Webre fighting at charity show

It’s pretty well established that Craig Webre knows how to fight bad guys in the streets – he’s done that job for more than 20 years as the sheriff of Lafourche Parish.

But can he fight bad guys in a wrestling ring?

We’ll find that out in Chackbay in early March.

Believe it or not, the Lafourche sheriff is booked to compete in the main event of the Ninth-Annual Carnage for a Cure wrestling show, which will take place at 2 p.m. on March 9 at the Chackbay Fairgrounds.

The details for the card have not been finalized, but Webre supposedly will be squaring off against Bad Company members Stan Sweet Tan and Marty Graw in some form or fashion. Sweet Tan and Graw are “heels” – the wrestling term for bad guys, and it’s rumored that the sheriff is at odds with how Bad Company does business.

All of the proceeds for the show go to the American Cancer Society, and tickets are available on a first-come, first-serve basis on the day of the event.

“As I clicked the handcuffs when I was an officer and then I walked away from the jail cell as the door closed behind me, I always heard a challenge,” Webre said. “I always heard them tell me, ‘Why don’t you take the gun and the badge off.’ Well on March 9, that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to take the gun and the badge off and I’m going to compete and see how I stack up.”

“We’re excited to see how he mixes it up, and it’s obviously for a good cause, so that makes it even better,” event promoter Herman Matherne said. “Sheriff Webre has a good following in Lafourche and he has a good following in many other parishes, so his support is well needed and is going to help the cause tremendously.”

So the obvious question becomes – does Webre have chops in the ring?

Matherne said that he does. The promoter said that Webre has been undergoing in-ring training the past few weeks to get in shape for the big day.

Matherne said Webre has learned a lot and has proven to be a quick learned.

“He’s not as timid as you might think – I’ll put it to you like this: Don’t underestimate the guy,” Matherne said. “He got in there and he’s a natural. He mixes it up and did quite well. He surprised me, that’s for sure.”

Webre confirmed that he’s been doing some in-ring training, adding that the sport is tougher than it seems.

Webre said anyone who spends time in the ring will gain a new appreciation for the sport.

“Oh yeah, it’s harder than it seems,” Webre said. “I leave them some nights and wake up the next morning incredibly sore. Those are tremendously underrated athletes. Their sport is certainly very difficult.”

In addition to Webre’s appearance, Matherne said a who’s who of local competitors will also be on the card, including Scott Phoenix, Minotaur and many other regulars from Elite Championship Wrestling.

“Most all of those guys will be in the show in some form of fashion,” Matherne said.

But on this day, it’s all about the cause and raising much-needed money for cancer research.

Matherne said this show is always among his favorites of the year because of the feeling he and the other wrestlers get when they hear the final tally at the end of the night.

The event promoter said cancer is a part of everyone’s lives in some form or fashion, so it’s a worthwhile cause.

“Cancer touches a whole lot of people,” Matherne said. “We have guys in the back who are breaking into tears at the end of the show when we hear the final tally.”

Webre agreed and added that any opportunity to raise money for cancer research is one worth taking – even if it puts him in the middle of a wrestling ring with a couple of villains.

“Every family is affected by cancer, whether through themselves or their own family or through someone they know or work with,” Webre said. “My personal family has been affected by this disease and my professional family has, as well. We’ve come a long way in treatment, but there’s still work to be done. Anything that aids the cause is worth supporting, and I’m looking forward to being a part of this.”

Craig Webre