I don’t know how to feel about Ring of Honor

[Mr. Nerfect]

The arrival of AEW on the scene meant that promotions were going to be raided, leaving ROH with very little bankable. Tony Khan has swooped in and claimed it for his own. There’s a hope that a sense of balance could be restored here, but will it be?

If TK is heavily involved, this will likely just be an extension of AEW. A lot of people don’t even enjoy AEW in the first place. Do ROH fans want to rally behind a feeder system for a different evil empire? A big part of NXT’s appeal was that it provided a different flavor to what Vince McMahon was doing. This was terrible for creating a streamlined vision, but did allow NXT to enjoy some niche creative success. AEW with handshakes might as well just be Dark.

To counteract that: If the old NXT team is in charge of ROH, you could have a bunch of talent trained to somewhat appreciate the psychology of the business. This is a big flaw in AEW. But TK could just put emphasis on that as booker without a training school.

ROH may have had a billion-dollar media group backing them, but they never had the money to grab the stars and nail the production to platform the stars. They now have access to those resources. Should a ROH with access to Bryan Danielson, CM Punk, Chris Jericho, MJF, Jim Ross and Sting be any less successful than AEW? What disqualifies it? But if that does become the case, how does WarnerMedia feel about TK creating another viable product? Will they see it as him broadening the genre, or him stealing his own pigs?

Conversely, how do ROH fans react when they realize there is no reason they shouldn’t be getting Bryan Danielson vs. Claudio Castagnoli and Samoa Joe vs. CM Punk, but are stuck with Tony Deppen vs. Rhett Titus (no disrespect to those guys). What’s exciting about that?

Keeping ROH on syndicated television with access to AEW stars is the best way to go. Bryan Danielson should be there for a little bit of a run. FTR can be there with MJF in the crowd having bought a ticket to support his team. Don’t shy away from it being a place where the top stars not in WWE might show up.

On syndicated TV, it shouldn’t be too much of an issue for Warner. If it becomes popular enough, it could sweeten the appeal of an HBO Max deal. That way Warner gets something out of the deal that Sinclair don’t really have a use for anymore anyway.

You can use ROH as developmental, by all means. But it doesn’t need to all take place on TV. You can have stars in the main event scene, have your mid-card with a sprinkle of newer guys. Hell, if you want to give Honor Academy its own show — throw it on the Honor Club streaming service for the hardcore of the hardcore. The ROH TV proper can be used as an educational tool for the young lions by getting them to sit down and watch the established guys tear it up.

I could get into that product. There are things in ROH that could work that are just not going to fly in the pragmatic reality of what AEW is. Bryan Danielson and FTR as champs, for example. I can see Dante Martin or Anthony Ogogo as TV Champ there, getting some time and exposure. The Hardys could come in, but find themselves challenged to a style of tag team match that pushes them to new limits (a tag team pure rules, maybe?). These things just don’t seem to suit the AEW vision.

But what happens if ROH starts kicking AEW’s ass? What if that becomes the the hot ticket and Dynamite and Rampage are hurt? Is TK the guy that is going to learn from that? Or is he going to get upset that he’s not going to win Booker of the Year again? How are some of the egos in the AEW lockerroom going to take it if their vision doesn’t hold up to the vision of the formerly declining promotion that now has the resources to enact theirs?

There are so many icebergs for this thing to hit. But ideally, it should be great and provide a fresh coat for wrestling. I guess we just have to wait and see, but I wanted to talk about it ahead of time too.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Supercard of Honor is going to be something. I assume FTR are going to be the team that challenges The Briscoes. I think them firing Tully is so he can appear in the babyface corner in Texas. That’s a good start.

[xrodmuc316]

Tony Khan is a turd who can't even grow one fan base with an unlimited money cheat, so there is no way he is going to suddenly come in and make ROH successful.

[Jordan]

There is a lot of potential with ROH, both positive and negative. I am just going to wait and see how the promotion folds out. I really have no idea what is in store and my expectations are low, but if Tony is planning to filter the bloated AEW roster into ROH for "seasons" or chunks of time, that would be a great starting place to get my interest.

I have zero interest in any ROH talent that isn't already signed to AEW other than Bandido and Gresham. I think the best choice is to use the actual ROH legends and characters that are signed to AEW to bring back the original ROH audience that remains. The recent ROH audience can't even fill out the 2300 arena, so don't cater to the Cheeseburger and Dalton Castle audience. Cater to the Briscoes, Joe, Danielson & Punk Era. Use Kingston and bring in other ROH legends to reimagine the brand while using some of the younger stars from AEW that don't get a lot of TV time like Silver & Matthews, Private Party and Brian Cage etc...

