The revitalization of the Ring of Honor women’s division has certainly been a highlight of the wrestling world since the calendar turned to 2021. While it’s not for a lack of effort on the part of ROH – last year’s women’s tournament was a casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic – this year has certainly been the biggest step forward for the division in quite some time. A large part of that has been the presence of Maria Kanellis-Bennett, who not only was recently added to the Ring of Honor board of directors but has been a major influence on the future direction of the women’s division itself. Whether it be announcing the women’s tournament itself or her involvement on the recruiting side of the promotion, Kanellis-Bennett has already made a major tangible impact on the division both on-and-off screen.

One name often mentioned when talking about potential additions to ROH’s women’s division is that of LuFisto. While the Canadian wrestling icon made an appearance for Ring of Honor in 2009 against Daizee Haze, the over 20-year veteran has never been under any sort of full-time deal with the promotion.

However, after hearing Kanellis-Bennett speak highly of LuFisto in previous interviews, I had to take the opportunity to ask her about the potential of the Canadian icon making a return to ROH in the near future.

LuFisto in ROH?

“One other individual that I do specifically have to ask on – and I’m certain you won’t be able to tell me either way – but you know, every Monday I noticed that LuFisto is out there tweeting about #watchROH,” I asked coyly. “I also know that you’ve talked very, very highly of her in the past. So maybe again, take me through her influence on women’s wrestling and yourself specifically.”

“Is there maybe some room for a good Canadian in the ROH women’s division?”

“All right, this is another COVID thing. COVID has put a lot of dampers on a lot of things,” admitted Kanellis-Bennett. “So I don’t know. That is the honest to goodness truth. I just don’t know.”

“Do I think that she’s an asset to women’s wrestling? Of course I do,” continued the First Lady of Professional Wrestling. “I think that she is one of the best-kept secrets in women’s wrestling ever. She is highly talented, been in the ring with so many talented women, helped the careers of so many women and I think now is a fantastic opportunity for her to shine.

Can that be possible? I don’t know. If I could have like a magic wand and like, be like, ‘and you’re in the tournament!’ Yes, that’s great. Maybe we should call Harry Potter!”

“But, I was gonna say, it turns into a lot more than a 16-person bracket at that point, too,” I commented on the possibility of international appearances in the tournament.

Kanellis agreed. “I mean, I would love to have 32, but that’s not going to happen,” she stated.

“If I had all the international girls, I’d be pulling from all over. But, I can’t. I don’t know. So yeah. We’ll just leave it as I don’t know. I’m trying really hard to get [them] but I can’t fight the government so it is what it is.”

Please credit Spencer Love/Love Wrestling with any of the above quotations.

If you’re a fan of Ring of Honor, chances are you’re a fan of Quinn McKay.

As simple as the statement may be, it’s far from a false one. Since joining Ring of Honor as a backstage correspondent nearly two years ago, McKay has consistently been one of the most entertaining parts of the promotion’s weekly programming. Her bubbly personality and over-the-top enthusiasm has earned her recognition as one of the best and brightest personalities in wrestling today, and rightfully so.

However, before there was Quinn McKay, backstage reporter, there was the wrestler. In fact, McKay was the first female ever signed to a Ring of Honor developmental contract following her training at the ROH dojo with current PURE Champion Jonathan Gresham. “Simply put, she was a natural athlete with a unique look and a positive demeanor,” Gresham has said. “To me, that’s something valuable and needed in any company.”

Despite rave reviews from a number of Ring of Honor’s top stars, McKay hasn’t had the opportunity to showcase herself inside an ROH ring – yet. Tonight, she’ll make her official in-ring debut with Ring of Honor, facing off against seven-time Women’s Champion Angelina Love in a qualifying match for this summer’s upcoming women’s tournament.

With all of that to consider, I had to ask Ring of Honor Board of Directors member Maria Kanellis-Bennett about McKay, and what she believes is going to differentiate her in a tournament with some of wrestling’s top female stars.

“Quinn McKay. Talk to me a little bit about her! You mentioned, obviously, [having] the best high flyers, the best mat wrestlers, the best everything, including obviously the best backstage interviewer in the game today. She’s a bit of a wild card as far as it goes. I know she’s wrestled before [and] done a great job of that. But, this will be her official Ring of Honor in-ring debut. What do you think she’s going to bring? And then, just take me through the experience of working with her backstage.”

Kanellis smiled as she began her answer.

“One thing that Quinn said to me that really has stuck with me is when she says she’s going to do something, she does it, and she does it 200%,” Kanellis stated. “You can see that with how she is in her backstage interviewing. You can see it when she’s training, when she’s been preparing for this match. Her devotion to the craft, the way that she studies it, while she’s in the gym. Her integrity is going to be all the difference in the world.

Sometimes that pure will will make up for years of experience. That is what I really admire about her. That’s what makes her stand out.”

Backstage

As a former backstage interviewer herself, Kanellis has a unique perspective on the intricacies of the job and the talent required to be successful at it. It’s something that comes naturally to McKay, says Kanellis, praising her eye for detail as a backstage personality.

“Working with her backstage as an interviewer? It’s like I’m going back to school in a lot of ways. She’s such a natural, she’s quick-witted, and she’s highly intelligent. She pays attention to what everybody is doing and where they want to go, whether it be their character, or what titles they want to go after.

She can keep all that information in her very tiny shell. So I admire that. I definitely admire that.”

Please credit Spencer Love/Love Wrestling with any of the above quotations.