El Deporte de las Mil Emociones: Bregando a la Chicky Starr

Week 7: Bregando a la Chicky Starr

EB: Throughout Sadistic Steve Strong’s run in Puerto Rico there have been some constants, such as his calling upon the powers of Luc and Damian. Someone who has been a constant part of Strong’s rampage is the man who brought him to Puerto Rico in the first place and set him loose upon El Ejercito de la Justicia. A man who had made it his mission for over three years to get rid of Carlos Colon, Invader #1 and anyone else from El Ejercito de la Justicia who dared go against him. A man who has served as Strong’s translator, hype man, tag partner, accomplice, and mastermind. The one and only self-proclaimed king of wrestling, Chicky Starr.

We’ve previously mentioned some of Chicky’s history in taking about recent events in this 1989 walkthrough, but let’s really take a look at how Chicky became the rudo he is remembered as, whose actions and behavior were such that that the term ‘bregando a la Chicky Starr’ entered the Puerto Rican vernacular and refers to when you betray someone, play dirty, do bad things with premeditation, or just simply do not keep your word.

Chicky got his start working the Puerto Rico indie scene, forming a tag team with one of his trainers Angel Rivera. They wrestled for a few years for different promotions on the island (some of them attempts to compete with CSP), and were considered the top tag team on the Puerto Rican indie scene. They would eventually make tours of Mexico and Canada, specifically a long tenure in Stampede where they wrestled as Los Hermanos Peron (the alleged sons of Eva Peron). Unlike some other notable local stars like Barrabas, Huracan Castillo Sr., and Hercules Ayala, who would have stints with CSP and then also have stints wrestling for other companies, Los Hermanos Peron never really had a stint in CSP until 1983. Early in the year, both started wrestling for the company as tecnicos. Chicky wrestled in the lower card, working a junior heavyweight style (a departure from what one would be used to seeing from him if you only knew him from his later work). As an example of how Chicky would wrestle, here is a TV studio match against the masked Mr. X from the first months of 1983.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SFHwJ_9BW0

MD: There are things you can learn from a 5 minute studio match from 1983 certainly. The first is that Chicky had solid fire as a babyface, but maybe was a little physically awkward for what he was trying to do. Things hit but they didn’t always hit as smooth or clean as you might like. Mr. X had some, shall we say, demonstrative clubbing blows, and wrestled pretty much how you’d expect a Mr. X to wrestle. A short undercard studio match like this wouldn’t have seen at all out of place in Memphis or Mid-South. The fans were overall behind Chicky, especially as the match went on, but you could also sort of see his ceiling in this kind of role.

EB: Chicky would eventually leave CSP for a tour in Southwest for most of 84, eventually returning in the summer of 1985 to Puerto Rico once again as an up-and-coming tecnico, this time with a more visible role on the card. We go to one of Chicky’s TV matches against Ricardo Mendoza (who would also have a couple of runs in CSP as El Gran Mendoza from 87 and onwards), which highlights again the style and presentation he had when he returned to CSP.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Tm48R8RBkM

There are some details mentioned on commentary that help tell the story.  Joaquin Padin and Hugo Savinovich are on commentary, joined by guest commentator Hercules Ayala. The first thing Hugo mentions is how Chicky has been working with Invader #1 and, with Invader’s help and advice, feels he is getting ready to face better competition.  Ayala mentions that Invader #1 has spent a lot of time working with Chicky, and it’s not been spent in vain as Chicky has improved and gotten better. Chicky is young and ambitious and there’ll be Chicky Starr for a long time. Announcer Joaquin Padin had been saying ‘hay que estar con Chicky’ to the fans (basically, we have to be with Chicky), as a way to help generate support for this up-and-comer. Later on in the match ,when Chicky is trying to get out of a Mendoza chinlock, Hugo asks Ayala what he would think about Chicky facing Invader #3  for the World Junior heavyweight title in a tecnico style encounter (since that is the hottest division right now). Ayala says that is a tough question to answer since Invader #3 has the experience while Chicky is young, hungry, and putting in the work to improve with the help of Invader #1. Chicky eventually gets the win with an inside cradle. And the announcers once again mention that ‘hay que estar con Chicky’. And that is exactly how it went for several weeks, including a highlight video reminding fans that ‘hay que estar con Chicky’

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

Two things about the video looking back, one is that the first masked wrestler seems to have some impressive kicks (potentially explosive you could say); and, hindsight being what it is, it’s an interesting song choice for the video.

MD: I know it’s beside the point but I liked what I saw out of Mendoza here. He had a dynamic look pre-match with a bandana and sunglasses and had a stylized way of calling out to the crowd at key moments. His offense looked really solid, both elbow drops and fist drops and his cut-offs with flying clotheslines. Between the match and the video, Chicky seemed to be finding his niche a little more. He still had a flip over to his opponent that didn’t land smooth but they were able to pick and choose some things in the video that definitely worked. He came off as more of a technical slugger able to assert himself more, which seemed to play into his physical strengths better. The video had me buying him as a credible up and coming mid-carder certainly.  

