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

Week 22: The Tag Team Ides of March

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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El Deporte de las Mil Emociones: Tag Teams Back Again

Week 20: Tag Teams Back Again

EB: El Ejercito de la Justicia is in celebration as the Universal title is once again on the side of the tecnicos, but for the first time it is not Carlos Colon that is the reigning champion. After avenging the loss of his face paint, TNT has won the Universal title for El Ejercito de la Justicia and ended Leo Burke’s nearly two month long reign. The finish to the match had some controversy, as Carlos Colon ‘fought fire with fire’ and picked up a dropped foreign object that Chicky Starr had handed to Leo Burke. Colon decked Burke with it and TNT was able to score the pinfall. Burke and Chicky protested over what they felt was a gross injustice (conveniently ignoring all of the cheating they had done to win and keep the title for as long as they did). A rematch occurred between TNT and Leo Burke that went to a 60 minute time limit draw. This led to a no time limit rematch and TNT was successful in keeping the Universal title. With Burke’s chances being used up, it was time for a new challenger to step up. Who will it be? We’ll talk about it shortly.

With Leo Burke no longer the Universal champion, there were a few tecnicos that wanted to avenge some of the chicanery they had experienced at the hands of Burke and Chicky Starr. One of those wrestlers was Miguelito Perez, who we last saw being the victim of Burke’s figure four leglock in a tag match. Here we join a singles match between Perez and Burke, near its conclusion. 

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

This is just the last minute of the encounter and Miguelito has Burke on the run. Leo tries to escape through the ropes but Perez manages to stop him and continues the attack. Burke cuts off Perez with a kick to the midsection and hits a neckbreaker. Burke slowly makes his way to the top turnbuckle, but Perez catches him up there and slams him off. Perez sends Burke into the ropes to set up his powerslam, but as Perez picks him up, Burke shifts his weight and is able to small package Miguelito for a surprise pinfall. It happened so quickly that Perez initially didn’t realize that the three count was made, as he slammed Burke and tried to continue the attack. It's a clear reminder that Burke is still a skilled technician and very wily in the ring. 

MD: Only a minute but a good minute, with Burke very precise with a kick/neckbreaker combo, getting tossed off the turnbuckles, and then rolling Perez up on a body slam attempt. Nice banana peel finish that keeps everyone over. Perez got the slam post match, upset.

EB: Leo Burke would not remain without a title for long. With TNT’s Universal title win, the TV title he held was vacated. Burke ended up winning the vacant TV title at some point in February. As March approaches he is set to defend the TV title on March 3 against a returning face. One who hasn’t been in CSP for several years but was a big name in the late 70s and early 80s: Pierre Martel. We’ll follow this up next time. 

Beside TNT’s win, there were other happenings on that February 10 card from Caguas. The other big  match from that night was the boxer vs wrestler match between Alfredo Escalera and Chicky Starr. Escalera won the match by disqualification but not before giving Chicky a lesson in how to take boxing blows. It was an incident that would be brought up a few times on commentary in the weeks that followed, much to Chicky’s chagrin. There were other matches that night besides Chicky’s embarrassment (both against Escalera and in Burke’s Universal title loss). We’lll use them to help us organize our journey through the rest of February 1990. 

On February 10, Eddie Watts defended his World Junior title against Huracan Castillo Jr. Also  on that card, newcomer Carl Styles took on Miguelito Perez. This is the beginning of a potential rivalry for both matchups, ones we will follow as 1900 progresses. To begin, let’s first look at Miguelito Perez in action against an odd opponent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyjKVGcC5A4

I’ve never seen the Alligator Man here before and even the announcers are confused on whether it’s supposed to be Crocodile (which Eliud Gonzalez introduces him as during the ring intros), Alligator (which is how Moyano presents him initially on commentary) or Lizard Man (halfway through the match Eliud and Moyano clear up that they’ve been informed it’s lizard). Thanks to Matt asking for help from the collective wisdom of our fellow wrestling friends, it appears that this is Florida indie wrestler Gator B Long. I don’t really remember him at all in Puerto Rico, so he’s likely just in for a tv taping working as enhancement talent. Moyano mentions that Gator Man has the height advantage and remarks about the claws and head he had with him for his entrance. Gator starts off taking control by choking Perez in the corner and continuing to target the throat area on the mat. Gator does fairly well, countering a side headlock on the mat into a couple of rollover pin attempts, and even getting Perez into a headscissors. Still, Perez was able to make the comeback and hit the powerslam for the win. An example of the sometimes odd nature of who will show up in Puerto Rico. 

MD: No idea who our Gator friend is. He has the paraphernalia (Claws, etc), some size, and the word “Long” on his tights. He was fairly competent too. Most dynamic thing he does here is a big boot but he’s generally in the right place at the right time and this is a complete enough three minute TV match. Comeback by Perez was interesting as he just started clubbering down on “Long” while he was giving him shoulder thrusts in the corner. Perez had some nice downward elbows from an almost headlock position too before he won it with the power (body) slam.

EB: Now let’s look at Carl Styles in action, taking on Huracan Castillo Jr.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jnQR4vYYSU

Styles continues to prove himself on tv. Last time we saw him face Super Medico and this time he has a very capable opponent in Huracan Castillo Jr. Or as Hector Moyano says on commentary: ‘a man named Styles vs a man that moves with style’. Styles wins the initial lockup and puts Castillo in a  side headlock. Castillo counters by sending Carl into the ropes but gets knocked down by a shoulder tackle. Huracan counters Carl’s next rope running attack with an armdrag and a side headlock takedown. Styles tries to sneak in a pinfall attempt by yanking Castillo’s tights but Huracan rolls back over and continues working the side headlock. Carl tries to break out of the hold but gets hit with another armdrag, a dropkick and another side headlock takedown to end up back where he was. The commentators make note that Castillo has been able to neutralize the powerful Styles so far with the holds. 

