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THE PASSING OF BRAD BATTEN, CARLITO VS. HERNANDEZ, WWL'S NEXT MOVES AND MORE: THE ISLE OF PUERTO RICO

Unfortunately, I must begin this week’s column with the sad news of Brad Batten’s untimely passing. Brad, one half of the “Batten Twins” tag team, was well known in Puerto Rico due to his runs in WWC, alongside his brother Bart.

The twins arrived at WWC in the late 80’s, and established themselves as a dominant force in the tag team division, which at the time had a lot of really good local teams, as well as teams that would come and go as they campaigned in Puerto Rico for seasons at a time. In 1988 they became WWC World Tag Team champions for the first time after defeating the champions at the time, Kendo Nagasaki & Mr. Pogo. They held the WWC World Tag Titles a total of 4 times before the end of their run with the company around 1993. Interesting to note that during their 4th and last run with the belts, they never lost them, as they left the company just about a month after winning them.

The team also held the WWC Caribbean Tag Team titles on two separate occasions. Although the twins were known as a good baby face team, it was during their heel runs that they became really hot in the island.

Brad, and his twin brother Bart, had just turned 56 years old during the month of September. As Mike has already stated in the earlier posting, the PWInsider family sends our deepest condolences and respect to Batten family during this trying times.

World Wrestling Council (WWC)

WWC was back at the “Pepín Cestero Arena” in Bayamón, PR with a house show/TV taping. The following are some notes coming out of the show:

- “Mr. Ray-tings” Ray González faced his “Mystery Opponent”, who was revealed to be former WWC Universal champion “El Rebelde” Noriega. They went at it and had a good back and forth match with González coming on top at the end.

- “The Precious One” Gilbert retained the WWC Puerto Rican Heavyweight title.

- Samuel Adams also retained his WWC Jr. Heavyweight title after he defeated Jay Velez.

- During the Mike Mendoza vs “Big Daddy” Montes match, there was interference out of nowhere by “El Diabólico”, who apparently is back with WWC after a hiatus that lasted several months. Diabólico attacked Mendoza and left him all bloody after the attack.

- Mighty Ursus is still the WWC Universal champion after his match with Carlito ended in a DQ. After the match Carlito took to the mic and issued a challenge to Ursus for a match at “LockOut 2014”. However, it would have to be a cage match.

There is no card that has been announced for this weekend or the next. That would mean that last Saturday’s show was their last one before going in to their year ending event at the beginning of December.

Speaking of their last event of the year, they have already began promoting some of the matches that will be part of the Saturday December 6th card for “LockOut 2014”, taking place at the “Pepín Cestero Arena” in Bayamón.

WWC Universal Heavyweight Title – CAGE MATCH
Carlito vs Mighty Ursus (c) w/ “El Magnate” Juan Manuel Ortega

Semi-Main Event – Tables Match
“Mr. Ray-tings” Ray González vs “Mexican Superman” Hernández w/ “El Magnate” Juan Manuel Ortega

WWC World Tag Team Title Match – Street Fight
“Los Boricuas” Miguel Pérez & Huracán Castillo vs “Los Templarios” ASH & William De La Vega (c) w/ “El Magnate” Juan Manuel Ortega

Special Tag Team Challenge
WWE’s “Los Matadores” Fernando & Torito vs Ex-WWE’s 3MB member – Jinder Mahal & “El Magnate” Juan Manuel Ortega

Chain Match
Mike Mendoza vs “El Diabolico”

WWC Jr. Heavyweight Title – Puerto Rican Battle Royale
Samuel Adams (c) will face 9 other competitors

Tickets will be available the day of the event at the box office at the “Pepín Cestero Arena”. Tickets for the show will be:

- Ring Side - $20.00
- General Admission - $12.00
- As a Christmas gift for the fans, children under 10 years old are FREE!

