dawho5

Not a bad finish to the match. Hogan faking an injury to kill Taker's career is such a low move if it happened. I was pretty surprised things happened the way they did for a lot of the reasons garretta mentioned. None of it particularly fits with how things have gone before. If it is a total departure from the norm I am all for it.

I'm not sure Embry can get out of that tag match alive. I think I'd prefer Leatherface to be honest. Moondogs vs. Dundee/Street is an intriguing matchup. The salute for Gino was necessary in Texas.

Great promo and I really like the group put together here. Not sure I can get behind breaking up the Enforcers as they are a great, great tag team. I do love Bobby Eaton though, so it might work. Here's something WCW execs should have thought about. Atlanta may be your backyard, but if you're trying to be a national promotion you have to make your big shows NATIONAL! Explain why people anywhere but Atlanta or the surrounding area give the first half of a shit about the Omni and I'll accept this as a good idea.

Reading the immediately above posts hurt my head. Not the fault of Loss or garretta, but it still hurt. match is well-done and Dustin comes of very well. For a guy as young as he is, he really looks like he belongs in the ring with top competition. Same goes for Austin. Tony does what he can with the whole timing of the match and the circumstances. Not sure using a pre-taped match called as such to support an angle that just happened on your show is exactly the best way to do things. Like i said though, good match with a well-executed turn. Just more stupid WCW crap kind of kills the overall impact of it.

Great show and while I am a fan of the Stud Stable, I'm not sure picking on King Tonga is ever a good idea. What does Sammartino have against the Freebirds anyway?

Yeah, everything surrounding the World Champ's visit was really well done. Lawler shows some class, but will it last to their match? I hope Ron Wright can do something about all these heathen wrestlers running around...

Thanks guys. Normally my shows are collections of stuff meant to get the major feuds over for the big shows, so it was nice to do something like this. It was also necessary as I saw an A+-lister like Flair being in town going down two different ways. 1. I could say it in passing and have Flair do something that had nothing to do with anything else going on and then have my announcers yelling about how great all the other stuff on the show was. But the thing that 99% of people reading (or fans watching if it were a real show) would remember was what Flair did. It's the old "reading the phone book" saying in action really. 2. I could embrace that knowledge and build the show around Flair because that's what it's going to be about regardless of what I do. Then stick my main program (Chicky & co. vs. Colon, Invader 1 & co.) in there while he's on screen to get the rub. So I chose to literally begin and end the show with Flair because you ultimately get way more mileage from that than trying to put him somewhere and work around him. Also, I got to write a wrestling card with a coherent story all the way through. So much fun.

I like building Terry Gordy as an unstoppable monster. He's got all of the tools to be just that. Benoit and Brito would have been a really fun match. LeDuc and Samu would have had a damn good brawl too.

That whole card is absolutely stacked. Jack vs. Buzz Sawyer would have been an amazing brawl. Good thinking to put the 6-man with the slick action right behind it.

Pretty standard stuff from Hulk. If you're a Hulkamaniac, it probably works for you.

I thought Liz did well enough with this. She wasn't supposed to be dynamic or anything over-the-top. She was just a woman pleading with her husband's boss to let him do something we all want to see him do.

Sting looks every bit the part that WCW wants him to play here. He is the flasgship, the face of the promotion. When you see what he's putting himself through there can't be anyone else. And Rude is just such a sleazy, underhanded bastard that it only adds to the effectiveness of Sting's role here.

Incredible angle! Savage and Jake are on top of their games here and it's easily one of the best WWF angles of the year. I have seen this without the red X and it is definitely not kid-friendly TV.

Taker's small promo is really, really effective. I loved Gene telling everyone to call now and avoid those busy operators. You know, stuff that happens when everybody calls all at once.

