Keeping in mind that it seems anything with the word(s); CM Punk, RoH, Invasion, or pretty much anything relevant to the major storyline has all been merged and clustered, I have no idea if you were replying to what I specifically wrote, or someone else. That being in mind, I like to often believe the world revolves around me, so I take this as you talking in reference to what I said.
I'd say that it's safe to assume that this simply is not going to happen. There's absolutely no gain in this happening for the WWE.
People often said the same thing in terms of an invasion by WCW, ECW, or any other
"Opposing Promotion"; yet while ECW was still owned and ran by Paul E. Heyman, they managed to get several spots on WWF's main television programming in 1997. Including the promotion of ECW's debut Pay per view; Barely Legal. Now for a quick history recap, this also included sending their own (WWF) wrestlers (Jerry Lawler, for example) to begin a program with ECW in which an inter-promotion war was started.
Jump ahead to 2001, after the Company had purchased the rights to WCW and ECW - they went ahead with an
Invasion angle. Now, while Ring of Honor (to everyone's belief) has not been bought out by Vince McMahon and the WWE; it's highly naive to believe something similar to McMahon working with RoH in a similar manner to how he worked with ECW in 1997, couldn't be possible.
What do they have to gain? That's the simplest thing of all. Ratings.
It seems you're assuming that during the 1997 and/or 2001 Invasion angle(s), that everyone who watched wrestling watched ECW and WCW as well. If so, that's a false assumption. Most loyal WWF fans had never seen an ECW show before, and possibly never heard of them before the 1997 invasion. Likewise to some of the talent that came over from the buyout in 2001. Yet those storylines drew ratings and made the WWE a profit.
I've never watched ROH and I'm looking forward to being able to see it for the first time. However, let's no exaggerate ROH's place in the wrestling world or its importance. In terms of audience size and exposure, ROH is absolutely nothing to the WWE. I know the IWC loves ROH but it's nothing at this point in time, at least when it comes to be a viable threat to WWE in any way, shape or form.
And just like in 1997, the likes of ECW never threatened or even came close to causing a threat to the WWF; yet McMahon understood the value in ratings that he had by joining forces with Paul Heyman and creating what he did. He built a bridge with Heyman, funded them a little and took some top talent that he felt would become bigger through the WWF.
The same could be said currently through Ring of Honor. CM Punk and Daniel Bryan have become relatively big names in the time they've been with the Company; and arguably Punk is one of the top names in the business (currently). That being said, McMahon may have come to the understanding that not every great talent is formed from him alone.
The likes of Chris Hero, Claudio Castagnoli, the American Wolves, and perhaps even Colt Cabana - all of which have gained huge cult-like followings through RoH fans. And in a similar way to how RVD became huge in ECW.. my guess is McMahon understands the need to grab these younger talents before the likes of TNA gets the chance to.
So you're right in understanding Ring of Honor isn't a threat to the WWE, however you're wrong if you believe the WWE has nothing to gain from forming a working relationship with sharing talent. Especially when you also factor in the major stars in the WWE are now retiring due to age, leaving from being burnt out, or being forced out due to injury. WWE is in massive need of more, younger, talent. Ring of Honor has that for them.
I think people are taking the fact that CM Punk has dropped ROH's and Colt Cabana's name too seriously and are seeing what they want to see. I think it's possible that Cabana could be, is in the process of being or has already signed with WWE. It also looks like the Kings of Wrestling are also a locked signing for the WWE at this point in time.
What you've just said yourself is that you could very well see some of the top names from RoH being signed, or likely already having signed, with the Company. That in and of itself would lead everyone to believe the best way to debut such talent - is to focus on what made them famous to begin with. Their roots.
Put them with Bryan & Punk, form a group of
"rebels" or "Men of Honor" (if they truly aren't working with RoH to use their name) and what you have is several new, younger, talents - looking to shine with a top level storyline to get them noticed instantly. More than merely debuting (likely under different names) would have ever done.
