ROH Final Battle 2011 iPPV LIVE Recap

Ring of Honor presents their last show of the year, fittingly titled Final Battle 2011 live on iPPV at Go Fight Live. Headlined by the third meeting between former American Wolves partners Eddie Edwards and ROH World Champion Davey Richards with the title on the line. Meanwhile Kevin Steen fights his former mentor Steve Corino with a chance to return to the company on the line and Jimmy Jacobs as the special guest referee, the Briscoes challenge Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin for the ROH World Tag Team Titles, the TV Title is defended in a triple threat match and Roderick Strong puts on an open challenge. All of this and more live on iPPV.

Join us throughout the night for live results courtesy of Matt Waters.

– For some reason they used the ROH TV opening titles but with Final Battle written instead of ROH Television. Kevin Kelly, Nigel McGuinness and Jim Cornette are in the ring to start the show and apparently this is the biggest crowd in ROH history, and the best prelimary iPPV buy-rate to boot. Cary Silkin and a guy from SBG are also in the ring and the latter thanks everybody for coming and makes reference to Festivus. This made me cringe but the live crowd popped, so go figure.

Michael Elgin vs. TJ Perkins

Recap: Power and speed met for seemingly the millionth time in a wrestling ring, and on this night it was power that won out, as ‘Unbreakable’ Michael Elgin put TJ Perkins down with a Spiral Powerbomb. At one point Perkins executed a flip dive off the apron, but Elgin caught him and ran across the ringside area and rammed him into the guard rail, causing the crowd to erupt. A similar scene played out a few minutes later as Perkins flew from the top rope only to be caught by Elgin in vertical suplex position and then slammed down. Perkins was able to absorb a lot of punishment and fought back when he could with his speed and high flying, and at one point hit a big reverse rana. Unfortunately he was unable to execute any of his finishing moves and fell victim to a Buckle Bomb and Spiral Powerbomb for the loss.

Review: A solid opener as the crowd were digging both guys, TJ for his speed and grace, and Elgin for his immeasurable power. These two made natural foils for each other, with Perkins’ light frame making it even easier than usual for Elgin to demonstrate just how freaky strong he is. They kept moving at all times and the crowd ate it up. TJ may have wanted to try and beat Elgin on the mat rather than attempt the Detonation Kick, but hey, I guess that’s the story of the match!

Tommaso Ciampa (w/The Embassy) vs. Jimmy Rave

Recap: In a battle of The Embassy’s current Crown Jewel and the man that originally bore that moniker, new proved to be better, as Tommaso Ciampa defeated the returning Jimmy Rave. It wasn’t easy though, as Rave frequently out-wrestled ‘The Dominant Male’, but Ciampa hasn’t made his living on the mat to date, and instead used his biggest strength: brutal striking. Rave, a historically resilient wrestler, managed to fight back from the beating and lock in the Heel Hook, but without having worked Ciampa’s leg first, he couldn’t force a tap out. Nor could he get pin-falls after delivering both the Shining Wizard and the Rave Clash, which got a nice reaction from the crowd. Threatening to hit Greetings From Ghana, Rave found the numbers advantage he had enjoyed for so many years working against him, with Nana seemingly offering him his spot back in the Embassy, and then R.D. Evans, Ernesto Osiris and Mia Yim all attempting to attack Rave, but he avoided them all. The distractions were too much however, as Ciampa was able to level him with Project Ciampa for the win.

Review: This was probably the most interesting Ciampa match to date, and it was certainly the most trouble he’s been in, as Rave unloaded with several of his big moves and almost put him down. A lot of the crowd buzz was due to Rave being back for the first time in a long time, so I wonder what this match would have been like if Rave had never left. Ciampa requiring so much interference will likely lead to a rematch and given what they pulled off in a short time, I’m not against that. Mia Yim was dressed in a Santa outfit by the way.

