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THE BOUNCERS VS. OGK, PURE WRESTLING TITLE BOUT & MORE: RING OF HONOR TV REPORT

 

Quinn McKay welcomes us to a most unusual episode of Ring of Honor.  She tells us that ROH Pure Champion Jonathan Gresham will be defending his title this week against unranked Joe Keys.  Gresham is a big proponent of the ROH Dojo and, in fact, sanctioned a gauntlet match at the dojo with the winner receiving a title shot.  Keys knocks his intro video out of the park, honoring his late trainer RJ Meyer.  Keys thanks Gresham for the opportunity and even further thanks him for believing in the men involved in the gauntlet match.

Pure Champion Jonathan is next.  I can't do justice to how believable Gresham is as a serious pro wrestler.  Gresham truly believes he is the good guy.  And, when he speaks of his quest to clean up wrestling, you can't argue his logic.  Great intro.

Ian Riccaboni and Caprice Coleman are on the call.  They're joined by the Mile High Magnum, Dak Draper.  Draper points out that Keys has helped train him in the dojo.

ROH Pure Championship: Jonathan Gresham (ROH Pure Champion) vs. Joe Keys

Code of Honor adhered to.  Lockup, headlock by Keys.  Gresham escapes but Keys keeps getting the headlocked re applied until Gresham hooks a head scissors.  Keys tries to escape and finally does but Gresham keeps getting the re application.  Keys needs to use his first rope break.  Lockup, Keys applies a wristlock takedown and gets a 2 count, Gresham bridges out and reverses the wristlock.  Keys smartly uses his position to place Gresham into the ropes, forcing Gresham to use his first break.  They trade shoulderblocks until Keys finally puts the champion down as we go to commercial.

We're back at the 7:15 mark and the two are exchanging forearms.  Gresham with a legsweep into an armdrag.  Big armtwist by the champion, he pounds away at the shoulder.  Knee to the midsection by Keys but Gresham tugs the injured arm.  Keys reverses a whip into a tilt a whirl suplex.  Keys eats a boot to the face.  Gresham with an armtwist and a kick to the shoulder.  Gresham tries for a small package but Keys blocks it into a suplex for 2.  

Ten minutes have elapsed.  We have a 1 hour time limit.

Deadlift German by Keys and Gresham immediately snags a kimura attempt.  Keys counters with a back breaker.  Boston Crab by Keys and Gresham needs his second rope break.  Diving head butt by the challenger and Gresham breaks the pin attempt with his third rope break.  Bear in mind Gresham used zero ropes breaks in the championship tournament.  The two exchange palm strikes.  Lariat by Keys for 2.  Keys misses a diving head butt and Gresham gets a 2 count.  Hiptoss by Gresham, he turns it into a hammerlock and Keys immediately taps out.

WINNER: Jonathan Gresham (retains championship)

THE OGK is in the back and Matt Taven apologizes to Mike Bennett for the injury at Final Battle.  Bennett promises to be OK for the main event.  Bennett comes off as a serious star.

We are "treated" to an intro by Danhausen.  You can't say this guy isn't all in.  He makes fun of the Mecca Brian Johnson.  Johnson rebutts him.  Johnson is another one who comes off as so believable.  His anger is that he's worked his tail off while Danhausen got hired off of a hashtag.  If you ever get to watch Johnson's Facebook Live chats, DO IT. The guy cuts a non stop promo on everyone in the room.  They will meet on Feb 3 on Honor Club and YouTube.

We have pre match comments from The Bouncers (Brawler Milonas & The Beer City Bruiser).  Bruiser reminds Milonas that it's all about winning!  The OGK talks about their friendship with the Bouncers.  Bennett seems completely focused on the ROH Tag Team Titles.

The Bouncers vs. The OGK (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett)

Code of Honor adhered to.  Milonas and Bennett will start us off .  Bennett with a headlock and Milonas throws him off.  Forearms by Bennett.  Bennett with a shoulderblock.  He's favoring the ankle injured at Final Battle.  Headlock by Bennett, Taven tags in and the OGK hits a double dropkick. Bennett goes for a tope but is blocked by Bruiser.  Bruiser is adamant that the Bouncers are not friends with the OGK.  Miloans bullies Taven into the corner and tags in the Bruiser who nails a dropkick for 2.  Taven tries a series of moves that Bruiser is able to shove him off of.  Bennett tags in and Bruiser nails a cross body block.  Milonas tags in.  Milonas misses a charge and the OGK puts him down with a schoolboy dropkick.  Superkick by Taven.  Bennett landed on the ankle wrong and is injured.  Bruiser comes in and hits a DDT.  Milonas is not happy with the Bruiser's lack of sportsmanship here, coming in illegally.  Bruiser with an elbow on the ankle into an anklelock.  

Ian reminds us how important this match is in the ROH Tag Team Rankings as we go to commercial.

We're back and Bennett is finally able to get the tag over to Taven.  Taven works over both Bouncers and nails the Flight of the Conqueror.  Frog Splash on Bruiser for 2, Milonas breaks it up. Russian Leg Sweep by Taven.  Bruiser blocks the Trend Setter and hits a Samoan Drop.  Enziguiri by Taven, Milonas catches him with a side slam for 2, broken up by Bennett.  OGK with a series of kick on Miloans, he won't go down and throws them both away.  Sleeper by Taven, Bennett kicks Milonas and he falls back on Taven for 2.  The Bouncers attempt the last call but Taven gets out of the way.  Taven slaps the Trend Setter on Bruiser and Bruiser taps out.

WINNERS: OGK

We get a handshake and then Vincent comes out with Bateman and Veda Von Scott.  By rules, he and Taven can't touch.  Vincent calls out Bruiser for toasting his opponents.  He asks Bruiser a series of questions about celebrating failure.  He tells the Bruiser that he has no direction.  He's gone from partner to partner and reminds Milonas it took him 18 years to get here and Mike Bennett gets to stroll back in to ROH in his position.  He tells Milonas that his so called friends Taven and Bennett never once helped him.  Vincent tells the Bouncers to think about it.

Bruiser nails Taven with a beer bottle and faceplants Taven with a DDT.  Milonas is shocked as we go off the air.

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