A few weeks back now, ROH fans learned just how good the current ROH Dojo students are. Taking on a Young Lion like presentation, Ken Dixon, Eric Martin, Dante Caballero and Joe Keys all showed they are all future champions. However, in a match exclusive to ROH Week by Week, these four men will battle it out for a shot at their trainer, Jonathan Gresham.
Gresham is ready to put the ROH Pure Championship on the line, and whoever wins this match will have earned that shot. Alongside Will Ferrera, Gresham went to the Board of Directors and set this match up, and the winner jumps to the #3 spot on the Pure Rules leaderboard, as well as a title match on an upcoming episode of ROH TV.
Ken Dixon Doesn’t Fit The ROH Dojo Mold, But Is A Damn Good Professional Wrestler
The students would hit the ring, and all exchange handshakes to adhere to the Code of Honor. Ken Dixon & Eric Martin were randomly chosen to start this match, with Joe Keys & Dante Caballero heading to ringside. Like most gauntlet matches, eliminations occur with a pinfall or submission. DQ’s and count outs also will lead to eliminations, but after being trained by Ferrera & Gresham? They know to keep it in the ring.
Martin & Dixon locked up in the middle of the ring, and while they had to start first? They have deep gas tanks and can go all night. Martin took Dixon to the mat with a headlock takeover, but Dixon fought out with a headscissor. Dixon grabbed the wrist and pulled Martin into a headlock, but Martin escaped with ease. Martin leapfrogged over Dixon, and hit a dropkick, sending Dixon to the outside.
He’d come back into the ring, only to be taken to the mat once again and be outwrestled once again. Martin went for a German Suplex, with Dixon hitting a back elbow and getting the standing switch. Dixon was sent to the outside, and was getting frustrated, pulling Martin outside for some brawling, before slamming Martin off the apron.
It’s clear Dixon wanted to get rough, and Martin came right back with a chop and big forearm in the ring. Dixon came through with a charge in the corner, before being hit with a sunset flip for a two count. Martin got a suplex, and the left arm lariat to get another near fall on Dixon. A second lariat missed, and a snap powerslam got Ken Dixon the pinfall.
Dante Caballero Enters The Fight
Next into the ring was Caballero, and he was able to match power with Dixon, while bringing similar technical skills as Martin. He quickly took Dixon to the mat, before finding himself in the corner and getting mauled with clubbing blows. Dixon knew that he was the underdog here, and pressed this advantage to try and take the fresh Caballero out early, hitting a big back elbow strike.
A neck crank in the middle of the ring got Caballero fired up, and he’d get back to his feet just to take a knee to the gut. Caballero stayed in this one with some knife edge chops and forearms, only to once again be stopped with a big blow. A neckbreaker from Dixon got a near fall, before going back to the neck crank. Caballero got back to his feet, avoided a scoop slam and hit a lariat, and got Dixon with a slam instead.
This got a near fall, before moving right into a crossface hold. Dixon tried to get to the ropes, only to have Caballero capture the free arm and shift the hold around into a pinfall. Caballero was successful in pinning Dixon to end this portion of the match, leaving just him and Joe Keys. Dixon attacked Caballero after his loss, throwing him into the barricade and storming off.
Final Round Suits Joe Keys
Keys would enter the ring, and easily got the best draw in this match, getting to come in last and having Caballero being beaten down by Dixon. Caballero fought back to his feet, and Keys wasted no time. While he’s a man of honor, you don’t pass up an easy win that can lead to a title shot. He’d rush Caballero with a boot to the gut, and a set of tight scoop slams for a two count.
Keys would apply the double leg boston crab, preferred finisher of the NJPW Young Lions, and a move taught by Gresham & Ferrera. Caballero would barely make the ropes, before being stomped once again with Keys getting more good shots in. Keys was relying on simple strikes and slams, before getting a tight waist lock.
He only broke the hold for a shot to the back, then grabbing it again for a slam into a pinfall attempt. Caballero got some offense in, before finding himself fighting off another boston crab. He’d shove Keys off the ropes and let him stumble into a small package for a two count. Caballero headed to the corner, and dodged a spear from Keys who nailed the steel post. The shoulder was now an easy target, giving Caballero the chance.
Caballero hit his final wind, hitting a big gutbuster and running dropkick but struggled to set up the pinfall. He went for the crossface again, and fought hard to apply the hold. Caballero would turn it into a pinfall like how he beat Dixon, but Keys kicked out. They’d trade tired blows in the middle of the ring, before Caballero sent Keys into the mat shoulder first. Keys responded with a big lariat and diving headbutt, and won with the single leg crab.
Gauntlet matches are a perfect way to showcase multiple talents, and this got these promising rookies some extra fan exposure. Dante Caballero & Joe Keys really stood out in this match as future stars, and Ken Dixon will easily join other brawlers on the roster in some hard hitting wars. Match Rating: 3.25/5 (*** ¼)
Will Joe Keys be able to defeat one of his trainers to become ROH Pure Champion? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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