Ring of Honor Talent Overhaul 2011

If the following two paragraphs appear as a revelation to the reader; the purpose of this material is clear.

Ring of Honor Wrestling is an independent promotion born in 2002 and based out of Pennsylvania; dedicated to quality in-ring performance, solitarily functioning around the highest work-rate possible.

The ROH roster often exemplifies the importance of loyalty in this business. These demonstrations of loyalty usually stem from the ability of a specific group of elitists; preparedly confident and capable of going above and beyond the typical standards of the independent wrestling duty.

The year 2010 was a notable year for the promotion. The talent loses that happened simultaneously at the end of 2009 sounded an alarm.

Arguably, the two greatest ROH Stars of all time, Bryan Danielson (Daniel Bryan) and Nigel McGuiness (Desmond Wolfe) departed the promotion to achieve further brilliance in a mainstream wrestling-ring; just like A.J Styles, Samoa Joe, CM Punk, etc.

However, the timing by which these indy athletes made the transition into mainstream superstars, has far less of a stench to it; much less than the simultaneous departures of Danielson and McGuiness.

This promotion has always managed to develop new stars/main-event talent, whenever their existing ones have jumped ship. Bryan Danielson and Nigel McGuiness had their best years inside of the promotion long after ROH lost main-event talent like CM Punk and Samoa Joe.

As they have been forced to do since their inception, throughout 2010 and 2011 ROH has managed to develop main-event talent; aggressively pushing all who appear to be able to symbolize the upper-echelon of pro wrestling.

For the promotion from the interior, the synchronized exodus of two ROH Legends was comprehendible, foreseen and flat-out disappointing. Nevertheless, these departures ultimately gave the promotion the chance to showcase, fresh and readily available main-event talent.

For the promotion from the exterior, the synchronized exodus of two ROH Legends was simply distressing and flat-out unfortunate; especially for the closest, diehard assessors of this promotion.

As soon as it became factual to say both Danielson and McGuiness had officially left the independent scene for lucrative mainstream contracts; ROH crowned their youngest world champion ever, Tyler Black

On Feb. 13, 2011 at the “8th Anniversary Show,” Black defeated Austin Aires for world title. (At the time, Aires served as a top main-event heel in the ROH locker room and Black served as the company’s top baby-face.)

Meanwhile the fandom and overall appreciation for Tyler Black’s run towards the championship developed into one of the most inspirational/passionate title bouts/championship victories the promotion as ever produced.

If you know ROH inside and out, then you are well aware of the above paragraphs irony, considering the information is relatively fresh news. Regardless, the championship victory warranted Black’s massive outbreak in this business; on a global scale.

Therefore, during his championship reign, while his reputation travelled up the steepest of inclines; Black received/earned a developmental contract with the WWE in August 2010. This immediately delivered another blow to the exclusively limited and giftedly talented, ROH locker room.

His departure happened faster than the majority of those who make the switch and the promotions most knowledgeable viewers vocalized how they felt.

His departure to the WWE was then switched for a permanent/semi-permanent departure to Florida Championship Wrestling as Seth Rollins.

In spite of Black's lack of secrecy during his final  few months with ROH, the promotion gave him everything they thought he could handle and he failed to disappointment from a performance perspective; consistently displaying high levels of  performance and developing memorable rivalries with memorable opponents.

Most importantly, Black consistently delivered incredible matches, with elite athletes like Roderick Strong,  Davey Richards and Kevin Steen; and yet again ROH fans are striped of the viewing pleasure.

At “Glory By Honor IX”  in September 2010, Strong officially became the newest representative of the promotion by being booked to defeat Tyler Black for the ROH World Heavyweight Championship on his last night/match with the promotion. Exactly where Black was in February 2010 is where Strong was in September 2010.

The world title changed hands twice more in 2011. Eddie Edwards defeated Roderick Strong at “Manhattan Mayhem IV” in March and Davey Richards defeated Eddie Edwards at “Best in the World 2011,” in June.

If you are aware of whom these three champions are, you are aware of their individual make-up. Each man proved while possessing the world title they are gifted athletes, willingly dedicated to defining ROH as a promotion, and themselves as elite performers in the upper-echelon of this business.

In what was described as a cost-cutting move, in October 2010 ROH respectfully made it clear to the following members of their roster, there would be no need to work together in the near future.

Former two-time ROH world Champion, Austin Aires, joined the Necro Butcher, Erick Stevens and the Dark City Fight Club on their way out the door. (All of who were event regulars at one point in their ROH careers.)

In December 2010, Kevin Steen was forcefully given time away from the company; the time period is in question as from this vantage point, his position with ROH remains unclear. However, a return to ROH action for “Mr. Wrestling,” is more probable than a return for any other talent loss being discussed throughout this column. Recent history will attest to this.

The company was able to have Christopher Daniels compete rather consistently for a short period of time this year and last, but ultimately the money spoke and Daniels retrieved back to

wards Orlando.

