The Gorilla Position recently spoke with WWE star Kevin Owens over SummerSlam weekend and got his thoughts about Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro Wrestling selling out Madison Square Garden over WrestleMania 35 weekend next year.
Owens, a former Ring of Honor World Champion, was asked if he saw this advancement as a threat to WWE. Owens disagreed, citing how it was great for everyone involved and how WWE thrives on competition when big things like this take place.
Owens did however wonder if ROH and NJPW could do this without WWE in town.
Excerpts courtesy of Fightful.
“But, I think it would be silly for people to look at these companies thriving and not feel like WWE is a big part of them thriving as well. Even Ring of Honor selling out Madison Square Garden is fantastic, it’s unbelievable. But they’re selling it out on WrestleMania weekend you know what I mean? So, I feel people should still be a bit grateful to WWE and I know a lot of people–that’s not the cool thing, to admit that WWE might not be this giant thing trying to hurt the indies. I know that’s what a lot of people feel they are but I couldn’t disagree more and I hope that one day, Ring of Honor can sell out Madison Square Garden when WWE’s not in town and I’m sure… everything points to that happening eventually and that’s amazing.”
Owens also felt the ALL IN event selling out was more impressive.
“Look at All In. All In was Cody and The Young Bucks’ idea and they took it and they ran with it and they made into something huge. Like in my opinion, All In is almost (more) impressive than Ring of Honor selling out Madison Square Garden because they did it on their own and there’s not a giant, wrestling extravaganza that same weekend in the same town–like those people are going for All In and that’s awesome. But everybody who gets to benefit from that; whether its the fans or the wrestlers, how can you call that a bad thing? Its great.”
You can check out the full interview with Owens above courtesy of Gorilla Position.