ROH to Debut "Pure Wrestling" Title

[tpww7 0]

From the ROH Message Board via Gabe:

 

If you have followed Ring Of Honor since "The Era Of Honor Begins" you have seen a progression and evolution in the ROH style. Once a land of pure workrate with no frills, ROH has seen riots, raves and alcoholic fathers come into play. In an effort to stay true to its roots, ROH has decided to crown a Pure Wrestling Champion.

 

What is pure wrestling? Basically it means there will be no frills, just straight up athletic wrestling like you've come to expect from ROH. Pure Wrestling title matches will be under different rules than all other matches. The three rules are:

 

1) A competitor is only allowed three rope breaks. Once that competitor uses his three rope breaks, his opponent does not have to release the hold if he reaches the ropes. This creates a lot of unique, interesting scenarios.

 

2) There will be a 20 count on the floor to insure that action stays in the ring.

 

3) No closed fists. If a competitor uses a closed fist, he will be issued a warning. Every closed fist punch thrown after that will result in a penalty of one rope break. If the competitor has no rope breaks left, he will be disqualified. This will insure that brawling stays out of the Pure Wrestling title matches.

 

The first Pure Wrestling champion will be crowned in an eight man tournament. The participants, location and date of the tournament will be announced shortly. You can never tell what is going happen next in ROH, but one thing you can count on is that ROH will always be based on producing the best athletic action going today. The Pure Wrestling title will continue that mission.

[Guest Just Too Uber]

Woah.... trippy.

 

Just... trippy.

[Nevermortal 0]

Meh.

[King Cucaracha 0]

Well...ok. This just looks destined to produce crappy, screwy finishes galore.

 

It'll either work well, or become too overbooked.

[Michrome 0]

Why would they have it produce screwy finishes if the entire goal is to have athletic contests with clean finishes?

 

This accomplishes a few things:

 

1) Makes reversal sequences logical, because by reversing instead of grabbing the ropes, you save yourself a break.

 

2) Discourages punching, making the matches purely technical.

 

3) Keeps the action in the ring with the 20 count.

[Guest ToddRoyal]

I like it. I think there will be a few screwy DQ finishes with closed fists and stuff, but I trust ROH to keep those to a minimum.

 

With guys like American Dragon, John Walters, Matt Stryker, Nigel McGuinness and Josh Daniels, among others, I'm sure ROH can put on some amazing matches with the Pure Wrestling division.

[Guest Jimbo]

Yeah, I hope so because if there's always a bunch of 'super man' combacks, I'm going to be pissed.

[Guest OSIcon]

The potential roster for the division is a lot better than I initially thought. Already in ROH on a regular or semi-regular basis:

 

- Matt Stryker

- John Walters

- Bryan Danielson

- Josh Daniels

- Nigel McGuiness

- Tony Mamaluke

- Jimmy Jacobs

 

Then you've got guys like Doug Williams, Chad Collyer, Tom Carter, and TJ Wilson who are not currently regulars but would fit if they ever found their way back to ROH (although for some of them it is unlikely).

[Guest bort]

I think its a good idea for a Pure divison, i mean for months on months they have been having what they called pure matches with a good cast of wrestlers, now this gives them somthing to fight for using there own style

 

I would like to see Doug Williams brought into the tournoment and do a job in the finals or semi finals to a guy like Striker or maybe John Walters as it would give a guy a nice rub

[Guest Max Peter David]

Doug Williams is not coming back people.

[Jingus 0]

Dammit, I had this EXACT same idea for a "technical wrestling championship" MONTHS ago. Crap.

 

Hey, I don't keep up with ROH much, but aren't they known as the company that tends to provide great action with mostly clean finishes, anyway? What the hell would they need with a title like this? Give the idea to someone like the WWE, who actually needs it.

 

And the whole "rope break" system is too complicated. Just make the rules like they are in Pride: if the competitors get in the ropes, the ref simply pulls them back to the middle of the ring. And have an instant DQ rule on punches and the like.

[Guest Markingout]

"2) Discourages punching, making the matches purely technical."

 

That dosent make it any better. A good match is a good match brawling or not.

 

Stryker and Whitmer for the Pure Wrestling Title.... Oh yeah, that would be so excellent.

 

Anyways,should be interesting.

[DCMaximo 0]

Doug Williams is not coming back people.