I normally wait until Friday to post these, but this week was a special show. The third week of having actual marquee matches on the TV and the last for a while. Thanks to spaldoni for giving me the chance to do this. Original Airdate February 7th, 1986 (Originally airing in Spanish on WAPA Channel 4 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This broadcast is translated to English where applicable.) The opening montage featuring highlights of Carlos Colon, Chicky Starr, Invader 1, Invader 2, Invader 3, Abdullah the Butcher, Hercules Ayala, Bam Bam and Dutch Mantell plays. Carlos Colon doing a cartwheel and coming up fists at the ready leads to the WWC logo as the music ends. NWA and Capitol Sports Presenta Los Campeones De La Lucha Libre Con Tus Luchadores Favoritos De Fama Mundial Rickin Sanchez and Hugo Savinovich sit smiling at the commentary desk in Coliseo Municipal Pedro Rodriguez Gaya De Catano. Rickin: Welcome to a very special edition of the World Wrestling Council lucha libre fans. Hugo: The third in a row!! Rickin: It really is. We've had some very big names on the show the last few weeks and this week we have the former NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair with us. Hugo: What a night!! Rickin: He will be out to talk to us very shortly. We will see Ricky Santana in singles action as well as Gama Sing. Hugo: Singh has a tough fight ahead of him on the 22nd. Rickin: TNT has proven himself to be very dangerous, and I wonder if El Profe won't make himself enough of a nuisance at ringside that it causes Gama Singh problems. Hugo: That's what managers are for! Rickin: I suppose so. Los Mercenarios will be in tag team action. They have no real "targets" on the card tonight, so we should only see them during their match. Hugo: None as far as we know anyway. Rickin: There is that, we don't know what they are truly after. Bam Bam will have a singles match. Hugo: See?!? Great show!!! Rickin: I can only imagine bam Bam's opponent might not feel that way. The Rock 'n' Roll RPMs will be visiting Chicky Starr's Sports Shop. Hugo: I don't think they will like what Chicky has to say! Rickin: We agree on that. I'll be talking to Hercules Ayala. Commissioner Pedro Castillo will also join us at the desk tonight. Hugo: I'm sure he's got a lot on his mind with the way things have been going! Rickin: Yes, there has been a lot going on that has been...not planned. But I'm certain that Commissioner Castillo is as used to that as I am. It is his job to deal with those things though. Carlitos Colon will be out to join us at the desk before his match with Ric Flair tonight. Hugo: What a main event!!! Colon vs. Flair!! WOW!!! Rickin: It is a non-title match, but still huge I agree. I can tell by the crowd reaction that "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair is on his way to the desk. Hugo: Hey! Be nice!! We want him to come back!! Rickin: I don't think Ric Flair has endeared himself to these fans in the past. He has taken issue with Carlitos Colon on more than a few occasions. Hugo: I tend to agree with the champ about the Universal Championship! Rickin: He is not the champion anymore Hugo, but I do see his point. It looks like we're ready to go. Rickin walks around the desk, barely avoiding a piece of garbage thrown at Flair as he moves into position next to the iconic American. Flair is dressed in a designer suit and seems slightly annoyed with the crowd. Rickin: Ric Flair, it has been some time since you came to our island. I hope your most recent visit has gone well. Flair: Rickin Sanchez, one thing I always love about coming to Puerto Rico is that you and Mr. Excitable Hugo Savinovich let all the beautiful women on this island know I'm coming. I've been out at the beaches around my hotel the last few days. It's about the closest thing to Heaven on Earth. I'm not going to tell you there were too many girls who wanted to ride Space Mountain, because..WOOO!..that's NEVER GONNA HAPPEN! But A man's got to save a little energy for wrestling. Rickin: For years you were the NWA World Heavyweight Champion, does losing that title have any effect on how you look at Carlitos Colon and- Flair: Let's get one thing straight, pal! Ricky Martel got LUCKY to take that belt from me. He doesn't DESERVE it and it's only a matter of time until I get it back! You are talking to the RIGHTFUL world champion!!......Did I hear a little bit of a cheer there when I said Rick Martel? The crowd pops. Rickin: Rick Martel is a very poular wrestler here in Puerto Rico. Flair: How nice for Ricky. I'm sure a lot of the smaller parts of the NWA were rooting for him to take the belt from me. I know that most of the wrestling fans here don't like me. Well, most of the male fans anyway. But let me tell you something, with or without the Ten Pounds of Gold Ric Flair is still the best thing going today. Bar. None. Like it or not, learn to love it! Flair pauses. Flair: Here's a question I know you're dying for me to ask. Tonight's match is a non-title match isn't it? Rickin: The Universal Championship is not defended on television Ric, you should know that. Flair: (agitated but smiling) I bet you love saying that to me, don't you. That commissioner, Castillo, I bet he's loving this too. As much as I'd like to give you two and all these fans exactly what you want, I'm not going to get mad. Now let's say I beat Colon tonight. I'm next in line for the