Ring of Honor Final Battle PPV
December 8, 2014 (Taped on December 7, 2014)
New York City (Terminal 5)
Commentators: Kevin Kelly, Steve Corino, Nigel McGuinness
Recap by: Jason Namako of Wrestleview.com
We start with a video package highlighting all the big moments for ROH this year, then go to the opening match. The Terminal 5 venue has a video wall at the entrance, with new titantrons being shown for the wrestlers.
Four Corner Survival: Mark Briscoe vs. Caprice Coleman vs. “The Zombie Princess” Jimmy Jacobs w/BJ Whitmer vs. “The War Beard” Hanson
“Man Up” chants for Mark before the bell. Code of Honor before the bell by everybody but Jacobs. Mark & Coleman start. Mark takes control early. Coleman with a dropkick and a rana, but Mark blocks the 1-Inch Punch. Jacobs tags in on Mark and wants Hanson. Hanson tags in on Coleman. Shoving match ensues, then Hanson shoves down Jacobs. Jacobs with chops, but they have no effect on Hanson. Hanson shoves Jacobs down again. Jacobs tags in Coleman. Hanson blocks an armdrag, but Coleman with 2 dropkicks, although Hanson does not go down. Hanson with a side slam to Coleman. Mark tags in on Coleman. Mark & Hanson go nose-to-nose and exchange strikes, Hanson gains advantage. Mark clotheslines Hanson to the outside. Hanson pulls Mark out with him and sends him into the barricade. Coleman with the 619 around the ringpost to Hanson. Hanson catches Jacobs off a slingshot plancha, boots Coleman down, but Mark wipes out Hanson with a Blockbuster off the apron! Back in, Mark with a crane kick to Hanson for a 1 count. Coleman tags in on Mark. Hook kick and a spinning axe kick to Hanson by Coleman, followed by a Leaping Edge O’Matic. Jacobs shoves Coleman off the turnbuckles and tags himself in. Back senton off the top by Jacobs to Hanson, Mark breaks up the pin. Spinning front slam by Hanson to Jacobs for a nearfall. Series of chest clubs by Hanson to Jacobs in the corner, followed by a Bronco Buster, Coleman breaks up the pin. Inward Ace Crusher by Jacobs to Hanson, Mark tags in, Uncle Mule Kick to Jacobs. Mark with Redneck Kung Fu to Hanson, Hanson clotheslines Coleman, then Mark clotheslines Hanson. Jacobs with the Spear to Mark and Coleman, but Hanson catches Jacobs and powerbombs him. Hanson with the Cartwheel Clothesline to Mark. Coleman with the 1-Inch Punch to Hanson, who eventually goes down. No-Hands Rana by Coleman to Mark, who was on the middle rope. Trinity by Coleman to Jacobs, then completes it with a Double Northern Lights to Jacobs & Mark! Hanson wipes out Jacobs & Mark with a Tope Suicida! Coleman wipes out Hanson with the Inside-Out Moonsault!
Back in, Spin Kick of Doom by Hanson to Coleman for the win.
Winner: “The War Beard” Hanson by pinfall (Spin Kick of Doom)
Hanson celebrates his win afterward.
THOUGHTS: Fun 4-way opener. Mark Briscoe brought his usual fare, Coleman continues to fly under the radar with how impressive he is, Jacobs was solid and man, Hanson is on the cusp of being a big deal in ROH. Good stuff.
We see video on the Adam Page-Roderick Strong rivalry before our next match.
Jacobs is still in the ring and says in every young wrestler’s career, he gets an opportunity to grab the brass ring. We’ve all had it, those nights were you live and die before your sword. And there is a kid tonight that maybe has that chance……
Whitmer cuts off Jacobs and says its not a possibility, tonight, that kid takes his rightful spot as a full-fledged member of the Decade, Adam Page!
