ROH Final Battle Results
December 15, 2017
New York City, New York (Hammerstein Ballroom)
Commentary: Ian Riccaboni, Colt Cabana
Results by: Jason Namako of Wrestleview.com
Opening video package touts 2017 as the greatest year in ROH history.
#ROH has done a masterful job as of late with their video packages, this opening to the PPV is no different. #FinalBattle
— Wrestleview.com (@wrestleview) December 16, 2017
Commentary welcomes us to the show as pyro shoots off on the rampway. ROH has a new lighting truss and video screens for the PPV tonight. Commentary runs down the top matches and we go to the opening contest.
Matt Taven w/The Kingdom vs. “The Aerial Assassin” Will Ospreay
Taven’s entrance includes guys dressed up as conspiracy figures, getting over the “Kingdom Conspiracy” Taven has been complaining about for his group as of late. Ospreay immediately takes out the Kingdom with a dive, then Taven wipes out Ospreay with one of his own! Taven handstands out of a running rana, then they trade lucha pins for nearfalls until Ospreay sends Taven outside with a dropkick. Ospreay feigns a dive and poses in the ring while Taven regroups. The Kingdom distracts Ospreay, allowing Taven to take over. Taven stops a springboard, but Ospreay with a kick. Taven hits a Springboard Dropkick after Marseglia almost hit Ospreay with his axe. While the ref is with Taven, TK O’Ryan sends Ospreay hard into the barricade. Ospreay fights back, but Taven with a running basement knee for 2. Ospreay comes back with a Handspring Pele Kick. Ospreay makes a comeback, hitting a 619 variation and the Pip, Pip, Cheerio Springboard Forearm, followed by a Running Shooting Star Press for 2. Taven stops the OsCutter, but Ospreay with a big kick. Taven stops a Standing Moonsault and hits a backbreaker, then stops another handspring kick and locks in the Boston Crab, Liontamer-style. Taven switches to a Stretch Muffler, but Ospreay makes the ropes. Ospreay counters the Climax with a roll-up for 2. Both men miss kick attempts until Ospreay hits a wrap-around superkick and Off with Your Head (Backfist to back of head) for 2. Taven comes back with Moonlight Drive for another 2. They go up top, but Ospreay traps Taven and hits a superkick while Taven was upside down, sending him all the way outside! Ospreay charges and wipes out the Kingdom with a Shooting Star Press, but then Taven with a Wrecking Ball Dropkick to the back of Ospreay’s head! Back in, Taven goes for Air Taven, but Ospreay counters with an inside cradle for 2. Ospreay again counters the Climax and hits a In-Ring Spanish Fly for 2. Ospreay hits the Robinson Special, but Taven counters the OsCutter and this time hits the Climax for the win!
Winner: Matt Taven by pinfall (The Climax)
Helluva opener between Taven and Ospreay. Taven has immensely improved since taking leadership of The Kingdom, while Ospreay is one of the best junior heavyweights in the world. Good stuff. #FinalBattle
— Wrestleview.com (@wrestleview) December 16, 2017
Video package on the rivalry between The Addiction and War Machine.
The Addiction (“Almighty” Christopher Daniels and “Heavy Metal Rebel” Kazarian) vs. War Machine (Raymond Rowe and “War Beard” Hanson)
The two teams brawl as the bell sounds. Hanson fights off The Addiction and hits the Forever Clotheslines, but the Addiction take over. The Addiction begin doing the Forever Clotheslines to mock Hanson, but Rowe comes back in. Rowe with Shotgun Knees, sending Kazarian into Daniels. Rowe with a Delayed Exploder on Kazarian, but Daniels grabs Rowe’s legs to stop a suplex back in and the Addiction take control. Addiction hit multiple springboard leg drops and Arabian Presses on Rowe for only 2. Rowe fights back, hitting the Spine Slam on Kazarian, sending him onto Daniels’ back. Hanson in, making a comeback on The Addiction. Addiction fight back, but Hanson stacks the Addiction on top of each others in the corner and hits The Beats of the Beard, followed by hitting both with a Bronco Buster. Rowe back in, War Machine with a Wheelbarrow German/Top Rope Clothesline on Daniels, but Kazarian breaks up the pin. Daniels with a roll-up with the tights, but the ref catches him. Daniels tries to put his feet on the ropes for another pin, but the ref stops him again. Kazarian hits Rowe with the Ace of Spades for 2. Hanson in and fights back, but Addiction hit Hanson with Celebrity Rehab onto Rowe for a close 2. Addiction go for the Best Meltzer Ever on Rowe, but Hanson stops it. Daniels with a STO on Hanson, but Rowe comes back with Ace Ten Mao on Daniels, but then Kazarian hits Rowe with a Slingshot Cutter. Hanson with a Double Back Handspring Elbow on the Addiction, then War Machine hits Thor’s Hammer on Daniels. Hanson wipes out Kazarian with a tope suicida, then War Machine hit Fallout on Daniels for the win.
