Thread: ROH sold to broadcast group, coming to syndication
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Old 05-23-2011, 09:20 AM   #61
Mr. Nerfect
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fox View Post
ROH stays afloat because of a small group of hardcore fans who go to all of their shows and make it a "cult hit", and the internet fans who I already mentioned, who, in all honesty, are probably the same people.

But outside of that core group of fans who have kept this place going, nobody outside of them knows or cares about Ring of Honor. Most people haven't even heard of or watch TNA, and they have been on TV for several years and have huge names like Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair. Ring of Honor, with it's group of hard working, but uncharismatic and uninteresting wrestlers, doesn't really stand a chance at gaining mainstream attention.

And say what you want about them marketing the company as "Ring of Honor, where the best wrestlers are", but without a main face to pull people in, people simply won't care. 80's/90's WWF had Hogan, Macho and Warrior, later they had Austin, then they had The Rock, now they have John Cena. WCW had Hogan, Flair, Sting, and then the nWo and Goldberg. ECW had the brilliant writing and storyline creation coming from Paul Heyman, who created believable and interesting characters in Sandman, Raven, Taz, Rob Van Dam and Tommy Dreamer. Without CHARACTERS, a ROH show is going to fail in the ratings, and say what you want about "at least it will be the best wrestling on TV", what does that matter if no one is watching it?

What I'm saying is that they can't simply market themselves as "We Are Wrestling" - they NEED storylines, they NEED interesting characters, and they NEED a main event face.
Ring of Honor has storylines in spades. El Generico vs. Kevin Steen was already mentioned. Former tag team partners who became bitter enemies. Generico won a match exiling Steen from ROH, and now that Steen's corner man during the feud, Steve Corino (a brilliant character, although I believe he is long past his prime), has turned face with a "new leaf" character - he claims that Kevin Steen has done the same, and seems to be trying to get Generico himself to petition Steen's re-entry into ROH.

Eddie Edwards recently won the ROH World Title from Roderick Strong after having an incredible build in 2010 - becoming the first ROH World Television Champion after defeating his partner, Davey Richards, in the finals. He also won the Survival of the Fittest tournament, I believe, and also become Ring of Honor's first Triple Crown Champion. Now, I'm not the biggest Edwards fan, but he is only getting better, and he's really worked his way up the ROH ranks like no other. Now he's challenging his tag team partner to a title match, and says that he will leave if Richards doesn't accept. So he's forcing his partner to face him again (with Edwards having justified confidence being 1-0 against Richards). Seems to me like Edwards is setting himself up for a fall, which could eventually lead to a heel turn and a vicious feud between the two over the title.

I'm curious to see where this Jimmy Jacobs stuff goes, too. The man is one of the best characters in wrestling, bar none. Paired with another great character in Steve Corino, this shit is just beginning, and could even wind up involving Kevin Steen.

Christopher Daniels is also a great wrestling character. Now, it's unknown what will happen to him now, but here's pipe-dreaming to him staying with ROH and going down this path of being converted by "The Truth."

I haven't even touched the tag team scene in ROH, which may not have the deepest storylines, but neither did the SmackDown! Six in 2002. It was just a bunch of talented guys having great matches. Now, I'm not saying that ROH should be based entirely around that, but who is to say that they can't deliver a little of that?

Also, I sort of like the idea of ROH going into bat with a bunch of unknowns and maybe a couple of ex-WWE or TNA guys trying to prove they can hang in that environment. ROH, like ECW, can really hit that cult, "Fight Club," "Bloodsport" or "MMA-like" market unlike the WWE or TNA. Much like HBO offered something different to the networks when it came to the idea of television, ROH can offer something more "sporty" and market the entire roster. Market the product itself, and it's new breed of wrestlers. Keep track of wins and losses, and use that to put people's perspectives into order. For example, if Austin Aries went 10-0, people would realise that "Holy shit, this guy is fucking good." Then he can get upset by an Adam Cole, and people get into that guy.

Copying the WWE is going to highlight all the flaws of ROH's smaller scale presentation. Trying to pass off an Eddie Edwards as a John Cena is just going to lead to disaster. Passing off Eddie Edwards as a guy who went to wrestling school, was very fucking good at it, got better, and is now World Champion where he wants to be World Champion is enough.
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