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

Week 60: We Were Friends, We Were Brothers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fidel Sierra vs. Invader #4

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

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

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

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

Super Medico #3 vs. The Fly

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

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

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

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

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

Koko Ware vs. Al Burke

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

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

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

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

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

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

Abdullah the Butcher vs. Giant Warrior

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Giant Warrior vs. Sky Walker  

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

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

TNT vs. The Samoan Savage 

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

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

Miguel Perez Jr. vs. Huracan Castillo Jr.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Carlos Colon vs. Abdullah the Butcher

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

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

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

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

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

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El Deporte de las Mil Emociones: The Road To Aniversario ‘89

Week 9: The Road  To Aniversario ‘89

EB: When we first started our journey with the Bronca Boricua, one of the videos we watched was one that had a Sports Shop segment, a rundown of that night’s card and, near the end of the video, a brief teaser for Aniversario 89 taking place from Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel on September 16.  We have now arrived in September and that means anniversary time for Capitol Sports Promotions. Although the promotion’s first card was held on Three Kings Day in 1974, CSP was founded in September of 1973. When the company reached ten years since its founding, it was decided to hold a big ten-year anniversary card in celebration. Since then, Aniversario has been held every September, a supercard where you’ll find a mix of feuds coming to a head (although not necessarily ending) and wrestlers being brought in (both regular tourers and sometimes even names making their first foray to Puerto Rico) to face the local stars or each other. Throughout the years the event has grown, with changes in how long the event lasts. CSP would typically hold cards throughout Aniversario weekend with the wrestlers that were here for Aniversario, resulting in Aniversario being held across different days (although the main show was always the one held in the San Juan Metro area). Recent developments included running a Universal title tournament from Friday to Sunday in 1986 (truly an Aniversario weekend) and running Aniversario simultaneously in three different locations at the same time in 1987. In 1988, Aniversario was once again run from two different locations simultaneously, although unlike in 1987 where it was different cities, the event was held at two different sites within the same sports complex in Bayamon.

For 1989, the event would be held from one location only (the previously mentioned Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel) but with a new wrinkle. For the first time ever, the event would be available locally live on pay-per-view. So fans had the option of going in person or watching the event from the comfort of their own home. This resulted in Hugo Savinovich, Carlos Colon and Chicky Starr to film some promos the week it was announced from in front of the cable TV company in San Juan in order to hype up that this was an option for the fans (while also telling the fans that if you can make it out to the stadium, you should do so).

Following the first teaser for Aniversario 89, every week a segment hosted by Hector Moyano would air updating fans about Aniversario 89, basically an event center update focused on Aniversario where new match announcements would occur.  Let’s go to one of these segments to see how the Aniversario 89 card is shaping up so far.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAdNwXaSvn4

Hector Moyano welcomes the fans to the segment saying ‘Puerto Rico, esto es para ti’ (Puerto Rico, this is for you). More super matches have been confirmed, let’s run down what we have so far. The main event will be a rematch for the Universal title as Carlitos Colon takes on the reigning champ Steve Strong. The Puerto Rico title will be on the line as Ivan Koloff defends against Invader #1. Returning to the island and much loved by the fans are the Youngbloods who will be challenging the World tag champions Rip Rogers and Abudda Dein. A very interesting encounter will see Kerry von Erich take on Abullah the Butcher. Also, the World Class World Junior heavyweight champion Jeff Jarrett will be coming in to face the WWC World Junior heavyweight champion Super Medico. We will also see in action ‘El Toro Salvaje’ Manny Fernandez, the Junkyard Dog, and in a just confirmed bout, Boogie Man Jimmy Valiant will face Kareem Muhammad. Moyano then talks about there being good news for fans in the Caguas and Humacao regions, thanks to their calls the event will be available via their cable providers in those regions (thus the three different phone numbers to call on the screen depending on where you live). The price will be $25 and Moyano gives the relevant details about where the cable provider offices are located and what numbers to call. He also mentions that in San Juan you need the updated Sigma cable box in order to be able to watch the PPV. Please make sure you order ahead of time to make sure you don’t miss out. We’ll return next week with more new information.

After the segment, a promo for the Aniversario 89 card plays, narrated as always by Hugo Savinovich. This card rundown reveals one more match for the show, the one involving Manny Fernandez. In a vengeance match it will be Invader #3 vs. Manny Fernandez. Let’s take a look at these matches and talk about what has led up to them.

