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AEW's Tony Khan Considering A Name Change For Ring Of Honor

Originally posted on The Sportster | By Shawn Van Horn | Last updated Jul 4, 2025 11:11 AM ET

In the 2000s and 2010s, Ring of Honor was the cool alternative to WWE. It's where names like Tyler Black (now Seth Rollins), CM Punk, Samoa Joe, and Bryan Danielson made names for themselves, and it was the home for The Elite before AEW started in 2019. However, the company fell on some very hard times due to COVID. They ended up going on hiatus in 2021, only to be saved the next year when AEW President Tony Khan bought them. Ring of Honor still exists today, but is only available to watch on streaming, as a TV rights deal couldn't get completed. Now Tony Khan is talking again about possibly changing ROH's name.

Tony Khan Might Change Ring Of Honor's Name

Last year, at the Death Before Dishonor press conference, ROH owner Tony Khan spoke about possibly giving the company a new name, saying:

"I think it would only help grow the ROH brand if I were to license it, sublicense, if it were AEW ROH. I don't think that's a crazy thing or sacrilegious or bad. I think it would be good for everybody. People would see more of the connectivity that exists between promotions and what we're going for." (h/t Fightful)

That has yet to happen, but it doesn't mean Khan has given up on the idea. During an interview with WFAA on July 3, he was asked if a name change was still on the table. Khan said:

"I still think there's a great chance to develop ROH. We really have done a lot of work to develop ROH. They are unique companies, structurally. I think that does make a lot of sense, and I still think there's merit to that, but there are also a lot of reasons why I've positioned [ROH] the way I have. Ring of Honor, I still think we have a chance to strike at great opportunities.

"So, that is something I've considered... Right now, I think we've done a great job positioning the company as leaders, with leading champions like Athena and Bandido." (h/t Fightful)

Would A Name Change To AEW Ring Of Honor Help?

Could fixing Ring of Honor be as easy as slapping AEW in front of it? While that would help with recognition for mainstream fans, hardcore fans are already aware of ROH's existence. The problem might be that it already feels too much like a part of AEW, with AEW wrestlers making up its roster and ROH titles being showcased on AEW TV.

Ring of Honor had its time, but it may have served its purpose. Rather than trying to save a dying brand, Tony Khan might be better off letting ROH go forever.

This article first appeared on The Sportster and was syndicated with permission.

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