The summer of 2011 marks the departure of one of the greatest tag-teams in ROH history and one of the most notable and prestigious tag-teams to ever grace a professional wrestling ring. The Kings of Wrestling, Claudio Castagnoli and Chris Hero appear to have both jump ship, to test their luck inside of Vince McMahon’s billion-dollar mainstream promotion.

Colt Cabana left the promotion this summer for the time being, to mainly focus on a new gig supplied by the “Wrestling Revolution Project.” Why? Unclear for the time being.

There has been several wrestlers coming in and out of this company in less than two years. It seems logical to assume, the reason the company has been traumatized by these talent losses, is because of their success. Based on their success, these top-notch athletes have been needed more and more as ROH has lived on, definitely not less and less.

The ROH creative team has faced its fair share of trials and tribulations, as most companies of this nature would.

However, is it fair to assume the last year or two has pushed an overwhelming amount of confusion upon the promotion? Is it fair to say they have had to re-establish their balancing act? The smaller or more limited the roster, the harder the balancing act.

By now, regardless of your existent or non-existent fandom for ROH, it is clear this company has had a major talent overhaul; not necessarily by choice and not necessarily for better.

The company will continue to try and supply strong enough reason(s) for its cult following to continue supporting the exclusive nature of the ROH Wrestling product.

Is there a talent overhaul readily available for ROH to piece together? Or is the company just as uneasy as its diehard supporters in relation to all of the significant talent losses; from the company’s inception to present time.

This company will once again be forced to build up a portion of its younger talent in order to fortify the roster and increase the size of its depth. (An underrated statistic for a professional wrestling promotion.)

Kyle O’Reilly (a Davey Richards protégé), Adam Cole and Mike Bennett are recent acquisitions who have overpoweringly displayed the potential to develop into solidified ROH athletes sooner than later. All three have spent time in other popular independent professional wrestling promotions across the United States, including Combat Zone Wrestling and Dragon Gate USA.

In addition to O’Reilly, Cole and Bennett, Tommaso Ciampa, Andy Ridge, Michael Elgin, Shelton Benjamin, Charlie Haas and most recently T.J Perkins, Cedric Alexander and Caprice Coleman have signed performance contracts with the promotion.

I encourage you to research all of the athletes listed above to become familiar with such a large talent overhaul; talent who seem to be readily available enough to make an impact.

This year has also seen the return of the Young Bucks (GenerationMe), the return of Jimmy Jacobs, the return of Jay Lethal and the return of Homicide.

The balancing act when working for the independent wrestling scene is complex. It has contributed to numerous unwanted talent losses for various promotions; but none have been affected heavier than ROH.

In addition to this, the unstable conditions which thrive throughout the independent scene, often serve as repellent for some of the industry’s most talented performers; but ROH could become the first indy promotion to reinvent the independent scene. They hope to obliterate the idea that a mainstream promotion is where professional wrestling elitists become global phenomenons.

The connection between cash and mainstream professional wrestling is evident; but cannot be primarily blamed for capturing wrestlers on the independent circuit; nor can the connection be recognized as the lone reason for jumping ship.

However, the relationship between cash and mainstream professional wrestling is becoming irritable for fans of the independent scene. First and foremost, the relationship between cash and mainstream professional wrestling has probably set this promotion back, in every sense of the word.

As ROH continues to collect and utilize its niche; those who are desperately willing to distribute it, will be those who are given the opportunity to step into the boots once worn by guys like CM Punk, Samoa Joe, Danielson, McGuiness, Black, Aires, Daniels, Castagnoli and Hero inside of an ROH ring.

This promotion has done a commendable job of readjusting and readapting a locker room irritatingly interrupted by change.

I speak with intoxicating levels of proof when I say; the ROH roster is presently full of potential, professional wrestling superstars/elitists. However, this is not the first overhaul the ROH roster has experienced and it may not be the last.

No matter who has come in and out of this promotion, the most admirable aspect of this company is as follows:

Each performer who has ever been under contract with ROH must share common characteristics. The willingness to perform to the best of your ability, the willingness to exemplify passion and the comprehension of the products exclusivity is what drives this company. These characteristics make up the inner portion; the engines of the ROH athletes.

In 2011 company parts have been replaced and repaired and a talent overhaul, in this particular era, is seemingly underway.

This promotion’s life is far from a miracle, its destiny. Some fans may choose to believe this is what separates ROH from the rest of the independent scene.

Is this overhaul as readily available as the promotion may see fit? Or do a few more enhancements need to be made before the promotion can deem themselves a part of the competition.

Next Thursday, you can expect another post similar to this one. It will take a look at who Ring of Honor has to offer through the end of 2011 and into the beginning of 2012. From the interior and exterior, which talent appear to be ready to be the next BIG THING for ROH!? Who is readily available to be a significant piece of a talent overhaul?