Last week: La Faccion Ingobernable’s Dragon Lee & Kenny King defeated the Soldiers of Savagery to retain the ROH World Tag Team Championship prior to The Foundation overcoming the quartet of World Famous CB, Joe Keys, Eli Isom.
ROH TV Episode 527
October 23, 2021
Baltimore, MD
– Vincent was checking himself out in the mirror, asking all of his allies in The Righteous if “he” would love his new, all-white outfit.
– Quinn McKay recapped tonight’s card focusing on matches featuring members of The Foundation taking on VLNCE UNLTD, starting off with Rhett Titus taking on Tony Deppen.
Tony Deppen vs. Rhett Titus
Tony Deppen noted how much his opponent has accomplished in ROH during his tenure, yet he has out-classed Rhett in less the time with the intent of accomplishing more than Titus could ever dream of. Rhett Titus, however, was excited to test himself against a globe-trotter; ready to push Deppen to his limits.
Tony Deppen attempted to lure Rhett into an early takedown, only to feel himself on the canvas thanks to a head scissors. Working his way out of the head scissors, Deppen playfully tapped Titus on his chest prior to signaling for the test of strength. Though Deppen lost the test of strength, his flexibility allowed him to bridge out of a pinning predicament that resulted in Titus getting swept into an Indian deathlock set up. Rhett quickly grabbed the ropes as the show entered a commercial break.
Deppen found himself in the head scissors again, only to counter by putting Titus in a modified bow & arrow where Rhett was stuck on his stomach. The pace quickened when Titus freed himself from the submission. Coming off the ropes didn’t help Deppen as he ran into a big belly-to-belly suplex that almost ended this bout. Tripping a running Titus with a kick, Deppen executed a subsequent knee drop to the back of Rhett’s head for a two count in his favor. Deppen had a submission victory in mind, going as far as to biting Rhett’s hand when cinching into the seated abdominal stretch. Titus got up with his left shoulder driving its way into Tony’s abdomen. Homicide suddenly appeared, jumping on the apron as Deppen started laying in kicks. Deppen had the senton splash in mind, but hit nothing but knees before the commercial break.
Big forearm connected for Titus, as did the slingshot shoulder tackle. Titus’ shin breaker-belly-to-back suplex combo didn’t put Deppen away. Homicide suddenly threw a chair into the ring. The referee removed the chair as Titus missed a yakuza kick. Knocking Titus out of the ring, Deppen pulled off the somersault dive similar to Homicide’s tope con hilo. Taking a page out of Low Ki’s book was Deppen with the warrior’s way … that gave him a two count!
Deppen kept it up with the pin attempts, only to get his head locked & his body thrown overhead. Titus hit not one, but two yakuza kicks topped by the sheer drop DDT. Deppen shockingly kicked out of Rhett’s follow up pin, only to get caught in a single-leg Boston crab. Homicide was reaching for Deppen to no avail. Throwing another chair saw Homicide distract Titus. Deppen grabbed the chair, bashing Rhett in the stomach as the referee ordered Homicide away. Before Titus could recover, Deppen exploded with the flying knee to knock out Rhett for the three count.
– Brian Zane was by the curtain leading to the entrance, catching up with Rhett Titus who was infuriated as he questioned where The Foundation was to back him up.
– The scene shifted with Brian Zane interviewing Tony Deppen. Deppen answered Zane’s question about why Homicide would intervene by simply stating that he and Homicide are cut from the same cloth: Thriving on the independents where rules weren’t as restricting. VU looks to change the landscape of honor through violence.
– In two weeks it will be Bandido defending the ROH World title against Alex Zayne and new Pure champion Josh Woods putting his title on the line against LSG in a “Championship Edition” edition.
VLNCE UNLTD (Brody King & Chris Dickinson) vs. The Foundation (Jonathan Gresham & Tracy Williams)
Brody King questioned when The Foundation would understand that pure style is going the way of the do-do. Chris Dickinson, however, stated the philosophy of VU is all encompassing even if it means obliterating pure wrestlers.
Tracy Williams noted that the clashing philosophies has created conflict that will see, according to Jonathan Gresham, pure wrestling prevailing.
