El Boricua

Interesting that a two time NWA World Junior Heavyweight champion is deemed "not good enough" to challenge for a member territory's secondary title. We need Wade Smeltzer on the case.

I know who you're referring to, but I'm in a similar spot where if I take him I have to come up with something for him to do and its just not a good fit at the moment.

Would that mean that one has the option of passing if they don't want anyone that's available on their turn?

I'll take Denny Brown.

Yeah it is funny all the people on my Twitter posting all the racist stuff the WWE has done in the last 30 years. So many Roddy Piper half black face pictures Just because people are posting about it doesn't mean they find it shocking, really. In fact, I think the hasty decision to remove Hogan from everything is the same short-sighted, unsophisticated response I'd expect from them. But people can still be criticized for expected behavior. I agree with you Loss, my initial question was a rhetorical one. In fact, the way they're going about cutting ties with Hogan might actually backfire a bit on them if someone where to do a little digging considering their history in "being committed to embracing and celebrating individuals from all backgrounds".

So when's WWE going to do something about their own institutional racism?

Didn't Gorgeous George and The Sheik have valets?

I have never been to a live wrestling show even though I've been a fan since I was in elementary school.

Don't forget to add any Japan dates to the list.

That happens. If it helps, just go pared down (Cliff notes style) with the results and TV until you're ready to go again.

I believe Don Kent is missing from the list. He was drafted by Portland.

Has it been decided how the NWA World champion booking will be handled post July?

That may be a way to go. It's not far from real life in that Vancouver and Portland would book some of the same talent. We should probably hold off on any further dispersion draft talk until we know if you guys will be working together and if you need to reconsider who you're keeping based on this change.

We should probably institute a mandatory one day before (maybe two days for travel to Japan considering the you arrive "tomorrow" there) and one day after travel buffer for the gaijin working for Japan. Otherwise people will start doing time zone and air travel gymnastics all the time to make sure guys are booked, and in some cases it may not be doable (you may end up with people who apparently teleported from one place to another in 1983).

I'm fine either way, but we need to get organized with what will be done. If pressed, my preference would be for Portland not to be dissolved right out of the startling gate.

Did you confirm that you were?

In case it helps add some detail, here's a link to the guide I wrote for the feud in the PR wrestling thread: http://prowrestlingonly.com/index.php?/topic/19176-puerto-rico-wrestling/?p=5536701 It starts at the end of page 5 and continues on page 6.

I loved the whole set-up, the Dory-Rotunda match recap was my favorite bit. I'll definitely send you stuff for future editions. Weekly's a bit rough to do, but would bi-weekly work if you receive enough stories from us?

That's pretty much spot on.

Thanks to all so far for the generous feedback. These initial shows took longer to write precisely because of the decision to go with a jumping in approach instead of a from scratch approach. It does provide a good strong direction to start. I hope to have the rest of the first weekend posted tomorrow. I want to let a little anticipation build for the Saturday card. Once I get that done then I'll take in what's been going on elsewhere and comment on the goings on.

I would hope so, Perro Aguayo is the reigning WWC Junior Heavyweight champion.

Finally posted the first WWC shows. Hope you guys enjoy.

