition, along with other activities like arm wrestling, drinking competitions and the Ms. Trucker competition.

MD: This is a great, striking scene. There’s a match going on in the ring and the cameras suddenly start chasing after an out of control Abdullah heading to the back. He catches Colon naked and coming out of the shower (I think at least) and leaves him bloody and it all feels unpredictable and wild given the usual format of the show. Then we overhear a call (in English, dubbed over) of Colon talking to the WWC Commissioner to change his match with Bravo into one with Abdullah, and good for the crowd that got to see that (and us since we have this). Then we see Profe, looking like Strongbad, in front of the radio mic to clear things with Bravo, working the other half of the things. Definitely a hot angle that came out of nowhere to start the show.

Fidel Sierra vs. Invader #4

EB: Our first match is joined in progress as Fidel Sierra takes on Invader #4. Sierra is in control at the start but Invader #4 quickly counters and works over Sierra’s arm briefly before Sierra cuts him off. The match is mainly Sierra in control with some Invader #4 hope spots mixed in. On commentary Profe is going on about how he feels a sense of brotherhood with Fidel Sierra and how it makes him feel Cuban since he’s started managing Fidel, something that Hugo is not buying and keeps asking Profe if he’s certain it is not money fueling his brotherhood and patriotism remarks. Sierra locks on a sleeperhold and gets the win when Invader #4 is put out. Profe hands Fidel the Cuban flag, which Fidel lays over the prone Invader #4. Hugo voices his displeasure with the flag being used like that and also reminds the viewers at home about the dangers of using holds like this if not applied properly. Sierra was starting to leave but heads back in to wake up Invader #4. 

We then go to the studio for some promos from Fidel Sierra and Super Medico #3. It seems that Medico #3 is defending the Caribbean title against Sierra tonight. The Man From Havana says he is the best in the world and will take the Caribbean title tonight, while Medico #3 promises that he will be ready to retain tonight. Invader #1 also cuts a promo about facing Fatu tonight in Bayamon, saying that while the Samoans are very good in tag team wrestling tonight they will have to prove it as singles.

The segment finishes with a card rundown for tonight in Bayamon: Carlos Colon vs Abdullah the Butcher; Miguelito Perez vs. Huracan Castillo in a grudge match; TNT defends the TV title against Samoan Savage; Invader #1 vs. Fatu; Giant Warrior vs Sky Walker; Super Medico #3 defends the Caribbean title against Fidel Sierra; Ricky Santana & Koko B Ware vs Galan Mendoza & El Profe; and Bronco #1 vs Alex Porteau. Also this coming Wednesday is the TV taping at Miramar featuring Invader #1 vs Huracan Castillo, Miguelito Perez vs Fidel Sierra, and Giant Warrior & Bronco #1 vs. the State Patrol. 

MD: Sierra is more “Cuban Assassin”-coded than before, though he still has a cool hat in his promo. I kind of liked the more stylish version we saw last time. Profe’s got the flag and everything. Invader IV is a great guy to put a new heel over and he does so here, holding his own with fast offense until he gets caught with a hot shot and put into a sleeper. Sierra really wrenched it back and forth and it looked great. Glad to see him come back in to wake Invader up too. Sierra will be going for the Caribbean Championship and Super Medico III is taking the threat seriously.

Super Medico #3 vs. The Fly

EB: Our next match is Caribbean champion Super Medico #3 taking on The Fly. The match is a bit more competitive than one would expect, with Fly getting in some moments of control on Medico #3. The Fly goes to the outside to stop Medico #3’s momentum but it still isn't enough to avoid taking the loss when Medico’#3 hits him with a headbutt of the middle turnbuckle. Let’s see how Medico #3 does tonight against Fidel Sierra.

MD: Fly got a lot here, actually, but Medico was able to jam him in the corner a couple of times. I do miss Medico I. III is coming along and he has good timing, good presence, more size, but he doesn’t quite have the same great strikes. He did win this with a nice headbutt off the second rope to a standing Fly.

EB: Our next round of promos has Samoan Savage talking about his TV title match with TNT, Sky Walker making his return to prove who the real giant is against Giant Warrior, and Giant Warrior (with bandage on forehead) saying he has to put Abdullah at the back of his mind for the moment in order to settle this grudge with Sky Walker once and for all.

MD: They were splitting up the SST to have them face TNT and others in singles matches. This is Samoan Savage saying that Fatu is on the beach and he’s taking care of business. Given how formidable they were in general, it’s not a bad way to keep cards fresh I guess.

Sky Walker was back to show everyone he’s the real giant. Something about his face paint made him seem smaller and not bigger. He had done damage last time, but Giant Warrior is coming out of the Abby match bandaged and wanting to take his frustrations out on anyone in his way.

Koko Ware vs. Al Burke

EB: With Koko B Ware returning tonight, we have a showcase match from Wrestling Challenge with Koko getting a win against Al Burke.

MD: Burke ambushed Koko to start and really did put the pressure on him. Koko just jammed him in the middle of the ring and dropped him with the brainbuster though. He’ll be in to team with Ricky Santana against Profe and Mendoza, which sounds like a lot of fun. I’d like to see him against Santana too, but we get what we get.

EB: Monster Ripper and Huracan Castillo are in the studio to talk about tonight’s match against Miguelito Perez. Ripper calls Miguelito stupid and Huracan says that what Miguelito did to them has no price. He turned in the World tag titles which only idiots do, that was fame, glory, money. That was the goal they had for themselves and they had done it Miguel, and then you do the stupid thing and give the belts up. Miguel will pay for that tonight and then we will see that Castillo is the better one of the two. “I made the team, I made you, everything you know I’ve taught you.” Miguelit better come ready because Castillo has a feeling that Miguel will be leaving on a stretcher.

Miguelito Perez is next , saying that friends don't betray like this and Castillo has to pay for that tonight. Castillo talks a lot about how he taught me, how he did this and that, he can talk all that he wants, the only person that taught me was my father. And what my father taught me I will teach you tonight, I'll show just what an angry friend is. You are no longer my friend, let’s make that clear, and what you did to me in front of all the Puerto Rican fans will be paid back tonight. You will pay for it in blood, I am going to bust you up and break your face. You are scum and will pay.

Our last promo for this segment is El Profe talking on behalf of Fatu about tonight’s match against Invader #1. He reminds everyone of how dangerous the SST are and they can be just as dangerous in singles action.

MD: Castillo was dressed more ostentatious. The pairing with Ripper does feel a little odd, but whatever gets him heat I guess. He takes credit for everything good they had done while Perez shows remorse for the situation and for Castillo giving in to his greed. I would have liked to see a Castillo squash maybe, or a cheap win, but that might have been on some of the TV we don’t have.

Abdullah the Butcher vs. Giant Warrior

EB: Next is Giant Warrior vs Abdullah the Butcher from this past Wednesday in Miramar. Abdullah attacks Giant Warrior from behind with a chair before he is able to get into the ring. Hugo mentions that we will see shortly what happened that caused Abdullah to attack Carlos in the locker room later that night. Andullah gets several chair shots in as Profe holds the referee back. Warrior gets rammed into the announce table and Abdullah introduces more of the ringside furniture to Warrior. Abdullah heads into the ring and continues to attack Warrior when the latter tries to get into the ring. Abdullah tosses Warrior out and it looks like Warrior has hurt his arm. Warrior valiantly fights back but Abdullah pulls out a sharp object and starts stabbing Warrior in the forehead. This draws a dq but Abdullah continues jabbing the object into Warrior’s forehead. Warrior is bleeding. As Abdullah continues his attack, Carlos Colon runs out with an object of his own to attack Abdullah and drive him away. Warrior is the winner by dq and it seems that Abdullah did not take too kindly to Colon interfering. 

We cut to a sleeping Abdullah as El Profe does a voiceover promo. The beast is sleeping now but in a few hours he will be awake for tonight. Even Profe is wary about waking him up now for the interview because of how uncontrollable Abdullah is when he gets this angry. This is an uncontrolled beast and Profe does not care about keeping Abdullah in check tonight.

An angry Carlos Colon is next and he promises that tonight will be different from the other times he has faced Abdullah, what they did to him is something that Carlos has never experienced in his 25 years in professional wrestling. That was cowardly and humiliating and they will pay dearly for that tonight. Adullah will get the beating of his life tonight.. 

MD: The Abby/Warrior match is probably worth seeing again. Colon intervened and now they’ve lead to this moment where Abby is out of control and everything is going to come to a head. I’d have happily paid 8 bucks to see this.

EB: TNT is here to talk about his TV title defense tonight against Samoan Savage. He will be defending a title that belongs to the Puerto Rican people, so he intends to defend it with his life. After a card rundown we get a Samoan Swat Team music video. 

MD: TNT is ready to defend his TV title against the SST. SST get a music video full of headbutts to Disposable Heroes by Metallica which is pretty effective. It’s not a major program for TNT given everything else that’s going on but I doubt fans would feel shortchanged by this.

EB: To close out this episode, Hugo Savinovich conducted interviews with Huracan Castillo Sr. and Miguel Perez Sr. about the rift and upcoming match between their sons. Hugo is visiting the Castillo home and interviewing Castillo Sr. in his bedroom. Castillo Sr., who has been paralyzed since an August 1988 shooting, says that the situation is a bit embarrassing and that he has tried to give good advice to his son. But the younger Castillo doesn't want to listen. Hugo asks Castillo Sr. if his son has said anything about this and Castillo Sr. indicates that all his son says that he is an adult and can make his own decisions. He hopes that his son will come to reason but who knows how long this may take. Hugo also asks Castillo Sr. if he can provide a health update on how he is doing, to which he says he is doing better everyday. 

We then cut to the Perez residence where Hugo is interviewing Miguel Perez Sr. about the situation. Perez Sr. says that he backs his son all the way and he just cannot stomach the way Castillo Jr acted. It's one thing to disagree and even fight, but the way Castillo Jr attacked in such a treacherous manner. Miguelito felt the rift when Castillo didn't want to tag in during that match and even decided to just leave the ring rather than risk injury or get heated with Castillo right then and there. And then it was Castillo that attacked from behind to break that bond they had. The match is signed now and it is up to Miguelito to show what he knows in the ring. But Perez Sr. is hoping that Castillo Jr. will come to his senses, he even sent him video of a birthday party they had where Castillo Jr was there, to see if those memories will help bring him back to reason. They end the episode with a clip of Castillo and Miguelito in the Perez family trophy room, where they are both holding a picture of Miguel Perez Sr. Castillo says that this a glory  of Puerto Rico (referring to Perez Sr.) and he should be respected. Now it is their time to continue those legacies. Happier times from when they were friends, when they were brothers.

