Caribbean King

Carlos Colon

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

WWE announced on Friday Night SmackDown! that legendary Puerto Rican star Carlos Colon is joining the Ultimate Warrior, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, Lita, and Paul Bearer in the Hall of Fame Class of 2014.  Colon is a deserving inductee, who is still considered a wrestling god on his native island.

Brody gnaws away

Growing up in the midwest, we didn't get Colon's World Wrestling Council program.  But I remember reading about him in all the wrestling magazines I could get my hands on.  There would be full color spreads of him battling Abdullah the Butcher, Bruiser Brody, and Ric Flair.  Each time, Carlos was bleeding like a stuck pig.  One magazine photo still burned in my brain featured Colon vs. Abdullah with barbed wire ropes.  I can't find it online and my magazine collection is way to large to go through and find today.  The guy was tough as a two dollar steak (thanks JR) and had dozens of scars to prove it.  By the looks of his forehead his scars even have scars.

Action figures

In the mid 80s, the AWA came up with a line of action figures to compete with the WWF's line of LJN figures.  Their guys were smaller, but poseable.  They reminded me of the Masters of the Universe toys, only smaller.  The company behind the wrestlers released a two pack of Abdullah and Carlos.  I remember using a tube of fake blood to smear across both their heads when they'd wrestle.  The cloth ring cover was soaked in that blood as it looked like real wars happened there.

1993 Royal Rumble
Photo courtesy: WWE

I remember him doing some work in the AWA, at least I think it was.  Then there was also the 1993 Royal Rumble. I believe that was the one and only time Carlos wrestled for the WWF/E.  He was one of the surprise entrants (at least I think he was unannounced).  It was nice to see someone I had read so much about and only actually wrestle a few times, appear on the big stage of the WWF.  

Now of course, Carlos' two sons Carlito and Primo are household names in the wrestling world, having held the WWE tag team titles.  Rumor has it Carlito will be one of the inductors for his father next month in New Orleans. It'll be good to see him again and hear more about the legendary career of Carlos Colon.