From ROHWrestling.com:
FINAL BATTLE ’13 – THE BIGGEST EVENT OF THE YEAR
We are a little more than 24 hours away from FINAL BATTLE 2013. This year’s event features heated feuds that have been brewing for months, the unwelcome return of an icon, what might be the final appearance of an ROH legend – and a few surprises! Here is everything you need to know to get ready for our biggest showcase of the year:
Adam Page vs. Matt Hardy
In 2013, Matt Hardy and his cohorts in SCUM plotted to destroy Ring of Honor. We thought we were finally done with the self-proclaimed Icon, but Hardy recently turned up claiming his ROH contract guarantees one more appearance. Though he lobbied hard to be the mystery partner of Eddie Edwards, that isn’t going to happen.
But Matt Hardy’s loss is a HUGE gain for Adam Page! Still in his first year of ROH competition, Adam Page has been itching for the chance to break out. This is his biggest opportunity in Ring of Honor – in one of the most memorable venues in the country. Matt Hardy might not take him seriously yet, but Adam Page is more than ready to topple an Icon in New York City.
STRAP MATCH
Mark Briscoe vs. “Pro Wrestling’s Last Real Man” Silas Young
Silas Young claims to be the “Last Real Man in Professional Wrestling.” That boast could be challenged by any of the ROH locker room, but no one fits the bill quite like Mark Briscoe. The road from Sandy Fork has been filled with blood and broken bodies – just the missing teeth alone prove Mark Biscoe ain’t no pretty boy! So it comes as no surprise that these two athletes have their sights set on each other as Final Battle looms.
At Final Battle 2013, it will be Mark Briscoe vs. Silas Young in a STRAP MATCH. Nigel McGuinness has decided the only way to settle this grudge is to yoke these men together with a leather strap and let them whip, choke, and beat themselves until one is able to drag the other around the ring and touch all four corner-posts. On December 14, there will finally be something Mark Briscoe and Silas Young agree on: nothing makes you a man quicker than getting beaten with a strap!
Young Bucks (Nick & Matt Jackson) vs. Adrenaline RUSH (ACH & Tadarius Thomas)
This high flying matchup is sure to be one of the very best matches of the night on Saturday December 14th at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. At All-Star Extravaganza V in Toronto, Adrenaline RUSH picked up the win in a three way tag team contest against The Young Bucks and C&C Wrestle Factory. After this surprising victory, The Young Bucks haven’t been seen since in ROH. At Final Battle they return to avenge their loss to ACH and TaDarius Thomas.
Will The Young Buck’s brash personalities be too much for Adrenaline RUSH on ROH’s biggest stage? Or will ACH and TD be able to humble the ROH veterans? A win against one of the most accomplished tag teams in the world might just put Adrenaline RUSH in contention for the ROH World Tag team Championships. Which team will become a step closer to the gold? You can’t miss this one. It’s sure to be an exciting “rush” as four of the most unique, fast paced, high flying wrestlers in the world are inside an ROH ring at the same time!
STRETCHER MATCH – LOSER MUST STOP USING THE PILEDRIVER
Michael Bennett w/ Maria Kanellis vs. “Mr Wrestling” Kevin Steen
Kevin Steen thrives on violence. His matches are vicious – and his Ladder Wars are legendary. As a testament to his brutality, Steen chooses to utilize the Package Piledriver. It’s already been banned from Ring of Honor in the past. But that’s Kevin Steen: he feeds on violence on chaos. A year ago, Michael Bennett would have been the last person vying for Steen’s title as the resident expert on sickening, spine crunching destruction. The Prodigy had media appearances to worry about. But since he ditched his old nickname and his old trainer, Michael Bennett has transformed into a very different – very sadistic – man…and he’s been guided and encouraged by Maria Kanellis every step of the way. Now Michael Bennett has decided to showcase what has for decades been agreed upon as one of the most dangerous maneuvers in professional wrestling: The Piledriver. And he’s already ended one man’s career.
