SEScoops

Category: ROH

  • Bully Ray: ‘Ring of Honor Has Created More Stars Of Today Than Any Other Company’

    Bully Ray: ‘Ring of Honor Has Created More Stars Of Today Than Any Other Company’

    Bully Ray believes Ring of Honor deserves credit for creating many of the stars that are renowned today.

    ROH held its Final Battle PPV event this past Saturday (Dec. 11). The main event saw Jonathan Gresham defeat Jay Lethal to become the ROH World Champion. This was the final event before ROH goes on hiatus.

    Back in October, Ring of Honor announced that it will be going dark to undergo a “reconceptualizing” process. It was later revealed that the company planned to release all of its on-air talent.

    Bully Ray Praises ROH’s History Creating Stars

    • (via PWI)

    We’ve seen plenty of fan favorites get their first run in ROH. That fact isn’t lost on Bully Ray, who gave the company its due during an episode of Busted Open Radio.

    “Pound-for-pound Ring of Honor has created more stars of today than any other company. We talk about ECW and how ECW changed the landscape of a wrestling business.

    “Very few ECW guys came out of ECW and were considerably more successful than they were in ECW as Ring of Honor. I mean, the list goes on and on. From the Samoa Joes, to the AJ Styles’, to the Seth Rollins’, to the CM Punks, yadda yadda.

    “Star after star after star and that’s why so many other companies, including NXT in its early days, mimicked everything that went on in Ring of Honor because Ring of Honor was truly giving wrestling fans an alternative in-ring style to what they were seeing in the WWE.”

    Many stars who made their first big mark in the industry under the ROH banner made pre-taped appearances at Final Battle. Some of the names include CM Punk, Bryan Danielson, and Adam Cole.

    It’ll be interesting to see where some of the ROH wrestlers will end up.

    Please H/T SEScoops with a link if you use any quotes from this article

  • Jonathan Gresham Wants To Defend ROH Title Against CM Punk & Bryan Danielson

    Jonathan Gresham Wants To Defend ROH Title Against CM Punk & Bryan Danielson

    Jonathan Gresham defeated Jay Lethal in the main event of Final Battle 2021. The event represented the end of an era for Ring of Honor. The promotion is now moving forward without keeping any talent on contract. When the company announced its change in business plans, it also noted there are plans to hold a return event in April during WrestleMania week.

    New ROH World Champion Jonathan Gresham spoke to Sports Illustrated recently and noted that it is up to him to keep the spirit of ROH alive.

    “Final Battle was a night that was full circle for me,” Gresham says. “I spent a lot of time with the fans at ringside. There were so many people there I knew—from the independents, from seminars, fans from smaller independent shows, like NOVA Pro [in Virginia], guys that stayed on my couch during our travels—and everyone kept telling me they had to see me win the Ring of Honor title. I have enjoyed this entire ride, so all of that meant the world to me.”

    “As champion, it is up to me to keep the spirit and the essence of Ring of Honor alive,” Gresham says. “I will preserve and protect Pure wrestling as Ring of Honor world champion.”

    Gresham continued to say that he plans on making the Ring of Honor title the most important championship in wrestling. To do that, Gresham says, he has to wrestle CM Punk and Bryan Danielson.

    “I am going to make this championship the best wrestling title in the world,” he says. “In order to do that, I need to wrestle two men who helped make the Ring of Honor title the best in the world: Bryan Danielson and CM Punk.”

    Gresham is the 29th wrestler to win the ROH World Championship. His victory at Final Battle 2021 was the 36th title change in the championships lineage. Adam Cole is the only wrestler to win the title 3x. Jay Lethal has spent the most time as champion at 707 days. Samoa Joe holds the record for the longest single reign with the belt at 645 days.

    The full article can be read here.

  • Watch: ‘The Titan’ Adam Scherr Appears at ROH Final Battle

    Watch: ‘The Titan’ Adam Scherr Appears at ROH Final Battle

    ‘The Titan’ Adam Scherr made a surprise appearance at the ROH Final Battle event and he apparently joined a new faction led by EC3.

    One of the matches on the show saw Brody King, Homicide, Rocky Romero and Tony Deppen defeating Eli Isom, Taylor Rust, Tracy Williams & EC3.

    After the bout was over, EC3 picked up the mic and cut a promo on ROH management. He claimed that there is no honor in this.

    EC3 discussed how he has previously suffered the humiliation of being fired. At one point, Brian Johnson came out and got in the former WWE star’s face.

    3 claimed that he wants the people in the ring to join him for freedom. He then told Johnson to ‘free the titan.’

    https://twitter.com/ringofhonor/status/1469867452569952259

    The former Braun Strowman made his way to the ring to the shock of the fans. The star real name Adam Scherr cleared the ring of the other competitors of the match.

