McPinions
By: Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey

Everyone knows the whole "Feinsteingate" story. There is no point rehashing that. The end result of Rob Feinstein's actions led to the split between RF Video and Ring of Honor. Who's to fault for the split, is a question that can be answered in many different ways. Obviously RF made the mistake of a lifetime, by having that conversation, but at the same time, is business more important than years of friendship? Do you try to break out on your own, or do you stick with the person who brought you to the dance? I respect Gabe Sapolsky's work in ROH, and how he's made the ROH brand name mean so much. I have a ton of respect for Doug Gentry for sticking by his friend and not selling him out, when he could've easily done just that. Anyway after the split, which officially occured in June of this year, the ROH team, led by Gabe Sapolsky (Yes Cary Silken is the owner, but the brains and head man of ROH is Gabe) were kicked out of the RF Video office. RF Video, led by Rob Feinstein, had to go back to the beginning, and start all over again, but this time with a damaged reputation. ROH continued to run fantastic shows, and were still the top indy fed in the country. RF Video was quiet for a while, but after telling his side to many people in wrestling, and later on, doing an interview here on the DOI, Rob Feinstein and his company started making moves again. While ROH was touring the east coast and mid-west, and being the talk of the town, RF Video went back to what they knew. RF Video, just like they did in the past, started taping numerous indy shows. ROH was created for RF Video to have something consistent to tape. ROH was also created to fill the void for high quality indy wrestling. RF Video succeeded in making ROH a success. Now, due to the split and heat between the two sides, RF Video was not allowed anywhere near an ROH ring. While having a large library of various indy shows is great, it's not enough to live off of. RF Video needed something else to do, and they started releasing and re-releasing some old ECW Fancams. RF Video also restarted their very successful Shoot Interview series. To me, RF Shoot Interviews are the most famous interviews and have produced some of the best shoot interviews of all time. During ECW, after ECW, and before ROH, RF Video was known for their great shoot interviews. Bob Barnett is credited with creating the shoot interview, but RF Video was the company that innovated the concept and took it to the next level. Some of the biggest names in wrestling have done Shoot Interviews with RF Video, such as Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, The Road Warriors and so many more. It wasn't until ROH took off, that RF Video became known for Ring of Honor, rather than their shoot interviews.

Now this takes us to the current times. Ring of Honor has recently released their version of the Shoot Interviews, called the "Straight Shootin'" series. Just like how ROH was run when Feinstein was the co-owner, ROH decided to do Shoot Interviews to generate more revenue. I don't know the details of the gag order between both sides, but I'm guessing that RF Video did not ban ROH from doing shoot interviews for a year, just like how ROH banned RF Video from running a promotion in a years time. If they did, then I'm sure there would be some sort of lawsuit going on.

After the split, RF Video, like noted already, continued to do shoot interviews. ROH started doing Shoot Interviews in the beginning of the fall of 2004. This obviously splits the market, as RF Video is notoriously known for their shoot interviews, and ROH is one of the top wrestling companies in America today. Obviously RF Video is not thrilled, that their former employees are using the same business model that Feinstein used when he was in charge. ROH is running smoothly without Feinstein, and are doing the same things, business-wise, that they did when Feinstein was in charge. This can't sit well with RF, as the promotion he created and was eventually kicked out of, is now doing everything he did without him, and at the same time, doing it very well. One thing it did do, is light a fire inside RF Video, as due to ROH now being on the shoot interview market, it makes RF Video work harder to be number 1. They are no longer number 1 on the Shoot Interview market by default. Now they have competition. While ROH might not publically say that RF Video is competition, it is obvious that both ROH and RF Video are both trying to dominate the same market.

As both companies worked hard on their shoot interviews, both companies have taken little shots at each other in their press releases. While neither company will publically comment that they are taking shots at each other, it just takes some knowledge of the situation to tell they are. Here are some press releases from both sides, that have been posted on both of their respective sites, as well as in the DOI Press Release Section:

From the Ring of Honor side:
ROH has proved to be the real king of the shoot interview with its Straight Shootin' Series. Straight Shootin' With Mick Foley has already become the hottest selling shoot interview ever!!! You can now preorder the next three episodes in the Straight Shootin' Series featuring Butch Reed, The Fantastics and One Man Gang. ROHwrestling.com is the only place that offers these shoots on region 0 DVDs, which means they will play anywhere in the world. You will not get DVD-R's as ROH is the only company to offer shoots with Too Cold Scorpio, Steve Corino, Christopher Daniels and Kamala on DVD with collectable artwork.
From this, you can tell this is a shot at RF Video, while at the same time praise for ROH's work. I would like to know the official stat that says Mick Foley has become the "hottest selling shoot interview ever." I honestly don't know what shoot has sold the most, but I'm sure ROH did not ask RF Video for some of their numbers when making that statement. RF Video do use DVD-R's, so give ROH credit for doing something to make their shoots stand out more.

Also from ROHWrestling.com was this:
Straight Shootin' with Butch Reed- Reed told us that this is the best interview he's ever done with the best questions ever.
I guess Butch Reed says that alot, cause he told RF Video the same thing, and RF Video did the Butch Reed shoot a few days after ROH did one.