EB: Chicky continued facing wrestlers and getting wins, but as the weeks progressed, he started expressing his frustration at the quality of opponents he was getting. Chicky wanted better competition and felt that he wasn’t getting it. Eventually, his frustrations grew to the point where he started accusing Invader #1 of being the person responsible for the lack of quality opponents for him.  This would lead to Chicky challenging Invader #1 to a match, student vs mentor. Invader # 1 was hesitant but eventually agreed and the match took place just before Christmas (Dec 21 or 22, I’ve heard both dates depending on the source). Throughout the match Invader would get the better of Chicky in their exchanges but would break cleanly and calmly let him get back in the ring whenever Chicky ended up outside. As you may guess, Chicky grew more aggravated with what he felt was Invader disrespecting him by wrestling him this way and things reached a breaking point.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-WBJ08-O2Q

This is a recap video from the latter half of 1986, which includes clips of the initial stages of the feud between Chicky and Invader #1. The video shows both wrestlers at the time in 86 to start but the key part to focus on is the scenes after both wrestlers are shown. We see a clip of Chicky and Invader from their year-end 1985 TV match, where Chicky, right after Invader had  held the ropes open for him to get back in the ring, immediately just straight up kicks Invader in the groin, goes outside to take the chair Joaquin Padin was sitting in at the commentary table, and then proceeds to attack Invader with a chair to the head. Chicky then immediately mocks Invader by doing his signature two jumps and chest slap hype move. We then go to January 6, 1986, where Invader is trying to reason with Chicky about not going down this path (Invader in interviews prior to this match had indicated he was confused about why Chicky did what he did, lamenting all the time he spent working with Chicky on bettering himself only for Chicky to pay him back like this, but also he felt that Chicky could be reasoned with before it went any further). Chicky, who had shown up with a new blonde hairdo, takes a moment to consider Invader’s words and says let me tell you one thing. He then smacks Invader in the head with the microphone busting Invader open. From there, the feud was on and the top rudo in Puerto Rican wrestling was born. The video continues showing some highlights from their first matches in the feud.

From that point on, Chicky Starr became the most hated man in Puerto Rican wrestling, and the top evil mastermind determined to destroy El Ejercito de la Justicia. He would decry what Puerto Ricans were and style himself as a country club gringo of sorts (hence the blonde hair and somewhat preppy look and golf clubs he would initially have) and would become a manager as well as wrestler. Chicky would be joined by his American ‘cousin’ Ron Starr and would quickly align himself with Abdullah the Butcher, forming the first iteration of El Club Deportivo (a reference to playing sports at the country club). A few months in, Chicky Starr’s Sports Shop (named in English because of course Chicky would want it that way) became a staple of the Saturday morning TV show, a Piper’s Pit type segment where Chicky would interact with virtually every person in the promotion at one time or another. His misdeeds throughout the next three years were many, including masterminding plans to attack and injure tecnicos, crossing the line many times on interviews with some choice comments and offensive insults about his adversaries, bringing monsters both known and unknown to do his dirty work, and just being an underhanded slimeball. And no matter how many times he would get his comeuppance for his latest schemes and transgressions, Chicky would vow to get his payback and would usually find a way to once again get back at the tecnicos and the cycle would begin anew. Here;s a highlight video of Chicky in action.

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

MD: A couple of quick thoughts from the turn and the subsequent music video. From the outside in, as someone who’s watched scattered matches and a chunk of the 80s set, I always saw Chicky like Heenan, where he could be dangerous against a certain person low on the card but that ultimately would hide behind his charges. Maybe he develops into more of that as time goes on but he comes off as more of a mix between Heenan and Zbyszko and Piper here. He seems to be presented more credible on a week to week basis than what we see in just looking at the big matches. I love that he has so clear an origin story given what he would become, though. WWF managers like Blassie, Grand Wizard, Albano, Heenan, Hart, Fuji all seemed to be fully formed by the time they were expected to hold up their end. Chicky grew into the scumbag force that he’d become in front of everyone’s eyes, it seemed.  

EB: So far, we’ve seen quite a bit of Chicky in 1989 as Strong’s manager and partner in crime, but Chicky would also have his own separate issues that year as a singles wrestler. One of his notable feuds was against an initially masked wrestler known as the White Angel. Chicky had brought in Angel as part of his stable, but after a few weeks the White Angel expressed his disapproval of Chicky’s tactics during his matches. Because of this, Chicky attacked and kicked the White Angel from his stable, starting a feud between them. A week or so after being kicked out from El Club Deportivo, the White Angel would unmask himself during an interview on TV and join the tecnicos. This feud occupied Chicky during the early Spring  of 89 and here is a match from their series.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ti_M9mz2vmQ

This match is likely from April 8 of 89 and takes place from Carolina. Chicky and White Angel had previously had a match that ended in a DQ, so they’re matched up again. White Angel rushes to the ring and immediately goes after Chicky, catching him from behind and not giving him a chance to get his ring jacket off. Chicky tries to get away by rolling out of the ring, but Angel gives chase and throws him back into the ring. Chicky tries to beg off but Angel continues to attack Chicky. Again, Chicky tries to roll out and get away but, once again, Angel chases him and carries Chicky back to the ring. You can tell Chicky wants no part of the White Angel. Finally, Chicky manages to get his ring jacket off but Angel continues on the offensive. And this is the pattern of the match, with Angel on the offensive and just having his way with Chicky, and Chicky trying to get away but being unsuccessful. Chicky gets moments where he is able to cut off White Angel’s offensive attack but Angel manages to turn the tide. At one point, Chicky tosses Angel out of the ring and you can see that Chicky has been busted open (Angel also has some blood going). Even when Chicky is on offense, you can tell he is outmatched power wise just by the kickouts Angel has. Chicky’s strategy becomes one of trying to wear down Angel and keep him down via a chinlock so he can’t be overpowered. Angele eventually gets the crowd going and powers out, hitting a flying clothesline to Chicky to regain the advantage. Chicky by this point decides discretion is the better part of valor and rolls out to get away, but again fails when Angel chases him down once more. Back in the ring, Chicky manages to counter some mounted punches and immediately bails and walks towards the locker room. Angel once more gives chase, but when Angel tries to ram Chicky headfirst into the ringpost, Chicky manages to throw Angel off and send him into the post instead. And here we get a perfect summation of who Chicky Starr is. With the ref counting down and his opponent down, Chicky has an opening to get back in the ring and get a possible win via countout. Instead, Chicky turns tail and stumbles back to the safety of the locker room. This feud would end with a cage match to prevent Chicky from running off, although Chicky ended up winning the match via shenanigans (this was the same night where Invader chased Chicky into the cage leading to Steve Strong attacking both Invader and Carlos Colon and leaving them laying).

