Will The Wrestler again defeat The Decoder?

After successfully defending the title on Honor Club, Katsuyori Shibata defends the ROH Pure Championship on TNT against Wheeler Yuta!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Hook VS Rocky Romero; Hook wins.
• Kris Statlander VS Diamante; Kris wins.
• The Kingdom VS Duke Davis & Dannon Jones; The Kingdom wins.
• ROH Pure Championship: Katsuyori Shibata VS Wheeler Yuta; Yuta wins and becomes the new ROH Pure Champion.

PLAY BY PLAY

Hook VS Rocky Romero!

The Cold Hearted, Handsome Devil is the FTW Champion, Azucar is the CMLL World Historic Middleweight Champion. They’re both mutual friends of Orange Cassidy, but will this stay friendly here tonight? Or will one champion look to overwhelm the other?

The bell rings and fans rally up for Rocky. Rocky and Hook step up, circle, and they tie up. Rocky waistlocks, Hook switches, but Rocky wrenches and headlocks for the takeover. Hook headscissors, Rocky kips free, and fans cheer. The two reset, they feel things out, and then Rocky wrenches to a wristlock and snapmare. Rocky floats, slaps Hook around, then gives us some Latino Heat. Fans are torn but Hook keeps his cool. The two reset again, tie up, and Hook wrenches to a hammerlock, a trip, then floats to a facelock. Rocky fights up and Hook headlocks, spins, hammerlocks, headlocks, spins again and hits the takeover!

Fans fire up as Hook also has the double wristlock. Rocky fights up, wrenches, but Hook wrenches. Rocky wrenches, Hook wrenches and wrenches, but Rocky CHOPS him down! Rocky hauls Hook up to CHOP him against ropes! Fans “WOO~!” as Rocky CHOPS again. Hook turns things around to CHOP! And CHOP! Rocky turns things around to fake a chop and ROCK Hook with a right! Fans boo but Rocky whips. Hook reverses, Rocky slides under, and Hook runs, but flips through the hip toss! Hook waistlocks, Rocky fights it, so Hook has the Gotch for a GUT WRENCH! Fans fire up as Hook stands Rocky up.

Rocky fights the suplex, Hook keeps trying. Hook CLUBS Rocky, suplexes, but Rocky slips free and shoves. Hook ducks ‘n ‘dodges but so does Rocky, and DOUBLE LARIATS take both men down! Fans fire up while Hook flounders to ropes. Hook stands and fans fire up as he stalks Rocky. Hook waistlocks and deadlifts for a GERMAN SUPLEX! Rocky flounders a bit more, Hook stalks him but Rocky goes to the apron. Hook follows and fans rally again. Hook scoops but Rocky fights with elbows! Rocky ROCKS Hook, Hook ROCKS Rocky! Rocky JUMP KNEES! And then APRON SUPLEXES! Hook flops to the floor while fans are torn!

Fans rally for Rocky as he aims, and DIVING DOUBLE STOMPS Hook on the floor! Rocky drags Hook up, and scoops again. Rocky POSTS Hook as Rampage goes picture in picture!

Rocky gives more Latino Heat but the ref reprimands. Rocky drags Hook up, puts him back in the ring, and Rocky storms up on Hook to drop a knee! Cover, TWO! Rocky is annoyed, but he drags Hook back up. Rocky puts Hook in a corner and swings, btu Hook dodges the chop to CHOP! And CHOP! But Rocky kicks low to then put Hook up top. Rocky climbs up, brings Hook to the top, and hits a SUPERPLEX! Both men writhe but Rocky crawls after Hook to have a chinlock. Rampage returns to single picture and the fans rally up. Hook throws body shots, but Rocky knees low! Rocky whips Hook to a corner, then runs in to clothesline!

Rocky gets the Forever Clotheslines going! Rocky gets three-ever, but Hook stops Rocky for a CORNER EXPLODER! Fans fire up, a standing count starts, but Hook is up first. Hook TOSSES Rocky with a judo throw! Then he runs in to clothesline at the corner! Hook fires body shots from all sides, then he HEADBUTTS! Hook reels Rocky in, NORTHERN LIGHTS! Bridging cover, TWO! Hook still has the wrists, and he RIPCORDS to a fireman’s carry! Fans fire up, but Rocky slips free to TOSS Hook out! Rocky gets Hook in the ropes to KICK! Fans duel as Rocky goes up, GUILLOTINE DOUBLE STOMPS! Cover, TWO!

