Interview conducted by Don Halliwell
Calvin Couture has had the biggest year of his career, but it did not seem like it was going to go that way when the pandemic started. He was booked to be on Effy’s Big Gay Brunch at WM, and while that was canceled, he has been able to make huge strides this year and catch the attention of a lot of people in the wrestling world. Calvin and his tag team partner Tyler Klein form the team of The Runway and they have been a big part of Camp Leapfrog, which is a very unique and entertaining show that airs on IWTV. They also teamed with Effy at the PolyAm Cult Party 2 and were involved in the Twink Gauntlet when Effy’s Big Gay Brunch was rescheduled as part of The Collective in October.
Calvin has been wrestling for 4 years and was trained at the Iron City Wrestling Academy. This is the same school that has trained people like Britt Baker, Elias, and Joaquin Wilde. Calvin has wrestled in singles competition but has found most of his success in tag teams, such as Golden Chic, Hollywood Couture and currently The Runway. The Runway have been teaming together since 2019 and have been successful, entertaining, and bringing fashion to the world of wrestling in that time.
I had the chance to ask Calvin a few questions about his year and what may be next for The Fashionista of Professional Wrestling.
Don: Everyone had a crazy 2020, but you seemed to have a bit of a roller coaster with your wrestling career last year. You were scheduled to be on Effy’s Big Gay Brunch on WM weekend, which I would assume would have been your biggest opportunity to date. While that obviously did not happen, you were on the Big Gay Brunch at The Collective and got to tag with Effy at the PolyAm Cult Party. Can you take us through what that was like to have these opportunities taken away, but then finding them again in different ways?
Calvin: I have been very lucky in my short time wrestling to have as many opportunities that I have had and wrestling WM weekend would have been such an amazing experience. I was devastated when things came to a halt with the pandemic as I was training harder than before to show that Calvin was ready for the world. That being said, I have had some of the most amazing opportunities and the best year I have ever had in my career. Everything is meant to happen for a reason and I really hope things do not slow down for me any time soon.
Don: You and Tyler Klein have also been a part of Camp Leapfrog. Those shows seem like they are really fun. Can you tell us a little bit about your time at camp?
Calvin: Well at first I thought camp was gross but it has grown on me. Let's just say I am not the camping type. I prefer glamping but slowly Camp Leapfrog has given a platform that I would be unable to have anywhere else. I have gotten to wrestle some that I never thought I would ever share a ring with and I can tell you that the best has yet to come. Keep your eyes on Camp Leapfrog. The heart and passion in that locker room is something special.
Don: You and Tyler make a great team, as The Runway. Can you tell us how you 2 met and how you decided to become a team?
Calvin: We actually became friends online when we mutually followed each other. You would be surprised at how often that happens. You become familiar with someone online then meet them in person at a show but you feel like you already know them. It was kind of one of those situations. We have similar styles and it just kind of clicked so we rolled with it. I guess you could say the red carpet was rolled out and The Runway was born.
Don: It seems like you work really well in teams, whether it is The Runway, The Golden Chic or teaming with Ray Lyn. Do you prefer wrestling in tag teams? Is there someone that you have not tagged with yet that you would like to and think that you would have great chemistry with?
Calvin: I never wanted to be a tag team wrestler to be completely honest with you. I quickly grew to love it. Tag team wrestling actually made me come more into my own as a performer than I thought it would. I never realized how much I loved tag team wrestling until I started doing it more and more. In regards to someone who I think I would have good chemistry with, that is a hard one. I really think I would have some good chemistry with Rache Chanel. We would bring the fashion industry to a whole nother level.
Don: A lot of wrestlers from the Pittsburgh area have been getting more attention in the past year. MV Young and Lee Moriarty have been everywhere. Shawn Phoenix , Katie Arquette and Andrew Palace have been on Limitless Wrestling, and Pretty Proper and Ziggy Haim are exploding onto the scene too. Is there anyone that you think may be the next person to break out of the area and make a name for themselves?
Calvin: Pittsburgh has always been a hot spot for talent that unfortunately has been unable to break out of the area. I would have to say Cole Karter. This kid is honestly a natural and he has a great look. He is young too so he is only going to continue getting better from here.
Don: I see that you are going to be on the Out in the Ring stream with Jock Sampson. Jock really has his own kind of style. What kind of fashion advice would you give him?
Calvin: KEEP WEARING CROP TOPS! Jock rocks the crop top better than most that I have ever seen. I would have him ditch the denim so we can put him in something a little more fashion forward. I would let him keep the boots though. Those are a Jock staple. Jock is actually one of my favorite people in wrestling. He just gets it.
Don: Is there anything else that you would like us to know about you or anything that we would be surprised to find out?
Calvin: Calvin is looking to keep showing fans what fashion in wrestling really is. When Calvin walks into the room, you will know it! Calvin will continue to makes waves as only he knows how....IN STYLE.
Calvin will be on the Out in the Ring live stream at 1 PM on February 7. He will be joined by his tag team partner Tyler Klein, along with Jock Samson and Trish Adora. The stream will be at http://twitch.tv/outinthering Tickets for the stream along with raffle tickets can be purchased at https://gogetfunding.com/we-speak-out-a-film-production-fundraising-streamraffleauction-for-out-in-the-ring/ The money raised will go to the production of the film Out in the Ring, which looks to capture the past, present and future of LGBTQ wrestlers and their stories. A portion of the money will also go to the Mathew Shepard Foundation.
Also, be sure to check out the Big Gay Giveaway. There are prizes from Effy, Max, Camp Leapfrog, Lee Moriarty, MV Young and so many more. The money donated goes to The Trevor Project, which does amazing work in assisting LGBTQ youth with suicide prevention and crisis intervention programs. You can donate and enter the raffle at https://t.co/w5O9xhiPG3?amp=1 The Big Gay Giveaway has already raised over $5,900 for The Trever Project and looks to take that amount even higher by the giveaway on the afternoon of February 6.
You can find Calvin on twitter at @calvin_couture and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/calvincouture
You can also pick up his shirts at www.prowrestlingtees.com/calvincouture