MD: I’m lucky enough to be constantly talking to Esteban about this stuff as we go. That meant he gave me some of that sum up on White Angel a few weeks ago when we saw him against someone else in passing. I wasn’t sure what Curtis Thompson (Firebreaker Chip) was doing with that name/gimmick but no mask. It feels a little like the somewhat contemporaneous Bobby Heenan/Brooklyn Brawler vs Red Rooster feud, which is me bringing everything back to my points of reference again. The big difference goes back to what I noted above, that Chicky, while vulnerable enough to get overwhelmed in the early going of this match, was also presented as legitimately dangerous enough to sneak in a foul or get his knees up in the clutch and not just take over but also do real damage. Here, he was great at building up hope spots; that sense of vulnerability made the fans bite on each and every time Angel started to come back. The last of these was pretty elaborate with missed clotheslines and getting a knee up to cut him off right when you thought he’d be able to overcome Chicky. Just a great sense of the crowd and their expectations. This was inconclusive but apparently the feud had its share of gimmick matches too.

EB: In the summer, Chicky would compete for the World Junior heavyweight title, managing to have a brief reign as champion. During that time, he had a rudo vs rudo match against Eric Embry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nI5EPE2IFfY

This match is from July 15 of 89 and is taking place in Caguas. Chicky is defending the World Junior title, a title he had won from Super Medico just a few weeks before. What’s a bit interesting watching the match is that this version is from a Camperones de la Lucha Libre airing from either the end of August or early September, so your commentary team is Hugo Savinovich, Carlos Colon and Chicky Starr himself. This leads to some interesting exchanges on commentary as Hugo and Carlos take the opportunity to needle Chicky throughout the match. Carlos feels that this is a chance for Chicky to get a taste of his own medicine since he is in there with someone who is just as rudo (or even more so) as Chicky. In an interesting twist, the crowd is actually behind Embry, since Chicky is just that hated. Hugo and Carlos are amused by this and rub it in Chicky’s face on commentary.The match is one where Embry gets the better of Chicky throughout the match, and Chicky tries different tactics to try to get the advantage (rolling out of the ring, offering a handshake) but Embry does not fall for them. It’s a missed crossbody that allows Chicky to get the advantage. Chicky works the leg but eventually they trade blows when Embry fights off a figure four attempt. Embry hits an eye poke and starts biting Chicky. A DDT and flying headbutt only get two for Embry. Several punches to the head and an eye poke set up a bridging back suplex pin attempt by Embry, but Chicky is able to steady himself via placing one leg under the top rope and lifting a shoulder just before the three count. Chicky immediately rolls out of the ring before Embry realizes he hasn’t won. Chicky smugly laughs on commentary, very pleased with himself.

MD: Ten minutes of practically perfect pro wrestling. Two masters who knew how to play off of one another. There wasn’t much in here I’d consider a high spot, but they were able to get mileage out of every punch, and kick, and even more mileage out of Chicky, on his knees, with his hand extended. It must have gone on for a minute but every time the camera zoomed in, you got a close-up facial expression that was somehow better than the last. Eventually they shook and Embry turned his back on him only to spin around and punch him to the fans’ delight. But Chicky was a crafty one and a half a sequence later, you were left wondering if he hadn’t goaded him into it, punch and all, from the start. Great finish too where Embry hit a belly to back but as both of their shoulders were down, Chicky got his feet up onto the ropes to get the leverage to get his own up. I’m not entirely sure about the real life physics of it, but as pro wrestling physics went, it made sense to me. What a cad.

EB: As August of 89 was winding down, Chicky masterminded another plan to get back at one of the tecnicos that he felt had wronged him. This time his target was TNT. If you recall, TNT had tried to put Chicky in the Cobra Dinamita during a match they had, which kickstarted the series between Steve Strong and TNT. Chicky had gone on TV raving about how TNT had tried to kill him with that maneuver, and eventually decided to do something about it. We go to the debut of a  segment called La Esquina Caliente (The Hot Corner), taking place live at one of the house shows.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8hbKsIREXE

Chicky has a mysterious man dressed in black with his face covered, dressing in a similar style as the ninja wrestlers that have appeared in CSP. Chicky introduces him as the original TNT, a man who has come to Puerto Rico with one purpose. He has a message to deliver, but first Chicky wants to call out the impostor parading around as TNT. Yes, Chicky’s plan this time is to call into doubt the identity of TNT. He even calls TNT by his shoot name of Juan Rivera when he calls TNT out to the ring to explain to the fans why he is in fact an impostor. TNT comes out as Chicky continues calling him the impostor. Chicky tells TNT to keep his distance from him and to  pick up a mic that’s there for him. Chicky tells TNT to give him a minute because he needs to talk with the original TNT, who says he is here for the TV title TNT has and that he is the original. TNT responds by saying that first, all the fans here and watching on TV know who the real TNT is. Chicky responds by pointing at the man in black and saying here is the real TNT. TNT continues by saying that he has defended his name across the world and, if your guy (referring to Chicky’s ‘TNT’) wants a shot at the TV title, he only defends against ranked contenders, not just anyone. TNT then tosses the mic at Chicky and leaves the ring. Chicky starts complaining that this is a lack of respect, how dare he not give a TV title shot to the original TNT. But TNT, if you want him to be ranked then remember, this man is undefeated since arriving in Puerto Rico, that means soon he will be ranked by the WWC. So TNT, soon you will have to face the original TNT for that TV title and then we will see what you’re able to do. This man is the original TNT and he will prove it to you and all of the fans. And that is all “my dear friends” for this Esquina Caliente segment.