Our main event is a rematch for the Universal title where Carlitos Colon has returned from the shoulder injury Steve Strong inflicted on him and is looking to regain the Universal title.  We have seen the impact Sadistic Steve Strong has had throughout his run and we know how dangerous he can be. Carlos has returned with a win in the Bronca Boricua that took place on August 5 and is anxious to get his hands on Strong.

As Aniversario approaches, Chicky Starr is making sure that his Universal champ is ready. We go to a segment of La Esquina Caliente to see what Strong and Chicky are doing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjoXn9MCl00

Chicky says they have invaded one of the training bases of El Ejercito de la Justicia to show how much weight a real man lifts. Chicky calls this a psychological attack on Carlos since they are doing this at one of their training bases. None of them can lift this much. Next time any of the Ejercito de la Justicia shows up here, let them know that a real man showed up to lift. This is the man that will end Carlos Colon.

MD: I love the idea behind this. It’s as if the Justice Army was some sort of secret government task force fighting Cobra with a hidden headquarters underneath a barber shop. And then you have Chicky not being subtle at all but instead saying outright that this is a psychological assault. You can’t hurt someone’s feelings by telling them you’re doing something to hurt their feelings!

EB: But this wasn’t the only way Chicky had decided to get at Carlos before Aniversario. Carlos was actively wrestling to get back in ring shape for the big match at Aniversario, so Chicky saw this as his chance to potentially take him out. Carlos faced Kendo Nagasaki on August 12 and also, later that month, faced off against a wrestler brought in by Chicky with the sole purpose of taking care of Carlos Colon before Aniversario.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyIIf0p8Mzo

We open with Chicky and Nikolai Volkoff standing near the fans. Chicky is yelling for silence so that Volkoff can sing the Soviet national anthem. Nikolai sings as the crowd makes noise throughout. As the ring introductions are made, Hugo on commentary mentions that Chicky has promised that Carlos will not make it to Aniversario and has brought in the powerful Volkoff, a wrestler whose trajectory is well known. As Carlos and Nikolai square off, Hugo makes note of the size difference between the two of them. Volkoff gets the advantage early on due to his power and keeping the pressure on Colon. Carlos manages to briefly get control by blocking a kick, but Volkoff rakes the eyes and gets the advantage back. The match follows a pattern of Carlos starting a comeback but Volkoff cutting it off and using a cheap tactic to put Carlos down. Nikolai starts working Colon’s throat, trying to make sure Carlos does not make it to Aniversario. After another momentum change where Nikolai regains control, he hits a backbreaker on Carlos but does not go for the pin attempt in order to do more damage. But when Nikolai tries to pick Carlos back up for a move, Carlos surprises him with a roll up and gets the pin. Carlos leaves the ring as Volkoff and Chicky are upset at losing. Carlos decides to get back in the ring to fight with Volkoff a bit more and, after Volkoff briefly gets some blows and bites in, Carlos sends Volkoff over the top rope with a headbutt. Chicky’s plan has not worked and Carlos is still on the road to Aniversario.

MD: Volkoff has no WWF matches between March and the very end of September 1989. I didn’t know that. I tried to look through some 89 Observers to figure out what was going on there and decided quickly that was a mistake for my continued vision and sanity, especially after stopping off at the PR section once or twice. Volkoff doing the anthem gimmick in Puerto Rico with Chicky is wonderful. He’s an excellent opponent for Colon for a 5 minute tune-up match. He’s bulky and physically imposing like Strong, just pummeling Carlos against the ropes or in the corner. He targets the neck. Colon fires back against him multiple times but gets cut off, but then sneaks in a roll up out of nowhere and drives him off post-match. You got the sense that Carlos wasn’t quite ready for Strong yet, but that he was getting closer every day.

ER: Carlos prevails against Nikolai but Strong awaits. While getting ready for the match, Carlos also makes the rounds to promote Aniversario, including an appearance on the TV show Sunshine’s Cafe. This was a comedy variety show starring comedian/TV personality Sunshine Logroño which aired on channel 4. The show would feature comedy skits with different characters Sunshine played, interview segments with different guests and even music performances. One of the characters Sunshine developed for the show goes by the name of Vitin Alicea. The character (according to his Wikipedia entry) can be described as a “ hyper-macho misogynist who is likely a closet case, flaunts his masculinity to the point of self-parody, and is an extreme fan of professional wrestling, weightlifting and film.” Vitin owns a makeshift gymnasium in the backyard of his house, called "Musculus", which is merely a converted garage and filled with whatever cheap makeshift equipment he can find (such as cement filled tin cans for weights and a garden hose that serves as the gym’s ‘shower’).

