Since the Pure Division returned to Ring of Honor, Jonathan Gresham has been the undisputed king of the style. He’s the leader of The Foundation and perhaps the best technical wrestler in the world today, and his run to become champion started in the Pure Rules tournament.
Another man who was in the same tournament is here to try and prove that maybe he should have won it all, as Fred Yehi finally gets his chance to become Pure Rules champion. Whoever wins here, will face Mike Bennett at Best in the World in a championship match, giving them a hectic schedule.
Fred Yehi Is The Equal Of Gresham
Code of Honor was adhered to, but Yehi was holding on for a few extra seconds and Gresham casually kicked his hand away. Yehi & Gresham have trained together in the past, and they’d show their familiarity in their opening sprawl. It also showed that Yehi can go hold for hold with Gresham, and that the 17lb weight advantage was going to be important.
Gresham would find himself driven down to the mat, and would have to wiggle himself free. Yehi would go for a takedown, and Gresham worked to block as he captured the wrist, but Yehi was ready to get free as soon as Gresham took control. Gresham would be taken down and attacked with an inverted single leg boston crab, and would panic his way free.
A small package from Gresham got a two count, before Yehi lifted Gresham up by the wrist and slammed him back down. Yehi would use his size advantage to push Gresham around and block a hip toss before being taken over the top rope. When they hit the floor, they kept wrestling until it was another stalemate, and they’d stare daggers before a commercial break would come and go.
You Can’t Plan For Jonathan Gresham
Back from the break, they’d get back into the ring and get back to grappling. Yehi would hit a Hip Toss, and Gresham went for one of his own, before they’d both get tied up in the ropes. Frustration was starting to boil, and Yehi would shove Gresham into the corner. Another lock up in the ropes, and more frustration and forearms being scraped across faces.
Yehi would start to throw some strikes as the pace picked up. Both men looked for roll ups and they’d trade control with two counts. Yehi went for the Koji Clutch, and Gresham was able to avoid it and work towards a Cobra Twist. This hold would be applied and turned into a pin, but Yehi kicked out.
The pace slowed back down to grappling as they initiated a test of strength in the ring, with Yehi winning out by Gresham getting a bridge. Yehi tried to force the pin, and was unsuccessful, before Gresham got wrist control and bent away. A quick snap to the wrist on the mat before a crucifix pin got the pinfall.
No rope breaks used, and a bit more edge from Gresham as he was outwrestled in the early moments helped this to be a fast paced and intense Pure Rules match which had the aura of something that could have gone the full hour. Yehi was fantastic here, but Gresham remains the best technical wrestler in the world. Match Rating: 4/5 (****)
This puts Gresham up to a 10-0 record in the Pure Division, and sets up Mike Bennett vs. Jonathan Gresham for Best in the World 2021. Will the record become 11-0?Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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