The oldest, and most respected wrestling promotion in Puerto Rico, World Wrestling Council, will be celebrating its 50th Anniversary Show at the Historic, Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum in Bayamon on Saturday, June 24th. The event will also be available through FITE TV IPPV.
Throughout WWC's storied five decades, there were rivalries that had stood through the test of time. None of them can compare to the promotion's two biggest rivalries. Stemming out of Calgary's legendary Stampede Wrestling, the bloodiest rivalry was between two WWE Hall of Famers, Vice President and co-founder, Barrio Jaucana, Santa Isabel's Carlos Colon and Abdullah The Butcher. These two legends fought each other so many times that their feud exceeded rivalries of fellow WWE Hall of Famers such as Ric Flair vs. Sting, Mankind vs. The Undertaker.
Let us also not forget the heated rivalry between "El Jibarito de San Lorenzo" Invader #1 vs. "El Rey Absoluto de la Lucha Libre" Chicky Starr. It began in late 1985 and raged all the way through 2013, their matches were full of intensity. A highlight came at WWC's Fourteenth Anniversary Show in 1987, in a Hair vs. Mask match, where whoever loses, will either lose his mask or have to be shaven. Starr lost the match, and as a result, he lost his hair.
Throughout its storied history, WWC has been the leader in putting on the most intense matches and is the true birthplace of hardcore wrestling, from barbed wire matches, steel cage matches all the way up to Ring of Fire, Ambulance, and Bunkhouse matches. The promotion's hardcore matches had inspired the original ECW led by Paul Heyman, the recently returned XPW, ICW No Hold Barred, and the now-deceased IWA Mid-South (owned by ECW Original Ian Rotten) in the Kentuckiana area and international hardcore promotions like Big Japan Pro Wrestling and Mexico's DTU.
Championships that are still active in WWC, from the historic Universal Championship which was born in December 1983. in a match where at that exact moment, Carlos Colon, held the old WWC World Championship against "Nature Boy" Ric Flair who was the NWA World Champion in San Juan. on that match through the NWA Board of Directors and WWC promoters made in which the winner will be declared as the new Undisputed Champion that night, the WWC Universal Championship was born. Colon became the first Champion after the WWC World Championship was merged and became defunct. throughout the Championship's Forty year history. it was defended not just in WWC's regular and biggest, most important events but even in its Anniversary Shows throughout the Island, the WWC Universal Championship was defended all over the World in still-active wrestling promotions as well as it was defended in promotions that don't exist anymore. the biggest names in wrestling who are still are active and who are retired, as well as the wrestlers who are no longer with us, held the title: "El Boricua Mayor" Savio Vega (as TNT), Invader #1, Ronnie Garvin, Sadistic Steve Strong, current WWC Director of Operations: "Mr.Raytings" Ray Gonzales, Dirty Dutch Mantell (Zeb Coulter), "The Canadian Glamour Boy" Shane Sewell, "El Hombre que no es facil" Gilbert, "El Macho de Siete Suelas" El Bronco, Shelton Benjamin, La Amenaza Bryan, former WWE Superstars and part of The Colon Dynasty: Carlito Caribbean Cool, Eddie "Primo" Colon and former owner of the now-defunct LAWE, "La Pesadilla" Orlando Colon, Ox Baker, Hercules Ayala, Dick Murdoch, "Mr.Perfect" Curt Hennig, Leo Burke, Hurricane Castillo, Jr., El Nene, Steve Corino, Pierroth, Jr., Chicky Starr, Konnan, Vampiro, Thunder and Lightning, Sabu, El Diamante, Monster Pain, Lance Hoyt, "El Leon" Apolo, "El Mesias" Ricky Banderas, WCW Legend Jerry Flynn, Alofa The Samoan Tank, "El Rabioso" Mr.Big, "El Fenomeno" BJ, "El Rebelde" Noriega, "The King of Chaos" Ricky Cruz, The Mighty Ursus, "El Latino Dorado" Joe Bravo, Jon Heidenreich, Chris Angel, Viscera (Nelson Frazier, Jr.),current NWA World Tag Team Champion: Mecha Wolf 450, "El Ilegal" Chicano, "El Hombre de los Kilates" Abbad,WWE Tough Enough 2011 winner Andy Leavine,"El Campeon del Pueblo" Bellito Calderon, the leader of El Nuevo Orden,"El Alma Perdida" Xavant and the current WWC Universal Champion: Intelecto Cinco Estrellas.