The reason I’m providing context on Vitin is because the character’s wrestling fandom will result in him getting involved at different points with the local wrestling scene (so might as well introduce him now). Vitin’s wrestling fandom also results in him basically being a Carlos Colon superfan, with the character talking about Carlos several times throughout the show’s run. The show was so popular that a parody song made in character as Vitin was released on an album. This song was called "Hombres en la Noche" ("Men In The Night"), and it’s one where Vitin longs for male company and pays homage to wrestling hero Carlitos Colon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nodCOuT_bM

All the talk of Carlos eventually resulted in him making an appearance on the show in a sketch where Vitin continued to talk about how he trained Carlos and taught him the figure four, and how he was taking too much of Vitin’s time that he couldn’t train his protege (a lie Vitin was saying to explain to his protege why he wasn't being put into matches). Carlos unexpectedly arrives at the bar, looking for a phone to call a tow truck because his car had broken down. Vitin’s protege confronts Carlos, saying that he was told Carlos is ducking him and is the reason he wasn’t getting matches but Carlos reveals he doesn’t know who Vitin is.  Vitin tries to make an exit when it looks like the truth is out, but before the situation becomes heated Carlos decides to play along to help Vitin out, saying that of course he knows him, that’s the man that taught him the figure four. Afterwards, a grateful Vitin thanks Carlos for bailing him out and tells Carlos he is his inspiration, as Carlos tells him it’s alright but to be careful with the tall tales next time. If you’re interested you can watch the entire sketch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ID2eNYy1ho

As mentioned earlier, with Aniversario approaching, Carlos went to Sunshine's Cafe to promote the upcoming event. How? By being interviewed by Vitin of course.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpZI-fLrBgc

Vitin makes the introduction of today’s guest. He asks for the VCRs to be set on record and introduces Carlos Colon by saying forget Danny Rivera (a Puerto rican singer), forget Rafael Hernandez Colon (the then governor of Puerto Rico), forget George Bush (the then US president), here is the leader of Puerto Rico, Carlitos Colon! Carlos comes out in his suit and is all smiles. As Carlos sits on the stool, Vitin goes ‘My God, what a buffet.’ Vitin sits down and as he starts his interview, reaches out and puts his hand on Colon’s shoulder, causing Vitin to go ‘Caritos… Dear God, it’s like a 4x4 what this man has for a shoulder.’ Vitin says it's an honor to have Carlos as a guest because he serves as an example to the youth of Puerto Rico and that he is one of the first Puerto Rican wrestlers to be known worldwide. Vitin mentions that Capitol is going to celebrate their Aniversario soon and wants to know what’s going to happen there. Carlos says they’re going to have all of the local stars  and international stars too. Vitin interjects saying ‘Don’t tell me Chicky Starr is going to be there!’ Upon hearing that yes Chicky will be there, Vitin scoffs and says that man infuriates him. At that, Carlos tells Vitin that you’re going too. A perplexed Vitin goes ‘Me?’, to which Carlos says they’ll put Vitin in the Bronca Boricua. Vitin accepts the invitation, he’ll be there but giving massages at ringside. Carlos says no, you’ll be right in there getting it on in the ring. Vitin upon hearing this goes, ‘Look at the hairs standing up on my arm.’ Vitin says he has to organize and see who he attacks first, but Carlos says he’ll be in there with Abdullah. ‘With Abdullah! If that mass of meat falls on me I’m dead.’ Vitin asks if Mr. Pogo will be there with his satanic nunchucks (if you listened to the song earlier, Vitin references Mr. Pogo in Hombres en la Noche which is likely why he asks Carlos about him). Vitin puts over Carlos’ discipline and brings up the shoulder injury and that he was injured by that satanic Steve Strong. When Vitin hears it was the left shoulder, he offers to give Colon a massage and a kiss to make it better but Colon declines (getting up from the stool in case he needs to fend Vitin off). Vitin produces a letter that was sent by a female fan where they write a fan letter to Steve Strong. Vitin takes offense at this, spits on the letter and says how can you root for that foreigner over our local guy. Vitin asks what Colon’s favorite wrestling move is and he responds the figure four. This leads to Carlos demonstrating the hold on Vitin to end the segment. Vitin ends it by saying ‘I thought the figure four was like this (assumes an all fours position)’.

