Ian Riccaboni

Ian Riccaboni (born January 13, 1987) is an American actor, author, sportscaster, and professional wrestling ring announcer and commentator, currently signed to Ring of Honor.[5][6]

Ian Riccaboni
Riccaboni performing a mic check at Ring of Honor's Global Wars 2015 show in May 2015
Born (1987-01-13) January 13, 1987
Allentown, Pennsylvania[1][2][3]
Alma materNew York University (BA),[1] University of Pennsylvania (MS, Ed.)[4]
Spouse(s)
Sarah Riccaboni
​
(m. 2012)​
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Ian Riccaboni
Billed height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[1]
Debut2013[2]

Early life

Riccaboni was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania where he graduated from Salisbury High School in 2005. He graduated from New York University (NYU) in May 2009 with a bachelor's degree in Media and Communications [1] and in May 2010 with a master's degree in Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn).[4]

Riccaboni first appeared on television when he was cast in a 1996 KidsPeace commercial featuring former Major League Baseball pitcher Jim Kaat.[1] Riccaboni would spend his early summers as a batboy for the Allentown Ambassadors of the independent Northern League. A fan of pro wrestling from a young age, Riccaboni's mother would take him to professional events put on by World Wrestling Federation (WWF), World Championship Wrestling (WCW), and Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) in his native Allentown.[2]

During his freshman year at NYU, Riccaboni answered a casting call to be a part of a special to air on MTV called The Notorious B.G., hosted by Gideon Yago with special guest Bill Gates. In early 2006, Riccaboni was cast for an MTVU commercial for their Best Music on Campus competition, of which Riccaboni was a competitor for his performance on guitar, harmonica, and vocals.[1] While at NYU, Riccaboni played baseball and was a Dean's Scholar,[7][8] playing gigs around New York and NYU,[9] including a gig opening for the cast of Spring Awakening at an NYU event in Gould Plaza.[10] Riccaboni graduated NYU as the Class of 2009 president [11] and received the President's Service Award.[12] After graduating NYU in May 2009, Riccaboni pursued and completed a master's degree from Penn in Education Management. During his time at Penn, he made his return to television, playing bass guitar as the lead singer for the house band on “Hump Night with Kris Fried” on Service Electric TV 2.[13]

Riccaboni has been married since October 6, 2012 to his wife Sarah.[1]

Broadcasting career

Phillies Nation TV (2012–2015)

Riccaboni began writing as a full-time contributor to USA Today award-winning blog Phillies Nation[14] in November 2011.[15] In 2012, Phillies Nation began producing Phillies Nation TV and Riccaboni began appearing on the show, interviewing minor leaguers and famous Philadelphia Phillies fans, including Marc Summers [16] and Tony Luke.[17] In 2014, Riccaboni conducted a four-part interview with Curt Simmons [18] for the show and in 2015 interviewed Brad Lidge[19] and Bobby Shantz.[20] In association with Phillies Nation, Riccaboni released a book, “The 100 Greatest Phillies of All Time” on September 15, 2015.[21]

Ring of Honor (2014–present)

Riccaboni began his professional wrestling announcing career after a chance meeting with The Blue Meanie, Brian Hefron. Riccaboni was to interview Hefron as part of his “beat” of interviewing famous Philadelphia Phillies fans and the two were searching for a location. Hefron suggested The Monster Factory in Paulsboro, New Jersey to hold the interview. While filming the segment, Riccaboni met Monster Factory owner Danny Cage. Riccaboni would phone Cage about getting started in pro wrestling after the completion of the segment before beginning to work with the Monster Factory as an interviewer and commentator.

Through a camp with Ring of Honor (ROH) broadcaster Kevin Kelly and wrestler Bob Evans, Riccaboni was discovered and asked to attend an ROH tryout camp.[2] Riccaboni started as a personality with Ring of Honor at Future of Honor 2 in July 2014.[22] Riccaboni called his first match with Ring of Honor on Saturday January 3, 2015 which featured Cheeseburger and Chris LeRusso.[23]

In May 2015, Riccaboni made his debut as a ring announcer with Ring of Honor, announcing the first match at the Global Wars 2015 TV taping.[24] Riccaboni served as an in-arena host for Ring of Honor live events, as well as a commentator for Future of Honor and Women of Honor matches [6][25] before assuming the role of lead announcer airing starting with the February 25, 2017 episode.[26]

Riccaboni called his first Pay Per View with ROH at ROH 15th Anniversary Show alongside Kelly and Colt Cabana.[27] He and Cabana hold the distinction of being the first duo to ever call a Minoru Suzuki match on American soil when they did so at the Death Before Dishonor XV Pay Per View event.[28]

On July 13, 2018, it was announced Riccaboni will commentate the ALL IN broadcast with Don Callis, Sean Mooney, Excalibur, Alicia Atout, Justin Roberts, and Bobby Cruise [29] Riccaboni served as the lead play-by-play announcer with Excalibur, Callis, and others joining throughout the night. On December 15, 2018, Riccaboni and Cabana were presented with the 2018 Broadcast Team of the Year Award by veteran wrestling writer, photographer, and editor Bill Apter.[30]

On April 6, 2019, Riccaboni, Kelly, and Cabana called G1 Supercard, the first non-WWE wrestling event in Madison Square Garden since 1960.

