WWE working with ROH?
 

There are people in WWE who don't know this for sure but strongly suspect there is some kind of working agreement between Ring of Honor and WWE. There are also people in ROH who think the same thing. At the same time, people on both sides insist there is nothing going on between the two companies.

Sources insist that some of the things CM Punk spoke about in his infamous RAW promo a few weeks back will start finding their way onto WWE TV soon. For example, Punk talked about Triple H taking over and he began that storyline on this week's RAW. Punk also mentioned John Laurinaitis and Colt Cabana, both who appeared on WWE TV in the past week. While Cabana wasn't named by the announcers, he was shown at ringside on Money in the Bank and was photographed with Punk and the WWE Title in Chicago after the pay-per-view. Punk also mentioned Ring of Honor, which adds to the speculation that WWE may be working with them.

For what its worth, Cabana has told at least one indy promotion that he's worked regularly with that he's not taking any more bookings with them after next month.

Source: F4Wonline.com





As awesome as I think this would be, I think it's just wishful thinking at this point

I could see something small coming from it. Sort of how WWF worked with ECW in the 90's for a little bit.

I've been thinking this myself.

I would love to see Castagnoli and Hero just show up and align themselves with Punk.

I think it would be smart not just for this short term storyline but for selecting and developing future talent.

You know what? They could do something big here. You have Castagnoli and Hero bring out Punk on ROH TV, and start a storyline that eventually leads all three of them "jumping" to WWE.

That'd be immense. I can just imagine the promos and how awesome they'd be.

Hell yeah, that would be awesome. The Kings of Wrestling could be the Outsiders to Punk's Hogan. Add Colt Cabana, and you have the heels that everybody loves. Hero & Claudio could rejuvinate the WWE's tag division.

Daniel Bryan being MITB winner could factor into a potential ROH storyline too.

I know this is a long shot, but I would love for him to go through with his promise and have a championship match in an ROH ring. I don't see much downside in it for WWE and would make it even more convincing that Punk is actually gone.

I really don't see any reason why WWE shouldn't let Punk compete anywhere that isn't TNA.Places like ROH are lightyears behind WWE and anything they gain won't put them anywhere near being a credible threat to WWE. TNA, maybe, which I'm sure Vince would love anyway. Audiences love realism, it's what got so much attention to Punk's promo to begin with. Despite people knowing "wrestling is fake" the still were questioning that. Having Punk go and defend the title elsewhere would only build the legitimacy. People would be thinking "holy shit, this guy did actually win the title and leave with it" and interest would increase.

Let Punk do that for a couple months, indie dates are so spaced out that he'd be able to promote the storyline and rest at the same time, and let HHHs turn the WWE into what Punk feared it'd become. Then at on of his last dates, have him announce he'll be returning to WWE in a month or so to go against HHH. Then you get a month to hype Punk's return on WWE TV and reap the benefits of ratings increase from public interest. Then have the payoff match at whatever PPV. If Punk really wants to actually leave, make the match Punk loses he leaves WWE and HHH gets the title back. Though I'm sure by that point it'd have been replaced anyway, it can be more of a symbolic thing. Punk wins, they get rid of the other title and he's recognized as the WWE's rightful champ

Probably won't happen, but I can dream

I would love something like that to happen. Imagine if during one of those defenses you have a WWE guy(HHH or otherwise) make a run in on one of these matches. Then maybe set up a six man tag with Punk and the Kings of Wrestling vs 3 WWE guys. This provides a fairly good explanation/feud for Punk to be lured back to WWE to defend that title. It would also be a good way to introduce the Kings of Wrestling if they are signed.

I could see it.

And it's not like there isn't a precedent for it. Vince's previous work with ECW and to a lesser extent the Danielson situation should show Vince is at least open to the idea of working with another promotion and letting his guys be used on another promotions shows.

As unlikely as it seems that would be really bad ass. I wish the WWE would work with TNA as well. At least in some form of relationship. Just think it'd be better for every company, and better for the fans.

I feel like there's a good chance of Punk defending the title at an RoH show (though he'd obviously only be defending the physical belt and nothing more, it would be a huge deal.)

Also, possibly leading to that HHH-Punk match that was rumored. Maybe at SummerSlam but if they could kinda let the storyline drop off a little while Punk just flaunts the title for a while until HHH finally has to address the situation on TV in a couple months and it all leads to HHH vs CM Punk at WrestleMania, it would be EPIC.

Everybody wants CM Punk, one way or another. I'd seriously watch him play Mike Tyson's punch out, if that's how he was defending the title.

I think waiting for the payoff until Mania may be asking too much. Just too long. People got pissy because Punk wasn't at Raw Monday, how awful would it be after almost 8 months without him?

