In this WrestleTalk News, ROH releases everyone, the promotion’s future, and my review of
AEW Dynamite.
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Ring of Honor have arguably been the most responsible wrestling promotion in the world
alongside New Japan during the pandemic.
They held off on producing any live or recorded shows until they figured out how it could
be done safely, and still paid every wrestler signed with them.
Some wrestlers, who were only booked for one-off performances months after the pandemic began,
have praised the company for even paying them for appearances they couldn’t make.
But a year and a half of that strategy takes its toll, and Ring of Honor have now posted
a statement revealing they are going on a hiatus to “reimagine” the promotion.
“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.”
Dave Meltzer then revealed exactly what that meant, tweeting: “ROH released everyone
from contracts, more to come.”
Sean Ross Sapp then added: “We're told that ROH COO Joe Koff told talent he had multiple
meetings trying to fight for ROH, but ultimately [their TV network owner] Sinclair made the
call.”
“Based on who I've spoken with, ROH releases are effective at the end of the year.
If a contract goes beyond that, they're paid until March 31.”
“ROH talent was told to contact Greg Gilleland if they want to work elsewhere, and if they're
under a deal they'll work on making that happen.”
Bryan Alvarez then added talent are “able to work anywhere they want immediately.
We are told rumors Sinclair canceled the show are not true.”
PWInsider then revealed the talent were informed their contracts won’t be renewed on a Zoom
call on Wednesday.
ROH will tape its TV this weekend through to its Final Battle pay-per-view on the 12th
December.
After that, the weekly show will continue using archive footage until the planned “reimagining”
in April.
In a promising sign, ROH already has a venue locked in for their Super Card of Honor show
then.
Ring of Honor has arguably done more than any other promotion in North America in the
last two decades to cultivate and influence the strong style wrestling that has improved
the industry’s in-ring product.
A look at either WWE or AEW’s rosters shows the wealth of talent who first plied their
trade there, with CM Punk, Bryan Danielson, Seth Rollins, Adam Cole, Samoa Joe, AJ Styles
and more.
And that pedigree is still there, with a roster that includes Jay Lethal, Bandido, Rush, Brody
King, Dalton Castle, Dragon Lee, the Briscoes, Matt Taven, Shane Taylor and Jonathan Gresham
- who are now free to work elsewhere.
Which former ROH wrestlers do you want to see turn up elsewhere?
And what are your favourite ROH memories?
I know it’s not a particularly popular time for ROH diehards, but the Davey Richards,
Michael Elgin, Kevin Owens period in the early teens, booked by Jim Cornette, is one of my
all time favourite periods of a wrestling company.
Let me know in the comments down below.
It’s Wednesday, you know what that means!
Ah shucks, AEW getting bumped to Saturdays again?
No, it’s back on Wednesday nights!
And their return kicked off big with Bobby Fish vs the CM Punk tights variant, following
their interaction from Saturday.
Fish worked over Punk’s leg, taking out the very knee needed for the GTS finish, but
Punk fought through the pain in the end to hit it.
There was a very neatly done protection of Fish, who kicked out a fraction of a second
after the 3 count because of how long it took Punk to get the cover.
I still can’t believe I’m getting to watch CM Punk wrestle in AEW.
MJF squashed enhancement talent Bryce Donovan with a one-finger pin.
Which gave him more time to bury [ENTER LOCAL HOMETOWN HERE].
He said he’s all about pinning shoulders to matts and banging rats - a derogatory term
for a woman who sleeps with wrestlers - but he’d rather than stick his penis in a blender
rather than have sex with anyone from Boston and, more specifically, your mum.
Sting’s music started playing, but it was just a joke entrance.
The heels yucked it up, when the lights completely cut out.
MJF is like, nice one Spears.
And Spears replies in his best goofy stooge voice… uh, that ain’t me boss.
Darby’s latest student film premiered, Sting attacked them in the ring, and waiting just
behind an escaping MJF in the crowd was Darby Allin dressed as Inspector Gadget!
This was an awesome babyface reveal, which Allin followed up with making the challenge
for Full Gear.
Sammy Guevarra got most of the offence on Ethan Page in their TNT championship match,
hitting an incredible double springboard cutter and a shooting star press to the outside.
I like how all the TNT champions have had such unique wrestling styles.
Sammy’s matches are totally different to Miro, Darby, Cody and Brodie’s so far.