On TV, Original TNT would face different wrestlers and remain undefeated. Of note was the way he would finish his opponents.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bogb0Nbnvg

This match pits the Original TNT vs the White Angel. The match is joined in progress with White Angel on offense and getting the better of ‘TNT’. After hitting a back bodydrop, Angel starts signaling for the full nelson which causes Chicky to jump on the apron. Angel goes after Chicky, which gives ‘TNT’ an opening to apply his cobra sleeper. Angel quickly falls unconscious and  ‘TNT’ gets the win. The ref signals for ‘TNT’ to wake up Angel, but Chicky tells ‘TNT’ to leave. The ref insists and Chicky changes his mind and they go back to wake Angel up, with Chicky doing the whole lay down a towel to hide how the opponent is woken up, the same as El Profe would do back when the actual TNT made his debut. They wake Angel up and, as Chicky distracts the ref, ‘TNT’ gets in a cheap shot on the downed Angel. One thing is certain, this Original TNT definitely knows the cobra sleeper that TNT uses and with similar effect.

Original TNT had shown to be very capable and was undefeated in the short time he had been in CSP. However, he still had not been officially ranked. Still, fed up with the constant calling out by Chicky, TNT agreed to face the man claiming to be the original TNT in a match (albeit non-title). We go to early September of 89.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQAgjPGZP-A

EB: There are many parallels for TNT in this situation compared to when he first made his debut almost three years before. Original TNT shows up and is dominant on TV (just like TNT). He has a manager who is challenging a champion to put his title up in a match vs his wrestler (as El Profe did with Carlos Colon and the Universal title), despite the wrestler being newly arrived and not ranked. Like Colon three years earlier, TNT takes the match just to get the grandstanding and calling out to stop (although in this case it's non-title and with the added wrinkle that Chicky has revealed TNT’s identity without his permission). On commentary, Hugo acknowledges that while the Original TNT is taller, there are similarities in how they look. Surprisingly, Original TNT gets the better of TNT to start. Chicky on commentary keeps calling TNT by his real name and says that he is a cheap copy. Original TNT keeps dominating the match as Carlos and Hugo talk about the pressure TNT must have faced going into the match due to Chicky. Hugo mentions that it’s tough when one goes to the trouble of protecting your identity only for a rival to publicly out their name. Hugo calls out Chicky for not having professional ethics and that it’s low to do this to someone. Chicky protests that the ethical thing is calling out an impostor and unmasking them, and you do that by letting the public know who the impostor is by name. In the ring, although TNT tries to counter, Original TNT remains in control. At one point, a charge by TNT is dodged and TNT ends up outside. Chicky Starr at ringside takes the opportunity to push TNT into the ringpost (causing Carlos Colon on commentary to rant about how they need to get Chicky and Profe banned from ringside so they can’t keep doing this, Chicky says he was just trying to help the impostor back in the ring).

Back in the ring, Original TNT continues to dominate TNT in the match. TNT finally manages to counter with a crossbody for a pinfall attempt, but Chicky distracts the ref, allowing Original TNT a chance to kick out. An eye rake allows Original TNT to gain the advantage once more. The match continues in this pattern for a while, but eventually a clothesline and a dropkick finally allow TNT to go on an offensive flurry. TNT hits a dynamite kick into the corner. As the ref backs TNT away from the corner, Chicky hands something to Original TNT behind the ref’s back. Chicky then runs to the other side of the ring to distract the ref, allowing Original TNT to throw powder into the face of an unsuspecting TNT. Original TNT immediately puts TNT in his version of the cobra sleeper. TNT fights hard to break the hold, including trying to use the ropes as leverage to jump off them and try to get the hold broken. This is similar to what happened to Carlos Colon three years prior. But TNT can’t break the hold and is put to sleep, losing the match.. Afterwards, Chicky jumps into the ring to celebrate with Original TNT. The ref tells Chicky that they need to wake TNT up, but Chicky and Original TNT leave the ring. TNT is still out! The doctor comes out to check on TNT, who has started foaming at the mouth. Victor Jovica, the master of the sleeperhold, also arrives to try to wake TNT up. This whole situation mirrors exactly what went down three years before, only this time it is TNT on the side of being left to potentially fatal injury. Jovica is able to wake TNT up, as Hugo on commentary calls out Chicky for once again showing a lack of professional ethics by leaving TNT under the effects of the hold without waking him up (despite TNT himself doing this before even as a tecnico).

For the first time ever, TNT has found himself in the exact same situation he has left other wrestlers in before (both as rudo and as tecnico such as we saw with Steve Strong). He not only lost, but was embarrassed and left to potentially serious injury. TNT was not going to let Original TNT and Chicky Starr get away with this. Something was going to happen, and it just so happens that Aniversario is a few weeks away.

MD: I was a little surprised how into this one I was. Jackson looked better in this role than I expected; he had a lot of strikes and while not all of them looked great, he got an A for effort in throwing them and TNT did his job in the selling to make you buy into the act. They worked this pretty boldly with Jackson getting an early advantage and just pressing and pressing and pressing as they built one comeback attempt onto the next, each one taking TNT just a little closer to coming back only for Jackson to cut him off through skill or hook or Chicky-related crook. It built to a huge comeback clothesline out of the corner and a great kick into the corner but just when it looked like TNT would stage the against-the-odds comeback, some heel chicanery (powder given to Jackson by Chicky) dragged him down and he fell victim to the false Cobra.  A pretty compelling match overall given that slow and gripping build to comeback.

EB: Next time on El Deporte de las Mil Emociones, we’re getting close to Aniversario 89, But before we get there, there’s a few more members of El Ejercito de la Justicia we need to meet. See who is trying to carry on the family legacy in Puerto Rico, as wrestling runs in these tecnicos' blood.

