Posted October 25, 201014 yr comment_5457670 This is from Spring 1983. This starts off with a Carlos Colon workout video in a ring in a field somewhere. Next we get a Big Red promo and he has quite the pimp suit on. Mr. Kareem Muhammad vs. Tony Colon This is the early stage of Kareem as he wears street clothes here but he kills Colon. Handicap Match: Ox Baker vs. Angel Maravilla & Antonio Verdicilla Squash. This is followed up by promos by Ox Baker, Buddy Landell (which is great) & Terry Gibbs. I would've loved to have seen Landell vs. Monsoon. Next are clips of an Ox Baker match where he used a heart punch on a guy who they acted like he almost died. Then there is a promo by The Invader talking about his barbed wire match with Ox followed up by a promo featuring Gorilla Monsoon & King Tonga talking about Landell & Gibbs. Next is a promo by Hugo Savinovich and JJ Dillon about his match with Pedro Morales then with Frank Dusek who cuts his promo en Espanol. Then more promos by Pedro & Ron Sexton. Next is a demonstration by Kendo Nagasaki. Frank Dusek vs. Angelo Rivera Squash. Then more great promos by Dusek, Landell, & Gibbs. "El Monarca" Javier Cruz vs. Mr. X Spotlight match for Monarca. King Tonga vs. Barrabus Finally a match that isn't a squash but it wasn't that competitive. Ox Baker vs. John Bonello Squash. Terry Gibbs & "Nature Boy" Buddy Landell vs. El Gran Apollo & Enrique Vera This was okay but nothing special.
June 30, 201312 yr comment_5549434 If the Carlos training video is this one It appears Carlos is training to challenge for the World Title at the Coliseo Roberto Clemente Saturday the 31st. They mention that third time's the charm for this match. I think that training is in Santa Isabel (he does something similar for the 1989 Aniversario special that aired one week prior to that event). It looks like his training partner is Pierre Martel (Frenchy Martin). Interestingly, the only Saturday the 31st's in 1982-83 are: July 31, 1982 December 31, 1983 The training video could be an Extra. Man, Gorilla Monsoon and King Tonga is quite the surreal pairing. That interview could also be an Extra.
July 13, 201312 yr comment_5551806 I didn't see any Colon video or Kareem Muhammed match on this. Not sure what's up there. Handicap Match: Ox Baker vs. Angel Maravilla & Antonio Verdicilla This was first and terrible. Ox Baker has to be one of the worst wrestlers of all time, though his look and antics are oddly charming. I watched all the promos/hype vids and nothing seemed like it would be an extra. Ox Baker's behind the barbed wire fence where he had to stop his loud ranting for translation was unintentionally hilarious. Squash matches on this disc were nothing. King Tonga vs. Barrabus I enjoyed this as an early look at Tonga. No way this makes a set, but it was cool to see him in this setting. He had like three things at his disposal at that point but he was good at all of them. Terry Gibbs & "Nature Boy" Buddy Landell vs. El Gran Apollo & Enrique Vera I liked this better than Kris, but with it being so brief and a non-finish, no way I can nominate it. Budro looking shockingly like Flair in build here, but was working like a grizzled, Finlay-esque vet. His slugfest spot with Apollo was really awesome and I loved the way the heels worked through the face offense by cutting off the ring. Also loved the one solid takedown spot in this and the crowd going nuts and post match brawl added a lot to it. Fun segment, easily the best thing on the disc.
