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Gabe Sapolsky Interview - ROH booker on company success, TNA, more |
» Reported by Adam Martin of WrestleView.com
» On Saturday, November 11, 2006 at 4:28 PM EST
The following was transcribed by Andy J of www.wrestlingweekly.com:
On 7th November, Wrestling Weekly hosts Doc Young and Les Thatcher were joined by Ring of Honor's head booker Gabe Sapolsky.
Gabe Sapolsky was the featured guest this week. Gabe talks about the shows in England. 500 and over a 1,000 people in Liverpool, fans from all over Europe and says it was a great thing for the company. There's been talking about having shows internationally, but England seems to be the focus at the time. Les talks about Bryan Danielson and Nigel McGuiness unification match, Gabe says that Nigel wanted to do something special on the UK show. Sapolsky says McGuiness has a bright future and can be a wrestler to build the company around and next year will be the break out year for Nigel. Les says that Nigel McGuiness was one of the wrestlers interviewed by 20/20 and highlights he has a degree in Chemistry. Gabe continues by talking about how McGuiness has a new promo style which is more emotional and heartfelt which can be seen on the most recent DVD releases by Ring of Honor, like his match before Marafuji in New York.
Les asks about Bryan Danielson, Gabe replies that Bryan is working through a lot of pain with his shoulder. He's refused to take any pain medication and in Sapolsky's words is just 'riding it out'. Gabe Sapolsky continues by stating he's offered Danielson leave but Bryan still wants to continue and that with his attitude and his matches, that Bryan Danielson is a legend in the making. Les agrees and says he enjoy's watching Danielson work. Sapolsky reiterates that he made sure that Danielson's injury wasn't career threatening. Les Thatcher then asks Gabe about Ring of Honor and why it hasn't good a television deal and seen as a national promotion yet. Sapolsky replies saying that ROH is sustaining itself financially, no one's getting rich but are at a good point. Gabe remembers a quote which Paul Heyman said which he thinks relates to Ring of Honor now, which was "Too small to be big, but too big to be small". Has to be careful that ROH doesn't reach that point.
Gabe says ROH makes high quality DVDs which are multi-region and have sales in Europe and over the world. Sapolsky clarifies that Ring of Honor does depend on DVD sales, and it would be difficult if ROH was financially dependent on ticket sales alone. Les says that he would prolong the Joe/Angle feud and says that Gabe draws the storylines out. Sapolsky states that TNA has to rush as they are have to look for the next pay-per-view buyrate and concern themselves with television rating but he has the luxury with ROH not to be under pressure, except to keep DVD sales up and says producing great matches are most important as are good storylines. They can have long, drawn out storylines which is one benefit of them not having a television deal. Les talks about Spike TV's involvement with TNA and signing Sting, Kurt Angle and makes a point about those outside of the business wanting to be involved but not understanding the product. Gabe makes a similar point himself saying that a network would know a major name from the past and sign them for ratings and to summarise this doesn't equate success.
Being a self-contained DVD business, they answer to no one, but have to listen to the ROH fan base but don't have the pressure of a network. Les Thatcher asks Gabe about the new ECW. Sapolsky says he enjoys the one hour show, could have more talent signed but is pleased that CM Punk has been given the opportunity, which he says is huge and that Paul E understands him and his character. Gabe continues by stating it's nothing like the old ECW, watching a WWE product but is a good hour of TV. Les says that he thinks ECW is better paced than TNA. Gabe Sapolksy then says that you remember everything that happened, everything sticks and this is what is lacking on TNA's 'Impact!' right now. Les makes a good point about Don West hyping up the Joe/Angle pull apart but so did Rhino/Christian and AMW/LAX, but if too many people have one, no one really cares. Gabe says that 'Impact!' doesn't seem to have an ending, they just 'cut away' to commercials.
Doc asks Gabe about Claudio Castagnoli being offered a deal with WWE. According to Sapolsky, he hasn't signed as far as he knows. (NOTE: Castagnoli officially signed a contract a couple days later.) He can see why WWE would be interested as Claudio's a tall guy, natural athlete, great natural physique and is a great talent. Gabe continues by saying Castagnoli Understands how to pull off the gimmick and understands the importance of a character which would work out well with the WWE. ChrisTheCrusher in the chatroom asks Gabe how Jim Cornette is. Sapolsky responds by saying he is awesome to deal with, gave everyone a seminar in tag team wrestling, great having him there and has finished up his one year run in ROH, for now. Has been having health problems and Gabe says he'll see what happens in the future (in regards to Cornette's return). Had a great run with Jim, helpful in the locker room. He then talks about Ricky Steamboat saying he helped out in the locker room too, which Sapolsky say's makes the entire roster and the shows themselves better.
