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Best in the World (2021)

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Best in the World (2021)
Promotional poster
PromotionRing of Honor
DateJuly 11, 2021
CityBaltimore, Maryland
VenueChesapeake Employers Insurance Arena
Attendance1,250 (paid)[1]
Pay-per-view chronology
← Previous
ROH 19th Anniversary Show 		Next →
Death Before Dishonor
ROH Best in the World chronology
← Previous
2019 		Next →
—

Best in the World (2021) was a professional wrestling event produced by American promotion Ring of Honor (ROH) that took place on Sunday, July 11, 2021 live on Pay-per-view. It emanated from the Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena (formerly known as the UMBC Event Center) in Baltimore, Maryland. It was the 11th event in the Best In The World chronology, and the first event since 2019, for the 2020 event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was also the first ROH event since Gateway To Honor on February 29, 2020 to have fans in attendance.[2][3]

Production

[edit]
Other on-screen personnel
Role: Name:
Commentators Ian Riccaboni
Caprice Coleman
Ring announcer Bobby Cruise
Backstage interviewer Denise Salcedo
Referees
Stephon Smith
Paul Turner
Mike Posey

Background

[edit]

Best in the World was announced by ROH to take place on July 11 on a Sunday (as opposed to the usual Friday). Along with the pay-per-view announcement, ROH stated that fans would be allowed to attend the event, making it the first attended event for ROH in nearly a year and a half, as ROH - after taking a five-month hiatus at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic - has held empty arena TV tapings and PPV broadcasts since August 2020.[4][5]

Storylines

[edit]

The event featured professional wrestling matches, which involve different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds, plots, and storylines that play out on ROH's television programs. Wrestlers portray villains or heroes as they follow a series of events that build tension and culminate in a wrestling match or series of matches.[6]

At ROH 19th Anniversary Show, after La Faccion Ingobernable's Rush successfully defended the ROH World Championship against The Foundation's Jay Lethal, Brody King would come out to interrupt post-match celebrations. In tow were Tony Deppen, Chris Dickinson, and ROH legend Homicide, who began laying waste to both The Foundation (Lethal, Tracy Williams, Rhett Titus, and Jonathan Gresham) and LFI (Rush, Kenny King, Dragon Lee, and La Bestia del Ring). The four men would form a new faction in ROH called VLNCE UNLTD (Violence Unlimited).[7] After various outside encounters between VLNCE UNLTD and The Foundation, the two factions met in an eight-man tag team match on the May 29 edition of Ring of Honor Wrestling, where King pinned Lethal to score the win for his group.[8] On the June 1 episode of ROH Week By Week, it was announced that King and Lethal will battle in a singles match at Best in the World.[9]

Also in the feud between the Foundation and VLNCE UNLTD, on June 12, after Tracy Williams and Rhett Titus defended the ROH World Tag Team Championship against LFI's Kenny King and Dragon Lee by disqualification after LFI ran in, VLNCE UNLTD were found on the entrance stage watching the two other factions brawl.[10] Afterwards, Chris Dickinson and Homicide jumped Williams and Titus backstage, prompting the latter to give the former a title shot at Best in the World - not in a Pure Rules match, but a Fight Without Honor.[11] However, Williams was involved in a real-life car accident in his hometown of Brooklyn, and so Jonathan Gresham was slotted in as his replacement.

At the 19th Anniversary Show, Dalton Castle defeated Josh Woods after Woods's tag team partner and mentor Silas Young hit Woods with a chair when Woods refused to use it on Castle. After the match, Young hovered over Woods' body, saying that he still has much to learn and that the chair shot was one of his new lessons.[7] On the May 15 episode of Ring of Honor Wrestling, Young pinned Woods while his feet were on the ropes, which he used to break the submission hold Woods put him in.[12] Angered that he knew Young couldn't beat him fairly, Woods challenged him to a Pure Rules Match. The match took place on June 5, with an extended 30-minute time limit, where Woods submitted Young.[13] However, in a post-match interview, Young dropped Woods to the ground, challenging him to a Last Man Standing match at Best in the World.[14]

