Last week: Fred Yehi won the first-ever Pure Wrestling Gauntlet series, last defeating Wheeler Yuta.
ROH TV Episode 498
April 3, 2021
Baltimore, MD
After seeing the end result of the first Pure Gauntlet, Quinn McKay caught up with winner Fred Yehi. Yehi felt a little disrespect from Quinn bringing up that the last time Yehi was in a ROH ring he fell to Dak Draper. Yehi was looking beyond the past and now is sky rocketing to the top of ROH’s Pure division.
Danhausen vs. Brian Johnson
Code of Honor was actually followed before they aggressively tied up. Danhausen was not intimated as he was shoved around the ring, his side headlock takeover countered, and Johnson hammerlocking his arm for knee drops. Working his way off the canvas, Danhausen unleashed a running attack in the corner after hip tossing his incoming opponent. Johnson avoided that slingshot German to execute a stungun. Ode to McGuinness with the Tower of London from Johnson didn’t end this one; so “The Mecca” simply choked him on the ropes. Climbing to the top rope, Johnson pulled off a flying clothesline topped by the Mecca Locomotive running clothesline. Unfortunately for Johnson it seemed he hurt his left knee during the flight. Danhausen used Johnson’s mouthing off as a chance to recover and execute with that snap German suplex before the commercial break.
Dey was a clubberin’ in da middle, Tony. Northern lights suplex couldn’t set up Danhausen’s Goodnighthausen. Instead, Danhausen had to German suplex “The Mecca” again for a two count. Dumping Johnson to the floor, Danhausen had a hurricarana in mind; jumping off the apron to pull off the maneuver. As Danhausen hoisted Johnson in the air for Goodnighthausen, Brian’s boots hit the referee in his face. With no one to count down a sure three count, Johnson was able to recover and trip Danhausen into a rope-assisted roll up. The referee caught the illegal activity, but not the low blow as Johnson was pushed toward the now-cowering official to avoid getting squashed in the corner. Danhausen couldn’t stop the follow-up three count after the low blow and the subsequent Process facebuster.
Brian Johnson grabbed the microphone to proclaim it’s about time that “The Mecca” era begins and the locker room is now on noticed, “That it’s ‘Mecca’ versus everybody!” Mark Briscoe – who was on commentary for this bout – got some words from Johnson on Brian’s way back up the aisle.
Johnathan Gresham revealed that on ROH TV episode 500 it’ll be himself defending the Pure title against none other than his fellow Foundation member Jay Lethal. Lethal was just as excited for the two to collide again to determine who is truly the best between them.
LSG felt that he needed to remind Eli Isom of a day that happened over a year ago when they collided for the most recent time. Instead of that night being their moment of ascension, tonight arrives with that opportunity in this new era of Honor. LSG refuses to be denied as a Television title contender – the new gatekeeper of honor.
Eli Isom felt so excited coming off his recent win over Rey Horus. Reflecting on the days when he was just a ring boy when LSG was teaming with Coast 2 Coast, Isom was ready to accept the challenge of plowing through the gatekeeper of ROH. In Isom’s opinion the winner of this match is one match away from challenging for TV title gold and it’ll be Eli.
LSG vs. Eli Isom
The opening exchange actually saw both pull their opponent into a crucifix pinning combination. LSG got a little too aggressive by double slapping Isom’s chest when they ended up in the ropes during a collar & elbow tie-up. The pace quickened with Isom pulling off a flying arm drag to set up the arm bar. Dropkicking LSG into the ropes, Isom went for a running attack. LSG sidestepped him, dropkicking Isom to the floor when Eli went for a counter springboard maneuver. LSG was keeping it simple with kicks & punches both in the ring & out. LSG had the cravat cinched until Isom elbowed his way out of the submission. Before Isom could follow up he was taken down by a float-over neck breaker prior to the commercial break.
Working over the upper back & neck of Isom allowed LSG to keep the momentum in his favor. Eli had to use all of his strength to free himself from the cravat, executing a neck breaker of his own. Isom caugth LSG coming in with the northern lights suplex before pulling off a spinning belly-to-back suplex. LSG rolled out of the ring to avoid a pin, but left himself open for a springboard moonsault. Isom pitched LSG back into the ring to execute a straightjacket German suplex to gain a two count. Isom came running, getting caught in Rocket Bye Baby topped by Saintsplosion … to give LSG a near fall prior to the commercial break!
LSG climbed the ropes, only for Isom to met him during his ascent. Using a head-butt to knock Isom back, LSG came off the top with the cross body block. Isom rolled through the maneuver, executing emerald fusion to earn a two count. LSG, once again, rolled out of the ring. Isom speared LSG off the apron as body bodies collided with the floor. They got up brawling with LSG shoving Isom into the barricades. Isom somehow made it back into the ring before the twenty count, but LSG was ready to initiate a forearm exchange that resulted in LSG hooking Isom for the Starjammer. Eli flipped out of the attack, executing The Promise to pin LSG.
Overall: Though ROH is coming off a major pay-per-view (hopefully we get the official fallout next week), ROH TV is focusing on its 500th episode and where the future title contenders stand. Honestly it was quite shocking Danhausen lost the rubber match consider his popularity. Johnson is a fine wrestler & a beast on the microphone, so it’ll be interesting how ROH handles him and his quest to become one of ROH’s recognizable faces.
The main event got a lot of time (as seen with two commercial breaks). Isom and LSG went all out and both looked so much better coming out of this match than they did coming in. Isom definitely has to be one big match away from challenging for the TV title, while LSG has to rebuild yet again. It would be nice to see LSG get into a rivalry with a veteran that could really help elevate him. Good stuff all around this week with the spotlight on fresh faces & those who have the potential of going up the ROH hierarchy in the next few years.
