Ian Riccaboni To Commentate On NJPW Strong New Beginning USA

Ian Riccaboni will remain busy while Ring Of Honor are on hiatus.

The ROH play-by-play commentator recently revealed that he will call the action at NJPW Strong's New Beginning USA taping on January 15, 2022, a night which he is treating as a tryout. 

"I will be starting with New Japan Pro-Wrestling on January 15th. I'll be headed to Seattle, Washington, and I've interpreted this as a tryout. I'm calling the main card, I'm calling what will air on New Japan Strong. I'm going to somebody else's house. Even though I've been invited, even though I'm told there may be more, I'm going to do my best and I'm taking this as a tryout," Riccaboni said on the Lehigh Valley with Love podcast.

Riccaboni noted he is already familiar with NJPW from their working relationship with Ring Of Honor but the commentator is currently watching past NJPW Strong episodes to get acclimated with the product. 

"I've watched 41 out of the 69 currently existing New Japan Strong episodes. I've re-watched them so far once I found out. I intend to get to 69 through January 14th before I get on the plane to Seattle."

Riccaboni has been the lead play-by-play commentator for Ring Of Honor since 2017. The promotion's future is currently up in the air, though, after ROH went on hiatus following Final Battle on December 11. The company have said they plan to return for Supercard Of Honor in April.

New Beginning USA 2022 will be taped from Seattle's Washington Hall on January 15. Set for the show is Jay White, JONAH, El Phantasmo, Fred Rosser, Tom Lawlor and Gabriel Kidd. 

H/T to F4W Online