    EC3 announced that this wasn’t an invasion and it’s an awakening. Strowman then chokeslamed Eli Isom to the mat as ROH fans chanted.

    The segment ended with Adam Scherr, EC3 and two other stars standing tall in the ring. EC3 told the people that they had been warned.

    Update On ROH Selling Its Tape Library
  • Update on Chelsea Green’s Future with Ring of Honor

    Update on Chelsea Green’s Future with Ring of Honor

    Chelsea Green is set to appear on the end of an era ROH Final Battle 2021 PPV card tonight, in what could end up being Ring of Honor’s final ever pay-per-view event.

    Green will be teaming with The Hex to take on Miranda Alize and The Allure on the actual card itself.

    According to a report from Fightful Select, Chelsea Green is currently on a per-appearance deal with the company, meaning that she will likely not be getting any live event pay from ROH until at least 2022.

    Fightful noted: “Chelsea Green confirmed to us that she’s on a per date deal with the company.”

    Green does also work independent dates as well as being part of the IMPACT Knockouts division.

    It is not confirmed if Green will be returning to ROH if and when they come back from their hiatus, but it is clear that she will not be getting paid by the company unlike other contracted stars who have deals that run until the end of March 2022.

    Chelsea Green ROH Contract Update

    Here’s the full card for the PPV event tonight:

    • Jonathan Gresham vs Jay Lethal
    • ROH Tag Team Championships Match: The OGK vs The Briscoes
    • Ring of Honor Pure Championship Match: Josh Woods vs Brian Johnson
    • ROH TV Championship Match: Dalton Castle vs Rhett Titus vs Silas Young vs Joe Hendry
    • Ring of Honor Six-Man Tag Team Championships Match: Shane Taylor Promotions vs The Righteous
    • ROH Women’s Championship Match: Rok-C vs Willow
    • Fight Without Honor: Shane Taylor vs Kenny King
    • Homicide, Brody King & Tony Deppen vs Taylor Rust, Tracy Williams & Eli Isom
    • Dragon Lee vs Rey Horus
    • Chelsea Green and The Hex vs Miranda Alize and The Allure
  • ROH Final Battle 2021: Full Card, How To Watch and Worldwide Start Times

    ROH Final Battle 2021: Full Card, How To Watch and Worldwide Start Times

    ROH Final Battle 2021 is the end of an era for Ring of Honor in more ways than one, with the company set to go on a hiatus until 2022 following this PPV event.

    Several issues have already plagued the card, with the ROH Championship match between Bandido and Jonathan Gresham having already been pulled due to Bandido testing positive for COVID-19.

    Having said that, there are still a number of big matches on the card and some “surprises” coming that could be exciting for fans watching the show live or on-demand.

    Final Battle Full Card

    Here’s the full card for the PPV event tonight:

    • Jonathan Gresham vs Jay Lethal
    • ROH Tag Team Championships Match: The OGK vs The Briscoes
    • Ring of Honor Pure Championship Match: Josh Woods vs Brian Johnson
    • ROH TV Championship Match: Dalton Castle vs Rhett Titus vs Silas Young vs Joe Hendry
    • Ring of Honor Six-Man Tag Team Championships Match: Shane Taylor Promotions vs The Righteous
    • ROH Women’s Championship Match: Rok-C vs Willow
    • Fight Without Honor: Shane Taylor vs Kenny King
    • Homicide, Brody King & Tony Deppen vs Taylor Rust, Tracy Williams & Eli Isom
    • Dragon Lee vs Rey Horus
    • Chelsea Green and The Hex vs Miranda Alize and The Allure

    How To Watch

    ROH Final Battle 2021 is available to watch on Honor Club, which is available to subscribe to via FITE TV.

    HonorClub VIP is a special annual membership that includes everything from Ring of Honor including FREE unlimited streaming access to all ROH Pay Per Views!

    HonorClub membership provides access to ROH On Tour, TV episodes, ROH TV archive, ROH historical footage, HDNet exclusive interviews, compilations, and 50% OFF all ROH Pay Per Views.

    Final Battle Worldwide Start Times

    ROH Final Battle 2021 is set to start at the following times globally:

    • United States – December 11, 2021 8 PM EST/7 PM Central/5 PM PST
    • Canada December 11, 2021 7 PM CST
    • United Kingdom – December 11, 2021 1 AM GMT/1 AM BST
    • Europe – December 11, 2021 2 PM CEST
    • India – December 12, 2021 6:30 AM IST
    • Australia – December 12, 2021 12 PM AEST
    • Japan – December 12, 2021 10 AM JST
    • Saudi Arabia – December 12, 2021 4:30 AM SAST

  • Shane Taylor Wants Big Time Title Matches Outside of ROH

    Shane Taylor Wants Big Time Title Matches Outside of ROH

    ROH star Shane Taylor spoke to the Battleground podcast ahead of his Final Battle match against Kenny King.