El Deporte de las Mil Emociones Master List

Read more!

El Deporte de las Mil Emociones: The Man They Call TNT

Week 5: The Man They Call TNT

EB: As Steve Strong’s feud with Invader #1 was winding down, another member of El Ejercito de la Justicia started appearing on Strong and Chicky’s radar. We previously saw TNT appear with Invader #1 during the death match between Carlos Colon and Steve Strong, trying to help Carlos with his injured shoulder. He had also teamed up with Carlos and Invader #1 a few weeks before to take on Strong, Chicky and Rip Rogers in a six man tag, so TNT does have some familiarity with Strong and has seen first hand the devastation he has caused among the tecnicos (and specifically Carlos Colon). And while TNT had not yet really interacted too directly with Steve Strong, events would unfold that would push TNT into being Strong’s next challenger. But in order to better understand those events, we need to explain who TNT is and understand the context behind his Cobra Dinamita hold (it’s what his cobra sleeper is called).

Let’s go back to October 1986, where CSP is coming off their Aniversario 86 weekend event (highlighted by a three day tournament for the Universal title which was won by Carlos Colon).  On TV,  a mysterious unknown wrestler debuted in the promotion. He had a shaved head, wore face paint and did not speak. This wrestler appeared to be a martial arts practitioner and he was accompanied by an equally mysterious masked manager named El Profe (who spoke with an affected Mexican accent). This wrestler was named TNT.

There was intrigue about who these two people were, especially since TNT was very impressive in his TV matches, including obtaining some wins over wrestlers such as Super Medico. During that time, one of the weekend tv shows (CSP would air shows on Saturday and Sunday) had an interview segment named ‘Asi Soy Yo’ (which translates to That’s How I Am), a segment hosted by reporter Lysette Santiago. A few weeks into their run, El Profe and TNT appeared as the guests of the segment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llzA9OcmZCs

From the interview there are a few things that are established about who these men are. In the interview, TNT sits in the back without saying a word as El Profe does all the talking. From the interview, the fans learn that TNT is Puerto Rican (although Profe refuses to specify from what part) and that Profe claims to be Toluca, Mexico.  Profe also claims that he is a phys ed and self defense teacher (hence the name El Profe). TNT and Profe have been in Puerto Rico three weeks at this point.  Since TNT is just sitting back not saying a word, Lysette at one point tries to ask some questions directly to him. However, Profe interjects saying that he’s the only one allowed to talk for TNT.

Lysette mentions that TNT has caused a sensation because he has only been wrestling on TV and not at the arenas. El Profe says that their main motive for coming to Puerto Rico is the Universal title; they have issued a challenge to the champion Carlos Colon that has not been answered yet. Profe hopes Carlos answers it soon because this man (TNT) will soon be the new Universal champion. We will later learn that they are refusing to appear at the arenas until Colon answers their challenge. El PRofe mentions that TNT is a black belt in tae kwon do, has been wrestling five years and is the man Profe sees that can dethrone Carlos Colon. That is their goal. Lysette promises that next time she’ll try to get some words out of TNT.

And that is how Puerto Rico fans first met TNT and El Profe. TNT was presented as a dangerous martial arts expert with a signature kick named La Patada Dinamita (or Dynamite Kick), sold as being devastating. TNT was also the master of a cobra sleeper they dubbed the Cobra Dinamita. One thing about sleeperholds in Puerto Rico, they are treated as a potentially dangerous hold, holding to the logic that the move cuts off the air supply to the brain and the opponent needs to be woken up in order to stop the effects of the hold. If you recall, during the Colon vs Strong street fight, Chicky called in Pogo to help revive Strong from the sleeper Carlos had put on Strong, it’s because of this logic being in play.

During that first month or so, TNT would only wrestle on TV and win with his Cobra Dinamita, with his opponents being left unconscious from the hold. Afterwards, El Profe would come into the ring with a towel that he carried and cover the downed opponent with it so that no one could see how TNT revived the opponent (so no one would know the pressure point that would counter the effects). As an example, here is a TV match vs someone who will likely be familiar to many of you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdD7tlByNPY

TNT ends up winning with the Cobra Dinamita and it’s a good example of how the move was sold and how the need to revive the downed opponent is highlighted. On commentary they mention that TNT’s run through several wrestlers (including Super Medico) and that he and El Profe have issued a challenge to Carlos Colon for the Universal title. They are refusing to appear at the arenas unless Colon answers the challenge. Keep in mind TNT has been around a month or so to this point.

MD: I was not expecting to hear Come On Eileen on a Puerto Rican interview segment from 1986, especially one introducing El Profe and TNT, but there we have it. I liked the air of respectability here with Profe being polite and composed, almost like you’d expect a (masked) teacher to be. For the squash, I liked that Dean got a few solid wrestling moves (generally single leg takedowns, but not just) in early. On the one hand, maybe it makes your new monster look a bit more vulnerable against enhancement talent, even one with the last name of Dean, but it also set things up for a wrestling vs martial arts showcase. The way the back half went, with a lot of downwards chops to the back of the head and TNT being absolutely dominant overall, showed that supremacy of TNT’s style even over a wrestler who could use foundational skills to take him down a couple of times. The towel gimmick doesn’t make a lot sense as it doesn’t obscure too much, but it does make for a nice, memorable visual overall.

