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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sad Genius vs. Gran Hamada 9/5/00

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Sad Genius vs. Gypsy Joe 1/19/03 

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

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

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

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

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

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El Deporte de las Mil Emociones: August Rush

Week 34: August Rush

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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El Deporte de las Mil Emociones: Aniversario 1990 Part 2

Week 29: Aniversario 1990 Part 2

EB: So far we have reviewed five of the ten matches that occurred at Aniversario 1990, having watched three matches from Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez (Chicky Starr vs Chris Youngblood; Leo Burke vs. Invader #1; and Zeus vs. Abdullah the Butcher) and two from Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel (Mascarita Sagrada & Aguilita Solitaria vs. Espectrito & Piratita Morgan; and Scott Hall vs. Atkie Mulumba). The second part of our review will cover the remaining four matches included on the  VHS release. All four matches have titles being defended and, so far, we’ve had one title change happen with Invader #1 winning the Caribbean title from Leo Burke. Will any other titles change hands? We’ll soon find out.

Before getting to these matches, I do want to briefly mention the result of the one match not included on the home video release, as Rick Valentine defeated Mark Youngblood at Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel. So overall, the Youngbloods had mixed results in their singles matches.

Our first match for this second half of the review is the Caribbean tag title match where the Caribbean Express of Miguel Perez Jr. & Huracan Castillo Jr. defend the titles against the team of Los Mercenarios. The two teams have developed a bit of a rivalry since mid May and things are coming to a head here at Aniversario. Los Mercenarios usually go for sneaky tactics and also have El Profe with them but the tecnicos are ready for any potential chicanery since they’ll have Robocop in their corner. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dA4RPiTwpQ

We already have both teams in the ring, with referee El Vikingo obtaining the title belts from the champions and holding them up to show what is at stake. Robocop is standing stoically at ringside in the tecnicos corner, this is his second appearance of the event but the first at Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel (so both live crowds get a chance to see Robocop in person). Eliud Gonzalez introduces Miguelito as ‘el idolo de Borinquen’ and Huracan as ‘la estrella de Borinquen’ (so we have the idol and the star of Borinquen). Huracan and Ron Starr start off, working an arm lock up. The lock up is broken when Ron is backed into the ropes, but a second feeling out process leads to Castill sending Ron into the corner for a clothesline. Ron tags Acevedo in, who locks up with Huracan. Castillo again wins that exchange and Acevedo tags Ron back in. Castillo and Ron lock up and, as they fight in the ring, we get a close up of a stoic Robocop in the corner. He starts throwing some air punches and we cut back to the ring where Miguelito has been tagged in for the first time in the match. Miguelito locks up with Ron and does a quick tag to Huracan, who repeats the same maneuver and tags out. Miguelito works a side headlock on Ron and we hear Eliud on commentary thanking the fans for their support for CSP across these 17 years. Ron momentarily breaks the side headlock by backing Miguelito into a corner, but Miguelito blocks Ron’s punches and puts the side headlock on again. Ron sends Miguelito into the ropes and Acevedo knees Perez in the back. Acevedo is tagged in, hits a few punches on Miguelito and tags out. Los Mercenarios double team Perez by ramming him into the corner. Ron hits a few blows on Perez, going for a pin attempt as the camera cuts to Robocop (who is just stoically staring at the action in the ring). Acevedo and Ron tag in and out while continuing in control. Perez fires off several punches on Ron, but an eye rake cuts off that potential comeback. Ron hits some punches, a snapmare and kneelift before tagging Acevedo back in. Los Mercenarios attempt a double clothesline on Perez, but Miguelito ducks the attempt and counters with a double clothesline of his own. Perez makes the tag to Castillo and attacks both Mercenarios, knocking their heads together. Castillo hits a high knee on Acevedo and knocks Ron Starr down with some punches. Castillo hits a back elbow on Acevedo and gets an inside cradle. Ron breaks up the pin attempt before the three. A backslide by Huracan is also broken up by Ron. A swinging neckbreaker leads to another pin attempt that Ron breaks up. This time, Miguelito comes into the ring and starts punching Ron. All four men are in the ring and the rudos reverse an irish whip collision attempt by the Express, leading to Perez and Castillo to collide with each other. El Profe jumps onto the ring apron for some reason, as Ron gets an inside cradle on Perez. As the ref is tied up with El Profe, Acevedo tries to suplex Castillo into the ring, but Robocop finally gets actively involved and grabs Acevedo’s leg. This causes Castillo to fall on top of Acevedo in a pinning position.The ref turns around and makes the three count as both pin attempts are in progress. The bell rings and both teams think they’ve won, but El Vikingo immediately raises Castillo’s arm in victory (the legal men were still Huracan and Acevedo). The ref gives the title belts to Perez and Castillo as we get one more look at Robocop starting to exit the ringside area.  