Student vs. Mentor: Adam Page w/BJ Whitmer & Jimmy Jacobs vs. “Mr. Ring of Honor” Roderick Strong
No Code of Honor here. Strong with chops early to Page, but Page fights back and works over Strong in the corner. Strong catches Page with a dropkick. Strong stomps away at Page in the corner. Backbreaker by Strong, but Page chokes him in the corner and begins to take control. Strong sends Page to the outside, then wipes out with a running dropkick through the ropes! More chops by Strong on the outside, Page sent into the barricade. Strong backdrops Page into the crowd, but Whitmer distracts Strong, allowing Page to hit Strong with the Flip-Over Clothesline, using the barricade this time instead of the ropes. Back in, Page continues to work over Strong, using the forearm rakes in the corner and biting Strong. Jacobs joins commentary. Page gains a nearfall. Page with a kneelift to Strong from the apron, followed by a draping swinging neckbreaker for a nearfall. Strong fights back, but Page regains control. Strong comes back with another dropkick. Strong with a neckbreaker-style clothesline, followed by more chops. Whitmer grabs at Strong’s leg, but Strong knocks him off the apron, then wipes him out with another through-the-ropes running dropkick! Page goes for the Shooting Star off the apron, but Strong avoids it, lifts up Page in Torture Rack position, then drops him back-first across the apron! Back in, Strong with a running knee to Page in the corner, followed by a running forearm and an Olympic Slam for a nearfall. Strong goes for Death by Roderick, but Page slips out. Snap slam by Page for a nearfall. Strong this time hits Death by Roderick for a nearfall. Page sent onto the apron, but Strong avoids the Flip-Over Clothesline and hits the Sick Kick for a nearfall. Strong spits at Whitmer, then hits more chops on Page. They head up top, but Page blocks a Super Backbreaker. Page then with a Super Swinging Neckbreaker to Strong for a nearfall. Strike exchange, Page gains advantage. Strong with an enziguri, Page with a superkick, then this time hits the Flip-Over Clothesline from the apron for a nearfall. Another strike exchange, Page gains advantage again, but Strong with 2 leaping knees, followed by the End of Heartache!
Stronghold applied by Strong, Whitmer yells at Page not to tap as Strong puts more torque on the hold, Page passes out, ref stops the match.
Winner: “Mr. Ring of Honor” Roderick Strong via referee stoppage (Stronghold)
Strong celebrates his win and leaves as Jacobs & Whitmer check on Page. Page is helped up and Jacobs shakes his hand. Whitmer goes outside and grabs Corino’s headset from him and the two get into a shoving match before being held back by attendants. Crowd chants for Corino.
THOUGHTS: Good showcase to spotlight the progression of Page over the last year. Strong did a good job of making Page look good, while busting out his standard fare of high-impact offense. Post-match angle with Whitmer and Corino continues their tease of a future match down the line.
We see video on the Michael Elgin-Tommaso Ciampa rivalry.
“Unbreakable” Michael Elgin vs. “The Sicilian Psychopath” Tommaso Ciampa
Elgin comes out to new music. Commentary mentions the Zero Tolerance Policy that Nigel has on Ciampa where if he touches an official again, he is fired from ROH. Code of Honor before the bell. Strike exchange as the bell sounds, Ciampa gains advantage. Elgin fights back, but Ciampa regains advantage. They exchange strikes again, then hit each other at the same time multiple times. Elgin with a big boot, then clothesline shots in the corner. Ciampa comes back with a Schoolboy Driver in the corner. Running Knockout Knee by Ciampa to Elgin in the corner as the kneepad is dropped down. Another Running Knockout Knee by Ciampa. Elgin comes back and goes for the delayed suplex, but Ciampa gets free by applying the Testicular Claw! Elgin then is able to get free and hits Ciampa with a suplex. They fight on the turnbuckles, then Elgin with a front kick that drapes Ciampa across the middle rope. Elgin heads up top, somersault leg drop to Ciampa! Elgin heads back up top, top rope splash to Ciampa for a nearfall. Elgin goes for a Double Arm DDT, but Ciampa drives himself and Elgin through the ropes and to the outside to block it. Ciampa sends Elgin into the barricade, then charges, but runs into a forearm by Elgin. Elgin then with a Russian Leg Sweep to Ciampa into the barricade! Elgin breaks the referee’s count, then sets up the ringside table to put Ciampa through it. They go onto the apron and Elgin goes to powerbomb Ciampa through the table, but Ciampa counters it, AIR RAID CRASH ON THE APRON!! Back in, Ciampa gains a nearfall. They head up top, but Elgin slips out of a Super Air Raid Crash and crotches Ciampa on the middle turnbuckle. Spinning Backfist by Elgin, then he brings Ciampa out of the corner and hits a Crucifix Dominator! ELGIN BOMB, but CIAMPA KICKS OUT!! Elgin can’t believe it! Ciampa with a Knockout Knee to Elgin, but Elgin with an enziguri, followed by a Buckle German! Elgin heads up top, but Ciampa grabs him from underneath. PROJECT CIAMPA, but now its ELGIN WHO KICKS OUT! Ciampa can’t believe it! Ciampa sets up the table on the outside, then heads up top with Elgin. Ciampa goes for a Superplex through the table, but Elgin knocks Ciampa onto the apron. Ciampa knocks Elgin off the ropes, then heads back up, but Elgin with another enziguri. Elgin heads back up with Ciampa, Super Belly-to-Belly by Elgin! Elgin now drops his kneepad and knee brace and goes to mock Ciampa by doing Ciampa’s Running Knockout Knee, but Ciampa catches it! Elgin with a Ripchord Forearm and another Spinning Backfist. Elgin mocks Ciampa and yells “you ain’t nothin’!” Elgin off the ropes, but Ciampa turns him inside out with a clothesline for a nearfall. Elgin rolls through another Project Ciampa attempt and hits Ciampa with a Buckle Bomb! Ciampa fires right out and goes for a clothesline, but Elgin ducks and Ciampa wipes out the referee! Ciampa is instantly upset by what he did and Nigel gets up from commentary, angry by what he has seen Ciampa do. Ciampa tries to explain himself, but Nigel walks off to the back. Ciampa is distracted, allowing Elgin to hit a big boot and a clothesline, but Ciampa KICKS OUT AT ONE!