Whoever loses on December 14th will be BANNED from using the piledriver. After much deliberation, ROH officials have decided the only way to truly determine a winner in this match is to add one more stipulation. Steen vs. Bennett at Final Battle will be a STRETCHER MATCH. After months of trying to send each other to the hospital – or worse – Kevin Steen and Michael Bennett will finally have the sanctioned opportunity to find out which man is the true master of the piledriver…and which man will be leaving Final Battle on a stretcher.
ROH WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
Outlaw Inc. vs. reDRagon
When Nigel McGuinness named Prince Nana as the new ROH Talent Scout, he had to have anticipated a few…unexpected choices brought into the company. But what we’ve seen since Eddie Kingston and Homicide returned has left a lot of the ROH locker room and fans completely confused. Calling themselves Outlaw Inc, the formerly chaotic pair now wear suits and shake hands. There wasn’t a single bottle of Drano in sight while they helped set up the ring in Baltimore. According to Outlaw Inc, they’re here to HELP Nigel McGuinness. While others in ROH sully the traditions and honor of the company, Outlaw Inc intends to do everything perfectly right. Or so they say.
On the other hand, Tag Team Champions reDRagon don’t need a lesson in decorum – at least according to them. Fish and O’Reilly have declared themselves role models not just for tag team wrestling, but every facet of life. From physical fitness to winter fashion, reDRagon believe their way is the only way and everyone else is just hopelessly trying to catch up. According to reDRagon, while they are superior athletes destined to be champions forever, Outlaw Inc is just a pair of embarrassing slobs who would sooner pawn tag team titles than represent them properly.
By going toe-to-toe with some of the most technically proficient, talented wrestlers in history, Outlaw Inc proved to Ring of Honor and Nigel McGuiness that despite the clown masks and rainbow wigs, they are deadly serious about competing against the elite teams in this company. They’re ready for the best: whoever holds the ROH World Tag Team Championship. Right now…that’s reDRagon.
It’s clear that matchmaker Nigel McGuinness doesn’t entirely trust Eddie Kingston and Homicide – nor should he. But while Outlaw Inc is still trying to prove themselves honorable…or something like that…they’ve earned an officially sanctioned shot at reDRagon. This rivalry began in the Hammerstein Ballroom. On December 14, it heats up even more – and the ROH Tag Team Championship is at stake.
ROH WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP
Matt Taven w/ Truth Martini vs. “Sicilian Psychopath” Tommaso Ciampa
Since winning the Top Prospect Tournament, joining Truth Martini in the H.O.T., and defeating Adam Cole for the World Television Championship, Matt Taven has become one of the most decorated champions in the history of ROH. His is the longest reigning Television Champion, and he’s already beaten a long list of wrestlers to retain his gold. Matt Hardy, Mark Briscoe, Eddie Edwards, Roderick Strong, and Jay Lethal are just some of the names that he’s already had successful title defenses against. Taven looks to extend his record title reign at ROH’s biggest show of the year.
In 2012, Tommaso Ciampa and then-TV Champion Jay Lethal were embroiled in a heated feud. It seemed certain that Ciampa would dethrone Lethal – until he suffered a nearly career ending knee injury. Since returning from that injury last year, Tommaso Ciampa has made it his goal to capture ROH gold for the first time. Tommaso entered the ROH World Title Tournament after the title was vacated, and made it to the final four of the sixteen man competition.
Ciampa could be the biggest threat to Taven’s championship thus far. Tommaso seems to be obsessed with winning gold and won’t stop until he does just that. But Matt Taven’s athletic skill, and the Hoopla that he brings to the ring, has been too much for anyone to overcome thus far. It’s Taven vs. Ciampa one on one for the ROH World Televison Championship at Final Battle!
Jay Lethal & Roderick Strong vs. “Die Hard” Eddie Edwards & a Mystery Partner
Will Final Battle be the last time we see Eddie Edwards, the first man in ROH History to hold the World, TV and Tag Team Championships? New York City is where Edwards won his world title and the crowd in this city has always supported him. It’s only fitting that his last scheduled ROH match happen in the Hammerstein Ballroom.