MD: This was solid but didn’t necessarily feel like a big show match. I’m not sure if they were stretched for time overall or if they had structural balance they had to achieve with the Medicos match to come but they went into the heat sooner than I was expecting. It was very good once they got there, with a hope spot and two and Assassin and Starr being the pros that they were. They did a short double whip into a Bret Bump in the corner that looked great and made me wish we had 1990 Mercenarios vs Hart Foundation match. Eventually Perez got the hot tag to Castillo and they went into the stretch. I had half thought we’d get a second round of heat here but it wasn’t to be. Profe got up on the apron during a roll up, and Robocop, who had spent the whole match just pumping his fists occasionally, asserted himself by grabbing Assassin’s leg as he was trying a suplex from the outside in and the Express got a pretty shady win if you ask me. What did the Cuban Assassin ever do to Robocop?

EB: We now go to the World tag team title match where we have a debuting team. Jacques and Raymond Rougeau have arrived to challenge the Super Medicos. How ill they do on this journey to Puerto Rico?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aa6j8M5mrWc

We are at Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez and both teams are already in the ring (it looks like the Fabulous Rougeaus have just made their entrance). The garbage is already flying into the ring as the Rougeaus start taking off their ring jackets, and the first thing you can hear is Hugo over the sound system asking the fans to please stop throwing objects into the ring. Hugo also mentions that this is the last match for Aniversario 90 (not clear if it is at this ovulation or for the event overall, leading me to believe that the match order has been switched around for the home video release). The challengers are announced as being from Tennessee. The crowd loudly boos the Rougeaus (and there are still some objects being thrown at them) while cheering the Super Medicos when they are introduced. The bell rings and the Rougeaus go for a hug, which the crowd immediately gets on their case for (remember that Chicky Starr and Leo Burke have been doing this same pre-match ritual for several months now). We have Jacques and Super Medico #1 starting off and Jacques immediately signals for Medico #1 to back off. Jacques showboats by showing off his athleticism with a couple of kip-ups and dares Super Medico #1 to show his athleticism as well. When Medico # 1 doesn't go for it, Jaqcues starts flapping his arms to call Medico #1 a chicken. As they start circling each other, Jacques sticks his hand out wanting a handshake, which Medico #1 also ignores. Jacques gets mad at the crowd yelling no at the handshake attempt and goes over to the turnbuckle to yell back at them. This sets the crowd off and they start throwing even more trash at the ring. Hugo again can be heard over the sound system pleading with the crowd to not throw objects into the ring. Jacques again sticks out his hand for a handshake and Super Medico # 1 responds with a hit machine punch combo to knock Jacques down. Raymond briefly gets in the ring to check on his brother but quickly exits. Medico #1 approaches and continues hitting punches on Jacques and then sends him into the ropes for a back elbow. Jacques crawls out of the ring, leading to the Rougeaus hug each other at ringside as the crowd boos and garbage is thrown. Hugo on commentary is apologizing for this behavior by the fans, commenting that there are fans that are respectful and know how to act but there are some right now being disrespectful. 