Styles again breaks the hold by sending Castillo into the ropes. Huracan tries a body press but gets caught by Styles, who hits a backbreaker on Castillo. Styles starts showing off his strength, hitting Castillo with a lift into a press slam. He taunts the crowd and goes for the pin but Castillo kicks out. Styles presses the attack, hitting a slam, clothesline and a suplex for another unsuccessful pin attempt. Castillo counters with a sunset flip pin attempt, but Styles kicks out. Castillo starts firing up and hits several punches and blows on Styles to regain the advantage. Castillo continues on the attack with a clothesline into the corner, an elbow to the head and slam, but Styles manages to dodge an advancing Castillo and uses Castillo’s own momentum to throw him though the ropes to the outside. The ref prevents Styles from going outside to go after Castillo, but with the ref tied up, Eddie Watts runs out and slams Castillo headfirst into the ringpost (remember that Castillo has started wrestling Watts as a World Junior title challenger). 

Castillo is busted open and laid out on the floor. Styles finally is able to evade the ref and go out to the floor. From there it's academic as Styles throws Huracan back in the ring and, after a flurry of punches to Castillo’s bleeding forehead, puts Castillo in the full nelson. Castillo is almost out of it in the hold but the ref is still waiting to see if Huracan will submit. Suddenly, Miguelito Perez runs out to the ring and climbs the turnbuckle, jumping onto Styles from behind in order to break the full nelson on the unconscious Castillo. The ref disqualifies Castillo due to Miguelito’s interference, but Miguelito immediately goes after Styles. Perez wins a punch exchange but misses a dropkick when Styles grabs onto the ropes to stop his momentum. Styles puts Perez in the full nelson and cranks the hold on. Castillo is out on the floor still feeling the effects of the ringpost slam and the full nelson, he is unable to help Miguelito. Styles keeps the pressure of the full nelson on Perez who is struggling to no avail. Super Medico runs out from the locker room  to help Miguelito, and Medico starts furiously punching Carl's back in order to get the full nelson broken. Styles keeps the hold on despite Medico’s repeated blows. Perez is out as Styles continues to absorb Medico’s blows and refuses to release the hold. Castillo is able to get to his feet and the announcers think he’s heading to the locker room but he’s actually picking up a chair and heading back to the ring. Castillo motions for Medico to step aside and just cracks the chair over Styles’ back, finally getting the full nelson broken. Styles rolls out to safety but then tries to get back in, with Profe holding him back. Perez is down, Castillo is propped up against the corner and Medico is staring at Stylers in case he gets back in the ring. The video ends with Medico checking up on Perez as Castillo falls down exhausted to the mat. Carl Styles is quite the powerful and dangerous man.  

MD: If Styles was in the Albright spot, he was a bit better suited for it. He’s less of a monster with less amateur credentials but he’s a bit smarter and more seasoned in his work. While he gave Castillo most of the early match, it was with holds, not cowering or stalling. He cut him off out of nowhere by catching a body press off the ropes into a backbreaker. Castillo came back, and it’s worth noting that unlike Colon’s cartwheel, he had slapped the mat hard once in between his punches to get the fans into it. It’s a bit of a weird visual tick since he should be firing back at full speed and this breaks it up but it was probably effective in its own way. Styles was able to toss him out to stop the fire, though, and Eddie Watts (Castillo’s Jr. Heavyweight rival) came out to post him on the floor and open him up. From there it was academic. Styles won with the full nelson and wouldn’t break it up. Perez came out and got him off but missed a dropkick and ended up in the full nelson too. That drew out Medico and finally after Castillo came back with a chair, they forced Styles away. This was good as it set up at least four different matches and a few potential tags while making Styles look like a beast. 

EB: We’ll continue following both feuds since we’re getting rematches on March 3 for both matchups (Cartillo vs Watts and Styles vs Perez). Speaking of Super Medico, he’s gone on a new path since losing the World Junior title to Eddie Watts. As mentioned before in our introduction of Super Medico, he had a long tenure as tag wrestler as part of the Medicos / Super Medicos team. Teaming up with partner Super Medico #2 (Johnny Rodz) and then later as three man unit with Super Medico #3 (Don Kent), Super Medico had enjoyed great success in tha tag ranks in the early to mid 80s. But since around 1985 when he turned tecnico, Super Medico has mainly wrestled in the singles division., But after being back in Puerto Rico for over 8 months, it seems Medico has decided to reenter the tag team ranks once more. And he’s bringing in a new Super Medico to be his partner. They’re making one of their first appearances on the February 10 card and they’re immediately put up against some tough competition in the team of Los Mercenarios, the reigning World tag team champions. Let’s go to that match and see just what the new Super Medicos can do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-8FUNomXjw 

Joining Jose Estrada (who is Super Medico #1) as his new tag partner is Jose Estrada Jr. He’s identified as #2 by Hugo here but that will soon change. This is from a Campeones airing the week after TNT won the Universal title.  Hugo, Carlos and Chicky are on commentary and part of the conversation they have centers around the Universal title win and how the match ended. In the ring, the Medicos are having a strategy session as the bell rings and Acevedo tries to rush them to catch them unawares. The Medicos are prepared and do a nifty double team maneuver where one lifts the other into a headscissor position to cut off Acevedo. This leads to stereo monkey flips and stereo dropkicks by the Medicos on both members of Los Mercenarios. Starr and Acevedo end up on the outside, confused as to what happened and trying to regroup. Carlos and Chicky talk about how 1990 appears to be the year of the tag team between the new and returning teams that have appeared so far (and with one more still to come). Carlos also talks about how he had said 1990 was going to be the year for El Ejercito de la Justicia, they’ve already won back the Universal title and next they are going to dismantle El Club Deportivo. Chicky naturally takes exception to this and starts complaining about how the title was stolen from Burke. Carlos counters by saying that he doesn’t care about Chicky’s complaining, you have to fight these types of individuals at their own game (or fire with fire). Chicky says that both his and El Profe’s organizations are well equipped to win back that Universal title and Carlos fires back that his predictions last week came true: TNT won the Universal title and Alfredo Escalera gave Chicky a heck of a beating in their match. 

