Former Ring of Honor superstar Caprice Coleman was a recent guest on the Shining Wizards podcast, where he spoke about his relationship with Tony Khan, the recent SuperCard of Honor event, and his goals in working with the National Wrestling Association.
Check out some of the highlights below:
On his relationship with Tony Khan:
I think the thing I like about Tony Khan, and I’ve only met him a couple times, and the first time I met him, I hope he doesn’t remember. Because I was at AEW, just there in the back or whatever, and I saw him and I’m always one to introduce myself to somebody. I’m expecting him to do the Vince McMahon thing. Like Vince McMahon is one where you say “hey how you doing?” And he just speaks to you to let you know he’s speaking to you but also lets you know he’s doing you a favor. But Tony Khan, when I spoke to him and I said, “Hey I’m Caprice Coleman. Nice to meet you,” he stops and put his hands in his pockets like he wants to have a conversation and in my head, I’m like, “that’s really all I had to say.” I didn’t have anything after that. (Laughter). So I’m just standing there like, “Yeah man, I’m just introducing myself to you.” I don’t even know what I said after that. He was like “Good, man. Nice to meet you.” And he kind of pats me on my arm or whatever and was like I hope to see you around. And I was like I blew that one because I wasn’t expecting him to be that way.
And then when we were at the Pay Per View, he was more hands on, and he was like “I really want you guys to do what you normally do. I’ll be in your ear if there’s something I want you to say.” I’ll just put it like this. We had someone like Kahn at Ring of Honor. When Hunter (Delirious) was running things, he was like Tony Khan. He would tell what was going on and how he wanted things to go. But it’s almost like Tony Khan is the owner, but he’s also like Hunter where he has all these ideas and he’s always full of energy and he’s always thinking. With us, it was like, “I want you guys to do what you do, but we got this going on, and that going on.” Every once in a while he would say, :make sure you say this” or :make sure you say that.” We would just say what he wanted us to say. If it was a certain person’s name or something like that, or if it was a plug or date, he’d let us know so it wasn’t like he wanted to change anything up. We knew what we were supposed to do and we just went out there and did it. He was in our ear but he wasn’t micromanaging anything or trying to change things around. I’m not too sure or full on what his vision of Ring of Honor is because he added a few people and pulled a few people, and it’s still in the makes for him. It’s not complete yet. He’s really open. He’s a cool guy. I didn’t expect that. I didn’t know what to expect, but I did not expect him to be as hands on as he was. He’s hands on and approachable. He’s alright with me.
On the recent SuperCard of Honor event feeling like a Ring of Honor show:
It did. Especially the main event. And then some of the guys like Jay Lethal who was eager to make sure he worked on the show. It did feel like a Ring of Honor show. And it did feel like Tony added some spice to it, because there were some people he wanted to use. The Chavo (Guerrero) thing was awesome. Chavo and I are good friends, and even the Tully Blanchard stuff was good with me because Kaun was part of it, and Kaun is part of Ring of Honor to us. The additions that were there weren’t anything that made me feel like this isn’t Ring of Honor. I think that’s one thing Tony wanted to make sure he did. He didn’t want to change it to the point that it’s not recognizable. He still wants it to be Ring of Honor, and he doesn’t want it to turn into a subsidiary as far as like, these people can’t make it on TV, so we’ll put them here. It’s a style that he wants, and if you don’t have that style, then you’re not there. That’s what I respect about him.
On his goals in the NWA:
I love the NWA. For them to call me in… I am one of the heavier Junior Heavyweights there, and I’m versatile and I can do whatever I’m called to do, and bro, if you’re trying to tell me that I could get a chance at the heavyweight title, are you kidding me right now? Are you kidding me? Any title in The NWA is huge. I grew up watching all that stuff. I grew up watching Ricky Morton and the Junior Title and all stuff, man. I can go back to Tim Horner. I’m a huge fan of those cruiserweights and the history behind the NWA and the titles and the people that have held it. And to be a part of that history, in a history book, and to start the way I started. It ain’t over yet. And to know “it’s not over yet” is pretty cool because the sky’s the limit. No, the sky’s where I start.