belt after that. Rickin: Bruiser Brody has the next Universal Championship match. I hadn't heard anything about you coming back to challenge for the belt. Flair: (getting angrier) So you fly me out to Puerto Rico for an exhibition match?!? Everyone is counting Ric Flair out after the World Title is gone. Is this supposed to be Colon's big win over Ric Flair right after he lost the World Title? You know, when I was the world champion I got used to promoters thinking their little slice of the pie would look better with the NWA World Championship based there. I saw every sneaky little trick and beat them all, you know why?!? Because I'm the dirtiest player in the game! So if you or anyone else THINKS that bringing me in here NOW is somehow going to change ANYTHING, you got another thing coming!! Rickin: We didn't- Flair: (clearly angry and ranting) And that "Universal title" that Colon has. I was and still am the RIGHTFUL WORLD'S HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION!!! I'll give Colon credit, he's definitely got guts!! He runs around calling himself the Universal champion. How many times has he wrestled me for the world heavyweight championship?? Rickin: I can't recall off the top of my head. Flair: Enough to KNOW that the man can't beat me in the center of the ring. EVERY time I came here to defend that belt I walked out the WORLD CHAMPION! So how do you get to call yourself the Universal Champion, Colon?!? I'm going to tell you something right now, Ricky. Rickin: That's Rickin and you know that. Flair: (calmly) Oh, you don't like it much either do you? Ric Flair is the rightful world heavyweight champion. I will have the respect I deserve and you can kiss that main event you promised all these people goodbye! I'm going to take my gear, walk out of the arena to MY personal limousine and go back to MY Lear jet. And I'm going to fly off of this little, insignificant rock and never come back. And the WWC will be paying for cleaning this suit! This suit probably cost me more than most of those old pieces of **** I saw out there in the parking lot! There is a crowd reaction and Chicky Starr comes rushing out. He takes the microphone from Rickin after a short conversation. Flair: I know you, you've got that weird name. Starr: Chicky Starr. Flair: (chuckles) Yeah, I think we talked a little bit last time I was here. Starr: I know that Commissioner Pedro Castillo is here tonight. I know you're angry. I get angry with Colon all the time. Let's talk this through and we can make it work. Flair: Make it work. Sounds like you want something from me. I don't give out something for nothing. But there's something different about you. So why don't you tell me what you've got for me and maybe we'll talk. Starr hands the microphone back to Rickin and the two wrestlers walk off talking. Rickin: That was about the strangest show opening we've had. Hugo: You shouldn't make him mad like that! Rickin: I wasn't trying to. I really hope we have our main event. Hugo: You might be in trouble if we don't! Rickin: Not what I was saying Hugo. Here comes young Ricky Santana. He has really started to get a lot of support from the crowd. Hugo: It is like you say, there are certain ways that will happen and he's learning them from people like Invader 1 and Carlitos Colon. Rickin: Learning them well I might add. He's even stopping to greet a few of the younger fans along the way. Hugo: It's not my way, but it is working for Ricky! Rickin: I would agree Hugo. Referee Tomas Marin calls for the bell. Domingo Robles vs. Ricky Santana Santana with his normal armdrag-y offense. He uses more mat wrestling than he has in the past. A fisherman's suplex gets the three count for Santana. Ricky Santana by pinfall in 4: 22 with a fisherman's suplex Rickin: Santana with a different finishing manuever this week. Hugo: And a very impressive one! Rickin: Yes, something Owen Hart will need take notice of. Hugo: We both know he is watching. Rickin: Yes, he and Santana have unfinished business they will take care of on the 22nd. Up next we'll have Chicky Starr's Sports Shop and Gama Singh will be in action. (Commercial Break) 0-11:00 Hugo: We're BAAAACK! And it's Sports Shop time!!! Cut to the Sports Shop intro then the set. Victor again has a microphone. Victor: (wooden) It is my pleasure to introduce the hottest wrestler and manager in the World Wrestling Council. Ladies and gentlemen, here is the most exciting, most charismatic, best dressed man in Puerto Rico, Chicky Starr. Chicky walks on-set and claps, all the while grinning. He sits down. Chicky: Welcome to the Sports Shop ladies and gentlemen! Last week was a good week! Invader 3 was counted down, 1, 2, 3, by the monster Bruiser Brody. And I got to talk to my friend Al Madril. It's always a pleasure when Al comes on the show. This week my guests are the Rock 'n' Roll RPMs. The RPMs walk on set and sit down. Davis picks up their one microphone. Lane still has taped ribs. Chicky: (English) While I was having a good week last week, you two were not so lucky. Or not good enough, it can be hard to tell. Davis: We may have lost, but I'd say we gave Boyd and the Crusher a good fight. Chicky: Here I thought you'd have excuses. You should after being beaten by a Barrabas team. That's embarassing. Lane: We don't need excuses. Sometimes a fight doesn't go your way. You pick yourself up, dust yourself off and get ready for the next