Translated from Spanish where applicable Super Estrellas de la Lucha Libre – 7/2/83 Show opening credits play showing different scenes of wrestling action while “Joy” plays over the intro. Rickin Sanchez is sitting at the interview desk and welcomes the viewers to the show. He mentions that today is the day we have been waiting for. Tonight, at Coliseo Roberto Clemente, is the awaited NWA World title match between champion Harley Race and our own Carlitos Colon. It’s been a bit of a bumpy road for Carlos but the day has arrived. Rickin runs down the rest of the card and says that we’ll hear comments from both Carlos Colon and Harley Race later in the show. But first let’s send it to some action. Here’s Joaquin Padin with the call. Match #1: Buddy Landell & Terry Gibbs vs. Isaac Rosario & Victor Jovica Landell & Gibbs are the reigning Caribbean champs. They dominate the match when Rosario is in but it is more even when Jovica is in. Landell and Gibbs end up taking the victory by pinning Isaac Rosario. Winner: Buddy Landell & Terry Gibbs by pinfall There is a rundown of tonight’s card before going to commercial. We return from commercials with Rickin at the interview desk, where he starts going over the events that have led up to tonight’s NWA World title match. Clips and highlights play of the events as Rickin explains. Throughout 1982, Ric Flair and Carlos Colon had engaged in a series of matches were neither man could claim an advantage. Then, earlier this year, Carlos and Flair faced each other once more for the NWA World title. It was in this match where it appeared that Carlos Colon had achieved the dream and become the NWA World champion by pinning Ric Flair. However, this turned out not to be the case when NWA officials reviewed the tape of the match and it was seen that Carlos had his leg tangled in the ropes when the pin was made. Carlos, being a man of integrity, returned the title to the NWA. He said at the time that this was not how the title should be won and, even though it was not intentional, he couldn’t accept winning under those circumstances. As such, the title victory was nullified and Ric Flair remained the champion. Despite Flair vowing that Carlos would not get another title match, the NWA title committee ordered a return match to take place. The date selected for this match is today, July 2nd. Despite the best efforts of Hugo Savinovich, who claims that Ric Flair entrusted him with the task of making sure Carlos Colon would not make it to the title match, the day has arrived. But life takes mysterious turns, and in one of life’s quirks, it is Flair who has not made it to today’s match. Three weeks ago Harley Race became the new NWA World champion, and it is he who Carlos will face tonight. Carlos has been training hard, but this change of opponent this close to the title match may pose a problem for his strategy tonight. We’ll get comments from Carlos later in the show. Commercial break. Match #2: King Tonga-Gran Apollo vs. Barrabas-Gypsy Rodriguez Tonga and Apollo are the North American tag champs and make quick work of the team of Barrabas and Gypsy Rodrigues. Tonga ends up kicking Gypsy in the face for the win. Winner: King Tonga & Gran Apollo by pinfall Back to Rickin at the desk where he starts talking about some of the other matches on tonight’s card. There is a return match for the North American title featuring Pedro Morales defending against Buddy Landell, the man he won it from a week ago. Also, King Tonga defends the Puerto Rico title against Terry Gibbs. Landell and Gibbs join Rickin at the desk and provide comments about their matches. They say they have a plan and they will both be double champions once the night is done. Rickin asks them about who they think will win tonight’s world title match, and both insultingly dismiss Carlos as having any type of chance against someone the caliber of Harley Race . Dick Slater is next at the desk, making his return to Puerto Rico. His opponent tonight is Mil Mascaras, who he calls overrated and not on his level. Rickin asks Slater about who he thinks will win tonight’s World title match and Slater quickly says that Colon is in over his head against Harley Race. He knows Harley, who is a good friend of his, and he is a world class wrestler and a man’s man. No way Colon will win. Another card rundown and commercial break. Back from the break, Rickin mentions that this weekend we are seeing the debuts of a few wrestlers. One of them is Jay Youngblood who joins Rickin at the desk. Jay gives some of his background and mentions he looks forward to wrestling in front of the Puerto Rican fans. Rickin wishes him luck this weekend. Another wrestler debuting this weekend is Jim Duggan, nicknamed Hacksaw. Duggan joins Rickin at the desk and talks about how he has heard how you have to be tough to compete in Puerto Rico. Well, Hacksaw is as tough as they come and he will prove it in the ring. Rickin says that we look forward to seeing him compete. Two wrestlers who are not newcomers but are among the fans favorites are next, as King Tonga and El Gran Apollo join Rickin. They comment about their matches tonight against Terry Gibbs and Kendo Nagasaki, respectively. Rickin then asks them about tonight’s World title match and who they think will win. Tonga says he’s rooting for Carlos, but knows of Harley Race’s reputation and that it won’t be easy. Apollo agrees, adding that he faced Race last night in Ponce and he is every bit the wrestler they say he is. Still, they hope that Carlos will prevail. Commercial break Match #3: Dick Slater vs. Angelo Rivera Dick Slater is back in Puerto Rico and shows he has not lost his touch, dispatching Angelo Rivera without too much trouble. Winner: Dick Slater by pinfall Back at the desk, Rickin mentions that they have taped comments from Harley Race about tonight’s title match. A video is played of Harley Race, where he mentions that he has heard a lot about Carlos Colon. How he is the best Puerto Rico has to offer, how he has designs on being the world’s champion. Race wants to tell Carlos Colon that he hopes he handles disappointment well, because he has no plans on leaving Puerto Rico without his title. Just three weeks ago he became world champion for the seventh time in his career; it takes a hell of a man to be able to accomplish that. He