According to a recent report from F4WOnline, the future of Ring of Honor will focus on non-contracted independent talent. It was in the report that the plan will be “essentially be an indie promotion” where they book top available talent on nights they have shows and TV tapings, leaving themselves open to issues if a champion gets signed to a deal elsewhere.
As previously reported, contracted talent that have contracts expiring after January 1, 2022 will be paid through the early part of 2022, and can work elsewhere outside of the upcoming final round of TV tapings in November and the December Final Battle PPV. Talent who have contracts that end in December, are free to work elsewhere immediately.
It has been stated by multiple sources that Sinclair did not cancel the ROH TV show on their affiliates, and that at some point after the November taping footage is used up, they will use old footage for their weekly TV product until their presumed return. It is now being said that ROH has their video tape library up for sale to the highest bidder.
Ring of Honor, at one time had so much potential to be the number 2 promotion in the United States behind WWE. They had such great talent in Cody Rhodes, Adam Page, the Young Bucks, Bully Ray, and among others. I had an opportunity with my daughter in 2019 to attend a live ROH television taping. We met Flip Gordon, Jay Lethal, Silas Young and the Beer City Bruisers. Each talent so personable and fun to talk to. Yes, it was a long night, a small crowd, but it was a fun atmosphere.
If Ring of Honor returns, can they survive as a company that is an independent promotion? Can this type of business model be a successful? I would expect that many of the more big name talent such as Jay Lethal, The Briscoes, Matt Taven – just to name a few will be sought after by WWE, AEW, IMPACT, MLW and the NWA.
Wednesday was a sad day for ROH and professional wrestling. I believe, like everyone else that Sinclair has every intention of returning, which I really hope they do, but after most of their talent land contracts elsewhere, can they start fresh from the ground up after working so hard to build up their company since the beginning, and then again after Sinclair purchased the company in 2011?
Tell us your thoughts – If ROH returns, what will the company look like? Can they be successful as an independent promotion?