Last week: The Pure Championship Tournament began with Jay Lethal defeating Dalton Castle and Jonathan Gresham submitting Wheeler Yuta in the opening round.
ROH TV Episode 470
September 19, 2020
Baltimore, MD
Jay Lethal and Jonathan Gresham had thoughts about their potential opponents going into the second round. While Lethal noted that, shockingly, he’s never wrestled either Rocky Romero or David Finlay in singles competition, his goal is to make it to the end to become the first two-time Pure champion no matter who he faces. Lethal’s tag team partner Jonathan Gresham was equally tired as his fellow champion following his win; stating that his goal of rebuilding the purity of ROH began with his victory over Yuta and will continue until he is crowned the new ROH Pure champion.
Block A Quarterfinal Match: David Finlay vs. Rocky Romero
Feeling out process early on saw Rocky Romero going for the Diablo Arm Bar quickly. David Finlay had to use his first rope break of the bout. Finlay tried to use the separation as a way to reassert himself, only to get caught in another submission attempt. Finlay worked his way off the mat instead of using a rope break, sending Rocky into the corner. When Romero attempted to leap over the incoming Finlay, David kicked him in the chest. A suplex followed to give Finlay the chance to grind on his opposition heading into the commercial break.
Big dropkick landed for Finlay when the show returned. With six minutes down, Finlay had Romero stuck in a camel clutch he converted into a cobra clutch when Rocky started fighting. Elbows from Rocky separated the two; allowing Romero to execute a tornado DDT. Aiming for the left arm & shoulder with kicks & wringers, Rocky was obviously setting up that Diablo again. Hanging Finlay across the middle rope, Rocky pulled off a springboard dropkick to earn a two count. Sliced bread was on Romero’s mind, but he got countered and his legs slammed across the top rope. Finlay immediately locked in the Indian deathlock.
Rocky attempted to fight back with slaps, but the pendulum effect created from a reeling Finlay saw Romero use his first rope break to save himself. Five minutes were remaining in the time limit as Romero started throwing forearms. Finlay retaliated with European uppercuts, only to swing himself into sliced bread after taking a closed fist. When David kicked out of Romero’s pin attempt it was announced Rocky had earned a warning for the punch. Romero wouldn’t be deterred, cinching in the cross arm bar to force Finlay to use another rope break.
Sliced bread failed for Romero as it was turned into backbreaker by his opposition. Stunned, Rocky couldn’t stop the Trash Panda/Last Shot to pin and eliminate Romero. It’ll be Finlay versus Jay Lethal in the next round.
Block B Quarterfinal Match: Matt Sydal vs. Delirious
Delirious didn’t go as crazy as usual when the bell sounded, leaping for the legs of his opponent. Matt Sydal was ready, causing a stalemate that resulted in the two connecting with the Greco-Roman knucklelock. Sydal quickly turned the knucklelock into a kimura attempt. Delirious used a handstand to free himself from the predicament, sweeping Sydal while cranking on Matt’s knee. “Reborn” came off the ropes for an arm drag. Delirious got yanked to the canvas, being tied and pressed with the top wrist lock. Delirious actually grabbed the rope as a way to come over the top rope to execute a modified arm breaker. Though Delirious lost a rope break he was able to turn the tides while focusing on Sydal’s left arm heading into the commercial break.
During the break, Sydal countered the arm work to lock in a single leg Boston crab; forcing Delirious to use another rope break. Delirious had regained the control, but let Sydal get up to initiate a forearm exchange. Sydal switched to knife edge chops, hitting the ropes. Delirious came off on the opposite side for a criss-cross until they both landed clotheslines. Both men got up, only for Sydal to catch the masked man on the chin with a knee strike that folded Delirious backwards. Delirious felt a standing corkscrew press, but refused to stay down for the three count. Sydal, like his opponent, let Delirious get up. Delirious slipped behind Sydal, hitting a cobra suplex. Sydal was hurt, but prepared for Delirious to go for his patented Cobra Stretch. Sydal reversed the hold to put the Cobra Stretch on Delirious for the submission victory. Sydal meets Jonathan Gresham in the second round.
Overall: Not surprisingly, the show’s format was just last the last and probably will be the same for at least the next two episodes with the long, though highly informative pre-match promos to precursor nearly fifteen minutes of action per match. Finlay versus Romero was good with both having their point of interest when it came to limbs. With the clock ticking down, it almost appeared a time limit draw would occur and we’d get our first judgment call, but Finlay pulled it out in the end.
Not surprisingly, Sydal and Delirious had tremendous chemistry with a Delirious not seen since his days as a member of the Age of the Fall trying to finish off his old rival. But it was Sydal’s ability to recognize Delirious’ patterns that allowed him to counter what should’ve been his moment of defeat to set the stage for what should be a fantastic bout between Matt and Gresham. While maybe not as impressive as last week’s episode from an in-ring perspective, this was a strong continuation of the Pure Tournament that should have viewers excited for not only the guaranteed second round matches, but also the final four opening round bouts.