Winners: War Machine by pinfall (Fallout)
Good tag match from War Machine and The Addiction. Daniels and Kazarian are great in their veteran heel roles and War Machine make a fun bruiser team. #FinalBattle
— Wrestleview.com (@wrestleview) December 16, 2017
Video package on the rivalry between Jay Lethal and Marty Scurll.
IWGP Jr. Champion “The Villain” Marty Scurll vs. “The Franchise of ROH” Jay Lethal
Scurll comes out in all white for his entrance. Both men shake hands as the bell sounds. Dueling chants for both men by the crowd. Chain wrestling early, with Scurll initiating a clean break. Lethal with a takeover, but Scurll does his bird walk. They trade slaps and begin brawling. Lethal with his classic hiptoss/cartwheel/dropkick combo. Scurll pushes the ref in Lethal’s way and goes after Lethal’s fingers, followed by a dropkick and a superkick from the apron. Scurll begins going after Lethal’s arm to set-up for the Chickenwing. Lethal comes back by sending Scurll into the barricade. Lethal begins taking control. Lethal avoids another apron superkick and hits a springboard dropkick, sending Scurll outside. Lethal hits a tope suicida, followed by a slam on the floor. Back in, Lethal gets 2. Scurll then comes back with an uppercut and a snap suplex into the corner. Scurll goes back after Lethal’s arm. Scurll hits the Just Kidding superkick to the knee as he continues to then go to work on Lethal’s arm. They trade strikes until Lethal with a superkick, then goes for the Figure 4, but Scurll with an inside cradle for 2. Lethal then comes back with the Lethal Combination for 2. Scurll with a roll-up with his feet on the ropes, but the ref catches him. Lethal with a Torture Rack into what Colt Cabana on commentary calls The Lethal Express (Rolling Torture Rack Senton) for 2. They head up top, with Scurll hitting a Top Rope Superplex. Scurll then hits a Tornado DDT on the outside. They fight on the apron until Lethal hits a Cutter on Scurll from the apron to the floor! Back in, Lethal goes for the Lethal Injection, but Scurll catches him with the Chickenwing! Lethal counters it with a pin attempt for a close 2. Scurll sends Lethal into the referee, knocking him down. Scurll grabs a chair and does some Lie, Cheat and Steal action on Lethal, but Lethal drops down himself as the ref wakes up! Loud “Eddie” chants by the crowd. Lethal with an inside cradle for 2. Lethal with an enziguri, but Scurll hits a big clothesline after avoiding the Lethal Injection and the Ghostbuster (Brainbuster to the Knee) for a close 2. Lethal comes back and this time locks Scurll in the Figure 4, but Scurll gets to the ropes. Lethal grabs Scurll’s umbrella from him, but as the ref takes it away,Scurll hits Lethal with another umbrella and a piledriver for a close 2. Scurll goes for the Chickenwing, but Lethal goes to hit him with the umbrella. Scurll avoids it, but Lethal with a low kick as the ref went to take the umbrella away! Lethal Injection by Lethal for the win.