ROH World Television Title Match

Jay Lethal vs. El Generico vs. Mike Bennett (w/Maria)

Recap: Despite having his girlfriend Maria watching on from ringside (and sporting a top that read ‘Prodigy’s Girlfriend’) Mike Bennett was unable to make good on his claim to win a championship before the end of 2011, as it would be Jay Lethal walking away from New York still with the TV Title around his waist. From the outset Bennett was content to let the other two fight each other and interject himself when he saw fit, which naturally led to some double-teaming from Lethal and Generico. But with the promise of championship gold hanging in the balance, the pair were unable to stay on the same page, and the match became every man for himself, with all three men controlling the bout at different points. Bennett did his best to pick the bones of the other two attacking each other, and would manage to eliminate Generico with a roll-up while he was distracted by Lethal. Unfortunately, Bennett was so caught up in his own success that he immediately fell pray to Lethal’s Handspring Cutter and lost the match.

Review: I forgot how hot Maria is… Oh, the match! It was better than I expected, but the fact Generico and Lethal did most of the work while Bennett was on the outside. That being said he generated the first genuine pop I’ve heard him get since being in the company when he hit a really nice TKO on Generico. The match suffered from the same problems every triple threat match does however, namely people overselling simple attacks to allow the other two to work each other for a few minutes without interruption. Generico breathed life into things with his insane Rey de Voladores sequence that made the crowd go insane, so much so that they booed when Lethal went up for a top rope elbow, seeing an elimination coming, but luckily for them he stayed in the match… or at least for a few moments more. This one probably went a few minutes too long, but Maria made for something nice to look at when things got uninteresting. I guess we can all rejoice that Bennett will remain beltless in 2011. The fans chanting CM Punk at Maria was pretty funny too.

No DQ Match – Jimmy Jacobs is Guest Referee

Kevin Steen vs. Steve Corino

Recap: “Merry Christmas, the Monster is back!” These were the words that followed the match between Steen and Corino which saw Steen win his position in ROH back after delivering a brutal Package Piledriver through multiple steel chairs. Brawling from the opening bell, Steen and Corino beat the heck out of each other all match long. Steen brought most of the pain, executing a cannonball attack while both men were on the apron, a powerbomb on the apron, a frog splash to the floor, and a powerbomb onto a suspended guard rail all in the first few minutes. Corino’s experience in hardcore matches served him well however, as he weathered the storm and fired back with a low blow and multiple weapon attacks. These proved nothing in comparison to what followed however, as Corino delivered a monstrous superplex through a guard-rail suspended on four chairs. Scarily, Steen was up and walking moments later, but Corino promptly corrected this, sending him crashing off the top rope through three chairs and a table. Steen proved his superhuman resilience though, fighting back from all of this and even a little bit of assistance from Jacobs who prevented him from using a chair on Corino. Jacobs could do nothing to stop Steen from hitting a Package Piledriver through several chairs though, and even with a very slow count and Jim Cornette begging him not to count three, Steen won the match.

Review: This match. Pretty much an exhibition in crazy wrestling, but good crazy wrestling. Both men brought it here, and Corino in particular was on point, looking good and wrestling with some agility, and at one point hit a flying splash off the top rope. Steen is insane for taking the bumps he does, especially with the frequency that he takes them, but good lord did it pop the crowd big time. I was honestly a little disappointed that nothing of note happened with Jacobs, but at least Steen is back, and it was a fun way for him to come back.

– After the match Steen laughed and gave Jimmy Jacobs a Package Piledriver and then atempted to do the same to Jim Cornette, but El Generico hit the ring and interfered, brawling with his former nemesis. Steen was able to overwhelm Generico however, delivering a Package Piledriver through a table off the apron and leaving whilst laughing to himself, as medical personnel attended to all of his victims.

– Intermission.

Tag Team Gauntlet Match

The All-Night Express vs. The Bravados vs.

Caprice Coleman & Cedric Alexander vs. Future Shock vs. The Young Bucks

Recap: With a tag team title shot hanging in the balance, the Young Bucks won the gauntlet, last eliminating the All-Night Express via referee stoppage. The Bravados and Caprice Coleman & Cedric Alexander started the match and kept it brief, with Caprice Coleman flying around the ring like a wild man. The Bravados barely managed an offensive move before Cedric Alexander pinned one of them after a few mat exchanges battling for position. The Bravados were eliminated. Future Shock were next in and both teams hit several nice tag team moves. After a few fairly even minutes, Future Shock turned up the heat and hit Ride the Lightning to eliminate Coleman & Alexander. The Young Bucks entered the match at this point and things got really interesting. Continuing their ongoing rivalry, the Bucks and Future Shock battle intensely for several minutes but in the end the Bucks were too fresh and perhaps just too good, hitting More Bang For Your Buck to eliminate Future Shock. The All-Night Express were the final entrants looking for some revenge for what went down in North Carolina recently. Unfortunately Titus’ knee was just too injured to allow him to contribute, and King being left alone meant he too took a lot of punishment and was left down on the outside, unable to save his partner from a standing figure four/450 Splash combo. The referee intervened at this point and stopped the match, giving the Bucks the ultimate victory.

