[1996] Ring of Honor: Pure

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Dark Match: El Puerto Ricano vs. Rey Bucanero
High flying action kicked off ROH’s second show before the official opening was held. During the bout, we got to see more of El Puerto Ricano than in the tag team match from three weeks ago, plus, Rey Bucanero also showed a bit more of his jerkish ways, as he mocked Super Crazy’s injury with his eyepatch.
That proved to be disastrous, as he was caught with a Spin Kick after playing up to the crowd. School Boy… and Bucanero was done.
Result: Puerto Ricano def. Bucanero - 8:19
Rating: 40





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1. Christopher Daniels & Michael Modest vs. Jeff Hardy & Matt Hardy [Hardy Boyz]
The restant OXGen boys/z were not present. However, that didn’t stop Jeff and Matt Hardy from showing off to the crowd… and from stealing the show. Even though they are some x-gen assholes, it’s kind of hard to hate them and their capability between and over the ropes. Christopher Daniels also proved to be someone to look at.
The match came to an end after The Hardy Boyz faked some stereo eye pokes… only to hit stereo Twisting Cutters. Following a Diving Leg Drop by Matt on Daniels and a 450 Splash from Jeff to Modest, the match was in the books. The Hardys then denied shaking hands with their opponents.
Result: Hardy Boyz def. Daniels & Modest - 11:45
Rating: 45

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Round Robin Challenge - Group A Match
2. Hector Guerrero vs. Rob Van Dam (w/Missy Hyatt)
Another match for RVD in ROH and another disappointment, to some at least. The debut of Hector Guerrero marked the start of the Challenge, in a decent, although forgettable match. Fast paced, sure, but also lacking a lot of consistency, specially on Van Dam’s part. It dragged for too much time, seeming more like a spot compilation than a match near the end.
Rightfully, it allowed the fans to see some fun athletic lucha libre sequences and, of course, Missy Hyatt wearing Hector’s trademark sombrero at the ring side. At the end, Hector went for the Gory Special, but RVD countered with a beautiful Arm Drag. Spinning Heel Kick and the Split Legged Moonsault followed, and the most chilled guy in ROH got two points. A handshake took place after the match.
Result: RVD [2] def. Guerrero - 18:03
Rating: 40

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Round Robin Challenge - Group B Match
3. Lance Storm vs. Rick Martel (w/Lanny Poffo)
After a lackluster match, these three guys rescued the Round Robin Challenge. Incredible performance by both Lance Storm and Rick Martel, with the partnership of the latter with Lanny Poffo getting a green mark from the fans. The two pretentious men worked like charm together.
The bout, technical as expected, solidified Lance Storm as one to look to in a near future. Both Canadians proved to have great chemistry and Martel’s ego really got the crowd behind Storm, who looked like a legit threat to Martel’s aspirations. In fact, Storm got close to taking the win twice: first, after a impactful Superkick that was never followed by a pin, as Poffo dragged ‘The Model’ out of the ring. Then, a Single Leg Boston Crab tested Martel’s real will. The Quebecer passed the test, reaching the ropes.
Rick Martel eventually took the win. Meticulously following the same game plan of his match with Brad Armstrong, Martel worked and worked hard on Storm’s back. When the time came for him to hit his recently created The Quebec-Breaker, the match was over.
Result: Martel [2] def. Storm - 23:05
Rating: 58

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Round Robin Challenge - Group A Match
4. Brad Armstrong vs. Hector Guerrero
Hector was back on the ring for another bout and, in theory, Brad Armstrong had the freshness advantage on his side. And that proved to be true. If in his match vs. Martel three weeks ago, Armstrong was sort of the underdog, here he worked extensively on the legs of Guerrero, perhaps exploring the effect of RVD’s two Leg Screws.
Hector fought bravely, though, bringing all his 'raza', even getting Armstrong to bleed from his nose after a open handed slap to counter… another Leg Screw. Near the end, Hector got close to winning, hitting the Butterfly Suplex to, surprising, only two-count. He then tried to lock the Gory Special, but Brad Armstrong, while on Hector’s back, got the awareness to reach for the ropes and get out of the lock.
A Russian Leg Sweep out of nowhere and quick transition to the Figure Four Leg Lock, applied fiercely, and Hector was done. No choice but to tap out. After the match, the competition was over and there was time for respect. Guerrero raised Armstrong’s hand after this “family clash”.
Result: Armstrong [2] def. Guerrero - 21:04
Rating: 55

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Round Robin Challenge - Group B Match
5. Fit Finlay vs. Lance Storm
The long matches continued to happen. And this one divided opinion, for sure. Different generations collided in this clash between a tough Irish brawler and a no-nonsense Canadian wrestling surgeon. A bit of catch-as-catch-can in the start of the match got stale quickly, as Finlay doesn’t have the stamina needed for long lasting quick transitions.
However, the match heated up, becoming more and more focused on hard-hitting moves and some near falls for both sides. Finlay himself hit the Celtic Cross to a kick-out by Storm, while the Canadian hit a big Superkick for a… one-count kick-out by Finlay that rightfully got the crown popping for the veteran.
And in such a divided match, lacking something but with neither man giving an inch, both wrestlers’ win would be acceptable. What about a draw? That’s what we got, when Lance Storm caught Finlay’s arm, countering an European Uppercut, and went for a big Bridging Dragon Suplex. The Irishmen smartly pressed Storm’s shoulders to the mat as well and the match’s referee counter… for a double pin.
After some confusion in the arena, the outcome was clear. Lance Storm, with an angry look on his face, as he was out of title contention, shook Finlay’s hand. Fit said some appreciative words to Storm and it was over.
Result: Draw - 1 point for each - Double Pin - 17:31
Rating: 42