Winner: “The Greatest First-Generation Wrestler” Jay Lethal by pinfall (Lethal Injection)
Very good match from Lethal and Scrull. Scrull is so good at working an audience, while Lethal continues to be one of the most underrated wrestlers in the US. #FinalBattle
— Wrestleview.com (@wrestleview) December 16, 2017
ROH Tag Team Titles: The Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley)(c’s) vs. The Best Friends (“The Kentucky Gentleman” Chuckie T and Trent Baretta)
Chain wrestling early, until The Best Friends take control. Best Friends with their Two Dog double team on Sabin, but Shelley stops a Best Friends hug and eye pokes them. Machine Guns with double teams, then a double superkick as the Best Friends finally hug outside. Machine Guns wipe out the Best Friends outside and take control as the crowd disapproves. Sabin with a Groin Pull in the Tree of Woe on Baretta, then pulls Taylor’s crotch into Baretta while he was upside down. Machine Guns then place Best Friends in the 69 position and embrace to mock them. Machine Guns with the Dream Sequence on Baretta, but Taylor breaks up the pin. Taylor sent outside, but Baretta avoids another double team and hits Shelley with a Tornado DDT. Taylor in and begins to make a comeback on Sabin. Taylor wipes out the Machine Guns with a flip dive outside. Lawndart/Cutter combo by Best Friends on Sabin for 2. Shelley stops Strong Zero on Sabin by Best Friends, but Taylor breaks up a pin on Baretta. Taylor sent outside, then Sabin wipes out Taylor with a tope suicida. Machine Guns with another double team on Baretta, then hit Skull and Crossbones for a close 2. Machine Guns go for Made in Detroit, but Taylor stops it. Best Friends then hit Strong Zero on Sabin, but Shelley breaks up the pin. Best Friends with a Lawndart/Cutter combo on Shelley outside. Taylor with a Snap Piledriver on Sabin, but Sabin somehow rolls up Baretta to retain the titles.
Winners and STILL ROH Tag Team Champions: The Motor City Machine Guns by pinfall (Roll-Up)
Solid tag match from the Machine Guns and the Best Friends. Like the new heelish attitude by the Machine Guns, while I really dig the charisma that the Best Friends bring. #FinalBattle
— Wrestleview.com (@wrestleview) December 16, 2017
Video package on the 4-Way TV Title Match.
ROH TV Title, Fatal 4-Way Elimination Match: “The Pretty Boy Pitbull” Kenny King (c) vs. “The One-Hitter Quitter” Shane Taylor vs. “The Creeper of Violence” Punishment Martinez vs. “The Last Real Man” Silas Young w/The Beer City Bruiser
Martinez comes out with a bunch of demonic figures and appearing from out of a casket for his entrance.
Incredible presentation and production on the entrance tonight for Punishment Martinez with the demonic nature and fire pyro. #FinalBattle
— Wrestleview.com (@wrestleview) December 16, 2017
King comes out with two women, throwing out rose petals in reference to his recent time on “The Bachelor.” King and Punishment both avoid each other spinning kicks early, then Taylor tags himself in. Taylor taunts Punishment and sends him outside. Taylor sets to dive, but Punishment stops him. Silas sends Taylor outside and takes out with a slingshot plancha. King stops Punishment from diving and hits a spinning kick, followed by wiping out Silas and Taylor with a twisting plancha! Punishmsnt then wipes out everyone with a Spring-Out Flip Dive! Punishment heads up top, but King stops him. Punishment stps a superplex and hits a top rope spinning heel kick. Taylor hits Punishment with a Chokeslam, Silas hits Taylor with a Backstabber, King hits Silas with a Spinebuster. All 4 men trade strikes, then King with a Springboard Blockbuster to Punishment. Taylor with a Fire Thunder Driver to King, then Punishment with a Springboard Superman Punch to Taylor. Taylor comes back with a Blu-Ray to Punishment. 2nd Rope Splash by Taylor to Punishment for 2. King brings Taylor out of the corner and hits the Royal Flush. Punishment with a springboard twisting senton to eliminate Taylor.
Shane Taylor has been eliminated.