    The Ring of Honor star discussed several topics during the interview, including how he plans on facing major Champions outside of the company going forward.

    “I make no bones about it that I see myself as a world champion of any company” Taylor began. “As it stands currently, Hangman Page, Moose, Hammerstone, Shingo Takagi, somebody, somewhere is going to lose their spot. 

    “I’m telling you right now. The next few weeks, enjoy the time that you have with your championship, enjoy your time at the top of the ladder, enjoy your time on the throne because in a few weeks, I’m coming to take it all from you” Taylor continued. 

    “I forgot one. Will Ospreay. I can’t disrespect my guy like that because like he’s been saying, he’s the real IWGP World Champion, so I would be disrespecting him if I didn’t mention his name as well” the ROH star concluded.

    Shane Taylor on World Champions

    Here’s the full card for the PPV event tonight:

    • Jonathan Gresham vs Jay Lethal
    • ROH Tag Team Championships Match: The OGK vs The Briscoes
    • Ring of Honor Pure Championship Match: Josh Woods vs Brian Johnson
    • ROH TV Championship Match: Dalton Castle vs Rhett Titus vs Silas Young vs Joe Hendry
    • Ring of Honor Six-Man Tag Team Championships Match: Shane Taylor Promotions vs The Righteous
    • ROH Women’s Championship Match: Rok-C vs Willow
    • Fight Without Honor: Shane Taylor vs Kenny King
    • Homicide, Brody King & Tony Deppen vs Taylor Rust, Tracy Williams & Eli Isom
    • Dragon Lee vs Rey Horus
    • Chelsea Green and The Hex vs Miranda Alize and The Allure
  • Danhausen Potentially Appearing at ROH Final Battle 2021

    Danhausen Potentially Appearing at ROH Final Battle 2021

    Despite being injured and unable to officially compete, Danhausen is reportedly making his way to the site of ROH Final Battle 2021 today.

    It was recently confirmed by Fightful Select that the “Very Nice, Very Evil” star was set to be travelling today, and it looks as though he will be making somewhat of an appearance on the PPV tonight.

    Fightful noted that “we’ve also learned that despite his injury, and signing in Chicago this weekend, Danhausen was slated to travel to the site of Final Battle.”

    Again it is unconfirmed at this time if Danhausen will be appearing on the PPV itself, but it would certainly make sense for the injured star to do so if able.

    Danhausen at Final Battle 2021

    Here’s the full card for the PPV event tonight:

    • Jonathan Gresham vs Jay Lethal
    • ROH Tag Team Championships Match: The OGK vs The Briscoes
    • Ring of Honor Pure Championship Match: Josh Woods vs Brian Johnson
    • ROH TV Championship Match: Dalton Castle vs Rhett Titus vs Silas Young vs Joe Hendry
    • Ring of Honor Six-Man Tag Team Championships Match: Shane Taylor Promotions vs The Righteous
    • ROH Women’s Championship Match: Rok-C vs Willow
    • Fight Without Honor: Shane Taylor vs Kenny King
    • Homicide, Brody King & Tony Deppen vs Taylor Rust, Tracy Williams & Eli Isom
    • Dragon Lee vs Rey Horus
    • Chelsea Green and The Hex vs Miranda Alize and The Allure
  • AEW Boss Tony Khan Plans To Assist ROH For Final Battle

    AEW Boss Tony Khan Plans To Assist ROH For Final Battle

    AEW head honcho Tony Khan will be lending a helping hand to ROH.

    Ring of Honor is preparing for a hiatus. The company will be holding its Final Battle PPV event this Saturday (Dec. 11). This will be the last event for ROH before the company goes dark. ROH hopes to return in April.

    ROH will be releasing all of its on-air talent in the midst of its “reconceptualizing” phase. We’ve already seen Jay Lethal get out of his contract early to take a deal with AEW.

    Tony Khan Helping Out With ROH Final Battle

    Tony Khan spoke to the folks at Busted Open Radio and while he didn’t go into much detail, he did reveal that he’ll be helping out ROH with the show (h/t F4WOnline).

    “I’ll be doing some things to support them in their last show to make it a good show for them. …Over the weekend, I am going to lend some support to them and try and help them out because it’s the right thing to do.”

    As it turns out, Jay Lethal is part of the help from Khan. He will be taking on Jonathan Gresham.

    ROH could use some additional help as a big blow was dealt to the Final Battle card. ROH World Champion Bandido will miss the show after testing positive for COVID-19. Bandido recently competed in a AAA Mega Championship match.

  • Jay Lethal Returns To ROH To Wrestle Jonathan Gresham At Final Battle

    Jay Lethal Returns To ROH To Wrestle Jonathan Gresham At Final Battle

    Jay Lethal will be returning to Ring of Honor to face Jonathan Gresham at Final Battle. Gresham had originally been scheduled to face Bandido for the ROH World Championship on the card. Bandido had to pull out of the show due to testing positive for COVID-19, however.

