Carlos Colón

2.1. Early Years and Various Gimmicks (1966-1973)

Colón made his professional wrestling debut on February 16, 1966, in Boston, Massachusetts, where he faced Hobo Brazil. He was paid 15 USD for his first match. Early in his career, Colón became an itinerant wrestler, competing in various eastern states of the United States and across Canada. He made several appearances in the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF), participating in one match in December 1967 and multiple bouts throughout 1968 and 1969. During this period, with Montreal serving as his primary residence, Colón faced notable heels such as Gorilla Monsoon, Kentucky Butcher, Bull Ramos, Baron Mikel Scicluna, Guillotine Gordon, Luke Graham, Bulldog Brower, Killer Kowalski, and Professor Tanaka. He also formed a notable Puerto Rican tag team with Victor Rivera.

During these formative years, Colón also adopted various ring names and gimmicks. He competed as 'Chief Black Eagle', portraying a black Indian character. Under this persona, he made his first appearance in Japan in July 1971, wrestling for International Wrestling. He later returned to Japan in February 1976, fighting as 'Carlos Corran' and challenging for the IWA World Tag Team Championship with Killer Tooru Kamata against Great Kusatsu and Mighty Inoue. In August 1979, he also debuted in All Japan Pro Wrestling as part of the Black Power stable with Abdullah the Butcher and Bobo Brazil, challenging for the All Asia Tag Team Championship with Brazil against the Gokudo Combi (Great Kojika and Motoshi Okuma), and facing Mil Máscaras in a singles match at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium. Around the same time, while wrestling in Calgary for Stampede Wrestling under Stu Hart, he used the name 'Carlos Belafonte'. As Carlos Belafonte, he engaged in feuds with wrestlers such as Angus Campbell, Kurt Von Hess, Gil Hayes, and Killer Tooru Kamata.

2.2. Founding World Wrestling Council (WWC) and Rise to Prominence (1973-1993)

Feeling a strong desire to return home and recognizing a significant void in the Puerto Rican professional wrestling scene, Carlos Colón returned to Puerto Rico in 1973. There, he co-founded a promotional company called Capitol Sports Promotions, the precursor to the World Wrestling Council (WWC), alongside Croatian-born wrestler Victor Jovica. The company quickly established a presence, airing wrestling television shows every Saturday and Sunday on WAPA-TV.

Colón became the organization's primary promoter and its top star, cementing his status as the "Emperor of Puerto Rico" in the wrestling world. He shared the spotlight with local talents like Barrabas, Black Georgie, and Miguel Pérez Sr. while also bringing in international stars such as the Argentine-born Rocca and Cuban-born Huracán Castillo. He was instrumental in the development of local talents such as Los Super Médicos, Los Invaders, and Chicky Starr. Capitol Sports Promotions also attracted major American wrestling stars, including Randy Savage, Ric Flair, Bruiser Brody, and Stan Hansen, to perform in Puerto Rico. Early in this era, Colón frequently challenged notable heels for the WWC North American Heavyweight and WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight titles, including Ernie Ladd, The Spoiler, Ox Baker, Killer Karl Kox, Mongolian Stomper, and Bulldog Don Kent.

A defining element of Colón's career was his long-standing feud with Abdullah the Butcher, which spanned almost two decades. Colón famously stated, "Eighty percent of the blood I've shed in the ring I've shed because of Abdullah," highlighting the intensity and brutality of their rivalry.

In July 1982, Colón became the second holder of the newly established WWC World Heavyweight Championship, which he won from Abdullah the Butcher. He also challenged other NWA World Heavyweight Champions who visited Puerto Rico, notably facing Harley Race on September 17, 1983. In January 1983, Colón achieved a significant victory over Ric Flair in a match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. However, this outcome was not officially recognized or broadcast on NWA television, with Flair regaining the belt in a phantom title change shortly after. Later that year, Colón suffered an injury requiring hospitalization after a match against Bruiser Brody. This incident garnered significant media attention, making the covers of mainstream newspapers like El Nuevo Día and El Vocero. Two weeks later, Colón defeated Brody in a rematch.

In December 1983, Capitol Sports Promotions initiated a feud between Colón and Flair, which included a skit where Flair, as the NWA champion, criticized Capitol's local title, asserting his NWA belt was the only "real world championship". This led to a steel cage match on December 18, 1983, in Bayamón, to determine the "undisputed champion of the Universe". Colón won the match cleanly, and as a result, the WWC World Heavyweight Championship was renamed the Universal Heavyweight Championship, establishing it as the WWC's flagship title. Flair later stated in interviews that the NWA title was not on the line for this match because he had vetoed an official unification proposal.

Colón continued to defend the Universal Heavyweight Championship against a variety of challengers, including Bruiser Brody, Stan Hansen, Tully Blanchard, Boris Zhukov, and Afa Anoa'i. In February 1985, he briefly lost the title to Dory Funk Jr. but regained it in June of the same year. After vacating the title due to injury in April 1986, he reclaimed it by defeating Terry Funk in a tournament final on September 21. By 1999, including its predecessor, the WWC World Heavyweight Championship, Colón had held the Universal Heavyweight Championship a record 26 times. He also won the WWC Television Championship in August 1988 by defeating Ron Starr and again in March 1989 by defeating Karl Moffat.

Colón's association with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) grew in the 1990s through the mediation of his old friend, Gorilla Monsoon. This partnership led to Colón's one-night return to the WWF on January 24, 1993, where he made an appearance in the Royal Rumble match. He was also instrumental in booking other WWC talents, such as Savio Vega and Miguel Pérez Jr., into the WWF. Following this, he decided to temporarily retire from active competition to focus on training his sons, Carly and Eddie, who were embarking on their own wrestling careers.

