ROH Classics: CM Punk vs AJ Styles for the Pure Championship, Xavier tribute, more!

Ring of Honor has more classic content for your delight. CM Punk and AJ Styles battled to become the first-ever Pure champion, tribute was paid to Xavier’s greatest moments, and Bobby Heenan clocked Jim Cornette with brass knuckles.

In preparation for the upcoming Pure Championship tournament, ROH Week by Week aired the complete bout between CM Punk and AJ Styles from the 2004 Pure Championship tournament finale to crown the inaugural title holder. The match was as good as you would expect. The unique rope-break rules provided an interesting layer of strategy. The grind of tournament fatigue also played a role in the story. The match kicks in at the 10:57 mark.

Time for some exciting news. The 2020 Pure tournament will begin airing on the weekend of September 12 for an 8-week run. Check here for ROH channel listings in your area.

Other free matches from ROH include:

• Adam Cole vs Matt Sydal vs Tommaso Ciampa vs Roderick Strong in Survival of the Fittest 2014 (here)
• Rush vs Silas Young at Glory By Honor 2019 (here)
• Episode #465 of ROH Wrestling (here) spotlighted Rhett Titus. Feature bouts include tagging with Kenny King against Adam Cole & Kyle O’Reilly and also against the Briscoes, as well as singles action against Jonathan Gresham.
• Episode #466 of ROH Wrestling (here) spotlighted the Allure with Angelina Love and Mandy Leon. Feature bouts include Leon vs Jenny Rose, Leon joining Love and Velvet Sky to form the Allure, Love vs Sumie Sakai, and Love & Leon vs Rose & Sakai.

The Honor List

After the unexpected death of Xavier earlier this month, ROH posted a tribute of his greatest moments in The Honor List. Xavier held the ROH World Championship for 182 days during 2002-2003. This countdown is a neat sample to experience Xavier’s flavor in the ring.

6. First ROH win at first ROH show
5. Retaining title against Jay Briscoe
4. Beating AJ Styles
3. Calling out Paul London
2. Returning to battle Daniel Bryan
1. Winning the ROH World Championship from Low Ki

In another edition of The Honor List, ROH promoted their Honor Club online video service with 10 must-see matches that were recently added. The highlights of the highlights were Colt Cabana’s humorous match reveal, Daniel Bryan using Homicide’s body to knock down lumberjacks, Jack Evans and Samoa Joe in a karate showdown, and Bobby Heenan clobbering Jim Cornette with brass knuckles.

10. CM Punk vs James Gibson (aka Jamie Noble)
9. Nigel McGuinness vs Colt Cabana in a Soccer Riot Match where ball shots are legal
8. James Gibson vs Rocky Romero
7. Homicide vs Daniel Bryan in a Lumberjack Match
6. Delirious vs Jack Evans vs Samoa Joe vs Kikutaro
5. CM Punk vs Jimmy Rave in a Cage Match
4. Matt Hardy vs Roderick Strong
3. Daniel Bryan vs Spanky (aka Brian Kendrick)
2. Team Heenan vs Team Cornette
1. Christopher Daniels vs Samoa Joe for the Pure Championship

For a little bit of fresh content, enjoy Josh Woods and Tracy Williams breaking down their signature moves. Woods was more about gloating his success of throwing people around, while Williams discussed his piledriver. Both of them will be participating in the Pure tournament.

We’ll close with a merch sale on headgear and outerwear.

What were your favorite memories of Xavier? Who would you desire most to hit Jim Cornette with brass knuckles in a wrestling ring to close 2020 with a bang?