    “This match is about more than winning or losing, more than who’s the best or what championship we hold,” Lethal said. “This match is about showing the world what this era of Ring of Honor is and I can’t wait to get back into the ring with one of the best wrestlers I know tomorrow night, Jonathan Gresham.”

    ROH has said they will address the World Title situation during the first hour of Final Battle.

    Gresham vs Lethal will be one-half of a double main event on the show. The Briscoes challenging the OKC (Mike Bennett and Matt Taven) will be the other. The updated lineup for the show is below:

    1. Jay Lethal vs Jonathan Gresham
    2. ROH World Tag Team Championships
      The OGK (Matt Taven and Mike Bennett) (c) vs. The Briscoe Brothers (Mark Briscoe and Jay Briscoe)
    3. ROH Women’s World Championship
      Rok-C (c) vs. Willow Nightingale
    4. ROH 6-Man Tag Team Championships
      Shane Taylor Promotions (Jasper Kaun, Moses Maddox, and O’Shay Edwards) (with Ron Hunt) (c) vs. The Righteous (Vincent, Bateman, and Dutch) (with Vita VonStarr)
    5. ROH Television Championship
      Dalton Castle (c) vs TBD
    6. ROH Pure Championship
      Josh Woods (c) vs. Brian Johnson
    7. Kenny King vs Shane Taylor
    8. Eli Isom, Taylor Rust, and Tracy Williams vs. VLNCE UNLTD (Brody King, Homicide, and Tony Deppen)
  • Bandido Tests Positive For COVID-19, Will Miss ROH Final Battle

    Bandido Tests Positive For COVID-19, Will Miss ROH Final Battle

    ROH World Champion Bandido will not be competing at Final Battle.

    Ring of Honor is set to hold its final event before going on hiatus. The event will be taking place on Dec. 11 in Baltimore, Maryland. The company will then be going dark but hopes to make its return in April.

    Bandido Missing Final Battle

    ROH has announced that Bandido will not be taking part in Final Battle as he has tested positive for COVID-19.

    “Unfortunately, ROH World Champion Bandido returned a positive result on his most recent Covid Testing and will not be present at Final Battle this Saturday, December 11th in Baltimore.

    “Thank you for continuously supporting Ring of Honor through it all and we appreciate your understanding that safety and health of our talents, staff and fans are our top priorities.

    “Stay tuned for match updates regarding Final Battle 2021 as we commemorate the history-making era that is coming to an end.”

    With the news, Bandido is essentially done with ROH. The company will be releasing all of its on-air talent during the hiatus. We’ve already seen Jay Lethal get out of his contract early and make the jump to AEW.

    Time will tell what’s next for Bandido. He has competed for the likes of NJPW and AAA in the past. Bandido even competed for the AAA Mega Championship recently. He made his exit from CMLL earlier this year.

  • ROH Announces Full Card For “End of An Era” Final Battle PPV

    ROH Announces Full Card For “End of An Era” Final Battle PPV

    Ring of Honor has announced its full card for the “End of an Era” Final Battle PPV. The show is the last live event officially announced by the promotion. The company is switching to no longer utilizing contracted talent moving forward.

    ROH Final Battle will take place Saturday, October 11th, 2021 from the Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena in Baltimore, Maryland.

    1. ROH World Championship
      Bandido (c) vs Jonathan Gresham
    2. ROH World Tag Team Championships
      The OGK (Matt Taven and Mike Bennett) (c) vs. The Briscoe Brothers (Mark Briscoe and Jay Briscoe)
    3. ROH Women’s World Championship
      Rok-C (c) vs. Willow Nightingale
    4. ROH 6-Man Tag Team Championships
      Shane Taylor Promotions (Jasper Kaun, Moses Maddox, and O’Shay Edwards) (with Ron Hunt) (c) vs. The Righteous (Vincent, Bateman, and Dutch) (with Vita VonStarr)
    5. ROH Television Championship
      Dalton Castle (c) vs TBD
    6. ROH Pure Championship
      Josh Woods (c) vs. Brian Johnson
    7. Kenny King vs Shane Taylor
    8. Eli Isom, Taylor Rust, and Tracy Williams vs. VLNCE UNLTD (Brody King, Homicide, and Tony Deppen)

    While no future dates have officially been unveiled for Ring of Honor, they announced in October their intention to run an event in Dallas over WrestleMania week.

    “We anticipate returning to live events in April for the Super Card of Honor with a new fan-focused product and provide a unique experience for wrestling fans,” reads ROH’s statement announcing their hiatus after Final Battle.

  • Jonathan Gresham Says He’ll Continue With ROH Without A Contract

    Jonathan Gresham Says He’ll Continue With ROH Without A Contract

    Following ROH’s Final Battle PPV on December 11th, it’s not clear what Ring of Honor will look like. Jonathan Gresham says he’s loyal to the company, however, and he will continue to work with them even without a contract. He recently spoke to Fightful about his plans.