EB: Eventually, due to the run TNT has been on and the insistent challenge being thrown out by El Profe, Carlos Colon accepts the challenge. This match would take place on TV, a very rare occurrence for the Universal title to be defended at the TV tapings. We go to the November 15 tv episode for this match.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMeM2HiZrBE

As the match begins, the commentators (Joaquin Padin, hijo and Hector Moyano) talk about how TNT had been very anxious in getting this match and he's finally gotten it. Carlos is coming off a tough title defense (Carlos had just wrestled Stan Hansen that previous weekend). It's youth vs. experience. TNT comes out firing and this match is basically a sprint, with both men exchanging blows. Carlos takes control with some dropkicks and a butterfly suplex, but TNT uses his martial arts prowess to cut Carlos off with a thrust kick. TNT puts Carlos in the Cobra Dinamita (cobra sleeperhold) and Carlos tries to fight out of it. Carlos pushes off the turnbuckle but accidentally knocks down referee Ricky Vargas. Carlos pushes off again and the hold is still not broken. A third attempt to kick off the ropes fails, but Carlos manages to get out by elbowing TNT. As Carlos struggles to get his bearings, a desperate Profe jumps into the ring and wallops Carlos on the head with this briefcase. TNT promptly hooks the Cobra Dinamita on him again. The referee calls for the bell and it appears we have a new Universal champion.

El Profe comes into the ring to celebrate with TNT. He also places the towel on Carlos' face in advance of TNT waking up Carlos. Profe demands the title belt as TNT continues to celebrate. The announcers start to mention that TNT has to wake Carlos up and that the ref is signaling for TNT to do so. The ref is also calling for the title belt. As the ref approaches with the title belt, he signals that Carlos is the winner via DQ, he had seen Profe hit Carlos with the briefcase. By this point, the announcers pick up on the fact that Carlos is spewing foam from his mouth. He has not been woken up from the hold! The ref is pointing at Carlos, signaling to TNT that he has to wake him up. For a brief moment it looks like TNT will do that, but instead he angrily picks up the towel and leaves the ring. El Profe follows, not before spitting on the fallen Colon. The announcers are worried, the only man who knows the technique of how to wake someone up from the Cobra Dinamita has left and Carlos is still out. A worried Joaquin Padin starts thinking that maybe they could get Victor Jovica (the master of the sleeperhold in Puerto Rico) to help. Padin sends fellow commentator Hector Moyano to go find Jovica. Moyano heads off to find Jovica, as referee Ricky Vargas is trying to think of what to do. Carlos is starting to tremble and is still foaming. Ricky Vargas tries to see if he can wake Carlos up but it's no use. Padin on commentary is saying that they're hoping that Jovica, who is an expert in the sleeperhold, might be able to do something for Carlos. Finally, Moyano returns with Jovica.

Jovica enters the ring and works on Carlos. He manages to wake him up, but with some difficulty, as the Cobra Dinamita is a different technique than his sleeperhold. Still, he manages to bring Carlos out of it. Carlos starts heaving in deep breaths and looks like he is about to hurl. Jovica and Vargas help Carlos out of the ring as Padin calls for applause for Jovica (Padin: It's a miracle, thank you Victor Jovica!). Carlos can barely stand and is still heaving in deep breaths as he is helped back to the locker room by the referees and Moyano.

MD: This was a really great 5 minute clash of the titans sprint. Colon may have been weary from battling Hansen, but he was also honed from fighting him and had every reason to look strong even against so dangerous a threat. Colon tried a waistlock takedown early, but TNT had an answer. TNT tried the chop to the skull early, but Colon had an answer (in this case effective headbutts). Colon drove things a bit more, including with a really nice looking, tight double underhook suplex, but TNT had an answer for everything. After Colon missed a corner charge, TNT hooked on the Cobra. This led to yet another excellent ref bump and the attempts to escape. Something I liked here, given the gimmick of the towel and the recovery technique was that the fans knew that even with the ref bump and a potential false finish, if Colon went out from the Cobra, there was no way for him to possibly recover, even after the ref woke up. It wasn’t a case where the ref might miss a pin but Colon could still come back. He’d just be out indefinitely. It was a tricky balance between the Hansen feud and TNT getting a phantom win, but not actually winning. Here Colon did escape the hold but was groggy. That allowed for some hope that he might have found a way to come back. Profe clobbering him with the briefcase anyway signified the overall threat of Colon but also the lack of moral fortitude of a heel. If he had just stood back and let TNT put the Cobra on once more, his man would have likely been champion. As it was, the decision was reversed. That logic may be just a little flimsy if you really pull at the threads, but with the emotions at play and the visuals of the towel and Colon seemingly near-death, it was enough to get by while keeping everyone protected and everyone over.

EB: TNT’s feud with Carlos quickly established him as a key heel in the promotion, and this feud actually happened at the same time Colon had the Hansen feud going on (in between Hansen appearances this was Colon’s main feud). After a series of matches with Colon (which would be put on hold when the Hansen feud picked back up for the year end show), TNT would face different tecnicos throughout the first couple of months of 1987 (including winning Gillette Cup tournament in February). As result of another incident of TNT refusing to wake someone up from the Cobra Dinamita (a masked wrestler which turned out to be Maelo Huertas), a feud would start with Invader #1 in March of 87. Eventually, TNT would have one more shot at Carlos Colon and the Universal title in April. Here is a highlight video for TNT promoting that match which includes many highlights of the previous months for TNT.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uedq7s-_INA

El Profe at the end runs down the list of people that have fallen to TNT (as TNT is striking a pose in full ninja garb and holding a sword), and says that Carlos Colon is next. Here is the new Universal champion, TNT. However, TNT would be unsuccessful in winning the Universal title that night.  Shortly after this match, TNT formed a tag team with Mr. Pogo (who was also managed by El Profe) and together they won the World tag titles.This would also result in a chain of events that would see TNT turn to the side of the tecnicos, since problems would arise between TNT and El Profe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M31UXR85xUo

