While I was in Puerto Rico, I had an agreement with the promoter. I was allowed to arrive at the matches thirty minutes late in Bayamon because I was captivated with a South American television show that was seen on Saturday nights in San Juan. Pampero Firpo stayed at the same hotel and watched it with me, explaining the history of the show. It seems that wrestling had died out in South America years before. Later, when television was being pioneered there, a local station scooped up the wrestlers and asked them if they'd do fifty two one-hour tapes using unusual characters. The filming took place in an arena about half the size of a normal national guard arena and was filled with kids, ages 7-11.
The wrestlers were characters such as The Three Musketeers, the lead being D'Artagnan. He came into the ring with a pointed beard, high boots, and a big hat with feathers, just as if he came off the screen into the ring. Another character was The Businessman, who had a secretary with a typewriter. (Ed. note: This is beginning to sound familiar!) There was The Caveman, dressed in fur and carrying a bone. The Cat Man, from head to toe like a leopard. He didn't walk up the stairs ... he leaped up onto the top turnbuckle, intertwining himself around the turnbuckles and ropes, playing with his long tail in the corner until the match began. He must have been a contortionist. The Mummy came out dragging his right leg and was completely covered with gauze tape. Each wrestler had his own theme music. The Shepherd Boy, looking like a young Sal Mineo in a monk's outfit, entered with three sheep to "Exodus" from "The Ten Commandments".
Then Firpo told me to pay close attention as a most unusual thing happened. The curtains opened up and they introduced The Invisible Man. The cameras slowly panned up to the ring, as if following someone. Pampero told me to watch the ropes. I saw the ropes part and two little impressions appeared on the mat in the corner as if someone was standing there. When the referee brought the wrestlers to the middle for instructions, I saw the feet shift to the middle. Of course, the Invisible Man won the match, and he kept winning every week, but in different manners. Finally, Pampero told me that the promoter ran a house show and they drew $40,000 to see the Super Hero take on the Invisible Man. And guess what? The Super Hero beat the Invisible Man with dropkicks, headlocks, bodyslams ... and finally placed one foot two inches above the ground as if he had it on someone's chest after he pinned him.
I think some of the wrestlers were whispering in Vince McMahon's ear.
