Tag: ROH Women’s World Championship

Athena vs. Billie Starkz for the Women’s World Championship headlines tonight’s ROH Final Battle 2023. 

Athena has held the title for over 365 days after defeating Mercedes Martinez to kick off her reign at last year’s Final Battle, while this is by far the highest-profile outing to date for Starkz in a pay-per-view main event. 

Four more titles will also be on the line tonight. 

Wheeler Yuta defends the Pure title against “Filthy” Tom Lawlor, a Survival of the Fittest match will crown a new World Television Champion, the ROH Six-Man Tag Team titles will be on the line, plus El Hijo del Vikingo defends the AAA Mega Championship against Black Taurus. 

Blackpool Combat Club’s Jon Moxley, Bryan Danielson, & Claudio Castagnoli will face FTR’s Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler & Mark Briscoe. 

Keith Lee will take on Shane Taylor in a grudge match, while Ethan Page faces Tony Nese in an I Quit match. The Von Erichs will also be in action against The Outrunners.

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ZERO HOUR

We got a video package hyping up the Women’s Title match main event between Athena & Billie Starkz. Athena said in this video that if she lost tonight, she would leave Ring of Honor forever.

Taya Valkyrie (w/ Johnny TV) defeated Jazmin Allure

Valkyrie booted Allure in the face after the Code of Honor. Allure fought out of an Irish Whip and threw strikes, but Valkyrie caught Allure in the ropes and hit a sliding German suplex. Valkyrie hit double knees in the corner for a nearfall. Allure fired up with strikes, but Valkyrie cut her off on the top rope and hit a superplex. Valkyrie hit a Butterfly Drop before hitting a Curb Stomp for the win.

Marshall & Ross Von Erich defeated The Outrunners (Truth Magnum & Turbo Floyd)

The Von Erichs came out to Stranglehold by Ted Nugent, the song their father Kevin came out to during his career. Ross started with Magnum, keeping him off of his feet with dropkicks and a headscissors. Marshall tagged in and got a dropkick on Magnum that forced him to the floor. Floyd tagged in but ended up getting sent to the floor in the same way, forcing the Outrunners to regroup on the outside.

Floyd baited Ross to a chase on the floor, leading to Ross getting sent into the apron. Ross evaded multiple attacks from the Outrunners, getting the tag to Marshall. Marshall ran wild, landing a cannonball on Floyd. The Von Erichs ran wild on both Outrunners before locking on dual Von Erich claws to score the win. Kevin Von Erich made his way to the ring to celebrate with his sons.

Survival of the Fittest Qualifying Match – Bryan Keith defeated Jack Cartwheel

This is the kind of match I want to see more in Ring of Honor, with top-of-the-line freelancers and independent stars having showcase matches. This had a ton of energy and got the crowd fired up for the show.

Keith came out to Still Tippin’ by Mike Jones, his walkout music on the independent scene. Cartwheel cartwheeled out of a few holds from Keith to start, then cartwheeled out of the way of Keith to land a pair of kicks and a standing moonsault for a nearfall. Cartwheel evaded Keith, but Keith stuffed a headscissors and landed a dropkick to the stomach to cut him off.

Cartwheel landed an enzuigiri, but Keith dropped him with a boot. Cartwheel cut off Keith with a cartwheeling Dragon Screw. Cartwheel hit a backflipping neckbreaker. Cartwheel got sent to the apron, but flagpoled on the apron to sweep Keith’s feet out from under him. Cartwheel hit a twisting elbow drop for a nearfall, then hit a cartwheeling powerslam for another nearfall.

Cartwheel went to the top rope, cartwheeling out of the way when Keith went to cut him off. Cartwheel hit a Death Valley Driver, then followed Keith to the floor with a Sasuke Special. Keith moved out of the way of a Shooting Star Press, with the men trading enzuigiris. Keith landed a knee strike on a single-leg attempt, then hit the Tiger Driver for the win and the final spot in Survival of the Fittest.

