Background: Three weeks earlier at “Night of the Butcher”, Paul London defeated Bryan Danielson to become the number one contender to Xavier’s ROH Championship.
Final Battle 2002
Philadelphia, PA
December 28, 2002
Xavier vs. Paul London
The action was hot & heavy early as the champion took down London with a clothesline. Xavier wanting to jaw with the infuriated crowd left him open for a sweep into the standing moonsault press from his challenger that was topped by a head scissors following some arm drags. Xavier hightailed it out of the ring, regrouping while telling fans what he thought of them. London pushed the pace, trying to grind Xavier out of this match with the side headlock. Backing London into the corner, Xavier landed a cheap shot that the challenger paid him back for via the spinning heel kick. London’s attempt at a follow up head scissors was stopped by Xavier’s impressive show of strength that involved in face busting London. The challenger refused to stay down, giving the champ a response for every strike he threw. Xavier’s knees and butterfly locks proved to be incredibly effective as the champ kept control even when London attempted to make a comeback by sweeping The Prophecy member into pinning combinations.
Xavier’s focus was on the back of London as he utilized a perfect bow & arrow lock. But Xavier’s penchant for running his mouth gave London a chance to recover and throw some knees of his own. Xavier quickly grabbed London to stop the assault, German suplexing the challenger to earn a two count. The fans were booing Xavier mercilessly as his focus moved from the back to the neck of London. Xavier called for a highflying maneuver, but London stopped the champion’s climb by slipping under the ropes and popping him in the mouth. London was looking for a superplex to the floor, but Xavier was having none of it as he dropped down to hotshot London on the rope. Xavier scaled the ropes again, only for London to crotch him on the top rope. Dropsault landed for London after he knocked Xavier into the ring to give him a two count. London’s Liger Bomb connected, giving him the will to set up that Shooting Star Press. Moving to the outside didn’t save Xavier as London turned around and executed the SSP on Xavier in the aisle!
The fans were on their feet as London and Xavier reentered the ring. London knocked Xavier in position for the SSP again, but the champ moved at the last second and caused him to hit nothing but canvas. Xavier’s follow up pin was unsuccessful, as was London’s following a unique face buster. London played a little possum; luring Xavier into a DDT that had the fans believing the three count was imminent. The crowd was right, but Xavier got his foot on the rope right before the referee’s hand hit the mat for the third time. With a, “That was three!” chant ringing out, London countered the cobra clutch with a pinning combination. Xavier kicked out right before the three count yet again, but held onto London’s head before executing a cobra clutch suplex that left London out on his feet. Xavier quickly took advantage of the situation, utilizing the X-Breaker neck breaker to put London down for the three count.
Winner: Xavier (17:05)
Is It A Classic: They did a great job building to the finale, and it was so easy for them to get a reaction as everyone hated Xavier (feeling he was an undeserving champion). But it still felt a little underwhelming until that final three or so minutes. A very good match, but not what you’d consider a true classic.
