We still don’t know exactly what Ring of Honor’s announcement they’ll take the first quarter of 2022 off to reimagine/reconceptualize their business means. But we are hearing that talent are being released in the coming months as a result, and it seems that - at least in the short-term - there’s one less place for wrestlers to earn a steady paycheck and appear on television.
As you can imagine, that’s lead to a lot of reactions on social media from people affected by the announcement and their friends & fans. The most detailed, and perhaps the most poignant, comes from Maria Kanellis-Bennett. Maria was the face of ROH’s women’s division restart, and the statement she posted on Twitter begins by thanking the team she worked with on that effort:
Ring of Honor,
This change hits harder than the others I’ve experienced. I was no longer fighting just for my career but for the careers of the women that I consider the Ring of Honor Division, THE Team. Angelina, Sumi, Mandy, Quinn, Vita, and Amy you fought for this division and kept it going before I came back. This division is yours. You are the foundation of this incredible locker room. You created space and held the bar that encouraged everyone to be the best. Thank you for your support and for your talent.
Chelsea, AK, and Marti thank for your friendship, love, and support and being a comfort and strength to me in the locker room while I was navigating this new role. Rok-C you are an incredible Champion and will be the future of this industry. Miranda you are my spirit animal. This is only the beginning for you. Please continue to fight and have that confidence in yourself. Trish I love your voice in this industry. Plus, you are the best technical wrestler of this era. Keep fighting For The Culture. Diversity is important.
Willow, wow your soul is what makes this industry great. You uplift a locker room with your smile and fearless nature. Alex, Laynie, Ashley, Mazzerati, Allie, Gia, and Brandi keep growing. We were only a stop on your career path but the universe has huge plans for all of you. Holidead thank you for your respect. The respect you had for me made me feel that I could do this job. Nicole you are not a shadow. You are a star. Stand in the bright light and shine. Max, thank you for sharing your truth with the world and me. Representation is important.
LuFisto thank you for your knowledge and all of the experience you brought to Beyond the Belles. You are one of the unsung Heros to all women in wrestling. You broke barriers for the women still all women in wrestling. You broke barriers for the women still fighting today. Alyssa you are an incredible asset to any company you are a part of. You bring depth and respect to any position you have.
Zane thank you for helping produce the entire tournament and weekly TV. For holding a thankless position and working countless hours to provide context to all of the ROH stories.
Lenny you have been a voice in women’s wrestling and give credibility to every match you commentate. Alongside Caprice and Ian, you guys told the stories of the matches and humanized the wrestlers more than just moves but heart and soul.
Leslie thank you for lending your years of knowledge to create characters through makeup. For being a shoulder to lead on and an ear to listen.
Josh, Matt, and Hero you produced incredible matches that the entire division can be proud of. You gave the women confidence and truly were a integral part of the team. Thank you.
Hunter you gave me the call that changed my life. You gave me the job I always dreamed of. That I fought for and you fought for me. You saw the potential in me. And for that I am forever thankful. Joe, Greg, Sinclair, and all of the production team thank you for your support. Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for giving me my dream job if only for a brief time. Thank you.
And Bobby Cruise. My partner in producing the ROH Women’s Division. You remained in the shadows so I could shine. (The wind beneath my wings, lame I know.) I could not have done this without you. You are brilliant and have fought incredibly hard for me and for every woman in Ring of Honor.
My best friend, Mike for all of the car rides, all of the late nights, for every meal YOU have listened as I told you my dreams for the ROH Women’’s Division thank you. I love you. You are my rock, my sounding board, my everything. We will figure this out too.
The ROH Locker Room. You guys and girls truly are the greatest locker room in the world but even beyond that, you are the greatest humans. There are so many more things I want to say about each of you and to anyone I forgot but this statement could go on for pages and it still would not be enough. So, I will just say, THANK YOU.
Here are some others, many of which include booking information (ROH is said to be :using talent for scheduled dates through the end of the year, but otherwise allowing them to begin working elsewhere):
Ring of honor has been absolutely amazing throughout this whole pandemic. i cannot thank them enough for supporting me and giving me a chance.I will always be greatful for my short-lived time there https://t.co/NwrxkUuSDX
— Session Moth Martina マーティナセッション (@mothfromdaflats) October 27, 2021
My heart breaks
— World Famous CB/ da’Coldest Brotha (@CheeseburgerROH) October 27, 2021
❤️
Thinking about getting drunk and throwing things out of a window.
— Tony Deppen (@Tony_Deppen) October 27, 2021
Sad on many levels about the ROH news
— Lenny Leonard (@WWNLennyLeonard) October 27, 2021
The ROH i worked for was gone long ago, but a lot of the people weren’t
In working with this new ROH team this summer I saw a lot of hard working & talented people who loved that place the way I did during my time there
I feel for them all
Sometimes life is hard. But you gotta keep on persevering. Sometimes one door has to close before another one can open.
— silas young (@lastrealmanROH) October 27, 2021
I hope that with the news today promotions give more chances to people like@QuinnMcKay @MileHighMagnum @ClassicEMartin @The_KenDixon @Cupofjoekeys
— Brody King (@Brodyxking) October 27, 2021
Good people and great talents.
— Danhausen (@DanhausenAD) October 27, 2021