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Round Robin Challenge - Group A Match
6. Brad Armstrong vs. Rob Van Dam (w/Missy Hyatt)
The decisive match in Group A: in one corner there was the technically sound, reliable wrestler that Brad Armstrong was proving to be, allowed to showcase his quality in ROH. In the other corner there was the confident young flyer Rob Van Dam, promising over anything, but capable of impressive feats already. And on the outside, Missy Hyatt, who knew Brad from some Mid-South ventures, was largely just the average valet in this one.
The bout belonged to Armstrong early-on as the second-generation athlete worked smartly on, you guessed it, Van Dam’s legs, which he relied on for his acrobatic style. Counter after counter, during the first half, RVD couldn’t get a palpable control of the match.
That, until a great Monkey Flip, followed by a Springboard Savate Kick drew blood from Armstrong’s nose once again. After requiring a small break, Armstrong was ready to go and RVD didn’t hold back and, after a series of kicks and fast-paced moves, Van Dam went for his Split Legged Moonsault! But his opponent was aware and received his landing with the knees up.
Time for an opening, as Brad tried to hit the Russian Leg Sweep… but “nope”, said RVD, before going for a Leg Sweep Kick of his own. While Brad was standing up, ‘The Most Chilled’ smartly hit a clean Roundhouse Kick and climbed the turnbuckle. What for? Motioning, he shouted “Five… Star… Frog… Splash”… well, it was surely impressive in height! 1…2…3!
After the match, Armstrong shook Rob Van Dam’s hand, recognized the kid was going to be huge, and, officially, he was one step away from title glory.
Result: RVD [4] def. Armstrong [2] - 15:37
Rating: 44

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Round Robin Challenge - Group B Match
7. Fit Finlay vs. Rick Martel (w/Lanny Poffo)
“I’m droppin’ ya on yer head”: these were the words from Fit Finlay when the bell rang, right after ‘The Model’ was done showboating. And no one argued with him… probably no one disagreed with his intentions too.
Match of the night? Probably. These two were proving to be the most reliable wrestlers in the Ring of Honor locker room. Rick Martel played the arrogant heel role to perfection, being aided by Lanny Poffo as if he needed it… while Fit Finlay got the roaring crowd behind his angry no-bullshit veteran shtick.
A lot of slaps met the right and left cheeks of Martel in the opening of the match, leaving him furious, as Poffo demanded Finlay to get disqualified, only to get a warning by the grumpy Irishman. Rick Martel understood that there were no dirty tricks that could help him pair with Finlay’s stiffness, and worked a hell of a match, once again focusing on the back on his opponent in hope to hit that devastating Quebec-Breaker.
Simultaneously, Finlay’s Lariats, Clotheslines [that Prazak and Race claimed, rightly, not being the same move] and a whole variety of brawling attacks took their toll on Martel, who escaped the Kneeling Reverse Piledriver position in two different occasions, pissing ‘The Model’ off further and further. After the second escape, Lanny even got to the apron, only to get knocked off it with an open-handed slap by Fit Finlay. Pop of the night, quite possibly.
Near the end, the ‘Belfast Bruiser’ was still being unable to hit one of his finishing moves and Martel kept tarnishing his back, with holds and Backbreaker variations. After a strike trade by both men, however, Lanny Poffo, unfortunately, ended up being the decider, distracting Finlay who went to hit him again, but failing and allowing Martel to try a quick pin. Finlay wasn’t going down that easily, though. But… after standing up, Martel caught him with a mid-section kick. Time for The Quebec-Breaker! 1…2… but Martel himself broke the pin, only to hit one more, for good measure. 1…2…3! Hell of a match.
Result: Martel [4] def. Finlay [1] - 15:48
Rating: 60



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8. Dan Severn (w/Paul Ellering) vs. Doug Gilbert
Maybe a little longer than it had to be, the main event didn’t disappoint. ‘The Beast’ came out last with a pissed off Doug Gilbert throwing audible insults at Harley Race at commentary, for not putting him in the Round Robin Challenge.
The bout started with a bang, with Gilbert going for the kill early on and taking the match to the outside in hopes of busting Severn up in the ring post just like he did to Michael Modest. No chance, though, those tricks wouldn’t slay ‘The Beast’. Even at ringside, Dan Severn got the control with an array of strikes and before the two-minute mark, the match could have ended in a count-out, if Severn wanted, after locking a Rear Naked Choke. He, however, released the hold before Gilbert tapping or passing out and the match continued.
Inside the ring, the flow of the match was kept: Gilbert using his evil intentions, forcing the referee to intervene or Severn to counter anything into submissions where no limb was sparred. Paul Ellering looked visibly impressed with Severn’s game, as well as with Gilbert’s resilience, as the ‘Dangerous’ athlete could have tapped out easily in more than one occasion. When Dan Severn locked in the Armbar, per example, credit must be given to Gilbert for managing to stand up, with Dan not releasing the hold until stomped in the head brutally.
The nail in the coffin came when Doug went for more than he should’ve. As Ellering went on to say: “don’t rake the eyes of a beast”. Gilbert did just that and took a beating for it: time for the Beast Choker, and the match was in the books! The crowd roared as Gilbert’s hand tapped Severn’s arm, forfeiting the bout.
Result: Severn def. Gilbert - 20:01
Rating: 55