Review: Let’s start at the beginning. I’m not sure where they’re taking this Bravados losing streak angle, but it’s certainly continuing. The time C&C were in the ring was their best effort to date, with no botches and lots of exciting and innovative offense. The Bucks and Future Shock tried to cram a full match into a short period of time, but as has been the case every time they’ve been in the same ring, it was pretty darn good. Kyle O’Reilly answered the question about what he can do when the crowd get tired of seeing him hit three consecutive butterfly suplexes; hit NINE consecutive butterfly suplexes! Unfortunately, when the ANX entered things died somewhat, as the pace slowed waaaay down. I understand some of that is due to Titus sporting a legit injury, but the building got really quiet and it killed the momentum of the show a little. Kenny King had a rough night too, botching a dive off a guard rail, and taking a pair of rough moves from the Bucks, firstly an awkwardly angled and stiff superkick while he was in mid-cartwheel, and second a slingshot tornado DDT on the apron. The finish was a cool spot, but I don’t think anybody liked the stoppage. A shame Titus was injured I guess.

Roderick Strong Invitational Challenge

Roderick Strong vs. Chris Hero

Recap: At first it seemed no-one had answered Strong’s challenge, with Truth Martini getting close to a ten-count, but at nine the music of Chris Hero hit and an impromptu match was on. Hero ran through most of his signature offense, but his time away from ROH left him at a disadvantage and Roddy was able to take advantage and get the win. Strong adhered to his tried and tested formula, devastating Hero’s back to soften him up for his favourite holds. It started with a top rope backbreaker and continued with a german suplex into the corner. Hero was able to survive the Gibson Driver though and came back to drop some bombs of his own in the form of two Rolling Elbows and a Cyclone Kill. The Death Blow seemed to have ended the match, but Truth Martini prevented the three count, causing an irate Hero to chase him around the ring. This distraction allowed the wily Strong to hit the Sick Kick and get the win.

Review: There was something a little off here. I don’t recall Chris Hero working as an out and out babyface in ROH, so he was basically in PWG mode, but without it going 25 minutes or a drunk Los Angeles crowd. He did seem to be a half-step off with some of his moves and things were a little disjointed. I’m not sure if the former was the reason for the latter or if they’re two separate points though. There were a few nice moments, but the quality was never sustained long enough for the fans to sink their teeth into it. The finish was also dreadfully passe.

ROH World Tag Team Title Match

The Briscoes vs. Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin

Recap: For the seventh time, the Briscoes are the ROH Tag Team Champions. Before this match ever started the Briscoes were fighting from their backs, on the receiving end of a five minute assault from Haas and Benjamin involving multiple chair attacks that left Jay bleeding and both Briscoes nearly unconscious. When the bell finally rang the Briscoes were at a huge disadvantage, but after nearly ten years of brawling all over the country in ROH, Dem Boys were far from done and began to slowly fight back. A moment of fortune seemed to turn the match in their favor as Shelton was taken to the back with injured ribs, but when the referee was knocked down he returned and attacked the Briscoes with a 2×4. But just when all seemed lost, the Briscoes rallied from behind and hit the Doomsday Device out of nowhere and won the match and the titles.

Review: The pre-match beat-down got pretty awkward after a few minutes, with Haas seemingly committing to a full heel turn, but Shelton still trying to be a face. I’m not sure what the logic is of letting the match go on, and if this was actually intended to be a heel turn, or if they’re trying to make it seem like this was just justice served for what the Briscoes did 6 months ago, but it was, as I said, awkward. Then the match itself was just plain weird. It seemed WGTT were trying to work as faces for a while, but then Haas kept taunting the fans and we got the whole ref bump, weapon attack business. Then thirty seconds later the Briscoes are champions again. So what was the point in the 2×4 spot? Just so damn weird that I can’t even call it bad. I’m not sure what it was. All I know is I’m happy with the result.