Back in the ring, Medico #1 and Acevedo have been in a bit of a back and forth locking up but Medico #1 (you can tell them apart because Medico #1 is a bit more stocky and shorter) gains the advantage and fires off an armdrag and a nice series of dropkicks on Acevedo.  Ron Starr tags in and Carlos on commentary talks about there being like 6 or 7 Medicos but that this combination may be the best one yet. The Medicos do quick tags to work on Ron Starr’s arm and Starr ends up knocked out of the ring by a punch from Medico #1. Starr gets back in the ring after pacing about frustrated and Medico #1 tags his son in. Ron briefly gets an advantage but is taken down to the mat by Estrada Jr. Ron claims his hair was yanked, and when he is taken down again by Estrada Jr, he complains even more animatedly that his hair was pulled. Ron and Estrada Jr. continue working holds, with Estrada Jr getting the better of Ron. On commentary, the talk turns to all the new impressive teams that have been arriving like the Super Medicos and the soon to debut new Invaders tag team. They’ve shown on tv footage of Invader #1 and Maelo training and they should be debuting soon. Chicky also says that there may be more new teams appearing soon in the tag division and even Carlos says to not discount him teaming up with TNT or another tecnico to get in on the tag action. The match continues with both Medicos keeping control of the match and even Chicky has to compliment the new Medico on showing good potential and skill in the ring so far. We head to a commercial break as Ron Starr sends Medico #2 into the ropes and Acevedo hits him from behind with a knee.

Back from commercial break and it looks like we’re in the middle of Medico #1 hitting a cutoff clothesline on Acevedo to knock him down. Both men are on the mat and reaching for their corner to make the tag. Ron is tagged first and manages to cut off Medico #1 with an elbow, He immediately goes to work on Medico #1 and tries for a pinfall off a clothesline, but Medico #2 breaks it up. Another pin attempt is again broken up by Medico #2 and Ron decides to drag Medico #1 to his team’s corner. Acevedo is tagged in and a quick double team leads to a two count. Acevedo puts a submission hold on Medico #1 as Medico #2 starts clapping to get the crowd into it. Ron pushes on Acevedo’s back for leverage, which draws in Medico #2. The ref stops Medico #2 from going any further and Los Mercenarios switch out without a tag. Ron puts Medico #1 in a front facelock, but Medico #1 tries to force Ron backwards towards the Medicos’ corner so he can make the tag. Acevedo runs in to try to stop it, drawing the referee’s attention and causing the ref to miss the tag. El Vikingo tells Medico #2 to get back in the corner since he didn’t see the tag and Los Mercenarios take advantage by double teaming Medico #1. Acevedo hits a  neckbreaker for an unsuccessful pin attempt, but a follow-up piledriver attempt is countered with a backdrop. Starr is tagged in and tries to attack Medico #1, but is countered with a sunset flip for a pin attempt, although it is missed by the referee who is busy getting Acevedo out of the ring. Carlos states that tag matches should have two referees to avoid situations where the ref is distracted and that allow for cheating to take place. Chicky argues that El Profe being out there is like having a second referee anyways. Medico #1 crawls to the wrong side of the ring looking for the tag and gets decked by El Profe (some great second referee work there I guess). Medico #2 desperately wants to come in and help but keeps getting stopped by the ref. Ron starts punching a downed Medico #1, but Medico #1 finally is able to crawl through Ron’s legs and makes the tag. Medico #2 comes in and cleans house on Ron Starr, which brings Acevedo in. Medico #2 handles both members of Los Mercenarios and eventually makes a pin attempt on Ron after a dropkick. Acevedo breaks up the pinfall but Medico #2 continues on the attack as Acevedo is escorted out. Medico #2 hits his own version of the ‘hit machine’ and almost gets the pinfall. Medico #2 slams Ron and comes off the top with a strike, leading to a pin attempt that’s broken up by Acevedo. Medico# 1 jumps in to attack Acevedo and now all four men are in the ring. Both Medicos try pin attempts on both members of Los Mercenarios but the bell rings and it looks like we have a time limit draw. Los Mercenarios walk away still the World tag champions,but the new Super Medicos have taken the World tag team champions to the limit. There’s a lot of potential with this new team.

MD: This was a nice, complete tag match that was just lacking a real finish (time ran out while things were chaotic). Medico 3 or 4 (Estrada, Jr.) depending on how you want to bill him, was called 2 by the commentary just to make things more confusing, so I’ll just go with that. He was the New Super Medico 2 more or less. Morrow had been still fairly capable for what he was asked to do, including come off the top once per match, and had good history and chemistry with the Cuban Assassin, but Ron Starr was a big step up. When I mentioned all the lead heels last week, I should have mentioned these two as well, because Starr is a guy who could have main evented just as easily as Burke. They’re very interchangeable. Super Medico (1) took the heat here after eating an knee on the outside while rope running and he did a great job selling and having dynamic hope spots from what we saw (having lost a bit with a commercial break). The comeback was very good as he started to fire back but Starr jammed him, only to crawl through the legs and make the tag. Things got chaotic after that with both Medicos trying pin attempts as the time ran out. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8NSiQZjjDI