Impaler-style Double Arm DDT by Elgin for the win.
Winner: “Unbreakable” Michael Elgin by pinfall (Impaler Double Arm DDT)
Commentary wonders if Ciampa is going to be fired by Nigel afterwards for hitting the official, albeit it accidental. Elgin yells to the camera that he is making ROH look like a fool and he wants his title back.
THOUGHTS: This was right in my wheelhouse of #HOSSDivision-style slugfest of a match that these two have done before and while this was the weakest of their three matches in ROH, this was still a lot of fun to watch. Angle towards the end with the Zero Tolerance Policy and Ciampa accidentally clotheslining the ref and Nigel getting upset and leaving was very well done. If you like mean-guy matches like I do, you’ll enjoy this.
Video shows that ROH is back on PPV on March 1, 2015 with the 13th Anniversary show in Las Vegas.
6-Man Tag: The Addiction (“The Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels & Kazarian) & Cedric Alexander vs. The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) & “The Last Hero” ACH
Cedric comes out with the Addiction, sporting goggles that Daniels is known for wearing on his entrance. ACH then comes out with the Bucks, sporting a Bullet Club t-shirt. Crowd chants for the Bucks before the bell, then chants “Superkick.”
Nick & Cedric start. Series of pin attempts early for 1 counts. Cedric avoids a superkick and hits a dropkick. Matt in, gutbuster to Cedric, then the Bucks with the flipping neckbreaker/backbreaker combo for a nearfall. Cedric with a spinning headscissors, then wipes out Matt with a flip dive on the outside! Back in, Daniels tags in. Crowd chants for Daniels. Kazarian in, kick/rabbit lariat/back senton combo by the Addiction for a nearfall. Daniels in, gut shot/flipping neckbreaker combo by the Addiction for a 1 count. Matt drives Daniels into his corner and stomps away at him. ACH in, shows off his agility, dropkick to Daniels. Matt in, handspring back rake to Daniels in the corner. Nick in, but Daniels with a STO. Cedric in, Matt takes a shot at Cedric, then avoids Cedric going for a plancha. Backflip headscissors/PK combo by the Bucks to Cedric from the apron. Back in, ACH tags in, leaping kneedrop to Cedric for a nearfall. Backflip kick by ACH onto the apron, then one sending him to the outside on Cedric, but then the Addiction with a double hiptoss slam to ACH on the outside! Back in, Cedric gains a nearfall. Running basement dropkick to the back of ACH’s head by Cedric for a nearfall. Kazarian in, Daniels with a slingshot elbow, Kazarian with a slingshot legdrop, Cedric with a slingshot senton to ACH. Kazarian gains a nearfall. ACH misses on two kick attempts to Kazarian, but the third time is the charm as he hits Kazarian with a Windmill Kick. Matt in, clotheslines Daniels to the outside, then hits a through-the-ropes dropkick to him. Matt sends Nick onto the apron, Nick with a Tornado DDT off the apron to Daniels! Matt goes outside, SUPERKICK to Cedric! Back in, Matt heads up top, Orihara Moonsault wipes out Kazarian & Cedric! Nick heads up top, top rope splash/standing moonsault combo by the Bucks on Daniels, Kazarian breaks it up. Kazarian sent to the apron, backflip headscissors/running dropkick combo by the Bucks knocks him off the apron. Bucks with a head of steam, wipes out Kazarian & Cedric with stereo tope suicidas! Daniels goes onto the apron, Arabian Press wipes out the Bucks! ACH with a head of steam, AIR JORDAN WIPES OUT EVERYONE!! “ROH” chants by the crowd. Back in, Matt with a top rope elbow to Daniels for a nearfall. Addiction with an Assisted Inverted Curb Stomp to Matt for a nearfall. Daniels goes for