Last week: Bandido overcame Bateman to advance in the Survival of the Fittest tournament before Tony Deppen successfully defended the ROH World Television title against Dragon Lee and Tracy Williams with the latter taking the fall.
ROH TV Episode 510
June 26, 2021
Baltimore, MD
– Quinn McKay welcomed everyone to the show before recapping how Demonic Flamita, Rhett Titus, Bandido, Brian Johnson, Eli Isom, and Chris Dickinson advanced to the Survival of the Fittest finale. But first it’s Matt Taven taking on Dutch of The Rightous.
Matt Taven vs. Dutch w/ The Righteous
Bateman spoke for Dutch in the pre-match promo to simply state that, “…death walks,” tonight. No waiting around for Matt Taven as he entered the ring and ran into a series of clubbing forearms. Taven went for a series of kicks in hopes of setting up a DDT, but got tossed across the ring instead. Recovering and flipping over Dutch’s incoming body, Taven’s running start for something off the ropes resulted in the former World champion taking a body block a la Vader prior to being choked on the ropes. Taven attempted to rally back with a dropkick that only angered the big man; getting slapped down in the process heading into the commercial break.
Dutch had clotheslined Taven out of the ring, leaving him open to being choked by Vita Von Starr. Maria Kanellis-Bennett came to the ring to demand Von Starr to leave. Maria declared Vita was now out of the Women’s Championship tournament as Dutch hooked Taven for something in the ring. Taven freed himself, only to be pulled into a suplex attempt. Matt flipped out of the suplex attempt, roundhouse kicking Dutch to the floor for a tope at ringside. Flight of the Conqueror connected for Taven, setting up the frog splash in the ring that shockingly ended in a one count in Matt’s favor.
Dutch seemed almost euphoric as he got up and countered the Beautiful Disaster with a clothesline attempt. Dutch swung himself into the Climax. Vincent suddenly arrived on the graphics stage so Bateman & Vita could attack the incoming Taven as he tried to get his hands on Vincent. The referee signaled for the bell as Mike Bennett ran out to unsuccessfully save his best friend. Vincent watched as security separated everyone without him laying a finger on anyone.
– When the show returned, Vincent was mocking his old friend before stating no one will care about Matt when Vincent’s done with him. A dejected Taven collapsed in the ring as Vincent reminded him that all Taven cares about being cared about.
Survival of the Fittest Finale (Elimination Match): ROH World Tag Team champion Rhett Titus vs. Demonic Flamita vs. Chris Dickinson vs. Eli Isom vs. Bandido vs. Brian Johnson
It was announced that the winner would get their World title shot at “Best in the World”. Almost everyone had a pre-taped promo. Flamita declared all he cared about was embarrassing Bandido. Brian Johnson cut a promo on his way to the ring; stating his joy about not having to wrestle in front of people who don’t know anything saying someone is better than him. Johnson actually did his own in-ring introduction before Eli Isom came out.
Isom declared he worked his whole life for this moment: the chance to wrestle for the ROH World Championship. Chris Dickinson proclaimed no one could stop him after finally making it to ROH – the “Dirty Daddy’s” chance to bring the gold to VLNCE UNLTD. Bandido also had Flamita on the mind, but also his goal of winning the tournament to prove his superiority over his old partner. “The Professional” Rhett Titus wanted everyone to know he’s also fighting for his family and his need to win is rooted in his need to give them the best just like he wants to be the best ROH has to offer.
It was Bandido and Flamita colliding at the start as they traded strikes and counters until Flamita speared his fellow masked man to fight out of the ring. Chris Dickinson and Rhett Titus entered, trying to side headlock the other. Big chop from Dickinson allowed him to go for a springboard maneuver. Instead, Dickinson slung himself into a power slam. Kicking out of Titus’ pin attempt, Dickinson left the ring as Isom entered to set up the Tag champ for some pinning combinations. Titus used the momentum of an Irish whip to somersault atop Dickinson. Brian Johnson shoulder blocked Isom off his feet, only to be thrown across the ring with an arm drag and a back body drop. Isom used a moonsault to wipe out Dickinson and Titus at ringside as Bandido kicked Johnson to the floor. Bandido scaled the ropes, only to be cut off by Flamita. The masked men were fighting on the top when Bandido muscled Flamita in position for a slam. Bandido used a moonsault power slam on Flamita to the floor atop every opponent!
