the-colony.jpg

The Colony, Green Ant and Fire Ant, will participate in National Pro Wrestling Day at the Charles Chrin Community Center in Palmer Township on Saturday.

(COURTESY PHOTO)

If you're looking for high-flying family fun this weekend, stop by the Charles Chrin Community Center.

National Pro Wrestling Day will bring an eclectic mix of regional talent to Palmer Township on Saturday.

Colt Cabana formerly wrestled in the WWE.

If you need further incentive to check it out, here are two reasons: It's free and it's for a good cause.

Event organizer Mike Quackenbush wants to raise awareness for the Against Malaria Foundation, a charity that provides long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets in developing countries.

"Our mission is to prove that pro wrestling can have a positive impact on the world," Quackenbush said. "Some people might look down their noses at our performance art. We hope to change their minds."

The event will feature a mixture of local part-time pros as well as full-time entertainers such as Colt Cabana, who landed a contract with the elite World Wrestling Entertainment in 2007. After being released from his contract, he started touring on local circuits and found there were enough matches so that pro wrestling could be his full-time job.

"This has been a passion of mine since I was a kid," said Cabana. "It's the only thing I ever wanted to do."

After the Saturday event he'll head out on a worldwide tour that includes London and India. He'll be joined in Palmer Township by former World Wrestling Entertainment diva Maria Kanellis.

Despite the WWE connections, Quackenbush promises a departure from WWE theatrics at the National Pro Wrestling Day and at events involving his outfit, The Chikara Wrestle Factory in Huntingdon Valley, Pa.

"WWE could be called a male soap opera. What we do is more akin to a comic book come to life," he said.

Quackenbush, a former pro wrestler, trained many of the people performing Saturday. He incorporates international styles at his events.

"We embrace Mexican Lucha Libre wrestling," Quackenbush said. "It's more acrobatic, it has more costumes. We are a step closer to Cirque du Soleil than what you might see on 'Monday Night Raw.'"

When asked what his plans were for his upcoming opponent on Saturday, you might expect Colt Cabana to unleash a macho display of bravado.

Instead, he said plainly, "I look forward to a good match."

"We put on these events with the entire family in mind," said Quackenbush. "It's definitely fun for all ages."

But don't expect a tea party either. Cabana is known for his devastating finishing move, "The Billy Goat's Curse," which twists his foe like a pretzel until they cry for mercy.

***

IF YOU GO

The doors open at noon for the 1 p.m. show at the Chrin Center, 4100 Green Pond Road, Palmer Township.

You are encouraged to arrive early if you want seats close to the action. Donations may be made in cash the day of the event or online ahead of time. For information, visit nationalprowrestlingday.com.

Wrestlers you can expect to see: the Lithuanian Snow Troll, the Latvian Proud Oak, the Estonian ThunderFrog, the Proletariat Boar of Moldova, Brown Morning of Belarus, Mr. Azerbaijan, Los Ice Creams (Ice Cream Jr. and El Hijo del Ice Cream), The Colony (Fire Ant and Green Ant), Hallowicked.