King gets out of the Psycho Driver by Punishment and hits an enziguri. Silas wipes out Punishment outside with a crossbody off the apron. King with Shotgun Knees to Punishment against the barricade. King and Silas double-team Punishment outside, hitting the old All Night Express’ One Night Stand move on Punishment outside. Back in, Silas rolls up King for 2. King hits the Royal Flush on Punishment, but Beer City Bruiser distracts the ref, allowing Silas to break a beer bottle over King’s head, getting the pin to eliminate King and guarantee a new TV Champion.
Kenny King has been eliminated.
Punishment avoids Misery and hits the South of Heaven chokeslam, but Bruiser pulls out Silas to stop the pin. Punishment wipes out Silas and Bruiser with the Journey into Darkness dive, but appears to have hurt his ribs. Silas taunts Punishment, then gets out of the Apron Last Ride Powerbomb. Silas drives Punishment into the barricade and rains in knees to Punishment’s head against the barricade. Back in, Punishment comes back with a boot, Silas avoids a corner charge and goes back to the injured ribs. Silas with more knees to the head, then hits Misery to win the title.
Winner and NEW ROH TV Champion: “The Last Real Man” SIlas Young by pinfall
Solid 4-Way Match. Good effort from all 4, in spite of an unruly New York crowd, who didn't seem invested at all. What a shame. #FinalBattle
— Wrestleview.com (@wrestleview) December 16, 2017
Video package on the rivalry between The Briscoes, Bully Ray and Tommy Dreamer.
New York City Street Fight: The Briscoes (Jay and Mark) vs. Bully Ray and Tommy Dreamer
Briscoes come out with a new, darker music intro for their entrance. Dreamer and Bully then make their entrance from the balcony in the Hammerstein, with Bully brandishing a pizza cutter. “ECW” chants from the crowd. The two teams brawl around ringside as the bell sounds. Dreamer drills Mark early with a trash can. Dreamer with a rolling senton off the apron onto Jay, then avoids one from Mark, who appears to be busted open. Bully then takes out the Briscoes with a crossbody off the apron. Dreamer with another trash can shot to Mark, then Bully with one to Jay. Briscoes take over, as Jay wipes out Bully with a tope suicida. Briscoes throw chairs into the ring as they take control. Mark bites at Dreamer, while Jay with shots to the head of Bully. Everyone grabs a chair and we have a chair duel ala Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Bully and Dreamer with chair shits to the backs of the Briscoes, who regroup outside. Briscoes bring out kendo sticks for another duel. Dreamer and Bully then drop the chairs and bring in light sabres. They duel, with Bully and Dreamer taking control. Bully chokes Jay with a chair, then Dreamer nails Jay with a kitchen sink. Bully calls for the tables and they bring one out, but Mark baseball slides the table into them. Mark crotches Dreamer on the barricade, while Bully is out from the table shot, the same way he got a concussion months ago. Bully is busted wide open as Mark pulls out a ladder. Mark then with a rolling senton off the apron onto Dreamer while the ladder was on top of him! Jay goes after the open cut of Bully with repeated shots to the head. Jay then pulls out a cheese grater as the Briscoes take control, grinding it against the head of Bully! Briscoes grab chairs and nail Bully and Dreamer with them. Jay then wraps the chairs around Dreamer’s neck and hits him with a Hangman’s Neckbreaker! Bully backdrops Mark outside, then blocks the Jay Driller. Jay stops a powerbomb and smashes a chair against Bully’s head while another was tossed into him! Jay grabs a table and goes to hit him with it like he did months ago, but Bully boots the table back at Jay. Bully and Dreamer hit an inverted 3-D to Jay on the table, then Dreamer with a kendo stick-assisted back suplex to Mark. Dreamer then hits the Dreamer Driver to Mark off the apron through a table! Bully brings in another table, then drills Jay in the head with a kendo stick. Jay yells at Bully to hit him more, which Bully does. Bully heads up top after putting Jay on the table, splashing Jay through the table for a close 2. Bully with another table and grabs a bottle of lighter fluid. Bully sprays down the table, but Mark with an enziguri. Briscoes with the 3-D to Bully, but the table doesn’t break. Mark then with a Froggy Bow to Bully for the win.
