Gabe Sapolsky
NOTE: To read a previous interview with Gabe that I conducted, go to 1st DOI Gabe Interview
Over there he discusses his past, the history of ROH and issues such as Low Ki, MLW and much more.
Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey: Now that the RF buzz has started to calm down and wane, what's ROH's immediate plans such as the RF Video name change, getting a PA promoters license, etc?
Gabe Sapolsky: We are just getting back to business as normal now and still taking everything one day and one item at a time so everything will be taken care of in due time.
Gabe Sapolsky: I couldn't have asked for two better shows on 3/13. I wouldn't change a thing if I could go back in time. We were truly "At Our Best" on the night show both in the ring and behind the scenes, which is why we called it that. The show had everything from innovation to crazy high-flying to hardcore to great wrestling to legends to drama, whatever style you like we had it and it was executed to perfection. "Do Or Die II" in the afternoon really gave some great new talent a chance to showcase themselves. Hydro, Austin Aries and Roderick Strong all really impressed me. I was happy with all the talent on the show and would welcome them all back.
Gabe Sapolsky: It's great that the fans showed us they believe in ROH and supported us stronger than ever. The fans were there when we needed their support the most and that means so much to everyone in the company. Our goal was to give them all their money's worth, give them a reason to comeback and give them an enjoyable night where they could escape all the realities of life and just mark out. I think we accomplished that. I was screaming and yelling and having a great time myself. It was just such a great night and one I will never forget.
Gabe Sapolsky: No, we don't even have TV. I don't think there is a second biggest promotion now. We aren't trying to change the world or say that we are #2 or anything like that, we just want to perform our art, put on shows we can be proud of, give the fans their money's worth and more while making sure we are able to stay in business. Those are our goals. Anything else like working attendence figures or saying you are #2 is just like being in a pissing contest and its a waste of everyone's time.
Gabe Sapolsky: I think March 13th proved that statement to be true. We had fans come from so many different places to support us. We even had people come to the show without a way to get home because they wanted to be there so bad. That is a true compliment. We would never be alive today if it weren't for our diehard fans that have fought for us and showed us so much support and it is very similar to what I saw in ECW back in the day.
Gabe Sapolsky: We can't wait for those shows. Chicago is selling very well and we should have a huge crowd. St. Paul is selling ok and we should have a decent crowd. We haven't really started promoting either show much though. The weekend is already a success and we are looking forward to blowing away both cities with the best shows they've ever seen and winning over the market and making it a new home. Everyone is really excited.
Gabe Sapolsky: No plans now. Maybe one day, but it would be a long way off. We would just have to fly too many people with the office included to make it feasible right now.
Gabe Sapolsky: We are just going to book the best 12 guys we can for the June 24th show. I'm still working on the lineup now, but it'll be mainly ROH regulars and we should keep the fine tradition of quality matches in that tournament alive.
Gabe Sapolsky: Well he has been showing more heel tendancies lately and the idea is for the fans not to like the heel. Stryker is a great pure wrestler and a very valuable member of the roster who can have a good match with anyone. He is a straight forward and stand up guy and the kind of person you want in your locker room. He lost a little steam on that 12/27 match, but it was just a bump in the road and he's still producing quality matches.
Gabe Sapolsky: I think the message boards are a great forum for our diehard fans to meet and discuss things. I never let them influence my decisions though. You really can't because everyone has a different opinion, plus the people who post on the message boards comprise only a small percentage of our fanbase and you never know who is behind those screen names so you can't let it influence you. I really feel the message boards are a valuable promotional tool and a great place for our diehard fans to converge and talk about everything.
Gabe Sapolsky: No plans for a division now, but I like the idea of featuring women's matches with all the quality talent that is out there. It gives the show something different and lets face it the women in ROH are beautiful and who doesn't like to look at beautiful women especially when they know how to work and put on good matches.
Gabe Sapolsky: He was a little shaken up, but he's fine. It was a very scary moment. I don't think we'll ever do anything like that again. He's got some guts.
Gabe Sapolsky: I've been very happy with it. I feel that we have an interesting storyline going now with Joe and AJ as the dueling champions with each trying to make their belt more prestigious than the other. It's the same storyline I'd do if I were WWE with the two top belts. We are still fine tuning some of the rules, but that will all come in time. I think the Pure Title is going to be a huge success and is off to a great start. I'm really proud of the Second Anniversary Tournament. It played out like a movie with the good force and evil force colliding at the end. We had stuff in each match tie into things in later matches. It will probably forever be one of my favorite shows.
Gabe Sapolsky: He'll be back in the future. He just has a lot of things going on now.
Gabe Sapolsky: Yes, negotiations are going on now. Steamboat will definitely be back in ROH and I have a lot of ideas for him.
Gabe Sapolsky: I have to disagree with you there. I feel The Briscoes have built the belts up nicely to the point that we can main event any show with them in a tag title match against the right opponents. We have a very solid tag division now with the Second City Saints, Prophecy, Backseats, Special K, Carnage Crew, Dunn & Marcos and emerging teams like The Outcast Killaz, Fast Eddie & Don Juan, Solution, Caprice Coleman & Rainman plus I know I'm missing some. We just aren't going to have the belts defended on every show. We are going to make sure to keep title matches for all the belts as something special and not just a match thrown on the show.
Gabe Sapolsky: Yes, they will be back and in a storyline very soon.
Gabe Sapolsky: If we continue to get the kind of support we got on March 13th we will be here forever. It's all up to the fans. If they support us we will always be here.
Gabe Sapolsky: We just released a Teddy Hart Shoot Interview, which is very entertaining. We also are getting all caught up on the ROH tapes and DVDs and those are coming in very quickly. It's great because I really feel people have to watch them in order to get all our storylines and follow the progression and evolution of everything. Just keep checking RFVideo.com and ROHwrestling.com all the time for the latest releases.
Gabe Sapolsky: Thank you, thank you and thank you. It was an emotional day on Saturday and a day that will always hold a special place in ROH history and it was only possible because of the fans and the great ROH locker room. Thank you.