On December 23, 2019, RetroSoft Studios announced Riccaboni and Cabana would be providing commentary for the sequel to the 1991 arcade game WWF WrestleFest, RetroMania Wrestling, on PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PC. [31]

Community involvement

Riccaboni was a member of the Upper Dublin Historical Commission[32] and teaches at Holy Family University.[4] As a writer with Phillies Nation, Riccaboni worked to coordinate Wiffadelphia,[33] Quizzo,[34] and wrestling events[35] events that raised food and money for Philabundance and Food Bank of South Jersey.

With ROH, Riccaboni has led the ROH Cares initiative to encourage ROH wrestlers, crew, and staff to improve the communities they are in as well as the ones that host ROH events. In 2017, Riccaboni and Cabana partnered with Rocky Romero, Bobby Cruise, and Cody Rhodes to raise $1550 across two nights to support victims of Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria.[36] In 2019, Riccaboni and ROH Ambassador Cary Silkin represented ROH at a WXW-C4 event co-promoted by WWE and coordinated by Lance Anoa'i to benefit Samu (wrestler).[37] ROH offered a re-designed "Pride Edition" of the t-shirt featuring his signature sign-off "Happy Wrestling" with the Pride Flag with proceeds going to a LGBT community center in his hometown of Allentown.[38]

References
  1. "Ian Riccaboni Biography". IMDB. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  2. "Allentown Native Ian Riccaboni Chasing His Wrestling Dream". Philly.com. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  3. "Amazon.com: Ian Riccaboni". Amazon. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  4. "Ian Riccaboni". Ring of Honor. Archived from the original on August 16, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
  5. "2/25 ROH HITS & MISSES: Ian Riccaboni on commentary, Fish, Dijak vs. Scurll, Skyler vs. Carr, Top Prospect Match". PW Torch. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
  6. "A View of the Future with the Women of Honor". Ring of Honor. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  7. "2008 Orientation Leader Directory" (PDF). NYU Steinhardt. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  8. "Orientation Leader Biographies 2007" (PDF). NYU Steinhardt. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  9. "2006-2007 Events". NYU EarthMatters. Archived from the original on July 16, 2015. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  10. "Friday". K Fergie Ferg. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  11. "Student Matters – April 2009" (PDF). NYU Steinhardt. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  12. "President's Service Award". NYU Steinhardt. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  13. "ROH's voice of the future, Ian Riccaboni, gets his chance in the spotlight". ESPN. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  14. "Recap: Phillies Top Cats, Nation USA Today Top Blog". Phillies Nation. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  15. "If It Doesn't Work Out For Mike Schwimer…". Phillies Nation. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  16. "Kyle Kendrick, Marc Summers and Jesse Biddle". IMDB. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  17. "The Utleys, Rollins HOF Credentials, Tony Luke". IMDB. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  18. "Ryan Howard vs. LHP, Curt Simmons and Kevin Wilson". IMDB. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  19. "The 2015 Line-Up, Brad Lidge". IMDB. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  20. "Nola Promoted to AAA, Franco's Hot Start, Carlos Tocci, Bobby Shantz". IMDB. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  21. "Phillies Nation Presents The 100 Greatest Phillies of All Time". Amazon.com. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  22. "ROH: Future of Honor 2". IMDB. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  23. "COMPLETELY DAMAGED RADIO 2/9/15". podomatic. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  24. "Get in the Ring 5/29/15 Ian Riccaboni Interview". Shout Engine. Archived from the original on February 25, 2016. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  25. "LIVECAST AUDIO: Wednesday PWTorch Livecast (8/19) available on-demand - Pat McNeill's ROH Extravaganza w/live calls & emails". PWTorch. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  26. "ROH TV RESULTS: MARTY SCURLL DEFENDS AGAINST DONOVAN DIJAK". PWTorch. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
  27. "The voice of Ring of Honor, Ian Riccaboni, takes advantage of opportunity". USA Today. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  28. "Week In Wrestling: Jinder Mahal's Racist Promo; Rob Van Dam On Potential WWE Return". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  29. "HERE'S OUR BROADCAST TEAM". ALL IN 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  30. "Ian Riccaboni and Colt Cabana Win Broadcast Team of the Year". ROH World. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
  31. "RetroMania Wrestling Commentary Team Announced". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  32. "Historical Commission". Upper Dublin Township. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  33. "Wiffadelphia a huge success". Phillies Nation. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  34. "Phillies Quizzo raise money for over 1,000 meals for Philabundance". Chat Sports. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  35. ""Hunger Slam" Huge Success!". Phillies Nation. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  36. "ROH Wrestling: Narrador cuenta su sentir al haber aportado para Puerto Rico; Suma total de las donaciones". Contralona. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  37. "Samu Benefit". Ian Riccaboni. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  38. "Happy Wrestling Pride Shirt". Ring of Honor. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
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