ROH News: ROH COO Joe Koff On If He Feels That WWE Will Retaliate For MSG Show, ROH Ranks Jay Lethal’s Five Greatest World Title Defenses

– Ring of Honor Chief Operating Officer Joe Koff spoke to Newsday to discuss the ROH/NJPW show at MGS and possible WWE retaliation…

“This was a big decision, and we had to take a look at the risks and the reward. But, really, what it came down to was: Where are we going to run that weekend if we want to run in New York? It’s hard to find a building that can accommodate wrestling in that 6,000 to 10,000 range that’s in the city and that’s not a schlep to get to. WWE wasn’t even thinking of using (the Garden on that night). I can’t speak for other organizations and why they do or they don’t use it. It was the right venue for us on that day. I would expect that, as I’ve seen at every other city, on that weekend all of their events are sell-outs… I really believe the people who bought tickets to Madison Square Garden would have bought tickets to Ring of Honor no matter where we were. If I’m in their crosshairs, I don’t feel that I’ve ever not been in their crosshairs, but not for anything more than the talent that I have and the opportunity that they see in taking our talent. But I don’t feel any strain on our relationship.”

– In honor of Jay Lethal surpassing 500 days total as the ROH World Champion, ROH ranked his five greatest title defenses of all time…

5. VS. RODERICK STRONG (Death Before Dishonor; July 24, 2015)
4. VS. ADAM COLE AND KYLE O’REILLY (ROH 14th Anniversary; Feb. 26, 2016)
3. VS. JONATHAN GRESHAM (July 21, 2018)
2. VS. JAY BRISCOE (Best in the World; July 24, 2016)
1. VS. AJ STYLES (Final Battle; Dec. 18, 2015)