EB: And here we have the Super Medicos making an appearance on tv taking on the team of El Gran Mendoza and a masked wrestler going by Assassin #1. We are in Ponce and the match is in progress. Due to their performance against Los Mercenarios, it appears that the Super Medicos have already been positioned as the number one contenders for the World tag team titles, so a rematch will be happening soon. For now, the tv audience gets an opportunity to see this new version of the team in action. Medico #1 is in the ring and hits a crossbody block for a pin attempt. Assassin turns the tide with a hotshot on the top rope and from there the team of Assassin and Mendoza take control and use the inexperience of the younger Estrada to lure him into the ring so they can double team behind the referee’s back. Mendoza takes over but Medico mounts a small comeback that ends with both Medico #1 and Mendoza colliding their heads when coming off the ropes. Both men make the tag and Medico #2 starts punching Assassin #1. The two men exchange blouse which leads to Mendoza jumping in to try to blindside Medico #2 but Medico #1 also gets in the ring to counter. Both rudos are rammed into each other and Mendoza is sent out of the ring via a double dropkick. The Medicos set up Assassin for what looks to be their finisher, which is one Medico launching the other into the ropes and then sort of press slamming him onto their opponent/. The crowd cheers as the Medicos pick up the win.

MD: This was just a couple of minutes, with Medico 1 taking a beating until he could get a tag and Medico 2 could come back. Medico 1 obviously has the better punches but Medico 2 is emulating them well enough. Finisher was a press up off the ropes where one Medico lifted the other into a splash. Again, my big takeaway is that Medico 1 was very good at what he did.

EB: The new Super Medicos look to be a strong force in the changing tag division. There is another ‘new’ team on the way as well in the Invaders but Invader #1 has a feud going on with Harley Race. We saw the attack done by Race and Chicky Starr on Invader last time and the two faced each other on February 10 in a match with no winner. The rivalry would continue throughout February and we actually do have footage from one of their encounters. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gfhv7-SEEoc

This is from a Clasicos de la Lucha Libre segment from almost two decades later, so we are not getting any context from the commentary. Still, it’s the only footage we have of Invader #1 vs Harley Race in a match from this February 1990 feud. It looks like Invader tried a charge to start the match but he runs into Race’s knees. Race follows up with a couple of elbow drops for a pin attempt. Invader kicks out and Race tries to choke Invader from behind, but does succeed in grabbing him and tossing him out of the ring. Race tries to ram Invader face first into the production truck near the ring but Invader counters and it’s Harley who gets rammed into the side of the truck. Invader throws Harley into the ring and controls the next minute, leading to a couple of unsuccessful pin attempts. Race catches Invader with a headbutt to the midsection after the second kickout, leading to a Race control segment where Race attempts his own unsuccessful pin attempts off such moves as a kneedrop, a belly to belly suplex and a piledriver. Race continues on the attack with several punches and a high knee strike (well, high for 1990 Harley Race). A swinging neckbreaker gets a two count for Harley,who continues on the attack but Invader keeps kicking out. Invader eventually starts a comeback off a headbutt to the midsection. Race and Invader exchange punches and blows, as Invader knocks Race down with a chop. Invader does his two hops when he starts getting fired up and gets a flurry of blows on Race. An eyerake cuts Invader off and Harley tries to send Invader off the ropes. Invader counters by picking up Harley to attempt a bodyslam, but the momentum makes both men fall over the top rope to the outside. Race and Invader start brawling on the outside as the referee starts the ring out count. Both men are counted out as they fight away from the ring. 

MD: The commentary (from many, many years later) was a bit disjointed from what we were watching with an ad talking about getting your tax refund and Idol Stevens (Sandow) and Orlando Colon. These two were pretty much perfect opponents at this point in their career. Race bore down on Invader with all of his super credible “stuff” (neckbreaker, pile driver, suplex, not-so-high jumping knee, short clothesline, lots of short punches, atomic drop), with Invader always making sure to stay in it by getting hope punches in when he could. He finally fired back and turned the tide but both went sailing over the top and brawling for what I assume was a double countout.

EB: This is the last footage we have of Harley from this run. His feud with Invader #1 will last to the end of February, ending with Invader winning the Caribbean title on March 4 (although I’m not sure if the match took place or if it was a phantom switch). Still, Invader has other plans as well, those being the upcoming debut of the new Invaders tag team. They are set to debut on March 3 and their opponents are The Hunters. How will the new Invaders fare? We’ll find out next time. 

As mentioned previously, Eddie Watts has Huracan Castillo Jr as the next World Jr title challenger  but Castillo is not the only new challenger to appear. A returning wrestler would also rotate in as a challenger. Joe Savoldi had previously had a run in CSP in 1984 through early 85, both as a singles wrestler and in a tag team with Al Perez. Since that run as a regular, Savoldi has made a couple of appearances in the following years, popping in for a weekend or two but not staying for any extended run. Now Savoldi has appeared again. Let’s take a look at him in action vs El Exotico.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rErHS9Pc0BM 

It’s been a while since Savoldi has been in Puerto Rico, and it looks like Exotico wants to spoil the return. Hector Moyano and Eliud Gonzalez are on commentary for this match and talk about how Exotico has a particular way of moving about in the ring (Eliud recalls how El Profe described Exoticos as ‘being very delicate’) but that he knows how to captivate the masses and grab their attention. A lock up leads to a quick cradle pin attempt by Savoldi. Exotico kicks out and complains his tights were pulled. Savoldi gets a side headlock on Exotico and hits a shoulder tackle off the ropes. A rope running leapfrog and drop down sequence leads to Savoldi taking Exotico down with a couple of armdrags. Savoldi hypes up the crowd and Moyano talks up Savoldi’s speed and endurance. Exotico hits a clothesline on Savoldi and struts after. Exotico follows up with a couple of snap mares and does a single arm bicep pose to the crowd. Eliud actually commends Exotico on his performance so far but Savldi counters with a series of punches to cut off Exotico’s momentum. However, Savoldi misses a charge into the corner (going headfirst) and Exotico takes advantage with a belly to back suplex for a two count. A slam leads to a missed elbow however, and Savoldi is able to come back with a series of blows. Exotico cuts off Savoldi with an eyerake and sends him into the ropes. Savoldi hits a leapfrog over Exotico, and then takes Exotico over in a sunset flip when Exotico was busy celebrating the successful avoidance. Savoldi gets the win and he’s back to make some waves in CSP.  