On the February 20 episode of Ring of Honor Wrestling, Kenny King and Dragon Lee of LFI defeated The Briscoes (Mark Briscoe and Jay Briscoe) in a ROH World Tag Team Championship #1 contender's match, after Flip Gordon attacked Jay on behalf of Jay's rival EC3.[15] Over a month later, on May 8, Gordon and EC3 defeated The Briscoes after Gordon punched Mark with a chain-wrapped fist, away from the referee and EC3's vision.[16] Two weeks later, Gordon would call out ROH World Champion Rush to renew the title shot he won last February, only for EC3 to walk out and simply say to Gordon: "You Have Been Warned".[17] On June 11, it was announced on ROH's website that EC3 and Gordon will face off at Best in the World.[18]

At the 19th Anniversary Show, The Foundation's Tracy Williams won the ROH World Television Championship after defeating LFI's Kenny King, who competed in place of champion Dragon Lee after the latter needed surgery for a ruptured eardrum.[7] On May 1, Williams had his first title defense against VLNCE UNLTD's Tony Deppen but lost the match and the title.[19] On May 19, Lee and Williams got their rematch together as they faced Deppen in a three-way match for the championship. There, Deppen pinned Williams to retain, despite Lee being close enough to break it.[20] Feeling as though Lee is the rightful #1 contender due to not being pinned, LFI challenged Deppen to a title match at Best in the World. On the June 22 edition of Week by Week, the match was official.[21]

On the June 26 episode of Ring of Honor Wrestling, Bandido won the 2021 Survival of the Fittest tournament, last eliminating Chris Dickinson and Eli Isom consecutively in the six-man elimination match finals[22] to earn an ROH World Championship match against reigning champion Rush at Best in the World.[23]

On June 24 on ROH's YouTube Channel, Mike Bennett won a Pure Rules Gauntlet match by eliminating World Famous CB, Joe Keys, and lastly P. J. Black.[24] On the June 29 edition of Week by Week, it was announced that Bennett will challenge for the ROH Pure Championship at Best in the World, facing the winner of champion Jonathan Gresham and challenger Fred Yehi - winner of the first Pure Gauntlet - that would take place on July 3.[25] On that date, Gresham would successfully defend against Yehi,[26] making the match Gresham vs. Bennett at the event.[27]

On the April 24 episode of Ring of Honor Wrestling, Eli Isom and Dak Draper wrestled to a time limit draw. They were about to wrestle for five more minutes until the arena lights went out. Out came Dalton Castle, fresh off a win at the 19th Anniversary Show against Josh Woods, and with newfound flair and confidence. Wanting to "improve" on the showmanship of ROH's television program, he attempted to take Draper and Isom under his wing, before giving the two upstarts low blows as a "wake-up call".[10] Two months later on June 12, Draper and Isom had a rematch, this time a Survival of the Fittest qualifying match. Again, Castle would come to the ring, this time before the match to scout their abilities and flashiness. Draper especially wanted to impress Castle, but his attempts - coupled with Castle leaving before the finish - allowed Isom to qualify for the finals.[28] On ROH's YouTube channel July 1, Castle revealed that he brokered a deal with ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Champion Shane Taylor to have a title match at Best in the World where he, Draper, and Isom go against Shane Taylor Promotions (Taylor and the Soldiers of Savagery, Moses and Kaun).[29]

The show revealed of the brackets for the tournament to crown the first ROH Women's World Champion and the championship belt itself, presented by ROH Board of Directors member Maria Kanellis-Bennett and former ROH ring announcer Lenny Leonard.

