Ring of Honor is all about providing opportunity for wrestlers both inside our locker room as well as those from the outside wrestling world.  Whether it be through the training camps & seminars that brought people like Michael Elgin and Mike Bennett into the fold or through Proving Ground matches given wrestlers a chance to step up, opportunity is something readily available in ROH. Well this Friday night in Cincinnati opportunity comes knocking once again for four tag teams from around the wrestling world!  Most of these competitors have seen ROH competition in some form, whether it be in dark matches, DVD events, or televised bouts, but this will undoubtedly be the biggest opportunity any of them have had here. On Friday night February 17^th, four outside teams will compete in a one night, single elimination tournament with the winner earning a future Proving Ground match against the ROH World Tag Team Champions!  Each team selected is foreign to consistent ROH competition and not on the current ROH roster; however each team has been scouted based on ability and tag team wrestling prowess.

 2011 has been a great year for Shilo Jonez. The young upstart captured both singles and tag-team gold, currently reigns as ½ of the OVW Southern Tag Team Champions, made his debut for ROH, and has his talent noticed on a national level. Jonze hopes to keep all that momentum rolling through 2012 and looks to be on a good start with his tag team title win in January. Jonze employs a spinwheel kick and top rope spear-punch as his primary weapons to put down his opponents and obviously they have been very successful. Rudy Switchblade hails from California where he trained in the NJPW dojo alongside the likes of Bryan Danielson, Rocky Romero, & Samoa Joe and has seen ROH competition in the past.  Currently he resides in Louisville KY where he reigns as the OVW Heavyweight Champion, a title he captured using his knowledge of American Pro Wrestling, Puroresu, Lucha Libre, & MMA, as well as other fighting techniques.

 Sean Casey is a well-traveled veteran who has all the tools to be champion anywhere in the world. A cagey grappler with years of experience and know-how, he has shown the ability to take anyone down in a variety of situations. You name ‘em, Casey has battled ‘em with his match history reading like a who’s who’s of professional wrestling. Now, with this Rise & Prove tournament, he has his sights set on conquering Ring of Honor and the tag team division. Chris Silvio has been a multi-time champion in companies around the east coast and currently reigns as the OVW TV Champion. The “Psychodelic Superstar” has been garnering attention for his colorful antics in & out of the ring, and has battled recently on “Ring of Honor Television” against TJ Perkins.  Utilizing a rocket punch to put away his opponents, that signature maneuver has helped make 2012 a banner year so far for the young competitor.

 Mikey Nicholls started wrestling in Perth, Western Australia in 2002. Traveled extensively throughout Australia until 2005 and then began traveling to USA. Trained at the then NJPW Dojo in Santa Monica under Shinsuke Nakamura & Kendo Kashin for 6 months. Nicholls made a permanent move to the USA in 2007, dividing his time between Australia and USA. He became first NWA Australian National Champion in 2007 and in 2011 began working for Pro Wrestling NOAH in Japan. He has completed two successful 3 month long stays with NOAH culminating in a shot (with Shane Haste) at GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Titles. Shane Haste started in Perth, Western Australia in 2003 and competed around Australia. Haste traveled to America in 2008, 2009 and 2010 for 3 month trips where he competed for NWA promotions as well as PWG. In 2011, Shane completed two 3month stays in Japan for Pro Wrestling NOAH where, in December 2011 (with Mikey Nicholls), he wrestled for the GHC Jr. Heavyweight Tag Titles.

 The “Alabama Attitude” Team of Mike Posey & Corey Hollis are no strangers to Ring Of Honor tag team battles having competed on ROH house shows in Charlotte, Richmand and an impressive showing on ROH TV vs Adam Cole & Kyle O’Reilly. Mike Posey is known as an experienced WWE  & TNA referee who performed in two WrestleMania events.  Since 2009 Posey also earned a strong reputation as a professional wrestler.  He’s won singles and tag team titles in Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi, and his home State of Alabama.  He was one of 8 wrestlers selected to compete in a 2011 NWA Tournament to crown a World Junior Champion.  The WRESTLER magazine published a feature article “introducing” him in 2011.  Posey was ranked in the PWI 500 for the last two years. Corey Hollis was a Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s “Rookie Of The Year” runner-up in 2010, and was the Georgia Wrestling History choice for Rookie of the Year that same year.  He’s won singles and tag team titles in Tennessee & his home State of Alabama.  He was one of 8 professional wrestlers chosen to compete in a 2011 NWA tournament a NWA North American Champion.  He has a strong amateur wrestling background having competed in High School, and now coaches amateur wrestling part-time.  Hollis was ranked in the PWI 500 for the past two years.

Which of these duos will make the most of this opportunity and get themselves one step closer to a future ROH World Tag Team Title match?  Be there live in Cincinnati to see who rises up and proves themselves worthy of the reward!  Tickets available now.