Tony Khan came to the stage. He talked about how last year’s Final Battle marked Jay Briscoe’s last match in ROH, as well as how he and Bryan Danielson had their only singles match against each other on Final Battle in 2003. He hyped up the show before announcing another match for the Zero Hour.

Daniel Garcia defeated Blake Christian

This match was odd, as it looked like they were a half-step off from each other at points. Garcia scoring a win here was nice.

Garcia won the early exchange, hitting a double underhook suplex for a nearfall. Garcia laid in stomps to Christian, but Christian caught the boot and swung Garcia down. Christian picked up the pace, misdirecting Garcia before landing a double stomp to the back of the head for a nearfall.

Christian clubbered on Garcia in the corner, landing a knee to the face. Garcia was on spaghetti legs as Christian pelted him with running forearms. Garcia fired up with punches and stomps in the corner. Garcia hit a butterfly suplex into the corner for a nearfall. Garcia tied Christian up in the Tree of Woe before hitting a hesitation dropkick for a nearfall.

Christian caught Garcia with an enzuigiri and a uranage before hitting an inverted senton. Christian hit a bottom rope 619 before landing a springboard forearm for a nearfall. They traded strikes, ending with Christian hitting a Spanish Fly for a nearfall. Christian landed on Garcia on a springboard dive, but Garcia locked on an ankle lock. Christian sent Garcia to the floor before landing a Fosbury Flop into a reverse DDT.

Christian hit a springboard 450 for a nearfall. Christian mocked Garcia’s dance, but Garcia reversed Christian’s curb stomp into the Dragon Tamer submission for the win.

Tony Khan was backstage, quickly being interrupted by ROH World Champion Eddie Kingston. He wanted a match tonight, even with being in a Continental Classic match tomorrow night. Anthony Henry of the Workhorsemen entered the frame, saying that he wanted to capitalize on the Workhorsemen’s recent momentum. Khan made a Proving Ground match official for the PPV.

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MAIN CARD

AAA Mega Title Match – El Hijo del Vikingo (c) defeated Black Taurus to retain

Allow me to catch my breath. This was absolutely spectacular, with Vikingo not only doing his spectacular flying but also letting Taurus batter him. You could tell Vikingo was fighting through some pain here, but he was able to pull it together to finish the match and score the win.

Taurus refused the Code of Honor, driving Vikingo into the corner before slapping him in the face. Taurus stuffed a headscissor attempt, sending Vikingo flying to the mat with a powerbomb. Vikingo attempted a double-jump shoulder block, but Taurus stuck him with a shoulder block. Vikingo avoided a corner charge, sending Taurus to the floor before following him with a dive. Unfortunately, Taurus caught the dive and powerbombed Vikingo on the floor.

Taurus gorilla pressed Vikingo back into the ring before clubbering on him in the corner. Taurus ripped Vikingo out of the corner into a powerslam for a nearfall. Taurus choked Vikingo before throwing him over the top rope to the floor. Taurus followed Vikingo to the floor with a corkscrew dive. Back in the ring, Taurus hit a flurry of offense on Vikingo, landing a crucifix bomb and a pop-up Samoan Drop for a nearfall.

Taurus went to the top rope, but Vikingo avoided a twisting senton. Vikingo fired up with kicks, driving Taurus into the corner. Vikingo hit an imploding headscissors before taking Taurus down with a pair of spectacular headscissors. Vikingo went for a double jump moonsault to the floor, but his knees kept bothering him, so he went for a single stride moonsault instead. Vikingo hit a missile dropkick back in the ring, but Taurus roared back with a Pounce that sent Vikingo into the corner.

Taurus pulled Vikingo to the top rope, but Vikingo ripped off an avalanche Frankensteiner that sent Taurus to the apron. Taurus pulled Vikingo onto the apron, but Vikingo hit an up-and-over powerbomb onto the apron to This Is Awesome chants. Vikingo sent Taurus back into the ring before hitting an inverted Phoenix Splash for a nearfall.

Vikingo balanced himself on the ringpost before hitting a double-jump missile dropkick. Vikingo set up the double knees in the corner, but Taurus got up and launched Vikingo into the corner. Taurus pulled Vikingo to the top rope and hit a Gorilla Press Slam to the mat for a nearfall. The two men traded strikes, ending with Taurus spearing Vikingo before both men needed time to recover.

