ROH In Crisis: ALL Wrestlers To Be Released, Hiatus & Reboot Impending

The latest on Ring Of Honor as mass wrestler releases and a 2022 "reimagining" loom for the group.

ROH Ring of Honor
ROH

Ring Of Honor spun into crisis on Wednesday, as it was revealed that the promotion would be releasing every contracted wrestler following a hiatus announcement.

This major story started developing when ROH tweeted the following, confirming the promotion will go on ice after 11 December's Final Battle 2021 event, returning to live shows in April 2022 after "working internally to reimagine ROH":-

PWInsider's Mike Johnson notes that this decision was made around a week ago. Elsewhere, Fightful's Sean Ross Sapp reports that ROH COO Joe Koff fought hard for the promotion, but parent company Sinclair Broadcast Group ultimately made the decision.

After the hiatus was announced, Dave Meltzer reported that ROH had released "everyone" from their contracts. His outlet, The Wrestling Observer/Figure Four Online, later added that deals weren't being renewed and that ROH wrestlers were free to work for other companies effective immediately. Wrestlers will also be paid until at least the end of the year (Sapp notes that those with contracts beyond this will be paid until 31 March) and will be required to fulfil their remaining ROH dates.

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ROH World Champion Bandido has already been confirmed for upcoming Game Changer Wrestling shows in December.

As well as Final Battle, ROH is due to run television tapings in November. The company's television show had not been cancelled at the time of writing.

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Formed in 2002, ROH quickly ascended to become the most influential independent wrestling promotion in history, helping launch the careers of CM Punk, Bryan Danielson, Samoa Joe, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, and countless others. The promotion has been under Sinclair's ownership since a 2011 takeover and has endured a rough few financial years after electing against making talent cuts during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.