MD: Effective segments. Castillo is bedridden and finds the situation and his son’s behavior tragic. Not a hint of heeling or supporting him. Perez feels quite the same. It really put gravitas on all of this, just a sense that something special had been destroyed to to Castillo, Jr.’s greed and ego.

EB: Five matches from the August 3 house show were shown later that month as a prime time special called Choque de Titanes (Clash of Titans). The special was hosted by Hugo Savinovich, El Profe and Eliud Gonzalez. The special was promoting an upcoming September 7 house show, so we’ll discuss that aspect of the special later on when we get there chronologically. What we will focus on here are the five matches from August 3. So let’s go forwards to go back and see what went down.

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

Hugo welcomes the viewers and presents his cohosts for the evening, El Profe and Eliud Gonzalez. After a greeting from everyone, Hug starts mentioning the matches they’ll have tonight. It is going to be interesting since Profe will be on commentary but he will be competing in one of the matches as well as managing some of the wrestlers (so we'll likely get some interesting comments from him on commentary). The two big matches airing tonight are the grudge matches between Miguelito Perez and Huracan Castillo and Carlos Colon vs Abdullah the Butcher. With regards to Perez and Castillo, they will  have a face off tonight on the program (this is leading up to their September 7  matches so we’ll cover this segment when we get closer to that date). 

Koko B. Ware & Ricky Santana vs. Gran Mendoza & El Profe

Our first match is a tag match pitting Ricky Santana & Koko B Ware vs. El Profe & Galan Mendza. Koko had faced Mendoza at Aniversario and Santana was having a series of matches with El Profe, so there is some backstory here. The crowd seems to be really happy to see Koko here during the ring introductions. Eliud mentioned that he had been talking with Koko before the match and he learned that birds like Frankie can live up to 100 years. Hugo comments that he has a pet bird named Goldie and talks about how great they can be as pets but their care is a key part to keeping them around so long. Profe is getting razzed by the crowd and wants no part of Santana, so he tags in Mendoza. The tecnicos control the first half of the match, with Profe in particular not having a good time of it. At one point, Mendoza tries to tag Profe back in, only for Profe to decide to go check on some rigging equipment rather than make the tag. Hugo makes note that Profe is shining by his absence on commentary, it seems when things aren't going well for him and his wrestlers he either feigns ignorance or decides it’s time to go for a  walk. In a neat spot, Mendoza gets rammed into Frankie and sells the blow. Profe gets caught between Santana and Koko and just pinballs between them as he gets hit. He tries to tag out to Mendoza, but Mendoza decides to take a stroll to get back for earlier. The rudos briefly talk it over and Mendoza is tagged in. An attempted double team backfires and again Profe is caught between Santana and Koko. Something finally goes right for the rudo team when a knee to the back on Santana turns the tide. The rudos work over santana, with Profe taunting Koko throughout. Eventually Santana gets the hot tag to Koko, all four men end up in the ring and Koko gets the Ghostbuster on Profe for the win.

MD: This was really good. You take some time to watch this and it’ll make your day. Incredibly fun shine. Santana got the better of Mendoza and Profe again and again, including with some beautiful, beautiful punches. Then Koko came in and the place came unglued. Profe took a headbutt by bumping himself into the ropes. Great stooge bump. Then on the floor, Koko rubbed Mendoza’s face into Frankie, which may or may not have been animal abuse, but it was definitely Gran Mendoza abuse. They went back into the ring and Mendoza ran into Santana’s fists while Koko hit an eyepoke. Awesome shine. At one point, Profe had gone to the dirt and was trying to mess with a flagpole and… I don’t even know what he was doing and neither did Mendoza but he was that flustered and it was that entertaining.

Eventually, Profe grabbed Santana’s hair from the outside during rope running and the heels took over. Some nice double teams and drawing Koko in. Profe was a jerk along those lines. He also hit this great running knee in the corner. Really good stuff. But eventually, after the ref missed a tag and as things boiled over with the crowd, the hot tag came (and it was a good one), and Koko came in hot to a huge pop. Santana recovered and they got quick revenge with the ghostbuster on Profe. Everything you’d want for an undercard tag like this.

Giant Warrior vs. Sky Walker  

EB: The next match is Giant Warrior vs. Sky Walker and I goofed on the date for this match. We covered this in a previous post thinking this was from November of 90. Turns out it’s from this card  in August 1991. Sky Walker makes a one off return, thinks he won the match although Warrior got his leg on the rope, and then Warrior hits a big boot to get the win.

MD: We’d already covered this one. It’s still pretty good. Warrior has a nice back elbow and belly to back. Walker takes over and works over the wound (from the Abby match) which is a bit of context we probably missed before. The transition to comeback being a missed elbow drop is a little weak and they protect Walker on the way out by having him almost win (but Warrior’s foot is on the rope which the ref misses at first) but eat the boot anyway. What’s most important here is that this isn’t Murdoch or Abby, and this still holds up pretty well mostly on the strength of who and what Warrior was by this point and his connection with the crowd.

TNT vs. The Samoan Savage 

EB: TNT defends the TV title against Saman Savage. Feeling out process to start with Savage complaining about his hair being pulled. Savage then spends the next couple of minutes playing hide the foreign object until he is able to get some punches in on TNT. Savage takes over with nerve holds and strikes and most of the match continues this way until TNT’s comeback. The match ends when TNT does a corner spin kick that sends him over the top to the floor. It seems that TNT has hurt his leg on the impact. The ref counts TNT out and awards the match to Samoan Savage when TNT is unable to get back in the ring. 

MD: It’s so funny that Savage works this as a total Memphis heel, with just a bit more nerve holds. I always saw the SST of a few years earlier as fearsome, horrific even, down to the theme music, and now he’s just another glorious stooging heel in Puerto Rico. The system does work, and it works here too. He stalls at first, then plays hide the imaginary object, including making the ref check TNT and complaining about hairpulls. Eventually he takes over with it and does a lot of nerve holds, but it all works. TNT has a great hope spot where he hammers on the open feet of Savage. Finish is kind of wild as he came back with the spin wheel kick but when he tried it in the corner, he made contact but overshot and crashed onto the ground outside, knee injured. He loses by countout and then Savage hammers his knee with the belt post-match. Very SNME or Clash of Champions type match but it worked for what it was.

Miguel Perez Jr. vs. Huracan Castillo Jr.

EB: The Caribbean Express explodes as it is time for Perez vs Castillo. Perez gets in and immediately starts punching away at Castillo. Miguelito continues on the attack, eventually knocking Castillo out of the ring with a dropkick. Castillo tries to get away but Perez gives chase and they start exchanging blows on the ballfield, at one point just exchanging what look to be open handed slaps. Perez throws Castillo back in and it’s the opening Huracan needs, he catches Perez coming in with an eye rake to cut him off. Castillo works over Perez, sending him to the outside and ramming him into the post. Castillo keeps rolling in briefly to stop the ref’s count, but continues attacking Perez on the outside by throwing him into the ringside officials table. Miguelito is bleeding as Castillo uses the table and a chair to attack him. Back in the ring, Castillo focuses his punches and kicks on Miguelito's bleeding forehead. Castillo even bites the cut. 

The match continues with Castillo in control and putting Perez in a chinlock. The crowd cheers Miguelito on as the camera shows Ripper trying to yell at the crowd to shut up. Perez is able to counter Castillo's offense with a back suplex. Both men exchange blows but it is Castillo that gets the better of the exchange by ramming Miguelito's bleeding head into the turnbuckle. Castillo again bites the cut and Perez rolls out of the ring. Castillo follows but Miguelito is able to ram Castillo into the ringpost to halt the momentum. Castillo is rammed head first into the post and it looks like he is now bleeding as well. Miguelito starts firing off several punches on Castillo, Huracan starts firing back and they are just exchanging blows on the ballfield. The ref tries to stop them but gets hit for his efforts. Both men continue wailing away at each other when someone runs out and gets in between the two of them. It’s Miguel Perez Sr and he’s trying to get them to stop fighting. Perez Sr tries to reason with both of them only for Castillo to deck him with a clothesline. Miguelito is stunned for a moment, then checks on his dad. Castillo uses the opening to kick Miguelito in the head and they start brawling again, this time with Miguelito really showing off some renewed anger. Ripper intervenes by hitting Miguelito in the back with a pipe and she and Castillo get away. Perez Sr is still down on the ground as a medic goes over to check on him. Miguelito also goes over to see how his dad is. On commentary Profe is celebrating the attack on Perez Sr. but Eliud is appalled by what Castillo did. Some of the tecnico wrestlers help the elder Perez back to the dugout as a righteously indignant Miguelito is signalling that he wants Castillo back out there. Forget making amends, it looks like this feud is only just starting.

After the match they announced an upcoming Texas Death match between Perez and Castillo for September 7. They also have a split screen face off between the two where it is clear there is no chance for reconciliation here. We’ll discuss this segment later on when we get closer to this date.

MD: This was tremendous stuff. They hit the tone perfectly. Perez charged right in and they went at it just firing away. He was able to get an advantage with a dropkick and took things to the grounds, including a posting. Castillo kept fighting back and that helped a lot here, even if he got swept under again and again due to Perez’s righteous fury. When they made it back into the ring, Castillo went for the eyes, and he didn’t look back. He really brutalized Perez (who also did his best to fight back at times, but was cut off). After crushing him under a table and hitting him with some other associated furniture, Perez was a bloody mess, and Castillo made the most of it by wrenching his head in the ring so the camera could see it clearly. 

When Perez came back though, he came back huge and was able to reverse a posting on the outside. They brawled through the grounds with just great back and forth punches until the ref got clocked. Then Perez, Sr. tried to get between them and Castillo nailed him too. Huge heat for all of this but especially that as you’d imagine. Perez went right at him but Ripper attacked from behind with a pole. Things ended in chaos as wrestlers worked to help Perez, Sr. out. Great hate-filled brawl. One of the best matches in PR in 91 certainly and it left a ton more on the bone. They already announced a Texas Death Match coming out of this.

I thought the split screen with the two of them talking over one another was effective to build it as well. 

