wrestling / Columns

ROH CEO Breaks Down Final Battle For 411, Talks COMET TV Move

December 18, 2015 | Posted by Anthony Kennedy

Tonight, Ring of Honor has their Final Battle PPV, culminating with World Champion Jay Lethal squaring off with the Phenomenal AJ Styles. 411Mania’s Anthony Kennedy sat down with ROH’s COO, Joe Koff, to breakdown tonight’s show and speaks on what 2016 might bring for the best pure wrestling promotion in North America.

Anthony Kennedy: What does ROH moving to COMET mean to the company?

Joe Koff: Our goal is to always expand our brand and to bring our style and our programming to as many places that Sinclair doesn’t have a station. We were on Destination America for the back half of 2015 and now we’re on Comet. And it’s really great that we are on the Comet. Sinclair is an over the air broadcast network; we don’t have to be concerned with cord cutters because you don’t have to pay to see that. I think as long as we present wrestling on a free platform, we’ll always be profitable. The only way you can see WWE is by having a subscription to the WWE Network or a cable subscription to watch it on USA or SyFy. Same thing for TNA. But you can always watch ROH for free. ROH is free, over the air.

Anthony Kennedy: Why is this year’s Final Battle epic?

Joe Koff: Why this is so epic is that AJ Styles, who is a ROH original, has never worn the ROH World championship belt. So this is something he has coveted his entire career. And he’s finally getting his chance this tonight.

Anthony Kennedy: What does it mean having AJ Styles, who is making a name for himself throughout the world — specifically in New Japan Pro Wrestling — coming back to compete for ROH World Heavyweight Title?

Joe Koff: AJ Styles has been wrestling with ROH the last couple of years in conjunction with his appearances with New Japan. AJ knows where the best wrestling in North America is going right now. And he knows who he is facing. Jay Lethal is a competitor and a foe and someone AJ has been well aware of for all the years he has been in professional wrestling and he hasn’t ever had an opportunity to face him in his large arena.

For us, we love having AJ Styles. The one thing ROH represents and it’s not just an AJ Styles and it’s not just a Jay Lethal, it’s a brand of wrestling, and you as an admitted fan, if you’ve never been to a ROH event, you know that there’s something special when the houselights go off and the ring lights come on. ROH is the most exciting, authentic, artistically integral product right now in professional wrestling.

Anthony Kennedy: Can you talk about Jay Lethal’s growth as it relates to his ascension to World Champion of ROH in 2015?

Joe Koff: Those people who may remember [Jay Lethal’s TNA character], but Jay’s ability as a wrestler, whether it was masked in some kind of comedic, Black Machismo character, his quality of wrestling was always there. Jay is one of the greatest first generation wrestlers and continues to be so. His work in the ring, when you watch jay lethal and you watch him work, it’s truly something you have to watch.

Anthony Kennedy: What has The Kingdom brought to ROH?

Joe Koff: You’re talking about Hanson and Roe, who are two of the biggest, most agile wrestlers in the game. Matt Taven, Mike Bennett are great. What Maria brought to ROH is what Taven and Bennett bring to ROH. Which is that credibility, which is that belief in that brand. And you’ll see it in the ring. I think this match has all types of implications. They are amazing to watch. When you see War Machine fly through the ropes, it’s breathtaking. And again, it goes back to our brand of wrestling. Our goal in ROH is always to please the fan. We want that fan experience to be the highest that they can experience.

Anthony Kennedy: Can you explain the success of The Young Bucks and what they bring to Ring of Honor?

Joe Koff: It’s their authenticity. These guys are real. And you can say the same about the Briscoes. When you watch them all, you are watching people who love what they do. They strive, every single match, to become better at what they do. The Young Buck are unique, there’s no question about it. The Briscoes are unique. The Young Buck have something that is special, the fans feel it and they respond to the fans. The Briscoes have that same kind of relationship with the fan. And it’s special, there’s specialness to both teams and the fans feel it.

Anthony Kennedy: What match will steal the show at Final Battle?

Joe Koff: You are putting me on the spot. As I look at this card, it’s so stacked. Bobby Fish and Roderick Strong, you’re going to see two of the best technical wrestlers. They’re both really strong, physically. I think that’s going to be a great match for the ROH World Television Championship. Any time Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly are in the ring at the same time, it’s amazing. The Six-Man has Alex Shelly, ACH, and Matt Sydal vs. Addiction and Chris Sabin (who’s back in the ring for us.) I think a fun match will be the Dalton Castle vs. Silas Young match, cause they’re going to battle for the boys. In a battle of strength, Michael Elgin vs. Moose, that’s just going to be amazing to watch. If Elgin can get Moose up in that suplex for 20-30 seconds, that will be something to witness. I’m not going to pick a match cause every match on this card could be a main event but I am excited to see Jay vs. AJ. These are two ‘Phenomenal’ stars. It should be magical.

Anthony Kennedy: What is the match on tonight’s card that defines ROH?

Joe Koff: I don’t want to be redundant, but every match on the card defines ROH. Wow will be Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly. Wow will be Jay Lethal and AJ STYLES. The Briscoes vs Young Buck will be great! It’s really hard, because I have unconditional respect and love for everyone who wrestles in ROH.

Anthony Kennedy: Any chance of wrestling fans seeing Final Battle take place on the West Coast in the future?

Joe Koff: Its always possible. Our 14th anniversary show is going to be in Las Vegas next year on February 26th. I don’t want to push that one ahead of this cause every show that we do, I think every show is the best one we. Final Battle is our biggest show because it’s the end of the year for us. It’s a way to end out show on a good note. I think our strategic alliance with Pro Wrestling Guerilla might bring us to having more shows on the West Coast. I haven’t seen our full 2016 schedule so not sure where Final Battle will be, but it very well, conceivably be on your side of the country!

Don’t miss Ring of Honor’s FINAL BATTLE PPV tonight at 7:30PM EST!!!