 

Sorry if I sound like an idiot, but why isn't he coming back? Has he fallen out with someone, retired, busy in Japan?

[Guest Joe_G]

Hey, I don't keep up with ROH much, but aren't they known as the company that tends to provide great action with mostly clean finishes, anyway? What the hell would they need with a title like this?

 

The basic rationale I glommed from the web site is that ROH has done a lot of sports-entertainy angles this year--the riots, the raves, Raven reminding Punk of his alcoholic dad, etc. I'm guessing this belt will be more based on "athletic contests" than angles.

 

Here's a question: how do you qualify for a shot at this? Do you have to commit yourself to the "pure wrestling" division. Will it have its own top five rankings?

 

This could be good, could be not good. Guess we'll have to see how they handle it.

[Guest bort]

I never hear of a falling out with Williams and ROH or ROH and FWA so i see no reason for him to not come back, Doug works in japan a bit but nothing near full time and i would think his would be able to back ROH bookings if givin the chance

[Guest Max Peter David]

Williams has Visa problems or something, and can't make it over any more, according to Gabe.

[Guest bort]

Thats too bad, I Guess you dont need the whole visa thing in japan

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

I was just watching the King of Pancrase 1996 DVD tonight, which has similar rules (not worked, though). 5 Point deduction system which involves grabbing the ropes (even if you're holding on for balance), or getting knocked down. Also, there is no closed fist punches to the head, but there are some allowed to the body. I'd like to see ROH go a lil further with the concept to fully get the worked shoot vibe going, but I guess they are taking baby steps.

[Guest Peter_Griffin]

I like the idea to be honest. Should provide us with some cool matches.

[JustJoe2k5 0]

I don't know if bringing this belt in is such a great idea for a promotion that is looking to grow, because most wrestling fans who go to independent shows are looking for fast-paced matches, this belt would likely produce more slow, technical matches which may turn off some new fans.

[HollywoodSpikeJenkins 0]

For some reason, I just don't like it.

[JHawk 0]

Sounds like an idea that's doomed to fail.

 

But if it works, hell yeah!

[Steviekick 0]

It sounds interesting, but really too dificult to follow.

[Slingshot Suplex 0]

So,is this implying mat based wrestling with no aerial stuff?

 

Right now,it's really not much different than what is already supposed to be enforced now. Technically,closed fist punches have always been illegal anyway. This just means a strict crackdown on it. The 20 count will just cut down on the out of the ring brawling....it won't eliminate it. The rope break rule .......if you're gonna do what they're proposing,you might as well just eliminate rope breaks completely because now they're going to have to actually keep track of the number of times it's used.

 

I don't see a big deal out of it unless it's going to downplay the aerial moves. The crowds will shit on mat based wrestling. They have been conditioned to spot,spot,spot for years. In general,people aren't going to be patient for 25 minute mat wrestling.

[Guest TDinDC1112]

Way too much thingking involved with these matches I think. This is professional wrestling. If I wanted to watch amateur wrestling, I would.

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

Look at the bright side.

 

We'll get to listen to the worst commentary crew in the history of ever explain the rules over and over.

 

DANGEROUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

SLEEPER MOTYC!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jingus 0]

Look at the bright side.

 

We'll get to listen to the worst commentary crew in the history of ever explain the rules over and over.

 

DANGEROUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

SLEEPER MOTYC!!!!!!!!!!!

Man, even though I love the matches, I do get tired of listening to the commentary in a DAMN hurry. You can only hear a guy say "And that's why we've got the greatest action and the greatest athletes in the world right here in Ring of Honor! Screw sports entertainment!" about a hundred times before it gets real old, real fast.

 

It's a commentator's job to shill the product and get it over to the viewer, but these guys are just trying way too hard and they come off like a used car salesman trying to convince you that having a '78 Oldsmobile painted five different colors is actually a cutting-edge fashion statement.

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

I liked the original commentary...and to be honest these guys have stopped bothering me that much. There are times though that I want to put a nail through my head.

[Kardo 0]

I love during Round Robin Challenge 1; American Dragon starts the match with a side headlock: "This match is a clinic in technical wrestling" - The guy who isn't Corino.

 

The 1st Anniversary show is just as bad, you'd think every match was a "STRONG STYLE MATCH OF THE YEAR" if you listened to them.

[Guest netslob]

as opposed to "tainted wrestling"?