Say Hello To The New #2

Around the end of last year, I was asked to offer my predictions for professional wrestling in 2015. Now, I know none of you will believe this, but I really wanted to predict that by the end of this year Ring Of Honor will be widely, if not unanimously, considered the #2 American based professional wrestling company.

See? I knew you wouldn't believe me.


Predictions that I inexplicably kept to myself aside, there's no denying it's the new reality. Ring Of Honor is the new #2. Wednesday's developments leave no further doubt.

BREAKING: @RingOfHonor is coming to Destination America! Wednesday, June 3 at 8/7c! pic.twitter.com/dcIMmI3AGQ

— Destination America (@DestAmerica) May 27, 2015

In one swift move, Ring Of Honor - already with the power of the Sinclair Broadcast Group putting it in about 40% of homes in the U.S. - increased the size of its pool of potential viewers by as much as 57 million additional homes. At the same time, it delivered a crushing blow to its closest competition.

Right now, TNA looks like a guy whose prom date just left with someone else. Destination America was supposed to be the willing, supporting partner that Spike TV never was. Now, it's just another relationship gone wrong for TNA.

Destination America will reportedly cancel Impact Wrestling at the end of September. To simply cut ties is hard enough, but at least TNA could try to move on with some dignity. For D.A. to add Ring Of Honor before the bed has even gone cold is just cruel.

Destination America clearly wants professional wrestling, but just months into its partnership with TNA, it reportedly wants out. At the same time, Spike TV reportedly wants back in the wrestling game, and even made some overtures to Ring Of Honor before this new deal was announced.

Both want wrestling. Neither want anything to do with TNA. Let that sink in for a minute.

...

It's a crying shame, especially for the talented performers who've given so much to TNA over the years, and gotten so little in return. That said, the seemingly inevitable demise of Impact Wrestling is still months down the road, and there is something to look forward to before we reach that final destination.

We get an unprecedented night of professional wrestling - a Wednesday Night War overflowing with content.

NXT vs. Lucha Underground vs. Ring Of Honor vs. Impact Wrestling. All on the same night.

It's enough to leave Dario Cueto speechless.