April 2, 201510 yr comment_5663119 I've been watching the discs I have but made the mistake of not having a laptop with me and took the notes by hand. Good grief has it been a annoying trying to find some free time to pass them on to Word (not to mention deciphering some of my own handwriting). I'll start with what I've been able to do so far and will edit in the rest of the notes on the disc as soon a I can. WWC 1 All-Star Wrestling brought to you by J.M Gerbauer’s “Aiga Basket”, this is likely sourced from American Samoa. We start with Carlos Colon being at the desk with Rickin Sanchez. Carlos is getting ready for a World title match. He is training with Pierre Martel. We get a training video of Carlos’ workout. They’re out in the countryside somewhere training. We come back, it’s a match for the NWA World Title on Saturday the 31st. Quick check of the calendar shows that the only Saturday the 31st in 1982 is July 31. This show must be from the 24th then. The card is at Roberto Clemente Coliseum. Carlos asks for the fans support and says this is his last chance. Third times the charm. He’s held every title there is t hold except the World title. He wants to win the World title not just for him, but also for Puerto Rico. He promises not to let the fans down. Big Red is out for his turn at the desk. Whatever one thinks of his abilities in the ring, that is one charismatic and genuine dude. You can’t help rooting for a guy like that, even if he looks like a 400 pound bowling ball dressed in like a bowling shoe. He’s even got old fuddy duddy Rickin all excited and laughing. There is a $5,000 battle royale that Big Red is participating in. Johnny Rivera (the future Invader 3) joins us as Rickin talks up Johnny’s career trajectory and how he’s doing things the right way. Johnny is challenging for the World Jr. title on the 31st. We also get a training video where he is training with both Carlos Colon and Pierre Martel. Those neck spins make me wince just watching them. We’re back and Rickin talks up Johnny’s dedication and is optimistic about Johnny’s chances at winning the title. Johnny’s opponent is the current champion Les Thornton. Johnny mentions that he wants to thank the fans for the support they gave him Saturday when he defeated Dick Steinborn to become the top contender and is hoping to do his best against Thornton. Man, even without the mask there is no mistaking that voice of his. Rickin says that God willing we’ll have two World champs on Saturday. Before throwing it to a Tony Colon vs. Kareem Mohammad match, Rickin asks Johnny about the battle royale and Johnny says that the purse money would help a lot. Everybody’s pretty dressed up for these promos. Before going to Tony Colon vs. Kareem, we get a rundown of tonight’s card at the Municipal Coliseum (located behind Hiram Bithorn Stadium). This has to be Coliseo Pedrin Zorilla before it got that name. Bell time is 8:30PM and the card is as follows: $5,000 Battle Royale featuring The Invader, Pierre Martel, Tommy Gilbert, Eddie Gilbert, Johnny Rivera, Big Red, Ray Apollon, Jose Miguel Perez, The Moondogs (Rex and Spot), Kareem Mohammad, The Fabulous Kangaroos (Don Kent and Johnny Heffernan), Dick Steinborn, Steve Lawler and Mr. Fuchi. Plus 6 other bouts. Tomorrow Sunday at 8PM they will be in Manati. Tony Colon vs. Kareem Mohammad Squash to put Kareem over. Rickin closes the show by running down tonight’s battle royale card. I wonder if this show was clipped up like this on the source video used or if it was clipped up by the person who made the set. I’m a bit bummed I didn't get a card rundown for the show on the 31st. Hey, a commercial for ICW (the Poffo version) TV show. Is that the future One Man Gang tangling with a bear? Apparently, due to viewer request, the ICW show has been moved to Sundays at 4PM on WAPA (local channel 4) so that more people can watch it at a more convenient hour. New show. Rickin Sanchez shills the card in Aguadilla tomorrow afternoon. This means that we’re watching the west coast version of the program. You know how Memphis had the Evansville shows and the Memphis shows, same deal here with CSP. Puerto Rico is divided regionally in terms of TV and radio. A signal in the SJ Metro area would not reach other areas. You needed to have a station signal to cover different areas. That is why you sometimes see the call sign for the stations listing three different channel numbers. It’s shorthand for what channel they are on in San Juan-Ponce-Mayaguez (typically in that order). Most of these 82-83 shows appear to be from the Mayaguez version of the show, since they shill the Sunday afternoon house show in Aguadilla. Rickin mentions there has been a war between Invader and Ox baker. This means this show is from 1983, probably May or June. This feud has seen Invader sent to the hospital. Ox struck Invader five to six times during match with his heart punches (even after the match was over) and Invader had to receive medical aid. Invader was out of wrestling for about 8 weeks and his career was at risk. Not just his career but his livelihood. Rickin