Taurus caught Vikingo’s punches and landed a headbutt, but Vikingo sent Taurus to the floor. Vikingo followed Taurus to the floor with a ropewalk 630 splash. Vikingo brought Taurus into the ring, but Taurus cut him off on the top rope. Taurus hit a pair of backbreakers before landing a lariat for a nearfall. Vikingo reversed a backbreaker into a crucifix bomb before landing the double knees in the corner. Vikingo hit the 630 splash to score the win and retain the Mega Title.

ROH World Six Man Tag Team Title Match – Mogul Embassy (Brian Cage, Kaun, Toa Liona) (w/ Prince Nana) (c) defeated TMDK (Bad Dude Tito, Kosei Fujita, Shane Haste) to retain

This was fun stuff here. Bad Dude Tito shined in particular.

We got video of how TMDK earned this title shot, with the TMDK team Haste and Mikey Nicholls beating Kaun and Liona in New Japan’s World Tag League tournament. Kaun started with Fujita, dropping him with a back elbow as Fujita charged in off the ropes. The Embassy clubbered on Fujita until Tito got a tag in. He and Kaun traded chops until Tito hit an exploder suplex for a nearfall.

TMDK isolated Kaun until Kaun dropped Fujita with a lariat. Cage tagged in to big cheers as he dropped Fujita with a Gorilla Press Powerslam for a nearfall. Cage drilled Fujita in the corner with strikes before suplexing him for a nearfall. The crowd counted along with Cage’s lifts of Fujita before hitting a fallaway slam. Fujita hit a German suplex on Cage before tagging out to Tito.

Tito ran wild on the Embassy, taking out all three men before taking Liona down with a tornado DDT for a nearfall. TMDK ran wild on Liona, with Haste hitting a cannonball and a Shining Wizard for a nearfall. Liona fired up and caught Haste with a uranage. Kaun and Liona dropped Haste with a spear for a nearfall that Fujita broke up. A move train ensued, ending with Fujita hitting a springboard dropkick on Kaun for a nearfall.

Fujita and Kaun traded strikes before Kaun scored with a John Woo dropkick. Cage hit the outside-in superplex for a nearfall broken up by Tito. Another move train ensued, with Kaun and Liona hitting Open The Gates on Haste. Fujita was surrounded three-on-one and tried to fight out of it, but Liona drilled him with a headbutt. The Embassy hit the Pendulum Powerbomb on Fujita for the win.

I Quit Match – Ethan Page defeated Tony Nese (w/Smart Mark Sterling)

This was a great end to what’s been a solid midcard feud over the past few months on ROH. The crowd was on the ride with these guys, peaking at the finish with Page finally getting the win over Nese. Page is made to the ROH crowd, and a tag team run with Scorpio Sky can be good for both men.

Sterling was reluctant to get handcuffed to the post per the stipulations for the match, so Texas’ own Mark Henry made his way to the ring to persuade Sterling. Sterling agreed, but it allowed Nese to jump Page from behind. Page got in control quickly and went outside to menace Sterling, but Nese caught Page with a plancha.

They fought on the floor before Nese got control in the ring by ringing up Page on the top rope. Sterling and Nese went to powder Page’s nose with the protein powder, but Page ducked. Nese rolled to the outside with powder in his eyes. Page went after Sterling again, but Nese caught him again and sent him into Sterling’s handcuff chain.

Nese grabbed the mic and told a now-bloody Page to quit. Page refused, so Nese kneed him into the stairs. Page once again refused to quit. Nese went for the key to Sterling’s handcuffs, allowing Page to catch up to him with punches. They brawled around ringside before Page sent Nese over the barricade with an Irish Whip. Nese rang up Page on the barricade before hitting a flying chop off of the barricade.

Nese pulled out a weight plate from under the ring, which the commentary justified by saying it was used to keep the ring from shifting around. Page avoided a shot with the weight, but Nese kept control by whipping him with a jump rope. Page fired up and hit Nese with the rope repeatedly, forcing Nese to grab the mic. He feigned quitting before hitting Page in the neck with the mic.

