New participants have been added to the upcoming ROH tournaments.
First, Mark Haskins has been added to the ROH Pure Title tournament. Haskins is the fifth participant announced, joining Alex Shelley, Jonathan Gresham, Rocky Romero and Doug Williams. The tournament will begin on Apr. 10.
The tournament to crown the first Ring of Honor Pure Champion since 2006 begins at Pure Excellence on Friday, April 10 in Columbus and Saturday, April 11 in Pittsburgh. Sixteen entrants representing at least six countries will battle to put their names alongside Jay Lethal, Samoa Joe, AJ Styles, Nigel McGuinness, Bryan Danielson, and other ROH forefathers who fought by the Pure Rules. The rules gave a distinct flavor to each Pure Rules match: closed-fist punches were illegal and each competitor was allowed three rope breaks to stop submission holds and pinfalls during the match; after that, pinfalls and submission holds on or under the ropes would be legal.
“The Preacher’s Son” Mark Haskins has been on the doorstep of Championship gold in ROH since winning the 2018 International Cup. Haskins has submitted former ROH World Champions Jay Lethal and Dalton Castle, defeated perennial contenders Kenny King and Silas Young, and, as of this announcement, is on a singles winning streak that includes wins against Hallowicked, Alex Shelley, and Bully Ray.
Haskins enters the Pure Championship Tournament as one of its favorites irrespective of the tournament’s rules but the rules play heavy into the hands of Haskins! Haskins’s nearly-inescapable submissions will force his opponents to make a series of split-second decisions including whether they want to try to endure the pain and look for counters or burn precious rope breaks. Haskins’ repertoire will be an instant advantage and will make him one of the toughest outs in the tournament!
Elsewhere, Katarina has joined the ROH Women's Title tournament. Previously announced competitors include Angelina Love, Sumie Sakai, Nicole Savoy, and Kellyanne. The tournament will begin on Apr. 24.
Katarina has won championships around the globe, and now she is headed to Ring of Honor looking to add another title to her resume.
She brings two decades worth of experience to the tournament to crown a new ROH Women’s World Champion. The 16-woman tournament kicks off with eight first-round matches at Quest For Gold in Philadelphia on April 24.
Born in Germany before relocating to England, Katarina is a two-time former Knockouts Champion, having defeated Mickie James both times to win the title.
After beginning her career in the UK, Katarina traveled to France in 2005 and won the World Queen of Chaos Championship in a Rumble match against competition from all over the world. She successfully defended the title in France and Switzerland for 387 days before relinquishing it to sign with WWE.
While competing on a show co-promoted by ROH and Frontier Wrestling Alliance in London in 2003, Katarina made waves in a six-person hardcore match by diving off the balcony. It was voted as one of FWA’s top 10 moments.