MD: It’s easy to look at Savoldi, Styles, Watts being in and thinking that there’s something to a “boycott” of talent, but then you look back a few years earlier to guys like the RPMs getting pushes (and getting over!) and you look at who was getting pushed in Memphis, Portland, or (soon after this) Global, and you see that it’s more of a consolidation in WWF and WCW than anything else. Honestly, I’d probably be kind of excited if a guy with Savoldi’s skillset in working the crowd while still being willing to take a big corner bump came around in 2024. He was experienced in doing some things that are almost lost arts now. Exotico preened and strutted and posed and looked like the best possible Scotty the Body partner again, including his very dubious German Suplex, but Savoldi out-finessed him with a clever cradle for the win.

EB: It doesn’t take long for Savoldi and Eddie Watts to face off against each other, let’s go to the ending of that encounter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5HaEGJPM_E

We join the match in  progress, with Savoldi down in one of the corners. Eliud Gonzalez on commentary is mentioning that Savoldi had received a punch from Chicky Starr on the outside and that Watts was taking advantage of the situation. Watts slingshots Savoldi throat first into the corner as we hear Chicky has made his way to the commentary table and said that the commentators should be honest with the fans and say Savoldi has no chance against Eddie Watts. Moyano says to Chicky that it looks like he’s learned a lot about boxing (referencing the punch he hit on Savoldi) and then says ‘speaking about boxing, the other day there were a lot of smacks (referencing Alfredo Escalera’s match vs Chicky Starr). Chicky takes exception to this and tells Moyano to stay out of business that does not concern him if he wants to keep his teeth. Moyano says that he was only referencing the Tyson vs Douglas fight. Chicky is not buying it and Eliud tries to defuse the situation by talking up how Chicky’s wrestlers have climbed the ladder of success, but Chicky is still hot about Moyano’s dig. In the ring, Watts has been in control but misses a dive from the turnbuckle. This gives Saovldi the opening to come back with a series of punches and a backdrop. Watts begs off but Savoldi continues on the attack, sending Watts into the ropes and hitting a palm strike to the chest. Watts begs off again, but is able to counter Savoldi with a kick to the midsection and immediately bail to the outside after receiving a signal from Chicky. It looks like Chicky and Watts are claiming that the elbow pad has come loose and needs adjusting, but it’s likely that they are loading it up. Watts gets back in the ring and tries to ram Savoldi into the turnbuckle, but that gets countered. Savoldi hits a few punches but is cut off by Watts hitting a knee. Watts grabs onto Savoldi and then leverages both him and Savolid over the top rope to the outside with a flip. The ref calls for the dq and awards the match to Savoldi due to Watts intentionally throwing him over the top rope. Watts and Chicky don’t seem to care too much since that means that they retain the World Junior title. 

MD: We come in towards the end of this with Watts in control. He misses a dive out of the corner and Savoldi has a comeback. Watts breaks it up by having Chicky check his armguard and stalling but that weirdly doesn’t go anywhere. Instead, he gets Savoldi in a headlock, starts climbing the middle of the ropes while hanging on to him, and pulls both over to draw the DQ and theoretically protect his belt, but I had no real idea what he was going for there. I’d say that these two were overall matched up well, though?

EB: With the ending of that match it’s only a matter of time before Savoldi and Watts face each other again. In the meantime, let’s take another look at both men in action against other opponents. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyP4ktoIASU

Watts is taking on Armandito Salgado and it’s another chance for Watts to show off his skills now that he is the World Junior champion. Eliud Gonzalesz does the ring introductions and Moyano mentions that the crowd does not like Watts at all but puts over his capabilities in the ring. The match starts fairly even with Watts and Salgado exchanging arm wringer counters and switches, leading to Watts complaining that his tights were pulled (even going over to the ref and pulling his pants to show what had supposedly happened). Salgado actually gets a nice chop sequence to back up Watts but misses a corner charge which gives Watts the opening to control the rest of the match. Watts mouths off to the crowd, eliciting a loud reaction back, and eventually hits the Canadian Guillotine for the win. Very solid showing from Watts. 

MD: Watts is growing on me a bit. He’s not Rip Rogers or Eric Embry but for a Jr. version who can still stooge a bit and has stuff that generally looks good, he’s ok. He’s learning the specific crowd more and more and was engaged with them throughout this entire enhancement match. He had a kind of weird looking Saito/Teardrop suplex where he hangs on to the tights and of course his Alabama Jam to end it. Not a bad showing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O13o80pFEjA

EB: Meanwhile, Savoldi is facing El Gran Mendoza, which should be a solid matchup. Both men are evenly matched to start but Savoldi controls the pace with a side headlock takedown. They work a side headlock into a pin reversal sequence a couple of times before standing back up and working a rope running sequence which sees Savoldi get the better of it with a clothesline on Mendoza. Moyano and Eliud on commentary talk about how they’re expecting this to be a good matchup as Mendoza rolls out of the ring to collect himself and then gets back in the ring. Mendoza again ends up on the receiving end of an armdrag sequence but manages to reach the ropes to break the arm hold. Mendoza takes the advantage of a throat punch and focuses his attacks on the neck area of Savoldi, including hitting a hotshot on the top rope for a pin attempt. Savoldi mounts a comeback with several punches and an elbow off the ropes, but Mendoza counters with a clothesline of his own coming off the ropes. Mendoza’s attempt at a reverse cradle is blocked by Savoldi and Savoldi hits a sunset flip for the pinfall win. A solid showing for Savoldi and you can be sure he will get another crack at Eddie Watts. 

