Final Battle
December 15, 2023
Garland, TX
AAA Mega Championship: El Hijo del Vikingo (c) vs. Black Taurus
Stern collar & elbow tie-up led to Black Taurus slapping the life out of the champ. El Hijo del Vikingo responded in kind, only to get tossed when he went to follow up with a head scissors. A springboard attack failed for Vikingo as he got shoulder blocked out of midair. Avoiding a charging Taurus, Vikingo sent his opponent to the floor for a somersault plancha. Showing incredible strength was Taurus as he caught the falling Vikingo before power bombing him on the floor!
As if that wasn’t enough, Taurus used a ripcord power slam when the action returned inside. The fans were in the champ’s corner; giving him the energy to fight back until he got shoved over the top and landed on his neck across the ring’s edge. Showcasing his agility, Taurus pulled off a corkscrew tope. Once again, Taurus rushing Vikingo into the mat with a slingblade bulldog, crucifix driver, and the pop-up Samoan drop didn’t put the champion away.
The corkscrew senton from the top failed for Taurus as Vikingo moved at the last second. Using several kicks, Vikingo was able to pull off a shooting star press hurricarana topped by the corkscrew head scissors to put Taurus out of the ring for a springboard moonsault attempt where Vikingo failed two times to balance himself while Taurus waited to be jumped on.
Taurus recovered quickly, using the pounce to sling Vikingo into the turnbuckles. Cornered, Taurus attempted something off the top rope when Vikingo jumped up with him to frankensteiner Taurus almost out of the ring. Kneeing Taurus in position for a suplex into the ring failed for Vikingo, but not the Canadian Destroyer on the apron! Vikingo couldn’t pin Taurus immediately, so he ran the top rope to missile dropkick Taurus in position for the Meteora. Instead, Vikingo got overhead belly-to-belly tossed into the turnbuckles. Taurus decided to use a super gorilla press slam off the top rope … for a near fall!
Vikingo somehow avoided a clothesline to kick Taurus into his own crucifix driver. Popping off the mat, Taurus speared his way through Vikingo to reset this one. Big head-butt from Taurus only stunned Vikingo as he was able to stop the subsequent attack by back dropping him to the floor for a 720 plancha! And yet, Taurus was up fast enough to stop an onslaught with the backbreaker into a power bomb backbreaker. Discus lariat connected for Taurus … to give him a near fall!
Crucifix driver counter off the Samoan drop into a poison-rana. Vikingo used the Meteora to set up his patented 630 splash to finally pin another challenger.
Winner: El Hijo del Vikingo
Match Review: This is the type of match that you’ll either love or hate mostly because of the lucha style where there where there are moments of wrestlers just standing in position for someone to do something to them (such as that corner hurricarana spots and Vikingo messing up the moonsault to the floor). But Taurus mostly kept this one grounded with some crazy near falls and the fans loved every second of it. Fantastic opener.
ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship: The Mogul Embassy (Brian Cage, Toa Liona & Bishop Kaun) w/ Prince Nana vs. TMDK (Bad Dude Tito, Shane Haste & Kosei Fujita)
Bishop Kaun ran through the ROH-debuting Kosei Fujita, setting up a thrashing via the hands & feet of Toa Liona. Breaking a wrist lock, Fujita pulled off a spinning heel kick to Kaun before tagging out to Bad Dude Tito and his belly-to-belly prowess. Kaun found himself getting forearmed & suplexed with ease by BDT. Shane Haste took advantage of his partner’s positioning to land a flying back elbow before slamming Fujita atop the downed Kaun. Missing a big running chop, Fujita almost got his head taken off with a clothesline. Brian Cage tagged in, power slamming Fujita with ease. Cage was just slinging Kosei and even doing some bicep curls with his opponent’s body. Countering a power bomb, Fujita used the German suplex to finally tag out to BDT.
BDT ran into Toa, slammed Cage on Liona, and dove through the ropes to down Kaun. High Fly Flow by BDT on Toa was topped by a rope-assisted tornado DDT. The challengers were on fire with Shane becoming the legal man and almost winning with the PK to Toa. As the fans chanted for Nana, Liona caught Haste with the uranage. The maneuver called for the Prince Nana dance, but the slight distraction gave Haste a chance to recover and stop Open the Gate. Fujita saved Haste from taking a pin after a spear from Toa. Bodies were hitting the floor as everyone used big maneuvers in a sequence that concluded with Kaun almost getting pinned of Fujita’s springboard dropkick.