The promotion has also announced that there will be a “Mixed Martial Arts” bout during the card that evening. I am not sure if this is something that will be used as a cross-promotion with a local MMA company or if it is a storyline angle. If it is an angle, I can see Chicano and Gilbert fitting the bill for this type of stipulation. There should be more information on this coming weekend’s TV show.

Also, I fully expect to have some sort of continuation of the storyline between Invader and Bronco included in the event; either a match or at least something that would set up a match for the company’s first event of 2015.

They will also have a show on Friday December 5th at the “Rebekah Colberg Arena” in Cabo Rojo, PR. There are 2 matches announced at the moment for this show:

-Carlito vs. “Mexican Superman” Hernández w/ “El Magnate” Juan Manuel Ortega
-WWE’s “Los Matadores” Fernando w/ El Torito vs. Ex-WWE’s 3MB member – Jinder Mahal w/ “El Magnate” Juan Manuel Ortega

They continue to promote the replay of “Aniversario 41”, which is still available via ‘Video-On-Demand’ for a limited time at http://wwcppv.com for just $10.00. Play by play by José Herrera and ‘El Wizard’, plus WWC Backstage with Willie Urbina.

As we have noted in the last several weeks, WWC has announced that they will be returning with an event to the “Rubén Rodríguez Coliseum” in Bayamón, PR. More than likely it will be for “Euphoria 2015”, which is the traditional first big event of the new year, and is set to take place on Saturday January 3rd, 2015. Announced for that event is the match to determine who is the “Real King of Wrestling”, pinning “El Rey de la Lucha Libre” Chicky Starr and WWE Hall of Famer Jerry “The King” Lawler.

For more information about anything related to WWC visit their Facebook fan page at: www.facebook.com/wwcpaginaoficial.

You can watch WWC: Superestrellas de la Lucha Libre” weekly TV show on WAPA-TV in Puerto Rico and WAPA America where the channel is available if you are in the United States mainland. For channel line-up, please check your local listings.

World Wrestling League (WWL)

WWL has already started to announce matches that will be part of the card for their next event titled: “Navidad Corporativa” (Corporate Christmas), taking place on Saturday December 13th at the “Pepín Cestero Arena” in Bayamón, PR, with a scheduled bell time of 8:00PM. There are two matches announced at the moment:

WWL Tríos World Title Match
“La Rabia” – D-Nniss, Noel Rodríguez & Stefano vs “La Corporación” –“Los Rodríguez” (Víctor & Manuel) & “El Latino Dorado” Joe Bravo

Special Challenge Match
“El León “ Apolo w/ “La Reina” Habanna vs “El Rabioso Original” Mr. Big

Here is the latest press release from the company regarding what took place during this week’s episodes of “WWL Presenta” and “Idols of Wrestling” TV shows:

WWL Tríos World Championship: “La Rabia” vs “Team Corporativo”

(San Juan, Puerto Rico, Sunday, November 16th, 2014) - On this week’s episode of Idols of Wrestling WWL’s Director of Operations, Savio Vega, speaks about the new Tríos World titles, which will be disputed at “Navidad Corporativa” on Saturday December 13th at the “Pepín Cestero Arena” in Bayamón; but his phone conversation is interrupted by “La Rabia”, who as a group challenge Savio to put them on a match for the new titles. In the middle of all that’s going on, Vega accepts the challenge! It’s oficial! “Los Hermanos Rodríguez” (Victor & Manuel) and "El Latino Dorado" Joe Bravo vs “La Rabia” (Stefano, Noel Rodríguez and D-Niss), in a match to crown the first ever WWL Tríos World Champions.

During the segment “Hablando Claro”, "El Rabioso Original" Mr. Big stated: “WWL is a brand new opportunity for me to be the best. I am the only true “rabioso” here in the World Wrestling League. That new “Rabia” is fake. I never lied to them (“La Rabia”). I always told them that I would not be part of the group. All that group brought me in the past were problems. I am on the corporate side; that’s where the money is and this is all about making money. I have never liked Apolo. Just like all the legends, he never steps aside to provide younger talent with opportunities. To me he is nothing more than a stepping stone that I will step over with no remorse whatsoever. From this point on, I will be “El papá de los pollitos" and I will become the WWL World Heavyweight champion."

