Last week: La Faccion Ingobernable defeated The Foundation in a wild eight-man tag bout.
ROH TV Episode 497
March 27, 2021
Baltimore, MD
Mike Bennett vs. Beer City Bruiser
We got the pre-taped promos during each entrance including Mike Bennett talking about how Beer City Bruiser is just like so many other people trying to put him back in a bad place by turning on him & breaking a beer bottle over his head a couple of months ago. BCB had a better idea of putting Bennett in a bad place by attacking him when he got on the apron during his entrance before dumping him over the barricades. Bennett tried to fight back, but got thrown into the ring for his trouble. Blocking a hip toss, BCB executed a DDT leading into the commercial break.
Bruiser was setting up for the Last Shot when Bennett countered with a northern lariat. BCB blocked the super kick to pull off a dragon screw leg whip on his previously injured ankle. BCB was targeting Bennett’s left ankle including pulling off a kneeDT. Bennett rallied to his feet to pull off the Side Effect. BCB rolled across the ring upon impact as Bennett did the same. Missing a splash in the corner, Bruiser was prone to a series of chops topped by a clothesline-forearm combo topped by the dropkick on a kneeling Bruiser to gain a two count. Bruiser blocked whatever Bennett had in mind following a collision to pull off that BeerDT to get a two count when Bennett got a foot on the bottom rope. Bruiser left the ring, grabbing a beer bottle from underneath the ring. Bruiser broke the bottle with the intent of stabbing Bennett. Matt Taven ran from the commentators’ table, super kicking BCB out of the ring as the referee called for the bell.
Pure Rules Gauntlet: Will Ferrara vs. Dante Caballero
As proclaimed by ring announcer Bobby Cruise that each segment of the gauntlet will have fifteen minute time limit with each wrestler only having the three rope breaks as per the norm no matter how far they make it in the gauntlet. The match’s opening moments were rooted in both attempting to showcase their grappling acumen. Ferrara actually teased using a rope break, opting not to before countering the hammerlock. Big slam off the hammerlock counter by Dante allowed him to pull off another slam. Ferrara stopped the third slam, pulling off a wrist lock takedown to slam Dante left shoulder first against the ring. Dante rallied to his feet to throw a stunning forearm. Caballero got swept into an arm bar that he attempted to turn into a pinning combination. Dante was on fire, hitting a gut-buster-Sick Kick combo. Before Dante could follow up, Ferrara jackknife cradled him for the first elimination in the gauntlet.
Pure Rules Gauntlet: Will Ferrara vs. World Famous CB
After convincing CB to follow the Code of Honor, the fellow ROH Dojo grads went arm hold for arm hold. Ferrara had a death grip on the left wrist of CB, but World Famous wasn’t deterred by his lack of momentum. Eventually working his way around Ferrara, CB cinched in the seated bow & arrow. Ferrara countered, locking in the crossface after failing with the crucifix. CB got his foot on the bottom rope to save himself, but also to lose a rope break. CB slipped behind Ferrara, yanking him into the straightjacket power bomb to pin Will almost out of nowhere.
Pure Rules Gauntlet: World Famous CB vs. Eric Martin
Eric Martin was all over CB – taking World Famous over with the side headlock, using the Greco-Roman knuckle lock to push the rising World Famous off his feet, and running through CB with the shoulder tackle. Big boot connected flush, as did a trio of elbow drops by Martin. CB kicked his way out of a Boston crab attempt, only to run into a body slam seconds later. CB used the bottom rope to stop the Boston crab attempt again. Avoiding another slam, CB couldn’t stop a sick clothesline. Sidestepping the incoming Martin in the corner, CB unleashing a dragon screw leg whip. Martin caught CB flying off the top, pulling off a northern lights suplex to set up that Boston crab he was looking for the whole bout. CB used his last rope break to stop the submission. CB wouldn’t be denied as he cinched in a submission he called “Mudo de la muerte” to force the tap out after countering another big slam.
Pure Rules Gauntlet: World Famous CB vs. Wheeler Yuta
CB was looking for the flash pin, but Wheeler Yuta was ready including avoiding an arm drag to pull of a senton splash out of nowhere. Wheeler had CB in the Gory Special, but CB refused to quit; actually arm dragging his way out of the predicament. Yuta found himself locked in the cradle which they traded until they realized neither was getting a pin. Coming off the top, Yuta planted his opposition with the DDT to pin CB for the elimination of World Famous.
Pure Rules Gauntlet: Wheeler Yuta vs. Fred Yehi
Yuta landed a dropkick off the wrist lock attempt, only to come off the ropes and run into an exploder suplex. Fred Yehi hit a big kick to the side of Yuta’s head after taking his opponent over. Yehi was wrenching Wheeler’s arm with great force. Yuta chopped his way off the mat, using an inverted atomic drop to set up the springboard cross body block. Yehi walked into boot to the jaw topped by another cross body block. When Yehi kicked out he quickly tripped Yuta for the ankle pick. Yuta wisely kicked at Yehi’s exposed leg before landing a dropkick to Fred’s head. Yehi rolled to the floor, catching Yuta with another exploder, but this time on the floor!
Yehi was trying to smother Yuta into the canvas before locking in that Koji clutch. Yuta freed himself, looking to give Yehi a taste of his own medicine with a knee bar. Yehi had to use the ropes to free himself. Yuta went for another pinning combination when Yehi countered with the double stomp. Yehi quickly locked in that Koji clutch before switching sides on the submission after Wheeler tried to stop the hold. Yehi cranked down on the clutch to force the submission victory.
Overall: As per the norm with ROH TV during a pay-per-view weekend, this episode featured nothing associated with the show while providing something unremarkable story wise. Thankfully the opening contest did have some type of story connected to it as Bennett was looking for revenge and eventually didn’t get it as Bruiser’s intended stabbing was stopped by Taven. With Brian Milonas not around one has to wonder where he stands in all this. The Pure Gauntlet took up the show’s majority and was a very interesting concept that actually worked quite well. The final match was easily the best of the bouts and Yehi finally got a significant ROH TV win. While it was great some new & fresh faces got a chance to showcase their talents, hopefully the next time ROH does this they’ll either have some more big names and/or make the gauntlet winner the top contender to the Pure title. This wasn’t the most remarkable or must-see episode of ROH, but still a solid one.