Avoiding an attack in the corner, Kaun shotgun dropkicked Fujita in position for Cage’s dead-lift superplex. BDT saved his partner from being pinned, only for Cage to hit the Weapon X on Tito. Shane felt a double team clothesline from The Gates of Agony. Fujita was stuck alone for the triple team slingshot power bomb. Cage held Fujita down for the three count.
Winners: The Mogul Embassy
Match Review: Solid effort from everyone involved with the challengers getting shut down pretty efficiently after attempting to mount an eventual unsuccessful comeback. The question of, “Who’s next?” remains for the champs in a rather shallow division.
I Quit Match: Tony Nese w/ Mark Sterling vs. Ethan Page
Mark Henry arrived to ensure Mark Sterling followed the match’s stipulation that Sterling be handcuffed to the steel ring post (actually, the bottom turnbuckle).
Tony Nese attacked Ethan Page from behind. Exploding with a clothesline, Page lit Nese up via right hands and knife-edge chops. Suddenly, Page saw his chance to confront Sterling at ringside; leaving himself open for a plancha by his actual opponent. Macho hotshot by Nese gave “The Premier Athlete” the chance to get some of his protein powder. Sadly for Nese, Sterling hit his own client instead of Page. “All Ego” was excited that he had an opportunity to grab Sterling. Nese rushed his opponent; sending him face-first into the steel handcuffs holding Sterling. Grabbing the microphone, Nese mocked Page who was now bleeding.
Page refused to quit. Though bloodied, Page was still fighting; sending Nese over the barricade when he reversed an Irish whip. Ripping at “All Ego’s” bloody face allowed Nese to spring off the barricade with a clothesline. “The Premier Athlete” grabbed a forty-five pound weight plate with the intent of crushing Page’s head. Ethan moved at the last second, but still got knocked down by Nese’s body. Nese attained a jump rope that Page instantly gained and whipped him.
Nese feigned quitting to throat thrust Page. Ethan ended up on the floor for a Nese Fosbury Flop. Taking his time, Nese removed a pair of tables from underneath the ring; setting them up side-by-side at ringside. “All Ego” recovered and knocked Nese onto one of the tables. Page began a climb to the top rope for a splash, but Nese got up and met Page on the middle rope. Page refused to be superplexed to the floor, opting for the Killshot in the ring and one through the tables at ringside. Yet, Nese refused to quit.
Tossing a pair of chairs into the ring, Page set them up for a maneuver through them. “The Premier Athlete” countered with a super hurricarana with Ethan sailing past the chairs. Like his opponent, Page refused to quit. So Nese left the ring and took the handcuff keys from ring announcer Bobby Cruise. Sterling joined Nese in putting the boots to Page in the ring. The plan was to handcuff Page and bash his head in with the weight plate. Suddenly, Scorpio Sky’s music hit to bring out the former Tag Team champion. Page used the distraction and Sky disposing of Sterling to trip Nese into a DDT on the weight plate!
Battering ram with the plate on Sterling was topped by Ego’s Edge on Mark. Sky removed Sterling from ringside as Nese bashed Page with a chair. Nese locked the handcuffs on Page so Ethan’s arms were behind his back. Dropping a, “F*** you!” to refuse to quit, Page used his shoulders to rock Nese long enough for the referee to find the handcuff key. With his arms freed, Page swung the chair for the fences; turning Nese inside-out. Grabbing the jump rope, Page choked Nese until Tony had no choice but to verbally quit.
Winner: Ethan Page
Match Review: An overbooked mess in the best way possible. While Sterling being freed & able to assault Page demeaned the match stipulation (where was Mark Henry for that moment), everything clicked in emphasizing just how tough Ethan Page can be and the type of person Tony Nese really is (a wrestler with all the athletic ability in the world not confident in his own skills). Will Page use this win to actually get a ROH title shot? Here’s hoping.
Nyla Rose vs. Vertvixen
Stopping the Beast Bomb after being thrashed, Vertvixen tripped the former Women’s champ in position for a slingshot double stomp. Nyla stopped a springboard maneuver, slamming Vertvixen before feigning a pin attempt. Forearming the attempted jumping opponent, Nyla was able to pull off that diving knee drop for the Beast Bomb to make short work of her opponent.