Winners: The Briscoes by pinfall (Froggy Bow)
Wildly entertaining garbage brawl between The Briscoes and Bully & Dreamer tonight. Briscoes were fantastic in their darker heel roles. #FinalBattle
— Wrestleview.com (@wrestleview) December 16, 2017
We see the top 5 moments in Final Battle history.
#FinalBattle: #ROH to crown the first #WomenofHonor Champion as part of a tournament in early 2018.
— Wrestleview.com (@wrestleview) December 16, 2017
ROH 6-Man Tag Team Titles: The Hung Bucks (The Young Bucks and Hangman Page) (c’s) vs. Flip Gordon, Dragon Lee and Titan
Will be completely honest, action in this match was too fast-paced for me to handle. Just know that there was a bunch of dives, insane high-flying offense, a lot of superkicks and The Bucks and Page retain the titles with the Rite of Meltzer (Meltzer Driver/Rite of Passage combo) on the challengers.
Winners and STILL ROH 6-Man Tag Team Champions: The Hung Bucks by pinfall (The Rite of Meltzer)
Afterwards, The Addiction and Scorpio Sky, who was on commentary for the match, attack the champions and Gordon.
Crazy 6-Man Tag match. The Bucks are the Bucks, while Flip Gordon shows immense potential as the new high-flyer on the block. #FinalBattle
— Wrestleview.com (@wrestleview) December 16, 2017
Video package on how we got to the main event ROH World Title match.
Main Event for the ROH Title: “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes w/Brandi Rhodes (c) vs.”The Peacock” Dalton Castle w/The Boys
The Boys are back with Castle for his entrance, while Cody comes out with his wife Brandi, who brandishes the new ROH World Title belt. Cody has also dyed his hair platinum-blond ala his father, Dusty and Ric Flair. Castle sees a low kick from Cody early and knocks him down. Castle blocks the drop-down throat thrust from Cody and locks in armbar, but Cody quickly to the ropes. Castle avoids the Beautiful Disaster and poses to throw Cody off. Castle gives chase to Cody and sends him into the barricade. Brandi grabs at Castle’s leg, allowing Cody to hit a Flatliner from the ropes for 2. Alabama Slam by Cody for 2. Cody argues with the ref, who shoves him down. Castle rolls up Cody for 2. Cody locks Castle in the Lebell Lock, ala Daniel Bryan. Castle gets to the ropes. They fight outside, with Cody sending Castle into the barricade and the then stairs on the rampway. They go by the ringside table and brawl, with Cody stopping the swinging apron rana by Castle and turning it into a powerbomb through the ringside table! Cody hau a chair, but one of the Boys grab it from him. Brandi then heads up top and takes out one of the Boys with a crossbody on the outside! Referee ejects the Boys and Brandi from ringside. Cody taunts Castle back in the ring, but Castle fights back.Castle with a series of suplexes, including one to counter the Beautiful Disaster kick. Castle sends Cody into the ringpost, who gets busted wide open. Castle sends Cody into the barricade and goes right after the open wound with shots to the head. Cody avoids a charge, sending Castle all the way outside. Cody hits Beautiful Disaster, sending Castle back down outside. Castle then with a Deadlift German to Cody outside. Cody stops the Bang-a-Rang, but Castle avoids CrossRhodes. Cody knocks down the referee, then Castle locks Cody in the Julie Numar choke, Cody taps, but the ref is out. Cody counters another Bang-a-Rang with CrossRhodes, referee comes to, but Castle kicks out! Cody with another Beautiful Disaster, but Castle comes back with the Bang-a-Rang to win the title! WOW!
Winner and NEW ROH World Champion: “The Peacock” Dalton Castle by pinfall (Bang-a-Rang)
Castle celebrates his title win with the Boys as confetti falls down as the show closes.
Good main event from Cody and Castle. Surprised at the title change, but have a feeling it will be short-term for Castle. Well deserved for him, though. #FinalBattle
— Wrestleview.com (@wrestleview) December 16, 2017
Overall, #FinalBattle was a very good show, top to bottom, with very slick production and presentation by #ROH as they continue to ascend as a company heading into 2018. Future looks bright for the Honorable Ring.
— Wrestleview.com (@wrestleview) December 16, 2017