MD: These two match up against one another well too. Mendoza is a little bigger but they could have been a tag team given their looks. Again, this is just as meat and potatoes/comfort food undercard late 80s/early 90s wrestling as you can. Savoldi is a perfect 1986 second match on the WWF B show babyface. But this stuff doesn’t exist anymore so it’s not bad to go back and visit.

EB: We have one more member of El Club Deportivo we haven’t talked about yet and that is Manny Fernandez. Manny has been in the crosshairs of Carlos Colon ever since he interfered in the Universal title match he was having vs Leo Burke, a match where he cost Colon the title win and also injured Barba Roja with the flying kneedrop. Their matches so far have been inconclusive and, although they did not face each other on February 10, Colon still wants to get his hands on Manny. To clarify the timeline a bit, it is around this point in mid February that the match where Manny defends the Puerto Rico title against Invader takes place, the one where Carlos rushes in at the end wearing a suit and brawls with Manny. This leads to the tag match where Colon and Invader took on Burke and Manny, the one where the Super Medicos came out to help the injured Invader and ends with Carlos and Invader attempting to go after the rudos who had fled back to the locker room. Carlos and Manny are scheduled to cross paths once more on March 3, but let’s take the opportunity to watch Manny in action against Huracan Castillo Jr. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rW4mVx5Rtw

We get the ring introductions (with Manny billed from Mexico) with the match scheduled to one fall with a 10 minute time limit. Hector Moyano is on commentary and mentions that this match should be an exciting one. As Manny and Castillo feel each other out, Castillo appears to direct some words to Manny. On the outside, we cut to Chicky showing off his cap to the camera and checking out how good he looks in the reflection. Moyano highlights that Castillo has the speed but Manny is dangerous at all times in the ring and will not show mercy. They lock up and Castillo gets a side headlock on Manny. This is countered by Manny sending Castillo into the ropes, leading to a duck down and leapfrog sequence from Manny and an attempted armdrag that gets countered by Castillo. Chicky complains that Castillo pulled the tights on the second armdrag takedown as the crowd gets on Chicky. Castillo keeps working the armbar but Manny breaks out of it briefly. A charge gets countered by Huracan and after a few counters Manny is back in the armbar on the mat. Chicky complains the hair was pulled to no avail. However, Manny manages to get back to his feet and, as the ref circles around, takes the opportunity to yank Castillo down by the hair and put on his own armlock. The crowd starts yelling at the ref that Manny pulled Castillo’s hair, which Manny denies doing when asked. Castillo tries to fight out but gets yanked down again by the hair (with the crowd again yelling at the ref about it). Manny gets caught on the third attempt and as the ref warns Manny, Castillo takes the opening and yanks Manny down by his hair instead. A test of strength is initially won by Manny but Castillo eventually is able to get back to his feet and hit a few kicks to the midsection to bring Manny down to his knees. Manny breaks the test of strength by sending Castillo into the ropes and surprises him with a lariat as Castillo is rebounding back. Manny hits a couple of kneedrops and seems to be in control. Manny tries a backdrop but Castillo counters into a sunset flip for a two count. An inside cradle by Castillo gets two. Manny sends Castillo into the ropes but misses a clothesline. However, as Castillo is rebounding off the ropes, Manny surprises Huracan with his inverted rolling elbow to the face. One flying forearm later and Manny is able to get the pinfall. Another win for the current Puerto Rico champion.

MD: This was basically a good first half of a match but they went to a finish without a comeback. Solid first act though, with the two matched up well. Manny would get advantages by drawing the ref by claiming a hairpull and then doing one himself, but Castillo would come back.  Manny took over for real with a clothesline out of nowhere and worked the jaw a bit. Castillo didn’t get a comeback but he a couple of roll up hope spots before Manny took him down with the corkscrew back elbow and flying forearm. Interesting, Manny was billed from Mexico and not Texas here.

EB: TNT has been successful in retaining the Universal title in his rematches against Leo Burke. As the month of February approaches its end, the WWC championship commission has decided that it’s the turn of the new number one contender to challenge TNT for the Universal title. That new number one contender? Carlos Colon, who had climbed back to the top position and who hadn’t really had a clean loss to Leo Burke in his attempts to regain the Universal title. Carlos had also ceded a title shot he had to TNT so that TNT could have a chance to avenge the loss of his face paint against Leo Burke. This series of matches led to TNT eventually winning the Universal title. So now we have the prospect of TNT defending against Carlos Colon. Except, Carlos has decided to forego the title match. He will not challenge a fellow member of El Ejercito de la Justicia for the Universal title, he’s good with someone from their side holding the title and doesn't plan to ever challenge for the Universal title again as long as TNT holds the title (which Carlos feels will be for a long time).

With Carlos Colon passing up the title shot, the number two contender moves up and is declared to be next challenger. That wrestler? Abdullah the Butcher, who we last saw being cheered by the fans for turning on Chicky Starr and going after Steve Strong. Abdullah is finally making his return to Puerto Rico and he is also bringing in a new manager with him by the name of El Jeque. Abdullah is not part of El Club Deportivo but El Jeque also says that Abdullah is not a member of El Ejercito de la Juticia, he is his own entity. Still, Abdullah was playing a bit nicer last time we saw him and it’s going to be interesting to see Abdullah take on TNT. They are scheduled to wrestle for the Universal title on March 3. But before the title match takes place, we have an interesting match taking place on tv, there is a battle royale with a $5,000 prize and most of the roster is taking part, including TNT and Abdullah the Butcher. Let’s go to that match.

