Fantastic post and highly detailed in a way that the subject matter needed. I like how you included your own draft too. I've had access to Ring of Honor since Tony Khan "re-launched" it, and while there has been solid in-ring work all-around from what limited stuff I've seen, I quickly lost any compelling urge to watch it regularly. This is directly tied into all the other wrestling product already out there that feels like an actual "promotion". I had expected and hoped it in the beginning that it would be shaped as being a completely separate standalone promotion with its own storylines, perhaps developing newer talent and focusing on under-utilized talent at minimum in light feud-based storylines. However, I felt as a viewer there was no identity to Ring of Honor to draw me in that I've even found with some weekly independent wrestling shows who have no nationally known names and appear to be working off very small budgets. I strongly concur on many of your points, in particular the need for a studio setting for the shows going forward.
Thanks for the kind words, I'm just starting out on Substack so it's nice to get some comments going.
When TK took over ROH, I had thought it might become a small touring show that would feature people on the fringe of TK's roster and to some extent that is what it is. The part I didn't envision is it being tied to tightly from a TV recording perspective to AEW which I think has been to it's detriment, as you said it doesn't feel 'vital' or 'important' in its own right, more an AEW waiting room. I'm not sure how doing the taping separately stacks up financially but it would immediately give the promotion a breath of fresh air and a different vibe. A separate roster would also add to this.
Fantastic post and highly detailed in a way that the subject matter needed. I like how you included your own draft too. I've had access to Ring of Honor since Tony Khan "re-launched" it, and while there has been solid in-ring work all-around from what limited stuff I've seen, I quickly lost any compelling urge to watch it regularly. This is directly tied into all the other wrestling product already out there that feels like an actual "promotion". I had expected and hoped it in the beginning that it would be shaped as being a completely separate standalone promotion with its own storylines, perhaps developing newer talent and focusing on under-utilized talent at minimum in light feud-based storylines. However, I felt as a viewer there was no identity to Ring of Honor to draw me in that I've even found with some weekly independent wrestling shows who have no nationally known names and appear to be working off very small budgets. I strongly concur on many of your points, in particular the need for a studio setting for the shows going forward.
Thanks for the kind words, I'm just starting out on Substack so it's nice to get some comments going.
When TK took over ROH, I had thought it might become a small touring show that would feature people on the fringe of TK's roster and to some extent that is what it is. The part I didn't envision is it being tied to tightly from a TV recording perspective to AEW which I think has been to it's detriment, as you said it doesn't feel 'vital' or 'important' in its own right, more an AEW waiting room. I'm not sure how doing the taping separately stacks up financially but it would immediately give the promotion a breath of fresh air and a different vibe. A separate roster would also add to this.