In 2018, Cody Rhodes, Kenny Omega, and the Young Bucks organized an enormous independent wrestling show referred to as All In, though they didn’t do it alone. One figure who was instrumental to the primary All In was Joe Koff, the previous CEO of Ring of Honor who passed away in 2024. In exchange for helping put the event together, Koff’s ROH would own the footage for its library, but Koff made the choice to not force All In’s organizers to place his company’s name within the title.
Speaking on “Busted Open Radio,” Bully Ray revealed that he advised Koff against this.
“Joe Koff asked me … how I felt about [All In]. I said, ‘I feel it’s an excellent idea,'” Bully said. “I fully supported Cody and the Bucks and Kenny in wanting to see their vision come to life. I assumed it was great, but I said, ‘Joe, Ring of Honor’s name must be on the poster.’ … Since the perception will likely be that these guys did every little thing on their very own.”
In response to that, Koff (in accordance with Bully) patted him on the shoulder and said, “Allow them to do their little show.” Not reassured, Bully still felt that it was a mistake for the promotion.
Koff believed that the corporate’s All In involvement would lay the groundwork for an ROH Madison Square Garden event with Latest Japan Pro-Wrestling, which did find yourself going down. That show was financially successful but was seen as a disappointment by many fans when it comes to quality and entertainment value.
Rhodes, Omega, and the Jackson brothers wound up leaving ROH and NJPW shortly thereafter, helping form All Elite Wrestling when their contracts expired. Just a couple of years later, when media conglomerate Sinclair put ROH up on the market, it was AEW President Tony Khan who bought it, securing the footage to All In together with the remainder of the corporate’s video library.
If you happen to use any of the quotes in this text, please credit “Busted Open Radio” and supply a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.