MD: Yes, we live in a world where a 1989 parody song in Puerto Rico contains a Mr. Pogo reference. Truly the most wonderful timeline. What stands out to me from the initial sketch is how subdued Colon is. He’s also more like a prop or a politician guest starring than a wrestler. We’re used to wrestlers being naturals in these settings due to their need to improvise. He gets more into it during the promotional appearance though.

EB: But let’s not forget the huge obstacle Carlos faces in Steve Strong. Here is a music video showcasing Strong ahead of Aniversario 89.

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

The rivalry between Ivan Koloff and Invader #1 over the Puerto Rico title has been going on since Koloff’s arrival in mid-July. We go to a series of interviews from that first weekend of August in the early stages of the feud, where Koloff has recently won the Puerto Rico title and is defending against Invader that night.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBH9PnXlhps

In the interview Invader expresses that he thought Koloff was a tremendous wrestler, but he was disappointed that Koloff stooped to cheating in order to win the Puerto Rico title from him the way that he did. We haven’t really seen Ivan in action in Puerto Rico, so here is a match (joined in progress) he had around mid to late August against TNT.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Fhk5Fc2ti0

We join the match with Ivan working TNT over with a bearhug, a hold which he will continue to use for the first minutes. Eventually TNT fights out of the hold but Ivan dodges an elbow drop and decides to go to the top rope.  However, TNT manages to shake the ropes, causing Ivan to crotch himself on the top turnbuckle and shifting the momentum to TNT. Both men try for pins across different exchanges as the time limit starts winding down. The announcers put over how well TNT is doing in there against a very experienced wrestler such as Ivan Koloff. A missed attack by Koloff as time is running out gives TNT the chance to put on the Cobra Dinamita. Time counts down as Koloff struggles in the hold, but the time limit is reached before Koloff passes out completely. It’s a draw.

MD: It’s easy to discount Uncle Ivan after his JCP run, but he looked to be a pretty potent force here (as he did for his January 1990 AJPW tour), holding a title, very capable in the ring. We come in JIP with TNT in the bear hug. Ivan was smaller at this point but it seemed entirely believable. In the comebacks and cutoffs, he was happy to stooge and bump all over for TNT and he looked every bit a top guy, even though TNT gets the moral win as the Cobra was locked on as the time limit expired. There’s no reason to think he couldn’t be a perfect Invader opponent.

EB: Meanwhile, Invader #1 would face the challenge of another Real Academia member in Kendo Nagasaki.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qEgbhkb0Vs

This match is surprisingly more of a straight up wrestling match with Invader showing off his wrestling ability against Kendo. On commentary Carlos mentions that you have to be wary of Kendo because he has many tricks such as the mist and the kendo stick. Kendo eventually gets the momentum by turning it into more of a fight but Invader is right there with him. Near the end of the match, Invader manages to get Kendo in a sleeperhold (which is sort of Invader's semi finisher). El Profe jumps on the ring apron (causing Carlos to angrily complain about managers needing to be banned from ringside so they can’t pull these shenanigans), which allows Ivan Koloff to run in and knock Invader out with a chain in his fist. Kendo steals the win.

MD: Nagasaki is a pretty natural Invader opponent too. He’s good at eating up his opponents which is not always what you want, but against a guy who can sell and come back like Invader, it’s pretty spot on. That said, Koloff was going to come out at the end here while Invader has the sleeper on and clock him with the chain, so he’s losing this with a pinfall in the middle of the ring and therefore, he ended up taking a good chunk of it. That included a lot of headlock takeovers early. We cut during the break and lose the transition, coming back to a Nagasaki arm stretcher and general beatdown including a nice use of a big wooden guardrail. When Invader comes back (with the fans fully behind him and fire within him), he crashes Nagasaki through that guardrail. A good match to remind everyone that Invader was a threat to Koloff’s title while keeping the heat on Koloff (heat that was only going to get ramped up further with the subsequent angle) and everyone involved protected.

EB: Both Invader and Ivan are on a collision course at Aniversario, with the rivalry escalating due to an attack Koloff did on Invader in his hometown of San Lorenzo.