This is an interview from the summer of 87, Hugo had promised a special interview with a secret interview subject. Turns out Hugo has tracked TNT to his dojo and has managed to secure an interview to talk about what has been happening as of late (we finally hear TNT speaking). You can see on the wall that TNT has a picture of him and a bloody Invader from their feud a few months earlier. Hugo asks about what is going on with El Profe, in interviews Profe has been saying that Pogo is a better wrestler than TNT, that Pogo is a better martial artist. TNT says that Profe has a right to his opinion and he respects it. Hugo then mentions that Profe also has been saying that the only reason TNT and Pogo are the World tag champs is because of Pogo, he won those titles, he is better than TNT. and it's because of  Pogo they are tag champs.  TNT says that in a tag team both have to be good and he believes he is also good. Hugo then brings up an incident in Mayaguez where in a match, after Pogo had made a mistake, an irate Profe had slapped TNT for what happened in front of everyone. TNT says it was a misunderstanding but it has all been cleared up. Finally, Hugo brings up something that he found out and he has proof of this based on looking through the records of the CSP promoters, that El Profe is basically taking half of TNT’s money. TNT says he doesn't want to talk about that. Hugo doesn’t want to push that topic further, but asks TNT what is his opinion about El Profe as a manager. TNT says that there are things he is grateful to El Profe for, which is why he’s where he’s at now, but then starts shaking his head indicating he doesn’t want to answer any more. 

As you may guess, Pogo and TNT would lose the World tag titles and Profe would again blame TNT for this. TNT would have enough and attack Profe, turning face as the crowd went wild. TNT’s match with Pogo would serve as the third main event of Aniversario 87 (the event aired simultaneously from three locations with each location having a specific main event). 

Afterwards, TNT would slot in as the up and coming tecnico, usually teaming with Carlos Colon throughout the rest of 1987 against Hercules Ayala, Kareem Muhammad and other members of Chicky Starr’s Sports Club. He would become very popular with the fans, since his martial arts skills and being a ninja were pushed throughout special video packages and promos. Here is such a promo, called Aventura Ninja (Ninja Adventure).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8WrRe0F_RY

Throughout 1988 and 1989, TNT would win several singles titles in Puerto Rico and have feuds with different wrestlers such as Hercules Ayala, the Ninja Express (Mr. Pogo, Kendo Nagasaki and Super Black Ninja aka Great Muta), Buddy Landel, Jason the Terrible, Rip Rogers and Abudda Dein. And yes, there were still videos highlighting TNT’s martial arts skills. Here is Aventura Ninja 2, which focuses more on TNT in late 88.

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

But soon TNT’s path would cross Steve Strong’s. We go to a joined in progress match between Steve Strong and the White Angel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZCZojgUa7I

As mentioned previously, White Angel used to wrestle for Chicky Starr, but was turned on by Chicky for not wanting to take shortcuts that Chicky insisted on doing. Strong is basically getting some revenge on White Angel for Chicky, as Strong would continue attacking White Angel after the match was over. However, TNT would come in to make the save and thus get on Strong’s radar. And since TNT interfered in Strong and Chicky’s business, Strong was going to pay him back. We go now to match that occurred between TNT and Chicky Starr in Vega Alta near the end of June 1989

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwqabW1NTbM

Chicky wastes no time as he jumps TNT while he’s entering the ring. Chicky stays on the offensive, even choking TNT with his own black belt. However, a missed clothesline allows TNT to counter and go on the offensive for the first time in the match. TNT nails Chicky with the dynamite kick and immediately slaps on the cobra sleeper. As Chicky is almost completely out, Steve Strong comes to the ring and attacks TNT from behind, causing a DQ. As Chicky rolls out to recover, Strong adjusts ‘Damien’ and attacks TNT, busting him open. Strong continues to attack TNT’s forehead, but TNT manages to duck a clothesline and knocks Strong down with three kicks to the head. TNT slaps on the Cobra Dinamita, and despite Strong’s best efforts, manages to keep the hold on Strong for quite a while. Eventually, TNT manages to completely knock out Steve Strong. The refs tell TNT he needs to revive Strong, but TNT leaves the ring. Strong starts spasming slightly as the refs try to find someone to try to revive Strong. Chicky gets in the ring to check on Strong, but we see Mr. Pogo and Rip Rogers arrive. Pogo revives Strong, who is heaving and throwing up slightly. Chicky checks on a still woozy Strong as Hugo on commentary warns the kids watching to not try these holds at home. Strong manages to leave the ring, helped by Chicky and Rip. The Universal champ has been humiliated. 

We then go to a Chicky and Strong promo ,where an irate Chicky is yelling about TNT trying to kill the both of them. Strong cuts his promo promising to get his revenge on TNT. A very fired up Chicky promises that Strong will make sure TNT will end up in the hospital after tonight. We then go to Hugo for TNT’s rebuttal, but TNT storms onto the set and yanks the mic from Hugo’s hands. TNT calls out Strong, saying everyone saw how Strong tried to hurt him and put TNT out of wrestling. But he didn’t get away with it, Strong may have busted him open, but tonight its for the Universal title. Strong hurt Carlos Colon and has survived every obstacle in his path so far, he is strong, but tonight when they are face to face and Strong looks into TNT’s eyes, he will see the man who put him to sleep. None of your demons were able to save you, and tonight in Caguas, TNT is ready to avenge what he did to Carlos Colon and what Strong tried to do to him in Vega Alta. He is going to do the impossible tonight and leave as the Universal champ. As Hugo makes his closing comments, TNT lets out a loud roar. And as a bonus, we get the card rundown for July 1.

MD: One thing I love about these angles/matches is how straightforward they are. There are bits and pieces I disagree with but so often the balance is just right for what they’re trying to accomplish. This is about two minutes for the TNT/Chicky match. It starts with Chicky, in his full regalia, ambushing TNT and nailing him with the belt but it quickly turns around with TNT ducking a clothesline and taking over and quickly getting the Cobra Dinamita on and Chicky fading. It matched the hierarchy but still gave Chicky enough in an underhanded way to make it have some substance and weight.

