No LOLs Barred: Wrestlers Can Be Funny Too!

Professional wrestling often gets a bad wrap – dismissed as fake fighting for kids, where 'roided up jocks pretend to beat the handsome out of each other. But true fans know that the fun is in the detail: the characters created, the soapy feuds and quarrels that lead to the sweaty meat ballet that goes on in the wrestling ring.

It is the storylines that keep people coming back, and those performers that not only attempt death-defying feats on the biggest of stages and the most dangerous of cages but also perform what equates to solid crowd-work and a pinch of standup comedy. It's all about performance, and over the years there have been many greats who have entertained both inside the ring and outside on the mic.

One such champion of banter is William Regal. Citing vintage British comedy performers like Les Dawson, Mick Miller and the Carry On crew as his influences, Blackpool's finest went on to be part of countless vintage comedy moments in and around the squared circle. Currently touring with his show An Audience with a Wrestling Villain, he heads to Liverpool’s Baby Blue on 10 and 11 November, hosted by comedian and wrestling junkie Chris Brooker. Below, Brooker picks his favourite wrestling comedians. 

Kurt Angle 

At the end of 1999, the then WWF ran a series of vignettes hyping the arrival of Kurt Angle, the Olympic gold medalist. Fans rolled their eyes, bracing themselves for a tedious, super-serious athlete. As it turned out, Kurt was even more of a revelation outside the ring than inside it. Blessed with incredible comic timing, he was stealing every show he was a part of within months. The fatuous, dorky character blissfully unburdened by self awareness never failed to raise a smirk through his antics. Early highlights include his tirades on abstinence and self-discipline opposite The Godfather, his love triangle with Triple H and Stephanie McMahon, and his amazing backstage skits with Steve Austin and Vince McMahon. I challenge any fan from that era to remember the sight of Kurt in a tiny cowboy hat and keep a straight face.

Mick Foley

Bang bang! This WWE Hall of Famer made a name for himself initially by being wrestling's answer to Wile E. Coyote. Competing as Cactus Jack, the madman from New Mexico, he spent a worrying amount of time being cut open, blown up and thrown from a variety of heights. By his own admission it wasn't until he allowed his goofy, nerdy side to come to the fore that he reached the peak of his career. Whether as tongue-in-cheek heartthrob Dude Love or as loveable overachiever Mankind, Mrs Foley's baby boy was a genuine highlight of WWE at its peak. His odd-couple banter with future movie star Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson as part of the Rock 'n' Sock Connection broke viewing records. Even after his retirement from full-time competition he found a new niche for himself as the gavel-banging commissioner of WWE, frequently duelling wits with the likes of Edge & Christian, Triple H and Al Snow. Nowadays you'll catch Mick on the road with his comedy shows playing to packed houses and winning great critical acclaim along the way.

Colt Cabana

A name that devoted wrestling fans will be more than aware of, but one that might have slipped under the radar of casual viewers. Everyone owes it to themselves to seek out the work of Colt Cabana, not least of which is his fantastic Art of Wrestling podcast. The Chicago native cites British comedy wrestling legend Les Kellett as one of his greatest influences, paying tribute to him with many of his moves and mannerisms. A world traveller, this independent wrestling superstar is also a veteran of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, having played to packed houses alongside Brendon Burns as they provide commentary over a selection of appalling wrestling matches. Seen recently on BBC's Insane Fight Club documentary, he's also been part of a plethora of instant comedy classics alongside cult Scottish grappler Grado.