I had two pieces in Vegas Seven last week connected to Ring of Honor’s Las Vegas events. The first was an overview of Death Before Dishonor and the subsequent TV tapings:
A global pro wrestling organization, Ring of Honor focuses more on in-ring action than World Wrestling Entertainment, the established “sports entertainment” kingpin, and its events are smaller than WWE ones with more wrestler/fan interaction. Cheap seats at a WWE event such as the recent Money in the Bank pay-per-view will put you in the upper bowl, far from the action, while cheap seats at an ROH event are on the floor, just a few rows back from the ring. It’s the difference between seeing a band at T-Mobile Arena or Brooklyn Bowl; one of them is a spectacle, the other more of a happening.
Read more: A Smack Down at Sam’s Town – Vegas Seven
You’ll get a more in-depth look at wrestling in the one on one interview I did with Jay Lethal. Here’s an excerpt that I think is particularly poignant given the results of his PPV match:
I realized that I made it in the business after having a conversation with my dad years ago. This was before my Ric Flair match, actually. It was when an action figure of mine came out. And my dad, he said, “You know, you’re getting to live your dream, you’re getting paid to do it, you’re healthy, you’re happy where you are. If you stopped wrestling today, I mean, wouldn’t you feel accomplished?” … And he was absolutely right.
Was that Lethal’s final interview in his (first) run as ROH champ? I don’t know, but I am so glad that he took the time to talk with me. He’s got a great story.