Ring Of Honor’s annual anniversary special holds a special place in Ian Riccaboni‘s heart.
Riccaboni recently spoke with WrestleZone’s Bill Pritchard and Colin Tessier about his ongoing fundraiser to benefit the Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center in his hometown of Allentown, Pennsylvania. During the interview, Riccaboni also spoke about the annual ROH Anniversary show and what it means to him personally. The ROH lead announcer got his PPV start with the company at the 15th Anniversary show, and he says that event in particular has always been host to some really great matches.
“The Anniversary Special is fun for me because it was my introduction to Ring of Honor pay-per-view proper. I’d called one match on pay-per-view before that. I had called a really bloody Steve Corino, BJ Whitmer Fight Without Honor. That was the 15th Anniversary, and so that for me, that’s kind of my tent pole. That reminds me kinda how long I’ve been in the role,” Riccaboni said, “and it makes me really happy every time it comes around.”
“We always have a good time in Vegas and this time it’s gonna be in Baltimore and even in the bubble, we have a good time there and it’s, Anniversary has produced a lot of killer, classic match-ups and off the time of my head, you know, Bobby Fish and Jay Lethal from 2017, Adam Cole vs. Christopher Daniels from 2017, Dalton Castle and Jay Lethal from 2018, I really, I wish we could have done it last year,” Riccaboni said. “I think RUSH and Mark Haskins would have tore the house down. I think some of the past vs. present matches would have tore the house down, too. But this year, it’s something special. I think we’ve learned as a company not to take for granted, just the ability to go out and be a part of a big wrestling event.”
Read More: Matt Taven On Being ‘The Rodney Dangerfield Of Wrestling’ & ROH Having That ‘Prove-It’ Mentality
Riccaboni went on to say that it’s reassuring to know that Ring Of Honor is keeping talent safe in uncertain times, but it’s also exciting to see that translate and expressed in the ring.
“It’s just something that we’re not taking it for granted anymore and I think the wrestlers show that in their matches, too, just with how hard they go and with the intensity level, you know whether it’s the Pure matches, whether it’s MexiSquad taking to the sky, whether it’s RUSH and Brody King beating the heck out of each other,” Riccaboni explained, “it’s something that I don’t think anybody’s holding back anymore.”
Check out the full interview at the top of the post where Riccaboni also talks about his favorite ROH matches to call (and some that he wished he was involved in), the 19th anniversary show coming after the year that has been, his Micro Brawlers obsession and much more. You can also check out Ian’s Cameo account at this link and catch him weekly on ROH TV on FITE and in syndication.
Read More: Doug Williams Still Under Contract To Ring Of Honor, Details Plans For His Wrestling Comeback