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

We join the battle royale already in progress, with only Huracan Castillo Jr. having been eliminated from the field of competitors at this time. There is a $5,000 prize for the winner and we get a good representation of the regular CSP roster at this point in time, I think we’re only really missing Carlos Colon and Chicky Starr (setting aside Harley and Manny for now). Competing for the prize are TNT, Abdullah the Butcher (accompanied by his new manager El Jeque), Invader #1, Miguelito Perez, Huracan Castillo Jr (who has been already eliminated based on the commentary), both Super Medicos, Joe Savoldi, Leo Burke, both Mercenarios, Carl Styles, a newcomer to the territory named Rick Valentine (you may know him as Kerry Brown and we’ll discuss him more next time), Eddie Watts and El Exotico. There’s a lot of action in the ring but Exotico gets cute and tries to take on Abdullah. This does not go well for Exotico and Abdulalh tosses him out for the second elimination of the battle royale. Moyano on commentary mentions that it looks like Abdullah was making gestures towards the locker room as a message to Chicky Starr, there is no love lost between them stemming from the incident when Abdullah attacked Chicky and Steve Strong was sent after Abdullah. The action continues as we see the Super Medicos double team Rick Valentine and then Carl Styles. We go to commercial break and when we come back, it looks like no one else has been eliminated so far, although Eliud Gonzales is mentioning that Abdullah has just helped Invader back into the ring. It looks like Abdullah had gone over to help Invader from being eliminated by Ron Starr, something that has surprised Moyano and Eliud.   Abdullah goes to a corner as the wrestlers continue battling. Eliud identifies the new Medico as Medico #4 (this makes more sense since we already had a #2 and #3 in the early to mid 80s). 

As the match continues, Leo Burke surprises Miguelito Perez and eliminates him. Rick Valentine tosses out Super Medico #4 for the fourth elimination of the contest. TNT eliminates Eddie Watts, which is quickly followed by Carl Styles eliminating Joe Savoldi. It looks like the eliminations are starting to pick up. TNT kicks out Angel Acevedo as the field keeps dwindling. Abdullah keeps to his corner as the wrestlers continue trying to eliminate competitors. Burke tosses Invader twice over the top rope but Invader lands on the apron both times and gets back in. Burke tosses Invader a third time but remains there to try to push him off when Invader lands on the apron. However, Invader counters with a headscissors and tries to yank Burke out instead, but the attempt results in both men going over and being eliminated. Invader and Burke briefly fight on the outside, as we see Carl Styles successfully toss Super Medico #1 out. We’re down to five competitors. Abdullah is doing a standing choke on  Ron Starr in one corner as Styles and Rick Valentine are double teaming TNT. Styles momentarily goes after Abdullah in order to help Ron Starr. Ron starts attacking Abdullah as Styles goes back to TNT, who is being held by Valentine. Styles charges but TNT ducks and the blow sends Rick Valentine over the top rope and out. Four men left. TNT tries to eliminate Styles on one side of the ring, while on the other side Abdullah manages to counter Ron Starr’s attack and is able to eliminate him. TNT has Styles halfway out when Abdullah seizes the opportunity, comes up from behind and tosses both TNT and Styles out. Abdullah has won the match and the $5,000 prize. 

El Vikingo hands the check to Abdullah as El Jeque enters the ring to celebrate with his client. TNT also enters the ring and starts questioning Abdullah about why he tossed him from behind. El Jeque holds up the check as TNT continues making the thrown out motion and asking Abdullah why he did that. If you look closely you can see Abdullah starts pointing to the check the last couple of times that TNT does the thrown out motion, basically saying that’s why he did it. Abdullah bows his head and sticks out his hand in a gesture of letting bygones be bygones. TNT goes to shake it and Abdullah immediately hits him with a strike that knocks TNT down. Abdullah starts leaving the ring, looking annoyed but not attacking TNT any further. As Abdullah and El Jeque are leaving the ringside area, TNT gets up, jumps over the top rope, and chases down Abdullah. TNT starts furiously attacking Abdullah, kicks El Jeque for good measure and grabs El Jeque’s cane. TNT then starts attacking Abdullah over and over with the cane. The cane gets repeatedly slammed on Abdullah's head and busts him open. El Vikingo tries to stop TNT, but he gets thrown to the ground. TNT is in a rage and continues attacking a prone Abdullah with cane shots. Abdullah looks to be holding his hand up as a sign to try to ward off TNT, but the attack continues. Isaac Rosario comes out and tries to help El Vikingo stop TNT, but TNT ends up throwing both men off and goes back to attacking Abdullah. El Jeque has made his way over and tries to help Abdulalh but TNT starts hitting Jeque for good measure. TNT starts choking Abdullah out with the cane, and to be honest, I think TNT is being a bit excessive considering what happened. Rosario and Vikingo finally manage to pull TNT away from a bleeding Abdullah.

We then go to an interview with TNT where he is discussing the upcoming Universal title defense vs Abdullah. TNT is talking about how he knows that the Universal title represents a lot of money to Abdullah, but that it also means a lot to TNT as well. This title is in the camp of El Ejercito de la Justicia and no one, including you Abdullah will take it. El Jeque interrupts the interview and calls out TNT for attacking him in a traitorous manner. Why did he do that to him? TNT immediately grabs Jeque by the throat and starts choking him out and starts saying that what happened to him is nothing, but before anything more happens Abdullah rushes onto the scene with a metal pail and just blasts TNT over the head with it. Abdullah gets a few blows in on TNT’s head as Hugo starts yelling for help. Carlos Colon and Invader #1 run in and chase off Abdullah before the attack continues further (although again, looking back at this, I don’t think Abdullah is really in the wrong here after TNT’s attack). Just as Abdullah is leaving the set, he tosses the pail backwards in an attempt to hit TNT. Hugo yells for Abdullah and El Jeque to be escorted out as Carlos and Invader check on TNT. 

