Matt Taven Talks ROH Best in the World, NJPW, and the Conspiracy

Credit: RING OF HONOR/James Musselwhite

Winning the IWGP Tag Team Titles with Michael Bennett

Josiah MacDonald: You got to spend some time working in New Japan Pro Wrestling with Michael Bennett, taking The Kingdom to Japan and winning the IWGP Tag Team Championship. Could you tell us a bit about what that time was like for you?

MT: At the time you don’t really appreciate it, but you do when you look back on it. Me and Mike don’t see each other as much as we used to, but when we do meet up, we say, “Remember when we did this? That was cool.” Looking back on it, it was more other people’s reaction too. You’re going so much in professional wrestling that you don’t really have a chance to smell the roses. It’s go, go, go, and worrying about making your career progress forward.

I remember it like it was yesterday, after it happened, even with the 13-hour time difference between here and Japan, our phones were blowing up and people were making it into a big deal for our career. That’s when it set in, and I thought, “We did do this.” I grew up knowing about the IWGP Tag Titles and all these tag teams like The Road Warriors and seeing the titles on WCW as a kid. My name is on that list. I’m sure I don’t appreciate the magnitude of it today, but when wrestling is all said and done, looking back on my career, winning the IWGP Tag Titles in a sold-out Sumo Hall will be one of the stories I tell to my grandkids.

JMD: Speaking of New Japan, could we ever see you appear in a tournament like the G1 or The Kingdom make an appearance to go after the NEVER Six-Man Tag Team titles?

MT: One of the big things about this match coming up at Best in the World is that we’re facing the former NEVER Openweight Six-Man Champs. Once we win, because that’s what the Kingdom does, I want New Japan to recognize it. I want the Ring of Honor Six-Man Champs against the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Champs. Let’s go to Mexico too. Let’s go to CMLL, and let’s find out who the best trio is in the world. I’ll put The Kingdom against any trio out there. If New Japan wants it, so do we.