INTERNATIONAL WRESTLING CARTEL

INTERROGATION
"CLASSIC" COLT CABANA

by Joe Dombrowski
IWC Color Commentator / Media Correspondent

Q: Colt Cabana, you continue to stand tall, and you reign as champion in arguably the most competitive division in the business today, so much so that it almost seems impossible sometimes to find one clear-cut contender that deserves it more than so many others. What's your assessment of the Super Indy division as a whole?

A: The Super Indy Division is very competitive and very unique in the modern day of pro-wrestling. I'm very proud to be the Super Indy Champion and the holder of such a honorable belt. I'm at the top right now and there's all these great talents that are trying to get at me and my belt. I feel like the middle candle of a menorah. All the other candles are lit and are on both sides of me. They're so close to becoming that middle candle, but they're not quite there. I am. I'm the middle candle of that menorah and I'm the IWC Super Indy Champion!

Q: One man who has been closest to your "middle candle in the menorah" so to speak has been arguably the fastest rising star in professional wrestling today: "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles. You two first met in an IWC ring over one year ago: November 17, 2002: The biggest challenge of your IWC Championship reign. How did it feel to hang with, and defeat. someone as critically acclaimed as Styles?

A: You should ask AJ Styles how it felt to hang with the IWC Heavywieght Champ. At the time, he was a rookie to IWC and was entering my home turf. He put up a good fight, but the big dog was hungry that night and AJ Styles was my Kibble and Bits.

Q: Styles indeed was unable to defeat you but 5 months later he was able to end Super Hentai's record-setting Super Indy Title reign by pinning him last spring. Just weeks later, it was time for Super Indy Title Tournament 2 and, since Styles was unable to appear due to a prior commitment, he had no alternative than to forfeit the championship. Obviously, you ended up winning the tournament and the championship. Reflect back upon that historic night and what was going through your mind at that point.

A: It was really historic. The tournament was loaded and the Cabanaboy had to bring his A game. Not his B, C, D, or LMNOP game, but his A game. It was a crowning achievement to win the Super Indy II tournament and the Super Indy belt. I faced three rough and tough wrestlers in Super Hentai, Sterling James Kennan, and Matt Stryker. On that night, fear was not an option in that dojo... The Dojo of the IWC.

Q: Did you ever have any doubts about your legitimacy as champion, considering you didn't win it from the previous champion?

A: That has been brought up. I don't doubt for a second that I'm a worthy champion. As the Heavywieght champion, I beat guys like Shirley Doe, Ikuto Hidaka, and Jimmy Vega$. As a Super Indy Champ, I've faced and beaten all kind of worthy opponents. I'm not only the Super Indy Champ, but I've contemplated renaming myself the "Super Duper Indy Champ."

Q: The jealousy in AJ built up for weeks and finally came out when he wrote a scathing letter addressed to the IWC offices, expressing his displeasure over not getting an immediate title shot, and insulting you, claiming you aren't a deserving champion and that was "his belt you're wearing." Did you expect this from him and how did you react when you saw it?

A: That's not very P.C. of him. I always thought AJ was a fun-loving, down-to-earth, peaceful man. I was way off on this one, though. He's like a little baby. If he wanted a shot, all he had to do was ask. I'm a fighting champ. Back in the third grade when I was Mrs. Erickson's class ping pong champion, I gave every single person in that classroom an opportunity to beat me. Obviously, Colt Cabana's still your third grade ping pong champ.

Q: Finally ,the match had been set and just a couple short months ago, the first Cabana/Styles match for the Super Indy Title was scheduled. What was going through your mind in the hours leading up to the match, especially when AJ Styles interrupted your interview segment, resulting in a hellacious pull-apart brawl?

A: I knew it was going to be one of the toughest matches of my life. AJ is one of the best wrestlers out there and he is very deserving to hold my IWC title. The thing is though, he isn't holding it, I am. I kept a very positive aura in those hours. My yoga and kung-chi helped me keep focus. I also was practicing the modern art of Filasheo, which is an old ancient Japanese secret to help find your inner self. My shidoshi, Nurse Joanne, is always willing to assist me.

Q: What were your thoughts on the actual match itself?

A: I was very proud of the match. It was great back-and-forth action. We both put our hearts and bodies on the line. It was anyones match.

Q: Due to the competitive nature of that contest, a 20-minute time limit had to be imposed to due time constraint reasons. Did it frustrate you when the match ended in a draw and the situation had still gone unresolved?

A: We went to a 20-minute time limit during that match. I did my job as champion. I had to not lose. If he wanted to be champion, he had to win. Plain as day.

Q: After the match, you tried to be the better man and extend your hand in a showing of respect, but AJ refused and stormed off angrily. Your comments on that?

A: He's just mad at the world. It ended in a draw, but I was still the better man because I was going home with the belt. He was jealous. There's not much you can do. It's not like I'm not going to give him another shot at the belt. That's just the kind of guy that I am. I'm a giver, not a taker.

Q: Based on his numerous successes in his career, do you think AJ is having a tough time coping with the idea of being #2 for a change, behind yourself?

A: AJ probably doesn't like the idea of not being the best. A wise man once said, "I don't want to be second, second sucks!" That great man was Bull Hurley and he lost to Lincoln Hawks in a huge over-the-top arm wrestling competition. This is what wrestling is. It's a competition. Second does suck, and it's a great that I'm the Champ and I'm on top of the world.

Q: As we all know now, AJ has been granted a rematch on IWC's biggest show to date: Friday, December 12 in Johnstown, PA. That show will have something for everyone. For the fans of the legends: Mick Foley, Jerry Lawler, and Dusty Rhodes. For the fans of the hardcore style: Raven and "The Franchise" Shane Douglas. And for the fans of the best in-ring performers in the business today: It's Cabana/Styles 2! What's your take on the show in general and also your match with Styles?

A: It's going to be one of the best shows in the Western Pennsylvania area's history. I really feel bad for whoever is not going to be there. It's one of those "be there or be square" kinda things. Johhnstown is going to see a plethera of unbelievable wrestling and I can't wait to take part of such an event.

Q: Will you approach the match any different than before from a strategy point of view?

A: I've done some dabbling with different strategy points. I've been practicing a lot of different styles and aspects of pro wrestling. If I was AJ Styles, I'd watch out because you never know when Colt Cabana will pull out Hamster Style. YOU NEVER KNOW!

Q: Finally, the big question: What's your prediction for December 12: Will "The Phenomenal One" become the first 2 time IWC Super Indy Champion in history or will "Cabanaramma" reign supreme?

A: Two men enter, one man leave!

Thank you for your time, good luck in Johnstown!