Last week: Shane Taylor Promotions overcame The Foundation in six-man action with Shane Taylor pinning Jay Lethal.
ROH TV Episode 489
January 30, 2021
Baltimore, MD
ROH Pure Championship: Jonathan Gresham (c) vs. Joe Keys
The opening sequence saw both using the side headlock, only to be countered with a head scissors. After the champ discovered his challenger’s rhythm, Jonathan Gresham cinched down on the head scissors to the point Joe Keys had to use the ropes to free himself. Gresham helped his opposition off the mat, locking up seconds later before Keys countered an arm lock attempt by pushing Gresham into the ropes for a rope break against the champ. They got up trading shoulder blocks with Keys getting the better of this momentary battle heading into the commercial break.
They were exchanging forearms when the show returned, with Gresham stopping the assault courtesy of a leg sweep into a punt against the challenger’s left arm. Deep arm drag from “The Octopus” slowed for the champion to set up a hammerlock slam. Keys countered an Irish whip attempt, but his follow up showed how weak his arm had become. It wasn’t until Gresham ran into a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker did Keys get some momentum in his favor. Gresham stopped a suplex by kicking Keys’ left arm after breaking free. Stopping a small package off a running start, Keys hoisted Gresham up for a suplex that almost ended this one. With ten minutes down in the time limit, Keys muscled Gresham over with the German suplex.
Gresham grabbed Keys in a kimura on the way down, only for Keys to counter the submission with another backbreaker. Keys had the single-leg Boston crab in mind, but Gresham was close enough to the ropes to save himself. Flying head-butt immediately followed for Keys and Gresham was forced to use his final rope break to stop a sure three count. Taking off his wrist tape and throwing it at the champion, Keys initiated a strike exchange that ended with him landing a big clothesline to gain another two count. Diving head-butt missed for Keys, putting him in prime position for another arm drag. Rolling through the arm drag, Gresham kept wrist control to put his unsuspecting challenger in a deep hammerlock for the submission victory.
Mike Bennett was getting his ankle taped up backstage when Matt Taven confronted him to tell him that they didn’t have to fight tonight. Bennett was adamant about competing tonight against The Bouncers.
The Bouncers were excited to be in the ring with the OGK because they are on the road to become the next ROH World Tag Team champions at the expense of a pair of former champions. Matt Taven of the OGK was worried about his friend and his bum ankle. Bennett didn’t care about his ankle, the person responsible for his injury in Vincent, or having to fight an old friend in Brian Milonas. Instead it’s about two friends having fun and getting closer to glory.
The OGK vs. The Bouncers
It was Mike Bennett kicking off with Brian Milonas as they locked up. Milonas easily muscled Bennett into the air, pitching him across the ring so Mike landed on his feet to hobble him early. Bennett tried to shake off the pain, but was running into an immovable object. Blind tag by Taven allowed Matt & Mike to double dropkick Milonas out of the ring. Taven wanted to dive, but ended up coming face to face with Beer City Bruiser. BCB reminded Milonas that OGK aren’t their friends tonight. Milonas listened to his partner, rushing Taven into the corner for Bruiser to tag in for a dropkick off Milonas’ sidewalk slam.
Blocking the Climax, BCB instead felt an enzuguri before Taven tagged out. Reversing an Irish whip, BCB came off the ropes with a cross body block that downed Bennett. Bennett fought his way to his corner so Taven could dropkick Milonas so the big man tripped over a bent Bennett. Milonas found himself saved by the fact Bennett executed a leap frog off the double Irish whip. BCB tagged in, popping a concerned Taven with as tiff right before driving all of his weight against Bennett’s hurt ankle. Milonas was very apprehensive about focusing on Bennett’s hurt limb heading into the commercial break.
Using BCB’s momentum against him, Bennett dropped down alongside the ropes to send Bruiser out of the ring. Tagging in, Taven took flight to wipe out The Bouncers at ringside. Frog splash connected for Taven on Bruiser, but Milonas broke up the pin. Big DDT drilled Milonas before Taven executed a float-over neck breaker on BCB. Bruiser countered whatever Taven had in mind with a Samoan drop. Taven fought his way out of a bad situation until Milonas reentered and pulled off his version of the Side Effect. Bennett pulled his partner to their corner, setting up a series of strikes on Milonas. Taven jumped on Milonas’ back, only for Bennett to super kick the big man so he inadvertently fell backwards to crush Matt. Taven avoided BCB’s frog splash while Bennett speared Milonas. BCB was prone to Taven’s crossface; having no choice but to submit.
Vincent’s voice rang out to question BCB’s honor for toasting a maniac. Vincent had to know what path Bruiser is on after spending years as a tag team competitor. Changing focus to Milonas, Vincent informed the world that Taven and Bennett could’ve helped Milonas get a job after eighteen years in this business, but instead left him in a figurative cage in the Northeast. Vincent demanded that The Bouncers take in what he’s been saying and find a new way to make it in ROH. When Vincent was forced to leave by security, Bruiser busted his beer bottle on Taven’s head. A shocked Milonas questioned his partner before checking on Taven’s frame. BCB left the ring alone.
Overall: While last week’s episode had must-see matches on paper, this one looked a little lacking outside of the main event. But Joe Keys came to play and delivered a great showing against the Pure champion. Here’s hoping Keys gets more time to shine in ROH because he showed that he can go toe-to-toe with one of the best ROH has to offer and not look out of his element. The main event actually proved more of an emotional story than expected with Milonas being conflicted the entire time fighting two guys he came up with. Bruiser was constantly looking for the win even if it came at the expense of Bennett’s ankle. The tipping point came not from the physical loss, but Vincent’s words. Though it was a shocking twist, here’s to this not being the end of The Bouncers as they’ve look no better than they have since ROH returned and they’ve been more focused; producing a few memorable encounters. Not necessarily a must-see episode, but definitely another strong one from ROH that will most likely have long-last ramifications.
