Welcome to another edition of The ROHbot Report – the only article you need for all the Ring of Honor news you have to know. After an extended break due to the Covid-19 crisis, ROH is back with the beginning of the Pure Championship tournament where sixteen competitors will vie for the chance to become the first Pure titleholder since Bryan Danielson in 2006. ROH has announced the rules for this tournament are as follows:
– This tournament is single elimination.
– Quarterfinal matches have a 15-minute time limit; block semifinals have a 20-minute time limit; block finals have a 30-minute time limit; the tournament final has a one-hour time limit.
– There will be three judges for each match, and time-limit draws will go to a judges’ decision. ROH Director of Operations Gary Juster has been announced as one of the judges.
The rules for Pure matches:
– Every match begins and ends with the Code of Honor handshake.
– Each wrestler has three rope breaks to stop submission holds and pin falls. After a wrestler exhausts his rope breaks, submission and pin attempts on or under the ropes by his opponent are legal.
– Closed-fist punches to the face are not permitted; only open-handed slaps or chops to the face are allowed. Punches to other parts of the body are permitted, excluding low blows. The first use of a closed fist will get a warning, the second will garner a disqualification by the offender.
– As in standard ROH matches, there will be a 20-count on the floor.
– Outside interference will result in automatic termination from the roster for the wrestler that interferes.
– Once a Pure Champion is crowned, the title can change hands via disqualification and count-out.
Pure Championship Tournament Preview
Block A Quarterfinal Match: Jay Lethal vs. Dalton Castle
The only former Pure Championship titleholder in the tournament, Jay Lethal broke away from the ravers known as Special K to become his own man in 2004. Lethal’s choice gave way to him being mentored by Samoa Joe and Jay winning the Pure title from John Walters in 2005. Ironically enough it was Joe that ended Lethal’s Pure title reign, but the former champion never lost what he learned in those title defenses. Lethal would exit ROH in 2006, returning five years later to unknowingly begin his journey of becoming the face of ROH. Like his current tag team partner Jonathan Gresham, Lethal has discovered that winning by any means is the only way nowadays – having no qualms with bending the rules.
Like Nigel McGuinness before him, Lethal may have the mental advantage to utilize the match’s rules to his advantage against one of the most deceptively strong wrestlers on the ROH roster; mutual former ROH World champion Dalton Castle. Castle, like his opponent, saw 2019 as a way to try something different; joining Joe Hendry with the intent of challenging Gresham & Lethal for the gold in 2020. This will mark the fourth time these two have wrestled with all three of their previous encounters involving a championship. Lethal comes into this one 2-1 with their most recent singles match seeing Jay earn the pin fall victory. They should have another fantastic encounter here with Lethal most likely widening his lead over “The Peacock” in this rivalry.
Block A Quarterfinal Match: David Finlay vs. Rocky Romero
International implications will be at the forefront when New Japan’s David Finlay and Rocky Romero do battle in the opening round. Finlay is a fourth generation star who debuted in ROH to much fanfare last year before joining LifeBlood alongside constant partner Juice Robinson. With New Japan’s return to presenting events, Finlay showcased his incredible skills by almost winning the first New Japan USA Cup; falling to KENTA in the finale. Before that, Finlay & Juice dominated New Japan’s Heavyweight Tag Team division.
A tag team expert in his own right, Rocky Romero too has found success in New Japan. “Mr. Azucar” has also done well for himself in Ring of Honor; winning the ROH World Tag Team title in 2004 alongside Ricky Reyes and Alex Koslov nearly a decade later. Though his personality has changed into a more fun-loving guy with a gift for gab, Rocky is still an incredible grappler who can tie his opponent in knots without a second thought. These two have only wrestled twice with both matches happening during the Best of the Super Juniors tournament and Romero standing victorious each time. Considering the growth of Finlay since those nights in 2015 & 2016 respectively, Romero will most likely find himself suffering his first loss to David Finlay.
Block A Quarterfinal Match: Tracy Williams vs. Rust Taylor
One of the most experienced wrestlers to enter this tournament as a fresh face is none other than “The SoCal Kid” Rust Taylor. Though Taylor is a west coast guy, his talents have allowed Rust to travel abroad and wrestle against a plethora of top-tier indie talent including former ROH competitor Tyson Dux and one-third of the current ROH World Six-Man Tag Team champions Flamita. Taylor has specialized in focusing on particular body parts while setting up leg locks and an arm bar that has taken him far enough to attain titles including the NWA Heritage title only a few years into his career.
Taylor has vocalized his belief in patience; understanding that the grind is necessary for success no matter how long it takes to reach the top. Taylor now has the chance to reach a global audience like never before to showcase the talents he’s crafted under the advice of former ROH World champion Bryan Danielson. Taylor’s opponent is a tournament dark horse for the simple reason he’s so unsuspecting, Tracy Williams. The member of LifeBlood doesn’t dress to impress or has a whacky personality, but can wrestle with the best of them – something he proved last year by winning top contender matches and challenging for the ROH World, Tag Team and Television titles. Williams seems to have a chip on his shoulder as of late; discussing his own grind toward championship glory that could culminate by knocking off a highly-anticipated debut in the opening round via either his piledriver or the crossface.
Block A Quarterfinal Match: Silas Young vs. Fred Yehi
“He’s short, angry, & pissed off,” was a phrase that would usually proceed the introduction of Fred Yehi. Once a staple in EVOLVE, Yehi has been doing well for himself across the United States for the last three years by working and even defeating some very recognizable names including former FIP Heavyweight champion Erick Stevens, AEW’s Sammy Guevara, and even overcoming a size disadvantage by stopping Karrion “Killer” Kross. Even in losing efforts Yehi has impressed greatly by taking the likes of Low Ki in MLW, WALTER during the international star’s then-few American appearances, and even Jonathan Gresham. Yehi has perfected the Koji Clutch, but also has incredibly explosive offense & counters in his repertoire including a low dropkick he dubbed the “Nuke”.
