Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: You have a huge history in shoot fighting. How, and why did you get into pro wrestling?

The Green Dragon: I used to attend the local indy shows here in my area all the time. They were run by a promoter Toms Rumsby. Myself a few of my shoot students would attend, and we would always seem to bring attention to ourselves at ringside lol.

Rumsby approached me after one show and asked me if I ever considered wrestling. He was like "brotha you should be a professional wrestler, your big and have a great look....ill make you a superstar brotha...a real killa" LOL. So he gave me the card of the training school he ran. I sat on the card for like 2 years. But my shoot fighting career was getting harder to maintain as well. I had 3 kids and a wife at the time. I was working full time and also running a shoot fight dojo. So it was hard for me to prepare for fights anymore, and I lost a few for lack of training. So I decided id try wrestling. I thought it would be easier on my body than shoot was (boy was I wrong LOL) and I would still be a way to keep my name out there and still keep in shape. And I saw guys likes Shamrock moving into wrestling, even though I am no way near his level, I thought let me see what’s up. So I started in late '97 and "graduated" in like March of '98.

Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: How do you turn your mind from shoot fighting to wrestling mode when stepping in the squared circle?

The Green Dragon: That’s a good one. Some of my bros in wrestling don’t get this but here we go. At first it was a little difficult. I mean I was trained to WIN in a ring/cage or wherever. My mind set was that if a fighter. I mean its not like I was going to snap and kill anyone or not know where I was. I was just competitive; I was driven to be that way. And it didn’t help that the first 2 years of my wrestling career I was still doing shoot regularly. I never stiffed anyone (more than usual LOL) or shot on anyone. It was just that drive to "win" I had to get straight. I took everything too serious and treated it like I was going into a shoot mentally. Took me a bit but I realized wrestling was a business, not a competition at least in the ring, in the back...that’s a different story lol.

Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: What was your wrestling training like?

The Green Dragon: mine was the same as anyone else’s that trained at Tommy Thunders. I made it at least a few times per week. I remember getting some heat like the first days there from the instructor, due to the way I bumped. Not over the fact that it wasn’t a good bump but over my hand placement. They wanted me to hit my elbows to the mat when I bumped. Well I took and still do judo and that was not the way we took our break falls. We would smack our hands palms down. It was a way to protect you from being thrown or falling. If you know Judo, it’s all about throwing each other. So he told me the way I was hitting my hands was wrong and I would get hurt that way. And I was like”. Ummm...no". So we finally ironed that out. And I still bump like Judo taught me. The training was good and few "names" would stroll in too. The most I learned in one night was when Balls Mahoney and Bilvis Wesley stopped by. I learned so much from those guys and Balls put me over huge as a shooter and we even rolled and shot a bit too. Both those guys were great.

Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: What wrestlers did you like growing up? What wrestlers didn't you like?

The Green Dragon: I was a huge Warrior fan LOL. Of course Hogan. Also Demolition . But I also was a huge WCW Vader and Sid fan. Those guys were monsters. I never really disliked anyone. They all entertained me.

Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: Do you have any prematch superstitions?

The Green Dragon: yes, I always have to put in a fresh piece of gum and I have to chew it while I wrestle. In some weird way it helps with my timing. Also I like to get myself in the right mindset, so I pump myself up like must guys.

Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: What promotions have you worked for, and which ones are your favorites to work?

The Green Dragon: I have worked for a few. World Wrestling Coalition, Outlaws of Wrestling, Empire Wrestling Alliance, Empire Wrestling Alliance South, American Championship Wrestling , Powerhouse Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Xplosion.

I like all of them. But my two favorites are the EWA for the lockerroom, like a family. And also PWX for how it was ran and how there was no politics.

Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: What do you think has been your best match?

The Green Dragon: so far I would have to say I have a few. Anytime I work Hyena is a great match. Such a contrast in our styles and size. Plus he takes sick bumps from me.

I have also had a great match with Johnny X. we didn’t have to call much we just gelled real well and knew what the other was thinking. And more recently I would have to say JC Rage. Our matches get better and better.

Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: Who are your favorite opponents to wrestle?

The Green Dragon: Favorites, JC Rage, Hyena, Dynamic B, Johnny X, Balls Mahoney, actually there really isn’t anyone I don’t mind working. Everyone brings something special to a match.

Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: Do you think guys like Ken Shamrock, Dan Severn and Tank Abbott, all shoot fighters turned pro wrestlers, paved the way for shoot fighters to be able to wrestle professionally?

The Green Dragon: Oh definitely, Severn when he was in UFC. He had the NWA title and Dennis Carluzzo in his corner. He represented pro wrestling and kicked ass doing it.

Shamrock brought in all the UFC hype and attitude. And it also helped cross promote both companies. Abbot was just used wrong in WCW but didn’t they use everyone wrong anyways? So yes they paved they way. Look at it now over seas? A lot of guys do both now or progress from shoot into wrestling. Those guys definitely paved the way.

Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: What's a normal day in the life of The Green Dragon?

The Green Dragon: My schedule is all over the place, so "normal" need not apply lol.

I work fulltime, wrestle almost every weekend, I run my dojo during the week, take Judo every week, and spend time with my 3 kids every weekend. Hard to say what normal is, LOL

Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: How does it feel to win a championship, knowing that the promoter has faith in you to represent the company as champion?

The Green Dragon: It’s an honor really. It lets you know that they feel you can carry the ball. When I won my first major belt (EWA U.S.) it was an accomplishment. But then when I won the EWA heavyweight belt, it was an honor. To know that you are asked to lead a company and that you are the main event guy now. That the faith is there in your abilities and your wrestling.

Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: What do you do to improve yourself in the wrestling ring?

The Green Dragon: I roll shoot twice a week and run. So that helps with my wind. I wrestle as much as I can but if I'm not wrestling I am watching my tapes of myself and trying to come up with new stuff and I always thinking about it. So I try to keep it fresh.

Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: What do you think about the current state of wrestling?

The Green Dragon: It’s in a decline. WWE needs competition. You are only as good as your competitors. Hopefully NWA/TNA can step up to a weekly TV show. I think they would maybe helps things. Only one show in town doesn’t create much interest. Fans get bored. Indy wrestling attendance is down all over too. Wrestling is peaks and valleys. So I guess we are in a valley now.

Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: Who would be your dream match?

The Green Dragon: That’s easy. I would have to say ECW Taz. During his path of rage run.

I think we could have had a great program together. Lots of similarities in our styles. Also Shamrock for obvious reasons.

Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: What are your short term and long term career goals?

The Green Dragon: Short term to stay healthy and get more bookings and get my name out there.

Long term, to just keep doing this as long as I can.

Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: What do you want to say to anyone reading this?

The Green Dragon: thanks for taking the time to read this. Also ladies I am a single man now. So if you’re interested contact me LOL.

Check out my Website at http://snap.to/greendragon if you are interested in learning shoot wrestling /fighting contact me through my site.

Hyena made it, lol contact him here http://i.am/thehyena

Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey: Thanks for this interview.