    “Everyone who knows anything about me knows that I am on this boat until it sinks. My contract will expire in December, but even with no contract, I am loyal to Ring of Honor until the end,” Gresham said.

    Gresham also said that Ring of Honor changed his life, and he’ll always be loyal to them for that.

    “It definitely has been a huge part of my life and it changed my life. I was on a different path and a different road, getting in trouble, and then I found Ring of Honor. I was already wrestling, but I found Ring of Honor and I became obsessed.”

    Gresham also recently announced he’s starting his own promotion:

    Dalton Castle Comments On His ROH Status

    Former ROH World Champion, Dalton Castle, also recently commented on his ROH status. Castle noted that the most recent television tapings felt meaningless, and that everyone knows they are out of a job soon.

    “I’ve only got two months left on my contract before I am completely fired … Ring Of Honor is giving us all the boot at the end of the year,” Castle said on The Gentlemen’s Club’s Night Cruisin’ Podcast.

    “It all feels meaningless actually. We just did a recording, like, three days ago and it was weird because we showed up knowing our jobs are ending,” he continued to say about the most recent tapings.

    https://twitter.com/ringofhonor/status/1463281629586235394

    H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcriptions on Dalton Castle’s comments.

  • Update On ROH Selling Its Tape Library

    Update On ROH Selling Its Tape Library

    There are conflicting reports right now regarding if Ring of Honor is selling its tape library. A report from Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated stated that the library was up for sale to the highest bidder. According to comments made by Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, however, this might not be the case.

    “They are not selling their tape library,” Meltzer said. “From talking to people – I know [Bryan Alvarez] talked to people in WWE, I talked to people in AEW and in Impact and none of them know of any tape library being for sale. And obviously, if the tape library was for sale, those would be the people you would try to sell it to, one of those companies or quite frankly, all of those companies.”

    Meltzer continued to debunk a rumour that Sinclair only owns the ROH footage from 2012 onward.

    “The other thing too is that for whatever reason there is a story going out that they only own the library from 2012 on and that’s not true either. Sinclair owns the entire library. That’s the situation,” Meltzer continued. “They aren’t folding the company but they are going to be just an indy. Some people think they always were but they were paying good contracts to a lot of people and, of course, they are no longer doing that. Those key people for the most part, I think are going to go. Some people won’t get offers but the ones that get offers are for sure going to go.”

    More Ring of Honor News:

    If you use any of the above quotes, please credit Wrestling Observer Radio with a h/t to SEScoops for the transcription.

  • Ian Riccaboni Cautiously Optimistic About ROH’s Future

    Ian Riccaboni Cautiously Optimistic About ROH’s Future

    Ring of Honor announcer Ian Riccaboni has issued a statement regarding ROH going on hiatus.

    Riccaboni reflects on his eight years with the promotion and expresses gratitude for the way they’ve treated him. He wrote on Twitter:

    “ROH has bent over backwards for me in my time with the company. Countless flights to accommodate my office schedule, canceling a Japan trip (with pay!) at their expense to ensure I was home for Nora’s birth, helping support LGBTQ+ and literacy initiatives in my hometown of Allentown, PA, and more. Too many things to list. They believed in and cultivated me at age 30 (I was a late bloomer!) with very little prior experience.”

    Hanging Up The Headset

    Riccaboni is hopeful that Ring of Honor will return in 2022. However, he has no guarantees that he’ll be part of their next chapter.

    “The news of this hiatus was communicated professionally and with care but there are a lot of question marks. I will forever wear the three letters ROH with great pride and treasure my time here. Hopefully, it is not over. I have reason for optimism that ROH will re-start in April. I hope I am a part of their plans.”

    He hopes to use his notoriety to give back to his home town. He’s humbled by the outpouring of support he’s received since it became known that Ring of Honor as we know it might be over.

    Riccaboni is flattered by some offers he’s received over the past week. He will assess these opportunities, but says he’ll probably “hang up the headset” if ROH does not return to live events come April.

    “I am humbled by the support I personally and ROH as an organization has received in the last few days. I am flattered by those seeking to bring me in and I am assessing opportunities one by one. If April doesn’t come, it would break my heart and I will likely hang up the headset, so if you’re doing something fun, let me know.”

    Bully Ray On Where ROH Failed
  • The Briscoes & GCW: Update On Title Run and ROH Affiliation

    The Briscoes & GCW: Update On Title Run and ROH Affiliation

    The Briscoes made their shock debut for GCW recently and then went on to win the GCW Tag Team Championships at the War Ready event.

    It was believed that GCW would be sending talent over to Ring of Honor to try and win the titles back, with matches taking place at the November tapings for ROH.

