Recapping American wrestling since 2013. Not only following the current stuff in WWE, Impact and ROH but also going back in time and doing stuff from back then as well.
Backstage, a busy Dalton Castle leaves, then The Foundation (Jay Lethal, Rhett Titus, "Hot Sauce" Tracy Williams) meet with Joe Keys and Jonathan Gresham. As Keys bandages Gresham's knee, "Hot Sauce" Tracy Williams shows concern for Gresham's health and - wanting to give a spot to fesh new talent - allow Joe Keys to take his place. Joe Keys agrees, and becomes part of todays' eight-man tag match between The Foundation and Shane Taylor Promotions (Shane Taylor, Moses, Kaun) and O'Shea Edwards. Joe Keys accidentally slaps Gresham on his hurt knee on the way out, then comes back to apologize.
Brian Johnson replaces Quinn McKay (and Ian Riccoboni) as this week's host.
Rey Horus beats Fred Yehi.
We hear from Mandy Leon and Quinn McKay prior to their match.
Maria Kanellis-Bennett guests on commentary for the next match.
Mandy Leon beats Quinn McKay after Angelina Love distracts the referee while Quinn McKay locks in the Tangerine Dream on Mandy, which allows Angelina to sneak a pair of brass knuckles while the referee is pre-occupied with Quinn McKay to help Mandy Leon cheat to win.
Shane Taylor Promotions (Shane Taylor, Moses, Kaun) and O'Shea Edwards beat The Foundation (Jay Lethal, Rhett Titus, "Hot Sauce" Tracy Williams) and Joe Keys.
In backstage footage from after last week, Bandido celebrates his win in the Survival of the Fittest finals, saying he is happy that he was won despite all that has happened and that he ROH World Champion at Best In The World.
We hear from Fred Yehi and Jonathan Gresham before their match for the ROH Pure Championship.
Mike Bennett guests on commentary for the next match.
Jonathan Gresham retains the ROH Pure Championship against Fred Yehi in 12:16 via pinfall with a transition into a La Magistral Cradle.
Backstage, Quinn McKay interviews Jonathan Gresham, who agrees that Fred Yehi is a formidable opponent due to their history together, then says that the Pure Division is his and that he did not have to use a closed fist to win. He tells Fred Yehi to go back to training and that he will be waiting for him as the head of the Pure division. As for Mike Bennett, Gresham says he knows what kind of person he is and says he is not honourable and has not earned his respect, and at Best In The World, Bennett's rise to the top of the division stops with him.
We see a video package for The Briscoes' (Jay and Mark Briscoe) Fight on the Farm.
Jay Briscoe vs. Mark Briscoe in a Fight on the Farm ends with both men laid out in the ring.
Quinn McKay returns to hosting duties, thanking her fans for their support saying that her recent match in ROH might be first, but it will not be her last.
It is revealed that Matt Taven has been attacked backstage and that his ankle is hurt. Mike Bennett helps Matt Taven to the trainer's room.
Fred Yehi beats Rocky Romero in a Pure Rules Match with the Koji Clutch in 14:44.
Backstage in the trainer's room, Matt Taven tells Mike Bennett he still wants to wrestle tonight's tag team title match, saying he has previously wrestled for months on an injured ankle that was just about to break.
"The Mercenary" Flip Gordon heads to the ring. He tells Rush he is done waiting because he has him exactly where he wants him, and says that for the last year, he has seen him defend the ROH World Championship against the best in the business and that it is his turn to do what other could not and beat Rush for the ROH World Championship. Instead of getting Rush, he gets EC3, and EC3 slowly walks down the aisle before entering the ring. EC3 and flip have a brief staredown, then tells Flip "You have been warned." EC3 then walks away.
We hear from The Foundation (Rhett Titus and "Hot Sauce" Tracy Williams). Rhett Titus says they will make their first tag team title defense against The OGK (Matt Taven and Mike Bennett). Suddenly, Jay Lethal shows up and tells them that he has heard from Mike Bennett that Matt Taven has been attacked and is in the trainer's room, and that Matt Taven still wanting to wrestle for the tag team titles at less than 100% shows how important the titles are. Lethan then tells Titus and Williams not to take their title opportunity away from them.
The Foundation (Rhett Titus and "Hot Sauce" Tracy Williams) retain the ROH World Tag Team Championships against The OGK (Matt Taven and Mike Bennett). After the match, Vincent is seen mocking Matt Taven on the video screen.
Matt Taven guests on commentary for the next match.
The Beer City Bruiser vs. Mike Bennett ends in a no-contest after The Beer City Bruiser entertains the idea of hitting Bennett with a broken beer bottle, which causes referee Todd Sinclair to pre-emptively call for the bell. After the match, Taven runs to the ring and forces The Beer City Bruiser to retreat.
Fred Yehi beats Dante Caballero, Will Ferrara, Eric Martin, World Famous CB and Wheeler Yuta in a Pure Rules Gauntlet where all competitors are randomly drawn.