Facts: the WWC Universal Championship was defended and changed hands in its association with the now defunct International Championship Wrestling owned by Mario Savoldi in 1985, (at the time when WWC in Puerto Rico and ICW throughout the Northeastern, US were NWA member promotions.) In 2009, WWC's 36th Anniversary Show. El Fenomeno BJ beat Corino, to become the youngest WWC Universal Champion only for Noriega, who left the rival promotion, IWA Puerto Rico returned to WWC, with the 2008 version of the title. leading to Septiembre Negro weekend of that year from the legendary Pepin Cestero Arena in Bayamon, merging the 1985 and 2008 versions. Noriega won by becoming the Undisputed Unified WWC Universal Champion only to lose it to Shane at the Luis T. Diaz Coliseum in Aguadilla on Sunday. and In 2015, Mecha Wolf 450 (who was then Mr.450) became the promotion 50th WWC Universal Champion for over a year while defending it at the regular shows and big events on the Island as well as defending the belt Worldwide in Quito, Ecuador's WAR promotion, Mexico, Japan, United Kingdom, Canada, all the way up to every Indy Wrestling Circuit in America and episodes of WWE NXT, the now defunct WWE 205 Live, and as a replacement participant in WWE's Cruiserweight Classic from Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida in the Summer 2016. Below is the link to more info.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_WWC_Universal_Heavyweight_Champions
The WWC Puerto Rican Championship was established on January 6.1974. the first champion was the late. great Jose Miguel Perez, Sr.. from then even going on its 50th Anniversary next year, famous wrestlers Worldwide from retired, to still active, WWE Hall of Famers, even those who have passed away throughout the years have held the coveted title. from Jose Rivera.Sr., Eric The Red. Tor Kamata, Dr.Klodied, Tosh Togo, Pampiro Firpo, The Mongolian Stomper, King Tonga (Haku in WWE and Meng in WCW), Bob Sweetan, Terry Gibbs, The Barbarian, Black Gordman, Eric Embry, Super Medico 1 (Jose Estrada, Sr.), Fidel Sierra, Al Perez, Kareem Mohammad, Mighty Igor, "El Malcriado" Miguel Perez, Jr., Keiji Mutoh (Super Black Ninja and more famously known as The Great Muta joined This year's WWE Hall of Fame at Wrestlemania weekend in Los Angeles last April), Ricky Santana, Ivan Kollof, "The Raging Bull" Manny Fernandez, Don Kernodle, Hector Guerrero, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, Jason The Terrible (Karl Moffat), Mohammed Hussein, Jungle Jim Steele, Rex King, Harley Lewis, Villano 3, Victor Rodriguez, Sr. (Victor The Bodyguard), Mustafa Saed (from The Gangstas in ECW and the now-defunct Smoky Mountain Wrestling with the late New Jack.), "El Cangri de las Gatitas" Jose Rivera, Jr., Al Barone (as Paul LeDuc), Crazy Rudy, Ash Rubinsky (El Nazareno), Eric Alexander (Escobar), Hideo Saito, Tommy Diablo, Pedro Portillo 3rd, La Anexion members: Mike Mendoza and Angel Fashion, former OVW, and ROH Superstars: Charles "The Hammer" Evans and Samson Walker, NWA Star: Aaron Stevens, Bellito Calderon, El Gigante Nihan, Barrabas, Jr., Brent Dail, up to the current WWC Puerto Rican Champion: "Showman" Mike Nice. for the stats check on the link. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWC_Puerto_Rico_Championship
The WWC World Tag Team Championship has been defended all over the Island in the promotion 50 years of history, Tag teams even WWE Hall of Famer Tag Teams as well as those who passed on for years have held the Championships were from The Invader Dynasty, Mark and the late Chris Youngblood, The Sheepherders (Luke Williams and the late Butch Miller), Dory and Terry Funk, The Starr Corporation (Chicky Starr and the late Victor The Bodyguard), The D'Jour Twins of Ponce, The Moondogs (Rex and Spot, no longer with us.), The Mercenaries (Angel Acevedo, Bob Boucher, Jerry Morrow, and the late Ron Starr.), Thunder and Lightning, Barry and Kendall Windham, The Batten Twins, Los Super Medicos, The Fabulous Kangaroos (Don Kent, Al Costello, Bruno Becker and Johnny Hefferman (Bob Della