Interesting report that some Turner execs told Tony that they don't want The Briscoes in AEW. I wonder if Tony get's a Turner deal for ROH, no Briscoes? That would suck for ROH.

[erickman]

i want to know what the womans champ too, tony needs another open door with impact to take care of the woman and the briscoes let impact hire the briscoes then have them visit roh and aew.

[rez]

1. Put Regal in charge

[xrodmuc316]

i want to know what the womans champ too, tony needs another open door with impact to take care of the woman and the briscoes let impact hire the briscoes then have them visit roh and aew.

I don't know how many females are cool with Tony being mad they didnt give him enough credit for the women's PPV a while back, while he also patting himself on the back for not taking the credit, even though by talking about it he kind of was doing exactly that.

[XL]

I don’t see a pathway for ROH to become much bigger than it was. I’m not sure there’s a large enough audience for wrestling as opposed to “Sports Entertainment”. For the vast majority of the casual audience it’s a case of “not WWE” = “not interested”. You can suggest that AEW’s audience is a symptom of the direction they’ve gone but I just don’t see a “pro wrestling” show getting traction in the modern landscape.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Tony Khan is a turd who can't even grow one fan base with an unlimited money cheat, so there is no way he is going to suddenly come in and make ROH successful.

Sadly, I think you’re right. And if he delegated booking to someone and ROH got over, I’m pretty sure he would get jealous.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I don’t see a pathway for ROH to become much bigger than it was. I’m not sure there’s a large enough audience for wrestling as opposed to “Sports Entertainment”. For the vast majority of the casual audience it’s a case of “not WWE” = “not interested”. You can suggest that AEW’s audience is a symptom of the direction they’ve gone but I just don’t see a “pro wrestling” show getting traction in the modern landscape.

Fair opinion. I disagree and think there is an audience there. I do think AEW’s limited audience is due to its creative and presentation. I’d like to see what ROH can do with access to stars and some real capital. But Tony would probably shrivel up if ROH got more popular than AEW.

I saw an interview with Joe Koff that suggested ROH would do about 300k viewers, sometimes as much as 500k. You throw Danielson and Punk onto that show and it’s beating Rampage, at least.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I don’t know much about Alex Zayne and Ninja Mack who are confirmed for Supercard of Honor. Hopefully they are good. They look very indy.

TK should push to get Claudio Castagnoli and do a Danielson vs. Claudio match on the show. It is a PPV, guys. Put some awesome wrestling near the top of that card. FTR should answer the challenge of The Briscoes. You’ve got two MOTY contenders right there.

MJF can be with FTR and at some point cuts a promo on how he’s too big a star for ROH or something. He’s sitting at ringside for FTR’s match. His boys win and he gets up to leave. Someone’s voice starts calling him back. Samoa Joe is here and wants to face MJF. They tease a match between the two before Wardlow gets in the ring and brawls with Joe. FTR run back and attack Joe. The Briscoes come in for the save. Shawn Spears and MJF are in now. CM Punk then hits the ring with a steel chair followed by some of the ROH babyfaces. Joe and Punk have a moment in the middle of the ring.

Then you go into Danielson and Claudio with Gresham and Bandido headlining the show.

[XL]

Fair opinion. I disagree and think there is an audience there. I do think AEW’s limited audience is due to its creative and presentation. I’d like to see what ROH can do with access to stars and some real capital. But Tony would probably shrivel up if ROH got more popular than AEW.

I saw an interview with Joe Koff that suggested ROH would do about 300k viewers, sometimes as much as 500k. You throw Danielson and Punk onto that show and it’s beating Rampage, at least.

You think ROH is gonna do Raw or SmackDown numbers?

[Vastardikai]

I will do a name bet on this:

I bet anyone that there will NOT be another ROH show taking place after Supercard of Honor.

[Jordan]

A lot of us aren't sure how to feel about Ring of Honor. Are we happy? Are we sad? Are we angry? Are we confused? Are we anxious? Are we afraid? There are so many feelings that may arise when a promotion goes through ownership changes, that is certain. And we are here for you to help you find and express your true feeling about Ring of Honor.