Hook survives and Rocky is shocked! Rocky eggs Hook on and aims from a corner. Hook rises, Rocky runs in, SLICED BREAD! Cover, TWO!! Hook survives and Rocky is furious! The fans rally, Rocky stands Hook up but Hook hits an STO! A standing count starts again, but Rocky is up before Hook. Rocky stands Hook up but Hook CHOPS! Rocky SOBATS, cravats, SLICED BREAD- NO, Hook stops it for REDRUM!! Rocky is caught, Rocky is fading! He’s OUT! Hook wins!

Winner: Hook, by submission

The FTW Champion brings down the CMLL World Historic Welterweight Champion down! Will this lead to Hook heading for international competition?

Wheeler Yuta speaks.

“Everybody loves Bryan Danielson. Everybody loves Jon Moxley. Everybody loves Claudio Castagnoli. Nobody likes me, and I don’t care. Y’know why? Because those guys respect me. Those guys saw something in me and they molded me into the man that I am today.” Yuta has lost a lot of sleep over the last 230 something days since Shibata took the ROH Pure Championship. That title was Yuta’s identity, it meant everything. But now, Yuta isn’t just some “pure wrestler.” He’s a POS little pr*ck and he am going to beat Shibata into the ground! Shibata took Yuta’s title. An eye for an eye might make the whole world blind, but headbutt for a headbutt might just take Shibata out for good.

Yuta vows to send Shibata back to Japan in worse shape than he’s ever been in! He will kick Shibata’s head in, knock his teeth down his throat, and make sure that Shibata never comes back for the Pure Championship ever again! The Decoder wants to break The Wrestler, but will he be the one getting cracked?

Kris Statlander VS Diamante!

The Galaxy’s Greatest is now the former TBS Champion after Julia Hart won the Triple Threat at Full Gear. But she isn’t going to let that stop her, she’ll just fight her way back up. Will Kris regain momentum in the Fall? Or will the Cuban Diamond break through to the next level?

The bell rings and the two circle. They tie up, go around, and Kris wrenches to wristlock. Diamante rolls, kip sup and wrenches to a wristlock. Kris cartwheels, wrenches, wristlocks, and fans cheer. Diamante wrenches to YANK the arm again and again! Diamante grinds the arm, but Kris rolls, wrenches and arm-drags! The two stand off and the fans fire up again. Kris and Diamante reset, feel things out, and they knuckle lock. Diamante trips Kris, covers, TWO as Kris gets an arm up. Diamante puts it down to cover, TWO as Kris gets the other! Diamante pushes that arm down, TWO as Kris bridges up! So Diamante jumps on her, but Kris stays up!

Fans fire up as Kris holds firm, even as Diamante jumps again. Diamante hops off to CHOP Kris in the stomach! The bridge falls, Diamante taunts Kris, but Kris hits a headlock takeover. Diamante headscissors, Kris moves around and headstands to pop free and basement dropkick! Fans fire up, Kris watches Diamante go to a corner, and she runs in. Diamante runs at Kris, Kris whips her away and runs her over! Fans rally as Kris whips again, but Diamante slips out of the scoop to shove. Kris ducks, whips and scoops this time, but Diamante RANAS her away! Diamante runs in but Kris pops her up for a POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO!

Fans rally as Kris stalks Diamante, but Mercedes Martinez makes her way out here. Kris runs in to UPPERCUT Diamante, then goes side to side. She sees Mercedes and hesitates, but still Kris runs to BOOT WASH Diamante! Kris says she’s watching Mercedes, and the OG Badass says she’s just watching. Kris goes back to Diamante as Rampage goes picture in picture.

Kris whips Diamante corner to corner, but Diamante reverses. Diamante avoids the up ‘n’ over to CLOBBER Kris from behind! Diamante stomps away on Kris, digs her boots in, but lets off as the ref counts. Diamante soaks up the heat, distracts the ref, and Mercedes gets a cheap shot in! Diamante drags Kris up to cravat and throws some knees! Diamante snapmares Kris down, clamps on a chinlock and grinds her down. Kris endures, fights up, and she throws body shots. Diamante CLUBS away on Kris, then drags her down. Diamante scrapes her sole off Kris’ face, then runs to basement dropkick! Cover, TWO!