Results

[edit]
No.ResultsStipulationsTimes[33]
1PRey Horus defeated Demonic FlamitaSingles match[30]9:45
2PDanhausen and PCO defeated The Bouncers (Brian Milonas and Beer City Bruiser) (with Ken Dixon)Tag team match[31]9:10
3The Briscoe Brothers (Jay Briscoe and Mark Briscoe) defeated Brian Johnson and P. J. BlackTag team match[32]8:10
4EC3 defeated Flip GordonSingles match[18]11:15
5Shane Taylor Promotions (Shane Taylor, Moses and Kaun) (c) (with O'Shay Edwards) defeated Dalton Castle, Eli Isom and Dak DraperSix-man tag team match for the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship[29]10:50
6Josh Woods defeated Silas YoungLast Man Standing match[14]13:45
7Brody King defeated Jay Lethal (with Tracy Williams)Singles match[9]10:45
8Jonathan Gresham (c) defeated Mike BennettPure wrestling rules match for the ROH Pure Championship[27]19:21
9Dragon Lee (with La Bestia del Ring) defeated Tony Deppen (c)Singles match for the ROH World Television Championship[21]10:10
10Violence Unlimited (Chris Dickinson and Homicide) defeated The Foundation (Jonathan Gresham and Rhett Titus) (c)Fight Without Honor for the ROH World Tag Team Championship[11]11:45
11Bandido defeated Rush (c)Singles match for the ROH World Championship[23]16:00
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match
P – the match was broadcast on the pre-show

