Carlie Bravo has made a forceful case for Ring of Honor’s standing within the modern wrestling landscape, praising the promotion’s depth of talent and the drive of performers looking to seize larger opportunities.
Bravo, who competes alongside Shane Taylor Promotions, has been an important presence in ROH since 2023. In a recent interview, he addressed the criticism that can surround the brand online while making clear that his own belief in the locker room has not changed. For Bravo, the defining quality of the ROH roster is not simply its collection of accomplished names. It is the urgency shared by wrestlers who are eager to make every appearance count.
“I love Ring Of Honor. I love Ring Of Honor. We all see the bullshit sometimes, the negative bullshit that gets spoken about it. But, I think Ring Of Honor got more killers than AEW does and in a sense of hungry. People are hungry.”
That distinction between established talent and hungry talent was at the center of Bravo’s comments. He argued that ROH has no shortage of wrestlers who are prepared to break through when they receive the right platform, specifically naming Red Velvet, Dalton Castle, The Outrunners, Swirl, The Infantry, Shane Taylor Promotions and Adam Priest.
For more background on this topic, read Lee Moriarty and LA Cherry Announce Their Engagement.
Bravo’s point was not framed as a dismissal of AEW’s talent pool. Instead, he focused on the competitive edge he sees in ROH: a group of wrestlers who understand that a major match, a championship opportunity or a prominent television performance can alter their trajectory. In that environment, he believes the desire to excel becomes especially powerful.
“You can’t tell me Red Velvet not hungry, you know what I’m saying? You can’t tell me Dalton Castle & The Outrunners not fucking hungry. Swirl, Infantry, STP, we got people on there that are freaking monsters that are waiting at the gym to go freaking crazy. Adam Priest, you got people that are just waiting to get a moment to go. I think that hunger pushes a lot.”
Bravo sees pride in ROH’s present and future
Bravo also spoke about the sense of responsibility that comes with representing Ring of Honor. His remarks reflected pride in what he and his fellow performers have done for the company, along with optimism about where the promotion can go from here.
Shane Taylor Promotions’ championship history was part of that discussion. Bravo recalled the group holding its titles from one Death Before Dishonor event until losing them at the next edition of the show. Rather than looking at that run only through the lens of a title loss, he presented it as an example of a meaningful contribution to ROH’s ongoing story.
“We take a lot of pride in Ring Of Honor, you know what I’m saying? We went from one Death Before Dishonor, we had the titles the whole time, then we the lost the belts at the next one. I love that, you know what I’m saying? I love that we can give back to that company like that and make it not just what it was but what it could possibly be.”
That outlook is significant because it places emphasis on ROH as a promotion with its own identity, championships and performers capable of creating standout moments. Bravo’s language repeatedly returned to the idea of building something, not merely appearing on a roster. For him, the pride attached to competing in ROH is connected to the opportunity to shape its future.
His comments also underline the importance of groups within the company. Shane Taylor Promotions, The Infantry, Swirl, Dalton Castle and The Outrunners were all cited as examples of acts with something to prove. The ROH roster includes singles wrestlers, tag teams and trios with different backgrounds and styles, and Bravo sees that range as a major strength.
Bandido matchups stand out to Bravo
When asked to elaborate on the names and bouts that reinforce his opinion, Bravo pointed to recent ROH action involving Bandido. He singled out AR Fox versus Bandido from the most recent ROH taping, calling it the kind of match that could headline any event.
“At the last ROH taping, it was AR Fox versus Bandido. Like, what are we talking about? That’s a main event anywhere.”
The praise did not stop there. Bravo said that seeing Hechicero face Bandido “blew” his mind, and he offered the same reaction to Konosuke Takeshita versus Bandido. The three bouts he highlighted represent the kind of high-level in-ring combinations that he believes make a strong case for ROH’s quality.
Bravo’s selection of Bandido as a central example is telling. Rather than pointing only to championship reigns or promotional labels, he focused on the impact of specific matchups. AR Fox, Hechicero and Konosuke Takeshita each bring distinct strengths into the ring, and Bravo viewed their encounters with Bandido as evidence that ROH can present must-see contests.
In Bravo’s view, that match quality is part of why criticism of ROH does not match what is actually available on the show. A card featuring wrestlers of that caliber can provide a showcase for established stars while also reinforcing the platform available to performers still seeking their defining moment.
Champions and former champions add to the depth
Bravo also rattled off a lengthy collection of championship-related names while arguing for the roster’s strength. He referenced former television champions Nick Wayne, Lio Rush and Action Andretti, presenting them as further examples of the level of competition seen in ROH.
He additionally pointed to Mistico and Mascara Dorada as the current tag team champions. Bravo then traced the recent lineage around the trios titles, noting that he, Caprice Coleman and Shane Taylor previously held the championships as Shane Taylor Promotions. He mentioned Dalton Castle and The Outrunners as another act that held them before Jay Lethal and Swirl took over.
On the women’s side, Bravo named Deonna Purrazzo as Women’s Pure Champion. He also spotlighted Lee Moriarty, identifying him as the longest-reigning Men’s Pure Wrestling Champion of all time. In doing so, Bravo’s larger argument became clear: he does not see ROH’s depth as limited to one division, one style of match or a handful of featured performers.
“We had the last couple television champions, Nick Wayne, Lio Rush, Action Andretti, we got killers. I mentioned the tag team belts, we got Mistico and Mascara Dorada as the tag champs. Before that, me, Cap, and Shane was the Trios Champions. Then, Dalton and The Outrunners was doing it. Now, Lethal and Swirl got it. Deonna Purrazzo, women’s pure champion. Longest reigning men’s pure wrestling champion of all time, Lee Moriarty talking that wave. Who is fucking with that roster?”
The comments were delivered with the conviction of a wrestler who views the company’s roster from inside the competitive environment. Bravo is not simply listing names; he is describing the motivation he sees around him. Whether discussing champions, former champions, established veterans or wrestlers still waiting for a major breakout, his message was that ROH has a collection of performers eager to deliver.
Final Battle awaits in December
Bravo’s defense of Ring of Honor arrives as Final Battle has been announced for December. The event is one of the promotion’s key dates and will provide another major setting for the roster members Bravo praised to make their case in the ring.
No matches or additional details were provided in Bravo’s remarks, but his comments establish the tone he believes ROH should carry into its next major event: ambition, pride and a willingness to capitalize on every opening. He sees a locker room filled with performers who are prepared to prove themselves against anyone placed across the ring from them.
For Bravo, the online conversation is secondary to the work being done by ROH wrestlers and the opportunities created through its championship divisions and featured matches. His verdict was direct. Ring of Honor is filled with hungry competitors, and he believes that hunger is what makes its roster so dangerous.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.