Shane Taylor hopes to keep Shane Taylor Promotions together post-Ring of Honor.
On October 27, 2021, ROH announced that the company will halt live events for the first quarter of 2022 as they "reimagine" and "reconceptualize" the company. Later that same day, it was reported that the promotion had also released all talents from their contracts.
Fightful's Sean Ross Sapp followed up on that, noting that the releases are effective at the end of the year and if a contract goes beyond 2021, talent will be paid until March 31.
He continued on, adding that, "Joe Koff told talent he had multiple meetings trying to fight for ROH, but ultimately Sinclair made the call. Talent was told there was some type of TV show that will be in place after Final Battle but weren't told what that would be."
Speaking with Wrestling Headlines, Shane Taylor commented on the releases, saying that he's not shocked but, instead, disappointed. He also praised all of the talents who have worked tirelessly for the company and continue to give everything they have.
"I mean, it’s, it’s surprising. It’s not something that if you were paying attention that you didn’t foresee maybe being an option or being a potential thing. So it’s not very, it’s not shocking. It’s disappointing," Taylor said. "Because you know, just cause of how hard the talent has been working. For the last 18 months or so, there’s been no roster that’s consistently put on the performances that we have. And what’s really disappointing is I felt like we were kind of turning a corner. It’s just one of those things where you’ve made this big comeback in the game, you just didn’t have enough time. I mean, and that’s the feeling that I get all the time, time just ran out, you know what I mean? And for the hole that we were put in, and the continuous things that kept continuing to trip us up. The talent has been absolutely incredible. So I tip my hat to every man and woman there who have been busting their ass and you know, spending time away from their families and putting their bodies to hell. For Ring of Honor, and for what we have, and the passion that we had for that place. So we’re we’ve got this taping coming up this week. And then we’ve got Final Battle. And I’m sure everybody’s gonna go out there and absolutely, leave it all on the line one last time."
A hot commodity on the free-agent market, Taylor notes that he has already had different companies reach out to him. The goal, however, is to keep Shane Taylor Promotions (himself, Kaun, Moses, Ron Hunt & O'Shay Edwards), the current ROH Six-Man Tag Team Champions, intact.
"Everything’s an option right now. I’ve already had different places reach out," Taylor began by saying. "So everything is an option right now. I think what me and the guys are going to do and, and because again, the idea and the goal is to keep all of us together. Because I feel like we were just sort of scratching the surface of what we could be in ROH. I still feel like there was so much more left to do there. But obviously, we’re going to have to continue that work elsewhere. So the goal will be to bring this whole thing to, you know, as one unit as a package deal. And bring it to a place that isn’t afraid of pushing…pushing the lines, being able to be real and you know, be controversial at times, but know that it’s all towards the greater good. So anywhere where they can say “Hey, you know what we trust you guys to be who you are and take us where we need to go.” You know that’s probably going to be where we end up, but there’s a lot of places now that could use talent that is ready to step into a main event. Especially African American talent. So We’re we’re excited about the possibilities of working with everybody."
Shane Taylor has been with Ring of Honor since 2014. In addition to the Six-Man Tag Titles he currently holds, he is also a former World Television Champion.
