Jonathan Gresham has not ruled out wrestling for Ring of Honor again, even after the bitter split that ended his run as ROH World Champion in July 2022. The former Pure Champion and World Champion says he would welcome an opportunity to settle matters with AEW and ROH president Tony Khan, but he also acknowledges that his past attempts to speak face-to-face have not resulted in a meeting.
Gresham’s departure came on one of the most consequential nights of the Tony Khan era for Ring of Honor. At Death Before Dishonor 2022, Gresham entered the event as the ROH World Champion and was scheduled to defend the title against Claudio Castagnoli. In the minutes before he went through the curtain, Gresham was instructed to drop the championship. Castagnoli won the match and became ROH World Champion, while the aftermath involved a heated confrontation between Gresham and Khan.
Gresham subsequently asked for his release from ROH, and it was granted. More than four years later, the situation remains unresolved publicly. Gresham said that he and Khan have not spoken since that night, even though the wrestler has attempted to reach out when AEW has been in Atlanta.
“I’m never going to say never, but I’ve reached out several times to apologize in person when they’ve come here to Atlanta,” Gresham said on Grapsody Podcast. “I’m just going to say ‘no’ was the answer that I got. And that’s fair.”
For more background on this topic, read ROH TV Taping Results: Lee Moriarty and AR Fox Fight to Pure Eliminator Draw.
The answer reflects the difficult reality surrounding any potential ROH reunion. Gresham is not framing a return as something imminent, nor is there any indication that AEW or ROH has plans to bring him back. Instead, he is leaving a possibility open while accepting that Khan may not want to revisit an exchange that became one of the more volatile public stories connected to ROH’s transition under new ownership.
Gresham accepts responsibility while explaining his frustration
Gresham did not attempt to excuse the manner in which he reacted at Death Before Dishonor. He specifically said he understands why Khan may be unwilling to engage with him after the confrontation. At the same time, Gresham stressed that his anger was not spontaneous and came after a buildup of dissatisfaction and frustration.
“The way that I went off, I probably wouldn’t want to talk to me either,” Gresham said. “But again, I think we should also look at why did he go off? I just didn’t arrive at the show and go, ‘You know what, motherf***er?’ That’s not what happened. There was a reason why, a buildup, frustration.”
That distinction remains central to how Gresham views the episode. He has made clear that he does not agree with his own approach in the moment, but he still believes he had valid reasons to be upset. It is a measured position: one that accepts personal accountability without pretending the underlying concerns did not exist.
“And to be honest, to this day, I, again, I do not agree with how I went about it, but I think that I had good reason to be upset,” Gresham said.
The situation was especially notable because Gresham had represented Ring of Honor through a turbulent period for the company. Before Tony Khan acquired ROH, the promotion had announced a hiatus and a restructuring plan in late 2021. Gresham continued to defend the lineage of the ROH World Championship in multiple promotions during that uncertain stretch, eventually defeating Bandido at Supercard of Honor in April 2022 to unify the title picture.
His reign was built around the kind of technically driven, methodical wrestling that had made him a defining figure in ROH’s Pure division. Gresham’s in-ring identity as “The Octopus” fit both his grappling-heavy approach and his status as one of the most distinctive wrestlers associated with the modern ROH brand. The transition from that championship run to the abrupt title change against Castagnoli made the events of Death Before Dishonor all the more memorable.
A significant chapter in the post-acquisition ROH era
Castagnoli’s victory was a landmark moment for Ring of Honor under Khan. The title change placed the championship on a wrestler with extensive global experience and immediate recognition among AEW viewers. For Gresham, however, the timing of the decision and the broader issues he had been carrying created an explosive conclusion to his tenure.
Professional wrestling is full of separations that appear final in the immediate aftermath but become less definitive as years pass. Promotions change direction, relationships evolve, and performers often reconnect with companies after periods of distance. Gresham’s comments do not establish that a reconciliation is underway. They do, however, show that he has not closed the door himself.
There is also an important difference between wanting a conversation and expecting a job offer. Gresham’s stated efforts have been directed toward apologizing in person. That suggests repairing the human side of the relationship is his priority, regardless of whether it ever leads to another match in ROH. From his perspective, the lack of a meeting is something he considers fair given his own conduct during the dispute.
For ROH, Gresham’s history with the company is substantial enough that his name will continue to carry relevance whenever the promotion’s championship lineage and Pure wrestling legacy are discussed. His reign may have ended under difficult circumstances, but it does not erase his role in preserving a championship during one of the company’s most unstable stretches.
Gresham continues building after serious health setbacks
Any potential return to ROH would come during a new phase of Gresham’s career. He has returned to wrestling after suffering two serious strokes, an achievement that has added another dimension to his story inside the industry. Rather than stepping away from wrestling entirely, Gresham has expanded his involvement beyond his own matches.
He is coaching and scouting prospective talent through PRODUCE Wrestling, where he was named chairman of the promotion’s talent advisory council earlier this month. The role gives Gresham an opportunity to influence the development of new wrestlers while applying the technical knowledge and ring awareness that defined his own career.
That work also reflects a broader professional direction. Gresham is not solely focused on a return to a previous destination or on revisiting old grievances. He is helping shape opportunities for others while remaining active as an in-ring performer. The combination of wrestling, coaching, scouting, and organizational work positions him as someone looking to contribute in multiple ways.
His next major venture will be the launch of M.A.G., short for Modern Age Grappling. The promotion is scheduled to premiere on January 9, 2027. The project will add another responsibility to Gresham’s growing slate, but it also gives him a platform connected to the style of wrestling he has long championed.
No timeline for a conversation or comeback
There is no reported timetable for Gresham and Khan to speak, and there is no indication that a Ring of Honor appearance has been discussed. For now, Gresham’s stance is simply that he will not say never to the possibility. His remarks combine regret over the confrontation, conviction that his frustrations had a basis, and acceptance that reconciliation cannot be forced.
That leaves the story in a familiar but unresolved place. Gresham wants to apologize in person and believes a future return to ROH should not be dismissed outright. Khan has not publicly indicated that he wants to reopen communication. Until that changes, Gresham’s connection to ROH remains defined by both his championship accomplishments and the painful circumstances that ended his tenure.
Still, Gresham’s career is moving forward. Following serious health adversity, he is back in the ring, mentoring talent through PRODUCE Wrestling, and preparing to launch Modern Age Grappling. Whether or not ROH becomes part of that next chapter, “The Octopus” is continuing to create one on his own terms.
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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.