But along the lines of what you said you could just have Punk simply carrying the title with him at various other promotion's shows without actually defending it. Have HHH be annoyed with it but able to deal. But have it be when Punk schedules and defends the title at a relatively "big" indy show, say ROH's Glory By Honor X, that he just crosses the line. Have a furious HHH rip Punk on the following Raw about how disrespectful he is etc. etc. and challenge him. Payoff could be the next PPV (Hell in a Cell) or if they can stretch the story do it at the next big one (Survivor Series)

When do we get Vince on ROH's new TV show after buying it only to be one upped by <strike>Shane</strike> HHH saying he bought ROH and now its Invasion 2: Invade Harder With Honor

I guess something else would need to be going on during that time period. Punk can come back and start taunting on TV, using the title as bait to get re-signed to the contract he wants. Eventually he gets it, has a unification match with, say, The Miz who holds the new WWE championship. Wins it, and continues to cut his risque "I'll say whatever I want cause you can't fire me" promos, bashing HHH every chance he gets, making a new-age Austin vs McMahon with HHH and Punk with Punk surviving every challenger HHH throws at him until he finally decides he'll get the belt off Punk himself at WrestleMania.

I think if Punk were to defend the title at an ROH show, it'd definitely get people talking while getting people to tune into Raw to see what happens. Popping the ratings a bit. It could be good for the short term.

Wouldn't surprise me...

He tweeted that he was putting the title up against Piston Honda the night he won it.

Pretty sure WWE loves being in the news for their stories. And no doubt a wrestler who ran away with the title and was defending it for other promotions would get covered by at least a few places and get the public interested in how the WWE would react.

Had this Punk thing not happened at the worst possible time (July 4th, taped Raw, Home Run Derby), I'm 100% sure the ratings would've popped due to the coverage it got

Dave the American Idol fan is probably the same guy who knew wrestling was "fake" but still thought the Punk promo was 100% unscripted. And even if it doesn't get him it's bound to attract former viewers. Similar to how Rock's return probably didn't get fans of Tooth Fairy to jump the rating to a 3.9, but it def got those old Attitude Era fans watching for a couple weeks

That's a great idea. If WWE had any sense, they'd work together with ROH or TNA to ensure they had competition. Being the only top company does nothing to benefit WWE. At least with ROH or TNA competiting with them on a high level, it gives WWE the creative drive they need to be more unique.

Hell, I hope WWE is working with ROH. Maybe some of the wrestling would rub off on them. Not to mention working with ROH gives them more talent to observe, like WWE having a working relationship with ECW did around 97-98...

Keep him in the news and they're bound to care eventually. I just think the potential gain from an angle like this far outweighs any loss. I can't see WWE being done any harm or losing anything following through with this. In the end they'll get their belt back regardless and likely get Punk back too. Might as well try to stir up some mainstream interest while you're at it.

They've done dumber stuff to get in the news

Pretty sure TNA have dug themselves into a spot where WWE would want nothing to do with anything to benefit them. At least with ROH they have a seemingly positive relationship

It all comes down to how WWE themselves handle it. If they just continue to ignore it on TV and their website, nothing could ever come from it. But if they covered it on Raw or whatever people would actually be aware. Hell, ESPN and various other news outlets covered the shit out of what was basically a typical wrestling promo. A damn good one, but simply a promo nonetheless. It's not that hard to get on the news today compared to 1999. News channels typically have a segment devoted to irrelevant fucking YouTube videos of all things, and god knows we always know what the cast of Jersey Shore is up to. It's not too hard to imagine a major angle like this getting a mention.

None of it matters though. We're pretty much debating over yet another IWC fantasy. But hey, in a world where Punk ran away with the WWE Title and Danielson is on track to main event Wrestlemania, we can dream

Exactly. After that, nothing really seems unthinkable.

Someone posted this on the ROH board, and some of those idiots are throwing a fit. Practically saying they'd walk away if ROH did business with the evil entertainment juggernaut... For fucks sakes. Those are the people that give indy fans a bad name. I'd love it if ROH did something with WWE, it'd be huge for them. On the other hand, some of them are treating it like the death of wrestling.

Yeah I read that shit on the ROH board earlier. Retarded. A few seem to believe that by simply working with WWE that they're ideals would somehow rub off. Uh, no. The extent of the working relationship will probably just be that you'll get to jerk off to Punk at an ROH show again. Vince himself won't be coming down to produce the shows, you'll still be Ring of Honor and not Ring of Entertainment

I kind of disagree. Summerslam is a month away, and then we go into that kind of slide where things kind of drop off until the Rumble, and the people who watch the show are the people who tend to tune in no matter what. An ROH crossover deal might help to bring in viewers at a time where this historically poses a challenge.