Winner: Nyla Rose
Match Review: A “ROH on HonorClub”-level match that could’ve been used on the pre-show instead.
ROH World Television Championship (Survival of the Fittest Finale Elimination Match): Dalton Castle w/ The Boys vs. Bryan Keith vs. Kyle Fletcher vs. Komander vs. Lee Moriarty vs. Lee Johnson
Slapping Dalton Castle on the back of his head, Kyle Fletcher made himself the legal man against Lee Moriarty. A quick exchange over the wrist lock resulted in a standoff and Castle attempting to rush Kyle, only to get pitched out the ring again. Lee Johnson clocked Kyle for the tag, leading to a fast-paced exchange that saw Johnson dropkick Lee out of the ring before dumping an incoming Castle to the floor. Komander entered, tying up Lee Johnson to set up the head scissors. Dalton saw his chance to jump Komander when the luchador put him out of the ring, too.
Bryan Keith entered the fray, going toe-to-toe with Komander. Big boot by Keith stopped Komander’s spinning attack. Castle almost fell in the front row thanks to Keith’s sidestepping. Kyle attacked Bryan from behind; isolating “The Bounty Hunter”. Castle finally got his chance, sending Kyle out of the ring before Moriarty dumped Castle in front of The Boys. Bodies started diving from both Lees to Fletcher on the pile after Komander ran the top rope to somersault over Fletcher prior to Kyle’s dive attempt. Instead, Komander used the super hurricarana to send Kyle into the ring. Castle reentered, setting off a sequence of big maneuvers ending with Moriarty making Lee Johnson submit in the Border City Stretch for the match’s first elimination.
Castle was taking everyone to Suplex City as Johnny TV arrived to wipe out The Boys at ringside. Castle had no idea what was happening until he went for the Bang-A-Rang on Lee. Castle went to attack TV, only for Johnny to throw a Boy into the ring. Lee caught a distracted Castle with the enzuguri into a DDT for a second pin fall elimination.
Kyle Fletcher sent Komander to the floor from the top rope after he downed Bryan Keith. Flying head-butt from “The Bounty Hunter” stunned Kyle on the top rope. Tower of doom sequence saw Kyle get the worst of the fall while Komander performed the power bomb. Komander was looking for flash pins on Lee, only for Keith to knock both men down. Diamond Dust countered by Lee, only for Keith to hit the over-the-knee neck breaker. Lee jumped to his feet with fighting spirit, only to get kneed into Keith’s Tiger Driver for the three count.
Kyle went for a crucifix on Keith immediately, but Bryan kicked out. Kyle held on, hitting that hammerlock tombstone to end “The Bounty Hunter’s” night via pin fall.
Kyle initiated a chop exchange with Komander almost getting knocked into the Tombstone Piledriver. Komander kicked his way out of the situation, hitting a springboard poison-rana that sent Fletcher to the floor. Kyle caught Komander flying, hitting the Tombstone Piledriver on the ring’s edge! Komander survived the twenty count, making it in only to take a brain buster … for a near fall!
Komander stopped the super brain buster, hitting a springboard Canadian Destroyer … for a near fall!
The fans were going wild as Komander demanded Kyle to rise. When Fletcher couldn’t, Komander used the slingshot double stomp to put Kyle on the apron for a rope walk 450 splash across the apron-draped Kyle! Komander hit another 450 splash in the ring … to gain a near fall!
Komander moved to the top rope again, only for Fletcher to dragon screw leg whip him against the ropes. Turnbuckle brain buster by Fletcher … gave Kyle a near fall!
Kyle quickly connected with the enzuguri to set up and execute that hammerlock Tombstone Piledriver to finally pin Komander and become the NEW TELEVISION CHAMPION!
Winner: Kyle Fletcher
Match Review: Wow – what a match! Those closing moments were white-hot even if the fans were initially disappointed with Keith and Castle being eliminated. This will go down as one of the greatest Survival of the Fittest tournament finales ever.
ROH Pure Championship: Wheeler Yuta (c) vs. Tom Lawlor
The judges for this one if it goes to the time limit were former ROH World champions Jerry Lynn and Christopher Daniels as well as former multi-time Tag Team champion Jimmy Jacobs.