    With the recent news that ROH is going on hiatus, the situation is now back up in the air regarding the GCW Tag Team titles and whether or not Game Changer Wrestling would be working with the promotion going forward.

    PWInsider recently confirmed the latest on the situation, saying: “There had been plans to bring in several GCW talents to wrestle The Briscoes at the TV tapings in Baltimore as a way to extend the storyline where the Briscoes won the GCW Tag Team titles but there is no word whether that is still happening.”

    The Briscoes GCW Tag Champions

    There has been no word from GCW as to whether they will be continuing the storyline with the promotion.

    However, with the November tapings still taking place for Ring of Honor and the announcement that they will be shutting up shop for a while there might be a few more eyeballs on the ‘final’ few events in ROH’s 2021, so it would probably be in GCW’s best interests to do a crossover.

  • Several ROH Talent Asked If Promotion Would Closing For Good

    Several ROH Talent Asked If Promotion Would Closing For Good

    The news that Ring of Honor would be going on hiatus until 2022 shocked many in the wrestling industry, with performers inside the company reportedly asking Joe Koff himself if the company was going out of business for good.

    PWInsider recently confirmed that talent took the issue up directly with Koff on a recent Zoom call with talent.

    “We are told by numerous Ring of Honor talents that on the Zoom call this week, numerous talents called upon Joe Koff to tell them that the promotion was over, if it was actually closing” PWInsider noted. 

    Joe Koff Answers Talent Worries

    It was also revealed by the site that “during the call, Koff repeatedly told them that the company would continue on and resume live events in April.”

    The entire roster of ROH is also reportedly booked for the November TV tapings, as was to be expected.

    We hope to provide more on the story and the future of the company as it develops. It is believed that ROH will still be running and get back to their live event schedule around April 2022, providing that the easing of restrictions following the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

  • ROH Looking To Sell Its Tape Library

    ROH Looking To Sell Its Tape Library

    ROH made the major announcement of going dark for the first quarter of 2022 earlier yesterday. Now reports have revealed that they are trying to sell their tape library.

    According to Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, the promotion’s tape library is available for purchase, and it will be sold to the highest bidder. They are, however, asking for significant money, much more than the current market dictates.

    According to the report, ROH has been trying to move the Sinclair-owned footage from 2012 to the present day for more than a year now.

    The tape library includes footage of early careers of some of the biggest pro-wrestling names of the current generation, including stars from both WWE and AEW.

    The ROH archives could showcase the starting careers of people such as Seth Rollins, Bryan Danielson, CM Punk, Cesaro, Samoa Joe, The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega, and Moose among others.

    This tape library also includes the All In PPV that led to the creation of AEW. While Tony Khan’s promotion owns the trademark for the All In name, ROH officially owns all the footage for the PPV event.

    Khan revealed recently that they are in talks to launch the AEW library on a streaming platform. An addition such as this could boost the interest in AEW’s streaming services significantly.

    WWE has also shown interest in purchasing the tape library previously. The two companies had negotiated over it in 2017.

    Though this was prior to the Peacock deal. WWE has released many former ROH stars since then so we will have to see if they still have the same level of interest now.

    ROH Stars React To The Promotion Going On Hiatus In 2022
  • Bronson Reed Speaks On ‘Shocking’ ROH News

    Bronson Reed Speaks On ‘Shocking’ ROH News

    Bronson Reed has given his take on the big news surrounding the future of ROH.

    Wrestling fans were in for an unpleasant surprise with the news that ROH is in the midst of a “reconceptualizing” period. In ROH’s initial statement, the gut-wrenching news wasn’t revealed. Reports trickled in with word that the entire roster was released of their contracts.

    Bronson Reed Gives Take On ROH Releases

    During an interview with Wrestling Inc, Bronson Reed said he was just as surprised at the ROH news as anyone.

    “It’s very shocking. I have friends within the business that have messaged me straight away saying, ‘What’s going on?’ I assume it has to do with, obviously, unfortunately, the pandemic has affected a lot of wrestling companies and what they’ve been able to earn every quarter, and it looks like, this is just me guessing, it’s from that and that’s what’s happening with Ring of Honor. But I do have some friends in Australia that were set to do work with Ring of Honor, so I’m hoping for them that they can still do so.”

    Reed has gone through a release of his own. He was let go by WWE back in August.

    Reed has since teased making the move to a slew of other promotions. He has yet to sign with a major company. It was reported by Fightful Select that Reed appeared to be bound for Impact Wrestling but he was pulled from the Bound for Glory event for reasons not known.

    It was also reported by Fightful that NJPW has some interest in Bronson Reed.

  • Bully Ray On Where ROH Failed

    Bully Ray On Where ROH Failed

    Bully Ray has a theory about why the promotion is currently in the state that it is.

