Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp had the opportunity to sit down with AEW/ROH star Shane Taylor of Shane Taylor Promotions at WrestleCon. Sean and Shane discussed numerous topics including Lee Moriarty, the six-man tag team titles, and more.Sean begins the interview by stating that the first time he interviewed Taylor was in front of the old Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. Sean mentions that Taylor will be appearing at ROH’s Final Battle PPV, which will take place at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City on Saturday, December 20th.Reflecting on his career, Taylor spoke about his journey in ROH, from winning the World Television Championship to becoming one of the prominent faces of the promotion. “It’s a homecoming,” he said, recalling his groundbreaking win as only the third Black male to hold the title in ROH’s 20-plus-year history.He praised ROH’s legacy as the birthplace of innovation in wrestling but believes that the current era has lost some of its edge. Taylor said Ring of Honor was a destination and had a reputation. He added that even the champions had a reputation for proving they were the best night in and night out. Taylor said that Ring of Honor champions stood for something in an ROH ring or outside on the Indy circuit. Taylor told Sean that outside of a few champions, such as Lee Moriarty, Athena, or Red Velvet, Ring of Honor championships are now passed around like participation trophies.Sean mentioned what an incredible talent Lee Moriarty is, and Taylor responded by saying, “The best technical wrestler in the world, bar none. Throw in your Bryan Danielson’s, throw in your Zack Sabre’s, and Lee Moriarty's name is right there.”The former ROH Television Champion told Sean that Lee was a wrestler he had scouted for years. He added, “What Lee Moriarty needed from me was me telling Lee Moriarty it’s okay to be Lee Moriarty,” Taylor explained. Taylor also spoke about the growth of Shane Taylor Promotions, highlighting the importance of adaptability and growth. He mentions that Trish Adora, Carly Bravo, and Sean Dean are joining forces under his leadership, and he envisions a collective that pushes boundaries and reshapes the wrestling landscape. Taylor repeated his commitment to making ROH a respected name in wrestling again.“I feel as though we can change and adapt to things,” Taylor said, expressing optimism for the future.Taylor mentioned Bobby Lashley’s recent remarks. He said he understood Lashley’s perspective but disagreed with him. He added, “I respect his answer, but I disagree. " Taylor pointed out that Lashley’s response reflected the systemic fear of backlash that comes with speaking out.Taylor’s pride in being a Black champion was palpable. He believes his role goes beyond personal achievement, emphasizing the responsibility of representation. “We have people that depend on us to represent them and to do it in a way that they feel seen and heard,” he said.Taylor reflected on a defining moment in Ring of Honor, Shane Taylor Promotions' iconic solidarity gesture. He said, “We wanted them to see that belief that we all had in each other. " Taylor also highlighted his storied career in ROH, discussing his rivalries and championship reigns as some of the promotion’s most impactful moments. “I believe our six-man world championship run and my TV title run are some of the most dominant stuff that Ring of Honor has ever produced,” he said.Taylor said, “When you step into a Ring of Honor ring, you had better be ready to stand on that reputation and exceed it,” he asserted. Taylor’s goal is to restore prestige and honor to the ROH championships.Calling out current titleholders of the ROH Tag Team Championship, Dustin Rhodes and Sammy Guevara, and also mentioned The Von Erichs, who are the 6-man Ring of Honor Tag Team Champions with Rhodes.In closing, Taylor challenged them directly, “Right now, you are walking around with stolen property. As of right now, you are simply just in our way.”You can follow Shane Taylor on X or Instagram at @shane216taylor.
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