Barry Windham vs. Boris Zuhkov (9/20/86)

 

Windham dominates from the start working over Boris with punches until Boris caught him with a big clothesline out of the corner. Boris then goes after Barry's neck before sending him to the grass where the brawl would continue featuring Boris slamming Windham right on the dirt. Boris stays on offense but I'm distracted by watching the heels sitting in the dugout just hanging out and bullshitting especially Flair hanging with the Funks. Windham makes his comeback but Boris would cut him off keeping the offense going until Barry would catch him with a desperation sunset flip out of the corner to win. Windham was good here and Boris was just okay but this isn't a nomination to me.

 

Universal Heavyweight Title Tournament - Semifinals: Carlos Colon vs. Abdullah the Butcher (9/20/86)

 

Again it's great seeing Flair, the Funks, and all the other heels just hanging out in the dugout watching the action. Abby pounds on Colon early and often using his fork to bring out the juice and this feels like a WWC match already. Colon would make his comeback and the fans go nuts as he gets the fork and busts Abby open then just beats his ass bloody before kicking him in the balls. The blood is pouring here as Abby is doing the Terry Funk in the ropes spot where he gets punched and keeps coming forward. Colon is great here using headbutts and punches along with biting to bring out the juice as the crowd continues to go nuts. Colon then works over the left leg setting up the figure-four but Abby gets free a couple of times before Gary Hart hands him something that he jabs Colon with in the balls. Colon recovers quickly though and goes back to work on Abby even hitting a suplex then jabbing him in the neck with a fork to win the match. Gary Hart then gets beat up until Abby uses a cane on Colon which would bring out Atlas & RPM's to make the save. This was very fun watching these two bleed all over the ring and it is matches like this that made WWC what it was. Easy nomination.

 

WWC TV Title Tournament - Finals: The Invader vs. "Rambo" Ron Starr (9/19/86)

 

Good back and forth action to start with Invader showing lots of fire. We get a clip before the match returns with Invader on the floor where he gets nailed with a chair by Peaches forcing Invader to juice. Starr is already juicing which we missed before the break. Starr pounds on Invader throughout ringside throwing him into chairs and just beating his ass. The crowd goes nuts as Invader tries to make a comeback but Starr is relentless working over Invader and eventually hits a DDT to get the win. This was damn good but the clip hurts big time. If we had a complete version then this would be a nomination.

 

The next show starts with Armando Salgado beating some guy.

 

Super Medico vs. Francisco Rosete (October 1986)

 

Squash.

 

Jason the Terrible vs. Charlie Camper (October 1986)

 

Squash.

 

Universal Heavyweight Title: Carlos Colon vs. TNT (October 1986)

 

This had a fast pace with both men trading offense before TNT locked on a cobra clutch which Colon would try to break free from using the ropes but he hit the referee knocking him down. El Profe then came in the ring and used his briefcase to knock out Colon and the referee raises his arms three times giving TNT the win or so it seemed as Colon would get his hand raised by the referee as foam was starting to come out of his mouth. Fine for what it was.

 

WWC TV Title: The Invader © vs. Al Perez (October 1986)

 

Perez took the advantage early and went to work on Invader's left shoulder. Perez kept up the pressure with Invader getting some spurts of offense in nearfalls before they knocked heads and both went down. Both men then traded moves and nearfalls after they got up until the bell rang for the time limit draw. This had some good action but to me it wasn't enough for a nomination.

More Aniversario 86 matches. Sadly, none are the New Zealand Militia match between the Sheepherders vs. Invaders from 9/20/86.

 

The TNT/Carlos Colon match, if not on the set as a nominated match should be considered as an extra. I'll provide context in the specific match thread.

Barry Windham vs. Boris Zuhkov I haven't seen this in years, but my memory was that this was a good Windham performance and I was right. Zhukov is a guy who looked decent enough in the AWA, and he was largely inoffensive here, but this was really the Barry show. His selling of Zhukov's offense was really on point and expressive as hell. Seriously he took everything from headbutts, to punches, to knees to the gut so well. I can't nominate this in good conscience because the match was building to something bigger and just ended, but this was a pretty good match due to Windham.