The Foundation came in hot by attacking their opponents at the sound of the bell, taking the fight to the floor. Chris Dickinson and Jonathan Gresham found themselves as the legal men with Gresham failing to suplex the larger Dickinson; allowing VU to isolate “The Octopus”. Double team back elbow by VU didn’t down Gresham for long, but the former Pure champion was stuck on the wrong part of town. Reversing an Irish whip, Gresham caused Dickinson to hit Brody. Williams tagged in, unleashing a big clothesline. Superplex off Bret’s rope didn’t help Williams win this one heading into the commercial.
“The Dirty Daddy” was now on the receiving end of the opposition’s punishment as The Foundation performed quick tags. When Gresham couldn’t suplex Dickinson, he opted to use an uppercut on Chris’ left arm before they wrenched his legs. Williams went on a stomping session by stepping on both of Dickinson’s legs. Gresham kept the gameplan in tact while antagonizing Brody between attacks on Dickinson. Gresham got a little too cocky, running into a knee to his face courtesy of Chris. King tagged in, drilling Gresham into the canvas. Gresham slipped between King’s legs, hyper-extending the big man’s left leg. Jay Lethal came out after Gresham failed to put King to sleep. Dickinson tagged himself in, landing an enzuguri on Williams to gain a two count leading up to the commercial.
After a double team dropkick-spine buster, VU found themselves cinching in dual submissions. The Foundation freed themselves with Williams locking in the crossface on Dickinson. “The Dirty Daddy” countered by kicking Williams into the rear naked choke. King held Gresham out of the ring as “Hot Sauce” passed out for the referee’s stoppage.
Homicide ran in, mouthing off at Lethal, actually kicking at The Foundation for trying to follow the Code of Honor.
Jay Lethal vs. Homicide
Dey was a clubberin’ at da bell, Tony! Pitching Homicide onto the apron allowed Lethal to not only springboard dropkick Homicide, but also dive on him with the tope three times. Using an eye rake, Homicide knocked Lethal to the floor for the former World champion’s tope con hilo. Lethal followed Homicide into the ring, landing forearms to counter right punches. Homicide avoided a dropkick, only to be tripped into the figure four set up.
Lethal found a fork in Homicide’s boot. Homicide retrieved his fork when he kicked Lethal away, going to stab Lethal, Instead, Homicide pierced the top turnbuckle. Lethal avoided a stabbing, but not the t-bone suplex. Taking off his shirt, Homicide choked & bit Lethal. Reversing the Cop Killa allowed Lethal to super kick Homicide. Deppen suddenly arrived with the chair. Dutch of The Righteous came out of nowhere to body block Deppen down. A stunned Homicide never saw Lethal coming with the Lethal Injection. Lethal made the cover, pinning his old rival.
The Righteous were in full form as Lethal celebrated, giving Jay a standing ovation when he went to leave. Lethal didn’t have a good idea how to feel by the confused look he gave on the way out.
– Next week’s episode will feature Shane Taylor Promotions defending the Six-Man Tag Team Championship against Danhausen, PCO & Sledge, as well as Women’s champion Rok-C teaming with Quinn McKay to battle Max the Impaler & Miranda Alize.
Overall: VU went two-one in an explosive episode that definitely lived up to its premise. Like LFI, VU accepted the “by any means necessary” method for winning as Deppen and Titus’ rather pure grappling bout turned on its figurative head when Homicide arrived and eventually helped Deppen win. The question as to why The Foundation didn’t back up Titus could mean cracks are starting to form in group’s, pun intended, foundation. The tag bout also got a lot of time similar to Titus-Deppen with Lethal apparently learning from what happened earlier by trying to support Gresham-Williams. Though Lethal was there, the brute force of VU allowed them to power through The Foundation’s grappling & teamwork.
The main event didn’t last half as long as its counterparts, but had just as much, if not more intensity than anything seen on this episode and even the ones before it. The little things like Lethal noticing Homicide’s fork was great. Interesting was The Righteous’ involvement and what this means for the future is definitely intriguing. A really strong episode that definitely set VU as the faction to beat right behind the gold-owning LFI with a big question ending the show.