Raymond and Medico #3 are tagged in by their partners. As both men face off, Hugo again talks over the loudspeaker, sounding more agitated and reminding the fans that this match is for the World tag team titles and he asks the fans throwing objects to behave appropriately. As Hugo pleads with the crowd, Raymond starts pointing that something is wrong with his boot. The ref goes over to check and Jacques uses the opening to blindside Medico #3 from behind. The ref goes over to warn Jacques, as Raymond hits a few punches and rams Medico #3’s head into the turnbuckle. An irish whip attempt is reversed by Medico #3, but Raymond lumps on the middle turnbuckle to avoid hitting the corner. Raymond fakes a reveres body press attempt and tries to jump off with an ax handle, but Medico #3 catches him with a punch to the midsection. Medico #3 gets a headlock takedown for a pin attempt, but the momentum of Raymond’s kick out sends him rolling to the outside. Medico #1 immediately comes over to help his son back into the ring and the Medicos do a quick switcheroo in that moment. Medico #1 is now in the ring and Jacques starts protesting as Medico #1 slams Ramyond. The Medicos do a tag and Jacques starts yelling at the crowd that there was no tag before (and the crowd roars in response). Jacques continues adamantly complaining from the ring apron as the Medicos feign innocence (with the crowd backing them up). Medico #3 works a side headlock on Raymond, who backs Medico #3 into the tecnico corner. Raymond doesn’t see the tag being made and is surprised from behind by Medico #1 when he tries to punch Medico #3 in the corner. Jacques continues to loudly complain from the ring apron.

A side headlock is countered with Medico #1 being sent to the ropes, and Jacques reaches out to yank Medico #1 down from behind. An irate Medico #1 lunges at Jacques but is hit with a knee to the back by Raymond. Jacques is tagged back in and baits Medico #3 into the ring. With the ref distracted trying to stop Medico #3 from getting in the ring, the Rougeaus double team Medico #1, finishing with a double team hotshot on the top rope. The crowd starts throwing objects again. As the Rougeaus do some quick tags and maintain the advantage, Hugo again laments that there are fans throwing objects and showing a lack of appropriate behavior. Raymond goes for a pin attempt that is broken up by Medico #3. Raymond complains and shoves Medico #3, causing another ref distraction and another double team opportunity for the Rougeaus. Jacques mockingly complains about the tag to the fans and hits a nice jumping back elbow on Medico #1. Jacques raises his arms to the crowd and again objects start being thrown. Jacques throws Medico #1 to the outside and Hugo starts putting over the bravery of the wrestlers, especially the Rougeaus, in giving it their all in front of a crowd that insists on throwing objects at them. As Medico #3 is baited back into the ring, Rayyond takes the opportunity to ram Medico #1 back first into the ring apron. Back in the ring, Raymond is tagged in and puts Medico #1 in a Boston crab. As the hold is applied you can see one of the security guards use his weapon to try to clear out the debris on one side of the ring. On the ring apron, Jacques moves over to where Medico #3 is and starts laughing and taunting him over what’s happening in the ring. Medico #3 again takes the bait and, as the ref is held up with Medico #3, Jacques enters the ring and hits a jumping kneedrop to the back of Medico #1. Raymond releases the Boston crab and taunts Medico #3, as Medico #1 is lying prone on the mat but shaking from the impact of the move. The Rougeaus do a cheer to hype each other up, hug and then Raymond goes for a cover (as some objects are thrown again). Medico #3 breaks up the cover and Jacques yells from ringside about it. 

