The Wednesday Hang #23 | Samuray Del Sol (fka Kalisto)

Welcome back to The Wednesday Hang! I am David Otunga, and today I am sitting down with my former WWE colleague and one of the most spectacular high-flyers in the world, Samuray Del Sol, formerly known as Kalisto. We are diving deep into his roots in lucha libre, what it takes to perform at that elite level, and his incredible journey both inside and outside the ring. Grab a drink, settle in, and let us get right into the conversation. Make sure to drop your questions in the live chat! Samuray Del Sol joins me to discuss his journey from Chicago to the top of lucha libre and his career beyond the ring. We catch up with the high-flyer formerly known as Kalisto to trace his roots back to our shared Chicago wrestling scene. We discuss the foundation he built with trainer Doug Simmons and the discipline required to maintain his status as an elite performer in professional wrestling. This conversation covers the evolution of his in-ring style and the lessons learned throughout his career. Whether you are a fan of the sport or interested in the life of a traveling athlete, this discussion with Samuray Del Sol offers a look at the grit required to succeed in this industry. Subscribe for weekly athlete interviews, and let me know in the comments which guest you want to see on the show next.00:00:00 - Intro: Welcoming Samuray Del Sol 00:02:00 - The Chucky Mask & Horror Movie Inspirations 00:05:15 - Mask Meanings: Diabetes, Autism Awareness & Hope 00:06:28 - From Special Ed Teacher to Luchador 00:06:52 - Near-Death Experience in Mexico 00:10:51 - The WWE Call & His Wife's Support 00:16:34 - First Day at the WWE Performance Center 00:19:48 - Dusty Rhodes Stories & Promo Class 00:23:09 - Neville (Pac) & The Lucha Dragons 00:30:37 - Tearing His ACL in India & Recovery 00:32:48 - Acting in Saudi Arabia & Nissan Commercial 00:36:19 - Mojo Rawley's Charity Event Reignited His Passion 00:46:54 - Goal to Write an Inspirational Book 00:50:41 - David & Goliath: Working with Ryback 00:55:27 - David Otunga's Luchador Character "El Machismo" 01:03:07 - Owning His IP, Trademarks & Mask Design 01:06:12 - Make-A-Wish Experiences 01:07:53 - Penta El Zero Miedo's MITB Win & AAA History 01:14:00 - The Future of Lucha Libre & Hidden Talent 01:20:29 - What John Cena Taught Him About the Crowd 01:27:05 - Chemistry with Baron Corbin & The Chairs Match 01:28:41 - The Truth Behind "Good Lucha Things" 01:32:47 - The Tragic Passing of a Referee & In-Ring Safety 01:41:10 - Being Terrified at the Elimination Chamber 01:43:31 - The Legendary Salida Del Sol off the Ladder 01:50:25 - Tiffany Stratton's MITB Fall & Scary Ladder Spots 01:57:56 - Horror Movie Favorites & Tom Savini Making His Mask 02:01:38 - Getting a Funko Pop from Stan Lee 02:03:03 - Reading Religious Texts from Around the World 02:08:19 - How Wrestling & Food Bring the World Together 02:09:46 - David Otunga's Harvard Legacy 02:13:20 - Extreme Dieting on 1,500 Calories 02:18:42 - Wife's Tumor Misdiagnosis & Going Gluten-Free 02:26:01 - 20 Years Together: The Story of "Lady Lucha" 02:34:27 - Teddy Hart Giving Him His First Cat 02:46:02 - "Busy Body, Busy Mind" & Mental Health 02:50:05 - The Importance of Nutrition & Hydration 03:00:10 - Outro & Wrapping Up