In footage from last week, we hear from Jay Lethal, who says that The Foundation (Jay Lethal, Jonathan Gresham, "Hot Sauce" Tracy Williams, Rhett Titus) have a chance to get it all back, and calls their match last week the most important match for them as it is the first step towards purifying every division and the company. He says that The Foundation will get everything back at 19th Anniversary Show.
It is announced that Dragon Lee and Kenny King will defend the ROH World Tag Team Championships against The Foundation ("Hot Sauce" Tracy Williams and Rhett Titus) at 19th Anniversary Show.
We hear from Dak Draper, who says that Fred Yehi is happy to be here while he eats success for breakfast, lunch and dinner. He says that this is the main difference between him and Yehi, and says that if he thinks he can succed against him, then shame on Yehi. We then hear from Fred Yehi, who says that he needs this win after losing match after match. He admits that Dak Draper is a big guy and is currently on a tear, but says that he needs to win or else he doesn't eat. He asks Draper if he is ready to go toe-to-toe with a "hungry savageweight."
Will Ferrara guests on commentary for the next match.
Dark Draper beats Fred Yehi in a Pure Rules match.
Backstage, Quinn McKay interviews Tony Deppen, who says that one match stands between him and a rematch with Dragon Lee, and that match is with Kenny King. He does not know what to expect, for he will have to watch his back, so he has to be on his A-game. He says that beating Kenny King and going on to face Dragon Lee will be "the cherry on top."
We hear from Kenny King, who says that Tony Deppen has stepped into dangerous waters and that the Internet has hyped him up. He says that La Faccion Ingobernables (Rush, Dragon Lee, Kenny King, La Bestia del Ring) is a weapon, and if Deppen is stupid enough to step into the ring, then he will be left laying in it.
Tony Deppen beats Kenny King after countering the Royal Flush into an inside cradle. After the match, La Bestia del Ring stomps Deppen in the ring, then King hits Deppen with the Royal Flush before Dragon Lee hits Deppen with a running knee. La Bestia del Ring then piledrives Deppen into the middle of the ring. Suddenly, Brody King runs into the ring and fights everyone, and Rush runs into the ring to brawl with Brody King only to be slammed into the mat. All four members of La Faccion Ingobernables (Rush, Dragon Lee, Kenny King, La Bestia del Ring) then gang up on Brody King and set up a table, which they put Brody through with a top rope senton from La Bestia del Ring.
Flamita beats "The Mercenary" Flip Gordon after Mark Briscoe slips a chair into the ring to distract Flip Gordon, then hits Flip Gordon from behind with another chair from outside of the referee's field of vision to give Flamita the win. After the match, Flip leaves the ring at first, then runs back into the ring and attacks Flamita before ripping his mask off. Bandito and Rey Horus show up and chase Flip out of the ring to end the show.
Next week: Eli Isom vs. Rey Horus! The Foundation (Jay Lethal, Jonathan Gresham, "Hot Sauce" Tracy Williams, Rhett Titus) vs. La Faccion Ingobernables (Rush, Dragon Lee, Kenny King, La Bestia del Ring)!
Backstage, Jay Lethal sets up a six-man tag team match between the team of himself, Wheeler Yuta and Rhett Titus vs. Fred Yehi, Jonathan Gresham and "Hot Sauce" Tracy Williams for tonight's main event in order to set an example to the locker room and define what Ring of Honor is all about. Jay then gets with Tracy after everyone leaves, asking Tracy to start the match with him. Tracy accepts
We hear from Tony Deppen, who talks about debuting in Final Battle while also mentioning the feeling that he was not wanted in ROH. He also talks about his match at Final Battle with Dragon Lee, saying Dragon Lee is a world-class wrestler and that he won some new fans despite not winning the match while also proving that he belonged in ROH. He says that he and LSG ran with the same crowd back in the day, even though they have taken different paths. He says that LSG has had his opportunities, and while LSG may be bigger and stronger, he is tougher, and anything that LSG will try to do to him to avenge his loss at Final Battle is nothing different from what he's experienced in the indies. We then hear from LSG, who talks about his road to ROH while saying that he will not let "the flavor of the month" in Tony Deppen take what is his. He says that while Tony Deppen is tough, they have not faced each other in years, and he has gotten bigger and stronger and has earned it according to Jay Lethal, and that up-and-comers will have to go through guys like him to prove themselves. While he respects what Tony Deppen has done throughout his career, he has grinded it out with the best in the world in ROH and Deppen has only one fluke win on him. He tells Deppen to show he belongs and beat him again.
LSG beats Tony Deppen.
Backstage, Quinn McKay tries to interview The Briscoes (Jay and Mark Briscoe). Mark confronts Jay for losing focus on the ROH World Tag Team Championships to fight EC3, and wants him to get back on the metaphorical boat telling him if he's going to get on the boat, he'd better get on the boat. Jay says "Let's do it," and the Briscoes are a team again.
In two weeks on the Championship Edition of Ring of Honor TV: Shane Taylor vs. Rush!
Jay Lethal, Wheeler Yuta and Rhett Titus beat Fred Yehi, Jonathan Gresham and "Hot Sauce" Tracy Williams in a six-man tag match.