ROH World Title Match

Davey Richards vs. Eddie Edwards

Recap: In the third match between Davey and Eddie, it was the current world champion who emerged victorious, settling the question about who the better man was once and for all, putting his former partner down with a series of kicks to the head. The pair started off by feeling each other out with submission attempts, but things soon descended into stiff strikes and big suplexes. After doing their best to kill each other, Roderick Strong interjected himself, leading to a brawl between Dan Severn, Team Richards and The House of Truth. Left alone, the former American Wolves went back to submissions and strikes, with Edwards finally locking in the Dragon Sleeper, but Davey escaped. Richards delivered the same running punt that put Edwards down last time but it didn’t do the job the second time around. Unsatisfied, Richards unloaded with three big kicks, capping it off with a spin kick that put Edwards down for good.

Review: They had a decent story. Eddie honed the Dragon Sleeper and Davey is afraid of it. For the early going they wrestled each other and there were some electric counters and submission attempts. Davey desperately avoided the Dragon Sleeper. Then they strayed a looong way from that story and went into auto-pilot, electing to just stand and hit each other a lot instead. Multiple headbutts on the top rope? Check. Fighting spirit? Check. Trading saito suplexes? Check. Standing and looking at each other and then taking turns to strike? Check. Narrowly beating a count-out at 19? Check. Some a little too dangerous moves from the top rope and to the outside? Check. Not enough to point at and criticise? How about Roderick Strong wiping out Team Richards, leading to Dan Severn taking them all on by himself and then carrying Truth Martini to the back? Then, THEN, they finally returned to that important story element, the Dragon Sleeper. And what happened? Davey got straight out of it like it was nothing, and they went back to head drops and death. With all the boxes ticked they essentially repeated the finish from last time, with Davey kicking Eddie in the head until he stayed down. I was so sure they’d dial back the crazy and just have an old-school ROH contest with lots of submissions, but no, it was basically the same match but worse. Screw this match. Seriously.

– After the match Davey started a speech about how tough Eddie is but Kevin Steen mocks him and states he will beat Davey for the title in 2012 and hold the company hostage. He said some other stuff and cursed, but you can probably guess. Davey wanted to fight there and then, but was held back. Steen left laughing, and Severn and the referees tended to Eddie Edwards.

Overall Review

– The A/V side of things was bad out loud. There were a number of little glitches, noticeably whenever they did slow-motion replay after the match and it would replay their commentary in slo-mo too, whilst they were also talking at normal speed. The camerawork wasn’t great either.

– The first half of the show was a roaring success with all four matches being of good quality. TJ and Elgin got the crowd going, Jimmy Rave gave Tommaso Ciampa his best ROH match to date, the TV title match had Maria and was better than expected (AND Bennett didn’t win), and Steen/Corino was crazy. Jacobs not turning was a let down, but you can’t win them all, at least Steen’s back, right?

– The second half however was a slow descent into madness. Firstly trying to have four matches in a row in the tag gauntlet meant the show was going to go very long. The first three of these were good. But then the ANX entered, the pace slowed, and Titus’ knee injury prevented anything of note happening. Bad luck their, not a lot to be done, and I guess we just accept it’s a long show. Fine. Then Strong faced Hero who got a big pop and everybody was happy. The match was okay, but things didn’t click enough for an iPPV marquee match and the finish was lame. Forgivable, as Hero’s back.

– Then the tag team match and the main event happened, aka insanity ran rampant. The Briscoes got slaughtered with chairs by what are supposed to be babyface champions, then the match started with no punishment whatsoever and WGTT wrestled as faces… kind of. Then Shelton goes to the back injured, but one minute later returns after a ref bump. Then the 2×4 nonsense, and moments later, new champions. Why? What? Why? Follow that up with the abortion (literally – the Dragon Sleeper thing would have been a nice story but they abandoned it in favor of a rehash of their last match) that was the main event, with one of the wackiest run-ins in a long time and a copy and paste finish and I’m angry. Kevin Steen threatened to save the ending but basically just insulted the babyface world champion and left.

– Watch the first half, it’s all good. Take a look at the tag gauntlet, there’s some good stuff in there. Check out Hero’s ROH return, he’s a legend. But only watch those last two matches out of curiosity. Seriously. Never have I seen a show drop off so badly. Done.

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