Allentown has another reason to brag about its wrestling roots.
Ian Riccaboni, the Lehigh Valley voice fans know from Ring of Honor and AEW broadcasts, has been named Fightful’s Announcer of the Year. The honor was revealed during Fightful’s live awards show, recognizing Riccaboni’s work over the past year in a field that included top names from WWE, AEW, and beyond.
In his acceptance, Riccaboni framed the win as a team achievement and gave credit to the people who helped shape his approach behind the headset.
“Announcer of the year is an individual award, but for me, it was all about being part of great teams in 2025. I wouldn’t have this award if it wasn’t for my broadcast partner on Ring of Honor Caprice Coleman… Excalibur, for letting me have a lane on Dynamite. Taz, for giving me tremendous advice week after week… To my mentors, Tony Schiavone and Good Ol’ JR… I look at this as a team award. I’ll treasure this.”
Locally, Riccaboni has never been shy about where he is from or what the job has allowed him to do. In a statement shared with us, he pointed to the travel, the opportunities, and the chance to give back at home.
“It is really neat winning Announcer of the Year. I’ve had so much support in the commentary both from my colleagues like Caprice Coleman in ROH, Excalibur, Taz, and Nigel McGuinness, and legends like Tony Schiavone and Jim Ross and our amazing production team which continues to challenge me to be better.”
He also highlighted the real-life impact of the career, including family milestones and local community work.
“Last year, I was able to take my family to the UK because of wrestling. I’ve seen 46 states thanks to wrestling. And because of wrestling, our family has been in a position to help Salisbury Youth Association and the Salisbury PTO with our time and resources to give back to our youth sports and our school kids.”
Riccaboni’s connection to the Lehigh Valley is more than a hometown introduction. He is a Salisbury High School graduate, and in recent years he has also served the community directly through local education leadership. Riccaboni was appointed to the Salisbury Township School District Board in 2023 and later won a full term, continuing his work with the district.
Fightful article with Ian’s acceptance quote:
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