Nese hit a Fosbury Flop before skipping rope on the floor. Sterling got a shot in while Page was close enough to him. Nese set up two tables on the floor before Page recovered and laid Nese onto the tables. Page went to the top rope, but Nese met him up top. Page dropped Nese down and hit the Headshot over the ropes. Page then hit the Headshot through the tables on the floor.

Nese refused to quit, so Page pulled out a pair of chairs. Page set Nese on the top rope and set the chairs up under him. Page then pulled Nese up for a powerslam, but Nese hit a hurricanrana that sent Page just over the chairs. Nese threatened the ring announcer for the keys, then shoved the referee down to unlock Sterling from the handcuffs. They laid the boots to Page before threatening to handcuff Page and hit him with the plate.

Scorpio Sky made his way to the ring to make the save for his old tag team partner Page, taking out Sterling on the floor. Page fired up, hitting Nese and Sterling with the weight before hitting Sterling with the Ego’s Edge. Sky dragged Sterling away, but Nese fought out of the Ego’s Edge and dropped Page.

Nese handcuffed Page and threatened to hit him over the head, but Page cursed at Nese. Page avoided the chairshot and made a comeback with no hands, hitting boots and shoulder blocks. The referee unlocked the cuffs, allowing Page to drill Nese with a chair. Page choked out Nese with the handcuffs, forcing Nese to quit. Scorpio Sky came back out to celebrate with Page.

Nyla Rose defeated VertVixen

Rose overpowered VertVixen to start, quickly going for the Beast Bomb. VertVixen fought out of it, but Rose chopped her in the throat. VertVixen swept Rose’s legs out from under her and hit a double stomp to the back. Rose caught VertVixen with a chokeslam off of a springboard but pulled her up on the pin. Rose landed the springboard knee to VertVixen’s back before hitting the Beast Bomb for the win.

Survival Of The Fittest 2023 Finals for the ROH World Television Title – Kyle Fletcher defeated Dalton Castle (w/ The Boys), Lee Moriarty, Komander, Lee Johnson, Bryan Keith

What an awesome match this was. Never a dull moment, these guys structured this match very well. The final stretch with Komander and Fletcher was a phenomenal breakout moment for both guys and Fletcher scoring the win will give him a great spotlight as a singles wrestler while his partner recovers from injury.

This is an elimination match.

Fletcher stole a tag from Castle and forced him out of the ring to wrestle Moriarty. Johnson snuck a tag in on Fletcher after Castle got sent to the floor again. Johnson sent Moriarty to the floor with a dropkick, then flung Castle to the floor again. Komander tagged in, with the announcers noting that it is his birthday today. Komander sent Johnson to the floor with a headscissors, then sent Castle to the floor.

Keith caught Komander with a forearm, leading to a strike exchange between the two. Keith caught Komander with a boot before sending Castle to the floor again. Fletcher dropped Keith with a big bodyslam. Keith came back with chops that forced Fletcher into the corner, but Fletcher cut him off with a back elbow. Castle finally got one up on someone, sending Fletcher to the floor before Moriarty sent him to the floor with a boot.

Moriarty kicked off a dive train, with Johnson following with a Fosbury Flop. Komander did his ropewalk dive past Fletcher who had set up a moonsault. Komander took Fletcher down with an avalanche hurricanrana. Everyone got their shots in before Moriarty snapped Johnson’s fingers. Moriarty locked Johnson in the Border City Stretch, scoring the submission and the first elimination.

Castle and Moriarty went after it, with Castle sending Moriarty and everyone else flying with suplexes. Castle caught Moriarty with another suplex before Johnny TV attacked the Boys on the floor. Johnny sent a Boy rolling in the ring, distracting Castle and allowing Moriarty to pin him with the pop-up flatliner.