After revealing his denim tights, Tom Lawlor grounded the champ and threatened to submit him quickly. Wheeler Yuta was greatly aware and got some distance from the challenger without losing a rope break. Sweeping Yuta into a cross arm bar, Lawlor forced the champ to sacrifice a rope break.
Dropkicking a running Lawlor, Yuta was able to senton splash his opposition. So Lawlor got up chopping. Using the referee’s positioning, Yuta used a closed fist without repercussion. Lawlor responded in kind, getting caught and being issued a warning. As the fans chanted, “Yuta sucks!” the champ pulled off a chop block to Indian deathlock Tom.
Scooting Lawlor near the ropes, Yuta forced a rope break by the challenger almost five minutes into this one. Lawlor got up chopping again winning the battle by spearing Yuta across the ring. Flying knee strike connected for Tom, as did the running shoulder ram in the corner. Blocking another knee strike, Yuta performed a dragon screw leg whip into the seated abdominal stretch. Turning the submission into a pinning combination didn’t work for Yuta, getting caught in Lawlor’s clutches for a big slam.
Hammerlock Tombstone Piledriver by Lawlor didn’t end Yuta’s night; forcing the challenger to go for an Anaconda Vice that saw the champ use another rope break. Rolling onto the apron, Yuta punched Lawlor for a warning. Sadly for Yuta, the shot didn’t stun Lawlor long enough for him to take advantage of the punch. Pulling Yuta off the top allowed Lawlor to cinch in the kimura. Yuta scooted to the bottom rope to use his last rope break.
Dragging Yuta to the ring’s middle caused Lawlor to lose his grip and get caught in a German suplex. Lawlor kicked out, going for the crossface chicken wing. Countering the submission with a pinning combination/the Seat-belt, Yuta rolled the challenger to the point Lawlor’s legs hit the ropes at the three count (and one of his shoulders weren’t on the mat).
Instead of following the Code of Honor, Yuta kicked Lawlor low. Suddenly, Hook’s music hit to bring out the son of Taz. Yuta low blowed Hook, too, before hitting a DDT. Wow, Hook looked like a chump.
Winner: Wheeler Yuta
Match Review: A fine Pure title match with the champ actually in over his head against the grappling specialist to the point he only won due to referee incompetence. The post-match stuff with Hook was horrible as Hook did nothing to prove himself as a threat (his dad would’ve no-sold that low blow).
Keith Lee vs. Shane Taylor
The fans were very much in Keith Lee’s corner for this one as they locked up for the first time in ROH. Shane Taylor’s side headlock caused a collision between the two that didn’t budge either man. Showing incredible agility, the two were rolling and jumping until Lee hit a shoulder block that almost sent Taylor out of the ring. Backing Taylor into the corner, Lee unleashed a double chop that almost stunned Shane. What did stun Shane was Lee’s slingshot cross body block. Taylor stopped a second slingshot maneuver to pull off the Tower of London for a two count. What also got Taylor a near fall was the running splash. Taylor had Lee on the apron, open for a leg drop!
Taylor rattled Lee with a series of strikes including a knee strike similar to Ray Rowe’s. Using his weight to rattle Lee’s spine, Taylor took pride in mocking the pro-Keith crowd. Lee blocked a right hand, knocking Shane into the corner for a splash. Taylor responded with a head-butt topped by the uranage. Instead of going for the pin, Taylor came off Bret’s rope with the splash … to earn a near fall!
Taylor was ready to end this one when Lee fell to a knee. When Taylor approached him, Lee hoisted him up for a ridiculous slam off the forearm smash. Somehow, Taylor stopped a sure pin. Lee signaled for the moonsault when Lee Moriarty arrived for the distraction. Lee pitched Moriarty into the ring for the Spirit Bomb. Before Keith could rise, Taylor kneed him in the back of his head for a two count. Taylor had the big splash in mid yet again. Lee got to his feet, meeting Taylor on the ropes. Shane pulled Lee off the top with a Canadian Destroyer … to gain a near fall!
The crowd exploded as Taylor got up and clocked Lee with that stiff right. Lee didn’t stay down for the three count, giving Shane a reason to go for the stiff right again. But Taylor ran into the Big Bang Catastrophe, giving Lee the pin fall.
