Women of Honor
Women of Honor is a term used by Ring of Honor (ROH) to refer to its female talent. The term is applied universally to wrestlers, backstage interviewers, and managers/valets.[1][2][3][4]
| Acronym | WOH |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2002; re-launched as unique brand in 2015 |
| Style | Women's professional wrestling |
| Headquarters | Baltimore, Maryland |
| Parent | Ring of Honor |
| Website | www |
Promotion
ROH had its first women's match on June 22, 2002 at its Road to the Title show. It saw Sumie Sakai defeat Simply Luscious. Women's wrestling in ROH had been sporadic since then. ROH featured female stars like Sara Del Rey, Daizee Haze, and others on shows, even releasing a DVD featuring Del Rey, Haze, Amazing Kong, Mickie James, MsChif, Lacey, and others. Some of these matches were featured on ROH's television program on HDNet and, later, on its syndicated show, but ROH did not consistently brand women's matches as Women of Honor until 2015.
The popularity of women in Ring of Honor has resulted in Ring of Honor taping a pilot for a standalone Women of Honor program.[5] Ring of Honor has also made numerous Women of Honor branded merchandise available for purchase.[6] The pilot aired as a Women of Honor-branded television special the weekend of June 25, 2016 and its success led to a Women of Honor taping that is available on DVD.[7]
Currently, Ring of Honor regularly airs and promotes Women of Honor matches on their YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter platforms. As of June 2018, the only two videos to receive 3 million or more views on Ring of Honor's YouTube page are Women of Honor matches, both featuring regular Women of Honor competitor, "The Gatekeeper" Kelly Klein.[8]
Matches are called and presented by Ian Riccaboni. He has been joined by Taeler Hendrix,[9] Mandy Leon,[10] Veda Scott,[11] Matt Taven and B.J. Whitmer[12] for YouTube exclusives and Nigel McGuinness for the two Women of Honor television specials.[13]
In February 2017, ROH partnered with Japanese promotion World Wonder Ring Stardom for a Women of Honor tryout camp.[14]
Episodes
So far there have been three televised specials.
Roster
| Ring Name | Real Name | Nickname |
|---|---|---|
| Angelina Love | Lauren Williams | |
| Kellyanne | Kellyanne Salter | |
| Jenny Rose | Jenny Rose | |
| Mandy Leon | Amanda Leon | "Exotic Goddess" |
| Maria Manic | Maria Manic | |
| Session Moth Martina | Karen Glennon | "Session Moth" |
| Sumie Sakai | Sumie Sakai | |
Announcers
| Ring name | Name | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Ian Riccaboni | Ian Riccaboni | Play-by-Play |
Championships
On December 15, 2017, ROH announced the creation of the Women of Honor Championship, with the inaugural champion to be crowned in 2018.[15] Prior to the creation of the title, the Shimmer Championship had been defended and recognized in ROH rings.
As of January 1st 2020, ROH deactivated the Women of Honor World CHampionship, and announced the creation of a brand new championship for the division, the 'ROH Women's World Championship.'. The winner was originally planned to be crowned in a 16 Woman Tournament at Quest For Gold, but that has since been put on hold due to the event being cancelled amidst the COV-19 Pandemic.