Diamante is annoyed, but she CHOKES Kris on the ropes! The ref counts, Diamante lets off at 4, but the ref watches Mercedes this time. Diamante knocks Kris down, then drags her into a straitjacket stretch. Kris endures, fights up, and throws body shots to get free. Diamante throws Kris down by her hair! The ref reprimands but Diamante stands Kris up to ROCK her with a forearm. Kris goes to a corner, Diamante whips corner to corner but Kris goes up and over this time. Diamante runs in to wheelbarrow, but Kris turns that into a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO, and Rampage goes to break!

Rampage returns and Diamante fights up to put the straitjacket back on Kris. But Kris arm-drags free! Diamante ends up in a corner, Kris runs in, but Diamante OVERHEAD SUPLEXES! Cover, TWO! Mercedes and Diamante are both frustrated but Diamante drags Kris up to fire off forearms. Kris fires off shots, Diamante CHOPS but Kris throws another forearm! Kris runs, into a wheelbarrow, victory FACEBUSTER! Diamante SLAPS Kris, SLAPS her again, and SLAPS her! But Kris backslides Diamante, TWO!! Diamante UPPERCUTS, then cravats, ASAI- NO, Kris blocks it! Tuck and- NO, Diamante victory rolls! TWO!! Kris has it, TWO!!

Diamante ducks a kick, rolls Kris, TWO! Diamante ROCKS Kris, ROCKS her again, and runs, into a SNAP POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! Mercedes is furious as Kris suplexes Diamante, but Diamante SATELLITE DDTS! Mercedes says keep going! ASAI DDT! Cover, TWO!! Kris survives and Diamante is furious! Mercedes has her focus, and Diamante SLAPS Kris again! Diamante says to stay down! She SLAPS Kris again! And again! Kris stands, Diamante SLAPS her again! Diamante runs, and LARIATS! Diamante drags Kris up, runs, but Kris DISCUS LARIATS! Cover, KRIS WINS!

Winner: Kris Statlander, by pinfall

But Mercedes attacks! Fans boo as the OG Badass and Diamante beat Kris down! Diamante gets a HEEL HOOK while Mercedes CLUBS away! But wait! Here comes Willow Nightingale! The Babe with the Power has Kris’ back and gets her out of there! Mercedes dares Willow to do something, will Willow & Kris definitely deal with the bullies soon enough?

Daniel Garcia speaks.

“It was kinda nice not getting on an airplane today. I drove in, it’s about three hours from Buffalo, where I live, where I’m from. It’s a very familiar drive to me, it’s a drive I’ve done a bunch of times doing independent shows up in Pittsburgh. Back then, every match felt like the biggest match of my life. And that’s kinda what it feels like these past couple of weeks here in AEW. I’m put in this Continental Classic tournament, everybody in this tournament is coming off of some big wins, they’re coming in with momentum. Except for me, I’m coming off of three losses. One to MJF, one to Andrade, and one to Miro.

“And I’d be lying if I said my confidence isn’t at an all time low coming into this tournament. I wish I could say it wasn’t, because like I said, it’s the biggest tournament in wrestling. They’re saying this is the greatest tournament in wrestling. And I wish my confidence was higher coming into this. But I see a bunch of people talking, saying that I’m just in this tournament to eat pins. Just to be used as fodder for the top guys in this tournament. And do you know how that would feel for someone to say that about you? It kinda makes me feel like a loser. I just want to prove that I’m not. I’m not a loser.” Will Red Death be able to show everyone that he belongs in the Continental Classic?

The Kingdom VS Duke Davis & Dannon Jones!

Mike Bennett has everyone hush, even Dasha. He has a question: Who is ready to celebrate No Neck November? Well, sadly, someone who is not here to celebrate is Roderick Strong. The fans boo, and Bennett agrees, they’re just as upset. Last week, Action Andretti tried to cripple Roddy! Literally! Now a lesser man wouldn’t have survived, but Roderick is a HERO! And he proved that sometimes, heroes don’t wear capes, they wear neck braces! #NECKSTRONG! And Roddy wanted us to know that he is more determined than ever to let his best friend, Adam Cole- “ADAAM~!” NO! Don’t do that! He’s not your best friend!

Matt Taven has Bennett calm down. And while No Neck November is almost over, do not worry. They plan to #NeckTheHalls all holiday season! And then they’ll ring in a #NeckStrongNewYear! But while staying the obvious, Taven will get to the point: MJF is the Devil. Because if that idiot was here right now, he’d probably something stupid like, “The Devil has arrived in Philadelphia!” Bennett says no, that’s the wrong place. Oh, right. Taven says MJF would never show up in Pittsburgh, either. But every week, this Melvin says no one is on the level- “Of the Devil!” SEE! Even these idiots knew MJF IS The Devil!