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

As a result of this attack, the match was made into a chain match.
The World tag team titles will be on the line as the returning Youngbloods take on Rip Rogers and Abudda Dein. We’ve seen a bit of Abudda and Rip in our 1989 journey, but to remind you of their exploits here is a music video highlighting them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClgP7vO_FMg

As for the Youngbloods, their story in CSP begins with Jay Youngblood. Jay would make a couple of appearances in the territory back when they were working with JCP, including an appearance at Aniversario 84 where he teamed with his brother Mark and Wahoo McDaniel to face the Super Medicos. Jay and Mark would continue making sporadic appearances into 1985, where they would face off against Los Pastores (as did pretty much any tecnico in 1985).  Due to Jay’s untimely passing, Chris Youngblood would step in to team with Mark against Los Pastores at their scheduled match for the October 85 ‘Batalla de los Gladiadores’ card. Mark and Chris would return as a team for the year end 1986 cards and would stick around for a year and half as regulars in the territory, a run that made them into loved fan favorites and very likely the most fondly remembered foreigner team from that time period.

After leaving at the end of July of  88, Mark and Chris would return at the beginning of March to the territory, not full-time but to make semi-regular appearances. Here are their return matches, first their TV return that aired on March 4 and then their return match at the event that night “El Regreso de los Grandes”. First their TV return from the March 4 of 89 tv episode.

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

El Exotico is a wrestler we’ll see some more of when we get to the 90s. Dr. Death is El Gran Mendoza under the mask. This match is all Youngbloods as they are showcased on their return to the fans’ delight.  We also have their return match at the big Regreso de los Grandes card from that night. Their opponents are the new Ninja Express and Mark and Chris are challenging for the Caribbean tag titles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VoDl_hgvw4

MD: I don’t have strong priors when it comes to the Youngbloods (other than Jay, of course). Cheat sheet here has Chris with the singlet and Mark bare-chested. For the squash, not much to say except for that they really beat Exotico up without quite enough consequence. I kind of wish we lived in the world where Scotty the Body brought that guy into 1990 Portland to be is Puerto Rican cousin. Anyway, on to the Ninja Express. Mark is older and Chris has great energy, especially working the apron, but gets lost once or twice too. It’s pure pro wrestling to be in Puerto Rico with two Japanese guys dressed like ninjas and two Native Americans in full garb. Sasaki and Pogo did a whole ceremony before the match and it’s nice to know Sasaki got the genuine excursion experience. He looked good getting out of a headscissors at one point, but hard to say too much about him. We missed the transition to heat again, but they used all the tricks, including drawing Chris away from the corner to miss the tag in order to ramp up the drama. The place went crazy for the hot tag and the Youngbloods destroyed the Ninja Express until the ref had to call it for being too chaotic.

EB: Here is another match showcasing the Youngbloods about a month after their return, where their opponents are Tama the Islander and Jonathan Holiday (stepping in as a sub for the departing Dan Kroffat).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icuJjH-422s

MD: A lot to enjoy here, mainly due to the antics of Holiday and Tama. Holiday is a guy we have a bit of in late Stampede, here, in late Portland. Then he ends up embroiled in a legal case over the NWA rights which is interesting, but has no bearing on what we’re looking at here. You can see those Stampede roots in how big he bumps and how hard he feeds but it’s tempered with completely selfless stooging. Tama obviously had Heenan to lean on just a bit prior to this, but it surprised me how little he played up the goofiness here. This wasn’t a regular team but they meshed together well as an act and let the Youngbloods make fools out of them. The heat started probably two exchanges too late and didn’t last nearly as long as it should have, but that happens in a match like this. When I think of Puerto Rico, I think of bloody brawls and monsters and heroes of justice but there were always a bunch of these wildly entertaining stooging heels hanging around too and they really help round out the card and provide variety. As for the Youngbloods, they were poised and credible and fiery on the comeback, carrying themselves like stars (even as they took just a bit too much of it all as stars are want to do).

EB: We have a match at Aniversario 89 where name imports clash as Kerry von Erich takes on Abdullah the Butcher. We’ve learned all about Abdullah in Puerto Rico already and Kerry has made a couple of appearances throughout the summer. Here is a music special hyping Kerry that includes some clips of his match vs Rip Rogers on the Father’s Day card.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EI5mV8usT-g

However, this will be the last we will see of Kerry in CSP as there will be a change to the match just before Aniversario, with Kevin von Erich instead stepping in to face Abdullah.

