Ring of Honor Wrestlers Return to Baltimore

Adam Cole has been a professional wrestler for less than four years, yet in many ways he is a seasoned veteran.

Cole, 22, is an up-and-coming wrestler who was recently a star with Maryland Championship Wrestling, which is owned by a Middle River resident.

He is currently signed with Ring of Honor, which is considered the nation's No. 3 league behind WWE and TNA and which is hosting an event Saturday in Baltimore.

“Being a pro wrestler is all I ever wanted to be,” Cole said. “I was 10 years old and watched as ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin and The Rock came out to a crowd of 70,000 at WrestleMania XVII and knew I wanted to be out there one day.”

Despite being 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, Cole has developed a solid reputation as an up-and-coming pro wrestler. He is currently a member of the tag team Future Shock with Kyle O’Reilly and will be one of the many wrestlers on hand Saturday when Ring of Honor (ROH) has a television taping at Du Burns Arena.

ROH has many ties to the area as Hunt Valley-based Sinclair Broadcasting Co. purchased the promotion last year. Sinclair, which owns WBFF and WNUV in Baltimore, has offered ROH national exposure through weekly television shows on its stations.

Unlike the WWE and TNA, ROH puts much more emphasis on in-ring competition. Many of today’s most well known wrestlers including WWE champions C.M. Punk and Daniel Bryan (also known as Bryan Danielson) got their starts in ROH.

“We are a true alternative to the other promotions out there,” Cole said. “You may not see the biggest guys in ROH, but you will see some of the best wrestlers, the best brawlers and the best high-flyers anywhere in the world.”

Cole is also no stranger to Baltimore. He spent two years performing for Maryland Championship Wrestling prior to joining ROH. He was placed in many high profile matches and even won the MCW Rage TV title.

“Maryland Championship Wrestling is one of the premier independent promotions in the country,” Cole said. “They had faith in me to place me in some big matches and helped me develop into the wrestler I am today.

“The fans in Baltimore are smart wrestling fans. They appreciate great professional wrestling when they see it and we can’t wait to show Baltimore what Ring of Honor is all about.”

Cole isn’t the only member of the ROH roster with MCW ties. The promotion’s tag team champions Mark and Jay Briscoe along with Rhett Titus and female wrestler Mia Yim are among others in ROH that have left their mark in Charm City’s pro wrestling scene.

MCW owner Dan McDevitt, a Middle River resident, said he takes pride in watching as wrestlers who get their start in his promotion move up the professional ladder.

“The independent promotions are where wrestlers today hone their craft,” McDevitt said. “We offer wrestlers some of the better opportunities around to become great wrestlers.”

Those seeking tickets for Saturday’s ROH tapings can go to ticketalternative.com or visit the ROH website.