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This column is written in response to another column made by a fellow obsesee, Terry Russell. He wrote the article "Truth about Ring of Horror", emphasizing on the negative points that ROH bears along with its visibly positive ones. By that, it is not implied that this output will focus on the other side of the argument, so, maybe this title isn't suitable for that reason. My purpose with the title is just for this to be identified as a column viv-a-vis with Mr. Russell's article. Seeing that Mr. Russell's article brought out a lot of heat from OWW's obsesees, who safe-to-say are mostly ROH fans, it is inevitable to react to that. On that note, whilst making a reaction myself, I saw that mine's was a little bit too long so I decided to make a website entry myself, my first column for OnlineWorldofWrestling.com.

He was actually the first one I found out to be an anti-ROH wrestling fan. I am not surprised by how many people reacted to his article, whether taking it seriously or not. But I was of course somehow surprised by the way these "marks" reacted. It was an unfair take by most of them, with one even questioning the qualifications of that article for this respective site (no offense, sir). I am actually writing this article to support Terry Russell's ideals about it.

I believe not a lot of people do not like ROH. Just like OWW's "puppet master" said, that to one anti-ROH article there might be five more pro-ROH ones. Any - well, except some - hardcore wrestling fan would like ROH, and would most probably prefer it over the mainstream promotions. So, that's a very gutsy move Mr. Russell made; insulting ROH. But as aforementioned, it is unbearable how some people cannot accept many things. In this case, ROH fans, who in the process of reacting had stepped over the right to freedom of speech. Well, his approach was somewhat in part sarcastic and rude, but that's a part of criticism, and in the first place I think that's just how wrestling fans approach certain information, case in point; an opinion by another wrestling fan. Can't those people just accept that this Terry Russell did make some very valid points?

The Ring of Honor promotion, just like others, has downsides too. But let me tell you right now that I am not anti-ROH nor pro, just middle ground. There are only little means that I don't like it. I am from the Philippines and I don't actually have direct means to watch ROH. But I must say, after watching just a few tapes, clips, and matches inside, I cannot believe what I saw, as its wrestling has the potential to endanger the WWE that I grew up loving. What I saw was one of, if not the best pure wrestling available in today's pro wrestling world. But after watching it further, it is noticeable that it does it lack some things.

ROH just isn't the most perfect wrestling out there, in contrast to people who think they know everything in pro wrestling say. And by the plain term "wrestling" and "pro wrestling", in connection with this one, I mean all its aspects. "Pro wrestling" and "sports-entertainment" is basically the same, now while ROH states its emphasis on the "sport", it is very lacking in the departments of entertainment, which includes; Captivating storylines, which is very essential to keep a promotion fresh, appealing, and interesting to its audience. Mic promos, which is significant because it is the most direct thing for a performer to approach a hostile crowd, which fans are hungry about. "Superstars" who entertain rather than just wrestling. These superstars include talents who have charisma and will draw fans, valuable big men who can instil a certain comical notion to the fans, gimmick-centered entertainers who delight the general public, and a variety of wrestlers in a promotion's roster.

The way I see it, most of the performers in ROH are just mere small wrestlers who have the speed, the moves, and enough guts to put their body on the line to put on a show for the crowd, One can make a case about Samoa Joe, but that's just about it because Joe is still somewhat a wrestler who tends to be fast in order to fit in an ROH environment. That removes the right of good wrestlers, who are just big, to compete in the prestigious ring of "honor". While I am not trying to remove the consideration that these guys do have great talent, I want to state the fact that:

YOU NEED ENTERTAINMENT IN PRO WRESTLING.

That is very important, and the need of that is inevitable. I'm not saying that ROH has no entertainment whatsoever, for their wrestling may be just enough entertainment. What I'm saying is that they have distinct and considerable deficiencies in that feature. That tells you why ROH can't just sell and draw THAT MUCH. I really apprehend that ROH promoters do not like to grow their company out, earn, or at least expand. If you will say that ROH doesn't need that, and is perfect the way they are, I disagree, and then I may conclude that ROH is NOT the best wrestling out there. If ROH wants to gain fame, the only thing it has to do is to appeal to the GENERAL AUDIENCE. To the kids, to the women, to the public, to the casual wrestling fans and all. I'm not saying that they should change their main attraction, which is the wrestling, and get rid of their lively, oftentimes hardcore, and explosive action. Again, I am not saying that.

If you are looking for great wrestling, ROH will not be discounted, but the opinion that I have voiced out suggests why people just flock to the WWE (and even TNA). A typical ROH lover is a hater of the WWE, because almost everything that ROH is, is not the WWE. On that note, I just want to tell you something else. WWE, you and I may criticize it just like we do, but believe it or not, as long as the general fans in countries like mine doesn't generally recognize ROH, TNA, and the like, is still and will be, be it the best or not, the top company in the world of pro wrestling.

by F.J. Parlan ....