One thing that can reassure you're sensitive feelings about Ring of Honor is that Tony Khan who just booked the best wrestling PPV since the last one that he booked that was the best wrestling PPV since before the best wrestling PPV that he booked before that. Well that guy, who has booked a lot of the best wrestling PPV's in modern or the entirety history of wrestling, he's going to book the Ring of Honor return PPV! It's probably gonna be great! Don't worry! Feel great!

[Damian Rey 2.0]

I think they should put ROH on YouTube instead of Dark and Elevation. Yes a lot of the same guys, but use the ROH banner and title(s) to get those guys into storylines and promos every week. Basically a feeder league where you can send guys back and forth.

At least on if their YouTube shows should switch to being an ROH show. They have enough talent to do it and on YouTube they’ll prob pull the same 200-300k views.

[Mr. Nerfect]

A lot of us aren't sure how to feel about Ring of Honor. Are we happy? Are we sad? Are we angry? Are we confused? Are we anxious? Are we afraid? There are so many feelings that may arise when a promotion goes through ownership changes, that is certain. And we are here for you to help you find and express your true feeling about Ring of Honor.

One thing that can reassure you're sensitive feelings about Ring of Honor is that Tony Khan who just booked the best wrestling PPV since the last one that he booked that was the best wrestling PPV since before the best wrestling PPV that he booked before that. Well that guy, who has booked a lot of the best wrestling PPV's in modern or the entirety history of wrestling, he's going to book the Ring of Honor return PPV! It's probably gonna be great! Don't worry! Feel great!

:lol:

[Mr. Nerfect]

I will do a name bet on this:

I bet anyone that there will NOT be another ROH show taking place after Supercard of Honor.

I think a TV taping was already confirmed ahead of Tony Khan’s purchase via Ian Riccaboni.

[Mr. Nerfect]

You think ROH is gonna do Raw or SmackDown numbers?

I think that’s highly unlikely. It’s obviously got to beat Dynamite before it gets there. Do I think that’s possible? If you have a show with CM Punk, Bryan Danielson and Samoa Joe, better commentary and more logical storylines, then I don’t see why it couldn’t.

SBG is in something like 72% of American homes, isn’t it? That doesn’t mean you can do an apples for apples comparison to the reach of USA Network and how familiar people are with each station, etc. But being in about 90 million homes is a pretty good start for something. The ROH deal was nothing to sneeze at as far as potential exposure went.

[weather vane]

I will do a name bet on this:

I bet anyone that there will NOT be another ROH show taking place after Supercard of Honor.

You are on.

[Vastardikai]

I think a TV taping was already confirmed ahead of Tony Khan’s purchase via Ian Riccaboni.

I'll believe it when I see it. *Listens to the AEW Hip Hop albu... oh, wait.*

[Vastardikai]

You are on.

I will only do 1 caveat on my initial bet: It cannot be like ECW's "One Night Stand," where Tony does a glorified AEW show during Wrestlemania week, slaps the ROH name on it, and calls it good. I mean an actual TV Taping (Do they still have a TV Deal?) or House show.

Beyond that, it is a hill I am willing to die on. Or at least get a new embarrassing name on

[weather vane]

Ok

[Mr. Nerfect]

Tony Khan should not book ROH. He cannot book one promotion as it is. Booking one that should have a focus on a more sensible wrestling presentation is asking for trouble. Even if you like AEW, it should be conceded that more of the same is not beneficial to the menu.

Delirious is still around. Gabe Sapolsky is free. You can trial different wrestlers in creative positions (Danielson, Punk, Daniels, etc.). If it overtakes your silly sports entertainment show, so be it. You own it, so you can reap the benefits and hopefully learn from it.

Don’t make it a bunch of rookies wrestling each other. If you’re really desperate to air your developmental, throw an Honor Academy show onto the Honor Club/Elite Pass service. One hour of developmental guys working each other, possibly with a veteran or two thrown in. ROH proper should be about a different style of wrestling getting focus at the highest possible level. Their answer to New Japan, but with western personalities. Don’t deliberately try and make it like NXT or NXT 2.0.

[Mr. Nerfect]

How can FTR and Bryan Danielson not be a part of ROH at this point? That being said, I also thought Garcia and 2.0 would have been perfect, but now they’re Jericho lackeys and would likely be refusing to shake hands.