This will mark the first time Yehi has both stood in a ROH ring for a televised event, and with Silas Young an opponent. The former two-time ROH World Television champion spent his time before Covid-19 attempting to become the ROH Tag Team champion alongside Josh Woods. But Young knows a lot about Pure Rules; becoming the self-proclaimed “Technician of Honor” before falling to Gresham at “Best in the World” last year in the company’s most recent Pure Rules encounter. In any tournament there is a chance for an upset and considering the talent of Yehi, this could be a great night for the “Savageweight” if he can take advantage of the Pure Rules and force Young to use up all of his rope breaks before cinching in that Koji Clutch.
Block B Quarterfinal Match: Kenny King vs. Josh Woods
Former two-time ROH World Television champion and one-half of the ROH World Tag Team titleholders alongside Rhett Titus almost a decade ago has been very vocal about his goal of becoming a Grand Slam ROH champion by having won every title available. King now gets the chance to prove himself as a worthy champion yet again in ROH while representing La Faccion Ingobernable as his teammates RUSH and Dragon Lee hold the ROH World and TV titles respectively. Though Josh Woods hasn’t reached the level of success of his opponent, Woods has done well in tournament scenarios; becoming the 2017 Top Prospect Tournament winner.
This will mark only the second time these two have wrestled with the first encounter witnessing King successfully defend the TV title against “The Goods” in Woods’ earned title shot following his TPT win. Times have changed a lot since that night almost two years ago. King has returned to his more ruthless ways with a penchant for requesting assistance when need be by valet Amy Rose. Woods spent most of his time late last year & early 2020 focusing on teaming with Silas Young; coming up short in winning the World Tag Team title. This match’s conclusion most likely will come as a result of King’s antics & willingness to cheat that may or may not backfire in a match where his opponent is a jiu-jitsu practitioner who should thrive in a tournament like this one if he can make it past his ungovernable opponent.
Block B Quarterfinal Match: Jonathan Gresham vs. Wheeler Yuta
A former CHIKARA Young Lions Cup trophy holder, Wheeler Yuta spent his fundamental years as a student of grappling; sitting under the learning tree of current WWE Superstar Drew Gulak and a certain lackadaisical AEW standout who once wrestled as “Fire Ant”. Yuta’s time gaining a great base as a great hold-for-hold wrestler will give him a great opportunity to show off his skills in an environment; though he does have the penchant to take to the sky thanks to his body type and peers who he had to contend with on smaller events. Interestingly enough, Wheeler closed out last year with a victory over fellow tournament participant Fred Yehi.
Unfortunately there’s good chance Yuta won’t be even thinking about a rematch Yehi as his opponent is not only one-half of the ROH World Tag Team champions, but also the favorite to win the Pure title. “The Foundation” has been campaigning for a return of purity in wrestling; being a crusader in regards to the restoration of the title unified with the ROH World title fourteen years ago. Gresham has shown his grappling talents over the last few years are second to none with his stature usually being a way in as competitors don’t expect him to be so strong, so evasive, and so adaptable. No matter what Yuta brings to the table it’s hard to believe it’ll be enough to stop Gresham this early in the tournament even though Wheeler comes in with a victory over his opponent from two years ago.
Block B Quarterfinal Match: Matt Sydal vs. Delirious
Very few people know their opponents better than Matt Sydal and Delirious. Entering ROH around the same time in 2004, Sydal and Delirious found themselves almost inseparable including the prior’s first ROH match seeing him defeat the masked man. Sydal’s star rose incredibly quickly as he joined Generation Next after the faction evicted Alex Shelley and even won the ROH World Tag Team Championship alongside Christopher Daniels from The Kings of Wrestling, Chris Hero & Claudio Castagnoli. Though Delirious has gone title-less in his ROH tenure, the supposed grappler with a lizard face has made many greats struggle. Delirious’ first breakthrough moment in ROH came with a World title shot against Bryan Danielson. Their rivalry lasted a majority of 2006 with Delirious coming close to actually earning the ROH World title. While Delirious slowly stepped into another important role in ROH, Sydal entered & left WWE, returned to ROH & Impact, showcased his talents internationally, and, most recently, avoided sure injury in AEW. Though Delirious knows his opponent well, the Pure Rules will most likely play a major role in his inability to do what he couldn’t in 2004: defeat Matt Sydal.
Block B Quarterfinal Match: PJ Black vs. Tony Deppen
Considered one of the best all-around wrestlers going today, Tony Deppen has spent the last few years making waves in such promotions as the defunct CHIKARA and, most recently, Game Changer Wrestling where he ruled as the company’s Extreme champion for almost a year. Deppen has also done well in tournaments; winning the 2020 Synergy Garden State Invitational that aired on FITE TV. Though an avid grappler heralded for his catch-as-catch style when going toe-to-toe with fellow hookers, Deppen is also a very competent striker who has finished many an opponent with his patented Knee Trembler a la William Regal.
On the opposite end of the spectrum in regards to experience & the extent of international knowledge is his opponent in PJ Black. Black has over twenty years of in-ring wars under his belt; having found a nice place in ROH over the past year while passing down his expertise to anyone who would like to work alongside him be it fellow entrant Tracy Williams or someone like the annoying Brian Johnson. Black has also gotten back in the swing of things with wrestling returning to various parts in the world by working in New Japan’s USA branch. This is a pick-’em bout if there ever was one with youth potentially overcoming experience.
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