CM Punk |
ROH appeared in the 2008 film The Wrestler, where it promotes the final bout of the film between Randy "The Ram" Robinson (played by Mickey Rourke) and The Ayatollah (played by Ernest "The Cat" Miller). Several wrestlers, including Nigel McGuinness, Claudio Castagnoli and Bobby Dempsey appear on film during the ROH scenes. As of 2011, due to its television show and presence on PPV, ROH is considered the third most prominent professional wrestling promotion in the United States (behind WWE and TNA).
Jay Lethal |
In April 2001, the pro-wrestling video-distribution company RF Video needed a new promotion to lead its video sales when its best-seller -- Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) -- went out of business, and the rights to its brandname were purchased by WWE. RF Video also videotaped events held by other, less-popular, regional wrestling promotions; it sold these through its catalog and website. RF Video's owner, Rob Feinstein, decided to fill the ECW void by starting his own pro-wrestling promotion, and distributing its made-for-DVD/VHS productions exclusively through RF Video. The first event, titled The Era of Honor Begins, took place on February 23, 2002 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the former home area of ECW. It featured nine matches, including a match between Eddy Guerrero and Super Crazy for the IWA Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship; and, a triple threat match between Christopher Daniels, Bryan Danielson and Low Ki (who would become known as the "founding fathers of ROH"). In its first year of operation, Ring Of Honor confined itself to staging live events in a limited number of venues and cities -- primarily in the northeastern U.S.A. Ten shows were run in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; two in Wakefield, Massachusetts; one in metro Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and, one in Queens, New York. In 2003, ROH expanded to other areas of the United States, including Ohio, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Maryland. It also began to build its international identity by co-promoting an event with Frontier Wrestling Alliance in London, England.
Daniel Bryan |
Austin Aries |
On May 2, 2007, Ring of Honor announced the signing of a PPV and VOD deal with G-Funk Sports & Entertainment to bring ROH into homes with In Demand Networks, TVN, and the Dish Network. The deal called for six taped pay-per-view events to air every 60 days. Because of the move to pay-per-view, TNA Wrestling immediately pulled its contracted stars (Austin Aries and Homicide) from ROH shows, although TNA performers have since returned to the company. The first pay-per-view, titled "Respect is Earned", taped on May 12, first aired on July 1 on Dish Network.
Daniel Bryan |
On January 26, 2009, Ring of Honor announced that it had signed an agreement with HDNet Fights for a weekly television program. The first tapings for Ring of Honor Wrestling took place on February 28 and March 1, 2009 at The Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After nearly a year of producing weekly television broadcasts, ROH announced on January 20, 2010 that it would commission a new title, the ROH World Television Championship, to be decided in an eight-man tournament beginning February 5, 2010 and ending February 6, 2010 on its Ring of Honor Wrestling program. Due to a North American blizzard, however, the second half of the tournament did not take place until March 5, 2010, when Eddie Edwards defeated Davey Richards in the finals.
CM Punk |
On January 11, 2011, Ring of Honor announced the ending of Ring of Honor Wrestling, after the completion of the promotion's two–year contract with HDNet. The final tapings of the show would be taking place on January 21 and 22, with the final episode airing on April 4, 2011.
On May 21, 2011, Ring of Honor and Sinclair Broadcast Group announced that the broadcast carrier had purchased ROH. Former ROH owner, Cary Silkin, will remain with the company in an executive role. The promotion's programming began airing on September 24, 2011 on Sinclair stations, mainly in weekend primetime on their CW and MyNetworkTV affiliates, which are not programmed by those networks.
Motorcity Machine Guns |
ROH distinguished its image from other wrestling promotions through the "Code of Honor", a set of rules dictating how wrestlers should conduct themselves during matches. The Code of Honor aimed to infuse Ring of Honor's matches with a feel similar to Japanese professional wrestling. Initially, the Code of Honor included five "Laws", mentioned at some point during each ROH production. ROH considered it a moral requirement to follow these rules, which usually appeared in the following order:
- You must shake hands before and after every match
- No outside interference: no interfering in others' matches or having others interfere on your behalf
- No sneak attacks
- No harming the officials
- Any action resulting in a disqualification violates the Code of Honor
Evan Bourne? |
In early 2004, ROH's booker at the time, Gabe Sapolsky, began to feel that the Code of Honor had run its course. As a result, wrestlers no longer had to follow it. The Code of Honor eventually re-appeared, revamped, as three rules:
- Shake hands before and after the match—if you respect your opponent
- Keep the playing-field level
- Respect the officials
Samoa Joe |
Originally, Ring of Honor had no formal way to determine challengers for its World Championship. When Xavier, a heel champion, began to avoid challengers, Ring of Honor set up a "Top Five Ranking" system to establish contenders to the title. It ranked wrestlers based on their general win-loss record, and on their win-loss record against other ranked competitors. The top contender held the Number One Contender's Trophy, which the company treated as a second championship at the time, and defended as such.
Christian |
In January 2005 Ring of Honor did away with the Contenders Ring. Instead, wrestlers who wanted a title shot had to submit a petition to ROH officials. After receiving such a petition, ROH officials kept track of the petitioner's record, quality of opposition, respect shown towards the Code of Honor, and inherent skill. These factors determined who would receive a title shot. Despite the petition system, ROH officials retained the ability to determine number-one contenders.
Upon the naming of Jim Cornette as ROH Commissioner in October 2005, Ring of Honor management confirmed the return of the "Top Five Ranking" system. Cornette and other ROH officials voted on the "Top 5" only during the first week of every month. Selection depended on won/lost record and quality of opposition, with a heavy emphasis on the previous month.
Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas |
Bryan vs Aries |
Jerry Lynn & Ric Flair |
The ROH promotion also runs a professional wrestling school, the "ROH Wrestling Academy" in Bristol, Pennsylvania. As of 2009 Delirious and Daizee Haze operate as head trainers of the school; previous head trainers of the academy include former ROH World Champions CM Punk, Austin Aries, and Bryan Danielson. As of 2009 three classes of students had already graduated and started wrestling on the US independent circuit, including in preliminary and exhibition matches at Ring of Honor events. ROH has a "Top of the Class" trophy to promote the students on the main show; while wrestlers win and lose the Trophy in matches, the School's head trainer chooses the winners.
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