MD: Kerry no-showing, even in a situation where his brother steps in is no surprise (nor would be the opposite). The hype video was rousing but basically all Kerry punching people. I’m not sure if that had to do with his mobility in 1989 or what.

EB: A match also featuring wrestlers that have been making semi-regular appearances throughout the summer in Puerto Rico will see Jimmy Valiant take on Kareem Muhammad. We also know that JYD will be on the card, but his opponent has not yet been announced. While we await confirmation on who JYD’s opponent will be, here’s a clip of him in tag action vs the Battens (really just an excuse to have the Battens show up one last time in our 89 run through).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ql6Xx7df6g

MD: Battens couldn’t catch a break here. They got hammered around the ring by JYD and Invader, two guys who probably didn’t need to be making smooth, quick tags but were anyway. Then when it looked like they’d take over off of a knee to Invader’s back by the Batten outside the ring as he was rope running, Invader just stopped in the middle of the ring and didn’t run into the knee. A Batten snuck in and leaped off the top with an axe handle on him anyway, but he wasn’t feeling it on this night and shut it all down quickly to tag JYD in who cleared house. It was fun to watch them bump around for Invader and JYD I guess.

EB: And then there’s that vengeance match between Invader #3 and Manny Fernandez. Why is it a vengeance match? Well…for that we need to go back to May of 1988. Chicky Starr had brought in Manny Fernandez as the newest member of his Club Deportivo. Manny’s been in the territory a bit over a month, wrestling squash matches on TV and appearing against some of the midcard tecnicos at the house shows. On the May 11 TV taping, Manny was facing Invader #3. We join that match in progress.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8a0jRhtWtU

This is from the Saturday May 14 Superestrellas de la Lucha Libre airing. We join the match with Invader #3 having Manny in a side headlock. Joaquin Padin, hijo and Hector Moyano are on commentary. We see Invader #3 work the headlock and actually maintain control on Manny through the first couple of minutes we are watching. Manny manages to turn the tide by diving out of the way of a crossbody block Invader #3 was trying to hit from the top turnbuckle. Manny hits a bodyslam and goes to the top turnbuckle. He comes of with a flying kneedrop onto the prone Invader #3, who starts rolling in distress on the mat. As Manny goes back up to hit another flying kneedrop, the camera cuts back to Invader #3 who is starting to spew a copious amount of blood from his mouth. Manny hits another kneedrop onto the injured Invader #3. The ref sees that Invader #3 is spewing a lot of blood from his mouth and frantically calls for the bell. Invader #3 is absolutely covered in blood as is part of the mat. Manny hits a third kneedrop as Padin is worried on commentary, saying he has never seen so much blood in a ring before. Invader #1, TNT, Castillo, Perez and the Youngbloods run out to run off Manny and check on the blood covered Invader #3.  Moyano says that Invader #3 is convulsing while Padin is saying he can't look at this, it’s making him queasy from how bad it is. The worried tecnicos do their best to carefully carry Invader #3 out of the ring to get medical help. The camera follows the group as they go outside the arena carrying Invader #3, all the way to a waiting stretcher.

We then see Manny with Chicky cutting a promo about a match he is going to have that night with Invader #1 after what had happened. Manny says everybody saw what he did to Invader #3 and he’s going to dish more of that tonight. ‘I am the king, and I am your daddy, so let’s see what you can do with this bull. I will leave you destroyed.’ Hugo then updates us on Invader #3, where he was taken to the ER and we’ll have updates later n the program on Invader #’3’s condition. We finish with a promo from Invader #1 talking about his match vs. Manny Fernandez tonight. He says Manny didn’t have to do that, that was over the line. Invader #3 is a family man and he didn’t deserve any of that. You may be the king elsewhere but not here. ‘What you did to Invader #3, you shouldn't have done it.  We’ll see who is who tonight’.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaUIgGy3CmM

Later on the same TV episode, Invader #1 had a match with Chicky Starr. Chicky immediately jumps Invader #1, taking advantage that he was somewhat distracted by what had happened earlier to Invader #3 (and knowing that Invader #1 would take it out on Chicky). Chicky manages to stay in control until Invader #1 just tees up and kicks Chicky in the groin. From there, it’s all Invader in control as he works over Chicky, trying to vent his frustrations about what happened earlier. After a couple of minutes of beating on Chicky (including hitting a Garvin stomp), Invader puts Chicky in a figure four. Manny Fernandez runs out and tries to hit Invader #1 with a flying kneedrop, but Invader gets out of the way. The ref called for the DQ  as soon as Manny went to the top. Invader hits Chicky and then goes after Manny. The two furiously go at it, fighting out of the ring and all the way to the exit. The tecnicos run out and, instead of breaking it up, form a circle around the fighting duo to ensure no one gets in to help Manny or allow Manny to get away. The camera follows the group of wrestlers to the sidewalk outside as the credits start to roll. They are fighting on the sidewalk and one of the last things we see is an umbrella from a food cart going down as Invader and Manny are brawling by it.