Winner: Keith Lee
Match Review: A fine hoss battle with some incredible moments including Taylor’s Canadian Destroyer off the top. The ending left something to be desired considering Taylor will be the one sticking around in ROH and really needed a win to prove he is a force.
– In the back, Tony Schiavone was in the back with Bryan Keith. “The Bounty Hunter” stated he’s here to collect gold; bringing Orange Cassidy with the challenge to face him at AEW “Collision” for his gold.
Blackpool Combat Club (Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli & Jon Moxley) vs. Mark Briscoe & FTR
Dax Hardwood found himself locking up with Jon Moxley and backing him into the corner. Jon demanded to be hit and got what he wanted. But the second chop had Moxley going back to his corner to be tagged out by Claudio Castagnoli. Very aggressive lock up between Claudio and Dax, leading to a chop exchange until Claudio tripped Dax into an elbow drop. Bryan Danielson got the tag, kicking & chopping Dax until Hardwood caught him with a forearm to his injured eye. Cash Wheeler tagged in, leading to a European uppercut exchange that Cash won. Basement dropkicking Wheeler, Bryan set up Moxley & Claudio to do some damage. Cash reversed the Big Swing, backing Claudio into the corner so Mark Briscoe could tag in and put the boots to the former King of Wrestling.
The fans were loving Mark wearing out Claudio and almost getting a pin off the flying back elbow. Dax became the legal man, missing a shoulder ram in the corner to hit the steel ring post. Moxley pulled Dax out of the ring, sending him leg shoulder-first against the steel ring post. Dax’s left arm was bleeding as Danielson and Moxley exchanged arm-based attacks. When Claudio reentered, it was able simply knocking Dax around the ring with European uppercuts to set up the Big Swing. Claudio did a short version, tagging back out so Moxley could do some damage including biting the bloody Dax’s bloody arm. Running, Moxley hit the shoulder just like Hardwood when Dax moved out of the corner. Dax was fighting for his life to make it to his corner; hitting a German suplex on Claudio. Leaping, Dax tagged out to Mark.
Briscoe was on fire; kicking, chopping and hitting suplexes aplenty before tagging in Cash to hit Redneck Boogie on Bryan for a two count. Cash took a bad fall to the floor as Danielson turned the tables and almost knocked Dax out with those buzzsaw kicks. Dax stopped Danielson from climbing to the top rope, using the Power Plex alongside Cash for Mark’s Froggy Bow … to gain a near fall!
Dax had a cut above his right eye as he signaled for the Doomsday Device. Danielson stopped the maneuver, crotching Mark on the top rope. Briscoe blocked the superplex, allowing Cash to pull Danielson off the ropes for the Doomsday Device. Claudio ran in, taking the Jay Driller from Dax. Brain buster to Moxley before Danielson left Wheeler down via the Busaiku Knee. Double down as Danielson and Mark clotheslined each other. Moxley got up bleeding as both teams stood off in the ring for a big brawl. It came down to Dax fighting off Danielson and Moxley to no avail as he felt a DDT. Mark ran in, chopping everything in his path until he got propelled into the European uppercut. Neutralizer by Claudio to Mark … for a near fall!
Claudio was peppering Mark with European uppercuts in the corner as the fans began to wane. FTR ran in, yanking a running Claudio into a Mark-assisted Big Rig … for a near fall!
Mark had the Jay Driller on Claudio in mind when Moxley knocked him down. The BCC were putting the boots to Mark before they tied him up for some vicious ground & pound. FTR stopped a triple team attack from continuing, causing the action to spill to the outside for a big brawl. Dax and Moxley were in the crowd as Mark and Claudio ended up on the entrance. The bell suddenly rang to end this match via count-out.
Mark Briscoe grabbed the microphone to state that this match needs to be restated with anything goes.
The bell sounded and Mark somersaulted off the entrance stage to wipe out everyone. Dax and Moxley were still fighting in the crowd while Claudio cut Mark open by sending him face-first against the barricade. Mark fought through the pain being dished out to somersault atop Claudio at ringside. Mark found a bucket full of thumbtacks and barbed wire from underneath the ring that they poured on a table at ringside. Moxley found a fork as Mark brought a ladder from the back wrapped in barbed wire. Claudio ended up on the barbed wire ladder so Mark could dive on him. But Moxley whacked Mark in the back with a chair and shoved him off the top rope, into the ladder!