Carlos Colon vs. Abdullah the Butcher

EB: Our last match is the grudge match between Carlos Colon and Abdullah the Butcher that came about due to Abdullah attacking Carlos in the tecnico locker room’s shower. After recapping the angle that set this up, we go back to Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel. Abdullah and El Profe make their way out of the rudo dugout, and Abdulla decides to head in the direction of the opposite dugout. Looks like they have a plan to wait and ambush Carlos when he comes out of the tecnico dugout. Profe and Abdullah stand waiting for a bit, but then Carlos Colon rushes out from beside them and starts attacking Abdullah. It seems he was ready for this and outsmarted the rudos here. And as Carlos had promised, he came for payback tonight. Carlos has an object in his hands and is using it to jab Abdullah in the forehead. Adullah goes down after several hits and Carlos decides to grab a really big piece of wood to use as a weapon. The ref futilely tries to get Carlos to back off, but Carlos just shoves him away and chokes Abdullah with the piece of wood. Carlos continues savagely attacking Abdullah (who is bleeding), using the spike object again and then hitting Abdullah with a cinder block. Abdullah ends up on a metal base and Colon just starts stomping Abudllah’s head against the metal. They have made no attempt to get into the ring as the crowd cheers Colon on.

Carlos continues going after the cuts on Abdullah's head, biting them and even grabbing the cinder block again. Anbdullah finally gets a breather when he is able to pull out his foreign object and jabs Carlos with it. Abdullah gets some more jabs with the object in, including one to the groin. This advantage lasts only for a couple of minutes before Colon starts firing back with some punches and caps it off with a foul kick. Abdullah is down and Carlos goes for a table to use as a weapon. Profe jumps on Colon’s back to help Abdullahm but gets tossed off. Carlos turns his anger towards Profe, ripping off Profe’s pants and then hitting a foul kick on him as well. A humiliated Profe flees to the safety of the dugout as Carlos grabs another piece of wood to use as a weapon. Carlos and Abdullah fight by the ring truck and then some wrestlers start coming out to try to separate them.Alex Porteau, Ricky Santana and Super Medico #3 all come out but get caught in the crossfire trying to break the fight up. Hugo on commentary mentions that it seems Profe has left the commentary area and is out in the hallway crying after reliving having his pants stripped. Carlos tries for the figure four but eventually they are separated and Abdullah heads to the dugout. Hugo sends it to a replay of the highlights  and the only one they have cued up is Profe having his pants torn off and then fleeing. 

MD: This was pretty great too. This whole show has been pretty great. This might be the best single show we’ve seen since starting this. It’s just an insane war, most of this being Colon as an absolute maniac attacking Abby. He comes out with an object (a fork? Who knows) and goes right at him. He gets a giant piece of wood, way bigger than a two by four and keeps it going, jamming it into his throat. By this point Abby is a bloody mess already. It’s just shot after shot, remorseless, slamming Abby into a table, going after the wound. Abby finally gets the fork and comes back, going so far as to slamming the fork right into Colon’s groin. It’s that sort of match. When Carlos comes back, he even completely no sells the throat cutoff so he can foul Abby first standing and then on the ground. Then he takes a table and charges at him to attack him with it. At this point Profe comes in, so he drops him and tears off his pants before starting back in on Abby. People (including Alex Porteau) try to stop him as Profe getting depanted was a bridge too far and the bell is ringing but Carlos won’t be stopped. He gets the figure four on for a bit before everyone breaks it up and Colon hits running jumping headbutts to Abby back into the dug out. Total war. Heck of a show.

EB: The special airing closes with Hugo, Eliud and Profe. Hugo mentions that it was a bad night for El Profe, he lost the tag match and then his guys didn't do too well. Profe responds by saying that he who laughs last laughs best, and that vengeance is sweet and will come. Eliud was happy with some of the results tonight. Hugo reminds viewers of the upcoming September 7 card and asks for closing comments from Eliuud and Profe. Eliud thanks the viewers for watching and wishes them a good night. Profe says that there simply are going to be a lot of ladies that won't be able to sleep peacefully tonight after seeing him how they did, which Hugo cuts off so as to not further spoil what has been a nice evening. We end with highlights from Perez vs Castillo. 

Next time on El Deporte de las Mil Emociones, a tournament is held for the vacant Caribbean tag titles, the feud between Castillo and Perez continues, and a Chicky Starr update.

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El Deporte de las Mil Emociones: Kim’s Inconvenience

Week 45: Kim’s Inconvenience

EB: We have two matches from the February 16 card that we have in full. The first one we’ll cover is the street fight between the Texas Hangmen and Invader #1 & Bronco #1. The Hangmen have quickly regained the World tag titles they lost and we get another escalation in the hostilities between the two teams via a street fight.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dx2DuInmSVI

We are in Caguas and you can tell the Texas Hangmen are ready for a street fight by the way they are dressed. El Profe and the Hangmen are waiting at the top of the stairwell, ready to ambush the tecnicos. As we hear Broco’s entrance music being played., Bronco and Invader rush out from the crowd and surprise the Hangmen from behind. The tecnicos start attacking the Hangmen around the arena floor as Eliud Goznalez makes the ring intros (with the announcement that the last ones standing are the winners). Bronco has one of the Hangmen over by the barricade while Invader has the other Hangmen up in the stands as they continue attacking the rudos. Bronco and Invader continue attacking the Hangmen on the arena floor as the crowd continues to cheer.  After a couple of minutes, the Hangmen start fighting back, with  Invader getting thrown into the rinside table and getting hit with a title belt. The tecnicos quickly recover and gain the upper hand once more. All four men are now near each other on the arena floor and the tecnicos ram the Hangmen into each other. Bronco continues on the attack with his Hangman, but the one with Invader is able to use an eye rake to turn the tide and manages to knock Invader down. The Hangmen quickly regroup and double tema Bronco.  Invader recovers and tries to help, but the Hangmen subdue him and take control of the match.

One of the Hangmen brings out an object that he grinds against Bronco’s masked forehead and then both Hangmen put the tecnicos into camel clutches on the floor (for added insult they have the tecnicos facing each other as they are in the holds). The tecnicos manage to leverage out of the camel clutches, which causes the Hangmen to knock heads. The tecnicos once again take over, as Invader rams one of the Hangmen into the ringpost and follows up with a foul kick. We have not seen the inside of the ring yet and we are at the seven minute mark. The fight continues on the floor, with Invader and Bronco busting out belts to hit the Hangmen with. Finally, almost nine minutes into the match, Invader and one of the Hangmen get inside the ring. The Hangman paired with Bronco has gotten ahold of the belt Bronco was using and chokes Bronco with it. In the ring, the other Hangmae has taken control of the match. All four men are now in the ring and it is the Hangmen who have the advantage.

We get the ten minute time call and a reminder that the winner is the last person standing. Invader and Bronco start a comeback, which leads to Invader and one of the Hangmen exiting the ring (with the referee following them). In the ring, Bronco hits his drop down DDT but, with the ref outside, El Profe runs in and nails Bronco with one of the bullropes. While Invader and one of the Hangmen continue fighting on the arena floor, referee Victor Quiñonez notices that Bronco and the other Hangmen are down on the mat. Victor makes his way to the ring and starts applying the ten count to both wrestlers. The Hangman makes it to his feet first and the Texas Hangmen are declared the winners. Invader #1 gets in the ring to check on Bronco, and all of a sudden invader #4 emerges from the stairwell with a  chair. Invader #4 starts hitting the Hangmen and Profe with the chair, chasing them away from the ringside area. This gives the crowd something to cheer for but your winners of the street fight are the Texas Hangmen. 

MD: This was a total war. Really, it was more of a Bunkhouse than a street fight as they were out in their street clothes (for the most part). Invader had no mask. Invader and Bronco started out strong really beating them around the stadium but they got pulled apart and taken out two on one. Invader tried to fire up but the numbers got him. From there they did a comeback at the five minute mark, worked things back towards the ring with a lot of shots from Invader and a strap, and then got swept under again. At the ten minute mark they mounted a second comeback. Invader chased one Hangman away while Bronco hit his drop down DDT finish. The ref was distracted, Profe whacked Bronco with the rope/cowbell, and the Hangman beat the ten count. I’m not sure about that finish at this stage of the feud but you can’t look past the great brawling and hot crowd here.

EB: Our second match that we have in full is the kendo stick on a pole Caribbean title match between Miguelito Perez and Kim Duk. These two have been feuding since about mid January, a feud that  has included the smashing of a car windshield and El Profe making some miscues that have cost Kim Duk some of the matches. The full match aired as the main event of  the February 23 Campeones episode, so let's watch that episode and see what happened (although it becomes clear as the show progresses that we have a new champion and something happened between Duk and Profe).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjJHusBYHP0

As usual, we have Hugo Savinovich and El Profe as our hosts for this week’s Campeones program. Hugo introduces the supreme leader of El Club Deportivo and also makes mention of the man now helping to manage the Club’s affairs, one General Skandor Alkbar.  Hugo and Profe mention what they will have on today’s program, including today’s main event featuring the kendo stick on a pole match that happened the previous week between Miguelito Perez and Kim Duk. The mention of this march causes El Profe to exclaim “Do not mention the name of that human garbage.” Tonight there is a show in Ponce headlined by Carlos Colon vs Scott Hall and tomorrow Sunday they will be in Carolina with the main event being the awaited match between Carlos Colon and Dick Murdoch. Profe has been waiting for this match because he wants to see the beating Murdoch will give Colon. Hugo hypes up the merchandise that will be available at the shows and we cut to our first match of the program, Galan Mendoza vs Super Medico #3.

Mendoza has Medico #3 down on the mat and is working a chinlock. Hugo and Profe talk about Mendoza’s experience advantage by highlighting his titles won and the territories he has worked in. Medico #3 gets to his feet and elbows his way out the chinlock, but Mendoza cuts him off with a knee to the midsection.  Mendoza goes back to working the chinlock as Profe talks up the ‘galan’ aspect of Mendoza (galan means hunk or handsome man). Hugo mentions that tonight in Ponce we will also see Mendoza and Valentine taking on the Caribbean Express, as well as Bronco #1 vs Mr. Pogo and Invader #1 vs. Dick Murdoch.In the ring, Mendoza has backed Medico #3 into the corner and hits several punches, but Medico #3 is able to counter when sent into the ropes with punches of his own. A backdrop leads to Mendoza begging off, but then Medico #3 gets overzealous and misses a corner charge to give the advantage back to Mendoza. 