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ Attendance for Best in the World... - 411 Mania.com
  2. ^ "ROH WELCOMES BACK FANS AT BEST IN THE WORLD PAY-PER-VIEW!". ROHWrestling.com. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  3. ^ Gangon, Joshua (May 17, 2021). "ROH Announces Best In The World PPV To Have Live Crowd". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  4. ^ Revens, Andrew (May 17, 2021). "ROH To Welcome Back Fans At Best In The World PPV". EWrestling News. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  5. ^ Upton, Felix (May 17, 2021). "ROH ANNOUNCES RETURN OF LIVE FANS FOR BEST IN THE WORLD PAY-PER-VIEW". Ringside News. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  6. ^ Grabianowski, Ed (13 January 2006). "How Pro Wrestling Works". HowStuffWorks, Inc. Discovery Communications. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  7. ^ a b c Sedor, Sean (March 28, 2021). "ROH 19TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW (MARCH 26) RESULTS & REVIEW". Voice of Wrestling. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  8. ^ "ROH TV RECAP: VIOLENCE UNLIMITED TAKES DOWN THE FOUNDATION IN EIGHT-MAN TAG BATTLE". ROHWrestling.com. May 31, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  9. ^ a b "JAY LETHAL AND BRODY KING CLASH IN FIRST SINGLES MEETING AT BEST IN THE WORLD". ROHWrestling.com. June 1, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  10. ^ a b "ROH RECAP: VIOLENCE UNLIMITED, LA FACCION INGOBERNABLE SIX-MAN TAG ENDS IN CHAOS; FOUNDATION JOINS MELEE". ROH Wrestling. April 27, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  11. ^ a b "WILLIAMS AND TITUS GO TO WAR WITH DICKINSON AND HOMICIDE IN FIGHT WITHOUT HONOR FOR ROH WORLD TAG TITLE AT BEST IN THE WORLD". ROH Wrestling. July 8, 2021. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  12. ^ "ROH TV RECAP: SILAS YOUNG STEALS ONE FROM JOSH WOODS". ROHWrestling.com. May 17, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  13. ^ "ROH TV RECAP: JOSH WOODS BESTS SILAS YOUNG IN INTENSE PURE RULES MATCH; FLAMITA TOPPLES REY HORUS IN SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST QUALIFIER". ROHWrestling.com. June 7, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  14. ^ a b "JOSH WOODS, SILAS YOUNG COLLIDE IN LAST MAN STANDING MATCH AT BEST IN THE WORLD". ROHWrestling.com. June 8, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  15. ^ "ROH TV RECAP: SHANE TAYLOR PROMOTIONS WINS WORLD SIX-MAN TAG TEAM TITLE!". ROH Wrestling. February 22, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  16. ^ "ROH TV RECAP: ANGELINA LOVE ESCAPES WITH TAINTED WIN OVER QUINN MCKAY, RECEIVES FIRST-ROUND BYE IN WOMEN'S TITLE TOURNAMENT". ROHWrestling.com. May 10, 2021. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  17. ^ "ROH TV RECAP: TRACY WILLIAMS AND RHETT TITUS RETAIN WORLD TAG TEAM BELTS AGAINST OGK; MATT TAVEN ATTACKED BACKSTAGE BEFORE MATCH". ROHWrestling.com. May 24, 2021. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  18. ^ a b "EC3 HAS 'THE MERCENARY' FLIP GORDON IN HIS CROSSHAIRS AT BEST IN THE WORLD". ROHWrestling.com. June 11, 2021. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  19. ^ "ROH RECAP: TONY DEPPEN WINS ROH WORLD TELEVISION TITLE FROM TRACY WILLIAMS!". ROH Wrestling. May 3, 2021. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  20. ^ "ROH TV RECAP: TONY DEPPEN RETAINS TV TITLE IN TRIPLE THREAT; BANDIDO ADVANCES IN SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST". ROH Wrestling. June 22, 2021. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  21. ^ a b "TONY DEPPEN PUTS ROH WORLD TELEVISION TITLE ON THE LINE AGAINST DRAGON LEE AT BEST IN THE WORLD". ROH Wrestling. June 22, 2021. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  22. ^ "ROH TV RECAP: BANDIDO SURVIVES ATTACK BY DEMONIC FLAMITA TO WIN FITTEST FINAL". ROH Wrestling. June 29, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  23. ^ a b "BANDIDO CHALLENGES RUSH FOR ROH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AT BEST IN THE WORLD". ROH Wrestling. June 29, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  24. ^ "MIKE BENNETT WINS PURE GAUNTLET, SAYS HE'S COMING FOR PURE TITLE". ROH Website. June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  25. ^ "MIKE BENNETT GETS SHOT AT PURE TITLE AT BEST IN THE WORLD". ROH Wrestling. June 30, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  26. ^ "ROH TV RECAP: JAY AND MARK BRISCOE WAGE WAR ON THE FARM; JONATHAN GRESHAM RETAINS PURE TITLE AGAINST FRED YEHI". ROH Wrestling. July 6, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  27. ^ a b "MIKE BENNETT SEEKS RESPECT, REDEMPTION AND PURE TITLE WHEN HE CHALLENGES JONATHAN GRESHAM AT BEST IN THE WORLD". ROH Wrestling. July 6, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  28. ^ "ROH TV RECAP: WILLIAMS AND TITUS RETAIN TAG TITLE BY DQ OVER LEE AND KING, CHAOS ENSUES; ISOM TOPS DRAPER IN SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST QUALIFIER". ROH Wrestling. June 15, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  29. ^ a b "CASTLE, DRAPER AND ISOM CHALLENGE FOR ROH WORLD SIX-MAN TAG TITLE AGAINST SHANE TAYLOR PROMOTIONS AT BEST IN THE WORLD". ROH Wrestling. July 1, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  30. ^ "FORMER PARTNERS REY HORUS, DEMONIC FLAMITA CLASH AT BEST IN THE WORLD". ROH Wrestling. June 5, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  31. ^ "PCO AND DANHAUSEN MEET THE BOUNCERS AT BEST IN THE WORLD". ROH Wrestling. June 5, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  32. ^ "REUNITED BRISCOES BATTLE PJ BLACK AND BRIAN JOHNSON AT BEST IN THE WORLD". ROH Wrestling. July 7, 2021. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  33. ^ Powell, Jason (July 11, 2021). "7/11 ROH Best in the World results: Powell's live review of Rush vs. Bandido for the ROH Title, Jonathan Gresham vs. Mike Bennett for the ROH Pure Championship, Tony Deppen vs. Dragon Lee for the ROH TV Title, Jay Lethal and Rhett Titus vs. Chris Dickinson and Homicide in a Fight Without Honor for the ROH Tag Titles". prowrestling.net. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
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