So Taven will make this very, very clear to MJF. MJF has a fraudulent title on his shoulder! The Kingdom are the former FOUR-TIME tag team champions, and two of those times, they were ROH World Tag Team Champions! They want what’s rightfully theirs! “He is I and I am him, and IIIIIII’M MATT TAVEN!” And they are The Kingdom! Fans boo but Taven tells the big dummies in the ring to take care of the mic. Taven tosses it to Duke Davis and BOOTS him down! The bell rings, Bennett mule kicks Dannon Jones, then ROLLING ELBOWS! Tag to Taven, Mike whips Dannon into a BOOT! Mike ROLLING ELBOWS, Taven MISSILE DROPKICKS!

Fans boo as Taven says he’s Matt Taven. Duke returns but into double kicks, an ENZIGURI and a fireman’s carry. DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! JUST THE TIP of the knee! Dannon hobbles up but into the KICK OF THE KING! And then Mike pops Duke up to FOREARM! PILEDRIVER to the ramp! Taven hits Dannon with THE CLIMAX, and then the FROG SPLASH! Cover, Kingdom wins!

Winners: The Kingdom, by pinfall

They took more time talking than they did putting Dannon & Duke away! But will The Kingdom get those ROH World Tag Team Championships off MJF while Adam Cole is still out with injury?

ROH Pure Championship: Katsuyori Shibata VS Wheeler Yuta!

This past Thursday on Honor Club, both men beat their opponents in under 9 minutes. However, The Wrestler dealt with Trent Beretta 10 seconds faster than The Decoder beat Lee Moriarty. Will this one be fast and furious? Or will these two push each other to their limits?

The judges tonight are Christopher Daniels, Jimmy Jacobs & Jerry Lynn. The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who truly owns the Pure Division!

The Code of Honor is upheld, the bell rings, and we have TV time remaining, aka 20 minutes! The two circle, feel things out, and the fans fire up for Shibata. They knuckle lock, Shibata slips around to waistlock but Yuta moves around. Shibata keeps on him, Yuta goes to switch but Shibata blocks. Shibata waistlocks, drags Yuta down, but Yuta gets away. The fans cheer the opening exchange and we’re only at 40 seconds. They go again, Yuta wristlocks and wrangles Shibata down, but Shibata fights around. Shibata rolls, wrenches and wristlocks, but Yuta fights up. Shibata headlocks and he grinds Yuta down.

Yuta fights up, powers up but can’t power out as Shibata grinds the headlock. Yuta fights up, powers out, and then Shibata stops himself to stomp Yuta! Shibata ties up the legs, and pulls him into a BOW ‘N’ ARROW! Yuta endures, we pass two minutes, but Shibata lets off to then focus on the deathlock. Fans fire up as Shibata SNAPS the lock! And then he stands to SNAP the lock again! Shibata then gets Yuta back in the BOW ‘N’ ARROW! Yuta pops free to cover, TWO! The two reset and the fans actually dule. The two knuckle lock, and Shibata throws knees! Then a body scissor roll, into a CROSS HEEL HOOK!

Yuta endures, reaches out, we’re past three minutes and Yuta has the ROPEBREAK! Shibata lets go as Yuta uses his first of three. Shibata then storms up, blocks Yuta’s kick, but Yuta rakes the eyes! The ref reprimands, but Yuta DECKS Shibata with a closed fist! That’s Yuta’s one warning! Yuta stomps away on Shibata, rains down forearms, then covers, ONE!! Shibata is still in this but Yuta snarls. Yuta drags Shibata up and CHOPS, and Rampage goes picture in picture.

Yuta CHOPS Shibata to a corner, fires body shots, and then brings Shibata around to whip to ropes. DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Yuta clamps on with a chinlock and he grinds Shibata down. Shibata endures, fights around, and stands up. We’re past five minutes as Shibata pries the hold open. Shibata wrenches but Yuta SLAPS Shibata! Yuta whips and DROPKICKS Shibata down. Yuta stalks Shibata, then runs to drop a leg, brother! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up but Yuta smirks. Yuta stalks Shibata, has him in a corner, and grinds forearms in. Yuta then CHOPS, Shibata goes to another corner, but Yuta CHOPS again!