A pin attempt gets two and Medico #3 gets another comeback. A dropkick sends Mendoza out of the ring and Monster Ripper goes over to check on her charge. Profe claims that Medico #3 must be in love with Monster Ripper but Hugo counters that he saw Profe and Ripper together in the locker room. Profe says that they were making plans on how to deal with the tecnicos, nothing more. Mendoza uses some headbutts to the chest once back in the ring, but is faked out when attempting a leapfrog in the corner, leading to Medico #3 getting an inside cradle for a nearfall. Mendoza makes a play to untie Medico #3’s mask, but Medico fights him off. Medico #3 gets several nearfalls but Mendoza keeps kicking out. Medico #3 gets a headbutt off the top rope and makes the cover, but Monster Ripper is able to put Mednoza’s leg on the ropes to stop the count. Medicio #3 misses a follow up splash, allowing Mendoza to load up his glove and head to the top turnbuckle. Mendoza hits a loaded punch from the top and makes the cover, but Medico #1 comes in to attack Mendoza. Medico #1 sends Mendoza out of the ring as the referee calls for the bell, declaring Mendoza the winner by disqualification. Ripper raises Mendzoa ‘s hand as they leave the ring area while Medico #1 checks on his son.

MD: This was the most complete Medico III match I’ve seen so far. He’s come a long way in the last year. Here he had a nice comeback after avoiding the glove but then spent most of the rest of the match working from underneath with hope spot roll ups. Some of them were very good. Finish had him miss a diving headbutt and Mendoza load the glove and nail him only for Medico I to come out to disrupt proceedings. Mendoza looked good overall. Just a nice TV match to keep the feud going.

EB: We get couple of promos regarding a match taking place tomorrow in Carolina. Due to what happened in the street fight between the Texas Hangmen and Bronco & Invader #1 (where Invader #4 made a post match appearance), a six man tag match is taking place. It will be the Hangmen and Profe vs Bronco and the Invaders. First we hear from Profe and the Texas Hangmen, as Profe says he is going to become a Hangmen tomorrow for the match. The Hangmen are ready for the tecnicos to step into the war zone with them. They also have some words for the Super Medicos, who are their opponents tonight in Ponce. The Invaders and Bronco are next and they are looking forward to the chance of getting their hands on El Profe in the ring. They blame Profe for not winning the World tag titles last week and they are out for payback.

We then get the card rundown for the Carolina show tomorrow, which is as follows: Carlos Colon vs Dick Murdoch; no time limit rematch for the TV title as Original TNT defends against TNT; six man tag as the Invaders & Bronco #1 take on the Texas Hangmen & El Profe; Kim Duk vs Motor City Madman; Miguelito Perez defends the Caribbean title against Scott Hall; mixed tag match as the Super Medicos & Sasha take on Mendoza, Valentine & Monster Ripper; and a World Junior title rematch as Mr. Pogo defends against former champion Huracan Castillo.

MD: If I’m reading the card right, we’ve got Invader IV teaming with his brother and Bronco against Profe and the Hangmen, which, again, is a way to keep things rolling. They could honestly cycle Bronco out here and get a few more weeks out of just Hangmen vs Invaders if they really needed to. You could argue that Invader IV, while being less of a threat on his own than Bronco might work better with Invader I for instance.

EB: We get a  Dick Murdoch music video featuring footage not just from Puerto Rico but a;so other places Murdoch had wrestled in recently. The video includes a clip of when Murdoch attacked Carlos Colon after the cage match with Greg Valentine.  

MD: They pulled footage from numerous territories here (or at least Texas) and also did things like highlighting him doing a chinlock, which I found funny. Still nice to see though.

EB: Scott Hall has returned and is set to challenge new Caribbean champ Miuguelito Perez in an attempt to bring the title back to El Club Deportivo. Hall also has some words for Carlos Colon, his opponent tonight in Ponce.

MD: Hall is coming for Perez and his title (which means he beat Kim Duk for it). As always, the best part is after he finishes talking and while Profe is translating for him and as he is trying to figure out what to do to kill the time with his hands.

EB: Back to Hugo and Profe in the studio and they want to show the viewers the latest in the Medicos vs. Valentine & Mendoza feud, one where Sasha has gotten more involved with lately.. On February 2, the Medicos had a cover after the ref had been knocked down. Monster Ripper jumped off the top rope to break it up and put Valentine on top of the Medico, giving her team the win. Then on February 6 in Miramar, they had a mixed tag match with Sasha and Monster Ripper joining their respective teams, and this encounter was won by the tecnicos. On February 9 in Caguas, Mendoza used the loaded punch but the Medicos countered with a loaded headbutt. It looked like the Medicos might win the Caribbean tag titles when Medico #1 had Valentine in a sleeperhold, but Monster Ripper came in with one of her boots to break it up and give the DQ win to the Medicos. February 16 saw another rematch, with Sasha and Monster Ripper handcuffed to each other at ringside. The match went to a time limit draw but all six people engaged in a brawl after the match. Tomorrow they will face off in another six person tag. We go to the rudos for an interview about tomorrow’s match, and they also have comments for the Caribbean Express (who are their opponents tonight). The Medicos also give some quick remarks about their matches tonight and tomorrow.

We get a card rundown for tonight in Ponce where we have Carlos Colon vs Scott Hall; Invader #1 vs Dick Murdoch; TNT & Kim Duk vs Original TNT & Motor City Madman; the Super Medicos vs the Texas Hangmen; Bronco #1 vs Mr. Pogo; Sasha vs  Monster Ripper; and the Caribbean Express vs Rick Valentine & Galan Mendoza.

MD: I’m sure Esteban will explain this better but it looks like they’re promoting two shows this week and the second one has some new feuds (Colon vs Hall, Invader vs Murdoch, Medicos vs Hangemen, TNT/Duk (babyfaces) vs Original TNT/Madman, Bronco vs Pogo, Castillo/Perez vs Valentine/Mendoza) and they set the last of those up with the promo here. Not much to say about the feud footage; we’ve seen a lot of this before but you really do get a sense of how much they flip people over back and forth to turn pinfalls around in this one. I am about ready for things to move on so we’ll see if this is the path for some of the feuds.

EB: With Scott Hall returning, we get his music video with highlights of his turn against Giant Warrior, some matches from his original rudo run in 1990 and some more recent tv matches.

MD: This is to “Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys” which feels a little jarring on PR TV and a little low key for Hall beating on guys as a heel, but that’s what we’ve got. Just like the babyface version we had in 90, this heel Cowboy version (relative to the version a year before) feels like something that could have actually worked in the mainstream if he didn’t become Diamond Studd.

EB: As mentioned by Hugo earlier in the show, Skandor Aknar is back on the island. He is with Motor City Madman as they have words for Kim Duk. They feel Kim Duk has double crossed Profe and Akbar and the Madman will teach him a lesson. Madman adds some trash talk about Duk’s martial arts skills and promises to show Duk just how good Madman is.  

MD: Why do you bring in Skandor Akbar to cut a good promo (albeit in English) if you’re going to have the Mad Man talk too (also in English)? Not the choice I would have made.

EB: Profe is with Original tNT and mentions that Original TNT is facing that fake Juan Rivera one more time in a no time limit match. Original TNT cuts his usual promo about  calling TNT an impostor and being sick and tired of facing him again.  El Profe translates and also talks about tonight’s tag match featuring Original TNT and Motor City Madman against two pieces of garbage. 

MD: They should have had both Akbar and Profe speak for Original TNT too.

EB: The main event for today's program is last week’s Caribbean title match. Before the match, we get a cut off ad for the tv taping in Miramar, where it looks like Ricky Santana is making a return to Puerto Rico. We then get some words from Hugo and Profe, where they show off some fan art (with El Profe praising the talent of the artist that drew him and complaining that they drew Sasha much prettier than she is). Hugo intros the match, saying they will have comments afterwards during the show close (Profe just stays silent as they go to the match).

We join the match with Miguelito making an attempt for the kendo stick almost at the start of the match. Duk stops him and  both men start exchanging punches in the ring.  Duk is able to make a charge for the pole but Perez stops him and they exchange blows standing on the top turnbuckle. Duk grabs Perez and throws him to the mat and Duk attacks Perez with a foreign object (that he hides from referee Victor Quiñonez when he goes to check by offering him the leg that does not have the object hidden in it). On commentary, Hugo mentions Duk’s cheating and El Profe just starts lambasting Duk for being an idiot and not listening to him. Duk controls most of the middle portion of the match and makes a few attempts at climbing the pole but is stopped by Perez each time. Profe on commentary just gets on Duk’s case for being too slow and incompetent in not being able to climb the pole fast enough. Perez tries to climb up using Duk’s shoulders for footing, but Duk is able to grab Miguelito’s legs and prevent him from climbing up further.

We go to commercial break (with a cur TNT promo serving as a bookend) and come back to Duk missing a legdrop. Perez gets an atomic drop, several punches and hits his powerslam. This gives Perez the opening to climb up the pole and retrieve the kendo stick. El Profe made an attempt to grab Perez during his climb but was stopped by the referee. Miguelito now has possession of the kendo stick, meaning he can now use it on Duk. Miguelito comes off the top but is caught with a punch to the midsection by Duk. The two men fight over the kendo stick. As Duk and Miguelito struggle to see who gets the kendo stick, Huracan Castillo (who is seconding Perez) sees Profe making a move and tries to get closer. The ref stops Castillo and warns him to stay in his assigned corner. With the ref distracted, Profe reaches in to trip up Perez but screws up once more by inadvertently tripping Duk as well. Perez ends up with the kendo stick, hits Duk several times with it and makes the cover for the win. Perez is the new Caribbean champion as the crowd cheers. 

Post match, Duk is angry with Profe over another accident costing him the match (and in this case the title). Profe gets in the ring but instead of apologizing, he starts berating Duk for losing the match, even touching Duk’s face during his tirade. Duk has had enough and attacks Profe as the crowd explodes in cheers. El Profe gets a big chop and a slam, but before Duk can do more damage, the Motor City Madman runs in to attack Duk. Madman and Profe double team Duk and Madman uses the kendo stick to bust Duk open and leave him laying in the ring. On commentary, Profe is calling Madman a man of honor and class, who was there to defend him against the cretin attacking him. Hugo mentions that we are out of time and will not be able to have a show close and Profe just keeps hurling insults at Duk and celebrating the attack by Madman. The show ends with Duk busted open and then cutting to a scene of Duk being stretchered out after the attack.

MD: This felt fresh. I don’t think we’ve seen any of these in this run. And obviously it’s at the end of a big feud with a title change and a surprisingly over face turn and high heat angle, so there was a lot going on here. As for the match itself, it was a lot of Perez trying to climb to get the kendo stick at the top of the (surprisingly long) pole and Duk pulling him off but that kept things moving and the offense was credible and fans were behind Perez. Perez did get it but that never ends these things as they started fighting over it. Profe tried to trip Perez from outside; they both fell; Perez nailed him with the stick and won.

