Rob Feinstein Attempting to Revive RF Video

The landscape of professional wrestling media is facing a controversial blast from the past as Rob Feinstein, the original founder of Ring of Honor and the long-time proprietor of RF Video, has reportedly begun efforts to relaunch his video distribution empire. Sources within the industry suggest that Feinstein is attempting to capitalise on the current nostalgia for 1990s and early 2000s independent wrestling by digitising his vast library of Shoot Interviews and master tapes for a new subscription-based streaming platform.

The move comes more than two decades after the massive scandal in 2004 that fundamentally altered the course of North American wrestling. In March of that year, Feinstein was the target of an internet-based sting operation conducted by the group Perverted Justice in collaboration with an NBC affiliate in Philadelphia. Feinstein was caught on camera arriving at a set-up location under the belief that he was meeting a 14-year-old boy for a sexual encounter. The resulting fallout was immediate and devastating; within 24 hours of the news breaking, Feinstein was forced to resign from all executive positions within Ring of Honor and RF Video.

The impact of the 2004 scandal nearly killed the fledgling Ring of Honor promotion in its infancy. In the immediate aftermath, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling terminated its talent-sharing agreement with the company, pulling major stars like AJ Styles and Christopher Daniels from scheduled events. The moral outcry forced a complete restructuring of the promotion, with Doug Gentry and eventually Cary Silkin taking over ownership to distance the brand from its disgraced founder. While Feinstein eventually returned to the helm of RF Video, he remained a pariah in the mainstream industry, with many of the business's biggest names, including Samoa Joe, publicly denouncing his actions.

Backstage reactions to the 2026 relaunch news have been overwhelmingly negative, reflecting the deep-seated animosity that many veterans still hold toward Feinstein. High-profile figures within the industry have reportedly cautioned current talent against participating in any new projects associated with the brand, citing the ethical cloud that has hung over Feinstein for over twenty years. Several performers who appeared in RF Video’s famous Shoot Interviews in the past have also begun exploring legal avenues to prevent the reuse of their likenesses on any new digital platform, potentially stalling the relaunch before it truly begins.

The timing of this attempted comeback is particularly curious given the current corporate climate of professional wrestling. With TKO and AEW placing a heavy emphasis on talent wellness and strict vetting processes, the re-emergence of a figure as divisive as Feinstein is seen as an unnecessary distraction. Industry analysts suggest that while the historical value of the RF Video library—which includes rare footage of stars like CM Punk and Bryan Danielson in their formative years—is undeniably high, the baggage associated with the owner may prove to be too significant a barrier for any mainstream success. Despite the backlash, those close to the project indicate that Feinstein remains undeterred, though the wrestling world appears more united than ever in its refusal to look back.