AJS

The brawls on this set have been great but this was a nice change of pace/style. It was nothing earth shattering but a good back and forth wrestling match. It's another one that I should probably watch again.

I must echo the above sentiments re this one coming straight after Hansen Colon as i'm still exhausted from watching that one. Perhaps I should have waited a while before watching this so I could focus more. Both women worked hard and this was more full on than I expected it to be. I loved the dramatic kind of surprise out of nowhere ending and the post match brawl. I'll need to watch this again.

This series has been incredible to watch, and it comes to an end as many classic feuds do, inside the cage. Hansen is reluctant to get in and I can't say that I blame him. Colon is eager to get going and pulls Hansen inside and the punches start. Hansen's head is slammed into the cage and he's looking to get out of there immediately. Low blow from Hansen who then takes over viciously with kicks and then introduces Colon's head to the cage. He can't get control for long. Colon comes back full of fire with punches and then a cartwheel. This crowd are with him for every moment. Hansen manages to deck Colon a few times and goes for another escape. Colon goes after him at the top of the cage and punches him back down to the mat. Once back on the ground floor, the set up for the figure four begins. Hansen kicks him to break free. He snap mares Colon but misses a knee drop. The relentless Colon is right back on the leg. Hansen does not want any part of this, so he punches Colon and makes his way to the cage door. He is close to escaping but is pulled back in. Hansen misses the knee drop and tries to escape again by going over the top of the cage. Once again Colon manages to pull him back down to the mat. And he's right back on that leg. He goes for the figure four again but Hansen won't let it happen. He goes for the door again and is super close to escaping this time. close but no cigar. Hansen begs off from Colon who goes back to the leg. Hansen blocks the figure four yet again and hits Colon with a boot. another escape attempt but he's going nowhere. Another figure four attempt and there will be no breaking free this time as it's well and truly locked in. The crowd loses it here. Someone tries to interfere but is stopped and there is fighting now outside the ring. Colon breaks off the figure four and goes to join the battle. Wow! This is one of the greatest cage matches ever with one of the greatest crowds ever. The reaction from the people when Colon managed to execute the figure four after all those tries was stunning. The two men gave everything again and it was amazing to watch. Hansen almost escaping the cage only to be pulled back in was incredibly dramatic. I must admit I found the ending to be slightly strange although it did amuse me also. Colon calmly leaves the ring to join a fight outside. Not quite sure what to make of that! overall though, a fantastic ending to a white hot feud between two of the greats.

Another tremendous match between these two guys. I love how ferocious Colon is at the start, head butting, punching and chocking Hansen with the rope. It's really all Colon for the first part of the match with Hansen trying, but failing to get the upper hand. Hansen of course looks amazing on offence when he gets the opportunity. At one point he throws a chair at Colon and it's an amazing visual. I would say that my favourite aspect of the match, and the thing that makes it stand out amongst their other matches, is Colon's leg work. I've loved what i've seen of him so far, but this is the first time i've seen him so focused on working that particular part of the body. He goes after it every chance he gets, and it takes an already great match to an even higher level. And Hansen's selling as his leg is destroyed is predictably brilliant, particularly when locked in the figure four. Not just his selling of pain but his determination. He will not give up. He also can't get out of it so he whacks Colon in the face with a crutch to break free. Awesome!

Disc 3 is done and it is incredible, loaded with classics. Every single one of the first 9 matches are really good to classic level. Terry Funk is awesome in his appearances, showing how complete he is by excelling at the comedy and the serious stuff. I also want to single out the street fight between Invader I & Al Perez. Coming off a great Hansen vs Colon match I was expecting some relative filler, but it was unbelievable, taking the insanity of this disc to new levels. These guys beat up on each other like men possessed. I'm surprised both were still breathing after this one. And I have to further mention Hansen vs Colon. Their first match was great but the bullrope match was spectacular, full of drama, with a crazy hot crowd. I know there are further matches between them on this set and i'm intrigued to see if they can top it. Ranking whole discs will probably get difficult so i'll just give my top 5: 1. Carlos Colon vs Stan Hansen (Texas Bullrope) (1/6/87) 2. Invader I vs Al Perez (Street Fight) (10/26/86) 3. Stan Hansen vs Carlos Colon (10/12/86) 4. Terry Funk vs Barry Windham (9/19/86) 5. Terry Funk vs Rick Martel (9/20/86)

Not as good as other the Invader I matches on this disc but i definitely enjoyed seeing him work in a different style.