In the ring, Moxley were wearing out Dax with a chair. Dax took the curb stomp into the chair. Instead of going for the pin, Moxley stabbed Cash with that fork. Danielson’s eye patch had been removed and his face bloodied. The BCC were taking turns bashing FTR with chairs until Danielson put Cash in the LeBell Lock while Moxley wrapped Cash’s head in barbed wire. Yet, Wheeler refused to submit.
Mark ran in, getting locked in the rear naked choke by Moxley. Everyone was stuck in a sleeper thanks to the BCC. Dax muscled his way out of the corner with Danielson still on his back, falling backward to stop the choke on Mark.
A table was set up by the barricade at ringside with Wheeler spearing Claudio through it. Dash pulled Moxley off the apron to piledrive him through the table covered in thumbtacks. In the ring, Danielson screamed at Mark that it wasn’t his night while kicking the life out of him. Mark refused to go down even after being kicked in the head. Avoiding the Busaiku Knee, Mark hit the Jay Driller on a stack of chairs to pin Danielson!
Winners: Mark Briscoe & FTR
Match Review: A solid six-man tag turned into a crazy all out brawl full of wrestlers the fans enjoy watching in honor of a great man. This is what wrestling is all about and why it’s so special to so many people.
Proving Ground Match: ROH World champion Eddie Kingston vs. Anthony Henry
The ROH World champion found himself in a strike exchange early with the would-be challenger getting rocked by a palm strike to the jaw. Anthony Henry shook off the effects, only to take a liver shot seconds later. Henry took advantage of the champ’s concern, sending him to the floor by his pants to running kick him in position for a flying knee strike against the barricades. Flying double stomp in the ring to Eddie’s back topped by the bayonet forearm almost ended Eddie’s night. Henry made the big mistake of letting Eddie get up and start chopping. Ducking the Back Fist to the Future, Henry landed a roundhouse enzuguri into the German suplex for an early two count.
Kawada style kicks from Henry fired up Eddie and resulted in Henry having to back elbow Kingston in position for a piledriver for a two count. The fans weren’t too enthralled by Kingston barely kicking out, but rallied for him to rise. Avoiding a Warrior’s Way double stomp from the top, Eddie hit the Back Fist to the Future so he could lock in the Stretch Plum for the submission.
Winner: Eddie Kingston
Match Review: While it’s great the ROH World champion actually got a match on ROH’s biggest show of the year, the outcome wasn’t in question and the match felt like a simple breather between two of the show’s biggest bouts – something no World champ’s match should be presented as especially on PPV. With Daniel Garcia confronting Eddie after the match, why couldn’t they have had their Continental Classic tournament match here?
ROH Women’s World Championship: Athena (c) vs. Billie Starkz
Athena declared if she loses she’s gone from Ring of Honor forever. Lexy Nair (Minion Bestie) is here for the in-ring introductions. Athena was doing a Bane cosplay before revealing a black & green mask to cover her broken nose.
At the sound of the bell, Billie Starkz avoided the collar & elbow tie-up to forearm the champ square in the face. Stunned, the champ couldn’t avoid a head scissors as the fans chanted, “Women’s wrestling!” Billie landed a roundhouse kick from a kneeling position after failing to pin the champ. When Athena left the ring, Billie tried to dive on her. “The Fallen Goddess” sidestepped Billie, whipping her challenger abdomen & back-first against the barricades. The challenger couldn’t stop Athena from bashing her face against the guardrails, let alone taking a double knee strike to the back of her head. As if that wasn’t enough, Starkz’s head collided with the steel ring post as Athena proclaimed, “This is what she wanted!”
Not surprising, Starkz was bleeding from her head. Athena kept the pressure on, simply pounding & choking Starkz in & out of the ring. Billie kept her composure and caught the champ running with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex into the corner topped by a deep German suplex. Sacrificing her own recovery from a broken nose, Athena used a head-butt to halt Starkz. But the challenger had some momentum once she kicked her way out of the corner, spearing the champ before ripping off the protective mask. Billie mounted “The Fallen Goddess” punching her face-protecting arms. Athena found herself in prime position for the Swanton Bomb … for a near fall!