Serra.)), The New York Rockers (Al Perez and Joe Savoldi), The Rock N'Roll RPMS (Tommy Laine and the late Mike Davis) The Original Bloodline of The Samoan Dynasty from The Wild Samoans (Afa and Sika) to their Sons and Nephews: Tama, Matt Anoai (Rosey, brother of Roman Reigns) Samu, Rikishi (Father of Jimmy and Jey Uso and Solo Sikoa), L.A. Smooth and Manu, Los Broncos (Bronco 2 and 3), Los Fugitivos de la Calle (Niche and Lynx.) The Texas Hangmen, The Maximo Bros., all the way to recent former Tag Team Champions: La Formula (Steve Joel and Jay Velez.), Doom Patrol (Cold and Death Warrant), Khaos and Abbadon, Los Imortales (Oly,Jr, and Tapia), La Seguridad del Nuevo Orden up to Androide 787 and El Payaso Makabro. the titles are currently held by La Maldita Revolucion (Zcion RT1 and Julio Jimenez) for the eighth time. other Stars who teamed with different partners who have held the WWC World Tag Team Belts throughout the years were from GZW Owner: Demolition X, Derrick King, Stan Lee, Cassidy Reilly, Eddie Watts, Shawn Spears, Tama Tonga, Todd Dean and Brian Gamble, Black Pain, Hannibal (Devon Nicholls), and so-on. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWC_World_Tag_Team_Championship
WWC World Television Championship was created and established on September 19, 1986, on the promotion 13th Anniversary Show from Ponce, Puerto Rico in the Tournament finals where the late Ron Starr beat Invader #1. Even though the title is in its 37th Year since its creation many wrestlers have held the prestigious championship. from Grizzly Boone, Carlos Colon, Jason The Terrible, Leo Burke, Sadistic Steve Strong (Steve DiSalvo), Action Jackson, Sean Morley (Val Venis), The Mighty Kodiak, the late Sweet Brown Sugar, Derrick Dukes, Tom Brandi (Salvatore Sincere pre-WWE Attitude Era), Bad Boy Bradley, Chris Grant, Alex Porteau, the late Chris Candido,Kevin Quinn, Super Gladiador, Wilfredo Alejandro, Vengador Boricua, El Diamante, Superstar Romeo (El Veneno Hanzel), up to recent former titleholders: El Diabolico, El Gran Armando, "El Ilegal" Chicano, "La Franquicia" OT Fernandez, Zcion RT1, Mike Nice, El Informante, and the current WWC Television Champion: former LAWE Superstar: JC Jexx. for more history on it go to this link. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWC_Television_Championship
Fact: at the time of WWC's 13th Anniversary Show, while the promotion was a member of the NWA. it was inspired by the NWA World Television Championship as well as the two now-defunct UWF Television and NWA Florida Television titles even as an inspiration to the also defunct WCW and CWF Mid-Atlantic World Television Championships
The WWC World Junior Championship was established on December 14, 1974. In spite of changes throughout its soon-to-be 50-year history, that title was defended in both Puerto Rico and all over the World. the late legends who held the belt were Dick Steinborn, Les Thornton, Perro Aguayo, Sr. along with fellow luchador: Anibal, Don Kent, Mr. Pogo, Billy Travis, Mike Lozansky (Tiger Mike Anthony), and so on. up to former titleholders of today even in the past few years before the "COVID" Crisis: Angel Cotto, Jay-Cobs, Jovan, up to the current titleholder: Brandon Skater. For more on the WWC World Junior Championship go https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWC_World_Junior_Heavyweight_Championship
WWC Caribbean Championship was established on May 25, 1968, when it was a part of the old L& G Promotions, and like the WWC World Junior and Puerto Rican Championships, it went through changes even defunct promotions had that belt along with being on and off reactivated as well as being deactivated. as of this past May, it was announced a Tournament until the winners from the Tournament will face each other in their upcoming 50th Anniversary Show in Bayamon. for more on the stars who won the WWC Caribbean Championship go to this link. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWC_Caribbean_Heavyweight_Championship