Moriarty and Keith got into it, trading strikes until Fletcher and Komander got in and started throwing shots in. Komander dropped Keith with a tornado DDT, but Fletcher sent Komander off of the apron. Keith hit a rising headbutt to Fletcher, leading to a Tower of Doom that left everyone down. Moriarty sent Komander rolling away with a low dropkick. Keith and Moriarty got into it, with Keith scoring a nearfall with an Ushigoroshi.

Moriarty fired up, but Keith drilled him with a knee strike. Keith hit the Tiger Driver to eliminate Moriarty, but Fletcher almost eliminated Keith with a crucifix flash pin. Keith kicked out and avoided the Yakuza Kick. Keith hit a big running knee, but Fletcher reversed the Tiger Driver into the Hammerlock Tombstone to eliminate him.

The final two were Kyle Fletcher and Komander. Fletcher shrugged off Komander’s strikes until he landed a superkick. They traded running forearms until Fletcher went for the Hammerlock Tombstone again. Komander fought out and hit a springboard poisonrana to send Fletcher to the floor. Komander went for a hurricanrana on the floor, but Fletcher caught him. Komander fought out, but Fletcher caught him with an enzuigiri. Fletcher hit a tombstone on Komander on the apron as both men spilled to the floor.

A countout began, as Fletcher got to the ring. Komander fought up, making his way back into the ring at the 18-count. Fletcher hit the Yakuza Kick and the brainbuster for a nearfall, as somewhere El Generico gets a smile on his face. Fletcher set up Komander on the top rope, but Komander fought out and hit a springboard Destroyer for a nearfall.

The crowd chanted This Is Awesome as Komander hit a slingshot into the bottom rope, then hit a double stomp to Fletcher’s chest. Komander hit an unbelievable ropewalk 450 splash to Fletcher on the apron, then hit a 450 splash in the ring, but only got a nearfall. Komander went to the top rope again, but Fletcher kicked Komander’s legs out from under him. Fletcher hit a Brainbuster on the top rope, but Komander kicked out. Fletcher hit a running kick before landing the Hammerlock Tombstone for the win and the title.

ROH Pure Title Match – Wheeler Yuta (c) defeated “Filthy” Tom Lawlor

Another solid match. The crowd was into Lawlor toward the end, and Yuta slipping away with the belt works for him and his sneering coward character.

The judges for this match are Christopher Daniels, Jimmy Jacobs, and Jerry Lynn.

After early grappling, Lawlor caught Yuta with a cross-arm breaker that forced Yuta to use his first rope break. Yuta caught Lawlor on a corner charge with a knee to the waist, then hit a senton for a nearfall. Yuta tossed his elbow pad to distract the referee, then punched Lawlor in the face. Lawlor punched Yuta back, but that forced an official warning from the referee.

Yuta caught Lawlor with a chop block, then put Lawlor in a deathlock. Yuta moved towards the ropes and transitioned to a single-leg crab, forcing Lawlor to use his first rope break. The two men traded strikes in the ring before Lawlor cut Yuta down with a spear. Lawlor caught Yuta with a knee before spearing him in the corner. Lawlor hit a Northern Lights Suplex for a nearfall.

Lawlor went for a Kamigoye, but Yuta caught Lawlor with a Dragon Screw. Yuta locked on an Octopus Stretch before dropping down for a pin for a nearfall. Yuta went for the Right Angle Slam, but Lawlor caught Yuta with a waistlock slam for a nearfall. Yuta caught Lawlor in another single leg crab, but Lawlor monkey flipped out of it.

Lawlor went after Yuta’s arm, hitting a hammerlock Tombstone of his own before locking on an Anaconda Vice. Yuta had to use his second rope break to escape, then punched Lawlor in the face to get his warning. The two men jockeyed for position on the top rope, where Lawlor hit a hammerlock superplex before locking on a double wristlock on the mat. Yuta slid to the ropes, burning his final rope break.

Lawlor wrenched back on the arm, but Yuta transitioned into an Ankle Lock. Yuta hit a German suplex, but Lawlor caught the arm again. Yuta fought his way out and got the Seatbelt pin to win the match and retain the title.

