ROH TV Recap: Beer City Bruiser Snaps On OGK; Jonathan Gresham Successfully Defends Pure Title

February 2, 2021

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“Ring of Honor Wrestling” #489
Airdate: Weekend of Jan. 30, 2021

Host Quinn McKay welcomed viewers to the show and explained that Joe Keys recently won a four-man gauntlet match among ROH Dojo students on “ROH Week By Week” on YouTube to earn a shot at Pure Champion Jonathan Gresham on this episode.

Joe Keys sit-down interview

Jonathan Gresham sit-down interview

ROH Pure Title Match: Champion Jonathan Gresham vs. Joe Keys
(60-minute time limit)

Dak Draper, who recently entered the Pure division, joined Ian Riccaboni and Caprice Coleman on commentary for this match between ROH Dojo coach Gresham and his student.

Gresham caught Keys in a headscissors, and Keys quickly used the first of his three allotted rope breaks. Keys got behind Gresham and sat him on the middle rope, and the referee ruled it as a rope break for Gresham. Gresham went to work on Keys’ left arm. Keys came back with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and an inside cradle into a standing suplex for a near fall. Keys hit a German suplex into a bridge for another two count.

Keys applied a single-leg crab, and Gresham used his second rope break. Keys followed with a flying headbutt off the middle rope; Gresham used his third and final rope break to break up the pin attempt. After nailing Gresham with a discus clothesline, Keys went for another flying headbutt, but this time Gresham moved out of the way and Keys made a crash landing. Gresham applied a hammerlock to Keys’ left arm, and Keys tapped out at 12:41.

Keys, a heavy underdog in this match, had a strong showing and gave his teacher several anxious moments.

Matt Taven checks on Mike Bennett at trainer’s table

Danhausen sit-down interview

Brian Johnson sit-down interview

The Bouncers (Beer City Bruiser & Brawler Milonas) pre-match comments

The OGK (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) pre-match comments

The Bouncers (Beer City Bruiser & Brawler Milonas) vs. The OGK (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett)
(20-minute time limit)

After OGK knocked Milonas out of the ring with a double dropkick, they set up for a dive but Bruiser stood in their way on the apron. Bruiser reminded Milonas that Taven and Bennett, who go way back with Milonas on the New England independent wrestling scene, aren’t his friends during the match. Bennett leapfrogged Milonas, but he landed awkwardly on his injured right ankle and was in obvious pain. Bruiser nailed Taven in the face with a stiff right hand and then went to work on Bennett’s ankle.

Bennett eventually tagged in Taven, who hit Flight of the Conqueror on both Bouncers. After the teams exchanged a series of near falls, Bruiser missed a frog splash on Taven. Bennett speared Bruiser, and Taven locked on The Trendsetter. Bruiser tapped out at 11:56.

After the match, The Bouncers were about to do the toast of honor with OGK, but The Righteous (Vincent, Bateman and Vita VonStarr) came out to the stage. ROH officials have issued an edict that Taven and Vincent are not allowed to touch each other at ROH-sanctioned events, but Vincent made it clear that he would stay on the stage.

Vincent tried to get in the heads of The Bouncers. He said that while Bruiser has been working hard for years to rise up the ranks in ROH, Bennett was allowed to just walk back into the company after being gone for five years. Vincent said that it took Milonas 18 years to get to ROH, and Taven and Bennett could’ve helped him but they didn’t. He told Bruiser he needs to capitalize on his opportunities. With that, Bruiser took the beer bottle he was holding and smashed it over Taven’s head. Then he DDT’d Bennett and walked away, leaving a stunned Milonas behind.

NEXT WEEK

— La Facción Ingobernable (RUSH, Dragon Lee, La Bestia del Ring) and Flip Gordon vs. Brody King, PCO and the Briscoes

— Pure Rules Match: Tracy Williams vs. The World Famous CB

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