This is a tough one, because this is one of those things where if you count the pre-match and post-match I think you have a real case for this making the set, but without it I don't know. It's always tough for me because while I tend to be a "bell-to-bell" guy there are cases like the AWA tag team "riot" match, where the post-match helped the match in my eyes, and I know there are plenty of voters who have expressed that they vote for the "full presentation." Here the pre-match is basically a huge stalling/lobbying segment with Invader 1 eventually convincing the ref to eject Chicky from ringside. This was well done, got the crowd super amped and really set the stage. The match itself was actually a very solid tv match, with what looked to be a minor edit in the middle. The match is basically Invader winning a "boxing" exchange, Ayala firing back with some shots, Invader going to the balls in blatant and awesome fashion, Ayala coming back again with some more shots, a brief heat section of a nervehold while the fans throw trash into the ring, Invader going to the balls again and locking on a sleeper and then the run-in. Normally Ayala's offense looks pretty eh, but here I thought it was sold really well by Invader and this had true slugfest feel to it. Still what makes this a worthwhile segment takes place when Chicky runs in to break up the sleeper. They try and corner Invader who keeps evading them and just when he escapes to the floor Ron Starr shows up and viciously posts him. They bring him into the ring and STarr breaks out a loaded glove of some sort to deck him with as the fans are going bonkers showering the ring with shit. Just at the last second the faces show up to make the save. This definitely forwarded the angle and felt like a really big deal to me watching even 25 years later. This is one of those things where I would like the input of others on how the pre/post match factors in to their thinking and Boricua on the angle and importance of the feud itself. At minimum it deserves to be discussed, and if not a match for the set, should be an Extra.

WWC TV Title: The Invader © vs. Hercules Ayala (June 1988)

 

This is a slugfest from the start as both men throw some good punches before Ayala would take over for a bit with punches and kicks. Invader would fight back with a sleeper until Chicky Starr ran in for the DQ. The angle afterwards was pretty damn hot but the match itself I don't know. If we count this as a full presentation then it has a shot.

This is an EXTRA to me. The match was nothing special at all to me after the opening "boxing" exchange which I really enjoyed. Ayala just bored me for five minutes and I don't think his offense was particularly great even if Invader did a decent job of selling it. However, the post-match angle is awesome and definitely should be an EXTRA. As a full presentation this still comes short on the set as a match but maybe in full as an EXTRA.