Raymond puts Medico #1 in a camel clutch as Jacques starts chanting USA from the ring apron. The crowd starts getting louder and yelling at Jacques. A tag is made and Jacques comes in doing a shuffle and then kicking Medico #1 right in the face. Medico #1 is in a bad way and holding his back. Jacques sends Medico #1 into the ropes and locks in an abdominal stretch, immediately reaching out for Raymond’s outstretched arm to add more leverage to the hold. Objects start being thrown again and Medico #3 tries to make the save but the ref stops him. The Rougeaus take the opening to do an illegal switch, with Raymond maintaining the abdominal stretch. The ref notices that it is Ramyond in the ring and asks Jacques if they tagged. Jacques claims yes and turns to the crowd making the tag motion (which again causes the crowd to start yelling at him). Jacques is tagged in and looks to be setting up for another kick, but instead moves near Medico #3 and slaps him in the face. This again draws Medico #3 in but the double team backfires as Medico #1 dodges the attempted knee strike from Jacques and instead Raymond takes the hit. As Jacques checks on his brother, Medico #1 slowly crawls over to his corner. Jacques tries to cut him off but Medico #1 is able to make the tag. Medico #3 stares down Jacques, who starts begging off. Medico #3 corners Jacques and fires off several punches and then hits a backdrop. Raymond comes in and is met with a dropkick. Medico #3 follows up with another dropkick on Jacques, as Medico #1 enters the ring. The Medicos knock the heads of both Rouageus together. Medico #1 starts signaling to the crowd, but an attempted irish whip ram is countered by one of the Rougeaus, leading to Medico #3 and Jacques knocking their heads together. As Raymond and Medico #1 leave the ring, the ref sees that the two wrestlers are out on the mat. It looks like Raymond is going to get into the ring, so Medico #1 charges in first to cut him off. However, the ref catches Medico #1 and tells him to go back to his corner. While the ref is distracted, Raymond sneaks in and drags Jacques on top of Medico #3 in a pin attempt. Raymond turns to the crowd and starts celebrating, but makes the mistake of not leaving the ring. The ref sees Raymond in the ring, and instead of making the count, goes over to chastise Raymond and get him to exit the ring. As the ref is tied up with Raymond, Medico #1 gets into the ring and rolls Medico #3 over Jacques. The ref turns around, sees the cover being made and starts the count. On the ring apron, Raymond has his back turned and starts taunting the crowd, kissing his bicep in celebration. The three count is made and the Medicos retain the titles. Raymond turns around too late to realize they have lost the match. The crowd cheers, objects start being thrown (including a toilet paper roll and a chair) and you can see some fans start to enter the ring. The video cuts out as it looks like everyone in the ring is trying to leave and head for cover.    

MD: I’m not sure that words can do this one justice. It was wonderful, just everything you’d want from a tag match with these guys in this setting on this card as an absolute attraction. The Rougeaus, especially Jacques, were absolutely fearless, completely fearless. Maybe it’s because they knew they were losing, but it’s as fearless a performance I’ve ever seen, straight from the start with Jacques doing kip ups and goading Medico 1 as trash flew around him. When they finally took over on Medico three, they leaned as hard into it as humanly possible, cheating, posing, preening, chanting USA. I thought they might have a riot on their hands when they hit the Boston Crab/Knee Drop combo. 

They place popped huge for Medico 3 getting out of the way of a jumping knee causing the two of them to crash into each other, and it became a celebration scene (including kids storming the ring mid show) when Medico 1 turned over the pin (whereas Jacques had rolled Raymond onto Medico 3) so the Medicos won. All this just for basically an attraction match with a flown in team who hadn’t done a whole lot before the show to get heat. I don’t think this was overall better than the Invader 1 boxing match, but it probably pops onto my (honestly nonexistent) list of 100 favorite matches of all time. I was smiling the whole time through, even as poor Hugo was apologizing for the behavior of the fans.  

EB: Up next is a match that was originally announced as Monster Ripper challenging Wendi Richter for the WWC Women’s title. Richter was replaced a week or two before the event by Candi Divine, the reigning AWA Women’s champion and the match is being promoted as Ripper challenging Divine for that title. Let’s go to Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez for this bout. 

