The Foundation are currently the faction with the most gold in Ring Of Honor, holding the Pure Rules Championship as well as the ROH World Tag Team Championships. Tracy Williams recently lost the TV Championship to Tony Deppen, but still remains one half of the tag champions alongside Rhett Titus. Tonight, they defend against the #2 ranked tag team, Mike Bennett and Matt Taven.
Earlier in the show however, we’d see that Matt Taven was attacked backstage by someone, and his ankle was the target. He wasn’t okay, but he waited five and a half years to get another chance to win tag belts with Bennett. These chances don’t come every day after all. Taven claims he’ll be fine, and this won’t harm their chances of victory. Would this choice come back to bite Taven?
Matt Taven Is A Weak Link
Code of Honor was adhered to, as Williams this match started alongside Bennett. Williams got a wrist lock on Bennett, and took him down. Bennett tried to fight up, but Willilams was too much for him on a technical level. Williams stayed calm and just outwrestled Bennett, before trapping up the legs and wrenching in a double leg lock.
Bennett was able to shove Williams off with his power, but when he got a rear waist lock? Williams grabbed the arm again. Bennett was able to sneak a tag to Taven, and hit a double dropkick alongside Bennett to take control. He’d be moving as best he could, but after going up and over Williams in the corner and landing on the hurt ankle, he’d flail into a tag to Bennett.
Referee Todd Sinclair & Bennett would check on Taven outside, and The Foundation gave them time to figure it out. After a quick break, we’d see Bennett in control of Titus. Taven tagged in and hit a dropkick off the middle rope, before applying a headlock. Titus broke out and hit a knee breaker, before tagging in Williams. Williams would apply a Texas Cloverleaf on Taven, who scrambled to the ropes.
Taven would stick near the ropes to prevent more submission attempts, as The Foundation focused on the hurt ankle. Titus lost control and took an enziguri, but fell in between Taven and a tag, and would be able to grab a single leg boston crab and pull Taven to the wrong corner.
Mike Bennett Fights Hard
Williams got a tag, and would apply a crossface chickenwing, but Taven was able to slip out and hit a knee strike. Bennett got the tag alongside Titus, and Titus would be pummeled with chops before Williams also got in on the fun. Some running chops and a brainbuster to Titus would be followed up with a Hammerlock DDT on Williams.
Bennett went for the spear, but Titus was able to jump over him. Titus would be caught with a Death Valley Driver when he’d hit the ropes however, getting Bennett a two count. Taven got a tag, and nailed a superkick on Titus before Bennett nailed a spear. Titus landed on his feet off a backdrop, and when Taven tried the same thing, the injured ankle was an issue.
Williams got a tag and would hit a flying forearm on Taven. A single arm underhook suplex off the middle rope got a two count, Bennett making the save. Williams got him with a sleeper hold, before being driven into the corner. Williams was able to block the Backpack Stunner in the neutral corner, but Taven got him with a kick to the back of the head. Taven would get a DDT onto the top turnbuckle for his troubles, but blocked the rolling forearm into a flatliner.
The Foundation Seize Their First Defense
Williams was able to counter the facelock attempt, before looking to apply the crossface. Taven got a tag while struggling, and Williams didn’t notice until Bennett had WIlliams in an ankle lock. Williams broke free with some kicks to the face, before taking a leg lariat from Taven. Titus took Taven out with a big bulldog, and the only man standing was Bennett.
Looking to take Titus out, Bennett committed to an armlock on him. However, he’d just sit and watch as Williams hit a knee breaker and applied a Boston Crab on Taven. The legal men held the submissions while they traded blows, before both looking for piledrivers, and dropping the non-legal men.
Tracy Williams & Mike Bennett would trade blows in the middle of the ring, two of the heaviest hitters in the company. Williams won out with a forearm shot and a pump kick, but Taven got a blind tag and a two count off an O’Conner Roll. Taven was countered into a knee bar, and Bennett made the save.
Titus took Bennett out with a belly to belly suplex, and Taven was alone deep in the match. He’d try for a springboard, but failed to connect with Williams. Titus tagged in, and kicked him hard in the face, and fed him into Williams for the piledriver. That was all there was for this match, The Foundation claiming their first defense.
Solid tag team action from both teams, especially the OGK who showed next level chemistry. However, the real story of this match was just how great of a tag team wrestler Rhett Titus is. He was always in the right spot at the right time, and that gave The Foundation the edge they truly needed. Match Rating: 3.5/5 (*** 1/2)
Who will challenge The Foundation next? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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