Proof positive that theres life before and after WWE, cult indie wrestling star Scott Colt Cabana Colton has made a name for himself for the last few years without the regular high profile exposure of Monday Night RAW to shortcut his way to the hearts of wrestling fans around the world. His weekly podcast The Art Of Wrestling is the template for every wrestling podcast thats popped up in the last couple of years, inspiring everyone from Stone Cold Steve Austin to Jim Ross to Chris Jericho. In late 2012, Colton was hospitalised for nearly a week after suffering what he calls the worst pain Ive ever felt in my own life, although were not sure whose other lives hes experienced to draw a comparison to. Doctors gravely informed him that unless he received immediate surgery, he could face the amputation of his right arm. The horrifying in-ring injury that caused this kerfuffle? Cabana suffered a tiny cut on the ring finger of his right hand while touring Australia that became infected probably through contact with a filthy ring canvas and caused the digit to swell to several times its normal size. Given his less-than-wealthy status, Colton attempted to flush it out himself before going to the hospital, because insurance is expensive and severe infection and horrifying inflammation always responds well to tweezers and hot water. Despite or probably, because of the minor nature of the initial injury, as soon as the story broke a wave of public support (and affectionate mocking) swept social media, #SaveColtsFinger trending in the USA as people posted amusing images under the hashtag all over Twitter and Instagram. The man whos made a career out of forcibly removing the urine from himself and his industry was, of course, 100% behind having become a comedy meme, even if only for a few days:
It seems fitting for me. I mean, if Colt Cabana is going to go down with an injury, then a freaky hole in the finger seems like an appropriate one. I think the silliness that I bring to the world of wrestling goes hand-in-hand or, I guess, finger-in-finger with something as weird and random as this injury.
Also, Sin Cara? The man still managed to get his podcast out on time, despite being on a drip in a hospital bed for the entire week. Hows your finger?
Professional writer, punk werewolf and nesting place for starfish. Obsessed with squid, spirals and story. I publish short weird fiction online at desincarne.com, and tweet nonsense under the name Jack The Bodiless. You can follow me all you like, just don't touch my stuff.