one. Chicky: What about the part where you realize you are one of the farthest teams from the NWA WWC Carribean Tag Team Championships because you lost in the first round? Davis: We'll get back in the hunt. We always do. Lane: You're not going to get under our skin Chicky Starr. Chicky: (grinning) Oh? How are the ribs? Have you spoken to Bam Bam since the incident? Davis: We've already signed a match for February 22nd. Lane: We'll be taking on Huracan Castillo Jr. and Miguelito Perez to determine alternates for the tournament finals, if that becomes necessary. Chicky: (yawning) That will be a very exciting match. Lane: We've talked with both Castillo and Perez, good guys. Davis: Yeah, we're looking forward to meeting them in the ring, very exciting wrestlers. Chicky: Mmmm hmmm. Well, thanks for coming on the Sports Shop. Lane and Davis look at each other and shrug before leaving. Chicky: I apologize for the boring guests this week fans. If I was almost falling asleep it's due to my poor scheduling of guests. I know next week will be far better, so tune in! What am I saying? Of course you're going to tune in. It's my show! Chicky stands up and walks out. Victor: (wooden) That is the end of another edition of Chicky Starr's Sports Shop. Do your best to enjoy the rest of the show. Cut to the arena. Rickin: No word yet on whether or not our main event is still on. Hugo: I'm sure he changed his mind. Chicky can be very persuasive! Rickin: Like he was with the Rock and Roll RPMs? It seems the RPMs are looking to get back on the comeback trail already. Hugo: I thought for sure they would blame Lane's ribs! Rickin: Some men don't make excuses, they just continue to fight. Here is somebody else like that, Gama Singh, on his way down the aisle. Hugo: I liked him better before, but he's very good at what he does. Rickin: The fans are much happier with him than they used to be. Hugo: I don't remember that ever meaning anything to him. Rickin: People change. Maybe one day you will look to the fans for support. Hugo: Not likely!! Rickin: Probably true Hugo. Singh is in the ring and referee Ricky Vargas signals that we are ready for action. Mr. Z vs. Gama Singh Singh controls with chops and punches. He stops a Z comeback with a dropkick. The camel clutch is applied and Mr. Z submits. Gama Singh by submission in 4:15 with a camel clutch Rickin: Gama Singh is building momentum for his showdown with TNT. Hugo: He'll need every bit of it! Rickin: Gama Singh is a veteran and very capable in the ring. TNT may be younger and probably stronger, but a wily veteran like Singh can overocme that. Hugo: He knows more dirty tricks than TNT does too, which will work in his favor! Rickin: TNT isn't heavy on dirty tricks. It remains to be seen whether El Profe is. we'll be right back with Commissioner Pedro Castillo at the desk and los Mercenarios in tag team action. (Commercial Break) 11:00-19:00 Rickin: Welcome back fans. I have been joined at the desk by Commissioner Pedro Castillo. First on the docket tonight has to be the status of our main event. Castillo: Chicky Starr, Ric Flair and myself did some negotiating. We worked out a solution. The match will now be a six-man tag with Ron Starr, Chicky Starr and Ric Flair on one team against Invader 1, Invader 2 and Carlitos Colon. Rickin: Ric Flair didn't want to wrestle if it wasn't for the NWA WWC Universal Heavyweight Championship? Castillo: He was dead set against it. If you ask me, he won't be satisfied until he has gold around his waist again. Rickin: These special vistis over the last few weeks have been very interesting. Castillo: Too interesting. First we have a brawl where the entire locker room, almost, empties. Then we have Brusier Brody stampeding around backstage with Chicky Starr unable to rein him in. And now this. We really are trying to do something nice for the fans and put more marquee names on television. It's just not working. Rickin: It's not like we don't expect some out-of-control happenings on these shows though. Castillo: No, but not usually on this level. Los Mercenarios and Bam Bam interfering in the tag tournament I expected. There is a reason that los Mercenarios are not involved in the alternate match on the 22nd. It is a punishment. Rickin: We do have Hercules Ayala to thank for stopping Al Madril from breaking Armandito Salgado's leg. Castillo: Don't get me started on Madril. I'm glad Mr. Ayala was able to help there but it shouldn't be necessary. Of course we know it will continue to be. Rickin: With people like Al Madril and Chicky Starr, yes. Castillo: Chicky....do you know what he wanted for his help with Flair? Rickin: Oh no. Castillo: He said he wanted a favor. Flair insisted. Rickin: You did what you had to do. Castillo: I know. I let him know I reserved the right to refuse....certain things. I'm not sure I made the list long enough. It was good chatting with you Rickin. Rickin: Same to you, commissioner. (walking around the desk) Can you believe that Chicky Starr actually saved our main event Hugo? Hugo: Do you really have to ask?!? Rickin: Of course you do. But not without a cost. Hugo: It's only a favor! Rickin: Only a favor. Here come los Mercenarios and the crowd is more than a little unhappy. Hugo: Los Mercenarios are their usual, business-like selves. Rickin: I suppose to them this is all just a way to make money. But i do think they enjoy beating people up. Hugo: Normally I'd argue