Post match, Profe tried to smooth things over but Duk unloaded on him and the fans went nuts. Some of it was Profe (who’s been so front and center on the heel side since Chicky left) finally getting his. Some was probably familiarity with Duk as he’d been there for a while now. Motor City Madman ran out and they completely clobbered him with the stick leading to lots of blood and a stretcher job. I don’t know how exactly we ended up in a world with a 1991 Kim Duk babyface turn in Puerto Rico but here we are.

EB: We also have the west coast version of Superestrellas de la Lucha Libre from February 23.

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

Hugo welcomes the viewers to this week’s program and immediately mentions that we have a new Caribbean champion in Miguelito Perez. The go to a clip of what happened at the end of the match, with El Profe screwing up again, which led to Perez getting the win and the title. They also show the post match incident between Profe and Duk, including Motor City Madman running in to save Profe. Duk is busted open and left laying. Back to Hugo in the studio who has a big announcement. Due to the vicious beating that happened after the match, Kim Duk has demanded to face El Profe in a one on one and that will happen today on this program. Hugo mentions the other matches on the program before talking about the upcoming house shows. Due to the show happening in Carolina the next day ,there will be no show in the west coast area tomorrow. However, they will be in Moca on Thursday and they will be back in Cabo Rojo next Sunday March 3 (we’ll run down the scheduled card in a bit). 

Our first match is joined in progress and it is Dick Murdoch vs Super Medico #1. Murdoch is cowering in the corner from Medico, who has the upper hand and has been hitting Murdoch with punches. Hugo is on commentary and warns that Medico needs to be careful because Murdoch is a dangerous individual. Medcio switches to kicking Murdoch in the corner, but Dick is able to grab one of the kicks and trip up Medico. A quick jab to the eye allows Murdoch the chance to stand up. Medico regains control but misses a corner headbutt charge. Murdoch stomps Medico’s head and then tosses him outside to the floor. Murdoch rams Medico’s shoulder into the post and then tosses him back inside. Dick hits several punches to the face and chokes Medico right in front of the referee. Murdoch motions at Joe Smith at ringside and Joe passes  him what looks to be a rope or wire that is used to choke Medico.  The ref tries to get Murdoch to break but Dick refuses, and Murdoch ends up being disqualified. Murdoch continues choking out Medico #1, and does not let go until El Vikingo has to physically pull Murdoch away. Medico #3 comes out to check on his father as the segment ends.

MD: Not enough punches here, because we came in JIP and then it was clipped up, so we even miss Medico’s really nice headbutt (I’m sure). A great transition early as Murdoch catches the stomp and hits a few quick punches to take over. He eventually dodges a corner charge and then hits his running ringpost shoulder charge on the outside. Then, as he has the advantage, his second (in the baseball get up), passes him a rope and he choke Medico. When the ref tries to stop him he does the most passive aggressive little headbutt to push him away. Anyway, he was dominant but still lost so everyone keeps their heat. I bet this was even better in full.

EB: We go to a series of promos regarding the different matches scheduled for the next week. Original TNT and El Profe are up first, and it seems Original TNT is facing Kim Duk on Thursday. Profe goes on a tirade, indicating that Duk was never his friend, he is rash, and he will be taught a lesson on Thursday. Hugo takes the opportunity to remind the viewers that later on the program we will have Kim Duk vs. El Profe. Hugo also gets comments regarding the Sunday March 3 match against TNT, to which Original TNT does his usual spiel about TNT being an impostor. 

MD: We’re in a wild world where with hot new babyface Kim Duk and Original TNT still around for some reason and calling people imposters. I actually think the two of them will match up pretty well, just not, you know, for long or anything.

EB: Next is Monster Ripper with the Caribbean tag team champions of Rick Valentine and Galan Mendoza. Their scheduled matches are Thursday against Huracan Castillo Jr. and the returning Ricky Santan and on Sunday March 3 against the Super Medicos. Ripper says that she doesn't have much to say because it doesn’t matter who her guys face, she has total confidence in them. They are champions for a reason. Mendoza says that Castillo knows him very well, so he wants Castillo to let Ricky Santana know what awaits him (as holds up his gloved fist). Valentine and he are the champions and will remain champions no matter who their opponents are. Valentine provides comments about the match against the Super Medicos, it is a non title match. Valentine says that it’ll be another time the Medicos will lose against them again.

MD: Now that I know we’re theoretically getting some new feuds soon I’m sort of over the Valentine/Mendoza vs Super Medicos feud. I think this might be the most effective partner for Valentine of them all though because Mendoza knows this is his biggest push he’s going to get and he’s able to hang on the promos with Ripper doing something more over the top. 

EB: Our last interview of this segment is Dick Murdoch with his sidekick Joe Smith. Murdoch is facing Invader #1 on Thursday in Moca (which Murdoch deliberately misunderstands as Monkey, an appropriate town name for Puerto Rico). Murdoch also complains about the awful food Joe’s mother fed him. Murdoch promises that Invader will just be a stepping stone on his way to facing Carlos Colon on Sunday. Murdoch has been waiting a long time to get in the ring against Colon, and this is what it is all about. Murdoch says some choice comments about it being a great white man against Colon (with some racial insults thrown in), reminding Colon about an incident in Kansa City when they wouldn't allow Colon in a restaurant (which Murdoch enjoyed) and now he will embarrass Colon in his home country,  

We get the card rundown for Thursday February 28 in Moca: Carlos Colon & TNT vs. the Texas Hangmen; Invader #1 vs. Dick Murdoch;  Miguelito Perez vs. Motor City Madman; Kim Duk vs Original TNT; Huracan Castillo Jr. & Ricky Santana vs. Galan Menodza & Rick Valentine; and Sasha vs. Monster Ripper.

And next Sunday March 3 in Cabo Rojo, we have: Carlos Colon vs. Dick Murdoch; Invader #1 & Bronco #1 vs. the Texas Hangmen; TNT vs. Original TNT; Jeff Jarrett vs. Greg Valentine; Kim Duk vs. Motor City Madman; Miguelito Perez defends the Caribbean title against Scott Hall; Ricky Santana challenges Mr. Pogo for the World Junior title; and the Super Medicos vs. Galan Mendoza & Rick Valentine.

MD: I’m never going to clip these promos because they’re so blatantly racist and because Murdoch was part of the klan and what have you but they’re something alright. Usually about 2/3rds of them would pass but not that last third. Just his reactions while Hugo (Herbert) is talking and the stuff he does with his hands to mimic the brainbuster. I suggest you go and click on the link and see them, but no way am I clipping them. Anyway, he really sells the Invader match and the Colon match here. I’d want to see him get his ass handed to him if I was there. That’s for sure.

EB: We go back to Miramar for Motor City Madman vs. Nick Ayala. Skandor Akbar is at ringside for Madman, and this match is short as Madman quickly grabs Ayala and does his inverted vice into the head rams on the turnbuckle maneuver. Hugo barely had time to ask Eliud Gonzalez about the union we apparently have between General Skandor Akbar’s Devastation Inc. and El Profe before the match ended when referee Victor Quiñonez called for the bell. 

MD: Very short work here as he hits a kick and then his repeated over the shoulder snake eyes thing over and over and over again. I love seeing it so I was fine with this.

EB: We now go to some interviews with the tecnicos, beginning with the recently turned Kim Duk (or as Hugo introduces him,  the new Kim Duk). Duk first asks the people to stay tuned so they can see him get his revenge against El Profe. Duk says he will be competition for Original TNT on Thursday and will show him what Duk is made of. Next Sunday Duk gets a chance to face Motor City Madman, who left him laid out and bloodied. Duk says that Madman made a mistake because Duk is still here. Duk never went down and now they will show the people who is strong. 

MD: Considering how terrible a promo Duk has been through this entire run as a heel, he did pretty well here as a fired up babyface with a chip on his shoulder. Motor City Madman made one mistake, KIm Duk is still there! I mean, sure, let’s go with it. Why not?

EB: Huracan is next to talk about the tag match against Mendoza & Valentine (he’s happy to team up again with Santana and they will give the champions the beating they deserve).  

MD: Perez is getting the bigger singles push so Ricky Santana is coming back in to team with Castillo against Valentine and Mendoza. That’ll be fresh at least. Santana really had a relatively short run last time. Usually they space the promos out by feud on these episodes but here they’re just pulling whoever is around one after the other.

EB: Invader # follows, commenting first on his match this coming Thursday against Dick Murdoch. Invader says that Murdoch is racist, but he also has a lot of experience and is a great wrestler. Murdoch loves to talk and drag Puerto Ricans through the mud. Invader says that when that bell rings on Thursday, Murdoch will regret speaking badly about Puerto Ricans, because when you come over here you have to respect us. He’ll make sure Murdoch starts respecting Invader this Thursday. Bronco #1 joins the interview to talk about the scheduled match against the Texas Hangmen next Sunday. Bronco says they’ve had a lot of battles, but he’s got this feeling that the end is near for the Hangmen. The careers of the Hangmen are in his and Invader’s hands and they will give the final blow next Sunday. Invader asks the fans to make sure they come out and support them next Sunday, and that he and Bronco have one thing on their minds, to send the Hangmen out of Puerto Rico. 

MD: Invader cut an impassioned promo here against Murdoch. He had the mask on since they then pulled Bronco in to cut a promo on the Hangmen, but it helped the anti-Murdoch promo. Honestly, this made me want to see what would happen if Murdoch faced off against Bronco. I bet he’d get a ton out of how stylized his movement was.

EB: Our next match is a joined in progress clip from 1989 from Original TNT’s first run. His opponent is White Angel and this is mainly shown to put over Original TNT and his cobra sleeper. Angel makes a comeback, but Chicky Starr distracts Angel and Original TNT gets the cobra sleeper for the win 

MD: I was going to say we hadn’t seen Thompson in forever which made me wonder when this was from, and lo and behold, as he’s making his big comeback, there’s Chicky to get up on the apron and distract him to set up Original TNT’s Cobra. So they just didn’t have much recent to show Original TNT winning. This was quick and decisive but weirdly highlighted Chicky in a way you’d figure they wouldn’t want to.

EB: Motor City Madman and his manager Skandor Akbar are here for an interview about the upcoming matches Madman has. Akbar says that he hopes Miguelito’s dad taught him well for the match on Thursday, because the Madman is going to bring down that big 747 on Perez and that will be all that Perez will remember. Next Sunday Madman faces Kim Duk and Madman feels betrayed by Duk. He promises that he will leave Duk laid out again. Madman makes sure to take off his sunglasses when he speaks to the camera and puts them back on as soon as he’s done talking.