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

Hugo does the ring introductions (making sure to announce that this is for the AWA Women’s championship) and also is on commentary. He puts over that the crowd at both locations is anticipating this match due to knowing the reputation of Monster Ripper and also having heard about Divine’s exploits. Hugo asks Moyano who he thinks will win the match and Moyano says that, while Candi is the champion for a reason, it looks like she will have a really tough time with Monster Ripper due to Ripper’s size and temperament. Ripper starts off by sending Candi to the mat off a lockup (and it looks like she pulled some hair there). Candi complains about the hair being pulled but Monster denies it. Based on the commentary, it looks like this match is taking place after the minis match at Juan Ramon Loubriel, which explains why the mat looks as clean as it does (and it confirms that the match order has been switched around for the home video release). Both Hugo and Moyano put over the minis match as being a great showcase and Moyano then jokingly warns Eliud that he better be careful when going to the bank on Monday and having his check clear after comparing Hugo to Espectrito. Hugo says that Espctriot is in better physical condition than him. Back to the match, Ripper does another hair assisted take down and again denies it. Candi fires back with a hair pull takedown of her own, with the crowd cheering and Ripper looking annoyed. Ripper complains about the hair pull and, after being taken down with a hiptoss, about her tights being pulled. Candi looks pleased with herself as it looks like she’s taking control of the match with an armbar, but Ripper  simply shoves Candi off of her. Hugo says that Candi has to figure out how to handle Ripper, who he refers  to as ‘the Abdullah the Butcher of the women’s division’. Ripper does a couple of hair pull takedowns and just takes over the match with several offensive maneuvers (including some leg drops). Candi briefly gets a respite by countering with a hiptoss at one point, but it’s basically all Monster Ripper. The announcers keep mentioning that Ripper’s size and power advantage is proving to be too much for Candi. Off the ripes, Candi is able to get a sunset flip for a near fall but Ripper counters a second sunset flip attempt with a senton for a two count. Ripper regains control and hits a corner splash, but Divine dodges a second attempt. Candi tries a cross corner whip and charge, but Ripper just runs at Candi and steamrolls her with a Ripper Attack. A leg drop leads to a three count and we have a new AWA Women’s champion! Monster Ripper celebrates with the title belt as the video ends. Title lineage historians, you may have to revise that AWA Women’s title lineage if this title match is accepted as a legitimate one.  

MD: We realize now that the commercial tape likely moved matches around so this likely didn't actually follow the Medicos tag match. I would not have wanted to have to follow that last tag match so that's a small mercy for them. Even so, it’s sort of hard to care too much about the 1990 AWA women’s title among this card. This match was fine. The work was fine. It didn’t go too long. There were some hand motions I didn’t quite get, as if Candi was calling for the mandible claw. I liked the finish which was Ripper missing a corner charge but then coming back out of the corner with a Ripper Attack when Candi whipped her, followed by a legdrop across the stomach. And all props to Hugo for being excited about the title change, but this one didn’t really have a chance to hit. 

EB: It is time for the main event of Aniversario 90, the titular ‘Un Reto Para la Historia’ between Carlos Colon and TNT. We’ve seen how this match came about with TNT being named the number one contender and deciding to challenge fellow El Ejercito de la Justicia member Carlos Colon for the title. This was a breach of the gentlemen’s agreement the tecnicos operated under and it was seen as a betrayal by TNT. Whether you view TNT’s decision as a case of putting passion before principle or a case of a competitor being within his rights to strive for the top prize in his sport, there is no question that there has been a noticeable change in TNT’s demeanor since the decision was made.. Whether it's been due to TNT lashing out for the way the tecnicos have reacted to his decision, someone getting into his ear or a combination of these and other factors, TNT has become more aggressive and abrasive in his quest for the Universal title. He has recently taken to not waking up his opponents from the Cobra Dinamita and he has really amped up his comments on Carlos Colon being old and  past his prime.
On the other hand, the tecnicos have also been a bit aggressive towards TNT after the decision he made. Their position has been one of ‘if he’s not with us then good riddance’ and of saying that TNT will be taught a lesson for daring to break the code. Not helping matters has been Chicky Starr, stirring the pot as usual and trying to get into TNT’s good graces. Chicky had promised to sign on as TNT’s manager by tonight’s event and be in his corner, but there has been no confirmation as of yet if Chicky had succeeded. TNT had continued denying he was with Chicky, but it’s clear that he is not in sync with the tecnicos either. Both Colon and TNT have been training intensely for their upcoming match and the moment has arrived.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzeq5ot6YBE