After the match, Yuta shook Lawlor’s hand for the Code of Honor before kicking him low. Yuta went to DDT Lawlor on the title belt when Hook made his way to the ring to ward Yuta off. Yuta pretended to leave before catching Hook with a low blow. Yuta left Hook lying with a DDT.

Keith Lee defeated Shane Taylor

This match was a lot slower than the other matches on the card, which made sense with both men’s sizes. But it never really picked up until the final minute or so. Lee’s gas tank looks a little emptier than it used to be, which could just be father time catching up to him.

No Code of Honor was offered here. On commentary, Caprice Coleman talked about his experience with a tag team partner – Cedric Alexander – who had singles opportunities offered to him, noting that it was simply a difference of mindset being where they were in their careers. The two men fought to a stalemate early on until Lee sent Taylor flying with a shoulder block. Lee got sent to the apron, but he came back with a slingshot crossbody for a nearfall. Yes, a slingshot crossbody.

Lee went for another one, but Taylor caught him with a Tower of London for a one count. Taylor quickly followed with a splash for a nearfall. Taylor splayed Lee on the apron before landing a leg drop. Taylor laid on Lee in a chinlock. Lee fired up after a lariat from Taylor, but Taylor landed a strike combination to drop Lee again.

Lee got to his feet and landed a forearm that sent Taylor into the corner. Taylor came back with a headbutt, then followed with a second rope splash for a nearfall. Taylor set up the Marcus Garvey Driver, but Lee fought out and hit a strike combination and a lifting spinebuster for a nearfall. Lee chopped Taylor in the corner then teased a moonsault before Lee Moriarty got himself involved on behalf of Taylor.

Lee dropped Moriarty with a Spirit Bomb, but Taylor hit Lee with a knee to the back of the head for a nearfall. Taylor went to the top rope, but Lee cut him off with a headbutt. Taylor fought Lee off and hit the biggest Canadian Destroyer you’ll ever see for a nearfall. Taylor hit the knockout punch for a nearfall. Lee caught Taylor with the Big Bang Catastrophe to score the win.

After the match, both men shook hands to consider the score settled.

Bryan Keith was backstage with Tony Schiavone, who was making his ROH debut. Keith said that he was there to collect gold. Orange Cassidy entered the frame, telling Keith to collect his International Championship. The match was made official for Collision tomorrow night, which I will also be reviewing for this site.

Jay Briscoe Tribute Match – Mark Briscoe & FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) defeated Blackpool Combat Club (Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli & Jon Moxley)

What a spectacle, and what a tribute to Jay Briscoe. This was bloody, emotional, and fantastic. The BCC team didn’t treat this like any kind of off night or extra work, they brought the fight here and made this a special match. This match by itself is worth the price of admission.

Harwood started with Moxley, who was making his televised ROH debut. Moxley left himself open for a chop, and Harwood obliged. After another chop, Castagnoli tagged in and drilled Harwood with an uppercut. He and Harwood traded strikes until Castagnoli caught Harwood with an elbow drop. Danielson tagged in to a big pop before Harwood chopped him to his corner to get Wheeler in the match.

Wheeler and Danielson traded chops and shoulder blocks until Danielson cut Wheeler off with a low dropkick. The BCC kept Wheeler in their corner until Wheeler countered a Giant Swing attempt with a rollup for a nearfall. Briscoe made his way into the ring and caught Castagnoli with some shots as the crowd chanted Dem Boys. Harwood tagged in, but Castagnoli avoided a corner charge and sent Harwood into the post.

Moxley tagged in and sent Harwood into the barricade. The BCC isolated Harwood and targeted the left arm of Harwood. Harwood tried to fire up with chops, but Castagnoli snatched him up into a Giant Swing to cut him off. Harwood ducked a corner charge from Moxley, but Castagnoli tagged in to cut him off. Harwood fought out of the BCC corner with chops and lariats before hitting Castagnoli with a German Suplex.

Danielson tagged in to stop Harwood, but Harwood got the tag out to Briscoe. Briscoe ran wild, laying in shots on everyone in the ring before landing an overhead suplex on Danielson. Briscoe and Wheeler hit Redneck Boogie on Danielson for a nearfall. Danielson fought out of a Shatter Machine attempt and laid everyone out with kicks, getting a nearfall off of a head kick to Harwood.

