Puerto Rico’s landscape continues to stay in flux as the newly created Latin American Wrestling Entertainment is reported to have failed its attempt at purchasing the near 50-year-old legendary territory of the island, World Wrestling Council. It is already showing a massive crack as the very family that started it “revolutionize” the business opts to leave it at the very first sign of trouble.
This past Friday, August 20, LAWE published a video on their YouTube page where the daughter of WWE Hall Of Famer Carlos Colon and the company’s then CEO, Stacy Colon, announced on all social media there would be a press conference on August 23. That was this past Monday. The day before, a select few were sent an email announcing the press conference had been postponed until further notice.
At first, my personal belief was the press conference was being held back purely because of logistical issues. The plans for LAWE’s first event to be on October 2 had been in the works since the company was first announced in early July. This was mentioned by some of the wrestlers slated to appear for the company already, as well as some associates. However in early August, WWE added a house show date to their touring schedule on the island of Puerto Rico and it happens to be none other than October 2 in Puerto Rico’s largest indoor venue, the Jose Miguel Agrelot Coliseum. It’s the shortest window for WWE announcing an event here that I can remember. It makes sense that it would put a damper on LAWE’s plans if it truly was their scheduled debut date. I’ve even wondered if the WWE event was actually more orchestrated than it seemed. A relationship between Vince McMahon and the Puerto Rico territory has always existed. Since it’s inception years ago, WWC has had the permission to forego WWE talent’s 90 day no-compete clauses as well as have WWE contracted talent work against TNA & ROH contracted talent.
However, it was bizarre that a press conference that was so publicly announced was so quietly canceled. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire as not long after, several folks approached me with the word that LAWE had failed to purchase WWC. What reinforced this is that several wrestlers have been contacted by WWC specifically to work for them. Weeks ago, the Facebook page Wrestling DOM confirmed that WWC/its president Victor Jovica had secured a 2 year guaranteed contract for their Saturday time-slot on Wapa TV. LAWE’s presumed plan was to buy out the company along with said contract and timeslot. That is no longer the case.
Colons Exit LAWE
Just one day after the rumor spread, LAWE announced they would make an announcement. Later in the day, it was formally announced that Stacy, Orlando & Eddie Colón would be effectively leaving LAWE, leaving a promoter by the name of Jaime Vazquez, with ties to the Florida scene, as the active CEO. Behind the scenes, it was also whispered to me that Gilbert, WWC’s Universal Champion and one of LAWE’s announced signings, was going back to WWC. LAWE’s contracts, as explained, was that talent signed are allowed to work WWC, LAWE, and any non-Puerto Rican promotion. So he may still fulfill whatever commitment he has with LAWE. If they ever do run a show, that is. Their press release does state an event titled “LAWE: Origenes” (LAWE: Origins) is in the works. However all that has happened between the Colón family, all the rumors circulating and this final move, have all left a very bad taste in fans mouths.
As things stand, WWC does plan to resume production of first-run content. In fact, they’re slated to begin new episodes this coming Saturday and Sunday with a new production team headed by Lucha Libre America & World Wrestling League producer Hector Frodo Cabán. New commentators are likely to be introduced. WWC’s former team composed of host and commentator Luis Toledo, color commentator El Wizard and their editor have jumped to the IWA recently, which in the midst of the LAWE debacle left many wondering how WWC was going to continue. But now that question has been answered and the nearly 50-year-old company, yet again, has managed to slip past near-certain doom to renew its position as Puerto Rico’s most well-known and established promotion.
