Interview: ROH COO Joe Koff on MSG Event and If There’s a Looming War with WWE

Forbes held a recent interview with ROH COO Joe Koff discussing their upcoming Madison Square Garden event, recent issues with WWE, his thoughts on if there’s a looming war with WWE, and more.

On the topic of ROH’s reaction after booking an event at Madison Square Garden, Koff stated there were celebrations within the company after the deal was finalized. Koff also praised New Japan Pro Wrestling for their help with the upcoming event.

Of course, we celebrated, and the validation of being able to do it, and as quickly as we did it, was certainly a high point in Ring of Honor history. But, the truth is, is that most of the guys are leaving for England [August 14] and tomorrow and we have shows—tonight in the United Kingdom and shows [August 15] in Philadelphia—and there is the All In show which we are proud to be a part of. There’s so much wrestling, Alfred, that we’re proud to be a part of between now and April 6 that our focus has to be always on the next match. And as we get closer to that event, of course, it takes on much more importance.

But I don’t want to belittle or demean the fact of how important that event is not only for me in running Ring of Honor and being part of Ring of Honor for the last seven years, but how important it is for the guys, for the wrestlers who wrestle for Ring of Honor and really put themselves out there week in and week out with tremendous artistry, with tremendous integrity and with great belief in our brand.

It was really the brand. It was our brand and New Japan [Pro Wrestling’s] brand. The combined power of those two brands sold out this arena because there wasn’t a match named and very few talents named. So people know what to expect when they see New Japan, but when they see the two together, I think it makes for a moment.

On the topic of the recent issues with WWE over ROH’s Madison Square Garden event, Koff said it was just something made into a bigger deal than it really was.

“I think that it’s been probably blown up more than it is. There was conversation, and there was a back-and-forth and it got to a point where there was an impasse that had to be broken up. But the good news was there was continuous discussion [with MSG] throughout the process. And as long as people are in discussion and dialogue, and we can establish some kind of common ground as opposed to compromise, then things can happen. We just had to work through all those things.

Obviously, it is their backyard, and it is their home arena. And I have to tell you, my love for wrestling began in that arena when it was on Eighth Avenue, and I saw my first match there. And I knew there was magic between those four posts and underneath those ring lights and it never left me. So to be able to fulfill this dream, not only for but for the fans and for the wrestlers was just penultimate. It was just fabulous.”

On the topic of if there is a looming war between ROH and WWE, Koff dismissed the idea and stated he is more focused on running his own business and believes there is plenty of space in the industry for more than one company to be very successful.

“It doesn’t. If you want me to say it does, it doesn’t. I’m focused on my business, and they have a business and they’re really, really good at it and if we were to look at the two battle sides, I would feel like maybe—I was just watching Braveheart, so I’m going to just use that analogy here—maybe we’re William Wallace in that first battle for the first time. But at the end of the day, they run a business, I run a business.

There’s plenty of room in the space for both businesses, and I don’t consider this a war at all. And it would be a silly war to get into. I think we have to stay focused on what we believe in for our companies and follow that course.”

Other topics discussed included future streaming and television contracts, ROH’s plans to continue growing as a company, Cody and the Young Bucks’ impending free agency, and his thoughts on running future ROH events in stadiums.