they are wrestlers... Rickin: But these two generally just beat up their opponents. Hugo: Yes!! Rickin: It works for them though. They have achieved success in their own way while here in the WWC. Hugo: If it ain't broke don't fix it! Rickin: I think you and I have different ideas of what "broke" means. Los Mercenarios have rushed the ring as usual and referee Victor Quinonez calls for the bell. Los Assassins vs. Los Mercenarios Mercenarios use their clubbering offense to control the match. A standing clothesline sends Assassin A to the mat. Mercenario 1 hits a rib breaker followed by a running splash form 2 for the three count. Los Mercenarios by pinfall in 5:38 with a rib breaker running splash combo Hugo: Another win for los Mercenarios! Rickin: Their only loss has been to los Super Medicos so far, and that was a close match. Hugo: They are a very good team! Rickin: I don't disagree with that, just their...hobby. Hugo: I'd say wrestling was the hobby and hurting people was their job. Rickin: That may also be the case. Up next we have Hercules Ayala coming to the desk and a match featuring Bam Bam. Hugo: GREAT show!! WOW!! Rickin: We'll be right back. (Commercial Break) 19:00- 28:00 Rickin: We are back and if you missed our talk with Commissioner Pedro Castillo, there have been some changes to the main event. Instead of a one-on-one match between Ric Flair and Carlitos Colon, it will be a six man tag involving the Starrs on Flair's team and los Invaders on Colon's team. I am joined by Hercules Ayala, who seems to be in a better mood than last time we spoke. Ayala: I don't know how it happened Rickin, but Al Madril played right into my hands with that match. I've been talking with everyone about it and nobody seems to understand it. Rickin: We saw last week that Chicky Starr wasn't too happy with it. I doubt your road to February 22nd will be smooth though. Ayala: Trust me Rickin, I won't be going anywhere near the Sports Shop. But Chicky Starr has tricks up his sleeve we don't know about. That's one thing los Invaders and Carlitos have warned me about. Rickin: It seems like something to worry about, yes. Ayala: But there is one thing I am really looking forward to. Putting the reverse figure four on Al Madril and making him tap out. And not letting go until I hear his leg snap. that's the part I'm going to enjoy the most. Rickin: I'm not sure that is necessary. Ayala: Was it necessary that Madril and Chicky Starr put Victor Jovica in the hospital?!? Was it necessary that Madril used the belt to knock me out in the Sports Shop?? Wss it necessary that Madril try to piledrive me again after he won our last match?!? Rickin: I would say no on all accounts. Ayala: So necessary or not, if I get Madril in the reverse figure four I'm not letting it go. And if he happens to get to the ropes and I lose by disqualification, so be it. He's not leaving with his leg intact. Ayala walks off slowly with purpose, barely acknowledging the crowd. Rickin: I'm not sure if I like that Ayala didn't seem angry for that last part. Hugo: Me either. Al is in real trouble. Rickin: I tend to agree. I'm not sure I entirely disagree with Hercules Ayala's motivations, but I don't think that kind of revenge is necessary. Hugo: You know as well as I do that sometimes that is what happens in the wrestling ring. We've seen it before. Rickin: I just hope cooler heads prevail and we don't see it again. Hugo: Me too... Rickin: The crowd has gone pretty silent, that must mean the Bam Bam has entered the arena. Hugo: There is some garbage being thrown their way, most of it from behind. Either they are scared to boo him or they don't want to. Rickin: It could be either, but my guess is they would like to show Barrabas what they think of him. Hugo: But they don't know what he'll do with Bam Bam around. Rickin: He has been helping the young man develop very well. Bam Bam showed himself to be capable of handling a fight with Abdullah the Butcher and Carlitos Colon. Hugo: Yes! Bam Bam has really impressed me! Rickin: And on the 22nd Bam Bam will be in a singles match with Abdullah the Butcher. Hugo: BIG Test! WOW!! Rickin: I have the feeling that Bam Bam will represent himself very well in that fight. Hugo: And it WILL be a fight!! Barrabas just sent Bam Bam into the ring to attack one of los Tejanos before the bell! El Tejano vs. Bam Bam This one is academic as Bam Bam absolutely steamrolls the masked Texan. Slingshot splash for the win. Bam Bam by pinfall in 1:36 with a slingshot splash Hugo: WOW!! That is ALWAYS impressive! Rickin: the speed with which Bam Bam destroys his opponents or the agility he shows? Hugo: BOTH!! Rickin: Very true. I just wish someone a little more responsible was calling the shots. When we come back los Invaders will be joining Carlitos Colon at the desk to talk about their match. Followed by our huge main event. Don't go anywhere. (Commercial Break) 28:00 - 31:30 Rickin: I am joined by three men probably not as accustomed to being on television as often as they have been these last few weeks. Invader 1 : And against very dangerous opponents. Invader 2: It's nice to be able to wrestle these kinds of matches on TV, it's a way of giving back to the fans. Colon: It doesn't look like we'll be seeing as much of it. Commissioner Castillo seemed like he was unhappy with things. Rickin: I'd say he has a right to be. Colon: The fans aren't the ones who are causing these