Jimmy Bob in the chat room asks if Gabe is still friends with Paul E and why there isn't a commentary table. Gabe says that commentary is done in post-production, so there's no need to have a table for commentators. He still talks to Paul occasionally. Another question from the chat room, from DeCapo, asks if Chris Hero will ever get a shot at the big time. Gabe responds by saying Hero's in ROH, can't get any bigger than that!. Gabe is then asked a chat room question if there's a chance Ring of Honor will hit Canada. He say's Canada is tough to get everything over the border like merchandise etc. have a good following there. Sapolsky is then asked about having more British wrestlers in ROH, he says that he would love to have Doug Williams back for another run. Looking more to the British talent.
Chris in the chat room asks whats good and different about ROH. Gabe say's ROH is different because it's the only group promoting pure pro-wrestling, all types of wrestling too. At a Ring of Honor show you'll see 30, 60 minute matches, every variety, without any internal pressure. Jimmy Bob asks if Ring of Honor ended, would Gabe Sapolsky ever work for WWE. He responds by saying it would take a lot of money. Doc asks about the influence of the internet demographic on ROH's promotional strategy. Gabe says that the internet is hugely important, where most of the ROH fanbase are, word of mouth is spread, great marketing tool. Free videos up on ROHvideos.com and on Youtube.com. He talks about the ROH Video Wire which features matches, interviews/promo's and says it's like a television show which you can watch for free.
Doc asks about Jimmy Jacobs and his videos. Gabe says that it is all Jimmy's work and ran with it. He continues by saying if you know the talent, if they come up with something if it's good then run with it and as a booker not everything has to be your own idea. Doc asks if there will be more videos, Sapolsky say's that you have to be careful with over saturation, saying both videos were tremendous, not a believer in having to force things. Les talks about Tank Toland and Brent Albright debuting in ROH. Both did really well, will be putting Tank in some singles matches and Brent impressed and won the crowd over. Gabe continues by saying he has plans for him in the upcoming months.
Brent got caught in the political system, didn't work out but they hire everyone back and Brent will probably go back. Next ROH shows will be on the 24th (Long Island, New York) and 25th Les says the deal with Pro-Wrestling NOAH is a strong relationship, a long run and talks about them having interest and good publicity in Japan, paid off for both the ROH and NOAH wrestlers and when Bryan Danielson goes over, he has a reputation. Harley Race was instrumental in making it happen. Gabe say's Nigel has been working for Pro-Wrestling NOAH in Japan and could be going back to work another tour soon. He continues that McGuiness had an awesome match with Marufuji for the GHC title. Les says it was interesting decision to put the belt on a junior heavyweight, Sapolsky say's that NOAH are creating stars for the future and say's they are creating their next generation of stars, it's interesting booking and it took a lot of guts and NOAH did a great job of it.
Professor VNS asks if there is any entertainment value in booking names that fans will boo like Zach Gowen, Jeff Hardy, Teddy Hart. Gabe says that he taped a match with Delirious going over Gowen, who worked for WWE, which gives Delirious more credibility than going over someone no one's ever heard of. He says that Tank Toland had difficultly with the Philadelphia crowd and Primo getting the win made the place go nuts. Sapolsky says Philadelphia is the toughest crowd and talks about the response which Toland got from the fans but he understand it and says that Tank has a good head on his shoulders.
Doc then asks if ROH will be bringing back the Pure Wrestling title, he responds by saying no, could be having a new title but says that the Pure title ran it's course and that the rules which were gimmick also ran their course but stated that McGuiness was a great champion. Doc and Les thank Gabe for being on the show, saying he should come back on in the future and you can check out Ring of Honor at www.rohwrestling.com and the ROH video wire at www.rohvideos.com.
For more future guest information, visit www.wrestlingweekly.com and www.myspace.com/docyoung (the official Myspace home for 'Wrestling Weekly'.
Wrestling Weekly is part of Audio Wrestling www.audiowrestling.com. The Wrestling Weekly radio program featuring Doc Young and Les Thatcher can be heard every Tuesday from 8:00-10:00pm EST at www.wrestlingweekly.com.
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