ROH News
Several days ago we reported on the inclusion of Hiroshi Tanahashi among those announced to appear in the upcoming Ring of Honor PPV, 14th Anniversary, and the first confirmed to compete in the Top Prospect tournament for a contract and a match for the company's Television Championship. However, current events always prevail and both lists have been updated with new names, increasing the anticipation for the celebration of ROH's fourteenth anniversary.
The last two names to be confirmed for the upcoming PPV, which will take place on February 26th in Las Vegas, are Kazuchika Okada and Tomohiro Ishii. It is still unknown if Okada will defend the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, which he successfully defended today in the main event of Wrestle Kingdom 10 against Tanahashi. Ishii, on the other hand, will make his debut in an ROH ring without the NEVER Championship, as Katsuyori Shibata took it from him at WK10. Who will be his first opponent? Both stars have also been announced to appear on February 27th, when another ROH show will take place, possibly for TV tapings. The updated list of participants is as follows:
- Kazuchika Okada, IWGP Heavyweight Champion
- Hiroshi Tanahashi
- Shinsuke Nakamura, IWGP Intercontinental Champion
- Tomohiro Ishii
- Gedo
- KUSHIDA, IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion
- A.J. Styles
- The Young Bucks, IWGP Jr. Tag Team Champions
- Jay Lethal, ROH World Champion
- Roderick Strong, ROH Television Champion
- War Machine, ROH Tag Team Champions
In other news, Ring of Honor is preparing for their upcoming live show on January 9th as part of the Winter Warriors tour. The highlight of the show will be the Television Championship defense by Roderick Strong against Masada, a Combat Zone Wrestling star. Strong stated that he would defend the title against anyone at any time, and the ultraviolent Masada is now the challenger. 
Upcoming Events
Furthermore, Hanson and Ray Rowe will defend the Tag Team Championships against the All Night Express (Kenny King and Rhett Titus) and Alex Shelley will face Frankie Kazarian. The Hot Prospect tournament will begin on January 9th with the goal of crowning a new winner and earning them a spot in the ROH roster. In addition to the three previously confirmed participants (Action Ortiz, Punisher Martinez, and Lio Rush), the company has announced two new names:
- Brian Fury: Not unknown to ROH fans, as he had some matches in the company several years ago. Currently, Fury is the Head Trainer at the New England Pro Wrestling Academy, where wrestlers like Sasha Banks, Matt Taven, Michael Bennett, Hanson, and Donovan Dijak have come from. He is willing to put that aside for one last shot in ROH and will start from the bottom. He is a man to watch as a potential winner.
- Colby Corino: This young man betrayed his father, former ECW star Steve Corino, along with manipulator BJ Whitmer. Whitmer was the one who secured a spot for him in this tournament and claims that he is determined to win it. "I've done more for him than his father ever has," Whitmer said. However, Steve stated the following: "Colby has all the potential in the world to win the Hot Prospect tournament, but I'm disappointed that he continues to make bad decisions alongside that scumbag Whitmer." We will see how this all turns out... Will Colby silence his father or will this blow up in Whitmer's face?
One week later, on January 15th in Indianapolis, Adam Cole will face Alex Shelley for the first time in Ring of Honor history. It will be interesting to see how Cole starts this year after defeating Kyle O'Reilly at Final Battle, as it is possible that O'Reilly will try to interfere in the match. Shelley, on the other hand, still has unfinished business with the KRD, the group that his former partner Chris Sabin belongs to. In addition to that match, Will Ferrara will face Dalton Castle.
