Rok-C details her journey from ROH newbie to Women's Champion.
Making history as the youngest champion in Ring of Honor history, Rok-C is on cloud nine as she is very quickly transitioning from an upstart in the promotion to the pillar of its women’s division.
In the past, Rok-C has openly discussed wanting her championship victory to be the end of people doubting her. Now, she is detailing how her Title reign came to be while speaking with Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp.
"Around last year, right before COVID hit, they were gonna do a tournament, but they were also going to do a tryout. One person was going to get a contract from that tryout," Rok-C recalls of her ROH origins. "I was super excited for that and then COVID hit and that didn’t happen. It was really tough because I was really looking forward to that, but then also wrestling just shut down completely. It was pretty hard for a lot of people. Then things got started running again. It was Jonathan Gresham that sent me a message and was like, ‘Hey, send me your name and your e-mail.’ I was like, ‘Okay, this is random.’ Then Delirious sent me an e-mail and asked if he could book me. I was like, [‘Wait, I wasn’t having a tryout. Asking me to get booked?’] That was pretty crazy. I went in and did some stuff for women’s division Wednesdays and that’s when Maria called me and was like, ‘Hey, you want the first ticket to gold?’ I was like, ‘What? Yes!’"
The golden ticket would lead to an official contract with the company. Rok-C would exude gratitude for Jonathan Gresham, Delirious, and Maria Kanellis for the opportunity, noting that the whirlwind experience has been one of the most positive of her life.
"We were taping and we were taping the tournament, it hadn’t come out yet, I think once I left tapings it was like, ‘Okay, that was fun,’ but I think it didn’t start sinking in until the footage started coming out. I was just like, ‘Whoa, what? This is crazy.’ Their production team is amazing. When I watched all that and things started coming out, I was like, ‘Wait, this is getting more real.’
She continued, "That’s why it’s was so crazy, especially because of my age. I always knew I wanted to become a professional wrestler since I could remember. I always had this way that things would just work out, but I never thought I’d be accomplishing all these things along the way. It’s crazy. I was the first match to bring back the women’s division. Then I got the first ticket to gold. Then I was in the finals. Now I’m signing. It’s just so crazy. I think that’s why it hasn’t sunk in. So many things are happening that I’m just like, ‘This is crazy. This is crazy.’ Then it’s another thing. It makes me so happy. The fact that Maria and Jonathan Gresham and Delirious, all of them have so much belief in me and see the potential that I have is really, really cool. Especially as I’m so young and they’re being like, ‘Alright. Here it is. Go run with it.’"
In the past, Maria Kanellis has expressed why she believes Rok-C is the perfect Women's Champion for Ring of Honor at this time. Learn more here.
Fightful has results of Ring of Honor shows as they air in our results section.
