Shining a Spotlight 03.05.09: Ring of Changes

Posted by Michael Weyer on 03.05.2009

As they take themselves to weekly TV, how Ring of Honor can meet the challenges they now face.

Well, ROH has been in the news a lot lately which deserves some extra attention for them. First off is the big news that Ric Flair has signed on for a couple of appearances. This can be a major boon for ROH as Flair brings with him his name and reputation which is still good to bring in fans. The man probably won't be making in-ring appearances as he seems content finally retired from the action and hard to see him keeping up with the younger guys at ROH. But his presence to do some promos will probably work out well and be worth the money.
Of course, much bigger is that ROH has finally gotten their long-talked about TV deal but it's not quite the massive one some hoped for. After all, HDNet doesn't have quite the same range as some other cable stations. Spike actually has a wider spread with audiences with "Impact" and it once again makes ROH look like a small-time promotion. However, you have to start somewhere and make no mistake, finally getting a weekly showcase after seven years of only tapes and Internet showings is a huge move for this company, despite the risks involved.

I haven't checked the shows out myself but from what I hear, the tapings went pretty well, emphasizing action over angles. I am sure they'll probably throw in some taped bits here and there, backstage stuff and such but putting the focus on the in-ring stuff is key. Even better is that the finishes for the matches were all clean-cut, no relying on countout or DQ, something WWE has been way too prone for. They could use more of those to keep the shows lively and really separate themselves from the rest of TV programming.

I do think ROH is taking lessons from how WWE and TNA presents their TV shows. We all know the issues with "Impact." Sure, every few weeks we'll get some great matches on the program. But a majority of shows rely way too much on in-ring promos, crazy skits and more that makes them seem laughable to fans. Of course, RAW and Smackdown will often do the same thing quite a lot with matches ending in run-ins and countouts and such. It's true that wrestling has to be entertainment as much as action but you have to find a good balance between them.

Ironically, ECW is showing that balance off pretty well as of late. The show really has done a good job balancing storylines with match stuff and even seems helped by being only an hour long. They've also done well with their mix of stars old and new. Indeed, the rise of Jack Swagger is a great example of how to make a young star as they've been putting him in with their top talent and letting him show his best. That they chose ECW to let Christian make his return to shows even WWE understands this brand is better than fans give it credit for. There's a lot there ROH can learn from if they want to keep putting out some top-notch action.

The challenge ROH faces with this deal is that they can't just cater to their old fans. One of the key mistakes Paul Heyman made when ECW got their TNN deal was that Heyman didn't quite get that what appealed to a narrow part of the fan base wouldn't work as well on a national level. True, the TNN deal was partially doomed from the start from lack of promotion and tight censors but Heyman's own stubbornness with continuing the old ways of promotion and matchmaking didn't help either. ROH faces that same challenge, to bring in a wider audience while continuing the same things that made them so popular in the first place. So far, it sounds like they're off to a good start but that can change. A recurring complaint of TNA is that they don't make a real effort to build new stars but ROH has done well with that. A TV deal gives them a more solid base for recruting fresh guys who can get their names out there.

Not having to deal with a regular cable station can be a help to the show. I don't think it's any coincidence that TNA's obsession with ex-WWE guys and replicating angles from a decade ago really kicked in when they started on Spike. The people at the network don't really care about the nuances of wrestling, they just want some ratings results. Of course, it doesn't help that the bookers at TNA (and I'm not just talking Russo), keep thinking that pushing guys years past their prime to main event slots and ignoring any fresh young talent is a good way to run things. I do understand that TNA wants to rely on some big names to keep them famous but WCW is a great example of what happens when you rely on name power too much.

To that end, the fact ROH doesn't have the same fame as WWE or TNA is a huge benefit for it. ROH has always been good in the fact that there hasn't been as much locker room politics or a sense of a glass ceiling as with the other two major promotions. The worker recognize the opportunity being presented to them and some will no doubt see it as a way to boost themselves in the limelight, perhaps en route to a jump to WWE or TNA. However, a lot of ROH workers are happy with that company and will no doubt be using this as the opportunity to show everyone what they've got. ROH has the chance to show everyone in the mainstream wrestling fandom what they've got and what they can do and the workers know it.

It's true the company is still getting over the loss of Gabe Sapolsky. His vision was key to making the entire company work, his emphasis on action over angles. So far, Adam Pearce has shown himself able to keep up that philosophy but as I've already said, a weekly TV show requires a bit more of angles to keep fan interest going. I don't ROH is going to go massively overboard with whacky skits and half-naked women but they should recognize that non-ROH nuts do enjoy some entertainment aspects and a mix of that can help them out.

