Ring Of Honor Releasing Talent From Contracts, Joe Koff Comments
Ring of Honor announced that it will be “reimagining” the company in 2022, and after Final Battle 2021, it will be holding off on producing live events in the first quarter of 2021.
In an update, new details broke shortly after the official announcement.
First, Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported that the company “released everyone” from their contracts.
ROH released everyone from contracts, more to come.
— Dave Meltzer (@davemeltzerWON) October 27, 2021
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful added that according those he’s spoken to, the releases are effective at the end of the year, and ROH will pay the contracts until March 31 if the deals extend into the new year.
Based on who I've spoken with, ROH releases are effective at the end of the year. If a contract goes beyond that, they're paid until March 31.
— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) October 27, 2021
Ross Sapp also reported that “ROH talent was told to contact Greg Gilleland if they want to work elsewhere, and if they’re under a deal they’ll work on making that happen.”
Mike Johnson of PWInsider offered more information by writing that, on a Zoom call on Wednesday, talents were informed that their contracts won’t be renewed. Johnson noted that ROH will tape content for its weekly TV series this weekend, and it will still hold the Final Battle pay-per-view on December 12. He reported that the weekly TV series will continue, using archival footage and other content, during this hiatus. Additionally, he reported that ROH has a venue “locked in” for the Super Card of Honor show.
In an exclusive interview with Johnson, ROH COO Joe Koff refused to comment in a general sense about the hiatus’ impact on talent. (H/t Jeremy Lambert of Fightful for the transcription.)
“We care very deeply about our people and our talent,” said Koff. This is contractual and an individual conversation. I’m not going to comment on it at this point.”
In the same interview, Koff stated that when it comes to performers working elsewhere during this time, ROH will “work with talent” to meet their needs.
Likewise, Bryan Alvarez of the Wrestling Observer tweeted that though the contracted talent roster will finish out the year with ROH, they’re also immediately free to work elsewhere.
ROH will do tapings in November and then run Final Battle on PPV. Nobody's contract will be renewed, but everyone under contract will finish out the year. They are, however, able to work anywhere they want immediately. We are told rumors Sinclair canceled the show are not true.
— Bryan Alvarez (@bryanalvarez) October 27, 2021
WrestleZone will provide more details as they become available.