When I was younger, I read a bunch of Edgar Rice Burroughs. It’s fun to read old science fiction because they could get away with so much more. We, both scientists and the public at large, knew less, so the breadth of fiction could be larger. Who was to say that there weren’t hidden civilizations on Mars, right? In some ways, it’s the same thing with the Cobra Dinamita. We know a lot more about how actual fights go and while wrestling has kept some of its rules and norms (at least we still have the Irish Whip), there’s no way a secret chokeout technique from the Orient that an equally secret counter to then wake someone up would fly today. The world’s less interesting for it. This was classic vulnerable champion stuff, which is always all the more potent when the champion is also a monster.   

EB: On July 8, a tag match happened between TNT and Invader #1 vs Strong and Chicky (you can watch on the following two links).

Part 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHlt0iddO1c

Part 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58vJoBhYFe0

Strong and TNT immediately get into it at the start, before TNT can get his gi and title belt off. TNT manages to fight Strong off and the match properly starts.  Invader #1 starts gesturing that Chicky has an object on him and goes to the commentary table to call this out. Two refs check Chicky and find an object on him. TNT and Chicky start the match, with TNT and Invader getting the best of Chicky and keeping him in the ring. Chicky does manage to tag in Strong, who presents a bigger challenge. We come back to Chicky bloodied in the ring as Invader attacks him. A battered Chicky manages to make the tag but is kicked out of the ring by Invader. Chicky is laid out on the floor. This allows Invader and TNT to team up against Strong. Some fellow rudos come out to carry Chicky to the back, leaving Strong alone against TNT and Invader. Strong withstands several hits, but eventually is knocked down by a TNT kick. Strong still holds his own vs the two tecnicos but eventually succumbs to a heart punch / dynamite kick combo. TNT pins the Universal champ.

MD: Different ways to get to similar places. In this case, we don’t have just two minutes of them beating up on Chicky. We have closer to ten. They hold their own against Strong to start and when it’s Chicky’s turn, he gets everything that’s coming to him. Just a beautiful, bloody mauling by TNT and Invader. Once they open him up, they start focusing on the wound and never look back. Chicky takes and takes, ending up like the corpse in Weekend at Bernie’s as they manipulate his body this way and that (or just drop a legdrop on him), selling but in a hopeless out-on-his-feet sort of way. When he tries to desperately get a tag, it’s just pathetic in the best way. When he’s finally able to collapse in the right direction to tag Strong in and his cronies carry him away, the numbers game end up clearly in TNT and Invader’s favor. Strong makes a fight of it, but he’s dragged under eventually and TNT gets a clear and clean pin on him after a kick. Strong was more or less protected as it was the numbers (and a detrimental partner) that got him and things are heated up for TNT to be able to challenge once more.

EB: Steve Strong and TNT would face each other again, eventually settling their series in a barbed wire match.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fszG3dQCYm0

EB: This match is from a tv episode some weeks after the match took place, with Hugo, Carlos Colon and Chicky Starr on commentary. As such, we are close to Aniversario 89 by this point and the commentary is more focused on talking about the upcoming Aniversario main event. It’s also why you get the Ivan Koloff insert promo discussing his match with Invader #1 for Aniversario, as well as a recent attack Koloff did on Invader in a picture in picture video. Both Carlos and Chicky remark about the dangers of being in a barbed wire match, you get scratched up, cut up, and can’t escape. As you would expect, both Strong and TNT are a bit hesitant to go after each other too hard due to the barbed wire surrounding the ring. They each try to get the other tangled in the barbed wire but both are able to avoid it. After a few minutes, Strong loads up ‘Damian’, knocks TNT down and manages to get him sliced open with the barbed wire. TNT starts bleeding from his forehead. Strong maintains the advantage until he launches TNT into the ropes, which inadvertently causes TNT to stop his momentum when hitting the barbed wire,and causing Strong to miss his move. After a bit of back and forth, TNT (who has progressively become more bloody around the face) manages to get the Cobra Dinamita on but Strong breaks the hold by ramming TNT back first onto the barbed wire. TNT makes a charge at Strong, but Strong dodges and TNT goes neck first into the barbed wire. This allows Strong to pin TNT and retain the Universal championship. Carlos on commentary says that Strong was lucky, he feels that TNT wasn’t beaten by Strong but by the barbed wire. Chicky does not agree with Carlos.
After this match, Strong would move on to some new challengers, while Chicky would have other plans for TNT.

MD: This had a big match feel, especially the back half but it was also a bit of a blowoff, it seemed. That meant it was shown on TV with a forward-looking eye to the Invader vs Ivan Koloff feud (I think) and there were some almost jarring inserts of Koloff during the violence and blood. I think a key to making a barbed match work is to spend the first few minutes building up a wariness towards the wire by staying away from it. The limitation of room to move creates for a fairly unique atmosphere and builds a sense of dread. Here, they went to it too early maybe, and the first half of the match was all about trying to press a face up against it and holding back. Making it worse was Strong’s long hair that made it hard to see if he was bleeding or not. Midway through, though, Strong really gets TNT across the wire, and once he opens up, the match opens up big as well. TNT’s big comeback was on Strong missing a move off the ropes because TNT got his back caught on the wire, which is poetically grisly stuff. They built to the cobra, but here Strong had the ultimate equalizer, the ability to charge TNT back into the wire. From there, he sidestepped a charge and dropped him neck first onto it, and I continue to be impressed by how well they protect people in these. That was a great banana peel finish where you can blame the wire, not TNT, for the loss.

EB: Next time on El Deporte de las Mil Emociones, we circle back to our original August 1989 starting point. Steve Strong faces two different challenges, one from the resident monster of Puerto Rico for the past 12 years, the other a big name that had recently arrived to Puerto Rico.

El Deporte de las Mil Emociones Master List

Read more!