Yuta stalks Shibata to another corner, for another CHOP! Yuta then cravats and cranks the neck. Shibata endures, even as Yuta wrangles him to the mat. Yuta leans on the hold but Shibata still endures. Yuta leans on the hold as much as he can but Shibata still fights up. Shibata stands, but Yuta snapmares him to then drop a knee! Yuta soaks up the heat and covers, TWO! Yuta stands over Shibata, kicks him around, then stands Shibata back up. Yuta whips Shibata into a corner, storms up on him and CHOPS! And another CHOP! Rampage returns to single picture, Yuta CHOPS again, and we’re past eight minutes.

Yuta and Shibata get in each other’s face, so Yuta CHOPS! And CHOPS! And forearms! And CHOSP! Shibata backs Yuta down while egging him on! Yuta fires off shot after shot but then Shibata ROCKS him! And ROCKS him! And ROCKS him again! Yuta is in a corner now, Shibata CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! Shibata CHOPS Yuta into sitting down in the corner, and then just CHOPS some more! Shibata runs corner to corner to HYDRAULIC DROPKICK! We’re at nine minutes, beyond the point either men needed on Thursday. Fans fire up as Shibata hits a snap suplex! Cover, TWO!

Shibata stalks Yuta, stomps him, then drags him up into a waistlock. Yuta fights the lift, throws elbows, and shoots around. But Shibata rolls to have the takedown and ANKLE LOCK! Yuta endures, flails around, reaches out, but Shibata drags him back, into an STF!! Yuta endures and we pass 10 minutes! Yuta fights his way forward, ROPEBREAK! That’s his second, and Shibata lets off quickly. Shibata waits on Yuta to stand, and clamps on the SLEEPER! Yuta flails, runs and THROWS Shibata out through the ropes! Yuta builds speed to DIVE! Direct hit in front of commentary and the fans fire up!

Yuta snarls as he storms up on Shibata and stands him up. Yuta whips Shibata into railing! Shibata drops to his knees but the fans rally up. Yuta goes to ropes but Shibata CLUBS him, then runs him to railing and BOOTS him down! Fans fire up as Yuta flops over! Shibata drags Yuta up at 10 of 20, but puts him in at 12. Speaking of, we’re at 12 minutes as Shibata runs, but Yuta ducks the Penalty Kick! Roll up, TWO! Yuta goes to a corner, ELBOWS back, and trips Shibata! High stack, feet on the ropes! TWO!! Yuta shoves Shibata into the ref! LOW BLOW! DDT!! Fans boo as Yuta skirts the rules and tucks Shibata in for the SEATBELT! YUTA WINS?!?

Winner: Wheeler Yuta, by pinfall (NEW ROH Pure Champion)

At 12 minutes and 30 seconds, Yuta screws over Shibata to become a THREE-TIME Pure Champion! But like he said himself, he’s an obnoxious POS! Yuta wants the Code of Honor, but Shibata refuses. So Yuta LOW BLOWS Shibata in the open this time! And a SPIKE DDT!! Yuta soaks up the heat from the fans, but then HERE COMES HOOK! The Cold-Hearted Handsome Devil is not only a friend of Shibata’s through Orange Cassidy, but he just can’t stand Yuta! Yuta runs away, the Pure title in hand. But will Yuta hope and pray they don’t #SendHook after him? As for Shibata, will he be okay after Yuta tried to cave his head in?

My Thoughts:

A good Rampage, but I wish they didn’t shove filler into this. Hook facing Rocky was fine, because it helped establish Hook was here tonight for the sake of that closing segment. But c’mon, The Kingdom squashing dudes and giving a promo? That could’ve been… Well, it didn’t have to be anywhere, really. But between the two shows, Collision has more time to fill, put it there. This Rampage should’ve been Hook VS Rocky, Kris VS Diamante in their very good match that also now plugs Mercedes and Willow back into this story, even though that should’ve been the TBS Championship story before Kris lost it…

And then the rest of the time should’ve been devoted to the Pure Championship match. Imagine if that match was allowed to go beyond 15 minutes and really push the time limit. I have not seen a Pure Rules match go that long in this new era under AEW. And hell, if it’s gonna be the match Yuta screws Shibata over to win back the title, then they really should’ve allowed it to go a little longer, to make Yuta look even more desperate that he needed to cheat. But hey, now it seems Yuta VS Hook won’t just be about the FTW Championship, it’ll also be about the Pure Championship. Maybe they can make that match for Final Battle so that an ROH PPV actually has some ROH titles on it.

My Score: 8.5/10