Ring of Honor is fresh faced, so to speak, with Marty Scurll embracing an increased role behind the scenes.
With the announcement that Scurll would be remaining with ROH and helping head up their booking, the company retained a major star. When speaking with Ring of Honor's COO Joe Koff, he explained to Fightful that a number of factors were in play to make sure he was the right person for the job.
"We don’t take it lightly and we’re very, very excited to have Marty [Scurll]," Koff explained. "But, I think it really comes down to who we are and who he is. You know, there’s no doubt Marty’s a big part of our plans moving forward. He not only brings us that creative stimulation, but I think he believes in Ring of Honor. He likes what we’re doing. He knows what we stand for. He represents that brand and it’s his opportunity to say to the fans and to say to his fellow workers that, “Ring of Honor is relevant, Ring of Honor is still present, Ring of Honor is authentic and I want to be part of it.”
Shortly following Scurll's re-signing and promotion, a partnership with the National Wrestling Alliance was rekindled after it'd fizzled out the year prior. With Scurll appearing for both brands, many assumed he bridged that gap, but Koff said it was a collaborative effort.
"We have very good relationships with a promotion like the NWA and we’ve worked with them in the past. They like to work certain programs and we believe that it benefits both promotions to share the talent and certain storylines that make sense for both parties. As long as that exists, I think there’ll always be an open attitude towards doing things like that," Koff said.
As exclusively reported in recent months by Fightful Select, Marty Scurll wasn't the first person ROH broached with this type of offer. In negotiating with Cody Rhodes, the subject of booking was also explored. Though both sides ultimately went their own way, they each spoke highly of one another to Fightful. For Koff, he's not opposed to entering that territory and rewarding other creative minds.
"Ring of Honor is a very collaborative, creative brand. We rely on our talent and we rely on our key influencers and our key people to help us shape that brand. There’s a core that we’re very, very true to. But, stimulating progress and stimulating the brand forward takes visionaries and It takes creative minds and I thank you for that comment from Cody [Rhodes]. Cody was a joy to work with and a total professional and a great thinker, as were the [Young] Bucks, as were all the people that wrestled for Ring of Honor and are now working for other promotions. We just really hold those relationships in still high esteem. But, yes, it’s part of our fabric, it’s part of what we’re made of and it’s part of who we are," Koff closed.
