ROH Is Missing Something

 

Full Disclaimer: This article was written before ROH's bombshell announcement. I sat on it critiquing it and waiting for a good time to release it. With the news of ROH's impending hiatus and uncertain future, I decided to release it as is. It highlights some issues I believe led to ROH's decision.

In my local TV market, Ring of Honor airs every Saturday night on Sinclair owned CW affilate. I typically watch new episodes of  Ring of Honor usually by the following Monday after it airs. I enjoy ROH since it's presentation of pro wrestling is different than WWE, AEW, even Impact. While I watch it every week I always feel like ROH is missing something, and I can't quite put my finger on what it is.

After the Elite left to jumpstart AEW, ROH was sinking fast. At times it even seemed like the powers that be didn't care anymore. Since the reset during the pandemic the production and presentation has greatly improved. The interviews and video packages have been top notch to compliment the in ring product. I'm curious if the same quality of production will consistently occur once they start taping on the road again.

I also think at this point they could benefit from a small number of fans being at the TV tapings. Fans greatly helped the atmosphere for Best In The World, Glory By Honor, and Death Before Dishonor. Watching the shows since then it is glaringly obvious. Fans help the product 1000% it cannot be denied.

Sometimes I wonder if they don't embrace the "entertainment" side of pro wrestling enough. Do they rely so much on being the best pure wrestling company, that they miss providing compelling storylines? They are missing that one over the top character that resonates with everyone, and no Danhausen and Dalton are not it. They are niche characters if anything. The theme music of their wrestlers for the most part are not recognizable or catchy enough to draw your attention, but that's a problem across the landscape of the bigger promotions.

Other times I wonder if maybe they should go full out embracing a more legitimate sport environment. Introducing weigh ins, contract signings even borrowing from New Japan with press conferences after big matches.

Then I wonder in the saturated pro wrestling content market, if the one hour syndicated program is just not enough. Should Sinclair Broadcasting/ROH consider a second program possibly on YouTube or the ROH Honorclub app to gain more subscribers. Or use those platforms to create a program focusing on the personas of their roster, so fans gain a better idea of who these wrestlers are and what their mission statement is.

ROH has a good core roster of veterans and rising stars on the men's side. They are building their women's divison which put on some excellent matches for the women's tournament by the way. In fact their womens division is utilized on YouTube with a featured match on Womens Division Wednesday. I'm sure they will eventually pick up a talent here or from the WWE talent purge. So extra programming wouldn't hurt at all.

I think ROH for the most part has figured out their lane and know how they want their product to be presented. Even still they are missing something, maybe one day myself and ROH will figure out exactly what it is.