8 Big Questions Behind WWE’s Attempts To Buy ROH
4. Will ROH TV Be Shown On The Network?
The original report suggested that WWE plan on retaining ROH as a brand, and that ROH TV would air as a weekly Network show. This has since been denied by Dave Meltzer, who, on today’s episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, stated that WWE are looking to close Ring of Honor, not maintain it.
ROH was mentioned as a potential Network addition in a survey circulated last year. It would represent the next step in the company’s ongoing product diversification, and join 205 Live, the UK Title Tournament, and Cruiserweight Classic as an alternative to Raw and SmackDown. WWE don’t have a great track record when it comes to acquiring and maintaining brands, but ROH should at least bring something fresh and exciting to the table.
A huge part of the appeal also comes from ROH’s extensive tape library. The company have played host to dozens to classic matches over the years, particularly during their heyday, and the opportunity to revisit bouts like Samoa Joe vs. Kenta Kobashi would have fans salivating. We already know WWE are keen to add indie content to the Network, and it doesn’t get much better than the ROH back catalogue, so this step seems highly likely.