 

Colon v. Abby I have seen and seconded

 

The Invader vs. "Rambo" Ron Starr This is another one for Boricua, as even missing how and why Starr juiced, this feels like a match that should make the set if we have at least 2/3rds of it. I agree that not knowing how Starr was cut hurts this some, but it doesn't kill the idea of it on the set to me because the front end is really fun, with some extremely clever spots. I especially loved Invader's counter out of the DDT into an arm attack (he had worked the arm early in the match), and Starr stopping some Invader drop down/rope running flash by hitting a leaping stomp. Starr's bumping and theatrics were really great during the front end too and helped set the table for the back end of this which was just a war. I am a huge mark for the PR staple of the bloody native, selling his ass off on the floor, withstand heel cheap shots, stumbling into the crowd and chairs and then fighting back. What was great about this is that when that happens you sort of assume right away that this is going to be the build to the conquering hero coming in to crush the local and while he does bump Starr around some, that's not really what happened. Instead when he got back in the match sort of reset and we got some great punch exchanges, some great near falls, and both guys going for broke with stuff to try and win. I also thought the finish was outstanding as Invader kept going to the well with highspots and missing, and he missed one too many times, leading to the DDT he escaped earlier in the match putting him away. I seriously loved this match. There are a little more than fifteen minutes of this shown, and my thought is if this is under twenty-five minutes in total length it should be on the set for sure.

 

The string of squashes that follow are nothing.

 

There are clips of an Invader/Al Perez barbed wire match shown, with Chicky brawling on the floor and Colon running out to tape up Invader's hands and winning with a heart punch. This might be an EXTRA

 

Carlos Colon vs. TNT This was nominated by me off of youtube. I think Kris is underselling this. Yeah it's very short, but it's a good tv match, followed by a tremendous angle. In some ways I'd compare this to the Bock v. Larry Z match from the AWA Set, but this had bigger implications for WWC business.

 

There is a notable local promo with Gary Hart and Abby playing with toiler paper here.

 

The Invader © vs. Al Perez Kind of a weird match. Invader is an interesting guy. He's actually a good worker, at times a really good worker, but he's not really the sort of guy who can carry a guy like Perez night in and out and that's what WWC seems to have been asking him to do around this time. Invader's strengths are his relatively flashy offense for the era and his selling and while Perez takes his offense fine, he's not very good at working from the top, so Invader has nothing really convincing to sell for. The result was a decent match, with a few really good spots. It's weird because in a way I thought this was better than it should have been and in another way I thought it was disappointing. Either way I can't see it as a nomination for the set.

This disc starts off right at the match between Windham and Zhukov, so I don't know the show date yet but it's a Saturday show. Possibly November 15.

 

Barry Windham vs. Boris Zhukov is from 9/20/86 (the second day of Aniversario 86) in Mayaguez.

 

Hugo welcomes Sasha for an interview. Before speaking with Sasha. Hugo sends a greeting to his younger sister who is vacationing in Puerto Rico. Apparently, last week Sasha had requested on the program a cage match against Peaches. Sasha is happy to announce that her request has been granted and that the macth ahs been signed for the Thanksgiving day show on Thursday November 27at Coliseo Roberto Clemente. She is anxious and ready for the match.

 

Card rundown for tomorrow Sunday in Caguas:

 

Carlos Colon vs. Al Perez

Invader 1 challenges Caribbean champion Abdullah the Butcher

Miguelito Perez and Big Red vs. Ron and Chicky Starr

Invader 3 defends the World Junior title against Frankie Lancaster

Armandito Salgado vs. Jason the Terrible

and other bouts.

 

Carlos Colon vs Abdullah the Butcher from 9/20/86 (semifinal of the Universal title tournament from the second day of Aniversario 86) from Mayaguez.

 

Hugo welcomes Miguelito Perez and Big Red for an interview. Hugo says that unfortunately wrestling is a very physical and dangerous sport and sometimes things happen. Hugo asks Miguelito to tell us what has happened to Huracan Castillo Jr. Miguelito says that this past Wednesday at the TV tapings (which would be Nov. 12) Huracan Castillo Jr. injured his left hand and won't be able to team up with him. However, everything goes on and he tried to find a partner. He got Big Red who is a great family friend. They are going to operate Huracan Castillo Jr next Monday. Hugo talks with Big Red about his return and his team up with Miguelito to take on the Starr Cousins.

 

Inavder 1 vs. Ron Starr in the TV tournament title finals from 9/19/86 in Ponce. This match is no DQ, no time limit and there must be a winner.

