Marella, Cabana or Young?

[The Scarred One]

The subject of this thread is pretty much like the title suggests: who do you prefer when it comes to comedic wrestling? Santino Marella from WWE, Colt Cabana from the independents or Eric Young from TNA?

These three men stick out to me as being the most notable when it comes to bringing comedy into the mix. Although they are known for their humor, they can also wrestle and hold their own.

1) Santino Marella came into prominence as a plucky Italian immigrant who defeated "The Samoan Bulldozer" Umaga and won the Intercontinental Championship in his first WWE match back in 2007. Before that, he wrestled in Ohio Valley Wrestling, the WWE's developemental territory at the time, as Boris Alexiev, a Russian shootfighter. He was also known for being the wrestler that Jim Cornette slapped that cost him his job. Marella got called up to portray a Rocky Balboa-esque face, only to slowly turn into a heel not long after debuting. After he got over enough, he reverted back to a face and has remained popular ever since. His championship accolades include being a two-time Intercontinental Champion and a former WWE Tag Team Champion with Vladimir Kozlov.

2) Colt Cabana came into prominence in Ring of Honor as a member of the Second City Saints, alongside CM Punk and Ace Steel. After experiencing success as a tag team with Punk, Cabana struck out on his own when his best friend signed with the WWE in 2005. Before he signed with the WWE himself in 2007, Cabana competed in high-profile feuds with Homicide and Bryan Danielson and wrestled in Europe, Mexico, Japan and Austrailia. After spending more than a year in Ohio Valley Wrestling and Florida Championship Wrestling, Cabana got called up to SmackDown as Scotty Goldman in August 2008. Despite having his own show on WWE.com at the time, he was released in February 2009. Cabana returned to the independent circuit where he remains a popular attraction to this day. Last year, there were rumblings of his returning to WWE due to Punk's newfound stroke within the company but nothing has come of it. His championship accolades include being a former NWA World Heavyweight Champion and a two-time ROH Tag Team Champion with Punk.

3) Eric Young came into prominence in TNA as a member of Team Canada, alongside the likes of Petey Williams, Bobby Roode and Johnny Devine. Before that, he competed as a jobber in WWE but nothing came out of it. As a member of Team Canada, Young feuded with the likes of 3 Live Kru and America's Most Wanted. Not long after, Young adopted a new highly paranoid character who was afraid of anybody and anything and slowly transitioned into a face. While as a face, he adopted personas such as "Don't Fire" Eric Young and Super Eric. In 2008, Young transitioned into a more serious wrestler with stints with the TNA Frontline, World Elite and the Band. In 2010, Young reverted back to a comedic face following a bump on the head and has remained so ever since. His championship accolades include being a former TNA Legends/Global/Television Champion, a former TNA X-Division Champion, a two-time TNA Tag Team Champion with Kazarian and the Band and a two-time NWA Tag Team Champion with Bobby Roode.

So when it comes to comedic wrestling, who do you guys prefer?

 

[Police Penis Sucking Goat Fucker]

No doubt about it Colt Cabana he is one of the most enetertaining and also amzing talant in the ring. He is always funny and can put on a great match. I don't get what the hell was wrong with WWE they had Colt Cabana but instead they make him Scotty Goldman which was terrible. Colt Cabana is someone who really deserves to be in the WWE he is better than a lot of there active roster. My problem with Santino is that WWE makes him to much like a goofball. I feel they try to much for the fans to laugh at him rather than laugh with him

 

[Paralyzer Z]

Eric Young without a doubt steals this one for me. I can't comment on Cabana but I can on Santino.

Young is a much better in ring competitor than Santino, and there is not much of an arguer that you can put against that. While some matches my be purely comedy at least Young is able to transition between serious and goofy rather feasibly. Santino is just a guy that I can't take serious for a second, but that's okay I'm not supposed to take him serious it just meant that he is doing a good job. EY however does a better job, whether he is leading World Elite, or being Super Eric I don't recall seeing him in any role he has failed in. I also enjoy the outside skits he does randomly, Santino comes off as a tad bit annoying since when you know he comes out, it's going to be a squash match of a filler. Young isn't a jobber (most of the time) and overall is more entertaining to me.

Young can play many roles and make them comedic if he wishes, thus I find him to be a better comedy wrestler.

 

[Monkey_Mania]

Can I say all three? I mean they've all perfected the role of the comedic wrestler. Plus each of them have enough depth to become an interesting heel too. It just depends on the day for me. Some days I don't prefer any of them, and then some days I just prefer Santino. Its a weird place inside my head.