the Angels’ Wings on Matt, but Matt counters out with a rana. ACH in, heads up top, Dum-Dum Stomp to Daniels for a nearfall. ACH goes for the Hero’s Grip, but Daniels fights out. Cedric in, ACH avoids a springboard, but Cedric catches him with a Michinoku Driver, Nick breaks up the pin. Cedric with shots to the Bucks, but Nick with a spinning back elbow. Assisted Shiranui by the Bucks, Addiction break up the pin. Spinning back elbow by Nick to Kazarian. Buckle Bomb/Enziguri combo by the Bucks to Daniels. Codebreaker by Kazarian to Matt. Kazarian slingshots Nick back in and catches him coming in with an Ace Crusher. ACH then with a Spring-In Flatliner to Kazarian. ACH misses 2 kicks on Cedric, who then hits him with a Windmill Kick. SUPERKICK by Matt to Cedric! Angels Wings by Daniels to Matt! SUPERKICK by Nick to Daniels! EVERYONE IS DOWN!! “ROH” chants by the crowd. Nick with running knees to Kazarian & Daniels in the corner. ACH Monkey Flips Kazarian out of the corner and the Bucks treat him to a Superkick Party! Daniels with a double clothesline to the Bucks, then turns ACH inside out with a palm strike! Standing Urnangi by Daniels, then goes for the BME, but ACH gets his boot up! TRIPLE SUPERKICK by the Bucks & ACH to Daniels! Springboard crossbody by Cedric wipes out the Bucks & ACH! Concussions on Delivery by Cedric to the Bucks & ACH in 3 separate corners! Cedric places ACH up top and goes for a Super Rana, but ACH blocks it half-way! SUPERKICK PARTY by the Bucks while Cedric was hanging upside down! Matt grabs Cedric from off the turnbuckles while Nick goes onto the apron! SPECULATORY SPECULATORIES DRIVER!!!
ACH off the top, MIDNIGHT STAR!!! 1-2-3! WHAT A MATCH!!!
Winners: The Young Bucks & ACH by pinfall (The Midnight Star)
Bucks & ACH celebrate their win afterward. “That was awesome” chants by the crowd.
THOUGHTS: Just god-damn insanity. ACH looked sensational, Cedric looked very good here, Addiction continues to show their veteran prowess as a team and the Bucks are simply put, the best tag-team in pro wrestling today. This was fantastic.
We see video on the RD Evans-MOOSE rivalry heading into our next match.
Grudge Match: MOOSE w/Stokely Hathaway & Prince Nana vs. RD Evans
Veda Scott does not come out with RD for his entrance. MOOSE extends his hand for the Code of Honor with a smirk on his face, but RD slaps him. RD with a series of chops early, but MOOSE catches him with a dropkick. RD goes up & over onto the apron and pulls down the top rope, sending MOOSE to the outside. MOOSE catches RD off a slingshot plancha, lifts him up and F-5’s him into the ringpost! MOOSE sends RD into the barricade, then grabs him by the legs and swings him repeatedly into the barricade! We then see Veda Scott make her way to the ring, with tears in her eyes. Back in, MOOSE with a back body drop. RD fights back with a discus slap, but then MOOSE with a big clothesline. MOOSE stands on RD’s chest and gains a nearfall. MOOSE runs into a back elbow and a boot by RD in the corner, then RD with a flying kick in the corner. RD neckbreakers MOOSE across the top rope, then tries for a springboard and slips on the ropes, but still knocks down MOOSE. RD heads up top, flying shoulder tackle to MOOSE. RD heads up top again and leaps off, but MOOSE catches him with a gut shot. RD fights out of a side slam, then hits a reverse DDT for a nearfall. RD locks MOOSE in the Sharpshooter, but Hathaway & Nana throw in a chair. Referee catches this, goes outside and ejects them from ringside, but it causes RD to release the hold. MOOSE goes for the Hit Stick on RD, but Veda comes in and blocks his path. Veda then nails RD with a low blow!