    The former ROH star and tag team wrestling legend shared his views on Thursday’s episode of Busted Open Radio. He recalled a conversation he had with an ROH executive around the time the Elite left the company.

    “I was asked by a higher-up at Ring of Honor ‘moving forward what do you think we should do?’” he said on the show. “The number 1 thing I said is sign Cody and the Bucks.”

    “I can take you to the office I was in, the chair that I was sitting in in the office at Sinclair broadcasting at their TV studio when I was asked ‘What should we do?’ I said you have to sign Cody and the Bucks. They are the most important people to your company right now. The most important talent.”

    ROH Had The Elite

    Bully Ray says Ring of Honor’s decision to low-ball Cody and the Young Bucks was a mistake that ultimately led to the company’s decline.

    “And we know from interviews or discussions that Cody and the Bucks might have had, that they said the negotiations with Ring of Honor did not go the way they thought they were going to go because they felt they had earned the right to ask for the money that they were asking for and lord knows Sinclair had it.”

    A clip of Bully’s comments can be heard below (via Putting You Over):

    https://youtu.be/J3AzQa66IhY
  • Update On ROH’s Future Past Final Battle

    Update On ROH’s Future Past Final Battle

    Ring of Honor’s future appears uncertain after Wednesday’s announcement that all talent has been released from their ROH contracts. The promotion is going ‘dark’ for approximately 6 months and will ‘re-conceptualize’ their operations.

    On the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer reports that ROH’s television show on Sinclair has not been cancelled. If and when the company does relaunch in 2022, fans can expect some significant changes in how they operate as a business. One notable change is that talent will no longer be locked into exclusive contracts.

    “They’re not going to be running with a contracted crew,” said Dave Meltzer. “So, they will essentially be an independent promotion and they will use whoever the top independent guys are that they can book on the nights that they have shows and the nights that they do television.”

    This would mean any talent appearing on ROH television would be able to sign with another promotion at any given time.

    “They are going to retain the TV,” Meltzer continued. “Sinclair did not cancel the TV like a lot of people thought.”

    Following Final Battle, ROH will return WrestleMania weekend in Dallas. The feeling is they will be able to draw for that show. That event might be something of a re-launch for the promotion under its new business structure.

  • ROH Stars React To The Promotion Going On Hiatus In 2022

    ROH Stars React To The Promotion Going On Hiatus In 2022

    ROH made the surprising announcement of going dark for the first quarter of 2022 to re-imagine the company. This came after the organization spent a good part of the last couple of years without producing an event due to COVID-19.

    Later reports confirmed that the promotion has decided to release all of its contracted wrestlers. The talents who had been part of the company have been reacting to the news ever since.

    The reigning ROH world champion Bandido reacted to the announcement on Twitter. He retweeted the official statement from the company and said that he will forever be the most wanted champion:

    Danhausen responded to the news by teasing a move to AEW. He produced a GIF similar to the viral video of Cody Rhodes with the camera zooming in on him, to get people talking about his future:

    “Kingpin” Brian Milonas sent out a statement mentioning how ROH gave him a chance when no one else did. So he is forever grateful for the opportunity.

    “Kingpin” Brian Milonas sent out a statement mentioning how ROH gave him a chance when no one else did. So he is forever grateful for the opportunity.

    Other people who have commented on the development include Broody King, Brian Zane, Jay Lethal, and more. You can check out all the reactions below:

    https://twitter.com/IanRiccaboni/status/1453469365408522250

    ROH will culminate this year with the Final Battle PPV in December. They are expected to return with the Supercard of Honor event in April next year.

  • Ring Of Honor Has Released Everyone & Is ‘Reconceptualizing’

    Ring Of Honor Has Released Everyone & Is ‘Reconceptualizing’

    Ring of Honor is undergoing some massive changes.

    During the pandemic, ROH went through a long stretch without live events. Once the company did return, a spark had seemingly been lit. Bandido defeated Rush to become the new ROH World Champion and fans of the product were quite excited. The company also held Death Before Dishonor XVIII back in September and it garnered praise.

    Despite this, ROH is in the midst of “reconceptualizing.” In an official statement sent out by ROH, the company revealed they will be going dark in the first quarter of 2022 to work on reimagining the product.

    “Throughout the pandemic, our top priority was to keep everyone healthy and safe, and despite not producing any live events over 18 months, we were able to keep everyone fully contracted. We now find ourselves at a time where we need to make changes to our business operations and are planning a pivot for Ring of Honor, with a new mission and strategy.

    “The year will culminate with a Final Battle in December, and we will be taking the first quarter of 2022 to work internally to reimagine ROH. ROH has the most dedicated fans in the industry, and we appreciate their loyalty and patience as we reconceptualize ROH.

    “We anticipate returning to live events in April for the Super Card of Honor with a new fan-focused product and provide a unique experience for wrestling fans.”