MD: Man having Akbar around is great. He just has this gravitas with his deep voice and enunciation. And even invoking Devastation, Inc. When he says he hopes Perez’s dad trained him well you believe that there’s deep history there. He cuts the promo on Perez for the first match and then Mad Man cuts a quick one on Kim Duk (saying they were just drinking beer together but now he was hanging out with Colon). 

EB: El Profe and the Texas Hangmen are up next to talk about their upcoming matches. This Thursday the Hangmen take on Carlos Colon & TNT (the team they feuded with in November) and Psycho says this has to be a nightmare for Colon & TNT, a reminder of the beatings and blood that has been spilled when facing the Hangmen. Next Sunday they face their current enemies Invader #1 & Bronco #1 and this may be the last time the tecnicos step into the war zone, the Hangmen are tired of facing them and want to end the tecnicos once and for all.

MD: Again, covering a lot of ground with one Hangman handling one match and the other the other. The first is the flag match with Invader and Colon and the second the next one with Bronco and Invader. A flag match was novel and they did a little catch phrase about pain being their policy and hanging their game (or something like that). This has been unquestionably a legitimate main event run for them. Yes Greg Valentine has been bouncing around but he’s wrestling Jeff Jarrett on the undercard of one of these shows, so come on.

EB: Ricky Santana is returning and we get a repeat of the music video set to Tom Jones’ ‘Kiss’.  What a heartthrob Santana is. 

MD: It’s the same music video from last time he showed up with the same girls (three Colons included) on the bus. I don’t remember him ducking a half dozen Profe shots to hit him with an atomic drop but I bet that was in there too. 

EB: The super team of Carlos Colon and TNT are in the studio with Hugo to talk about their tag match against the Hangmen on Thursday and their respective singles matches next Sunday. Carlos says that El Profe’s words don’t bother them at all, instead they are focused on finishing the Hangmen off on Thursday in order to weaken El Club Deportivo. TNT agrees with Carlos and then they move to next Sunday. Carlos says he has been waiting for this match and it will be one of the most important days of his career. It will be his chance to avenge something Murdoch did to him, and he will make sure that this dog, this charlatan gets the revenge coming to him. He wants the fans to be there next Sunday to see how you beat respect into a racist and charlatan such as Dick Murdoch.  TNT talks about how Original TNT keeps talking about how he is the real one, but it’s interesting that he still has not signed the contract for the match challenge TNT has given, one where the name and paint will be on the line (as was originally scheduled for Aniversario 89). TNT promises to give Original TNT such a beating that he will have no choice but to exit the island. There’s a brief clip of Sasha talking that gets cut off, where Sasha was asking the fans to be there Thursday to support her in her match against Monster Ripper.

MD: This one I think was maybe a little blunted because they had to cover too much disparate ground. I wanted to see Colon really lay it into Murdoch. After this we get a few seconds of Sasha before the tape cuts, so we’ll never know what she was going to say.

EB: Our main event for the program is Kim Duk taking on his former manager El Profe, and boy is this crowd hot for Kim Duk. El Profe is already in the ring as Duk makes his way out, and as Duk gets ready you can hear the crowd making noise and Profe trying to hush them. A loud ‘Kim Duk’ chant breaks out as Duk gets in the ring, and El Profe starts begging off. Profe rolls out, Duk gives chase and Profe almost makes it to the safety of the nearby boxing ring but gets caught by Duk. Profe gets rammed face first onto the ring apron and into the wall as the crowd is excited to see Profe get his comeuppance. Back in the ring, Duk gets a big chop on Profe and starts slapping Profe across the face. The beating continues with Profe getting no offense and Duk at one point makes an attempt to unlace Profe’s mask. Profe immediately drops to the ground and the ref warns Duk to stop doing that. Duk signals to the crowd that he's going for the mask and continues making attempts to unlace Profe’s mask. The ref again stops Duk and Profe tries to re-lace his mask. Duk goes back on the attack and hits a hotshot on Profe. A throat thrust and choke follow, with a punch from Duk leaving Profe face down with his legs on the bottom rope.  Duk gets the cobra sleeper on Profe, but Motor City Madman hits the ring and attacks Duk to save Profe. Skandor Akbar is also at ringside. Akbar gives instructions to Madman, who grabs the kendo stick and attacks Duk with it. The match is a disqualification win for Duk but he did not get his full measure of revenge. 

We then go to Hugo for the show close, where he reminds the west coast fans of the cards on Thursday and next Sunday.

MD: This was really good in just the few minutes we have of it. Duk is legitimately over. Profe is excellent running away from him (including almost into the neighboring boxing ring). Just a really nice stooging performance from Profe as he pinballs and begs off. Duk stands tall as a vet with his years knows how to and it’s building to a real mauling when Madman comes in to break things up. Nice taste to show what Duk as a babyface could be and keep things churning to bigger matches. 

EB: Next time on El Deporte de las Mil Emociones, a lot of feuds seem to have reached a boiling point as we get the final hype for the Colon vs. Murdoch showdown (including a rare Carlos Colon TV studio match), feud recaps for two big apuestas matches, and a look back at a mask vs hair match from November 1990 between the Super Medicos and Eric Embry & Rick Valentine. 

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El Deporte de las Mil Emociones: La Batalla Final

Week 14: La Batalla Final

It has been nine months since Sadistic Steve Strong's arrival in CSP. We have followed his path of destruction and chaos throughout 1989, which included him winning the Universal title, injuring Carlos Colon’s shoulder, facing off against nearly every top tecnico in the territory, and main eventing Aniversario. The fallout from Aniversario has resulted in the Universal title being held up and now we have arrived at what has been named ‘La Batalla Final’ (The Final Battle). This encounter between Colon and Strong will decide the Universal champion. It will also result in one of the two men leaving the territory. The stakes are high for Thanksgiving Day.

This late 1989 period is one where results are more spotty compared to earlier in the year. As such, we don’t really have the full lineup for the Thanksgiving Day card but we do have some results and matches which we’ll talk about shortly. But before then, let’s check in on some of the wrestlers and how things are going as we head towards the end of November.

First, we’ll catch up feud wise with what’s been happening with Invader #1, TNT, Super Medico. Gary Albright and some others next time, but do know that they’ve been active and all of them were likely on the Thanksgiving Day card (I suspect Invader against either Abudda Dein or Gary Albright, Medico likely defended the World Junior title, and TNT likely faced off against one of Chicky’s guys). For some of these wrestlers whose roles on the Thanksgiving Day card aren’t clear, let’s check on how they’re performing on TV.

As we’ve seen previously, besides being the reigning World Junior champion, Super Medico has been taking on a few of the rudos in matches taped for tv. While he has made a good showing of himself, Medico ended up on the losing end vs Manny Fernandez and Leo Burke. Let’s see him in action once more, this time against Abudda Dein.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RD1mgsQXi6I

As we saw earlier, Abudda has been back in singles competition since losing the World tag titles at Aniversario. He is coming off a series of matches with Invader #1 where he was unsuccessful in bringing back the Puerto Rico title to El Profe’s Real Academia stable. Also,  by this point the chatter around his suspected to be loaded boot has increased during his most recent series with Invader #1. Here Abudda is taking on Super Medico. They start with an exchange of various arm wringers, leading to Abudda going to the ropes to break the hold and going outside to regroup. Profe comes over to give Dein some advice and Dein takes control with a knee to the stomach once he gets back in the ring, Medico manages to regain control by countering out of a side headlock and works Dein’s arm. The commentators (Hector Moyano and Eliud Gonzalez) mention that Medico has the quickness advantage and can nearly match Dein in strength. Medico continues to maintain the upper hand in the hold exchanges and settles into a side headlock, one that Dein tries to get out of by grabbing onto Medico’s mask. The referee stops Dein each time he tries to grab the mask. Dein manages to send Medico into the ropes but Medico keeps countering Dein’s attempts at getting offense in. Back to the side headlock, which Dein once again counters by sending Medico into the ropes. A bodypress attempt by Medico is countered into a backbreaker, allowing Dein to grab control of the match. Dein drops Medico throat first on the top rope and continues to work Medico’s throat area with foot chokes. Eliud mentions that they have to work fast because there's only a 10 minute time limit for this match (it seems this is the standard tv match time limit in CSP). Medico manages to regain control by kicking Dein in the head coming off the ropes. Medico hits a flurry of punches and a sunset flip gets two. A dropkick sends Dein outside and the referee stops Medico from going after Dein. With the ref’s back turned, Dein takes the opportunity to load up his boot by stomping it against the mat three times. He kicks Medico in the gut and goes for a pin attempt, but referee El Vikingo has turned around earlier just as Dein was finishing ‘loading’ his boot by stomping it on the mat. It looks like the secret’s out regarding Abudda’s boot  as El Vikingo shakes his finger at Dein and calls for the bell. Dein is disqualified for using a loaded boot. The referee raises the downed Medico’s arm declaring him the winner while Dein leaves the ring celebrating like he had won the match.

MD: A little less than five minutes here. I was expecting Dein to win with the boot but the ref caught him. Before that, Medico had the advantage wrestling wise, but Dein was able to assert himself through his power and cheating, primarily targeting the throat. Medico looked good fighting from underneath here and Dein look sufficiently cruel and unyielding. For a guy who didn’t have too many big runs elsewhere, Dein was credible in this role.

EB: Somebody we need to keep our eyes on is Manny Fernandez. After Aniversario, Manny helped Chicky attack Carlos Colon as a result of Chicky feeling that Steve Strong had been robbed of the Universal title. Manny’s been on a bit of a winning streak on tv and he looks to continue his winning ways against Huracan Castillo Jr.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F65sWRi4tZU

Huracan has been recently immersed in a tag feud with Los Mercenarios since losing the Caribbean tag titles at Aniversario. But with Miguelito Perez having won the Puerto Rico title, both Castillo and Perez have also taken a few more singles matches recently. Here is one such case as Castillo tries his luck against Manny Fernandez. As both men face off to start, Hector Moyano mentions that hurricanes in Puerto Rico bring bad memories but this one here (Castillo) is loved by the fans. A few lockups are exchanged and it becomes clear that Castillo is not backing down, shoving Manny when they broke one of the lock ups. A few exchanges early on see Castillo get the better of Manny, but Manny gets some words from Chicky and decides to go for Castillo’s leg when they lock up again. Chicky talks smack to the camera which is drowned out by some chanting fans. Manny continues to work on the leg while on the mat as Castillo tries to fight out of it. This is pretty much the middle portion of the match, with Manny working the leg in different holds on the mat. Castillo tries maneuvering Manny into a couple of pin attempts but Manny manages to kick out and continue with the hold. The end of the match comes when they take it off the mat. Castillo manages to come back on Manny after a kick of the ropes. Castillo hits a series of moves including a slam and an elbow drop, but Manny cuts him off with a punch to the stomach. Manny knocks Castillo down coming off the ropes and, when doing a criss cross, catches Castillo with a DDT for two.  Castillo tries to counter with a standing switch into a cradle, but Manny holds onto the rope and sends Castillo tumbling backwards on the mat. This sets up Manny’s standing elbow smash and Manny gets the win. We’ll have to see if this winning streak catapults Manny into a title opportunity against one of the territory's champions.

