6 Ways Gabe Sapolsky's ROH Followed Paul Heyman's ECW Legacy

2. Abandoned Hardcore

As mentioned in the previous entry, Ring of Honor were a stark contrast from the extreme hardcore style that ECW was known for. Like CZW, ECW weren't exclusively hardcore but it was what they were most associated with. Likewise, Ring of Honor didn't completely disregard the extreme action as they occasionally held the likes of 'Fights Without Honor', Steel Cages matches and Ladder Matches. But the style that Ring of Honor is known for is pure technical wrestling. Even though it isn't remembered as much, ECW did feature the style with the likes of Jericho, Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, Malenko and Lance Storm. ROH made a reputation for prioritising straight-up wrestling, including having a Code Of Honor in place. The two biggest rules of the Code ensured the vast majority of contests ended cleanly (interference was banned) and competitors would shake hands before and after matches. The Pure Wrestling Championship took the style a step further by establishing new stipulations for its championship matches that put an even bigger emphasis on clean competition and a bigger tactical approach to trying to beat your opponent. The amount of rope breaks usable were limited to three and closed fists to the face were outlawed, the championship could also change hands on a count-out of disqualification.