However, as TNT reaches his feet,  he yells in a rage and sends Carlos and Invader flying. Hugo tells TNT to calm down as TNT yells for Abdullah. He then cuts a seething promo where he has to take deep breaths because of how furious he is. “Abdullah, Abdullah the Butcher… you want to fight with TNT? You want this title? Abdulah the Butcher, you’re going to have to kill me! Because this title represents my life! It represents the people of Puerto Rico! And Abdullah the Butcher, this that you have done to me (points at the blood on him) is nothing compared to what will happen to you in all of Puerto Rico! Abdulah the Butcher, by my mother, I will end you! ” TNT continues yelling as he storms off the set. Hugo mentions that TNT is bathed in blood, the studio walls, the floor, Hugo himself, everywhere is covered with blood. Hugo picks up the pail to show the dent in it from when Abdullah hit TNT. The Universal title match is happening on March 3 and things just became more personal..

MD: This is a personal thing but as opposed to the last time we saw a battle royal (the match that we launched with twenty or so entries ago), this time I knew all of the competitors and how they felt about one another and their roles on the card. Really, once you got Exotico (who dared step to Abdullah) and some of the juniors (like Watts and Savoldi) out, any one of those guys could have lasted to the end. Abby was coded as a babyface here, mainly paired with heels. There was a nice bit with Burke trying to throw out Invader over and over until they both went over together. Weirdly, the Medico we’ve been seeing as 2 or 3 was called 4 here. It ended up being Valentine (Rick, being Kerry Brown, who we haven’t seen much of yet) and Styles on the heel side and TNT and Abby in there with Styles accidentally hitting Valentine and Abby tossing out both TNT and Styles together. Postmatch, Abby teased a handshake but ended up assaulting TNT who fired back brutally with a cane. That led to a subsequent interview where Abby crushed TNT with a trash can and we were off to the races.

EB: Next time on El Deporte de las Mil Emociones, we head into March 1990. TNT and Abdullah the Butcher clash over the Universal title, Carlos gets his chance at Manny?, and there’s a tag team tournament on the horizon.

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Found Footage Friday: RIP BUTCH~! FUJIWARA~! SUPER TIGER~! VALENTINE~!

Yoshiaki Fujiwara vs. Super Tiger 10/12/97

MD: This was quite the spectacle, over ten years off from their classic series of matches. This never really gets the chance to get going, as it's stopped and started a couple of times, the most meaningful being when Inoki charges forth to demand it. That said, there are interesting wrinkles, like Sayama putting so much of his efforts (once the kicks fail to work given Fujiwara's defense) on a rear naked choke. That makes sense given the time and it's interesting to watch Fujiwara try to play defense and escape while he's in that specific hold put on by this specific wrestler. You get glimpses, specifically him tossing his head back repeatedly and the flip side, being Sayama throwing his fists into Fujiwara's ribs or his elbows down upon his head over and over. Given time, it would have been interesting how Fujiwara's defense might have turned the tide but this was too disjointed to have that play out. Post match, Inoki slaps Fujiwara and that's as fitting an end to this one as anything else I guess. 

Los Pastores vs. Joe Savoldi/Al Perez WWC 1985

MD: Thought it would be good to look at a few crates matches for Butch since he just passed away. For Puerto Rico, either things have been covered or they're just clips. I'd love full matches from the 97 run, for instance, but we're not going to get those. This was posted a year or so ago and even if it was out there previously, I doubt it was looked at heavily. Savoldi and Perez are Los Rockeros, both with mustaches and pastels. This was more or less to set up the Invaders running in after the match got thrown out but it's fairly complete and a good look at just how good Luke and Butch were playing the basic beats. They fed early, leaned in the middle, and backpedaled on a comeback before chaos took over, but the timing was spot on with the cutoffs and there was a wonderful brutality to just jamming a knee down onto Savoldi's skull again and again and again. All the while they were making the alien facial expressions that would let them be beloved babyfaces later, here inspiring horrified reactions instead. Savoldi and Perez were the dropkick heavy Fabs clones, not nearly as good as the Rock'n'Roll RPMs would be a few years later in Puerto Rico but certainly passable with a team like this and Savoldi took a beating well. This wasn't a bloody spectacle but it was pretty damn professional and likely set up something with real heat.

Bushwhackers vs. Greg Valentine/Larry "Ace" Green WPW 6/12/99

MD: The narrative has come pretty far in accepting that the Sheepherders' retirement package, dealing with the same brutal travel schedule that the rest of the WWF teams had to but being the beloved Bushwhackers, wasn't, in fact, the worst thing in the history of wrestling, but instead something to be cherished and approved of. That said, it still leaves behind that they were pretty damn good at being the Bushwhackers and accomplishing what they set out to do in their matches. It meant relying upon different muscles and instincts than what they did before, but it still took two experienced journeymen to pull it off, especially when you consider that their matches were going to be lacking so much of what contemporary babyface teams like the Hart Foundation and Rockers were doing. Without action, they had to rely upon timing and selling, building up that tension for the hot tag and relying upon their opponents to stooge and feed and help them come up as credible, no matter who they might have once been.

From the look of it, this was a pretty well attended event in Fort Smith, AR, and the crowd was up for the whole thing. Some of that was the star power involved. A lot of it was Butch working the apron. And probably more was Luke flailing and writhing and being a constant ball of concentrated motion in his selling. There were no big bumps but he simulated pain and desperation as he tried to fight back. Meanwhile, you had Greg Valentine, conductor of so many professional Brutus Beefcake tags there to direct traffic. He may have been 46 himself, but he just had to drop elbows upon Bushwhacker skulls and work over that leg and cut off the ring even when you thought Luke was going to make it through his legs for a tag. Green was a game partner, more than happy to miss a legdrop or a big splash when the match required a bump and with a look and offense that made him feel like he fit in the match. When the hot tag finally came, the crowd popped for it and for the entire revenge laden finishing stretch, right down to the heel miscommunication that spelled the end for Green. Again, there was nothing complicated about this act, but that doesn't mean it was easy. If they weren't as good at their craft, there was no way the Bushwhackers could have distilled so much from so little to such effect.

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