Hit Stick by MOOSE to RD for the win.
Winner: MOOSE by pinfall (The Hit Stick)
MOOSE, Nana & Hathaway celebrate his win afterward as Veda says to the camera that she can no longer be affiliated with a loser like RD. Veda gets in and shakes hands with Nana and Hathaway. Nana gets the mic and says that karma, my friends, is a b***h! Referee helps RD out of the ring.
THOUGHTS: Decent match. Thought MOOSE looked pretty good on the power end. RD purposely botching the springboard is something he has done many times in CHIKARA, but as my past adage has always said, some things can be done only in CHIKARA, they don’t work in other places and the crowd thought he just botched, which took them out of the remainder of the match. Veda turning was very predictable, but still was executed well. Just OK overall this was due to the crowd being deflated towards the end.
We see video on the Matt Sydal-Jay Lethal rivalry heading into our next match.
Ring of Honor Television Title: #Reborn Matt Sydal vs. “The First-Generation Wrestler” Jay Lethal (c) w/Truth Martini & J. Diesel
Code of Honor before the bell. Dueling chants as the bell sounds by the crowd for both men. Chain wrestling early. Lethal with a shoulder tackle, avoids a leaping kick by Sydal, Sydal avoids Lethal Injection and we have a stalemate. Lethal works over Sydal, but then Sydal with a wheelbarrow armdrag. Another armdrag by Sydal, followed by a Monkey Flip. Lethal heads up top with Sydal, but Sydal kicks him off. Sydal goes for the Shooting Star Press, but Lethal rolls outside to avoid it and regroups with the House of Truth. Back in, Lethal stomps away at Sydal and taunts the crowd. Sydal comes back with a running rana and a flying kick. Spinning heel kick by Sydal for a nearfall. Lethal hot-shots Sydal from the apron. Sydal counters a double sledge off the top by Lethal with a knee to the ribs. Series of leg kicks by Sydal, then a through-the-ropes running dropkick to Lethal when he goes outside. Sydal heads up top, but Diesel pulls Lethal out of harm’s way. Back in, Lethal tries to attack Sydal from behind, but Sydal knocks him down, standing moonsault for a nearfall. Lethal then crotches Sydal on the top rope, sending Sydal crashing down to the mat. Lethal with more stomps to Sydal, front elbow drop for a nearfall. Sydal fights back, but Martini pulls down the top rope, sending Sydal to the outside. Sydal grabs Martini, but then Lethal wipes him out with a tope suicida! Lethal gets back in, head of steam, another tope suicida to Sydal! Lethal then places Sydal on the apron and puts his feet on him to allow Martini to take a selfie. Back in, Sydal counters a back suplex with a crossbody for a nearfall. Backslide by Sydal for a nearfall. Lethal avoids a leg drop by Sydal, chokes him with his knee in the ropes. Slam by Lethal for a nearfall. Crowd wills on Sydal. Sydal fights back, then rolls through a Sunset Flip attempt and hits a double stomp. Sydal with more kicks to Lethal, followed by a leaping kick. Leaping knee by Sydal for a nearfall. Reverse DDT/Legdrop combo by Sydal for a nearfall. Lethal catches Sydal charging in, Lethal Combination for a nearfall. Another slam by Lethal, heads up top, but Sydal gets the boots up off Hail to the King! Lethal hits the Lethal Execution, then heads back up top, this time hits Hail to the King, but SYDAL KICKS OUT! Lethal can’t believe it! Lethal goes for the Lethal Injection, but Sydal avoids it and hits another running rana! Sit-out clothesline by Sydal in the corner, then he heads up top and hits Meteora! Sydal heads back up top, SHOOTING STAR PRESS!!! 1-2…..MARTINI PULLS OUT REFEREE TODD SINCLAIR!! Sydal chases Martini, then nails Diesel with a flying kick! Back in, Martini goes to hit Sydal with the Book of Truth, but Sydal nails him with a spin kick! Sydal heads up top and goes to hit Martini with the Shooting Star Press, but Lethal catches him on the way down with an Ace Crusher!!
LETHAL INJECTION!! 1-2-3!
Winner and STILL Ring of Honor Television Champion: “The First-Generation Wrestler” Jay Lethal by pinfall (Lethal Injection)
The House of Truth celebrates Lethal’s title retention afterwards.