ROH is also calling themselves "The New Kings of The Shoot Interview". Who was the old king? Did they even have a throne? Usually when a new King is crowned, it happens after a bloody war, or the old king died. Last time I checked, no one was bloody and no one died. It is obviously a shot at their former employees.

From the RF Video side:
Nobody does a shoot interview like RF VIDEO!!! Dont be fooled by cheap imitations!!
It is no longer a secret that RF VIDEO is the King of the shoot interview. RF VIDEO innovates and we never immitate. Dont be fooled by cheap imitations. We know how to use our lighting and sound so the voices sound clear and are not muffled. Our DVD covers are now collectable editions with the best art work ever. We want to thank all of the fans for making us stronger than ever and we will continue to put out the best product ever for you!!
These comments are obviously shots at ROH, while at the same time showing faith in their product. RF Video apparently has the best art work ever. The only people who care about art work are the companies, as fans just want to see the product and could really care less about the box, when it's the product they pay for.

There were also alot of other quotes from both sides, showing disdain for the other company, but these quotes are enough show that there is some sort of little squabble between both companies.

Also adding to the problem is that RF Video did shoot interviews with Kamala, Butch Reed and Too Cold Scorpio after ROH did them. Other internet reports say that ROH has every right to be mad at RF Video for doing shoots right after ROH did them, but then again, RF Video was the company to take the shoot interview to this level, so RF Video has every right to be upset that ROH is doing the same thing RF Video is doing. Add in that RF Video is not allowed to run shows, to generate more money, like ROH is, then you can see why RF Video is so aggressive about their shoot interviews.

When I asked Rob Feinstein for a quote on all this, he said,
"Sean, this is why I hate internet reporters. They are always looking for something to stir up. You won't believe how many reporters have been asking me about this and writing about this. This is not a war in any way. I am going on as business as usual. There is room for any company to do shoot interviews. We are not the ones who are scared of our competition, we have faith in ourselves and know our product reputation. We welcome competition because now we work harder than ever and the fans are the ones who will win. Like I said a long time ago, we dont immitate we innovate, and that is what makes RF VIDEO #1."
Obviously, Rob is upset about this story, but at the same time, both companies press releases have created quite a stir.
ROH did not comment on this story, after being contacted.

Both companies are going all out to make their shoot interviews the best. While it may dry out the market, if both companies are doing shoots with the same guys within a weeks time of each other, the competition forces each company to work harder, and deliver the best product for the fans. Personally, I've seen only one of ROH's Shoots, (2 Cold Scorpio) and I thought it was a very good interview. I've also seen alot of RF's work, and I've enjoyed their shoots as well. I just wonder how much time ROH is putting into doing their shoot interviews, while they have the ROH product to run. Some in the wrestling business, notably Fat Frank on the Masked Maniac hotline, have said that they have enjoyed ROH better when Rob Feinstein and Doug Gentry were there. ROH is doing alot of big things this year, so I hope they don't let this shoot interview "war" affect their product. While this "war" might not technically be a war, it does seem like a pissing contest between the two companies, and that's unfortunate, because no one wants to be covered in urine, unless you have a sick fetish, and well, whatever that's your business.

Taping other companies shows is another issue between both promotions. ROH has branched out and has started taping and selling tapes of other promotions. This is the exact thing RF Video did when part of ROH. ROH is currently selling alot of indy shows off their site, most notably Norm Conners IWC. RF Video recently struck a deal with Afa's WXW, as RF Video looks for a "home" promotion to tape. Both companies are running exact business models, and will seem to butt heads at every corner.

Another thing that looks like it might cause problems between both companies is the roundtable concept, that RF Video has been hyping for some time. RF Video is going to take two wrestlers, who have had a feud, and talk to them about variety of subjects, including the feud they had. RF Video plans on doing more "On the Roads with..." and other real life situations. A few wrestlers, who asked to be unnamed, told me that ROH has contacted them to do something similar to what RF Video was hyping several weeks ago. I think this is why RF Video pushes that "We don't immitate, we innovate" phrase. It should be interesting to see what happens when either company launches the concept.

In the end, the fans will win. There is so much wrestling going on, and so much stuff being recorded in wrestling history. Shoot Interviews are excellent to watch, and both companies are doing the best and going all out to release the most amount of shoots before Christmas. Both promotions are doing conventions and are more aggressive about advertising their product. Both want to give back to the fan, and I think wrestling fans are in for alot of new stuff, with big names. I'm sure Mr. Kay Fabe isn't happy about all the abundance of shoot interviews today, but this is the wrestling business of today.

I'm sure this won't be the only issue to arise between the two sides. Who knows, maybe this will lead to a Feinstein/Gentry vs Sapolsky/Silken Cage Grudge Match. I'm sure that it would sell out the locker room.
Hey- it could happen, who ever thought they'd see Bischoff on WWE TV?

Thanks for reading.

For more on Ring of Honor, go to http://www.rohwrestling.com

For more on RF Video, go to http://www.rfvideo.com

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey
BULLSMC@aol.com