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ROH Episode 79 Review: A Pure Main Event
After a month’s worth of traveling around the country, we are finally back with another ROH review. From just looking at what was scheduled for tonight’s episode it seems I have not missed much, which is sad. #JusticeforROH.
ROH Women’s World Heavyweight Championship Proving Grounds: Athena vs Aleah James:
This was one of the longer Athena Proving Grounds matches which was nice to see. Having Lexy Nair be Athena’s personal ring announcer is always a nice touch because she is killing it in that role. After the match was over Athena was still beating James down when Abadon appeared. Starkz hit Abadon with the world title, but sadly Athena did not see it and thanked Nair for it instead. Looks like we are planting the seed for Starkz vs Athena II.
Winner: “And Still” Athena
Sidney Akeem vs Johnny TV:
This was more of a comedic match than anything else. Taya and Johnny kept double teaming Sidney throughout the match and that was enough to help Johnny win the match. At one point when Johnny hit Starship Pain he landed on his neck which was scary, but luckily he was able to recover well and pick up the win.
Winner: Johnny TV
Lance Archer vs Unannounced Enhancement Talent
Our first squash of the night and it only took 25 minutes…
Winner: Lance Archer
Shane Taylor Promotions Promo:
Shane says he loves Angelico’s confidence in challenging Moriarty for the Pure Championship. However, there is no way he is going to take that title away from Moriarty. Moriarty accepts the challenge for tonight and tells Angelico to protect his neck.
Rachael Ellering vs Mina Shirakawa:
This was a fun one. I do not think Ellering gets enough credit for what she is doing for the ROH Women’s Division by putting over talent week after week and having great matches with everyone. After the match was over Taya Valkyrie came out and attacked both Shirakawa and Ellering. Guess we are going to get Shirakawa and Valkyrie in the near future.
Winner: Mina Shirakawa
Top Flight (Dante and Darius Martin) and Action Andretti vs Ace of Space Academy:
Squash number two…
Winners: Top Flight (Dante and Darius Martin) and Action Andretti
EJ Nduka vs Demo Diamond:
Sigh you already know how this one went.
Winner: EJ Nduka
Rachael Ellering Promo:
Ellering says that Shirakawa is tough and losing is unfortunate, but she knows that she has to get better. She is then interrupted by Harley Cameron who reintroduces herself and makes fun of Ellering for losing. Cameron jokes that they hire just about anyone in ROH and says that Ellering will get them next time and calls her a child.
Jacoby Watts vs Evil Uno:
Before the match started Watts asked Uno and the rest of the Dark Order if they wanted to join his prophecy to which Uno replied that he is a one cult type of guy. However I am pretty sure you guys know how this one goes.
Winner: Evil Uno
Josh Woods vs Barrett Brown:
Before the match started Mark Sterling came out to hype up Woods. He says that they come out every week because they live by the three A’s Anytime, Any Place, and Anyone. He says Woods has 108 collegiate wins and he is a dominant athlete who is a force to be reckoned with in ROH. Sterling’s promo was longer than this match…
Winner: Josh Woods
Leila Grey vs Promise Braxton:
As much as I am thrilled that Grey was finally booked in a match in ROH, this was the fifth squash in a row…
Winner: Leila Grey
Blake Christian vs Rosario Grillo:
I am hoping you are all sensing the pattern of this episode.
Winner: Blake Christian
Ariya Davari vs Tomohiro Ishii:
Finally a match that lasted more than five minutes that meant something. Sterling before the match started said that the feud between the Varsity Athletes and the Conglomeration is the feud of the year, and the Varsity Athletes are going to finish the feud with this match. This match was fine, Ishii got the win as he continues his summer run in AEW/ROH.
Winner: Tomohiro Ishii
ROH Pure Championship: Angelico vs Lee Moriarty:
This match dragged on a little bit and you can tell that the crowd was getting tired. Unlike what they usually do on the TV programming they actually announced the Pure Rules which was nice to see. Both men used all their rope breaks so they played into that rule which was fun. Moriarty retains in the main event.
Winner: “And Still” Lee Moriarty
Overall:
This episode dragged on and it was the quietest I have heard the Arlington crowd since the residency started. This was also one of the most anticlimactic episodes we have seen. Besides the fact that we only saw two champions on the show, almost every match we saw was a squash match and got nothing accomplished. Sigh, until next time.
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