TNT comes to the ring accompanied by ninjas and martial artists, but Chicky Starr is nowhere to be seen. It seems that TNT has been telling the truth about not being aligned with Chicky Starr. Carlos Colon makes his entrance accompanied by who I'm almost certain are two of his children as flag bearers (it looks like Stacy and Carlito). Eliud Gonzalez does the ring introductions and both men get a good reaction from the crowd, it seems that TNT still has his supporters going into the match. The ref gives instructions to both wrestlers and the match begins with a series of lockups and a feeling out process between Carlos and TNT. Colon gets the better of these initial exchanges, although TNT is able to hold his own for the most part. As these exchanges occur, you can see that the ring mat is pretty dirty, likely a consequence of rain making the surrounding area muddy (of the two locations for Aniversario this match is taking place in the open air one). Carlos is able to hit a dropkick on TNT off the ropes after another exchange and it looks like TNT is sliding out the ring as the camera cuts to a close up on Carlos Colon. A freeze frame sends us further ahead in the match.

We continue with both men getting up from the mat and deciding to each bounce off the ropes for a dropkick. They both miss and go down again. The mat is dirtier than before and you can see some cups that have been thrown into the ring. Another rope running sequence leads to a shoulder block by Colon that sends both men down once again. It’s clear that the match has been going on for a while at this point, we’ll have to wait for a time call to get an idea of how much time has passed. As both men struggle to get to their knees, you can see that both are covered in mud from the mat and that TNT is bleeding from his head. A headbutt battle ensues between Colon and TNT, both men on their knees and trying to get the better of the exchange. Colon staggers TNT and is able to launch him into the ropes, getting a sleeperhold on TNT. We have all four announcers chiming in at different times throughout this match, and they highlight how Carlos is using a sleeperhold against someone who is a master at this type of hold. TNT looks to be almost out of it but answers the referee’s check of the arms and starts trying to fight out of it. Carlos keeps the hold on, but TNT manages to break it when the ref gets too close to check the hold and is grabbed by TNT to use as leverage to get Colon off him. Lysette Santiago makes the observation that TNT’s training came into play here, since he had done a bit of underwater training which requires being without oxygen for periods of time, and right now he had to withstand a hold where his oxygen was being cut off. Both men struggle to their feet once more (the exhaustion is setting in), and TNT is the one that is able to get the advantage with some quick blows and a roundhouse kick. TNT goes for a cover but Carlos gets his foot on the rope to break the count. Hector Moyano mentions that the match had been a clean one at first but things changed once TNT decided to grab the ropes (we missed it due to the clipping in order to fit the match on the home video release). As TNT starts hitting the prone Colon with some overhand chops to the head, Eliud Gonzalez makes the time call that 36 minutes have elapsed. Hector Moyano quips that if this match keeps going on like this that Hugo will need a two hour episode just to show this match on tv when the time comes. 

TNT sends Carlos into the ropes and knocks him down with another strike. Eliud comments that in the fan interviews leading up to the event, there were many people who said Carlos would win, but at this moment he notices the crowd is a bit quiet because right now they don’t know who will prevail. Hugo chimes in that it’s due to the level of respect the fans have for both wrestlers, they know the quality of both Carlos and TNT, and they are witnessing two men who are giving it their all. In the ring, Carlos and TNT exchange blows and TNT sends Carlos down with what may have been a thrust to the throat. TNT starts biting Colon’s forehead and continues on the attack with a dropkick that gets a two count when Carlos gets his leg on the rope again. As TNT continues pressing the advantage, Hugo reminisces about Colon’s past rivalries and feuds and how right now he is facing a young and hungry wrestler who knows Colon’s style very well from having shared a locker room with Colon for the past few years. TNT gets a snap suplex but Colon kicks out. TNT works a nerve hold on Carlos and we can now see that Carlos is also bleeding from his forehead. Carlos fights out of the nerve hold but is hit with a shoulder block. TNT makes another pin attempt but Carlos kicks out. The announcers mention that at this point, all thoughts of playing clean and fair are out the window and it’s going to come down to who can fight and claw their way to that win. TNT goes back to the nerve hold and we are now at the 40 minute mark. TNT starts getting a bit more desperate as he adds some eye and head rakes while working the nerve hold.