 

Moyano runs down what we'll see tonight at 8pm: Armandito Salgado vs. Ron Lear, Super MEdico vs. Francisco Rosette, Charlie Carter vs. Jason el Terrible, Carlos Colon defends the Universal title against TNT, and Invader 1 defends the TV title against Al Perez.

 

Hugo closes the show. They had mentioned earlier El Profe and TNT would be there for an interview but it looks like it was cut.

 

Next show starts with the Armandito Salgado vs. Ron Lear match, so this is the 8pm show from I think Saturday November 15.

 

Ad for the TV taping this Wednesday in Catano.

 

Chicky and Jason interview about Jason's upcoming match in Caguas against Armandito Salagado. Chicky states that their end target is Carlos Colon and Invader 1.

 

Al Perez interview. Hugo says that al Perez defeated Invader last night in Manati for the Puerto Rico title (that would be Friday Nov. 14 which confirms that this and the previous tv show are from Nov. 15). Al faces Carlos Colon tomorrow in Caguas. They then show a clip from a barbed wire match between Al Perez and Invader 1. This has to be from Nov. 9, 1986. Invader 3 and Chicky fight on the outside and Carlos shows up to tape Invader's fist up.

 

Frankie Lancaster interview about his challenge for the World Junior heavyweight title against Invader 3.

 

Super Medico squash win over Francisco Rosete.

 

Carlos Colon interview about his match against Al Perez. He explains he interfered in that match because Al Perez interfered in his match against Stan Hansen when Perez handed Hansen a foreign object. Afterwards, Carlos excuses himself since he has to get ready for his upcoming title defense in this show against TNT. Hugo wishes him luck.

 

Invader 3 interview having just regained the World Junior heavyweight title this past Sunday November 9. He talks about his upcoming match with Frankie Lancaster, their previous match when to a time limit draw and Lancaster won't be as lucky this time.

 

Jason el Terrible (with Chicky Starr) quick squash win over Charlie Camper.

 

Interview with Ron and Chicky Starr (with Peaches and Victor) about their match against Big Red and Miguelito Perez. Hugo mentions that they are missing the NA tag titles, so what about those new champs. Chicky crossly tells Hugo to mind his own business, that's a personal matter for the Starrs to handle. They are still the World tag champs though.

 

Interview with Gary Hart and Abdullah the Butcher about Abby's Caribbean title defense tomorrow against Invader. Abdullah show up with a folding chair and a hammer, proceeds to hammer the chair a few times, then sits in the chair with a roll of toilet paper that he proceeds to unroll as Gary Hart cuts a promo.

 

For the Universal title, Carlos Colon defends against TNT. We finally have date for this match, it aired 11/15/86, likely was taped 11/12/86. This is airing six days after the second Hansen match.

 

Ad for the TV taping this Wednesday in Catano.

 

Hugo has Victor Jovica for an interview after what happened in the Universal title match. Hugo mentions that everyone is aware the Jovica is recovering from a painful operation on his back and that we are fortunate that you were here to help Carlos Colon. In his broken, Capatian cavemanesque Spanish he says that he is still recovering bit by bit and is thankful that he was here to help Carlos out. This was a very dangerous situation. When he saw Carlos in the ring, he was very scared. Carlos was spewing foam from the mouth and his eyes were rolled up in his head. When he managed to wake him up and felt great relief. Jovica says that one time he was wrestling in Singapore and witnessed a wrestler dying from that Cobra hold. Hugo asks him what is it that the hold does to someone and Jovica says that it cuts off the oxygen flow to the brain and knock the person out. "Thank God I was here to wake up my brother Carlos Colon."

 

Miguelito Perez, one half of the new NA tag champions (I'm guessing he won it on Nov. 9, that was quite the card on Nov. 9), is here to talk about his match with Big Red against the Starr Cousins tomorrow. He thanks the fans for the support last Sunday when they won the titles.

 

TV champion Invader 1 interview about his challenge to Abdullah the Butcher's Carribean title tomorrow. Invader mentions that he pinned Abdullah two weeks ago in Utuado, so that means it's possible that he can beat him tomorrow. He also mentions that in moments he has a tough defense of the TV title against Al Perez.

 

Invader 1 defends the TV title against Al Perez. 10 minute time limit for this match. Their feud is winding down at this point.

 

Hugo and Moyano close the show and go over what we'll see tomorrow on Sunday's tv show.