ROH will go on hiatus after Final Battle to ‘reimagine’ the company (Updated)

Ring of Honor announced earlier today (Oct. 27) that they won’t hold any shows in the first quarter of 2022 as they “reconceptualize” the promotion.

Here’s the statement they posted to social media:

“Throughout the pandemic, our top priority was to keep everyone healthy and safe, and despite not producing any live events over 18 months, we were able to keep everyone fully contracted.

We now find ourselves at a time where we need to make changes to our new business operations and are planning a pivot for Ring of Honor, with a new mission and strategy.

The year will culminate with a Final Battle in December, and we will be taking the first quarter of 2022 to work internally to reimagine ROH. ROH has the most dedicated fans in the industry, and we appreciate their loyalty and patience as we reconceptualize ROH.

We anticipate returning to live events in April for the Super Card of Honor with a new fan-focused product and provide a unique experience for wrestling fans.”

The Sinclair Broadcasting-owned company has an important place in 21st century professional wrestling history, but it’s struggled to recover from a disastrous 2018 - 2020. That stretch saw ROH’s biggest stars leave to form AEW, booking of a sold-out WrestleMania week Madison Square Garden show that damaged their partnership with New Japan, multiple public relations crises involving the likes of Jay Lethal, Bully Ray & Kelly Klein, and re-signing Marty Scurll & promoting him to head of creative shortly before long-whispered allegations of sexual misconduct went public during the #SpeakingOut movement. There’s been some good shows and quality wrestling since, and the company deserves praise for running the safest shows of any promotion in the United States during the pandemic. Unfortunately, none of that has helped the brand regain its lost luster.

Word’s long been that Sinclair valued Ring of Honor as cheap content for their syndicated channels. That, and this statement’s promise that the company will return, certainly make it seem like they’ll be back next spring.

But what will the new ROH look like? Who will work there? How will you be able to watch it?

We shall see.

UPDATE: Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer and Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp are both reporting ROH’s roster has been released from their contracts. Sapp indicates releases are effective at the end of the year, and if a wrestler was signed into 2022 or beyond, they’ll be paid until March 31. ROH is said to be working with talents who want to work elsewhere.