Other than WWE or AEW, which do you think are the best wrestling companies to watch?
I personally think when ROH came back they've had the best show to watch during the pandemic. But what do you think? Can be any company and there are lots..
I personally think when ROH came back they've had the best show to watch during the pandemic. But what do you think? Can be any company and there are lots..
Candle
Favorite Answer
ROH has definitely made an upswing during pandemic. They're doing some intriguing things with factions, Rush, and Shane Taylor in particular lately. They seem to have made the old Pure title rules and round system more prevalent in the television product and it gives ROH a much needed identity as a more sports oriented brand. They feel like they're finally carving out their niche again and relying more on 'home' talents instead of big-ish names that made their claim to fame elsewhere, the Elite, or New Japan, so right now ROH is like that ex that I'm happy to see is starting to do well and pick up all of the pieces. They still need a decent women's division, and the behind the scenes toxicity that drove Kelly Klein and Joey Mercury out doesn't seem to be resolved. I'm also not fond of Sinclair as a broadcasting subsidiary as it stands, but as far as TV product goes and having a purpose and relevance in the year 2021, ROH certainly has bounced back from a bad hand dealt to them in the previous year with the departure of Scurll as not only a major star talent, but a once optimistic driving creative force behind the scenes. I don't go out of my way to watch it, and I'm not down with Honor Club, but when it's on I give it a peak. The more and more I do that, the more invested I become.
New Japan's a given. It's going nuts lately with title mergers and double champs, but if you skip the Road To shows and stick with tournaments and bigger cards, New Japan Pro Wrestling is quite the enjoyable watch. I haven't given New Japan Strong much of a look yet outside of the KENTA vs Moxley show, but my general impression is that it's an OK show of young lions from the LA Dojo and some talents looking to revitalize their careers like Fred Rosser. Seems like the kind of place you'd find the future big star of New Japan, but if you're not down for playing scouting reporter there isn't much there to be desired.
As for other products, there's MLW which has quite the eclectic roster of talent, an interesting vision of pro wrestling, and episodic continuity. I also hear they're trying ot stir the old zombie bones of Lucha Underground with Aztec Underground, which I may end up checking out if it becomes it's own MLW branch subsidiary. As for the main product, you have blue chip prospects like Jacob Fatu, Richard Holliday, Injustice, Alexander Hammerstone, and the Von Erichs filling up the ranks alongside an island of familiar misfit toys and/or blackballed elsewhere wrestlers like Low Ki, ACH, Simon Grimm, Mil Muertes, and LA Park. I'll be honest and say that I haven't watched since before AEW got a television deal, but what I saw of MLW definitely has a market and again I'll be more than happy to check Aztec Underground once it actually becomes a thing. Best of all, as of now it's all free on youtube I think.
I'll always pimp out UWN/CWF Hollywood when it comes to a very well booked and mat basic in-ring show. They're starting to diversify talents and open and reopen territories for weekly shows on youtube. It may end up filling the void in my wrestling schedule that NWA Powerrr left if I can truly find a territory to watch and a new talent to glomp onto. Right now I'm just dipping my toe in the waters again, but there are some talented guys like Ray Rosas and Kevin "Johnny Goodtime" Martenson still hanging around so maybe it'll be worth a look.
Those are just a few off of the top of my head if you wish to check something new out. If I had to hold one above the rest, it'd be New Japan although ROH is coming back into my favor lately.
Jim Crockett Promotions Fan
I agree I have been enjoying Ring of Honor's Weekly Show and their other offerings on their Web Site. My only complaint is 1 Hour of Wrestling a week is not enough for me. As everyone who has gone to Ring of Honor Shows knows, Ring of Honor normally gives you 4 Hours of Wrestling and I miss that.
All Elite Wrestling has been interacting with Impact Wrestling, The National Wrestling Alliance, Impact Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling. In fact when the smoke clears Kenny Omega may very well be The AEW World Champion and The Impact Wrestling World Champion. Watching people work for more than one Professional Wrestling Promotion is something that used to happen in The United States all the time, but stopped when The WWF/WWE destroyed most of the other companies, but it's something I see in Japan and have for years.
Today, I discovered SWE Fury on Hannibal TV and you may see and hear people you know from WCW, Lucha Underground, WWE, NWA and other places.