Joe Koff (1951 – October 15, 2024) was an American professional wrestling personality. He is best known for his role with the promotion

Ring of Honor Ring of Honor (ROH) is an American professional wrestling promotion based in Jacksonville, Florida. The promotion was founded by Rob Feinstein on February 23, 2002, and was operated by Cary Silkin from 2004 until 2011; the promotion was subs ...

, where he worked as chief operating officer.

Life and career

Koff began to work on television in the 1980s. He was the television distributor for

Championship Wrestling from Florida Championship Wrestling from Florida (CWF) was the corporate and brand name of the Tampa, Florida professional wrestling promotion, wrestling office existing from 1961, when Eddie Graham first bought into the promotion, until 1987, when it close ...

's Battle of the Belts specials. Despite the promotion offering a full-time job, he decided to stay on television. He worked as the General Sales Manager for several radio and television stations, including WFLX-TV and WNUV. In 2003 he began to work with

Sinclair Broadcast Group Sinclair, Inc., doing business as Sinclair Broadcast Group, is a publicly traded American telecommunications conglomerate that is controlled by the descendants of company founder Julian Sinclair Smith. Headquartered in the Baltimore suburb o ...

, where he became the senior vice president of training and development. He suggested Sinclair enter the pro wrestling and proposed Ring of Honor. On May 21, 2011, Sinclair purchased the professional wrestling promotion

, and ROH's programming began airing on September 24, 2011. Koff worked for Ring of Honor as chief operating officer until May 2022, after ROH was sold to

Tony Khan Antony Rafiq Khan (born October 10, 1982) is an American businessman, sports executive, and professional wrestling promoter. He is best known as the founder, co-owner, president, CEO, executive producer, and head booker of All Elite Wrestling ...

. According Cary Silkin, Koff kept ROH alive between 2012 and 2022. Koff died from cancer on October 15, 2024, at the age of 73. After his death, Tony Khan paid tribute to him during the Ring of Honor tapings.

References

1951 births 2024 deaths Wrestling people {{US-prowrestling-bio-stub