THOUGHTS: Very good match. Lethal adds another notch to his resume for this year, putting on another great heel champion performance. Sydal looked very good and this was the match he needed in ROH since coming back to the company. while the interference at the end some may not be a fan of, the falsie off the Shooting Star Press came off great. Hats off to Lethal & Sydal.
Ring of Honor Tag Team Titles: The Time-Splitters (Alex Shelley & KUSHIDA) vs. IWGP Jr. Tag Team Champions reDRagon (Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly) (c’s)
This is the third match between these two teams. First match was at New Japan’s G1 Climax Finals in August at Seibu Dome, Time-Splitters won. Second match was last month at New Japan’s Power Struggle, reDRagon won and won Time Splitters’ IWGP Jr. Tag Titles. Code of Honor before the bell.
O’Reilly & KUSHIDA start. Chain wrestling early. Both go for cross armbreakers and we have a stalemate. Fish & Shelley tag in. Shelley with a hiptoss, then one to O’Reilly. Running dropkick to Fish by Shelley. O’Reilly in, Shelley takes him down. Time-Splitters begin making frequent tags, working over O’Reilly’s arm. Time-Splitters knock Fish off the apron. O’Reilly rolls outside to regroup. Chase is on, allowing Fish to nail KUSHIDA, but then Shelley with a leaping knee off the apron to Fish. Back in, Shelley with a crossbody to O’Reilly. Shelley sent onto the apron, then O’Reilly hot-shots his arm across the top rope, followed by arm whip by Fish sending Shelley crashing into the apron. Roll-up by O’Reilly for a nearfall. Shelley fights back, but O’Reilly blocks a Sunset Flip, ARMageddon locked in, Shelley quickly gets to the ropes. Fish in, slingshot senton to Shelley for a nearfall. O’Reilly in, continues to work over Shelley’s arm. Fish in, series of strikes to Shelley, gains a nearfall. O’Reilly in, double back elbow by reDRagon. Fish sweeps out KUSHIDA’s leg from the apron. Arm whip by O’Reilly to Shelley for a nearfall. Fish in, but Shelley flatliners O’Reilly off the middle turnbuckle and knocks down Fish. KUSHIDA with a shot to Fish, but O’Reilly pulls KUSHIDA off the apron before Shelley can make a tag. Fish stomps away at Shelley in the corner. Running powerslam by Fish for a nearfall. O’Reilly in, Fish heads up top, but Shelley rolls away. Running elbow by O’Reilly, followed by a slam. Shelley kicks O’Reilly into the ropes, crotching Fish. KUSHIDA in, springboard chop to O’Reilly. Series of kicks by KUSHIDA, followed by a back handspring elbow. KUSHIDA goes to the apron, enziguri to Fish. reDRagon catch KUSHIDA off a springboard. KUSHIDA with an O’Connor Roll to Fish, then Germans O’Reilly at the same time and pins both of reDRagon for a nearfall. Crowd chants for KUSHIDA. O’Reilly avoids a head kick, but KUSHIDA with an enziguri. O’Reilly with a running knee to the ribs of KUSHIDA, but KUSHIDA with a Koppo Kick that sends O’Reilly to the outside. Fish trips up KUSHIDA, but Shelley pulls Fish off the apron. Fish drives Shelley into the barricade, O’Reilly leaps off for the running dropkick, but Shelley catches him in mid-air with a superkick! Shelley drop toe holds Fish face-first off a chair! KUSHIDA heads up top, SOMERSAULT PLANCHA WIPES OUT EVERYONE!! Back in, Time-Splitters with a Doomsday Missile Dropkick to O’Reilly for a nearfall. Time-Splitters go for the Super Shiranui to O’Reilly, but Fish knocks Shelley off the ropes and to the outside. Hammerlock Leg Sweep/Slingblade combo by reDRagon to KUSHIDA for a nearfall. “This is awesome” chants by the crowd. reDRagon goes for Chasing the Dragon on KUSHIDA, but Shelley pulls Fish out of the ring and sends him into the barricade. KUSHIDA counters out of the Brainbuster by O’Reilly, Fujiwara Armbar applied. O’Reilly gets free, knee strike to KUSHIDA. Front gulliotine choke applied by O’Reilly, but Shelley breaks it up. O’Reilly goes for an armbar on Shelley, but KUSHIDA nails him with a running dropkick. Shiranui by Shelley, then Fish with shots to the Time-Splitters. Inverted Atomic Drop/Dropkick to the Knees combo, Camel Clutch/Cartwheel Dropkick combo by the Time-Splitters to Fish. Sandwich kicks by the Time-Splitters to O’Reilly in the corner, then they hit the Super Shiranui on O’Reilly, but Fish breaks up the pin! Fish sent outside by Shelley, but avoids a