2.3. Later Career, WWE Appearances, and Retirement (1993-Present)

After the 1990s, Carlos Colón continued to be actively involved with WWC, although his in-ring appearances became less frequent as he focused on promoting. Throughout the 1990s, he continued to defend the Universal Heavyweight Championship against a new generation of challengers, including Dick Murdoch, Greg Valentine, and Mabel. He transferred the role of WWC's ace to his son, Carly Colón (Carlito). Despite this shift, Colón ventured into the hardcore wrestling scene in the 2000s, becoming the inaugural WWC Hardcore Champion on January 6, 2001, by winning a triple threat match against Abdullah the Butcher and One Man Gang.

Colón also made sporadic appearances on WWE (formerly WWF) programming, particularly when his sons were performing for the company. On August 26, 2005, he appeared as a guest on "Carlito's Cabana" during a WWE Raw event held in Puerto Rico. He was also seen in the audience cheering for his son Carlito during the September 11, 2006, episode of Raw at Madison Square Garden. Colón played a role in negotiating a deal for his other son, Eddie Colón (Primo), to join WWE. He appeared on the December 24, 2009, episode of WWE Superstars to support Eddie.

Colón officially announced his retirement from active competition during Aniversario 2008, an event held at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum on July 19, 2008. However, this retirement proved to be short-lived. He returned to the ring on September 8, 2012, defeating Félix "Barrabás" López. This comeback led to several storylines within WWC. When his son Carly Colón turned on him and took control of a heel faction, Carlos Colón teamed with Gilbert Cruz and Ray González in a three-on-three match against Carly, López, and Germán Figueroa, but his team was defeated.

In February 2013, Colón faced Savio Vega in a match for WWC's ownership, which he lost. This intensified into a feud with the heel faction, coinciding with a legal battle over the promotion's ownership. Colón eventually defeated José Huertas González to regain control of WWC but lost a rematch the following month. At Aniversario 2013, he teamed with his daughter Stacy Colón to defeat José Huertas González and "La Tigresa" Soldelina Vargas. Colón then announced another brief retirement. He returned at Lockout 2013, resuming his feud with Huertas González in an ambulance match, which he lost. Their rivalry concluded with a no-contest at Euphoria 2014.

Rumors of Colón's potential induction into the WWE Hall of Fame began circulating in late 2011. While expressing excitement at the prospect of joining Pedro Morales, he initially dismissed the rumors, stating that WWE had not formally contacted him. The 2012 class did not include him, but the following year, his sons Eddie and Carly, along with his nephew Orlando, publicly voiced their support for his induction. On March 11, 2014, Colón was officially announced as part of the 2014 WWE Hall of Fame class, alongside The Ultimate Warrior, Jake Roberts, Lita, Paul Bearer, and Mr. T. He described it as the "realization of a dream" and admitted he had begun to doubt it would ever happen. Colón was inducted by his sons Eddie and Carly, and his nephew Orlando, at the official ceremony held at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. He became the third Puerto Rican to be inducted, following Pedro Morales and New York-born Johnny Rodz.

Following his WWE Hall of Fame induction, WWC organized a series of tributes. The first was a private ceremony with his immediate family. A more formal public ceremony took place on March 30, 2014, which included a segment where his long-time rival Chicky Starr participated in a skit, expressing his respect and symbolically ending their animosity. WWC then announced a Puerto Rico-wide tour titled "La Despedida de Carlitos Colón" (Carlitos Colón's Farewell), intended to mark his definitive retirement from professional wrestling.

5.1. Accolades and Influence

Colón's significant contributions to professional wrestling have earned him numerous accolades and widespread recognition. In 2014, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, and the following year, into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame.

In 2023, when Colón was nominated for induction into the Puerto Rican Sports Hall of Fame (Pabellón de la Fama del Deporte Puertorriqueño), his inclusion received considerable support from athletes across various sports. Notable figures such as baseball player Yadier Molina, judo Panamerican champion Luis Martínez, basketball players Julio Toro and Ricardo Dalmau, and Olympic medalist Jaime Espinal advocated for his induction. These athletes justified their support by emphasizing that while professional wrestling matches are predetermined, the sport still demands immense physical exertion, conditioning, general athleticism, and a foundational understanding of grappling. Basketball coach Wilhelmus Caanen likened Colón to "Tito Trinidad before Tito Trinidad," drawing a parallel to former boxing world champion Félix Trinidad, whose victories often sparked spontaneous mass celebrations in Puerto Rico during the 1990s and early 2000s. Fellow coach Allans Colón described Carlos Colón as "an institution in [Puerto Rico]" and the definitive local authority on professional wrestling, underscoring his unparalleled influence on the sport in the region and subsequent generations of wrestlers.

5.2. Criticism and Controversies

Despite his significant achievements and popularity, Carlos Colón's career has faced criticism and controversies, most notably concerning his involvement and testimony in the 1988 killing of Bruiser Brody.

The circumstances surrounding Brody's death, particularly Colón's testimony in defense of José González (who killed Brody) and Colón's decision to continue employing González within WWC for many years thereafter, have been a persistent point of contention. Critics have raised concerns about the perceived lack of accountability and justice in the case. The decision to retain González, despite his culpability in Brody's death, fueled criticism and pushed social debates regarding ethical responsibility within the wrestling industry and Colón's own role as a promoter and family patriarch. These aspects of his legacy remain a sensitive and controversial topic, with many questioning the extent to which justice was served and the implications for the treatment of talent within professional wrestling promotions.