Look, the fact is - Samoa is overrated.
The Rock is probably your leading candidate, and I'll give it to you, his list of credentials speak for themselves. I don't even need to list them out.
The best two remaining are Umaga and Samoa Joe.
Samoa Joe, now, is an incredible wrestler, but let's face facts - he'd be lucky to stack up with any one giant of another nation, let alone carry a team against five of them. He's great, sure, but he's young, and hasn't got the popularity, experience, or list of accomplishments to take out anyone of any worth in another nation.
Much of the same goes for Umaga, except even moreso. He's only got one truly great match that the rest of his career survives off, and otherwise, well, just about nothing.
The rest of Team Samoa?
The Wild Samoans, but your biggest problem there are that neither of them actually stack up on their own, which would be an issue. Assuming they can be a tag team force, I mean, they present a threat - they are a great old school tag team, at any rate, but they don't bring much value to the table, at the end of the day. They're a debatable matchup against any other worthy tag team, and either Afa or Sika are a pushover on their own.
You've got Rosey...*snort*. Moving on.
You don't even get to count Yokozuna.
You can bring the Headshrinkers in, but they're a far worse tag team than the Wild Samoans, so you basically get all the same problems, but amplifies ten times.
Pretty much the same for the Islanders as you get for the other two, but even worse.
Then there's Rikishi, who was entertaining, and a fun part of his day, but when you consider an international contest of the greatest - he's laughable.
There's a few more random Samoans, but really, they're all useless, so why bother?
The basic point I'm getting at is this: This would be Team Samoa:
The Rock, Samoa Joe, Umaga, and The Wild Samoans.
I mean, the Rock stands out, but his support, basically, sucks. This team would be crushed.
Now, Team Puerto Rico, on the other hand.
For starters, as a possible team Captain, how about Pedro Morales? The WWF's first ever Triple Crown Champion, a beloved world champion, and one of the most over faces of his day - behind only Sammartino, and at times, possible surpassing him. He had one of the most legendary matches ever at Showdown at Shea, when he wrestled Sammartino to a draw. He then became largely responsible for putting the Intercontinental title on the map, during his reign as champ. He's highly accomplished, got a list of titles and great matches, and in terms of actual wrestling ability - he's got it up the wazoo. He could beat any Team Samoa on his own.
Next, Carlos Colon - a total and complete Puerto Rican legend. He's the head of the most well known Puerto Rican promotion, the WWC, which is at the forefront of Puerto Rico's huge wrestling history. He can run the gamut of styles - whether an old school great (see his matches with Flair) or hardcore - see his matches with Abdullah the Butcher. He's a former NWA Champion and he's held a ridiculous amount of titles in the WWC. He's got a collection of awesome matches in Puerto Rico, and is a true wrestling great.
How's about Konnan? He's an international legend. A AAA and CMLL champion, he main evented one of the most legendary AAA shows ever - TripleMania I, as well as a famous AAA PPV, When Worlds Collide. He is, essentially, a AAA and Mexican wrestling legend. He is the Mexican Hulk Hogan. He was a significant part of WCW back in the day, and later, in TNA, founded and led two of TNA's most important stables - the 3Live Kru and, more importantly, LAX. I daresay his success in the leadership of LAX is responsible for Hernandez's current success. Konnan is a brilliantly charismatic talent, and international mega-star, a Mexican legend, and a wonderful wrestler. And he's Puerto Rican.
The rest of the team could go two ways.
One is Thunder and Lightning. They're an incredibly successful and talented tag team that has stayed mostly in Puerto Rico, where they're 26 time world tag team champions - the Team 3D of Puerto Rico.
Alternatively:
Ricky Banderas, an IWA legend as El Mesias, currently a major part of AAA, and part of TNA for a memorable feud with Abyss. Joining him in this arrangement would be Savio Vega, who is well known for his WWE stint that saw Stone Cold Steve Austin's first great feud, and also has loads of Puerto Rican and Mexican credentials under his belt.
The fact is, Team Puerto Rico - Pedro Morales, Carlos Colon, Konnan, and either Thunder and Lightning or Banderas and Vega - has 3 mega-stars and two strong supporters, compared to Team Samoa - a team that's made up of one mega star, sure, but who would be taken down against any strong front, and pretty weak support. Team Samoa is built on one man - the Rock. Team Puerto Rico is built strong all around. The choice should be clear.
