Five Reasons To Watch Ring Of Honor

How Ring Of Honor emphasizes sports over entertainment in their product

Viewing any part of Ring Of Honor’s regular showings and PPVs, from promos to in-ring, gives an impression upon the viewer that the company has long sought to achieve: That pro wrestling is a sport and that Ring Of Honor is the gold-standard of that sport.

And like most sports within the world, Ring Of Honor values rules. They value and enforce them. But when they are broken, consequences are given out in full hands. While you usually only see storyline consequences on TV (The real life instances would likely be far less entertaining to watch) these consequences create the idea that within the scripted world of professional wrestling, reality still reigns supreme. An example of this can be found in Flip Gordon, who’s lack of respect and obedience to the Pure Rules Division results in him being ousted nearly as quickly as he came.

Speaking of such an instance, the bringing of this idea of sportsmanship and reality to ROH can be tracked very clearly to their resurrection of the Pure Rules Division, and the Pure Championship alongside it. The matches this division highlights are entirely centered around strategy, skill and planning as opposed to the dramatics that pro wrestling is reputed for. And like any paradigm shift to a segment of an ecosystem, it spills over into the other sections. From how the outright barbaric rivalry of Vincente & Matt Taven results in them being temporarily suspended to quell the violence, to how the Pure Rules makes no bones about the result of violating their regulations, this brings one thing to mind purely:

Honor, for the first time in who knows how long, is real in ROH. And I welcome this alternative wrestling atmosphere.