This has set up quite the feud between Invader #1 and Manny. They had their first match on May 14 and would continue the feud the following weekend.

However, something happened that changed plans in the longer term.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGTzMuwzZ4w

This video recap is from the May 28 airing of Superestrellas de la Lucha Libre. The words ‘They finished the Raging Bull Manny Fernandez’ flash on the screen as Hugo narrates what happened during the weekend of May 21st. Carlos Colon and Invader #1 were  facing Manny and Chicky in a tag match, looking for revenge for what happened to Invader #3. We see highlights of Carlos and Invader attacking Manny during that match. Hugo says they absolutely blistered Manny. We then go to the next day, May 22 in Aguadilla. This is Invader #1 facing Manny in a singles match. The words ‘The Invader ended him in Aguadilla’ flash on the screen. We see several highlights of Invader attacking Manny during the match, with the key moment coming near the end. Invader hit a back body drop on Manny on the arena floor. The video freezes just as Manny hits the floor and then cuts to Invader celebrating in front of the fans. What happened was that Manny legitimately got hurt on the landing and was now out of action. Thus, plans had to pivot and the feud could not continue with Manny involved. This video recap is to explain why Mann was gone and framed as the tecnicos getting their revenge. The feud would continue between the Invaders and Chicky Starr (accompanied by his returning cousin Ron Starr), but unfortunately we never saw how the feud with Manny would have continued.

But now, after a year and half, Manny Fernandez has returned. And for the first time since the terrible incident, Invader #3 is getting the opportunity to face the man who severely injured him in the ring.

MD: This is a pretty famous angle that Esteban can get into the details of better than I can; you’ll be as frustrated as I am at what we didn’t get because of Manny’s real injury! Some things worth noting: Invader #3 really had Manny’s number until he missed a body press back off the turnbuckles. Manny had that explosiveness all through the 80s and that served him well here for this angle. He cut what felt, to me, like a great post-match promo in Spanish too. The combo of Manny and Chicky was very natural. In the subsequent match (later that night) with an an out-for-blood Invader #1, it was a good example of how Chicky really was a threat in and of himself. Yes, he jumped Invader but he could still hold his own for a bit. I harp on it because it’s a correction to my own misconception (so it’s one you might share too), but this isn’t just Heenan. Still, Invader wasn’t going to let his vengeance be withheld for long and things become wild as Manny comes in to save Chicky’s neck. In the subsequent package with the Manny/Chicky vs Colon/Invader #1 tag match, the thing that stood out the most was just how well Manny and Invader #1 squared up in strike exchanges. Invader dodging his shots and getting his own in looked like an all-time example of that spot.

EB: As Aniversario nears, the card would begin to take its final form.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xre82NbHG9o

We can see the chain stipulation has been added to Koloff vs. Invader. We can also see, due to the events we saw occur between TNT and Original TNT (which we covered in a previous installment), that a match between them has been added to Aniversario, one that is stipulation heavy. It is for the TV title, but also for the rights to the identity of TNT. Whoever loses the match must take off the face paint and loses the right to call himself TNT.
JYD’s opponent has been confirmed, initially announced on TV as being Nikolai Volkoff but now as we near the event it is Paul Jones. And the Caribbean tag titles are on the line as Perez and Castillo defend against the Wild Samoans combination of Tama and Afa.

We are set for Aniversario on September 16. We leave you with a special music video made to help hype up Aniversario 89, featuring several of the wrestlers we have met so far in our journey through Puerto Rican wrestling.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAUq2AjMBJ4

Lucha libre! Lu-lu-lu-lu-lu lucha libre!

Next time on El Deporte de las Mil Emociones, it is time for Aniversario 89! The moment of truth has arriv… wait, what!?! (runs for cover)

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