Unfortunately, I feel like the story had one stipulation too many.
It wasn’t just the TNT title on the line, Sammy would have to leave the Inner Circle
if he lost too, rather telegraphing the finish.
Sammy obviously won, prompting a brawl between the Men of the Year and the Inner Circle,
where Jericho revealed their Full Gear match will be a Minneapolis street fight.
The American Top Team line-up will be decided next week, which might include the Premier
Athlete Tony Nese, who was watching from ringside, and seemed upset when Sammy retained.
Eddie Kingston and Bryan Danileson had a fiery promo backstage, comparing battles with depression,
and Danielson vowing to still beat him in the World Title Eliminator match this Friday
- which is a great way to get over the probable Danielson vs Mox final.
Bryan beats Moxley’s best mate in the semis.
Meanwhile, Mox is just straight up eating his opponents, squashing 10 in a matter of
minutes, ripping his mask and biting his face.
Just walking back through the crowd with someone else’s blood smeared over his shoulder,
this made Mox look the most dangerous and aggressive he’s ever been… which is saying
something.
He is the one who returns from the alleyway.
In possibly the best non-title womens feud since Rosa vs Baker, Shida collided with Serena
Deeb in the first round of the TBS tournament - with Shida still chasing that 50th win,
that Deeb denied her weeks ago.
They stole the show with an terrifically intense fight.
Shida throwing herself into kicks.
Deeb dismantling body parts.
The crowd were so into every submission spot given how their last match ended.
Deeb went to use the 50th win plaque as a weapon, but Shida turned it into a perfectly
booked roll-up win.
This caused Deeb to snap, smashing Shida’s knee in with a chair.
These two absolutely stole the show.
For me, these two should be at the top of the women’s division, along with Baker and
Rosa.
Those are the four to focus on.
Long may this feud continue.
But arguably the more fascinating feud right now is Cody Rhodes vs the concept of a babyface.
Full disclosure: I love Cody, unironically.
I actually do enjoy him as a white meat good guy.
But you can’t ignore the vocal reactions from the live crowds who very much don’t.
So AEW has taken an interesting approach: turn that into a storyline.
Malachi Black claimed to have turned the fans against him.
Sure, Cody won on Saturday.
But Black won the war of hearts and minds.
Commentary also noted the crowd’s booing.
And then so did Cody in a brave gamble with an ‘I’m not going to turn’ promo.
In typical Cody style, he put over his family.
He said his wife is too hot for him, his daughter is too good for him, his brother is a better
wrestler than him, and his father has a legacy he’ll never live up to.
He literally threw his shoes into the audience and asked them to imagine what it’s like
to be in his place.
Wait a second… shoes have heels.
Heel turn confirm-[JUMP CUT INTERRUPT] He said the easy way out would be to ‘turn’.
So he’s not going to.
He’s going to stay true to his babyface self.
It was a good promo, but when you remove the performance, the content here is AEW breaking
the fourth wall.
Cody’s character isn’t working the way he wants it to.
So please start cheering him again.
If it was anyone else, I’d say these are the words of a delusional heel character.
So maybe this is building to a turn.
Or it’s 100% sincere.
I don’t know right now.
Andrade and Black interrupted, and PAC made the save.
And the main event was a fun, fancy dress match for Halloween, with the Dark Order dressed
up mostly in cowboy outfits, and the Super Elite wearing Ghostbusters costumes.
The Good Brothers didn’t accompany them, so maybe the IMPACT partnership really is
over for now.
This was a goofy house show style match.
I enjoyed it, but I can see how people who want their world champions serious could take
against it.
But I think whatever criticisms were fixed by the end, as the comedy was the perfect
Trojan Horse to deliver a seriously badass angle.
The Dark Order guy in the horse outfit, who the Elite all beat up, turned out to be their
own Brandon Cutler.
Leaving the Elite’s Marshmallow Man to reveal themself as Hangman Page in the best new meme
template!
John Silver got a much needed win for the Dark Order, who celebrated all together again.
What did you think of Dynamite?
51% of you went for Give us Shida vs Deeb III, narrowly beating I’m dressing up as
Hangman Page as Marshmallow Man for Halloween.
This was an incredibly fun episode, with a superb Deeb vs Shida match, a fiery MJF promo
and an awesome angle in the main event.
This week’s Dynamite is four out of 5!