chaotic situations. I can point you at two men who are responsible! Rickin: I know the two men you mean, and I think it's pretty clear to all of our fans as well. Colon: Chicky Starr is always going to stir the pot. That's what he does. Barrabas is like a child with a new toy he doesn't really understand. That might make him worse. Rickin: Ric Flair was out earlier and I'm guessing you heard everything he said. Colon: I did, and I heard Chicky Starr come out here and how he earned a "favor." First things first. This belt (Colon holds up the Universal Championship) is so much more than a championship belt. It is something that all of these fans treasure. It is something Puerto Rican! We don't worry what the rest of the world thinks of our prize! What we call it is what we call it. If Ric Flair wants to come out here and use words like "world" and "universe" like he has in the past, so be it. He is welcome to come back to Puerto Rico whenever he has time and wrestle me for it! He claims that he has beaten me for the title he recently lost. I remember more disqualification victories for me and non-decisions than victories for Flair! It looks like his cheating ways have caught up with him and he couldn't escape with his title! (Colon pauses and Invader 1 pats him on the back encouragingly.) Colon: And Chicky Starr I'm sure told Flair all kinds of stories about the way Ivader 1 and myself don't deserve our success. He'll use those favors against us in the future for "helping" the WWC here, but we all know he is a low down, dirty snake in the grass! He doesn't care about helping anyone but Chicky Starr and I would hope Ric Flair knew that. Tonight the three of us will make sure to send a message that both Ric Flair and Chicky Starr will understand very clearly! Colon stalks off with Invader 1 and 2 in tow. Rickin: Carlitos Colon is pretty worked up. Hugo: He and Flair have a long standing rivalry due to the name of the Universal title. Rickin: Yes, Flair always took issue with that. And I think Carlitos has always been more than a little resentful that Flair, as he just put it, escapes with the title more often than defeating his opponents. Hugo: Hey, he walked out with the title every time!! Rickin: Yes he did, but I think Carlitos has a point. Hugo: They got to the ring fast! Here come Ron and Chicky Starr!! And there is the champ! Rickin: They are really making a big production out of Flair entering the arena... Hugo: And the fans are certainly not happy with it. At all. Rickin: I imagine Flair will be billing the WWC for any cleaning costs for the robe as well. Hugo: Can you blame him?!? Those robes are expensive!! And it is hardly necessary for the fans to throw all of that garbage at him! Rickin: We both knew they would well before he came out. Flair probably did too. Hugo: Doesn't make it necessary! Rickin: I suppose not. If Chicky Starr wants to learn how to enjoy the way the crowd hates him, he could certainly take lessons from Flair. Hugo: He thrives on it! Rickin: And takes his time doing it. They are finally at the ring and now trying to bait los Invaders and Colon to the floor. Hugo: Oh, there will be plenty of time for fighting on the arena floor.. Rickin: Eliud Gonzalez is almost through with the ring intro-there it is, los Invaders and Colon take the bait. Ron Starr, Chicky Starr & Ric Flair vs. Invader 2, Invader 1 & Carlitos Colon Wild brawling around ringside with Flair bringing his more brawler style and selling for Colon after taking a punt right to the groin. Flair's head meets the ringpost and he is bleeding within 30 seconds of the bell. Invader 1, then Chicky Starr soon follow with blood coming out of their forehead. Things settle down into a shine with all three heels bumping all over the ring. Invader 2 gets worked over but comes back and tags 1. Invader 1 is in control for a short time, but gets hit in the groin twice by Chicky and then Ron Starr. The heels work over Invader 1's cut. Flair taunts Colon while he is in. Colon takes a HUGE hot tag after Invader 1 crushes Chicky Starr's nuts. Colon is cleaning house when Flair distracts him from the apron and rakes the eyes. Invader 1 goes after Flair and Chicky goes after Colon. Flair gets the figure four on Invader 1, staring Colon down as he punches Chicky. Colon starts walking over but Invader 1 yells something at him. Colon puts the figure four on Chicky while looking right at Flair. This goes on for a short while before Invader 2 and Ron break things up. In the chaos that follows, Flair grabs the top rope from the apron and sends Colon tumbling to the floor. Flair follows him out and cracks a chair over his head to bust Colon open before opening up with chops and punches. Ron and Invader 2 brawl up the aisle while Invader 1 and Chicky Starr punch each other from one knee in the center of the ring. Colon and Flair are trading shots before Flair does a big flop. The bell rings as the match reaches 20 minutes and that is the time remaining in the show. The match ends in a draw at 20 minutes. Everyone continues brawling despite the bell. Flair is retreating between taking Colon punches and trying to get in counterattacks. Flair hits Colon in the groin from his knees and makes his retreat. Hugo: WOW!! Rickin: What an incredible main event. We're out of time. Our main event next week will be TNT and Owen Hart taking on Gama Singh and Ricky Santana. We'll see you next week.