Carlos eventually fights to his feet and breaks the hold with a reverse foul kick to TNT. Carlos gets a slam and a leg drop for a two count (and you can see the mud fly off the mat when TNT hits the canvas after the slam). Colon starts working the leg and then gets a headlock on TNT, who reverses it with a headscissors counter. Colon bridges out of it and both men are locked on the mat trying to bridge out of the pin attempt. TNT is able to bridge out and counter with a backslide, but Colon again kicks out. Carlos does another headlock takedown on TNT. Both men fight for position on the mat, with TNT eventually getting control and decking Carlos with several punches to the face. Both wrestlers get to their feet and TNT lands a series of blows that knock Colon down for another unsuccessful pin attempt. TNT goes back to the nerve hold and we hear the 45 minute time call. Carlos fights to his feet and gets a brief offensive flurry on TNT that the crowd cheers along with. However, an attempted charge into the corner is dodged by TNT and Carlos ends up hanging upside down in the tree of woe position. TNT uses the opening to kick Carlos in the midsection and follow up with a series of unanswered strikes and punches. Hugo says that TNT’s strategy seems to be to make Carlos lose more blood and thus weaken him more.

TNT tries to put on the Cobra Dinamita a few times but Carlos quickly pushes him away on the attempts, his training kicking in. Carlos comes back with some kicks and punches that knock TNT down for an unsuccessful pin attempt. TNT is able to counter off the ropes with a dynamite kick and this time gets the Cobra Dinamita on Carlos. TNT tightens the hold and yanks Colon away from the ropes when Carlos briefly is able to touch the top rope to try to break the hold. TNT takes Carlos down to the mat and it looks like Carlos is almost out of it. But, as Colon’s arm goes down, it falls underneath the bottom rope. The ref calls for TNT to break and he mistakenly thinks that the match is over, that Colon was out and the ref had called the match. As TNT starts raising his arms in victory, Colon quickly is back on his feet and rushes TNT from behind, surprising TNT with a roll up that gets two. TNT goes back to the Cobra Dinamita as we are now at the 50 minute mark. TNT again yanks Carlos away from the ropes but the crowd starts amping up and cheering for Carlos. This time, Carlos manages to break the hold by running into the corner and ducking in order to ram TNT’s face into the top turnbuckle. Colon covers but gets only two. TNT hits a slam but misses a senton, with Colon then trying for another unsuccessful pin attempt. TNT sends Colon into the corner and follows up with a clothesline that sends Colon down. TNT makes a pin attempt and gets his leg on the ropes for leverage (with the crowd getting notably louder when this occurred). Carlos breaks this pin attempt by punching TNT right in the face. Carlos starts punching and kicking TNT on the left leg as Hugo mentions that time is starting to favor the champion (TNT as the challenger has to win by pinfall or submission). TNT cuts off Carlos with a kick and hits a flying clothesline, but Carlos kicks out. Carlos again starts focusing on TNT’s left leg and eventually takes him down to the crowd’s cheers. Carlos continues with several focused attacks on TNT’s leg and it’s clear he is setting up for the figure four.  We are at the 55 minute mark, there are five minutes left in the time limit.

