ROH World Champion Mark Briscoe boasts a rich history with the promotion, a fact underscored by his and his late brother Jay’s induction as the inaugural members of the promotion’s Hall of Fame.
Reflecting on his tenure during the early days of Sinclair, Inc.’s ownership of ROH, Briscoe recently shared his thoughts during an appearance on “Busted Open Radio.”
While the “Sinclair Era” has faced criticism from some fans, Briscoe expressed unwavering confidence in ROH’s future.
“I never doubted the future of Ring of Honor,” he affirmed. “We always had an amazing roster.”
Despite his commendation of the roster and former COO Joe Koff, Briscoe acknowledged a subdued atmosphere during that period.
“He was an amazing boss, but with all the Sinclair Broadcasting guys, as great as they were, I felt the spirit of Ring of Honor was somewhat stifled,” he admitted.
During this era, wrestlers were bound by exclusive contracts, limiting their ability to pursue independent opportunities.
Briscoe, however, remains optimistic about ROH’s trajectory, drawing parallels to its founding days, which filled the void left by the demise of ECW and WCW.
“It was like Ring of Honor was that new revolution, and then it got to that point,” he reflected, while conceding that there were moments of uncertainty.
“I would be lying if I didn’t say there was a time when I was thinking, ‘Man, this doesn’t quite feel the same.'”
As ROH transitions under Tony Khan’s stewardship, Briscoe remains hopeful for its future.
“Every iteration of Ring of Honor has exemplified perseverance,” he remarked. “I’m just glad that we’re in good hands now. Things are looking up.”
