Update On Why Michael Elgin Dropped The ROH World Championship, VISA Issues Reported

– Last night at All Star Extravaganza VI, Michael Elgin dropped the ROH World Championship to Jay Briscoe in a surprise title change nobody saw coming. After the match Elgin strapped the title around Briscoe’s waist and shook his hand. This occurred a couple of days after Elgin stated in an online interview that he was interested in trying out for Major League Baseball and that ROH officials were upset he would announce this publicly. It was reportedly this mixed with the poor reception Elgin has gained since holding the title that lead to ROH stripping him of the title.

However, new information has emerged that is saying that while ROH were upset with Elgin it was for other issues. One of the reasons ROH were upset revolved around Elgin’s loss to independent talent Trevor Lee at last weekends PWG Battle of Los Angeles tournament. ROH officials are very strict on their talent not taking jobs on the independent circuit unless it’s for a name either on their roster or it is passed through them first.

Another reason being thrown around is that apparently Elgin’s American VISA has expired and that he failed to begin the renewal application in time. Today Elgin tweeted that he wouldn’t be appearing at independent promotion Absolute Intense Wrestling’s event and apologized for it, despite him having made the trip from Canada to Ohio after an ROH show many times before. The renewal process generally takes 90 days which means Elgin would be out for the next eight ROH events, which includes three TV tapings and would interfere with ROH’s booking of Final Battle, their biggest show of the year. ROH knew their World Champion couldn’t be absent for 90 days and that vacating the title two years in a row would devalue the title, which is the centerpiece of the promotion and so decided yesterday that Jay Briscoe would win the ROH World Championship.

As for Elgin’s contract status, he is one of many who just recently signed a full time ROH contract which now comes with a salary as opposed to pay-per-appearance money, which allows ROH to accept and reject any independent date he is offered. Elgin’s not believed to be going anywhere but after this weekend his status with the company is up in the air.

(Source: PWInsider)