Photo Courtesy of Caprice Coleman
Interviewers’s Note: Caprice Coleman may be best known by independent wrestling fans for his work in ROH where he made his debut in 2004 and after some time away returned to the company in 2011. Today, he continues to compete regularly for ROH and did this interview while riding to an ROH show on September 21, 2012. Outside of his work for ROH, Coleman has wrestled for companies across the United States including brief appearances in WWE and TNA. Coleman is also a religious man and has been a big player on the Christian wrestling scene including working for the Christian Wrestling Federation. He can be followed on Twitter @capricecoleman. In this interview Coleman and I focus on the topic of religion in wrestling.
Daniel Johnson: My first question is: How, if at all did your religion prepare you for training to be a professional wrestler?
Caprice Coleman: I think it helped me integrity wise to uphold my standards and faith wise never to give up.
Daniel Johnson: Do you have a favorite book of the Bible and a favorite Bible verse? If so what are they? Also, is there any Bible verse you would suggest those interested in becoming a professional wrestler read?
Caprice Coleman: The book of Proverbs stands out at me because it’s simple quotes that means so much.Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ is my favorite verse because of the fact that it is a true simple statement. 2 Samuel David’s life as well.
Daniel Johnson: How did you first become involved in the Christian Wrestling Federation?
Caprice Coleman: I got involved with them almost 10 years ago through AJ Styles. I toured with them, they liked me and continued to bring me back. I still work with them.
Daniel Johnson: Have you worked for any other Christian wrestling groups outside of the CWF?
Caprice Coleman: I have worked for couple but I can honestly say that they are the most legit…that I have found.
Daniel Johnson: In general, how if at all is a Christian wrestling organization such as the CWF different from a non-Christian wrestling organization?
Caprice Coleman: The difference with them is that they have Christians that just happened to be wrestlers. Not wrestlers that happen to be Christians. The difference, they might not all be great athletes, but their mission is souls. There’s also testimonial and a message during the show.
Daniel Johnson: I was also always curious. Have any non-Christian wrestlers worked for the Christian wrestling groups you have been a part of?
Caprice Coleman: Yes and it depends on which company whether they’re invited back or not
Daniel Johnson: Are there any wrestlers you feel particularly comfortable having faith-based discussions with? If so would you be willing to say who?
Caprice Coleman: Believe it or not Mark Briscoe and Jay Lethal.
Daniel Johnson: Cool, any topics in particular you guys discuss that you would be willing to share?
Caprice Coleman: Briscoe works in the youth group for his church. Mainly just praise report type stuff. They are all supportive of my ministry in their own way.
Daniel Johnson: Speaking of your ministry I was wondering, how difficult was it to become a minister if at all?
Caprice Coleman: I was called to preach at age 14. In a way it’s always been part of my life. It just grew from there.
Daniel Johnson: How challenging is it to be a devoted Christian and a wrestler? Does the schedule of working as a wrestler ever get in the way of your religious activities?
Caprice Coleman: Not really challenging you just have to have your priorities in the right place. Sometimes schedules do conflict. However, my congregation understands what I am doing.
Daniel Johnson: How tough is the travel schedule of a professional wrestler, if at all? Do any other wrestlers help you get through it?
Caprice Coleman: It really depends on where and who you’re working for or going. I like to travel so its not a big deal for me. It’s always good to have road buddies though.
Daniel Johnson: What advice would you give to someone who has a tough time devoting their life to being a religious person and a professional wrestler for whatever reason?
Caprice Coleman: The soul comes first. If you have vices that this sport makes it easy to access, it might be best for you to exit. This is where the Bible states it is better to cut off an arm and make it in, then to keep it and go to lose everything else.
Daniel Johnson: Going into more of the in-ring product what do you think of religious gimmicks in wrestling? Are there any in particular you have liked? Have any offended you?
Caprice Coleman: Personally, I like religious characters. However, it’s very hard to put the religious character in this sport in these days without contaminating him in someway; that’s just the way to times are. It is also a very touchy subject easily offendable by some as well. so most choose to leave it alone.
Daniel Johnson: Are there any particular you liked or thought became contaminated?
Caprice Coleman: I like what they’ve done with Shawn Michaels. However with Jake “The Snake” [Roberts] and [Reverend] Devon and some others it starts off good but then they always pull out personal issues to contaminate everybody. Everybody has faults.
Daniel Johnson: This is a broad question, but how do you see religion in wrestling changing in the near future, if at all?
