Cary Silkin, who has been with ROH (Ring Of Honor) since their inception back on February 23rd, 2002, recently appeared on the Talk Is Jericho podcast and talked about how he has seen it a thousand times when top talents would leave the company once an opportunity is presented to them, but that they move on and a spot would open up for others.
Cary Silkin said:
“What I learned and what I saw happen right before my eyes, and you’ve seen it 1,000 times. It elevated other guys.” “It opened up space for other guys so this way the Jamie Noble’s, the Austin Aries, the Seth Rollins and the Kevin Steens/Owens and the El Generico/Sami Zayns and the Eddie Edwards, and we can go on and on. It opened up spots.”
Cary Silkin also spoke about how the ones that made the most impact in leaving the company were Bryan Danielson and Nigel McGuinness, but that they were able to resolve it in quick fashion when he called Jim Cornette and Homicide to come into the company.
Cary Silkin said:
“Both Bryan Danielson and Nigel McGuinness were leaving. I’m like, ‘what the hell are we going to do?’ I called Cornette, who just got fired from Impact or quit, one of the two.” “I had Jim come to New York as a surprise, I also had Homicide, I had him come back to that show as a surprise. It was sort of like a magic trick. As bad it was to lose Bryan and Nigel, when they saw Cornette and the way that he was presented, when they saw Homicide and the way that he was presented, it put a band-aid on it.”
Cary Silkin also talked about how he believes ROH was the only company to provide insurance for an 18 or 16 month period.
Cary Silkin said:
“I think we were the only company, I think it might have been a 12 or 16, or 18 month period of time that provided insurance. It wasn’t all of them but the big names.” “We had an insurance policy in the office.”
Cary Silkin also spoke about how the WWE would watch the product on a regular basis and scout talent, which is how they got talents like Seth Rollins and Adam Cole.
Cary Silkin said:
“WWE, even more than TNA, was watching us and watching these guys and cherry-picking along the way. There’s Tyler Black, Seth Rollins really kicking ass, well, they’re calling him. It went on, and on, and on.” “Then here comes Adam Cole and here comes Kyle O’Reilly, and this one and that one.”
Cary Silkin also talked about how top talents in ROH at the time like Rollins and McGuinness couldn't go to WWE or TNA or even compete on certain independent shows, but that all changed and if they would get an opportunity, then he would allow them to pursue it.
Cary Silkin said:
“The top name guys, the Seth Rollins’ were under contracts. And the rules of the contracts were you could do anything you want except go to WWE, go to TNA, and you can’t do any of the few independent PPVs that exist at the time. But, along the way a guy like, let’s just say Nigel in 2006. ‘Hey man, I got an offer to go to a tryout, WWE, they want to look at me.’ I was like, ‘go, go ahead.’” “If these guys got an opportunity, it’s not like they’d just jump and run. But if they got an opportunity, I would allow them to explore it.”
Cary Silkin also talked about what his all-time favorite match from ROH is.
Cary Silkin said:
“I’ll tell you the greatest match and if you’ve never seen it, watch it. Samoa Joe against Kobashi in New York City. It was our first New York City show.” “Samoa Joe was sitting behind the curtain, not in the locker room, for like two hours. Kobashi didn’t even show up to the building. If the match started at 10:30, he showed up at like 9:45 and they just went out and they did it. It’s an absolute classic, that would be my all-time favorite match.”
Cary Silkin then talked about how Nigel McGuinness and Bryan Danielson would have a classic match and how these are two guys that can wrestle and do absolutely anything for the sport.
Cary Silkin said:
“Nigel McGuinness, it’s just a shame he didn’t have a longer career. Him and Bryan Danielson used to have these wars.” “There’s a classic match from Liverpool where these guys are headbutting each other like billy goats. These are two guys that can wrestle, but they’re going to do anything for the sport, and that comes to mind.”
You can check out Cary Silkin's full comments at this link. H/T to Wrestling Inc. for transcribing the above quotes.
