Folks, it’s a sad day in the world of wrestling. Joe Koff, the man behind some of Ring of Honor’s (ROH) biggest moments, has passed away at the age of 73 after a battle with cancer. Now, this wasn’t your average wrestling executive, no way. Koff wasn’t just pulling strings backstage; he was the guy who convinced Sinclair Broadcasting to purchase ROH in 2011, setting off a decade of unforgettable matches and talent showcases.
And let me tell you, convincing a billion-dollar media giant to buy a wrestling company? That’s no small task. That takes more than a pitch—it takes vision, persistence, and probably a couple of steel chairs to make the point clear. But Koff did it, turning ROH into a corporate subsidiary while letting the wrestlers do what they do best—without him putting on tights or climbing the ropes (which, let’s face it, would have been a sight). He kept his hands off the creative side, a true mark of someone who knows where their strengths lie. Koff was all about the big picture, and the big picture sometimes meant MSG—the Madison Square Garden joint show with New Japan Pro-Wrestling in 2019. Now that was a moment, folks.
Koff’s career didn’t just stop with ROH, though. He stayed with Sinclair as Senior Vice President of Training and Development, proving that he was a heavyweight in the media world long before the bell even rang. But his wrestling roots went even deeper. Long before he helped launch ROH into a new era, he was already in the mix, helping produce prime-time wrestling for Eddie Graham’s Championship Wrestling from Florida. This guy was involved with the business when Hulkamania was just a twinkle in someone’s eye.
Though his creative fingerprints were never on ROH’s storylines, Koff’s business decisions helped fuel the company’s rise and kept its legacy strong. In 2022, when Tony Khan bought ROH, the Sinclair era officially came to a close—but Koff’s influence, like a championship reign, will be remembered.
Rest in peace, Joe Koff. Your impact will continue to ring out in the world of professional wrestling.