Jericho’s Inner Circle should have been rebuilt around Homicide and Hernandez — the original LAX. Bring in guys from the ROH group Homicide was part of, like Chris Dickinson and Tony Deppen. Let Garcia and 2.0 develop in ROH. Jericho’s lackeys can still show up as heels and be sort of transient between the two shows.

[Fignuts]

I dunno, this could be just as good for them. Despite Jericho becoming a clown later on, he really did elevate Santana, Ortiz, and Sammy for those first few months. Jericho seems to be returning to the more ruthless side he showed during his Le Champion days. And the "sports entertainer" thing is a good heat magnet. Im willing to see how this plays out.

[Damian Rey 2.0]

Jericho is going to use the JAS group to elevate Daniel Garcia. He’s the lone young guy in the group and he’s also the only one who doesn’t fit the sports entertainer bit.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I dunno, this could be just as good for them. Despite Jericho becoming a clown later on, he really did elevate Santana, Ortiz, and Sammy for those first few months. Jericho seems to be returning to the more ruthless side he showed during his Le Champion days. And the "sports entertainer" thing is a good heat magnet. Im willing to see how this plays out.

It’s way to on-the-nose for me. You don’t need to utter that phrase on your television show. Becoming WWE is not the key to doing better professional wrestling, even if you think you are being bad ironically. That shit didn’t work for Matt Hardy, it’s not going to work with Chris Jericho.

I don’t think Sammy, Santana or Ortiz are better off now having worked with Jericho. They’re all kind of aimless, tbh. The guys in this group are all lackey losers. Now they’re going to win random matches, but they’ll be in random spots when this random group ends.

[Mr. Nerfect]

The Briscoes vs. FTR has been made official. I might have to watch this.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Jay Lethal vs. Lee Moriarty. I can’t say I care much, but it’s probably not going to be a bad match.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Josh Woods vs. Wheeler Yuta for the Pure Title. I’ve heard good things about both men, but Yuta was also in the Best Friends, so I don’t care about him.

[Fignuts]

Same, but it seems Yuta might be joining regal's faction soon, so perhaps there will be a reason to care in the future.

[Mr. Nerfect]

This card needs another main event to really push it over with me. Bryan Danielson vs. Claudio Castagnoli would be perfect.

I’d add Daniels & Kazarian vs. someone too. Maybe…PJ Black & Flip Gordon? Have Shane Taylor return with Shane Taylor promotions and win the six-man belts back.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Same, but it seems Yuta might be joining regal's faction soon, so perhaps there will be a reason to care in the future.

That’s where I think they are going. I fully expected Wheeler Yuta to be a part of ROH going forward. I hope his presentation there does work. If he’s got Regal as a manager? All the better.

[Mr. Nerfect]

If things continue as ROH would normally, their next PPV would be “Best in the World.” I doubt they do Danielson vs. Punk, but I don’t know how you don’t have them both involved in that show one way or another.

Imagine if the main event is like a 10-man tag that looks something like this:

Bryan Danielson, Jon Moxley, Wheeler Yuta & The Kings of Wrestling

VS.

CM Punk, Samoa Joe, a young guy picked out by them, Darby Allin & Sting (his buddies in from AEW)

Eat my money. Especially considering you could also have another Briscoes vs. FTR match on that card.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Oh, and you’d probably have a ROH World Title match on that show. That’s a fucking money card.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Deonna Purrazzo is set to defend the Women’s Title. I hope they can work something out for her, since I think she is signed to Impact, but I would sign Athena and get her to win the belt in Texas in case you can’t.

Rhett Titus vs. Dalton Castle for the TV Title would be a good add for Supercard. Castle should be there and be offered a spot if he wants it.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I had this idea that they could do a Four Corner Survival and have Dustin Rhodes be in it. The show is in Texas, he’s a legend and if they’re going to use ROH as a wrestling school, you would think Dustin would be involved in some level. Think it would be a feel-good moment for him. Dunno who else you throw in there.

But later on in the show, if you want to do a big angle, you can have Lance Archer and Dustin attack The Briscoes or something after they lose the belts and form a new Texas Outlaws team.

Nah, don’t do that. But I like Dustin being in the Four Corners.

Homicide’s group should be in. Kind of want Homicide to be in the ring and asking Brody King who he is really with in this world — him or Malakai Black. Cue Black and Buddy Matthews hitting the ring for a beat-down. Maybe they can add Westin Blake or whatever. Homicide, Deppen & Dickinson are in trouble when Hernandez makes an appearance in Texas and saves Homicide and Violence Unlimited.