It’s also fitting that his opponents be the team of Jay Lethal and Roderick Strong! Lethal and Strong have both fought memorable, classic wars against Eddie Edwards – in fact, Strong was the man Edwards defeated for the World Championship. But perhaps more importantly, Lethal and Strong represent the history and tradition of Ring of Honor. They are two of the most seasoned, elite athletes on the entire planet. The combination of Eddie Edwards, Jay Lethal, and Roderick Strong promises to result in an historic match everyone in attendance will remember for the rest of their lives.
But there is one last piece to this puzzle. And right now, only one man could tell us exactly how it fits. Nigel McGuinness has selected a tag partner for Eddie Edwards…but he won’t reveal who until Saturday night! McGuinness took the task of selecting a partner very seriously – and very personally. He respects Edwards not just as an athlete, but as a friend. Nigel has promised that his selection is well worth the price of admission, as well as worthy of teaming with our only Triple Crown Champion. The mystery will be solved at Final Battle!
ROH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
World Champion Adam Cole vs “Unbreakable” Michael Elgin vs. Jay Briscoe vs. Adam Cole –
The Final Battle main event will see Adam Cole defend his ROH World Championship in a triple threat match against both Jay Briscoe and “Unbreakable” Michael Elgin! All three men have legitimate claims to being the World Champion and they will finally clash in New York City!
Originally, Adam Cole was to defend his title in one-on-one match against Michael Elgin. ROH Matchmaker Nigel McGuinness announced at The Golden Dream that the winner of the main event between Kevin Steen and Jay Briscoe would be inserted into the ROH World Championship match at Final Battle. After multiple distractions from Cole himself, and from Maria Kanellis, Jay Briscoe defeated Kevin Steen with a Jay Driller. As promised by Nigel, Jay Briscoe will now receive his highly anticipated title match at Final Battle on Saturday December 14th at the Hammerstein Ballroom in the heart of New York City.
Adam Cole earned his ROH World Championship by winning the World Title Tournament after Jay Briscoe was forced to forfeit his championship. Due to the length of his injury, ROH officials were forced to strip Jay of the title. Thus began a massive 16 man tournament that eventually crowned Adam Cole the new champion. He defeated Michael Elgin in the finals of that tournament in controversial fashion. At one point it appeared that Elgin had Cole pinned, but the referee was out of position to count Cole’s shoulders down.
After Cole’s victory, Jay Briscoe came to the ring to the present the championship to him “like a man.” In cowardly fashion, Cole super kicked Briscoe from behind, and then went on to blast Elgin in the head with the championship belt. Being champion immediately brought upon a change in attitude to Cole as he’s been doing his best to stay away from Michael Elgin. However, in the Champions vs. All-Stars match at Glory By Honor, Elgin pinned Adam Cole thus becoming #1 contender at Final Battle. And with Jay Briscoe’s victory in Cincinnati, he to has found himself in the same match.
Jay Briscoe claims he’s the “real” World Champion, and has his own belt to prove it. “Unbreakable” Michael Elgin feels he’s been the uncrowned Champion for months. And Adam Cole? Adam Cole doesn’t really care what Briscoe, Elgin, or anyone else thinks – including the fans. As long as he’s the Ring of Honor World Champion, he’s untouchable.
Only one man deserves the right to be called ROH World Champion. At Final Battle we will find out which of these three men that will be. Will Adam Cole prove once and for all that he’s a legit champion that can overcome any obstacle? Will Jay Briscoe win back the championship that he never lost? Or will Michael Elgin finally realize his dream and win the gold for the first time in his illustrious career?
Final Battle will be presented LIVE at the historic Hammerstein Ballroom right in the middle of New York City. Be there on Saturday, December 14th for the biggest Ring of Honor show of the year!
Final Battle 2013
Saturday, Dec 14, 2013
7:30pm EST
Hammerstein Ballroom
311 West 34th Street – New York, NY