Athena left the ring, only to get sent back-first against the barricade thanks to both a tope and Billie’s hands tossing her. Athena avoided the double knee against the barricade, shotgun dropkicking Billie in sickening fashion. The champ decided it was time to use the announcers’ table for some damage. Slapping the taste out of Billie’s mouth, Athena accidentally woke her challenger in preparation for a brain buster on the table. Starkz reversed the suplex, performing one off the table to the floor and another on floor!
Rolling Athena back in, Starkz failed to pin the champ; stomping her until Athena left the ring again. Starkz used the champ’s hair to pull her back to the floor and into the ring. When “The Fallen Goddess” tried to leave again, Billie went to slam her face against the steel barricade. Athena countered the attack, pulling off a face buster that sent Starkz’s face into the floor. Athena’s nose was obviously bothering her as she put Billie back in for a super Kyrot’s Wrath … for a near fall!
Starkz exploded off the mat, forearming the referee instead of Athena by accident. The champ called for Lexy Nair to give her the title belt. Nair seemed conflicted about the idea, causing Billie to dropkick Athena into the belt Lexy was holding. Athena stumbled into Starkz’s End … for a near fall!
Pulling Starkz onto the apron after being tossed out of the ring, Athena drove Billie’s face against the top turnbuckle. Athena climbed the ropes, leaving herself open to be grabbed and drive across the ring’s edge with a double winged angel!
Rolling Athena back in, Billie missed the Swanton and staggered into the flying forearm to reset this one. The champ demanded Billie to get up and fight, to which the challenger did until Athena pulled her into Despicable Knee for a one count! The fans were actually cheering for Billie to recover as Athena prepared for The O-Face. Billie blocked The O-Face, hitting the PK into Starkz’s End. Athena countered the finisher, rolling Starkz into a seated hammerlock abdominal stretch. Starkz had nowhere to go and screamed in defeat while giving up!
Billie shoulder bumped the champ on the way out, only for Athena to take exception to the act. So Billie offered the Code of Honor. When Starkz wanted know what Athena needed from her old ally, “The Fallen Goddess” stated, “I want you to be my Minion.” Billie obliged and the two hugged before Lexy joined to make it a group hug. Athena and her precious Minions left the ring together as the show came to a close.
Winner: Athena
Match Review: Similar to the I Quit match, this was a star-making performance with Billie proving she belongs even if there were a few sloppy moments during the end (though it makes sense considering they were exhausted). Athena winning was somewhat of a shock and the end potentially put things in a similar light as they were before with Billie following behind Athena. The question whether or not Athena’s newfound respect with Billie will turn into hatred or Starkz is using a false sense of security to eventually win the title is something to be seen in the future. For now, the champion and would-be titleholder delivered on the grandest stage in the honorable realm.
Overall Review: The build to this year’s “Final Battle” left so much to be desired with a lot of aspects lacking including title challengers being efficiently promoted (or the Tag Team title actually getting defending champions), feuds getting proper time on ROH programming to really mean something beyond Page-Nese and, of course, Athena-Starkz, and even the ROH World champ getting shoe-horned into the show he should’ve anchored. But beyond all of that, this event proved exactly why ROH can be special when it’s not just a bunch of meaningless matches or the show actually has wrestlers on the card the fans (who were great mostly throughout the show) actually care about (and the action isn’t taped between long, televised AEW episodes featuring the stars ROH don’t get on a weekly basis).
The main event, six-man in honor of Jay Briscoe, Survival of the Fittest finale, the I Quit match, and, depending on a fan’s taste, the PPV opener for the AAA Mega title were all must-see bouts. Lee-Taylor and the Pure & Six-Man title matches were solid as well and helped add to the PPV’s overall high quality (something that can’t be said about the ROH on HonorClub-level Rose-Vertvixen and unnecessary Proving Ground Match even if it meant two deserving people got a spot on the PPV with title implications). Not to mention there are some actual stories coming out of this show including a potential feud with Johnny TV and Dalton Castle, Ethan Page getting back on track in his journey to win a title in honor of his daughter (Fletcher-Page sounds incredible), and Athena getting her Minion back (or so we think).
While its unlikely the presentation style of ROH on HonorClub will change to produce more of this style of action reminiscent of ROH’s pre-Tony Khan years, there’s very little doubt any ROH PPV going forward won’t be excellent considering the track record. This show is well worth at least a month subscription to HonorClub even if the weekly product has mostly become monotonous and underwhelming.