I loved this match. It played to the strengths of both (which I think these guys just do naturally) and really gets Jack over as a badass and Sting as a world-beater. Why they would air this AFTER Clash with Ross talking about Clash is so fucking WCW. And fuck you Jim Ross for telling me I had to like Clash. It was a damn good show and I won't say anything bad about it, but the announcer should not be telling me I'm crazy if I didn't like it. Ross almost takes me out of the match, if you can't tell, but it's so great that it manages to overcome shitty WCW airdates and bad announcing.

I was pretty stoked when Satanico was the third rudo instead of Estrada. The finishes to both of the first 2 caidas were really good. The execution on the first caida finish was really, really, really...you'd think that was too many, but it isn't...really impressive. The two porky dives (!!!!) were great. I liked how they worked the third fall with los Brazos coming oh so close to winning over and over. The crowd was eating it up and so was I. Great match and it had pretty much everything you want out of lucha outside of the bloody brawling.

I...uh...honestly wish I had typed up something similar with maybe different names to what Jetlag said. Pretty much summed up my thoughts about modern wrestling in a 100% accurate manner.

Benoit and Dundee would have been great. I liked the tag gauntlet a lot, but the idea of a Flair/Gilbert alliance makes me forget all the rest. Great first show.

My mind doesn't wander here unless I'm doing something particularly mindless at work. When I'm at home I will have stuff hit me that I should do and then I have to write it down in my booking documents lol. Which usually leads to more stuff and more writing down and about an hour gone for a stray thought.