They are learning the hard way of the changes a TV show forces on them. Already, the old theme music of wrestlers is gone due to rights issues (can't say I'm sorry to hear the crap of "Final Countdown" gone but do admit Danielson's entrance isn't the same without it), just as ECW had to let go of a bunch of old tunes. The costs of a show are also a major factor as there's a huge difference between doing a regular show and a TV series with cameras and editing. Keeping it in the one arena is a good thing as it makes it easier to set things up and keeps down costs while also giving ROH a familiar setting for fans.

Indeed, cost is going to be a massive factor for ROH in the coming year. Like it or not, they still count as an indy and the indies are going to feel the pinch with the hard economic times. Whatever else, TNA does have a financial backer willing to write out big checks for them and that's a key reason they're still around despite not doing blockbuster business. ROH, however, doesn't and the TV deal is a huge gamble for them. Those in charge should be aware that the lower salaries for workers will mean them tempted more should TNA or WWE come offering better money and bigger stardom, the downfall of many a promotion in history. While a lot of the ROH stars are happy being the big fish in smaller ponds, no doubt others see the possibility of success like Samoa Joe and CM Punk and might see no problem in leaving the promotion in the lurch if the right offer comes around.

The new show could mean changes for ROH in other ways. One thing the promotion has going for it is that unlike WWE or TNA, they don't "hotshot" their belts all the time which gives them some more credibility. Keeping that up alone will make them respectable for many fans and make feuds more important. I do think ROH might try boosting their alliance with SHIMMER to get more women's wrestling on. After all, both TNA and WWE have women's divisions but SHIMMER puts both to shame and showing fans what real women's wrestling can be can only enhance ROH's reps. Otherwise, so far, things look pretty good for the presentation but do have to wait to catch the actual aired shows to see how it all fits together.

There is one more factor to consider regarding the TV deal and ROH's future: The fans. It's no secret there's a big division between ROH die-hards and many others in the IWC. It's true fanatics exist for every company; You can't watch a TNA You Tube video without seeing at least a half dozen people claiming WWE is on the verge of dying and TNA will rule. ROH has its backers who love their storylines and action but others will still sniff at it as too second-rate and too much into the action to get behind. Their rise in attention can help turn some fans around to get them behind the product but the ROH fanatics have to be careful not to crow too loud about it. It's a good step, yes, but in no way is this is a sign ROH is on equal footing with WWE.

In fact, it's always been a benefit for ROH that those in charge recognize their place in the wrestling world. TNA was always set up to try and be "number two" and they still seem to think they're on equal par with WWE. ROH has never tried that and that's been a key reason for their success. Getting a weekly show is great, yes, but ROH still has to remember they're small time compared to WWE or even TNA. But their arrival on a bigger stage is a good thing. True, it's not like WWE will see them as true competition (three years after getting on Spike and WWE has barely acknowledged TNA's existence) but the arrival of a new player can help. Vince McMahon himself has noted he was at his best battling WCW and bringing out new stars doing it and the coming of someone else on the scene can aid that old attitude. To that end, this new deal could end up doing a lot of good for the business as a whole.

Nearly seven years after they began, ROH is finally stepping up to the big plate of a weekly series to showcase what makes them so well-liked. It's a challenge to them as they have to deal with higher costs and trying to balance their old ways with a need to entertain fans not attuned to the product. The chances for failure are high if they don't get the proper ratings and lost some financial backing. Should that happen, it might be a blow the company never recovers from. But if the wrestlers do their best (and no reason to think they don't) and things click…then Ring of Honor might finally be able to prove to their doubters they not only belong as a major company but have earned it. They've managed to beat the odds so far to get this far and if this gamble pays off, they may be able to solidify their place for a long time to come.



Also around 411mania:

Brooklyn Brawlin talks best title matches

Chin talks the Importance of Wrestlemania IV

Against the Grain discusses WWE going TV-14

The Bard talks various topics like the Muta scale

For the Record focuses on HBK/UT

The Shimmy tries to predict the draft lottery

déjà vu pits Warrior vs. Batista

If I Could Be Serious asks who the next big thing can be

The Doctor examines Mania XXV

Five-Star meets some folks

Piledriver Report kicks off the annual March Madness

Don't forget Column of Honor, Ask 411, Fact or Fiction, 3 R's, Triple Threat and the rest.


For this week, the spotlight is off.