Background: The former ROH World champion Roderick Strong didn’t have a match for Ring of Honor’s biggest event of the year; so he decided to challenge anyone in the world. Former ROH World Tag Team champion Chris Hero took him up on that challenge.
Final Battle 2011
New York, NY
December 23, 2011
Roderick Strong vs. Chris Hero
Hero and Roderick were going shoulder block for shoulder block until Hero flipped over the top rope, kicking an incoming Roderick in the face. Senton splash by Hero infuriated Martini. Strong was being chopped all around the ring. Running forearm dropped Strong in the corner. Cravat by Hero dropped Strong to his knees. Strong got free, only to get big booted out of the ring. Hero avoided Strong’s rolling out of the way, but ended up taking a Book of Truth to the head for his trouble.
Hero was pinned against the barricades, being chopped over and over again. Belly to back suplex across the apron sent shockwaves of pain through Hero’s back. The crowd was split down the middle as Strong chopped, kicked, stomped, and choked Hero. Hero tried to fight back and hit that KTFO, but Strong stopped him halfway through the combination with a simple shoulder ram against the turnbuckles. When Hero was pitched to the floor, Martini got involved once again by raking Hero’s face. Hero was shoved into the ring by Strong, only to catch Roderick with a dropkick when Strong tried to reenter. Hero followed Strong back to the floor, but got whipped into the barricades knee first. When the action returned to the ring, Strong tried to make Hero tap out. Hero started firing himself up even though Roderick was trying to keep him down with several stomps. Hero rallied to his feet, forearming Roderick. Flash kick stopped Roderick’s momentum immediately.
Series of strikes by Hero was topped off by a power slam into the senton splash. Strong rolled to the floor, holding his arm. Hero unleashed the sliding dropkick through the ropes, staggering Strong. Roderick was on the barricades, pleading for some room. Running big boot by Hero put Strong in position for the super cravatplex … for a two count!
Using a leaping knee strike to stop the Deathblow, Roderick almost gained the three count. Placing Hero on the top rope, Roderick went for that sidewalk slam across the top turnbuckle. After fighting through it, Hero ended up feeling the top turnbuckle back first. Stronghold didn’t make Hero tap as he kicked him away. Another cravatplex by Hero dropped Strong on his neck. Both men rose in opposite corners, with Hero rushing and hitting that flying forearm. KTFO … gained Hero a near fall!
Strong avoided the moonsault, using an enzuguri to German suplex Hero into the turnbuckles. Double knee gut-buster-Gibson Driver combination by Strong didn’t put Hero away! With Hero on his knees, Strong fired off right hands. Hero threw some chops back before using some of those forearms. Rolling Elbow not once, but twice by Hero. Hero’s Cyclone Kill somehow, some way didn’t put Roderick down; and nor did the Deathblow thanks to some well-timed interference from Martini behind the ref’s back. Hero went out after Martini, only to be rolled up by Strong. When Hero kicked out, he almost sent Roderick into Martini. Strong stopped himself, avoiding Hero’s follow up kick. Hero took out Martini with his boot, only to be hit with the Sick Kick when he turned around. Strong quickly made the cover, pinning Hero to win the first Roderick Strong Invitational.
Winner: Roderick Strong (16:39)
Is It A Classic: It was a very good match that was missing that special intangible that turned it from a nice addition to the card into a true classic.
