Last week: A best of 2020 episode saw RUSH winning the ROH World title, Jonathan Gresham becoming the first Pure champion in fourteen years, and Flip Gordon earning a future ROH World Championship opportunity.
ROH TV Episode 487
January 16, 2021
Baltimore, MD
We got highlights from “Final Battle” that saw Jonathan Gresham successfully defend the Pure title against Flip Gordon while ROH World Television champion Dragon Lee also overcame would-be champion Tony Deppen.
Quinn McKay was here to announce that Rey Horus’ win over Dalton Castle at “Final Battle” resulted in him gaining a TV title shot this week. McKay also broke down how the title ranking system will work from now on; stating wrestlers can be in both singles and tag team rankings, but can only be involved in one singles ranking. The top three of five ranked stars can challenge for the title they are divided into as of this time.
McKay too announced the ROH board of directors have banned Matt Taven and Vincent from appearing alongside each other after the brawls they’ve been involved in that has resulted in property damage and an ankle injury to Mike Bennett.
Pure Rules match: Flip Gordon vs. Rhett Titus
Flip Gordon refused to follow the Code of Honor again; angering his opponent. The opening moments saw Rhett Titus using those massive thighs to cut off Gordon’s wind with a head scissors. When Gordon got free it was his opponent taking him down again and positioning him for an abdominal stretch. Gordon used his first rope break to stop the seated abdominal stretch. Picking up the pace, Gordon lured Titus into a slew of strikes until he was tripped and hooked by his legs. Using another rope break, Gordon freed himself from the single-leg Boston crab. Gordon got up throwing chops, only to be knocked down with a few of Titus’ own. Gordon tried to give Titus a taste of his own medicine by going after Rhett’s legs as well; forcing a rope break from Rhett so Titus could save himself from the leg lock. Gordon was in complete control as the show entered a commercial break.
During the commercial, Titus landed a dropkick that propelled Flip to the floor. Returning to live action, Titus executed a shin breaker after landing a pair of yakuza kicks. High-angle single leg Boston crab by Titus didn’t force Gordon to use another rope break, but had him on his back in a bad way as he continuously dropped all his body weight onto Gordon’s legs. Flip took advantage of Titus climbing the ropes, landing that Kinder Surprise. Gordon’s hurt legs prevented him from following up immediately as Rhett tumbled to the floor.
Gordon used a suplex on the floor, but refused to win via count-out. Gordon was mouthing off when Titus swept him into the single leg Boston crab again. Gordon used his last rope break to save himself. With only two minutes left in the fifteen minute time limit, Titus went for a German suplex that resulted in him getting kicked in the head twice. Gordon pulled off the springboard slingblade to gain a two count. Gordon’s knee gave way when going for the Flip-5, only to be yanked into the crucifix. When Gordon kicked out he landed a closed fist. The referee reprimanded Gordon, telling him if he landed another he would be disqualified. Gordon took advantage of a rocked Titus to stomp him in position for the Flip-5 to pick up the pin.
Gordon actually followed the Code of Honor with an insulting handshake.
Quinn McKay caught up with Flip Gordon to congratulate him on the win while informing him he’s been suspended from the Pure division due to his lacking of following the Code of Honor. Gordon didn’t care as he reminded everyone that he still has a World title shot in his back pocket. Gordon also liked the idea of winning the TV title or even finding a tag team partner to challenge for tag team gold.
ROH World Television Championship: Dragon Lee (c) vs. Rey Horus
No waiting around for Rey Horus as he dove on top of the champ during Dragon Lee’s entrance. Horus followed up with a sick tornado DDT in the ring … to gain a near fall!
Lee left the ring, only for Horus to follow and toss him back in. Before Horus could reenter the ring, Lee jumped over the top to hurricarana his challenger off the apron, to the floor! Horus had a huge welt on his back after hitting the floor. Dey was a clubberin’ on the floor, running into the ring before the twenty count and the commercial break.
Dey was a clubberin’ again when the show returned, resulting in both men coming off the ropes and Horus catching his fellow luchador with a standing Spanish fly to gain a two count. Lee reversed an Irish whip, kneeing Horus when he hit the turnbuckles while leaping over the top rope for that slingshot dropkick that put Horus in prime position for Bull’s Horns. Horus kicked out of Lee’s follow up pin attempt, only to get chopped in the chest. Using an Irish whip to his advantage, Horus slid into the corner to stop short and overhead suplex into the turnbuckles. Lee rolled onto the apron, climbing the ropes. Horus caught Lee on the top with C4 … to gain a near fall!
Horus went for another tornado DDT, only for Lee to counter with a snap German suplex. Sit-out power bomb only gave Lee a two count. Ripcord knee strike from Lee was meant to set up another power bomb. Horus countered with the Mexican Destroyer (a Canadian Destroyer piledriver). Lee somehow stopped a three count. Horus put Lee on the ropes, only for the champion to counter whatever he had in mind with a super double stomp on Horus as the Six-Man Tag champ was stuck in the ropes. Horus could barely stand after the double stomp, landing the Incineration. Lee wasn’t done, landing another Incineration knee strike after pulling his knee pad down. Horus couldn’t avoid the attack and fell to the three count in Lee’s favor.
Overall: ROH’s first show with original content in 2021 was a very good one. First there was the iteration of how the title rankings will go going forward. ROH has done many a ranking system in the past, but this one seems easy to manage & comprehend; something that was made even more emphatic after Gordon’s win over Titus in really good outing. Titus hasn’t looked better than he does right now in years and Gordon winning because of him bending the rules in his favor just made him look like more of a jerk than he already is for not following the Code of Honor before a match.
The main event was unlike anything we’ve seen on ROH TV since the show returned to new programming with the format it’s using right now. Not only were the pre-match promos wonderful to get viewers into the minds of each competitor that haven’t had the airtime of other ROH wrestlers for obvious reasons (travel restrictions), but their match also shined a light on the versatile style the ROH roster can produce. Definitely one of, if not the strongest episode ROH TV in quite some time and worth your time.