Caprice Coleman: I’m not really in it to change wrestling. I’m just the light, that I hope some people might see. This is how he uses this is my ministry. I really just want to be able to show people that you can live a life of integrity and still be one of the greatest wrestlers in the world.
Daniel Johnson: Do you see the Christian wrestling scene changing on it’s own in any way? Such as having more or less exposure?
Caprice Coleman: If you’re a wrestler, you’re a role model whether you want to be or not, good or bad. So to be classified in one of these types of federations hopefully would mean that you are good role model. I believe that the way that the mainstream is doing it some parents don’t like their children watching it so they might respect Christian-based Wrestling more.
Daniel Johnson: Switching topics, I read that you previously lived in Kuwait for a time? What was life like in Kuwait for you? Does Kuwait have any wrestling scene to speak of?
Caprice Coleman: It was for work. It was fun, it was hot and I experienced a lot. Wrestling was actually illegal there however. Before I left I was able to do a couple of tours there.
Daniel Johnson: Wow, I haven’t really heard anything about wrestling being flat out illegal in other countries. Now, I’m curious have you heard or been to any other country where wrestling was illegal?
Caprice Coleman: No, just there; what happened was there was a WWF/E tour there in the early 1990s and during an interview Vader actually struck one of the hosts when he asked him the crucial question… after this they just took the biggest route and made illegal.
Daniel Johnson: Oh yeah, I remember that in that interview with “Good Morning Kuwait” I believe with him and The Undertaker. Never knew they made it illegal though. Anyway, my next question is kind of a random question, but what do you think of Tim Tebow and the popularity of Tebowing?
Caprice Coleman: I like him. I just hope he continues to uphold his integrity.
Daniel Johnson: I had some non-religion related questions as well if you are open to answering them. What opponents have you yet to work with that you would most like to work with?
Caprice Coleman: [Dolph] Ziggler. I wish I could have worked [Curt] Hennig, [Jerry] Lynn, [2 Cold] Scorpio and [Brian]Pillman
Daniel Johnson: Are there any promotions or countries that you have yet to work for or travel to that you would most like to work for and travel to?
Caprice Coleman: Japan and Europe promotions. I would like to know how they would respond to me.
Daniel Johnson: How would you describe the current tag team scene in Ring of Honor?
Caprice Coleman: The best tag division in the WORLD. Most respected in any company.
Daniel Johnson: How do you see Ring of Honor advancing in years to come?
Caprice Coleman: Lol, I hope it continues to grow. The best wrestlers in the world today have been Ring Of Honor champions, and that’s a fact.
Daniel Johnson: How do you see your career advancing? Basically where do you see yourself in five years?
Caprice Coleman: Hopefully the world by then will have seen what I have to offer and I am able to continue to live my dream whether it be wrestling, commentating or managing.
Daniel Johnson: What wrestling events do you have coming up? Are you headed to one right now? If so where?
Caprice Coleman: Yes, I’m headed to Baltimore Maryland now for Ring of Honor.
Daniel Johnson: Is there anything you would like to promote or that you think readers should check out?
Caprice Coleman: Follow me @capricecoleman on Twitter. YouTube and Ustream has a lot of my messages. Keep a look out for Platinum Praise ministries plays and tours.
Daniel Johnson: As part of my last few questions I like to ask five non-wrestling related questions just to bring a little uniqueness to the interview. If you don’t have an answer or don’t want to answer one of them just feel free to say, “skip.” Outside of wrestling, what television shows do you enjoy watching these days?
Caprice Coleman: Meet the Browns, The Cosby Show and What Would You Do?
Daniel Johnson: What was your favorite movie that came out this year?
Caprice Coleman: The Avengers.
Daniel Johnson: What is your favorite food that you tried for the first time this year?
Caprice Coleman: Qdoba bowls or Catana bowls. Chipotle bowls.
Daniel Johnson: What is your favorite song to come out this year?
Caprice Coleman: “Overtime” by King Keleze.
Daniel Johnson: Did you vote in your last local election? If so would you be willing to say for who?
Caprice Coleman: I don’t talk politics.
Daniel Johnson: No problem and my last question is: Is there anything you would like to add or talk about that we haven’t talked about already?
Caprice Coleman: I would like to say for guys that want to become wrestlers to follow your dreams and make the best out of it. Take this sport seriously and it can take you as far as you allow it to.
See Caprice Coleman in action! Here he tags with Cedric Alexander against Qt Marshall & Tadarius Thomas in ROH:
Categories: Wrestling Interviews
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