MD: There was a cute bit at the start as the commentary carefully links Castillo to the recent hurricane due to his nickname. Between some of the new footage and just delving into what’s out there, we have a bit more of this Manny/Chicky run than we initially thought, which is good as he fit in so well here. He was only 35 or so here, really a prime age to anchor a territory even if he probably had a lot of wear and tear on the wheels. They worked a chunk of this on the mat with Castillo going for a cross armbreaker and Manny trying to keep a leglock. It opened up after that with Manny beating Castillo down and Castillo trying to fire up before they went into the finish, with Manny catching Castillo out of nowhere with a DDT and then hitting a twisting back elbow off the ropes. This made me want to see Chicky and Manny go up against Castillo and Perez.

EB: Let’s talk about what we do know about the Thanksgiving Day show. On tv it was announced that the Youngbloods would be defending the World tag titles against Los Mercenarios. While we’ll talk a bit more about these two teams and any potential result from Thanksgiving Day next time, let's take this opportunity to further showcase both teams in action  (and take advantage that we have some rarely seen matches available).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbTP_yQhPz0

Once again Los Mercenarios are facing Maelo Huertas and a tag partner on tv, with Herbert Gonzalez being Maelo’s partner this time. The tecnicos in these matches against Los Mercenarios have made a good showing of themselves, although Los Mercenarios have proven too wily and managed to remain victorious. This match is not that different from what we’ve previously seen. Maelo gets some shine when he’s in the ring to start, getting the better of Mercenario #1 (Acevedo) and then Mercenario #2 (Morrow) to start before tagging Herbert in. To his credit Herbert maintains control with a side headlock for  a few moments, before Mercenario #2 works out of the hold and tags in Mercenario #1. Herbert manages to reverse an armlock but gets trapped in the corner. An attempted double team fails when Herbert ducks out of the way. Herbert keeps up the pressure and tags Maelo in, who continues on the offensive attack. The tecnicos are giving a good fight to Los Mercenarios.  Mercenario #2 is tagged back in and the tide turns after a knee to the back of Maelo when he was coming off the ropes. Los Mercenarios continue to show that they'll rely on wily shortcuts to get and maintain their advantage. Los Mercenarios work over Maelo for a while but Maelo is able to counter with a clothesline and tags in Herbert. All four men end up in the ring and it looks like the tecnicos may be getting control of the match. However, as the referee is escorting Maelo out of the ring, Los Mercenarios sneak in and hit a double DDT on Herbert and steal the win. It’s very clear how Los Mercenarios are operating as Caribbean tag champions.

MD: Pretty complete for a five minute match, maybe too much so as I’m not sure the Mercenarios should be giving up so much, even if Cuban Assassin is a great bumping stooge. Morrow has a couple of bumps in him each match too. The more I see of Maelo the more sense I get that he excelled in his role at the top of the enhancement guys. He was always on, always fighting, had some dynamic, explosive offense, and bumped big. He took a great butterfly suplex from Morrow here. He rolled into a nice hot tag too. Morrow and the Assassin were just too good at working behind the ref’s back though and they hit a double DDT out of nowhere for the pin.

EB: Let’s also check in on the Youngbloods, who are taking on an odd couple team in Abudda Dein and El Exotico (although maybe not that odd if you remember that Dein has just teamed for a couple of months with Rip Rogers).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAxdeFch7ko

We have some interesting looks here as the combatants are arriving to the ring. Exotico has heart frame shades and a spray can that he is using to spray the ring. We heard Hector Moyano mention that Exotico did this in a previous match but here we get to see his pre-match method of dealing with stinky opponents. The Youngbloods arrive and we see that Chris is wearing his ceremonial skull mask. Moyano mentions that the ring is very fragrant after Exotico did his thing with the spray can. Everyone starts getting on Exotico’s case, with the crowd catcalling him ,the Youngbloods making gestures at him and even the commentators making a comment or two about how he goes about things (it’s 1989 after all). Exotico and Chris start off and Exotico has no luck in there against Chris. Dein tries to help by grabbing Chris at one point but the double team gets botched when Chris gets out of the way. Chris tags Mark in, who then dropkicks Exotico. After fleeing to his corner and hugging Dein for protection, Exotico complains about having his hair pulled. Dein starts complaining about that happening as well and, for some reason, grabs Exotico by the hair and starts shaking him around to show the referee what had supposedly happened. As Dein finishes doing this, Mark sneaks up behind Exotico and basically pinches his butt. Exotico is not happy about that but Mark continues with the advantage once they lock up again. El Profe goes over to the commentary table and defends Exotico by saying ‘he’s just a delicate young man, don’t be thinking what it’s not, he’s just delicate’. Over three minutes in Dein finally gets tagged in but doesn’t fare much better than Exotico. This match has been all Youngbloods so far. Dein makes the tag to Exotico and, surprisingly, Exotico goes on a successful offensive flurry (including an eye poke). It doesn’t last long as Mark counters a suplex attempt and tags Chris back in. After a brief moment where all four men end up in the ring, Exotico gets isolated and falls victim to a slingshot splash. The Youngbloods get a dominant win.

MD: I went back to isolate a version of this with the entrances too. Exotico had the glasses, was spraying Arrogance all over the place, and put his arm on Profe’s shoulder only for Profe to shrug him off. Thankfully, Dein helped him take off his robe so he could pose, though. Chris had the cool skull mask too so all was right with the wrestling world. Profe, to his infinite credit, expressed some concern for Exoitco as the Youngbloods were tossing him around. Very little heat here. Lots of begging off and stooging. Dein was sort of dragged down by his partner and felt more on his level than as the name guy teamed with the enhancement guy. The Youngbloods were pretty good at asserting themselves too, which maybe didn’t help. Still, it’s fun to see Exotico do his thing.

EB: With his winning record so far in CSP, Leo Burke is challenging for the Caribbean title on Thanksgiving. This will be a tough opponent for the reigning champion Miguel Perez Jr. Let’s go to that match.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5IxwGKYK14

This match video is from a Campeones airing about two weeks after the Thanksgiving Day show, so the commentary does provide a bit of context about certain happenings. In this case, Carlos Colon is talking about a match he had with Leo Burke the previous week that went to a draw.  I mention this because this is a thread we’ll pick back up next time. As for this match, we are at Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez in Bayamon. Burke has been presented as the master of the figure-four in his run so far and is looking to bring the Caribbean title to El Club Deportivo. Miguel tries to charge at Leo right at the bell but both Leo and Chicky are in the corner complaining to the ref that Burke has not taken his jacket off. The ref tells Chicky to get out of the ring as Burke goes to the apron and then to the floor. Chicky comes over to help Leo take off the jacket and the two share a hug as the crowd gives them static. Hugo on commentary starts asking Chicky about the nature of the hug,  which Chicky answers by saying that the hug means something that’s not Hugo’s or anyone else’s business. Carlos mentions that all of Leo’s complaining about the jacket is mind games by Burke and that an inexperienced wrestler might be taken in by these mind games if not careful. Carlos also credits Burke with being a great wrestler. Burke slows the pace of the match down by exiting the ring when Miguel tries to lock up. Eventually, Leo gets caught by Miguel and falls victim to an offensive flurry. Burke escapes to the outside and complains to Chicky about a blow to the eyes. Burke gets back in and Miguel takes control again on offense. Hugo mentions that Miguel is in control but Carlos responds that he seems to be anxious and aggressive and that you have to be careful against someone like Leo Burke. You have to be more calculated in your approach. Burkle continues stalling outside of the ring after once more escaping Miguelito’s attack. Leo finally gains control with a hairpull (something Chicky denies on commentary). We go to and come back from a commercial break with Burke working on Miguelito's arm. Hugo mentions that Burke is a very smart wrestler as he broke the hold when the ref caught him but quickly slapped it back on (so the break was no longer forced). Burke continues working on the arm. Miguelito gets some blows in but another hairpull allows Burke to continue in control and work the arm. The crowd tries to rally behind Miguelito, who after a while of being worked over, manages to rally and fire off some punches to knock Burke off him. Miguelito goes on the attack and gets a few pinfall attempts (including one off a bodyslam into a legdrop). But on another slam attempt, Burke grabs Miguelito’s leg and doesn’t let go, allowing Burke to trip Perez to the mat. Burke quickly puts Miguelito in the figure four, and although Perez tries to hold out, the referee calls for the bell .We have a new Caribbean champion! As Isaac Rosario motions for the title belt, Burke continues to keep the figure four locked in (something we’ve seen him do in his previous matches). But unlike those other instances where Burke broke the hold when the ref warned him, Burke refuses to break the hold despite several attempts by the ref to get Burke to break the hold. As a result, the referee reverses the decision and disqualifies Burke. Miguel remains the Caribbean champion but Burke has shown that he knows how to do damage with that figure four leglock of his. Burke finally breaks the hold when TNT and Super Medico run in to help Miguelito.

MD: Carlos is on commentary here and they’re talking about an hour long match he had with Burke the previous week that went to a draw and that sounds amazing. We obviously do not have it. Burke was excellent here, spending the first five minutes stooging and having his arm worked over and stalling again and again. He took over with hairpulls and they ratcheted up the heat with hope spots and perfectly timed cutoffs. When Perez finally came back, the place came unglued. Then out of nowhere after a slam, Burke snuck in a trip and locked in the figure four. Perez tried to fight but had to give up and the crowd was visibly upset. Burke kept the hold on, however, and the decision got reversed. It didn’t necessarily make anyone happy (maybe relieved) but it kept Burke elevated while keeping the belt on Perez and giving Chicky something to complain about.

