Ian Riccaboni has become the voice of Ring of Honor; alongside Caprice Coleman, he calls the action for the company’s television product and its events.
With the news that ROH will be going on hiatus next year and reportedly releasing talent from their contracts, many fans have wondered what the future holds for Riccaboni, who has been renowned for his work with the company.
In a post on his Twitter page, Riccaboni shared a heartfelt message about the news of ROH’s hiatus and his own future.
Happy Wrestling ❤ pic.twitter.com/LvzoxGeORS
— Ian Riccaboni (@IanRiccaboni) October 31, 2021
Riccaboni first looked back on his goal of being a broadcaster in wrestling, and he stated that his work with ROH has let him live his dream.
“For nearly eight years, I’ve lived my dream with Ring of Honor” wrote Riccaboni. “For five of those, about a half of a million folks have welcomed me into their homes every week. It is a great privilege to continue the legacy of Dave, Lenny, The Hog, Kevin and others before me.”
He then described how ROH has taken care of him in various ways throughout his career, and he expressed his gratitude for the way the company took a chance on him and helped him grow.
“ROH has bent over backwards for me in my time with the company,” Riccaboni continued. “Countless flights to accommodate my office schedule, canceling a Japan trip (with pay!) at their expense to ensure I was home for Nora’s birth, helping support LGBTQ+ and literacy initiatives in my hometown of Allentown, PA, and more. Too many things to list. They believed in and cultivated me at age 30 (I was a late bloomer!) with very little prior experience.”
Riccaboni then acknowledged ROH’s care for its talent during the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic and expressd his wish that people could see the way it really was a family behind the scenes before he shifted his focus to the news of the hiatus. He stated that he hopes his time with ROH isn’t over, and he’s optimistic about the company’s intent to return in April.
“The news of this hiatus was communicated professionally and with care but there are a lot of question marks,” write Riccaboni. “I will forever wear the three letters ROH with great pride and treasure my time here. Hopefully it is not over. I have reason for optimism that ROH will re-start in April. I hope I am a part of their plans.”
Otherise, Riccaboni discussed his goals moving forward, and he wrote that ROH is still a part of them, alongside his ongoing mission to help his hometown however he can.
“I have a select couple of things I’m interested in doing,” wrote Riccaboni. “I keep a day job. I am blessed that money is not a concern.
My goals now?
- Continue to maintain a profile to use any notoriety I have to give back to my hometown
- Call select wrestlers’ matches
- Be the best ROH commentator I can be
Finally, Riccaboni acknowledged that, otherwise, he is “assessing opportunities” on a case-by-case basis. He made it clear that he appreciates the support fans have shown him and ROH, and he also stated that he might “hang up the headset” if ROH’s announced return doesn’t happen.
“I am humbled by the support I personally and ROH as an organization has received in the last few days,” said Riccaboni. “I am flattered by those seeking to bring me in and I am assessing opportunities one by one. If April doesn’t come, it would break my heart and I will likely hang up the headset, so if you’re doing something fun, let me know.”