 

[Hollywood Naitch]

Well, I don't find Eric Young in the slightest bit entertaining, so that rules him out. In fact, I put Impact on mute whenever Young is on screen, or look away as I dislike watching him that much. He isn't funny and never has been.

Santino does bring a smile to my face, sometimes. Not a huge fan, but he does do his role well and as long as he is kept away from any major matches or championship reigns then he is alright by me.

I have seen less of Colt Cabana than I have of the other 2, but I like what I have seen. He is a very capable wrestler, and does the comedy aspect of his character really well. I would definitely like to see him perform on a larger stage as Colt Cabana, not as the shitty Scotty Goldman, where he wasnt given a fair shot.

 

[Hulk Hogan's Brother]

The only one among the three that I feel is better off playing a comedic figure than any other role is Marella. Sure he was a solid and a funny heel as a Honky Tonky Man impersonator but in that role, he can at best be a midcard heel, which isn't really a novelty these days. A fun babyface is a novelty however and Santino is the cult figure of this era like say Val Venis was of an earlier era. Some of my favorite segments of the PG era have involved Santino, like the tea party in England with Sheamus. I seriously thought that Sheamus should be commended for not bursting into laughter during that segment.

Colt Cabana is a very good wrestler and he can still be a World Champion in either TNA or even WWE if things work out for him. I would say that he is a bit too good to be remembered as just a comedy figure in wrestling. Eric Young is someone who has never really struck a cord with me as a comedian and someone who I preffered in a serious gimmick, like the leader of the World Elite or even when he was taking on the band. He had some great promos as the leader of the World Elite Group. Seriously how is that any worse from making sporadic appearances as a mentally challenged guy?

 

[Dagger Dias]

It's an easy choice for me, and that would be Santino!

Santino is the best comedic wrestler of the three. Everything he does is hilarious, and he has been portrayed as a joke to perfection. He could not be taken seriously in a more serious role, so they tried the comedy routine and it fit him perfectly. The rest is history. You know that you are in for something extremely funny anytime you hear Santino's entrance theme or see him in a segment backstage. If he has a match, you know he's likely to get beaten within seconds and/or do something silly like The Cobra. If he has a mic, a promo that has me laughing always follows. I can't quite say the same for Cabana. I don't watch ROH but from what I have seen of him, he's hardly a comedian like Santino, and can be taken seriously unlike Young. He's a wrestler who is great at what he does in the ring.

Then we have Eric Young. I have stated in numerous threads that I destest his character. He's not funny whatsoever. TNA have tried too hard to make fans accept him as a comedic character. He's the exact opposite of Santino. While Santino failed in a serious role but found success as a comedian, Young went from a rising heel in World Elite to an unfunny joke. It got to the point where I refuse to watch any segment or match that he's in. TNA have got to realize that it's just not funny. He is not Santino and he never will be, let the man do what he does best, be a heel wrestler.

 

[Little Jerry Lawler]

I have never found anything remotely interesting or funny about Santino. I'm sorry but he just annoys the hell out of me. Give me Eric Young all day and all night. I'm probably one of the few who loved his exploits with the TV Title. Everybody said that the TV Title was a joke because of him but it was nothing anyway. The thing I like most about Young is that he can be comedic in the wrestling but he can really wrestle so he is underrated to me in that aspect. I don't get that from Santino. The next intriguing thing he does to me will be the first.

 

[shattered dreams]

It always surprises me that people will absolutely hate one of Santino and EY and love the other. I guess there is an element of taste to any comedy but I think both guys are funny. EY does incorporate his comedy into a match better than Santino but comedy gimmicks shouldn't really be judged by the pure wrestling quality of the matches. I don't know anything about Colt Cabana other than CM Punk likes to say his name. I'd love to see a Santino - EY feud.

 

[TheOneTheyCallOn]

I cannot comment on Cabana not having seen much of him (I would like to though).

Santino: At first I simply did not like him, especially giving Umaga his first loss (I'm still an Umaga fan) and I just didn't think he worked well in WWE at all. Since then he has become more of the 'joke' character as he is now and you know what? I'm actually digging it, he has made me laugh on more than one occasion plus I feel like I can get behind him. Here is the draw back with Santino however, his in ring skills, in my opinion are lacking which takes away from his effectiveness as a comical wrestling character.

Eric Young: Love EY ever since the whole 'don't fire eric' story line, Super Eric was also gold to me. I wouldn't necessarily call him a comedy character though. I mean he has been doing some wacky stuff lately but not too long ago he was the global champ, had his own faction etc.

So bottom line, as far as pure comedy wrestling i'll pick Santino for a 'comedic' style character with skills i'll give it to EY, hmm that pretty much makes it a tie for me.