The ROH Pure championship was won in the main event of tonight’s (Nov. 25) episode of Rampage when Wheeler Yuta resorted to cheating to defeat Katsuyori Shibata.
Earlier in the evening, Wheeler delivered a promo proclaiming himself as someone who will take advantage of Shibata’s 2017 brain injury to reclaim the Pure title. The commentators later emphasized that Shibata had suffered a life-threatening brain injury in 2017 after a match with Kazuchika Okada. Following that bout, Shibata collapsed and was rushed to the hospital where he was diagnosed with a subdural hematoma.
Despite not being cleared to compete again, Shibata has been a key figure for ROH this year as its Pure champion. However, his reign came to an end tonight when Wheeler struck him with a low blow and drove his head into the mat:
Understandably, Shibata was skeptical of Yuta’s gesture for a handshake after the match, so Wheeler delivered another low blow and slammed his head onto the mat once more. It was then that FTW Champion HOOK emerged to intervene.
As the show was concluding, Shibata appeared to be walking off without much trouble, but he suddenly dropped to his knees, clutching his head in pain. The commentators immediately observed that Shibata was in distress and remarked, “this is exactly what happened in 2017.”
What are your opinions on the outcome of this match, Cagesiders?
