Las Vegas Weekly

Q&A with wrestler/comedian Colt Cabana

Turns out stand up is a lot like pro wrestling

Out of the ring, behind the mic: Colt Cabana.

When you think about it, men in spandex pretending to beat each other up are pretty funny. Perhaps professional wrestling isn’t that far of a leap from the world of stand up comedy.

This Saturday at The Las Vegas Hilton, Total Extreme Comedy presents a slew of hilarious pro wrestlers taking a turn at the mic in the name of charity.

To raise funds for Best Buddies, an organization that creates opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, pro wrestlers Mick Foley, Bruce “Brother Love” Pritchard and Colt “Boom Boom” Cabana will do their best to make you laugh without smashing chairs over anybody’s head.

Colt Cabana, a pro wrestling vet from the WWE and the Ring of Honor promotion, spoke to the Weekly about his hard knocks in the ring and what he’s looking forward to eating on Super Bowl Sunday.

Is Ring of Honor staged and scripted like the WWE?

It’s professional wrestling one hundred percent, yes. But instead of being based off of theatrics, a lot of it is based off of athletics.

Even if it’s choreographed action, have you ever gotten really hurt as a pro wrestler?

Constantly. I’ve blown out both shoulders. I’ve messed up both my MCLs in my knees; I’ve torn my quad; I’ve broken fingers; I’ve chipped teeth. You name it, I’ve done it. It’s very physical, the world of wrestling. That’s the profession I chose to do and it’s what I love to do so it’s well worth it.

What was it like wrestling on TV when you were in the WWE?

It was nice because that was kind of the big dog of the world of wrestling, and it’s nice that when you set out to do something, you eventually make it to the top. My parents were very proud of me, and my friends who laughed at me when I was 18 years old wrestling in armories, now I’m wrestling in arenas. Now that I’m not with them, I’m just happy to be a professional wrestler in life, but the WWE was a good experience and I’m glad I have it under my belt.

How did you first get into comedy?

When I wrestle, my style of wrestling is actually pretty comedic and outgoing. I know I told you that Ring of Honor is a lot more athletic but I have kind of a hybrid of comedy and humorous wrestling along with the athletic wrestling. A promoter who had gotten Mick Foley, another comedic wrestler, to do a comedy show asked me if I would do 10 minutes at the start of the show and I said sure. We did the show at the very famous Hollywood Improv and it went over great. It was a big success. It was so successful that we’ve been booking it out as a tour and I’ve been working on my comedy as much as my wrestling now. I have such a blast doing it.

What can guests expect from your show at The Las Vegas Hilton?

Something like this doesn’t come along very often. … I’ve been wrestling for over a decade now. It’s really an opportunity to see us in a different light, so expect a lot of wrestling humor, but expect a lot of intimacy. People see us in the ring with all the dramatics, then you wonder what’s going on outside of the ring. We’ll be on stage telling our personal stories and our personal jokes.

Will you be watching the Super Bowl here or flying home after your gig? Do you have any favorites Super Bowl snacks that you’re looking forward to?

I’m going to attempt to fly back in time. Seeing as my name is Colt and one of my best friends used to play for the Colts, I am pulling for them. And I love food. I’m a big guacamole fan so I’m looking forward to chips and guac, cheesy poofs, anything fried and delicious. I know I’m an athlete, but Halloween and Super Bowl, you’re just allowed to eat a bunch of junk.