EB: According to the Wrestling Observer both Koko B Ware and Harley Race worked the Thanksgiving Day show for CSP. And we actually have Koko’s match from this show, as he takes on El Profe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iYI05GxgvI

We get an interesting comment early on from Hugo where he mentions that Koko has been sent as a replacement for an injured Hillbilly Jim. So it looks like Hillbilly Jim may have been initially announced for this show. The crowd is hot for this as we start and it's definitely a treat to see Koko in this environment. El Profe jumps Koko at the bell but Koko counters with a backdrop and a couple of dropkicks that send Profe to the outside. The crowd goes wild as Koko flaps his arms and claps his hands in the ring. El Profe regains his composure on the outside and you can see that Frankie is with Koko, sitting on his perch on the left side of the ring. Profe is not happy with the corwd’s cheers for Koko and raises his arms to ask for the crowd to applaud him (which doesn’t happen). Profe gets back in the ring but immediately runs into a couple of armdrags and a dropkick that sends him flying through the ropes and back outside. El Profe is visibly annoyed and starts jawing with some fans on the outside. Profe gets near Frankie while pacing around the ring, which prompts Koko to head to the ring apron and back Profe off from getting close to Frankie. El Profe gets back in the ring as Koko again fires up the crowd. Profe then decides to get on the middle turnbuckle looking at the crowd and starts hitting some muscle poses (Hugo: El Profe showing off his muscles, unfortunately we don’t see it this way). Koko then starts motioning to the crowd if he should take Profe’s mask off, which gets loud cheers from the crowd. El Profe is not amused with this development. Profe jumps onto the middle turnbuckle to get away from Koko, but Koko catches Profe and slams him off. Koko immediately goes for the laces on Profe’s mask but Profe manages to slide out of the ring. Profe complains to the ref about Koko going after his mask. He gets back in the ring and tries to shake hands with Koko. The crowd yells no at Koko, who looks to consider it. However, when Profe gets closer Koko mocks Profe to the crowd’s delight. El Profe kicks the bottom rope in anger and gets into a boxing stance, which prompts someone from the crowd to yell their approval. El Profe, bewildered by this reaction, turns back to the crowd and starts making calm down gestures, stalling once again. Koko sneaks up behind Profe again and starts undoing the laces of Profe’s mask, but referee El Vikingo pulls Koko off Profe, allowing Profe to bail to the outside. El Profe complains again to the referee about Koko going after his mask and takes his time relacing it. Back in the ring, Koko sends Profe into the turnbuckle but misses a charge into the corner. El Profe finally is in control and proceeds to hit an illegal thrust to the throat. Profe chokes Koko on the bottom rope and starts shouting to the crowd that he is the master here. Koko struggles to get up but Profe is on him with several kicks. Profe places Koko on the middle rope and chokes Koko while taunting Frankie at ringside. Profe breaks and proceeds to choke Koko again while taunting Frankie once more. Profe raises his arms in victory, but Koko starts slapping the mat to get the crowd behind him. Koko lands a headbutt which seems to hurt him a bit (I’m guessing Profe may have his mask loaded) and Profe hits a knee that sends Koko outside. El Profe hits a few blows to keep Koko outside when Koko tries to get in the ring. Hugo on commentary mentions that although Profe is mainly a manager he is someone that is capable in the ring and to not forget that he was World Junior champion at one point as well. Koko finally gets back in the ring by stunning Profe and hitting a sunset flip into the ring. Profe kicks out and immediately drops an elbow on Koko to cut him off. El Profe maintains control but makes the mistake of missing a diving headbutt of the middle rope. Koko ’birds up’ (I mean, what else do you call it?) and proceeds to go on the attack. Koko rams Profe’s head ten times into the turnbuckle and fakes Profe out with a reverse crossbody attempt. This leads to a great dropkick off the top rope and a sunset flip to give Koko the win to the crowd’s delight. A fun match with a hot crowd and two wrestlers just masterfully playing to the crowd.

MD: This was during the period where Koko was fired after the Jim Troy altercation. Profe was in full stooging, stalling, and feeding mode too, but then that’s part of what makes Puerto Rico so great. Great spot early on where Koko teased taking off the mask and Profe hefted himself back to sit on the top turnbuckle in retreat only for Koko to toss him right off. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen that done out quite like that. The fans loved the idea of Koko maybe getting Profe’s mask off, but he ended up taking out his own throat on a missed corner splash. That let Profe take over, first targeting the throat and then with a king of the mountain segment. Koko hulked up big with his birdman arm waves and absolutely took Profe’s head off with a missile dropkick. This was very fun for what it was.

EB: The big match for this Thanksgiving card is La Batalla Final for the held up Universal title. No time limit, no disqualification, there must be a winner, Chicky is banned from ringside and the loser must honor their required stipulation (Colon must retire, Strong must leave Puerto Rico).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsXaBb4DgA0

It’s definitely been quite the run for Steve Strong in Puerto Rico and he looks to keep it going by finally getting rid of Carlos Colon. Hugo is doing the ring announcing and runs down the stipulations for the crowd and presents the combatants (with a loud roar for Carlos Colon). This match video is from a 2000’s Carlos Colon dvd release, so we’re getting a years later commentary team that includes El Profe. Strong has cut his hair since the last time we saw him and it does change the vibe a bit on his look. The crowd is hot as the bell rings and Colon and Strong proceed to switch back and forth on being the aggressor, Strong with clubbing blows to Colon’s back and Carlos with focused kicks to Strong’s legs. It’s clear what each man’s strategy for victory is early on, but it is Carlos that in the first few minutes is able to execute his plan of attack more effectively by working on Strong’s leg.  Strong bails to the outside to regroup but is immediately caught in a small package attempt when he gets back in the ring. Carlos is focused and has been able to be ahead of Strong so far in this match. Strong hasn’t really been able to get an advantage so far, so he tries the approach of goading Carlos into a test of strength. Carlos doesn’t go for it, kicking Strong in the stomach and continuing on the offensive. A frustrated Strong once again goes outside and grabs one of the ringside crowd barriers in an attempt to threaten Carlos with it. Security runs over to get the barricade away from Strong. This is a different dynamic from previous encounters between Carlos and Strong, it almost seems like Strong has been thrown off by Carlos having an answer for Strong so far and Carlos is not afraid of Strong at all.

It looks like Strong may have finally found an opening by catching Carlos with some blows in the corner, but an irish whip results in Strong missing a high knee into the turnbuckle and Colon starts working the leg once more. Strong throws Colon off on the first figure four attempt of the match but Carlos goes right back to attacking Strong. We see a quick shot of some of Carlos’ family in the crowd, as it’s his wife Nancy and two of his children (Stacy and Carly). They’re there supporting Carlos. In the ring, Strong is not able to stay standing due to the attack on his leg and tries to roll outside. Carlos gives chase though, and continues to focus his attack on Strong’s leg. Carlos gets back in the ring as Strong just looks perplexed and lost outside as to how the match is going. Maybe not having Chicky out there is affecting his ability to find an answer to the dominant Colon so far. It looks like Strong has lost one of his most powerful weapons, the ability to inspire fear.

Carlos eventually gets the figure four on Strong but he is able to hold out and fight the hold. A reversal sees Colon suffer the effects of the hold but Carlos manages to reach the ropes to break. Both men struggle to stand but Strong collapses from the damage to his leg. Carlos is hobbling as well, which allows Strong to land a clothesline and a tackle. But Strong’s attacks are coming off as desperate and Carlos starts dodging several of Strong's tackle attempts. Strong is not used to being in this position against an opponent and it’s affecting his strategy. Colon goes back on the attack but Strong hits a DDT to cut Carlos off. This finally gives Strong a clear opening and he hits Colon with a few legdrops. Strong looks to the crowd and it seems he’s starting to regain some of his confidence now that he is in control. Strong adjusts ‘Damian’ on his arm but Carlos counters with a small package attempt for two. Strong goes back on the attack. He sends Carlos to the outside and goes out to attack Colon. It looks like Strong is thinking about trying to injure Carlos by ramming him into the ring apron and then the post. However, Carlos counters and Strong’s the one that gets rammed into the post. Carlos tosses Strong back in the ring, leaps over the top rope and does a cartwheel. Carlos is feeling it and proceeds to do a kick Strong low (the match is no dq after all) and even bites Strong in the face. Crowd starts amping up as it looks like Carlos has the match in hand.  However, Strong counters with a clothesline and covers Colon after a brief offensive flurry for two. Strong hits a piledriver but it gets two. A powerslam attempt gets two. Strong decides to set up his loaded forearm and is able to hit Carlos with it. For the first time all match, Strong starts doing his hand symbols calling upon the powers of his dark gods. Strong pins Carlos but they are too close to the ropes and Colon gets a leg on the rope to stop the pinfall count. Strong is not happy about this and picks Carlos back up. After a few blows Strong puts Carlos up in a back body vice.  Carlos shifts his weight and is able to counter into a bridge for the three count! Strong now has to leave Puerto Rico and Carlos has regained the Universal title once more.
The crowd rushes to celebrate with an exhausted Carlos outside of the ring as an upset Strong goes to grab a piece of the barricade. The crowd is mobbing Carlos and security has to intervene to get them away to allow Carlos to be presented with the title belt. The wave of fans is moving around the ring and headed in Strong’s direction, who wisely backs up and gets inside of the ring. Carlos, who is being helped by a security guard on the outside, decides to get in the ring and attacks Strong before he can get a hit in with the barricade. Strong is chased out of the ring as the crowd once again surrounds Colon to celebrate on the outside. The sadistic one has been vanquished.

MD: For much of this match, it seemed like Strong had lost his magic. He looked bloated, his hair floppy, almost resembling late Wahoo, his gimmicked armguard replaced for tape. He moved a half-step slow. He spent the first seventeen minutes backpeddling, trying to avoid Colon’s shots at his legs, diving and missing attacks, absolutely laden with desperation. This was not the same Steve Strong of a few months earlier. Colon had his number. He survived the figure four, even took over, but something remained missing. The crowd was electric at the start of this, but they only went up so much for Colon’s cartwheel and low blow driven comeback. Then something shifted. Strong took back over. He hit the pile driver. He adjusted something under his arm tape and laid Colon out. He made his devil symbol to the crowd. He was finding himself once again and that fear and dread from his imposing presence permeated through the arena. It was too little and too late, however. He went for the over the shoulder backbreaker and Colon turned it into a pin. It became, once again, a celebratory scene with people rushing Carlos and with Carlos fighting Strong (who had grabbed part of the guardrail) off to vanquish him one last time. I wouldn’t say it was an auspicious ending to Strong’s year of terror, but just enough of that magic came back at the very end to make Colon’s win feel special.

Next time on El Deporte de las Mil Emociones, the clock is almost at midnight for 1989 as we head into December.

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