At 19th Anniversary, Dragon Lee lost both his championships without having a chance to defend due to injury. However, he’s getting a chance to reclaim them now that he’s back in the mix. First he teams like Kenny King to try and claim the ROH World Tag Team Championships again, but with a new twist.
Rhett Titus & Tracy Williams were able to make a successful defense against The OGK, and now all defenses during their reign will be Pure Rules tag team matches! Typical pure rules, but breaking up a pinfall or submission will count as a rope break. Both teams are undefeated, with King/Lee having a 4-0 record, and Williams/Titus having a 3-0 record.
This match was taped before Williams was injured in a car accident.
LFI Try To Piss The Foundation Off
Code of Honor would be adhered to, and Rhett Titus would start with his old partner Kenny King. King would get a hammerlock, but Titus countered into a headscissor hold before being countered. They’d battle for control on the mat, showing they’re equally matched before Williams got a tag. The Foundation would use a fast double team flurry before Williams grabbed the Cloverleaf, and King used his team’s first rope break.
Williams would apply an armbar near the ropes and almost get another rope break used. King would break free and tag in Dragon Lee, who would trade overhand chops in the middle of the ring with Williams. Lee nailed a spin kick to the midsection and a hurricanrana to send Williams outside, but Williams dodged the dive to the outside. Keeping control, Lee did a hand plant and threw Williams into the barricade, before hitting a double stomp back in the ring.
They’d trade blows once again before Williams nailed the teardrop suplex for a two count before grabbing wrist control. A cheap shot from King on the apron to the back of Williams would let LFI gain control, he’d tag in and hit a snap suplex before flowing into a Chicken Wing Lock on the mat. Williams would be isolated in the corner of LFI, and Lee got some hard forearms before spitting at Titus to piss him off.
More quick tags from LFI helped King set up the Chin Checker, but Williams slipped out and got a tag to Titus. Titus would nail three quick neckbreakers, before hitting a picture perfect belly to belly suplex, with King using his team’s second rope break to get free. King took Williams off the apron before hitting the Blockbuster off the top rope for a two count.
Tracy Williams & Rhett Titus Are A Next Level Tag Team
Titus would be taken into the corner of LFI, and was able to counter a double team maneuver into a superplex. Williams would get the tag alongside King, and nailed the DDT on the top turnbuckle. King would take a spinning forearm, kick out at two but Williams went right into the crossface. The final rope break would be used, while The Foundation had all three left.
Williams would look for the Piledriver, but King would counter into a dragon screw and the Bow & Arrow lock. He was far away from the ropes, and Titus broke the hold up with a knee drop off the top rope, using the first break of the match. Titus would meet Dragon Lee, and take Combinación de Cabrón in the neutral corner before Lee set up something between a Shibata style Hesitation Dropkick and RUSH’s finisher. Lee would follow up with a German Suplex, before running into a big lariat from Titus for a two count,
Titus would drive Lee into the corner, and tag in Williams, but Lee took him off the apron and hit a double stomp before diving onto Williams. Back in the ring, Williams was hit with Royal Flush, but Titus broke up the pinfall. King would take the Hydraulic Dropkick from Titus, and Williams would take Lee up to the top rope.
Lee tried to set up the double stomp, but Williams hit a top rope piledriver. King broke up the fall, and with no more breaks that was a DQ. The Foundation retains after a great match, but in a very off way.
This was a tag team clinic, and proof that the Pure Rules Tag Team format can work. Titus has been on the best run of his career, and the mastery of the ruleset would be what led The Foundation to victory. Some fantastic action in this match, but it loses points for using a DQ finish. Match Rating: 3.5/5/5 (*** 1/2)
Following the match, Bestia Del Ring would rush the ring and was closely followed by Jay Lethal & Jonathan Gresham. The Foundation & L.F.I would brawl around the ring as VLNCE UNLTD just watched on in glee as the show faded to black. How will ROH deal with the issues between these two factions? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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