knows what it’s like to desire to become champion. But greater than that desire is the need to remain champion and Carlos Colon, you and Puerto Rico better get ready to deal with disappointment. Back at the desk, Rickin explains to the Spanish speaking viewers what Race spoke about in the clip. Then Rickin brings in his next guest, Hugo Savinovich. Hugo takes a seat at the desk but is not alone; he’s accompanied by Barrabas who stands behind him almost like a bodyguard. Rickin welcomes him and asks him about why Barrabas is here with him, Hugo promptly tells Rickin that they are associates and that is all he’ll say about that. Rickin says that the day has arrived, tonight is the NWA World title match, and it seems Carlos Colon is still around to compete. Hugo stares at Rickin for a moment and starts talking that Colon may still be standing, but that the constant bouts with his charges have taken a toll and he’s not going to be in top condition. Just last week he had to deal with Abdullah the Butcher, and he doesn’t have to talk about what a meat grinder it is to be in the ring with Abdullah. And last night he got worn down by three of the toughest and best wrestlers in Puerto Rico. Kendo and los Medicos. Rickin brings up that Hugo’s team lost last night but Hugo waves him off saying that the end goal was to wear Colon down. And on the subject of Kendo and Los Medicos, he guarantees victory for Kendo tonight against Apollo and he says he doesn’t even have to give a second thought to Los Medicos having any difficulty with Chicky Starr and Angelo Rivera. Rickin says that is fine, but getting back to the world title match, who does he think will win. Hugo looks at Barrabas and mutters that this guy really has just a one track mind. Barrabas just nods his head and Hugo turns to Rickin again. Why do you even bother to ask me this, you know very well that I have stated time and time again what an embarrassment Carlos Colon would be as NWA World champion. I’ve said it when Ric Flair was champion and I’ll say it again with Harley Race as champion, Carlos Colon is nowhere in the league of those two gentlemen. And yes, I say gentlemen, because that is what they are unlike Carlos Colon. And one more thing, I’ve personally offered my services to Harley Race tonight to make sure that everything is on the up and up, so I’ll be right there at ringside to make sure that Harley Race receives a fair shake. “Así que Carlos Colon, como se dice por ahí, esta noche no te vistas por que no vas.”’ Card rundown and commercial break. Match #4: Kendo Nagasaki vs. Chicky Starr Kendo is accompanied by Hugo for this match. Chicky shows flurries of offense throughout the match but in the end Kendo gets the win. Winner: Kendo Nagasaki by pinfall Joaquin Padin sends it back to Rickin Sanchez and signs off with “Sayonara”. Rickin mentions that we are closer to tonight’s NWA World title match and that we have heard from Harley Race and Hugo Savinovich. But there are some other gentlemen who he wants to bring in to get their thoughts. First of is Mil Mascaras, making a return appearance to Puerto Rico. Rickin welcomes him, saying it is always a pleasure and a joy to have a gentleman of his caliber grace our rings. Mil thanks Rickin and says that it’s always a joy to be in Puerto Rico. Tonight he’s facing Dick Slater tonight, he’s tough competitor but Mil is ready for him and he’ll come out on top. Mil mentions that he heard Hugo’s comments a few moments ago and he can’t believe that he could say some of those things with a straight face. He’s known Carlos Colon for some time, he’s competed with him in the ring, and he knows that he can definitely beat Harley Race tonight. Rickin thanks Mil for his comments and wishes him luck tonight. Next is Pedro Morales. Rickin welcomes him and says that tonight is his first defense of the North American title he won one week ago against the very man he dethroned Buddy Landell. Pedro says that it was such a proud moment for him when he was able to win the North American title in front of his people. He’s ready for Buddy tonight; although he’s aware he has to watch out for possible chicanery from him and Terry Gibbs. Rickin then turns the subject to the NWA World title match. Pedro says that he’s been advising and training with Carlos these past few weeks, trying to get him prepared for Race. Pedro says he is familiar with Race and knows that he is a very worthy World champion, a tough competitor. Rickin mentions that so is Pedro, both in having experience at being World champion and at being a tough competitor. Pedro thanks Rickin for his comments and says that you can easily say that Carlos is at that level, he’s known him for a long time and they’re the reigning World tag team champions, so he knows Carlos can do it. At that moment Carlos shows up for his interview and Pedro gets up and gives him a hug and says that we’re all behind you tonight. Carlos thanks Pedro and Pedro leaves. Carlos sits at the interview desk. Rickin shakes Carlos’ hand and says that the day has arrived. Carlos says that yes, the day has arrived, it’s been an interesting ride to get here but here we are here nonetheless. Rickin asks him that everybody is aware that he has been preparing for months with Ric Flair in mind, but three weeks ago Harley Race became champ. Carlos says that there has been some adjustment, but at this level it’s always a possibility for a new champ when you have such high caliber wrestlers competing for the NWA World title all the time. Still, he’s ready for tonight. He knows Harley Race’s reputation and knows that he is a tough and skilled champion. But, Harley Race doesn’t know the heart and courage Puerto Ricans have, and this Puerto Rican will give everything he has tonight. Carlos knows that the public will be there to support him tonight and that, when he wins tonight, it will be for the Puerto Rican people. Rickin says that we are all with you tonight Carlos. Carlos thanks Rickin and exits. Rickin wraps up the show by going over tonight’s card at Coliseo Roberto Clemente one final time and reminding viewers to tune in tomorrow for the Sunday edition of Super Estrellas de la Lucha Libre. The west coast version of this program includes a card rundown and some comments from the wrestlers about Sunday’s afternoon show in Aguadilla.