We hear from Jay Lethal, who says it is a given that he will be in the finals of the tournament with Jonathan Gresham, as he knows how good he is and knows that they will both be ready as he tells Gresham he is doing good. We then hear from Jonathan Gresham, who says that he does not go by a strategy and lives by the moment, then says that Matt Sydal is part of a bigger problem in Ring of Honor. He says that Sydal may be one of the best high-flyers, he is taking opportunity away from someone like him who is a pure wrestler. He says that ROH should return to its roots of being a haven of professional wrestling freedom, which he says should be protected at all costs. He says that it is important that he win the Pure Championship, for he is the foundation of professional wrestling.
We hear from Fred Yehi, who says it does not matter who he faces, even if he has history with "Hot Sauce" Tracy Williams, as he is in the business of breaking people. We also hear from "Hot Sauce" Tracy Williams, who says that Yehi is a world-class athlete who belongs in ROH, and that it will be an honor to make him his next step to the Pure Championship and restoring honor in Ring of Honor.
In Block A, "Hot Sauce" Tracy Williams beats Fred Yehi in 14:03 by submission on the ropes - after both men use up all their rope breaks - to advance to the Block A finals.
EC3 shows up. He asks if honor is real, for there is no honor in what we do as we are controlled for our entire lives, and our freedoms are taken every day and we lose focus on our greater purpose. He then asks if there is honor in taking those freedoms back and finding purpose, then asks if there is honor in the past as he has stood in hallowed halls by hallowed names who were great men who built a great house. He says that men are fallible and eventually conform, especially names synonymous with Ring of Honor. He says he is here to fight the greatest talent on the planet, and says that without pain and sacrifice, one has nothing, and he is willing to purify himself by pain and put the name of "Ring of Honor" to the test.
Backstage, EC3 is met by Shane Taylor, who says he has known his purpose since day one while EC3 is figuring his out, then introduces himself upon EC3's failure to mention him and tells him to wipe his feet before entering his house. Suddenly, The Briscoes (Jay and Mark Briscoe) show up and confront Shane Taylor for calling ROH "his house," and referees and officials show up before things get wose. The Briscoes then challenge Shane Taylor to a six-man tag team match with them and EC3. Shane shoves Jay Briscoe, then leaves with his entourage.
We hear from Josh "The Goods" Woods, who did not expect to win by judge's decision and hopes that he has won Kenny King's respect on his way to the next round. We also hear from "The Darewolf" PJ Black, who says that he will remember Tony Deppen's name from now on before asking who his next opponent is.
In Block B, Josh "The Goods" Woods beats "The Darewolf" PJ Blac in 13:27 via submission with a knee bar to advance to the Block B finals.
We hear from David Finlay, who says that he is proud to be in ROH and that he has a good shot at beating Jay Lethal in the semi-finals and winning the ROH Pure Tournament. We also hear from Matt Sydal, who says that he felt high on life after beating Delirious in the tournament, and that facing Jonathan Gresham is the honor that he has been looking for. Sydal says that he is the only one who can uphold Pure Rules, and tells Gresham that it is just business.
Before the next match, we hear from Fred Yehi, a competitor with eight years of experience whom the toughest have called "the toughest." He talks about surviving growing up in a rough environment to become a collegiate, amateur and professional wrestler and basing his technique on that of Low Ki and Bryan Danielson's. While he admits that Silas Young is a tough customer, he can beat someone in a variety of ways. We also hear from "The Last Real Man" Silas Young, who talks about growing up with five older brothers in a very athletic household and how he faced some of the greats in early ROH history to realize that ROH was a place for him to be. He says that his opponents will find him anything but predictable, and while he may have his work cut out for him against Fred Yehi, he has the home field advantage after facing Jonathan Gresham in a Pure Rules Match where Gresham had to cheat to win while he didn't.
In Block A, Fred Yehi beats Silas Young in 13:00 with an inside cradle to advance in the tournament. Both men shake hands after the match.
Before the next match, we hear from Josh "The Goods" Woods, who briefly talks about his ROH career and his mentorship by Silas Young before saying it is time to prove that he belongs in ROH on his own. He talks about his prior combat sports experience and how he will utilize it in the Pure Rules Tournament. He says that Kenny King is an arrogant showboater who has some weaknesses to exploit, but he also wants to earn Kenny King's respect. He says that the fans will see a different Josh Woods than what they are used to seeing. We also hear from Kenny King, who sees the ROH Pure Championship as one step towards world domination for La Faccion Ingobernables (Rush, Dragon Lee, Kenny King), and says that Josh "The Goods" Woods is "a killer" due to his combat sports background and that he has been ready for a match like this, and that he has a wealth of moves to beat the competition with. King also says that he will get through the tournament his way, as the Ingobernables do not follow the rules, and that while Woods may be good, he's no Kenny King.
In Block B, Josh "The Goods" Woods beats Kenny King in 15:00 via judges' decision to advance in the tournament. Kenny King is furious after the match.