Danielson went to the top rope, but Harwood cut him off. FTR hit a Powerplex on Danielson, with an added Froggy Bow from Briscoe, for a nearfall. Harwood was bleeding near his eye as Briscoe called for the Doomsday Device. Danielson fought out of it, with Briscoe jumping into an uppercut from Castagnoli. That kicked off a move train that ended with Danielson and Briscoe colliding on dual crossbody attempts.

Moxley was bleeding from the head as everyone recovered. All six men fought to their feet and kicked off a Pier Six brawl. A Shatter Machine on Moxley was cut off with a Busaiku Knee and a Paradigm Shift. Briscoe fought Danielson and Moxley, but both men lifted him into a Swiss Death uppercut from Castagnoli. Castagnoli hit a Neutralizer for a nearfall.

Briscoe fought out of another Neutralizer and sent Moxley and Danielson out of the ring. Castagnoli came back and drilled Briscoe with repeated uppercuts and short-arm lariats. Castagnoli turned his back and ran into a three-man Shatter Machine for a nearfall. Briscoe called for the Jay Driller, but Moxley cut him off. The BCC ganged up on Briscoe before FTR came back in to save him.

The six men brawled around ringside until the bell rang for a countout. Briscoe grabbed a microphone, suggesting that the referee bumped his head one too many times. He said this was a match to honor his brother, so they were gonna finish this match, anything goes. The bell rang to restart the match, and Briscoe dived off of the stage onto the pile of wrestlers and security at stage side.

They brawled back to the ring, where Briscoe fired up and hit a chair-assisted dive to Castagnoli on the floor. Harwood pulled out a table, which Briscoe covered with tacks and barbed wire. Briscoe found a barbed wire-covered ladder, while Moxley went after Harwood’s eye with a fork. Briscoe set up Castagnoli on the barbed wire ladder, but Moxley hit him with a chair and sent him into the ladder. Moxley drilled Harwood with a chair before digging at Wheeler’s face with another fork.

The BCC drilled both Harwood and Wheeler with chairs as Moxley wrapped barbed wire across the eyes of Wheeler. Danielson locked on the LeBell Lock as Moxley held the wire on Wheeler’s face. Moxley went to lock Briscoe in a rear naked choke as the other two BCC members held FTR off. Harwood drove Danielson into Moxley and Briscoe to cut off the choke.

The BCC got chairs and tables strewn around the ring. Wheeler speared Castagnoli into the table on the floor while Harwood piledrove Moxley off the apron through the tack-covered table. Danielson laid in the middle kicks to Briscoe while shouting that it wasn’t his night. Danielson set up the Busaiku Knee, but Briscoe sidestepped it and hit the Jay Driller for the pin and the win.

ROH World Title Proving Ground Match – Eddie Kingston defeated Anthony Henry

This was a fine buffer match. Henry looked good here as the Workhorsemen usually do, but the crowd never really believed that the upset could happen here.

If Henry wins or lasts the time limit here, he will get the first shot against the Continental Classic winner for the Triple Crown Title. The two men swung at each other, with Kingston scoring with a body shot. Henry sent Kingston to the floor and booted him off of the apron. Henry raced across ringside to score with a single-leg lariat. Henry hit a double stomp off of the top rope for a nearfall, then hit a running forearm for another nearfall.

Henry repeatedly cranked Kingston’s neck and kicked at him until Kingston came back with chops. They traded kicks and chops until Kingston drove Henry into the corner. Kingston hit the machine gun chops, but Henry ducked the backfist and hit a bridging German suplex for a nearfall. Henry laid in Kawada kicks, but Kingston came back with palm strikes. Henry laid in more strikes and a piledriver for a nearfall.

Henry went for a double stomp, but Kingston moved and hit a backfist. Kingston followed with the half-and-half suplex before locking on the Stretch Plum to score the submission win. After the match, Daniel Garcia came out to confront his opponent tomorrow night on Collision, but Kingston blew him off.