I expected this to be great and my expectations were far exceeded. This was absolutely phenomenal and the best match of the set so far for me. Some of my favourite things: 1. Hansen chocking Colon with the rope and then Colon doing the same back. 2. Colon hitting Hansen with the cowbell 3. Frantic Hansen. I'm used to mean, brutal, crazy Hansen, but he looked panic stricken when Colon was chocking him with the rope. 4. There were a few times where Hansen almost touched the turnbuckle for the win but couldn't make it. Each more dramatic than the last. At one point Hansen is standing reaching with all his might for what seems like forever. The crowd goes bananas when Colon manages to pull him down. 5. The tug of war between the two at the end is a thing of beauty. An incredible match that built and built. I mean they went at each other like crazy from the start, but managed to gradually increase the drama and intensity to point where the already molten crowd were losing their minds (I was too). Spectacular stuff.

Some more wild brawling in this one with Hansen looking particularly crazy. Not on the level of most of the stuff on this disc, but pretty good action supported by a wild crowd.

I thought Funk was great hear with his over the top selling and intensity. I loved him continuing to headbutt the turnbuckle after his opponent had stopped. I kind of figured this would end with everyone brawling in the ring and it did! And it was awesome!

These guys match up really well together and this was a very enjoyable match. I liked how it began as a kind of straight up wrestling match before turning into another insane brawl with a crazy finish. Good stuff

This is a short but sweet tv match and I thought both guys looked great. I continue to be impressed by Colon who hit some cool looking moves like a great drop kicks and some stinging headbutts. Fun while it lasted.

Hansen and Colon bring the intensity as usual and have some vicious exchanges. I'm so used to seeing Hansen jump his opponent at or before the bell that it genuinely caught me off guard to see it done the other way around. I liked that. What we got here was great, but I felt it was too short to be anything truly special. I preferred their first bout.

I really don't know what to say about this one. Just another slice of PR insanity featuring two guys who look like they're actually trying to murder one another another! This is an amazing fight! Referring to the first Hansen vs Colon match I said I could feel the hatred. Well what's worse than hatred because this match had it whatever it is. Man i've never been much a fan of straight up brawls but the guys in Puerto Rico really knew how to do em. Incredible stuff. I thought the lack of commentary added to the atmosphere too. Really made me feel close to the action. And what action!

I approached this match with some trepidation. I'm aware that Colon vs Hansen is considered a classic series by many, and often I find when matches/feuds are built up to be amazing, they often end up falling short for me. I do wonder if I would have appreciated this match as much if I had randomly played it on youtube, but in the context of this set it's another amazing match in a comp full of them. I'm sure that far more knowledgable and eloquent people than me on this board have written great essays on why they love this one or any of the other matches in the series, and I don't think I have anything new or different to add. I think i'll just highlight three things that jumped out to me when watching: 1) It never lets up From the moment Hansen jumps Colon until the end, there is know let up. the two guys go at it full pelt. Seriously this does not slow down for a single moment, it is just high intensity action from start to finish. 2) I felt the hatred I don't know the context of this feud, but I really felt like these guys hated each other guts. everything they did to each other looked like it really hurt. It was like I was watching a real fight between two people who can't stand each other. Well, as real as a worked match can look. The intensity was of the charts in this one; the elbows, kicks and punches looked full on (Colon must be one of the greatest punchers ever), and the two wrestlers were seemingly giving everything they had. 3) The time didn't matter This set had quite a few matches early on that I struggled with due to length. I felt that some bouts were just getting started and then they would abruptly end. This match was fairly short but it didn't matter this time. I felt that I got everything I needed and more in these 11 minutes. I can't wait to see the other bouts between these two.

Another Terry Funk match, another great one. What a run it's been for him on this disk. He cuts a funny promo before the match (oink oink) but once the bell rings it's down to serious business. A few things I liked: 1. Colon hit some great looking headbutts on Funk throughout the match. 2. Some more great selling from Funk after a kick to the crotch. I'm not sure i've seen anyone sell a shot to the nuts as well as Terry Funk. 3. The two guys take turns giving each other headbutts later in the match. They both sell these brilliantly and you can really see the toll they take on both men. I'm becoming more and more impressed with Colon as each match goes by. I hadn't seen much of him before this set, and I wasn't sure early on but i'm becoming a big fan. I thought he looked great when he was beating up on Funk here. He does everything with such an incredible intensity. Whilst watching Funk against Martel and Windham, I found that I was focusing more on Funk. Here my attention was split between the two men equally. That's a testament to Colon's skill and charisma. I have to say it again, this disc has been phenomenal! Every match so far has been very good to really great.

I was a bit nervous going in to this one. Still feeling a bit sick after the last match between these guys. Another really intense brawl. Early on I thought it was going to be a reversal of the earlier match with Abdullah destroying Carlos this time, but soon enough Colon was beating the crap out of Abby again. Nothing brutal in the match on the level of the eye gouging but still very full on, with Colon pasting a bloody Abby. Colon was particularly intense in this one. Not as compelling as the June match but still very good. Disc 3 has been amazing so far.