TNT manages to block the first figure four attempt by yanking Carlos down using the tights for leverage. Carlos goes back on the attack (including a quick shuffle of his feet that amps up the crowd even more), but the second figure four attempt is countered by TNT with an inside cradle. Carlos kicks out and hits a suplex on TNT, as we now have four minutes remaining. Carlos is firmly in control but TNT keeps countering the figure four attempts. TNT gets to his feet, visibly favoring his right leg, but is able to hit a desperation spin kick on Colon. However, TNT is slow to follow up because his left leg is giving him trouble. TNT sends Carlos to the opposite corner but misses a knee charge, which leaves him completely open for Colon to put on the figure four. Carlos makes his fourth attempt of this closing stretch but TNT is able to kick him away. A fifth attempt at the figure four is also countered with a kick. There are now two minutes left in the match and both men are staggered but on their feet. A blow exchange is won by Carlos when he grabs TNT’s leg and shoves him down. Carlos continues attacking TNT’s left leg as we have one minute left in the time limit. TNT is able to get back on his feet, but misses a spin kick attempt. Carlos covers for a two count with 35 seconds left in the match. Carlos finally gets the figure four on TNT with only 20 seconds left in the match. TNT struggles in the hold as Eliud Gonzalez counts down the remaining seconds. TNT keeps emphatically waving no with his arms as the final seconds tick away and the bell rings. We have a sixty minute time limit draw. Carlos Colon retains the Universal title but we have no decisive winner. Both men are exhausted, bleeding and covered in mud. As the video ends, Carlos starts motioning at TNT to get up and looks to want to continue, but TNT’s leg is too hurt for him to stand up properly. .  

MD: We have a little over half of this by my calculations. From what we can see (and there’s so much we can’t), and for how this plays out in my mind, it’s a tale of two matches. They start out even, working holds. TNT will reverse Colon’s hammerlock, but then fall to the reversal to the reversal. They build to dropkicks and eventually to both going for dropkicks at the same time, both going for tecnico coded offense in the same way. When we come back from the cut, many minutes later, TNT is busted open. They throw headbutts and chops, fighting with all their hearts but still, as best as we can tell, fighting clean. Then, suddenly, Colon snatches on a sleeper. This is the end of the first match, the end of the clean match. TNT, in desperation, works towards the ref and sneaks in a foul. 

Everything seems to change from there, including the very nature of the ring. Maybe it’s just more noticeable in this back half. Maybe it’s the ultimate manifestation of the rain and dirt and grime and all the trash that had been thrown in throughout the night and all the more that was thrown in with TNT’s rudo decision. Both men are covered in it however, awash in filth held to their bodies by sweat and by their own blood. This is the true symbol of justice torn asunder, of their union brought down not through villainy but through jealousy and greed and pride and putting rules over people.

This portion of the match consists of small and tight shots, of gripping holds, of each wrestler fighting for every inch. On the other side of it, TNT tries for the cobra, is reversed, is countered, is foiled, until he can finally hit the Dynamite Kick and lock it in. For the first attempt, Colon gets his hand on the rope at the very last second. For the second, Colon, with a last gasp of survival instinct, charges forth and slams TNT’s skull into the corner post.  

Things have changed again. The Cobra failed TNT. He presses onwards and tries to damage Colon, tries to win with even more despicable forms of cheating like his legs upon the ropes, but Colon begins to poke and prod and punch at TNT’s leg in turn. The tide shifts and what has happened so many times before seems like it may happen once again. Colon will call upon an inner strength, will be lifted up by the crowd, will destroy TNT’s leg, will win the day. He tries for the figure four multiple times. TNT avoids it again and again, fights back, even hits the spin wheel kick but he misses a knee in a corner. All the while, the clock counts down, sixty minutes almost spent. Finally, with just twenty seconds to go, Colon locks on the hold, but TNT survives it and the two men are left in the dirt, having both survived the war, having nothing proven, having it all be for what?

EB: The next day (Sunday July 8) the Mayaguez card for Aniversario 90 was held. The Universal title match between Colon and TNT in Mayaguez also ended without a decisive winner, with the match being stopped due to blood. Carlos Colon remains the Universal champion but TNT has taken him to the limit. 

Next time on El Deporte de las Mil Emociones, we look at the immediate aftermath of Aniversario 1990. Where do Carlos Colon and TNT go from here? Will Scott Hall continue to be embraced by the fans? Is the rivalry over between Invader #1 and Leo Burke? And who is coming and going out of the territory after Aniiersario? All hopefully will become clear.

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