Having won a recent Pure Rules gauntlet match, Mike Bennett now has his biggest singles match since returning to Ring of Honor set. He will wrestle the master of the Pure Rules style Jonathan Gresham for the title tonight. This is a match that you can’t plan for, as in every single win in a Pure match Gresham achieved? He’s finished in a different way. You can’t plan for a wrestler like Gresham, you just need to be ready to out wrestle perhaps the best wrestler in the company today.
Mike Bennett Forces A Quick Rope Break
Code of Honor would be adhered to, and fans would be split 50/50 to start. Some opening lock ups would see stalemates. Gresham showed a technical edge, and Bennett the power edge. A cobra twist would be attempted by Gresham, but Bennett countered with an elbow to the knee. Gresham would take Bennett to the mat, but wouldn’t maintain the control as he was shoved off.
Bennett would look for the London Dungeon, an old hold of Nigel McGuniness, forcing Gresham to use his first of three rope breaks. This is the quickest Gresham has used a rope break, just three minutes into the match. Gresham would get back into this by picking the ankle and grabbing a headlock, before going after the wrist.
Bennett would have his elbow bent in an unnatural way and Gresham forced it to the mat for a pinfall attempt. A crucifix pinfall would get a two count before getting a hard arm drag. Bennett was being outwrestled, and Gresham played to the crowd while trapping the arm and almost hitting a DDT to the shoulder.
Gresham moved a single leg crab into a pinfall, getting a two count before going back to the attack on Bennett. Bennett fought free, but a tackle to the targeted shoulder showed that Gresham’s game plan was working. Gresham would counter a scoop slam into an attempt of a kimura lock, and force Bennett’s first rope break.
Bennett would go to the outside and catch a dive to the outside from Gresham but was unable to follow up. A kimura would be applied, and Bennett tapped out but it didn’t count on the outside. Gresham maintained the hold, pulled him around the ring, and brought him in on the ropes to force a second rope break.
Jonathan Gresham Snatches Victory From The Jaws Of Defeat
Bennett would be able to catch Gresham in the London Dungeon after a pinfall attempt, and Gresham used his second rope break. They each had one left, and Gresham kicked the arm of Bennett to force the hyper extension. Bennett would look for the piledriver but Gresham had it well scouted. The Death Valley Driver was less scouted and landed, before Bennett went back for the London Dungeon.
Gresham would counter this time and get a one count off a roll up, before blocking another attempt at the piledriver. An enziguri would be absorbed by Bennett, before he’d run Gresham down with a lariat using the good arm, getting a two count. Gresham would pop the arm with a kick again, before tripping Bennett up with some standing switches and stomping the arm.
A ripcord clothesline would be countered, before Gresham hit a quick standing moonsault and a cradle pin. Bennett kicked out, before having the arm nearly kicked into the front row. Cobra Twist would be applied, and Bennett used his final rope break. He’d go for some forearm strikes, and take Gresham down before being hit with an enziguri.
Bennett would hit a powerbomb, but couldn’t get the pinfall. Gresham would roll him into the crossface, but would be put into a crossface. Bennett powered him up and Gresham grabbed a sleeper hold, but Bennett cannonballed them into the corner.
He’d hit a powerbomb, hard lariat and his signature piledriver, Gresham being pinned with his leg under the bottom rope, using the final rope break. Bennett looked for a second piledriver, but Gresham took him down. The cradle pin was countered before Gresham tied up the ankle, trapping Bennett in place and forcing the submission.
This was a war from bell to bell, with Bennett wrestling his best match ever. He earned respect from the fans and Gresham, and proved he could hang with the best. However, this makes 11 wins with 11 different finishes from Gresham, showing why he’s the perfect Pure Champion. He exploited the rules to get the win without ever coming off as the heel, and that is just smart wrestling. Match Rating: 4.25/5 (**** 1/4)
Who can possibly stop Jonathan Gresham? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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