Another fab Funk match. I think I prefer the match with Windham but this is great too. The early going is very much the Terry Funk show. His selling of the head butts to the turnbuckle is so good, but that's nothing compared to his selling after he crotches himself on the top rope. seriously, this has to be seen to be believed. Hysterical! As is him taking forever to pull his trunks back up. Just very funny stuff. The match gets more serious as it goes on with Martel showing some great fire. The spot where he piledrives Funk while he has a chair around his neck is utterly crazy! And he sells a piledriver from funk on the outside like he's been paralysed. Just great stuff. Funk steals the show though.

I was really looking forward to this match between two of the all time greats and it lived up to my expectations. I'm aware that this match has been out there for a while now and i'm not sure why i've never seen it before. oh well, some highlights: 1. Barry wears Funk's hat before the start of the match. It suits him 2. Terry going all Terry and throwing chairs into the ring. 3. Terry piledrives Barry outside the ring. Twice 4. Windham gets his own back by executing a piledriver on Funk in the ring and two more outside. 5. Terry's punches and elbows. 6. A great back suplex from Windham 7. Windham rapidly ramming Funk's head into the turnbuckles and Funk selling it as you would expect. So awesome. 8. Funk with the chair around his neck getting decked with punches. This match was so great. Not the best on the set but probably my favourite so far. Both guys were great but Funk was on another level. Also awesome is Funk's post match promo in which he calls PR the world's largest pig farm and screams at Savinovich. That is Savinovich right?

Some fantastic work from two guys who have become real highlights on this set. Invader's selling is indeed awesome and Starr looks incredible in this one too. Invader countering the DDT is beautiful and Starr hits a fantastic looking back suplex late in the match. I'm a big fan of punches and both guys hit some great looking ones throughout this bout. A good wrestling match becomes something very powerful after that chair shot.

Yeah I had trouble with this too because I don't know who they are and can't tell them apart. Also really enjoyed it though and loved the opening brawl which was utterly intense with the crowd going bananas along with it. good stuff.

Another utterly insane match. I normally don't like it when performers stay away from the ring for so long, but the brawling in the crowd was really entertaining. Part of the fun was seeing people react as the wrestlers got near, with some people running for their lives. The two guys eventually get back to the ring and Starr takes an insane nut shot after coming off the top. This looked so painful but also quite amusing. both wrestlers are counted out after a double knockout. This was really fun with both guys working hard, and the crowd loving every second and showing it.

Just finished Disc 2 and thought it was phenomenal. Honestly it took me a few matches to get into it, but once it got going, it definitely went. I thought all the tag team tournament matches were great. I Particularly liked the final match which built really well and had a hot finish. I was also very impressed with Eric Embry and enjoyed every one of his matches. The performer that made the biggest impresion on me though was Abdullah the Butcher. I really enjoyed the match with Jovica, but even that had nothing on the June bout with Colon. This was one of the most brutal, disgusting matches i've ever seen and I couldn't take my eyes of it. The beating Abby took here was insane. I don't think it was the best bout on the disc but definitely for me, it was the most memorable. Roll on disc 3! 1. Rock n Roll RPM's vs the Crusher & Eric Embry (3/29/86 2. Invader III vs Eric Embry (1/6/86) 3. Carlos Colon vs Abdullah the Butcher (6/15/86) 4. Los Pastores vs the Invaders (8/2/86) 5. Invader I vs Eric Embry (June 1986) 6. The Invaders vs Chicky Starr & Ron Starr (3/29/86) 7. Abdullah the Butcher Vs Victor Jovica (Chain Match) (July 1986) 8. Invader I vs Bruiser Brody (6/16/86) 9. Carlos Colon & Miquel Perez Jr vs Los Pastores (January 1986) 10. Chicky Star vs Invader III (Scaffold Match) (May 1986) 11. Carlos Colon & the Invaders vs Abdullah the Butcher, Chicky & Ron Starr (4/26/86) 12. Carlos Colon vs Abdullah the Butcher (March 1986) 13. Rock n Roll RPM's vs the Zambule Express (3/29/86) 14 Rock n Roll RPM's vs Dn Greer & Don Kent (3/29/86) 15. Kamala vs The Invader (2/22/86) 16. Invader I vs Chicky Starr (1/6/86) 17. Carlos Colon vs Joe Leduc (Barbed Wire Match) (2/22/86)

Well I'm surprised that Abdullah is even alive after the June match with Colon, but here he is in another brutal match taking another ferocious beating. It's not as one sided as the Colon match and there's nothing here to match the brutality of the fingers in the eye, but Jovica wrapping the the chain around Butcher's neck while he screams is pretty close. Abby loses but he's not as beaten down this time so he's able to repeatedly whip Jovica with the chain post match in revenge. Another crazy crazy bout.

Really great match. Fast paced with great crowd heat. Embry in particular looked fantastic and the piledriver through the looked really cool. I think every Embry match on the set before this was excellent, and this is no exception.