slingshot plancha. KUSHIDA with a front backbreaker to O’Reilly, then goes for the Midnight Special, but O’Reilly catches him in mid-air and locks KUSHIDA in a Triangle! Fish with a top rope diving headbutt to KUSHIDA, but then Shelley breaks up the cross armbreaker by O’Reilly with a double stomp! Fish with a flapjack to Shelley. KUSHIDA fights back on reDRagon, but then O’Reilly nails him with Axe & Smash, followed by Fish hitting a Backdrop Driver, but Shelley breaks up the pin. O’Reilly with a running elbow to Shelley in the corner, Fish with a running knee to the ribs, O’Reilly with a running knee to the ribs. Tilt-a-whirl backbreaker/2nd Rope Kneedrop combo by reDRagon to Shelley. Crowd now chants for reDRagon. KUSHIDA slips out of Chasing the Dragon and sends O’Reilly into Fish. O’Reilly with his series of strikes to KUSHIDA, but KUSHIDA DRILLS O’Reilly with a head kick, knocking out O’Reilly’s mouthpiece. Fish sent onto the apron, but then he wipes out Shelley with a senton! Pele Kick by KUSHIDA to O’Reilly, but O’Reilly backs into the ropes, NIGEL CLOTHESLINE TO KUSHIDA!! Brainbuster by O’Reilly for a nearfall. Fish calls for the end. CHASING THE DRAGON!! 1-2…..KUSHIDA KICKS OUT!!!
ARMageddon applied again, KUSHIDA TAPS!!!
Winners and STILL Ring of Honor Tag Team Champions: reDRagon by submission (ARMageddon)
reDRagon celebrates their title retention afterwards.
THOUGHTS: Helluva tag match. If it wasn’t for how good the Bucks are, I would totally say that reDRagon is one of the best tag-teams out there, they have single-handedly put the ROH Tag Division on their backs over the last 2 years and made the Tag Division be must-see matches for ROH. Time-Splitters looked great and honestly, of the three matches they’ve had together, I thought this was their best outing. Go watch this match, kudos to both teams.
We see video on the Adam Cole-Jay Briscoe rivalry heading into the main event.
Main Event for the Ring of Honor World Title in a Fight Without Honor: “The One” Adam Cole vs. Jay Briscoe (c)
Commentary mentions Cole buying 2 front row seats for Jay’s family to be there and watch Jay lose. “Man Up” chants by the crowd as the bell sounds. They stare each other down, then Cole flips off Jay. They slug it out, Jay gains advantage. Cole with a superkick, Jay with a rolling elbow. JAY DRILLER!!! 1-2…..COLE KICKS OUT!!! They head outside, Jay unloads with right hands and headbutts to Cole. Jay sets up the ringside table and puts Cole on it! Jay leaps off the apron and puts Cole through the table with a double stomp!! Jay grabs a staple gun, while Cole grabs a chair. Cole then DRILLS Jay in the head with the chair! Cole now has the staple gun and grabs the sign from the seats he purchased for Jay’s parents and STAPLES THE SIGN INTO THE FOREHEAD OF JAY!!! Jay sent into the barricade by Cole. Back in, Cole with a suplex. Cole brings a chair into the ring and opens it up. Cole sits on the chair and pulls at Jay’s face while trash talking him. Jay comes back with a jawbreaker, then knocks Cole out of the chair with a running boot. Jay wedges the chair in the corner and sends Cole face-first into the wedged chair! Slam by Jay, then he chokes Cole. Jay brings a table into the ring and then PULLS THE STAPLES OUT OF HIS FOREHEAD!! Jay sets up the table in the corner. Cole slips out of a DVD by Jay and hits him with the Brainbuster across the knee for a nearfall. Cole sets up 2 open chairs against each other. Jay slips off Cole’s shoulders, FALCON ARROW THROUGH THE 2 CHAIRS!! Jay gains a nearfall. Jay grabs a kendo stick and brings it into the ring, but Cole rakes the eyes. Cole with a series of kendo stick shots to the back of Jay’s head. Jay yells at Cole, “hit me, motherf**ker”, Cole hits him in the head with the kendo stick for a nearfall. More kendo stick shots by Cole, this time to the legs of Jay. Cole goes outside and slams Jay’s leg into the ringpost. Cole goes for the Ringpost Figure Four, but Jay sends him face-first into the ringpost. Jay DRILLS Cole in the head with the kendo stick! Back in, Jay with headbutts to the open wound of Cole. New York State Athletic Commission Doctor comes out to attend to Cole and stop the cut on his head. Jay then goes outside and gets rid of the multiple attendants, as well as scaring off the commission doctor. Back