ROH Women’s World Title Match – Athena (c) defeated Billie Starkz to retain

Athena once again rises to the occasion for a big title defense, staking her claim as one of the best big-match wrestlers in a promotion full of big-match wrestlers. Starkz lived up to her end of the bargain here, doing a great job of fighting from underneath and giving Athena every bit of fight she had. The post-match was odd, with Starkz simply agreeing to go back under Athena’s wing. But the match itself was a worthy PPV main event. Final Battle was an excellent show and is more than worth the $10 Honor Club subscription.

Lexy Nair was the special guest ring announcer for this match, as she’s been a third in this story with Athena and Starkz. Athena came out with a special protective face mask, as she had her nose broken by Starkz on ROH television.

No Code of Honor. Starkz hit Athena with a big forearm before dropkicking her into the corner. Starkz pulled Athena up and over with a sunset flip for a nearfall. Starkz went for a dive, but Athena caught her and sent her into the barricades around ringside. Athena threw Starkz into the barricade face-first multiple times before hitting running knees to Starkz as she was lying on the barricade.

Athena sent Starkz into the ring post, and Starkz came up bleeding from the head. Athena threw Starkz into the stairs before clubbering on her in the ring. Athena sent Starkz into the corner before blasting her with a forearm. Athena dug at Starkz’ face before Starkz rolled her up for a nearfall. Athena beat Starkz more, dropkicking her when she rolled to the apron.

Starkz started throwing forearms on the apron before Athena caught her with a uranage on the apron for a nearfall. Starkz rolled down from the Tree of Woe and suplexed Athena into the corner. The two evaded each other’s strikes before Starkz hit a Dragon Suplex for a nearfall. Starkz pulled Athena up, but Athena headbutted Starkz to put her down at her own expense.

Starkz hit a rebound kick to Athena in the corner, then vaulted over the corner into a spear. Starkz ripped the mask off of Athena before throwing forearms at Athena’s face. Starkz fired up, hitting a spinning heel kick before hitting a Swanton for a nearfall. Starkz sent Athena to the floor and hit a dive that drove Athena into the barricade. Starkz threw Athena into the barricade, but Athena moved out of the way of the double knees. Athena drove Starkz into the barricade with a shotgun dropkick of her own.

Athena set Starkz up on the announce table, but Starkz took Athena down with a superplex off of the table. Starkz suplexed Athena onto the plywood table cover before throwing Athena in the ring for a nearfall. Athena rolled to the floor and tried to lift Starkz up, but Starkz yanked Athena down by her hair. Athena rolled away again, but Starkz sent Athena over the barricade into the crowd. Athena drove Starkz head-first into the barricade, then brought her off the barricade face-first with a Slingblade Bulldog.

Athena brought Starkz up in Electric Chair position, then went to the top rope. She brought Starkz down with a German suplex for a nearfall. Athena and Starkz ran into the referee, giving Athena no count on her knockout forearm. Athena shouted at Lexy Nair to bring the title belt into the ring. Lexy hesitated, allowing Starkz to dropkick Athena, who went head-first into the title. Starkz hit Star-Ten for a nearfall.

Athena dragged Starkz to the apron and ran her into the turnbuckles to get out of a waistlock. Athena went to the second rope, but Starkz cut Athena off and hit an Electric Chair Driver on the apron. Starkz dragged Athena into the ring, but Athena rolled out of the way on a Swanton attempt and hit a knockout forearm. After recovering, both women traded strikes until Athena hit the Despicable Knee. Starkz kicked out at one.

Athena laid in kicks to Starkz before going up for the O-Face. Starkz caught Athena and rolled into a cover for a nearfall. They traded position before Starkz caught Athena in a cover for a nearfall. Athena rolled Starkz into a Ground Cobra submission. With nowhere to go, Starkz submitted, giving Athena the win.

Starkz blew Athena off after the match, but Athena dragged her back to the center of the ring. Athena showed Starkz respect, shaking and raising Starkz’ hand before embracing both her and Lexy Nair in the ring.