Details from January to May of 1974 basically don’t exist as the newspaper that used to cover wrestling, "El Imparcial" closed operations in late 1973 and the people who bought the newspaper, called the new one "El Vocero", whose first edition was issued in late April 1974. Later in May the newspaper began to print wrestling events, although no results, but they were very useful.

The first months of the promotion didn’t go very well for them and they thought about closing the doors. Then, in June, Canadian wrestler Gil Hayes brought the idea to wrestle a wrestling bear from a friend he knew. The idea looked a crazy one, but turned out to be the best move for them at the time. The match was signed and they promoted it heavily on TV. Gil Hayes vs. Victor, a wrestling bear, was the main event for the June 29, 1974 wrestling show of the WWC promotion. On that same show, Carlos Colón teamed with Jose Miguel Perez to face then North American Tag Team Champions, Bruce Swayze and Jim Dalton, and won the titles there.

On July 1974, Dr. Jerry Graham visited WWC and was an imminent success due to his size and weight. Graham already wrestled in Puerto Rico for NWA in the 70's and people were familiar with him. His main feud was for the Puerto Rican Title, title that Jose Miguel Perez had at that time. Don Serrano, Ted Oates, Jose Rivera and El Rayo were other names wrestling there. Meanwhile, another promotion was running against WWC. That promotion, named L&G Promotion, brought here Dusty Rhodes, Mike Graham, Pak Song, Bill Watts, Ron Fuller, Buddy Roberts, Terry Brown, Les Thornton, Greg Valentine, Jerry Brisco, Don Muraco and Dory Funk among others. Seems that Eddie Graham was the promoter there and their wrestlers were well known in Puerto Rico and basically there were two promotions delivering good response from the fans. Ox Baker and his famous taped fist were the next challenger for Puerto Rico’s top rising star, Carlos Colón, who has defeated Gil Hayes for the North American Title.

In August, The Assassins were brought from the US. The first minis in WWC were Little Bobo and Tom Thumb. There were two masked wrestlers whose identities I don’t know: The Champ (who did the sleeper holder) and The Crusader, billed at 410 pounds (any help is wanted here). Ernie Ladd also came that month. Jose Lothario also worked for WWC that month. He has been known as the Adoptive Son of Puerto Rico while wrestling for Lutrall in the late 60's and early 70's.

In September, Crazy Luke Graham was the next opponent for Colón. Either The Champ or The Crusader was unmasked. A mix match between Rayo and Tom Thumb vs. Victor Jovica & Little Bobo, The Assassins. Dominican Wrestlers Jack Veneno & El Puma came for the first time to Puerto Rico and faced The Assassins. At the end of the month, Ernie Ladd became Colón’s challenger.

In October, The Assassins returned once again. I believe that those Assassins were Tom Renesto and one of the Hamiltons. They came here to defend the North American Title they won from Colon and Perez. This was on this month that Rayo, also known then as Barrabás, stole the Puerto Rican Title from Perez, without winning it. The Golden Boy, Randy Jones, who has been there for a couple of months, also was one of the challengers for Colón’s title. Ernie Ladd returned and defeated Colón for the North American Title on a TV-TAPED match.

In November, Rayo Barrabás lost his hair in a stipulation match in which he, if winning the match, would be crowned the new Puerto Rican Title. Shaft Thomas, a black wrestler billed as 280 pounds and from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was the next challenger for Colón. Thomas was used as a step wrestler that Colon had to beat to receive a title shot with Ladd. But things ended with Thomas joining Colon as Barrabás accidentally knocked him in a match against Colón. Sherry Lee and Kathy O’Day were the first ladies at WWC. Jack Veneno returned from the Dominican Republic.

In December, Dick Steinborn came here to defend a Junior Heavyweight Title. By the way, Colón won the title on that month. Vikingo, Salvador Perez, joined Ciclón Sudamericano and won the North American Tag Team Title. Colón faced Barrabás and Barrabás also feuded with Thomas. Kid Chocolate and Billy the Kid were the second pair of minis in WWC.

NEXT MONTH:

We will cover 1975.