in, Jay with a Hangman’s Neckbreaker to Cole for a nearfall. Jay grabs another table and sets it up outside. Jay goes up top with Cole, but Cole blocks a superplex through the table. Cole rakes the eyes of Jay, then superkicks him, knocking Jay off the ropes and through the table! Cole grabs the ROH World Title belt, brings it in the ring, blows Jay a kiss and hits Jay in the head with it for a nearfall. Cole kisses the ROH World Title belt, then superkicks Jay in the back of the head. FLORIDA KEY!! 1-2….JAY KICKS OUT!! Cole can’t believe it! Cole goes to the middle rope and goes for the Panama Sunrise, but Jay catches him coming off, DVD THROUGH THE TABLE IN THE CORNER!!! Jay goes outside and pulls out a bag from underneath the ring. Jay brings it in, opens it up and dumps up a bunch of thumbtacks on the ring mat!! Cole with a low blow, then grabs a handful of thumbtacks, SHOVES THEM IN JAY’s MOUTH AND SUPERKICKS JAY WHILE HE HAD THE THUMBTACKS IN HIS MOUTH!! 1-2……JAY KICKS OUT AGAIN!! COLE IS IN SHOCK!!! Cole goes for the Florida Key onto the tacks, but Jay fights out. Jay with 2 running boots to Cole, but Cole does not go down. Jay slips off Cole’s back and BACK BODY DROPS HIM ONTO THE THUMBTACKS!! ANOTHER JAY DRILLER!!! 1-2…..COLE KICKS OUT AGAIN!! NOW ITS JAY WHO IS IN SHOCK!! “ROH” & “This is awesome” chants by the crowd. Jay grabs the ROH World Title belt and places it between he & Cole. Cole looks at the title belt, then looks up at Jay.
Jay grabs him, THIRD JAY DRILLER ONTO THE TITLE BELT!!! 1-2-3!! WOW!!!
Winner and STILL Ring of Honor World Champion: Jay Briscoe by pinfall (Jay Driller onto the ROH Title Belt)
Both men are still down, exhausted and hurt in the ring as the show closes.
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THOUGHTS: One helluva brutal main event this was. I know there are some who did not like the hardcore levels this match went to, especially the chair shot, the bleeding, the tacks and the staple gun, but if you are gonna do it, do it here in ROH’s ultimate blow-off match for a big rivalry. Jay & Cole beat the tar out of each other and both came out of this looking like a million bucks. This was the best match on the show and although I am surprised that Jay retained the title, from a storyline standpoint, with the Kingdom beating down Jay at every turn and Cole’s attack of Jay’s father leading into this, with the Kingdom now not there to save Cole because of being in Japan for New Japan, Cole was left all alone with Jay and Jay got his revenge finally on Cole. So for that sense and blowing off this feud, Jay needed to win here and the finish was executed to perfection. I thought this was a great garbage brawl these two had and hats off for just beating the absolute crap out of each other on the biggest show of the year for ROH.
Overall, ROH Final Battle was a very good show, match-quality wise, but the Terminal 5 venue definitely did not make this feel like a big show at all, with the lack of crowd response through some of the matches not helping things either. I get that ROH wanted Final Battle to be in New York City because its always been there, but on this time out, with this being their 2nd PPV and not being able to afford running Hammerstein, I think they should went with another location with a venue that gave the feel that this was a big show. Unfortunately, Terminal 5 did not bring that for ROH. ROH started off 2014 on a huge high note and they continued to ride the wave the rest of this year. Unfortunately, with how the show looked on PPV, I feel like the wave kinda crashed into the pier with this show. Now, do I think ROH can easily gain back this momentum? You damn right, this was their best year as a company since the Sapolsky era in my opinion. But besides the matches being good, this didn’t feel like a Final Battle to me and that blame should be heaped on where they chose to run the show, not the roster themselves, because they busted their tail on this show. Just wish the show would have came off better from a visual standpoint, but hopefully they can work on that heading into 2015. But at the end of the day, Final Battle has some very good matches on it that leads me to easily recommend this, no doubt about it.
Til’ next time everyone, later!
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