Nigel McGuinness vs. Samoa Joe

[6.0] "This was pretty good, but certainly not the best that Nigel and Joe are capable of. I liked Nigel being as underhanded as he was to work around the Pure Title rules, but spots like the chair shot kind of lacked credibility to me. It felt very strange that blatantly hitting Joe with a chair would only cost him a rope break instead of just earning a disqualification. Still, I liked the story that they were going for and felt that it was at least interesting enough to keep me engaged throughout the match. There probably needed to do something a bit more to warrant a higher rating, but this worked fine to set up a potential rematch."

[6.0] "I enjoyed this mainly for how Nigel baits Joe into losing his cool by using closed fists behind the referees back. Not sure why using a chair only results in losing a rope break rather than an instant DQ in a Pure Rules match. In that case just twat your opponent in the head 3 times with a weapon safe in the knowledge you will merely lose your rope breaks before you pin him"

[8.0] "Match starts off with some feats of strength, chain grappling and striking exchanges. It takes exactly 1 (one) stiff kick from Joe to the chest for Nigel to start playing dirty. He masterfully woves in headlocks between left wrist locks (which he targets for most of the match) and clobbers Joe with some illegal closed fists behind the referee's back. In turn, Joe gets frustrated and clocks Nigel with a couple of jabs, leading to a rope break loss (I think). Joe then gets going and starts off his actual offense. I particularly liked the sequence of Joe countering the jawbreaker with a powerslam which Nigel later on avoids as well as the famous Joe walk away spot which was very crisp in this match with Nigel just barely missing Joe with a snap crossbody. I also thought the spot where Nigel countered a corner uranage with an arm drag because Joe was delivering it with his injured left arm to only then be caught with a right handed uranage in the opposite corner was just chef's kiss. Match starts picking up speed towards the end before Nigel catches Joe, who had previously used up all of his rope breaks, with a Tower of London. Very well executed match between the two that told a great story complemented by Pure Rules stupilation. [8.0/10]"

[6.0] "I thiught this was a really nice solid match involving thr Pure Rules. The Pure Rules are a tricky gimmick wrestlers sometimes struggle with adapting but Nigel and Joe do it well. Nigel baiting Joe in with the punches and the constant submission moves by the ropes to get Joe to waste his rope breaks. If Joe didn't get baited into the first lunch, his second punch would have been a warning and the foot on the ropes during the finish would have counted as a rope break. Nice touch to the finish. 3/5 Stars"

[7.0] "The archetypal Pure Rules story told by two of the best to work these matches. Classic heel work in the early going to lure Joe into throwing a closed fist punch, and then Nigel working Joe's arm throughout the match. Once Joe's three rope breaks are gone, Nigel then uses this to his advantage and the finish comes with Joe's foot on the ropes but this no longer being able to save him. A good start to Nigel's title reign, although not either's most memorable of ROH performances."

"Not a favorite from either of them, but it's an entertaining match. Nigel has a great understanding of how the rope breaks can be used to manipulate the match, and Joe's always consistently great no matter what match type he's in."

[6.0] "For me, the best thing about Pure matches is always the way that they work the rope breaks into the contest, and the way that this one works that directly into the finish is good, as is Joe's selling of the arm. Worth watching to see the beginning of a seriously epic run."

[7.0] "Pure rules has always been an interesting concept and while it may be confusing to the casual fan, real die hards would appreciate what ROH were trying with this match type. This match was no different as their styles meshed quite well. Ending was strange but built into longer term storylines for both men. Still, a technically sound match between two of the best at the time."

[6.0] "Ending felt a bit strange. The start was very impressive, I haven't seen many people be able to out wrestle Joe. The three rope break ruling was a little strange and felt a bit forced."

[8.0] "Another match that i have to say that i love, not the best of them together but it seems like a really nostlagic match and im here for it"

[6.0] "Definitely one of their weaker matches together. Crowd wasn't too into it, and it seemed like Joe was legitimately out of it after a chair shot to the head. Not to mention the fucked finish. I liked Nigel's psychology though as the Pure rules were definitely where he shined."