mentions that even though it’s a sport it’s also a profession and how the wrestlers make their living. Ox came close to ending it for Invader. Rickin mentions that Ox is unscrupulous and that his punch has been involved in the deaths of two wrestlers. He’s not accusing OX, he’s just stating the facts. Instead of going home or to a hospital, those men ended up in a cemetery. Rickin talks up Invader’s ability and his punching power. He expects the match tomorrow in Aguadilla to be one of potent punches. Rickin runs down the card for tomorrow in Aguadilla. To give the fans an idea of what he was talking about with OX, here’s a handicap match. Ox Baker vs. Maravilla & Antonio Verdicilla Squash to put over OX and his punches. I should note that Joaquin Padin’s commentary is pretty much straight forward as if it were a sporting event. He doesn’t (usually) make reference to any angles or feuds, he just calls the match. Referee Tomas Marin calls for the bell and stops the match before the wrestlers are seriously hurt but Ox continued his punches. We’re back with Rickin and he’s holding up a frame with barbed wire to give the viewer at home an idea of what will be surrounding the ring. It’s interesting watching the show dynamic with Rickin. I can see the similarities in responsibilities to what Hugo did, but Rickin is very straight forward and formal. A bit on the dry side. Very professional but it’s lacking the energy someone like Hugo brings when he is host. I happened to be watching this disc with my brother and he was getting restless and bored with Rickin’s monologue earlier. He even let out this gem when watching this segment: “He even makes barbed wire sound boring”. I can see his point. He mentions the danger of facing Ox Baker’s punch in a ring surrounded by barbed wire. Rickin mentions that the only way to win the match is via landing a heart punch. Ox comes in to cut a promo about tomorrow’s match. He’s got a surprise for Invader, he’s going to double wrap his hand. He’s going to finish the job. Apparently they had been saying that one of the men that had died from Ox’s punches (Alberto Torres) was a friend of Invader’s. Promo by Buddy Landell and Terry Gibbs. They’re the current NA tag champs and are facing Gorilla Monsoon and King Tonga. Rickin introduces a video from Invader’s training camp but it’s clipped out. The card tomorrow at 3:30PM in Aguadilla: Ring surrounded by barbed wire and taped fist, match can only end on a heart punch: Invader vs. Ox Baker Gorilla Monsoon & King Tonga vs. Buddy Landel & Terry Gibbs Gran Apollo vs. Kendo Nagasaki Pedro Morales vs. Jim Dillon El Monarca vs. Goro Tsurumi Ron Sexton vs. Frank Dusek Victor Jovica vs. Crazy Luke Graham Quick note, you’ll notice the cards from Aguadilla typically have a 3:30PM start time. That’s because they would usually work double shots on Sundays. So they would have the Aguadilla show at 3:30 and have another show somewhere else that night around 7:30 to 8:30PM start time. Video of Ox Baker sending Invader to the hospital. Hugo is just great yelling and antagonizing the crowd. This looks to be from Juan Ramon Loubriel stadium in Bayamon (the roof is in a straight line pattern). Now we get the Invader training video highlights as Rickin talks over it. Invader has basically isolated himself to train and he is risking coming out of retirement due to medical incapacity. He is facing the man who sent him into that retirement, it’s a very serious decision and that is why he has been training seriously. They show Invader breaking boards with his fist. Invader now is at the desk to talk about the upcoming barbed wire match. Ox tried to kill him. This time, he’s back and with the taped fist. He was 8 weeks without earning a dollar, but more importantly, Ox went into that previous match with the intention of not beating him but of killing him. “Thank God I’m still here.” Ox has killed many people, one of them a friend of his. He’s big and dangerous, but Invader doesn’t care, he only cares that he has his fist taped. He asks for the fans to come and support him. They’ll see who’s stronger, who hits harder. You can’t run anywhere because of the barbed wire. Invader just wants to hit Ox with the punch. You’ll see what a Puerto Rican is. “I want you to know all that I went through when I was taken in a hospital, you’re going to be stretchered out.” Monsoon and Tonga promo. Interesting combo. Spiffy suit on Tonga. Video of the altercation between Ali and Monsoon in the WWF. Hugo and Barrabas promo about Kendo Nagasaki. Hugo calls him the prototype of what every sport desires to have. Hugo talks about Apollo arriving and signing autographs for fans that are waiting and that is not how you win matches. Rickin suggests that Hugo may be jealous and Hugo just stares daggers at him. I’ll admit, Rickin may be a bit dry, but as a foil for Hugo the heel manager it works very well. Kendo can hurt 4 body parts in 30 seconds. Hugo wants better opponents for Kendo. Rickin says it is rare he is in agreement with Hugo but Kendo is quite the spectacular wrestler. Jim Dillon promo