I really liked Robinson's neutralizing of Abby's strikes early, only for Abby to hit him by surprise from the wrong side of a rope break. Abby looks to capitalize, but gets way more back than he bargained for when Robinson gets mad. That leads to the end of fall 1 and it's very good. Fall 2 Robinson busts Abby open and is ruthless on the cut. Wouldn't you be if you were up against a guy with 'the Butcher" in his name? I think this highlights one thing about Abby that most people don't mention often and that's his selling. The man is absolutely great at it when he wants to be. Robinson gets hung up in the ropes and Abby is clearly trying to not hurt the knee and his strikes look a little light, but I actually respect that. A man could get seriously fucked up and out of wrestling on a mistake there. Robinson gets counted out to even things up. Third fall Robinson is both selling his leg like a champ and continuing his beating on Abby's head. Abby keeps going to the leg to survive and finally Robinson is unable to stand up on his own and the match is called. One nice touch was Abby using the belt to tease Robinson as if he were playing with a dog post-match and the look on his face right before and during. Great heel move. Really great match with Robinson playing to Abdullah's strengths in a way I've not seen many wrestlers do.

Rose & Somers are one of the highlights of late period AWA, so it's awesome to see them here. I actually imagine that Gagne would get his share of offense on Simmons due to...uh....he's...the boss's son? Scorpio over Sullivan again, Sullivan has got to be getting pissed.

Damn you for putting the idea of Arn vs. Porky in my head! Now I'll wish there was a match pretty much until I stop watching wrestling. Really fun comedy match with the appropriate amount of bruising offense from MS1 and the rudos. I noticed a couple of off moments in the corner spot, but I forgave them as it seemed like there wasn't enough serious stuff going on to make this really need a lot of analysis. I did like the triple teaming of Super Porky in the first caida a lot.

It makes a lot of sense to try it due to yeah, you being the only major show in town. You're probably right in your reasoning that the competition between AJPW and NJPW had a lot to do with it. Neither Baba nor Inoki wanted to lose the TV network support because they were trying anything they didn't need. This makes me think of something Dylan brought up involving pro wrestling being an American export to Japan. It looks to me like it was brought over almost 100% intact and the changes happened due to pressure of competition forcing the promoter's hand based on how you put it. And if you really look at things carefully, what happened when national cable got ahold of the WWF and WCW? Or even ESPN with AWA or the Texas branch of USWA. So in a way that change truly predicted the change in American wrestling. Not the first time Japan was a few years ahead of America on changes to wrestling either.

On rewatch, I dug Kawada setting the tone early and Kobashi coming right along for the ride. Kwada was all kinds of surly here and that's always the best Kawada. Do you think Kawada and Kobashi ever got tired of working the leg each match they had? I really liked how Kobashi and Kikuchi would use teamwork to the maximum when they got the chance. Good way to show they are trying to find ways to equalize things. Kobashi and Kikuchi get the crowd rocking during their nearfalls everyone will go nowhere. You know how I know it's a great match? That last part about the crowd, that's how. Awesome stuff.