| Championship | Current champion | Reign | Date won | Location | Event | Previous champion | Days held |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROH Women's World Championship | Vacant | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Alumni
| Ring name(s) | Real name | Tenure(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazing Kong | Kia Stevens | 2007 2010 | |
| Ariel | Ana Rocha | 2003 2008 | |
| Athena | Adrienne Reese | 2013 | |
| Becky Bayless / Rebecca Bayless | Rebecca Treston | 2002–2005 2007–2008 | |
| Jennifer Blake | Jennifer Ykema | 2008 | |
| Traci Brooks | Tracy Brookshaw | 2003–2005 | |
| Cheerleader Melissa | Melissa Anderson | 2006 | |
| Jade Chung | Jade Chung | 2005 | |
| Allison Danger | Cathy Corino | 2002–2008 | |
| Serena Deeb | Serena Deeb | 2007 2010 | |
| Sara Del Rey | Sara Amato | 2006–2011 | |
| Crazy Mary Dobson | Sarah Bridges | 2015-2016 | |
| Madison Eagles | Alexandra Ryan | 2008 | |
| Daizee Haze | Unknown | 2004–2011 | |
| April Hunter | April Hunter | 2003 | |
| Lacey | 2004–2008 | ||
| Lady JoJo | Josette Bynum | 2010 | |
| Ayumi Kurihara | Ayumi Kurihara | 2011 | |
| Alexis Laree | Mickie James | 2002–2005 | |
| Lucy | Shannon Spruill | 2003 | |
| Ray Lyn | Unknown | 2015 | |
| Mercedes Martinez | Jasmine Benitez | 2005–2008 | |
| Hiroyo Matsumoto | Hiroyo Matsumoto | 2011 | |
| MsChif | Rachel Frobel | 2006-2013 | |
| Tomoka Nakagawa | Tomoka Nakagawa | 2011 | |
| Persephonie | Unknown | 2003 | |
| Rain | Bonnie Maxon | 2006-2007 | |
| Nikki Roxx | Nicole Raczynski | 2006 2009 | |
| Simply Luscious | Veronica Stevens | 2002–2003 | |
| Sarah Stock | Sarah Stock | 2003 | |
| Alexa Thatcher | Alexa Thatcher | 2007 | |
| Trinity | Stephanie Finochio | 2003 | |
| Leah Von Dutch | Leah Vaughn | 2015 | |
| Allison Wonderland | Allison Plunkett | 2007–2008 | |
| Maria Kanellis | Maria Kanellis-Bennett | 2011-2015 | |
| Taeler Hendrix | Taeler Conrad-Mellen | 2010, 2015-2017 | |
| Deonna Purrazzo | Deonna Purrazzo | 2015-2018 | |
| Karen Q | Karen Yu | 2017-2019 | |
| Tenille Dashwood | Tenille Dashwood | 2018-2019 | |
| Kelly Klein | Mary Elizabeth Monroe | 2015-2019 | |
References
- "A View of the Future with the Women of Honor". ROH Wrestling. Retrieved 2016-04-15.
- "The Women of Honor (2 Disc Set)". ROH Wrestling. Retrieved 2016-04-15.
- "Ring Of Honor Adopting Women's Division?". WrestlingInc.com. 2015-07-30. Retrieved 2016-04-15.
- "Major update on Ring of Honor creating a women's division - Wrestling News". Wrestlingnews.co. 2015-08-06. Retrieved 2016-04-15.
- "ROH taping a Women Of Honor pilot at tonight's tapings according to MLW". Reddit. February 6, 2016. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
- "Women Of Honor apparel". ROH Wrestling. June 22, 2016. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
- "7/8/16 Women Of Honor - Baltimore, MD (VOD)". ROH Wrestling. July 9, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
- "Popular Uploads". YouTube. December 6, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
- "Women of Honor Wed - KELLY KLEIN vs MARY DOBSON #WoHWed (5/8/16 Chicago)". YouTube. June 1, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
- "TAELER HENDRIX vs SUMIE SAKAI from Lowell, MA 10-1-16". YouTube. October 12, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
- "#WOHWed - Taeler Hendrix & Jessicka Havok vs. Mandy Leon & Deonna Purrazzo". YouTube. October 5, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
- "Women of Honor Wednesday SOLO DARLING vs KELLY KLEIN #WoHWED". YouTube. February 10, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
- "Women of Honor Wednesday: Faye Jackson VS ODB - Nashville, TN". YouTube. November 16, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
- "Ring of Honor Conducting the First Ever Women of Honor Tryout Camp". Ring of Honor. February 16, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
- Currier, Joseph (December 15, 2017). "ROH to crown first Women of Honor Champion in 2018". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved December 16, 2017.