Over the years, WWC had championships that are now defunct, but none were as important as the WWC North American Heavyweight and North American Tag Team Championships, Especially when WWC was a member of the NWA for 15 years. The only difference is WWC like the above-mentioned former member promotions left the NWA in 1988, due to the WWE's Expansion as well as they were abandoned in the Early 1990s in both the now defunct South Atlantic Pro Wrestling and with The Headhunters who appeared in WWC in 1992, was crowned the NWA North American Tag Team Champions in the Dominican Republic. For more respective history on these historic titles, go to:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWC_North_American_Heavyweight_Championship and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWC_North_American_Tag_Team_Championship
Fact: WWE Hall of Famers The Bushwhackers (Luke Williams and the late Butch Miller) were four-time WWC North American Tag Team Champions between 1982-1986, and the final WWC North American Tag Team Champions were The Hunters (the late Bulldog Bob Brown and Dale Veasy, who returned to WWC in 1991, with Dewayne Bruce as the WCW Saturday Night Tag Team, The State Patrol Bruce as Sgt. Buddy Lee Parker and Veasy as Lt. James Earl Wright.)
Women wrestlers who appeared on WWC's Regular and Anniversary events from legends to Today's Women wrestlers are from late greats like The Fabulous Moolah, Candi Devine, Monster Ripper, "La Chica de la Alto Voltaje" Genesis (who passed away recently from her longtime battle with Cancer), Vivian St.John, Donna Christanello, Luna Vachon, Melissa Coates and more. retired and active Women wrestlers from the Island and Worldwide: Sasha, Carmen, Sexy Marie, La Tigeresa (who is living in the New England area), "La Chica de la Actitud" Roxxy, Lady Demonick, La Morena, La Capitana, Killer Kat, "La Abusadora" La Rosa Negra, current SHINE Women's World Champion: Ivelisse Velez, Princess Victoria, Velvet McIntyre, Wendi Richter, Debbie Combs, Amarilys, Sarah Jay Evans, Sarita (Sarah Stock), Serena Deeb, ODB, Traci Brooks, Avbriela, Malia Hosaka, Brandi Alexander, Mery Gold Start, Jacqueline, Reyna Isis, Daizee Haze, Debbie Ross, Vanilla Vargas, "La Gurrera" Amazona,Velvet Sky,Melina, along with special guest appearances from former WWE and current AEW star; Saraya Knight (fka Paige) on WWC's 43rd Anniversary Show in 2016 and current WWE Superstar: Charlotte Flair who appeared backstage in last year's WWC's 49th Anniversary Show.
As a part of WWC's 50 Years of History and Heritage, Many Championships from the World's Top promotions were defended in their regular and big events Especially in their Anniversary Shows, for instance, the NWA World Heavyweight Championship held by Ric Fliar was defended from the early 80s until 1986, Vic Steamboat( brother of WWE Hall of Famer: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat) defend the now-defunct ICW World Championship in WWC in 1990, the now-defunct Continental U.S. Junior Heavyweight Championship held by "Nightmare" Ken Wayne bring it to the Island and to WWC in 1995, the old XWF brought the XWF World Heavyweight, Cruiserweight, and World Tag Team Championships on WWC's 29th Anniversary Show and also in their final war against the promotion in the Christmas season of 2002, Sadly the XWF went Out of Business, and in 2009, Carlito and Primo while they were in WWE won the Undisputed Unified World Tag Team Championships at Wrestlemania 25 from the Houston Astrodome (both The Colons held the WWE Raw brand's World and SmackDown! WWE Tag Team Championships). how can we ever forget the Dominican Republic Heavyweight and IWRG Mexico's Intercontinental Championships were an essential part of the oldest, most respected wrestling promotion's storied existence in the decade of the 1990s. Here is the promo for WWC's 50th Anniversary Show.
Below are the best matches of WWC Puerto Rico's Anniversary Shows along with three promos of WWC's 19th Anniversary Show 2002, 21st Anniversary Show where it lead to the Brother vs. Brother main event from the 40th Anniversary Show in 2013.
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