    While ROH is hoping to get back to live events this spring, they will be doing so without a slew of its current talent. That’s because everyone has been released according to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

    SEScoops will keep you posted with the latest information on the situation with ROH as more details become available.

  • Jay Lethal Has Two Goals Left In His ROH Career

    Jay Lethal Has Two Goals Left In His ROH Career

    Jay Lethal says there are two goals left that he has in mind with his ROH run.

    Lethal has been a mainstay for Ring of Honor. His second run with the company has been in effect since 2011. Lethal is a former two-time ROH World Champion. He’s also held the TV Title twice, the Pure Championship, and is a former tag team champion.

    What Does Jay Lethal Have Left To Do In ROH?

    Many have wondered what could possibly be left for the 36-year-old in ROH. Speaking to Wrestlezone.com, Jay Lethal answered that question.

    “I constantly ask myself that, every day. Where do I go from here? And I think I’m in a place where I can only answer that in two ways. One, I would love to be the Ring of Honor World Champion again. And two, I just wanna help as many people as possible. I enjoy helping guys like Eli Isom, or anybody who comes to me with any questions they think that I can help them with. Oh man, I love that. So I mean, [the] only two things I can see myself doing, when I ask what is left, another Ring of Honor World Championship and helping as many people as I can along the way.”

    Lethal went on to say that if he were to walk away from the wrestling business tomorrow, he’d be satisfied. For years, fans have wondered if Lethal will ever transition to a company such as WWE. With AEW now in full force, that question has only grown stronger.

    Back in 2019, Lethal said he had no interest in joining the WWE or AEW roster.

  • ROH Commentator Calls For AAA & CMLL To Make Amends

    ROH Commentator Calls For AAA & CMLL To Make Amends

    ROH play-by-play commentator, Ian Riccaboni, hopes that there will be a truce between top Mexican promotions AAA and CMLL.

    The landscape of pro wrestling outside of WWE has drastically changed over the years. As of late, we’ve been seeing the “Forbidden Door” become busted open. There is a slew of cross-promotion going on. ROH is no stranger to inter-promotional dealings and has been doing it for years.

    It’s gotten to the point where Ian Riccaboni just wants to see two promotions get along. Those companies are AAA and CMLL. Here’s what the ROH play-by-play ace told Sportskeeda.

    “I’m gonna go with an off-the-beaten-path one. I think Ring of Honor has a good relationship with everybody. Those doors are open and I think there might be some light in some doors that were closed before, cracks of light. But I’d like to see AAA, CMLL finally just have some sort of truce.

    “The scene in Mexico right now is so exciting. Bandido just did an event with his gym, Bandido’s Gym, for Big Lucha. There were so many talented luchadors that I never seen before including his brother, whose name is Gravity. Gravity did this crazy move off the balcony and he was really awesome in the battle royale. Just talent after talent. If you look at the lineup of Crash or if you look at the lineup of Big Lucha at Bandido’s Gym or anything like that, you’ll see these inter-promotional dream matches. You’ll see guys from AAA, you’ll see guys from CMLL, you’ll see guys from Ring of Honor, from AEW.”

    As Riccaboni mentioned, there are plenty of other shows that have featured talent from various promotions including AAA and CMLL. While many wouldn’t hold their breath in terms of a partnership between the two companies, never say never in this industry.

    If you use the quotes in this article for your website, please drop a h/t to SEScoops with a link back to this article.

  • AEW vs. ROH? Rok-C Open To Facing Dr. Britt Baker

    AEW vs. ROH? Rok-C Open To Facing Dr. Britt Baker

    Newly-minted ROH Women’s World Champion, Rok-C wouldn’t mind competing in a Champion vs. Champion match.

    Rok-C had the wrestling world buzzing with her performance at Death Before Dishonor XVIII. She went toe-to-toe with Miranda Alize in a tournament final match to determine the new ROH Women’s World Champion. Rok-C got the win after 18 minutes of action.

    Now that the “Forbidden Door” is wide open, ROH’s top female is hoping to walk through. One person she has in mind to share the ring with is current AEW Women’s World Champion Britt Baker.

    Here’s what Rok-C told Wrestling Inc.

    “I think it’s really cool. Maria Kanellis said it. There is no door. I’m open to anyone who wants to challenge me for the championship. Whether it be [at] Impact or Britt Baker or anyone. I think that would be so amazing. I’ve had so many experiences throughout my career regardless of how old I am. They’ve shaped me to be ready for matches like this. I’ve always been told you should not have to get ready. You should stay ready. If anyone wants a shot at the title I’m ready.”

    Baker has been making waves in the wrestling industry as well. She’s clearly one of the most popular stars in AEW. Her heel persona has done wonders for Baker, as she wasn’t exactly “over” as a babyface right at the start.

    AEW has done business with many promotions such as NJPW, AAA, Impact Wrestling, and others. Time will tell if a partnership with ROH could be in the cards down the road.