Flamita recovered quickly, going for the 619 on Johnson. Bandido caught Flamita running with a cradle to pin Demonic for the first elimination.
Flamita was incensed, putting Bandido through the timekeeper’s table via a power bomb! As if that wasn’t enough, Flamita wore Bandido out with a chair. Rey Horus ran out to protect Bandido as security ushered Flamita to the back.
During the commercial break, Bandido seemed to be unable to continue; though he wouldn’t leave. In the ring, Isom got tricked into the fisherman’s suplex as Johnson did something like pulling Eli’s knee pad down as a distraction. Johnson was mouthing off including insulting Eli’s hometown of Indiana. Isom ducked a clothesline to overhead northern lights suplex. Before Isom could follow up, Johnson countered with the Tower of London into the Process. Isom fell out of the ring before he could be pinned; allowing Dickinson to come in and get dropkicked by an entering Titus. Johnson ran into Titus’ belly-to-belly suplex that ended in Rhett failing to pin his loudmouth opposition. Johnson stopped Titus’ follow up attack to clothesline the Tag champ as a set up for The Process. Rhett countered the maneuver, landing a dropkick-big boot-flying knee drop combo to pin & eliminate Johnson.
Dickinson ran and immediately went after Titus’ knee. Dragon screw leg whips & chop blocks set up Dickinson’s knee bar that allowed him to submit Titus for his first elimination of the match.
Bandido pulled himself into the ring to be pounced by the “Dirty Daddy”. Bandido’s left arm was loose & limp; making it an easy target. Isom actually pulled Bandido to the ropes to save him from an arm bar, angering Dickinson to the point he put the boots to Eli prior to refocusing on Bandido. Dickinson was systematically picking Bandido apart with arm breakers. But Dickinson allowed for Bandido to come off the ropes for some blistering kicks. Bandido eventually slung himself into the arm bar. Once again it was Isom pulling Bandido to safety. This gave Eli the chance to trade forearms with Dickinson. Hoisting Dickinson into the air didn’t help him as Isom fell over the top. Dickinson was looking to choke Isom out from the apron when Bandido kicked the “Dirty Daddy” on the back of his head; leaving Chris open to the 21-Plex and a pin fall.
With it down to Bandido and Eli Isom they began this final part of the finale trading forearms. Isom exploded off the ropes with a clothesline topped by the Sidewinder … to gain a near fall!
Before Bandido could get up, Isom cinched in the Rings of Saturn. Bandido made it to the ropes with his feet; upsetting Isom. Bandido blocked the Promise, spinning Eli into the X-Knee. Isom was in prime position for the 21-Plex, but his arm gave out on him. Bandido somehow kicked out of a lateral press following the air raid crash. Isom catching a flying Bandido with the tilt-a-whirl backbreaker also ended in a near fall for Eli. Isom let Bandido get up, only to kick him in position for the Promise. Bandido blocked the maneuver, catching a running Isom in a modified version of the Rings of Saturn where Bandido used his legs to pin Eli’s arms behind his back. Almost lifeless, Isom tapped out to give Bandido the victory and a World title shot come “Best in the World”!
– Next week it’ll be Jonathan Gresham defending the Pure title against Fred Yehi and the Fight on the Farm between The Briscoes.
Overall: After several weeks of action, it all came down to this moment where a new Survival of the Fittest champion & top contender to the ROH World title was crowned. The match was fantastic with a nice bit of storytelling including Flamita’s fury almost costing Bandido the entire match, Johnson & Titus’ runs that really weakened a lot of the opposition, Isom trying to make his last non-eliminated opponent Bandido by costing the dominant Dickinson when it came down to the final three, and Bandido showing the heart of a future World champion. Definitely a fantastic end to a fun tournament with the winner setting up a rematch on the big stage.
The David versus Goliath affair that was Taven-Dutch also greatly entertained with Dutch looking incredibly impressive in his first ROH outing. Though we didn’t get an official ruling (most likely Taven winning by disqualification due to interference), the whole thing worked with Taven being overwhelmed yet again by Vincent. It’ll be interesting to see how ROH decides to end this feud and whether or not it will involve all The Righteous against Taven & Bennett or just Taven-Vincent yet again. A really strong episode of ROH TV this week culminating in a must-see SotF finale.