On the other hand, “El León” Apolo, with “La Reina” Habanna, responded to Mr. Big’s comments: “You have been talking a lot of trash on social media, and you said during your interview on “Hablando Claro” that I abuse the younger talent. Well, I am challenging you to a match on Saturday December 13th at the “Pepín Cestero Arena” in Bayamón. I will show you why I am an 18 time World Champion. I know you are friends with the Director of Operations, Savio Vega. Tell him to make the match official for “Navidad Corporativa”.”

Also, D-Niss and Noel reflect and talk about the battles that await while facing the “Corporación”. For D-Niss, he is going against his brother Savio Vega, and for Noel he faces his younger siblings Victor and Manuel. They both agree that they are committed to their cause and they will fight until the end.

Finally, we see “Sensacional” Carlitos at his wrestling school thinking about his loss against Mr. 450 during INSURRECTION.

Idols of Wrestling – Episode #19: Goddess Match: La Rosa Negra vs Ivelisse Velez; the interview segment “Hablando Claro”, with this week’s guest "El Rabioso Original" Mr. Big; the WWL World Tag Team titles are on the line: Escobar & Abbad vs "La Artillería Pesada" Thunder & Lightning; plus “La Rabia”, the Director of Operations Savio Vega, "El Sensacional" Carlitos, “El León” Apolo with “La Diosa” Habanna and new challenges as we approach “Navidad Corporativa” (Corporate Christmas), Saturday December 13th, at the “Pepín Cestero Arena” in Bayamón. with “El Rudo de los Rudos” Axel Cruz and "Su Majestad" El Profe on the play by play and color commentary: http://youtu.be/yuuTpo8-WsU

“WWL Presenta” – Episode #18: A recap of everything that happened on Idols of Wrestling last week. Hosted this week by Danny Nieves and none other than "Su Majestad" El Profe: http://youtu.be/avEg-NWuaBY

“WWL Presenta” comes to life every Saturday at 3:30PM, as well as the program “Idols of Wrestling” every Sunday at 8:30PM on CW Puerto Rico. You can watch CW Puerto Rico on the following channels locally: DIRECTV Channel 178, DISH NETWORK Channel 17 in Puerto Rico & US Virgin Islands, LIBERTY Cable Channel 96, CHOICE Cable Channel 148 & 34, CLARO TV Channel 22, and on digital antenna via Channel 18.3.

Also in Puerto Rico, every Saturday afternoon at 6:00PM on WVQS-TV “Retro Channel”, digital antenna via Channel 50.2.

You can also watch “Idols of Wrestling” every Saturday at 12:00PM noon on “Súper Canal” throughout the national territory of Dominican Republic via channel 33, and in the different cable television companies in the country.

Extreme Wrestling Organization (EWO)

The following is the link to their most recent episode of their TV show “EWO: EL Update” from this past Saturday: http://youtu.be/1sJgD5Y1fzk.

 In this week’s episode you will see:

- “Master” Julio Franco vs “El Cubano” Rodrigo García

- EWO Caribbean Title Match - Triple Threat: Manny Ferno (c) vs “El Apostador” Jack Daniels vs JP

- EWO Heavyweight Title Match – Triple Threat: “Mano de Piedra” Luis Estilo (c) vs Bone Crisher vs Peter “The Bad Romance”

During this week’s TV episode the company announced that their final event of the 2014, scheduled for Saturday December 6th, will be titled “Christmas Aggression”. More information about the event will be provided throughout the course of the next several weeks.

You can learn more about this promotion by visiting their website, www.ewopr.com, or their Facebook fan page: https://www.facebook.com/EWOTuAlternativa?ref=br_tf.

Jose Perez can be contacted for comments and/or feedback at josepwinsider@gmail.com

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