where he says that Pedro Morales has been lying about being a big star and that he is actually a man living off welfare. We next get Frank Dusek, who starts in Spanish but switches to English to deliver a message to Ron Sexton. Pedro Morales promo. It’s his first time wrestling in Aguadilla. He laughs at Dillon’s claims and says that he laughs only because he doesn’t want to show how mad he is at those lies Dillon is spouting off. He is proud of being Puerto Rican and representing Puerto Rico wherever he goes. Some fans here don’t know him because he hasn’t wrestled here in a long while, but he’ll show what he is made off in Aguadilla. As Rickin thanks Pedro, he mentions that he doesn't think the fans believe what Dillon is saying. Morales says that he knows that but you know, it still angers him that Dillon would say those things. El Monarca promo on facing Goro Tsurumi. He says Tsurumi is a tough opponent because he is familiar with the Mexican style, but he promises not to let the fans down. They’ve had matches previously in Mexico. Ron Sexton rebuts Frank Dusek’s earlier promo. Great mustache on Sexton, although he sounds like he’s reading of a cue card in slow motion. Kendo Nagasaki demonstration. This is a gift from Hugo for the fans (according to Hugo on commentary). The fans have been clamoring to see him wrestle, but you have to pay to see him in action. This is but a taste of Kendo Nagasaki. Everybody take care, this is a dangerous man. Hugo issues a challenge for anyone to face Kendo. Hugo says that we've seen enough and sends Barrabas to get Kendo. Final shill for the Aguadilla card. New show. Tonight in Caguas at 8PM we have the following card: Invader vs. Goro Tsurumi Tonga-Monsoon vs. Landel-Gibbs Morales vs. Dillon Sexton vs. Nagasaki Apollo vs. Dusek Monarca vs. Luke Graham Frank Dusek vs. Angelo Rivera. This is a showcase for Dusek as he keeps picking up Angelo when he could go for a pinfall. Superplex ends it. Dusek promo on facing Monarca this coming Friday in Ponce and Apollo tonight in Caguas. Dusek mentions that last Friday he faced Ron Sexton. In a tough match and next Friday he faces El Monarca the Mexican movie star. Buddy Landel promo on facing Victor Jovica this Friday in Ponce and on facing Monsoon and Tonga in tag action with Gibbs tonight in Caguas. Terry Gibbs promo about tonight’s tag match and about facing Ron Sexton Friday in Ponce. Friday’s card in Ponce: Bunkhouse match: Invader vs. Terry Funk Apollo vs. Nagasaki Tonga vs. Tsurumi Monarca vs. Dusek Jovica vs. Landel Sexton vs. Gibbs Angelo-Chicky vs. Dillon-Luke Graham Monarca promo on facing Dusek.He mentions that his match last week against Landel for the NA title went to a TLD and he hopes to get a rematch soon. He also mentions his match tonight against Luke Graham tonight. Jovica promo on facing Barrabas tonight in Caguas (which was not in the earlier announced card lineup) and Landel in Ponce on Friday. Sexton promo about his matches tonight in Caguas vs Nagasaki and Friday in Ponce vs Gibbs. At least he sounds more natural this time. He also comments about his match last Friday against Dusek. Monarca vs. Mr. X. Showcase for Monarca. He wins with a somewhat convoluted but impressive pretzel twist pinning maneuver. Morales promo on facing Dillon tonight. Rickin does the final card shill as the credits roll. New show. Clip of the Sheik vs. Art Thomas from Detroit. Hugo Savinovich & Buddy Landel promo about facing Gran Apolo Friday in Ponce. Hugo ahs to wrestle tonight in Caguas in a 6 man tag vs. Carlos Colon, King Tonga and Gran Apolo. Terry Gibbs promo on facing Invader 1 tonight in Caguas and Pierre Martel Friday in Ponce. This Friday at Paquito Montaner Park in Ponce: Invader & King Tonga vs. The Sheik & Abdullah the Butcher Gran Apollo vs. Buddy Landel Pierre Martel vs. Terry Gibbs Enrique Vera vs. Barrabas Angelo Rivera vs. Ox Baker John Bonnello vs. Masao Ito Johnny Rivera vs. Pedro Valdes Tonight in Caguas: Carlos Colon, King Tonga & Gran Apollo vs. The Sheik, Buddy Landel & Hugo Savinovich Invader vs. Terry Gibbs Enrique Vera vs. Luke Graham Keith Larson vs. Ox Baker Johnny Rivera vs. Mr. Tempest John Bonello vs. Pedro Valdes King Tonga win over Barrabas. Fun showcase for Tonga. Interview with Carlos Colon and Gran Apollo. Rickin congratulates Carlos for his match last night and admonishes him for almost taking it too far, he was worried about how bloody he was last night and says that the bandages are mild compared to how he looked like last night. Carlos starts talking but promo is cut off. Ox Baker squash win over John Bonello. On commentary they say that they have to be careful in helping John Bonello since Baker's heartpunch is dangerous, he has killed two opponents with it. It's weird seeing Angelo Rivera and Chicky Starr come in as the faces that are checking on Bonello. Terry Gibbs & Buddy Landel vs. Enrique Vera & Gran Apollo. I'm guessing this show is from mid to late March if Vera is still around and Padin is saying that Landel and Gibbs are the NA tag champs. Ends in a double DQ as the teams start brawling.
