Ring of Honor COO Joe Koff Talks Relationship with NJPW, How Colt Cabana’s ROH Return Came to Be, More on a Possible WWE Relationship

May 8, 2016

Ring of Honor COO Joe Koff recently spoke with Joshua Caudill of CraveOnline.com ahead of tonight’s Global Wars PPV, and below are some interview highlights.

Be sure to join WZ tonight for our complete, LIVE coverage of Global Wars beginning at 8pm EST!

On ROH’s partnership with New Japan Pro Wrestling:

Joe Koff: It’s a very, very strong partnership. We have such similar styles and I think the credit for the relationship goes to our Creative Director Hunter Johnson who has had a long, long standing relationship with Tiger Hattori and the people over at New Japan. I think because we’re so likeminded in the way we present our product and our respect for the fan, the integrity and the authenticity of what we do in the ring. I think it was a natural partnership and we share a lot of talent now. I think it helps both companies because it gives them a global perspective as far as talent and it gives our talent a little bit of stability for their careers.

On Colt Cabana’s ROH return:

Joe Koff: I’m so happy on behalf of Ring of Honor that he agreed to come back and is excited to come back. I think there were some misgivings at the time but whatever happened I wasn’t part of it and it took us awhile. I’ve been talking to Colt [Cabana] probably since I took over the promotion and inviting him back and trying to thaw out whatever was cold and finally we agreed. This is a great spot for him in a great place and he deserves it. This is a man who deserves this kind of title shot and deserves this spotlight and I can’t wait to see him Sunday night.

CraveOnline: Can you elaborate on your recent comments about being open to a working relationship with WWE?

Joe Koff: I think that was taken out of context. We’re a business and our business happens to be wrestling. If there’s an opportunity with any kind of business, if ESPN called me, if NBC Sports called me, whoever is calling me that has an interest involving our product in whatever they’re doing, of course I’ll be open to it. Here’s what I’m thrilled about. You know what I think one of our greatest accomplishments have been? That we’re in the narrative with WWE. That fans would even think that having ROH on the WWE Network would be something that is important. We’ve done it in a relatively short time. I say relatively short time because I got into wrestling by watching what was the grandparent of WWE, called Capitol Wrestling. The man who promoted it was Vince McMahon Sr. That’s what hooked me on wrestling, so they have been doing it a long time.

Nick was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and lived there until the age of 18, when he decided to pack his flack jacket and move to New York City.

Nick attended New York University and graduated in 2001 with a degree in Drama.

Nick first entered the internet wrestling community back in 2004 when he became the co-host of The Voice of Wrestling Radio Show. From there, Nick made the transition from radio personality to editor when he began working with WrestleZone in 2008.

Nick is a member of two Off-Broadway theatre companies, Another Urban Riff, and the Drama Desk Award winning Godlight Theatre Company. Nick has appeared in over a dozen Off-Broadway plays since he moved to New York City, and has shot several short and feature length films. In 2010, he completed principle photography on a film titled "How to Score Your Life," which also features TNA Knockout ODB.

Inspiration in his life has come from many people including his family, Woody Allen, Steven Spielberg, Jack Nicholson, The Beatles, and of course, Lassie.