Final Battle is widely viewed as the biggest show ROH runs all year. In 2006 it would be site of one ROH's biggest names finally winning the ROH world title. We have talked about a lot about he Road of Homicide shows ROH did in 2006 mainly because there the DVD's I have left when from when I was buying ROH DVD's. But also because I think it show Gabe Sapolksys's down fall as booker. I've talked about this before where Gabe was badly burned out. And it really shows in how he handled build for Homicide's big night. He never really interacts with Danielson at all and winds up feuding with Jim Cornette, Adam Pearce, and the Briscoes. It would be like if WrestleMania 15 had been Rock vs Austin but the Rock never joined up with the Corporation. But maybe the final show can salvage things for this storyline? Maybe the big payoff is all worth it? I doubt it though.
We open with the site of Homicide arriving at the arena and than Bryan Danielson arriving a while later Its a simple but effect way to open the show. In the ring Bobby Cruise welcomes the fans in attendance to the show. Bobby Dempsey dressed as Santa Clause and I think Mitch Franklin dressed as an elf follows him. They carry a bag that has another ROH student inside of it and than star tossing out merchandise to the fans which stops the massive Fuck you Santa chant the fans were doing. The Briscoe Brothers show up and start begin up the students. The Briscoes hit reveal moves on them. It gets worse as they let them talk. Jay rants about being beat by the Kings of Wrestling the night before and demand a rematch tonight. Mark than starts doing that stupid Man Up chant over an dover again. Well that was f'ing stupid. You have this huge show main eventide by a key title match but you got cut to this stupid BS comedy segment. Again and ROH fans call TNA stupid.
Backstage Jimmy Jacobs talk about how NYC brings up certain feelings in him. He talks about being alone even when surrounded by people. Jimmy all he needed was the beauty of love but Whitmer and Cabana stole that beauty from him after what they did to Lacey. Jacobs says he will put Cabana and Whitmer in the hospital. Jacobs says he has nothing to live for while Whitmer and Cabana have a lot to die for. Decent promo by Jimmy he was staring to really find himself at this time. Sadly though this basically he same promo he's cut ever since. 2006 it was fresh in 2014 it's boring.
Four Coroner Survival El Generico vs Jimmy Rave vs Davey Richards Christopher Daniels with Alison Danger - Generico has appeared in ROH a few times in 2005 but didn't get a full time spot. I'll say this in 2005 Generico was talented but still had some growing to do. By 2006 though he was getting ready to take things to the next level. Rave had made a lot of changes to his gimmick in wrestling style in the months before this but one thing that didn't change was the fact he was one of the few guys to get legit heel heat in ROH. Richards and Rave had feuded months before but it was really a past issue. Davey was in a holding pattern for the time being as all his story lines were over and his heel turn wouldn't' take place until 2007. Daniels was still one half of the ROH tag champions and I find it really odd he and Sydal are defending the belts or even teaming in the biggest ROH show of the year. Richards and Generico start us off. Stalling on doing the knuckle lock by Richards to play to the fans than Generico does the same thing and does his trademark Ole! More stalling by Generico and another Ole! Finally Richards with a hard kick to the leg and an Ole of is own. Lock up and go behind by Richards than into a arm drag than the arm bar. Headlock by Richards. Generico telegraphs the back body drop a get take a kick to the chest than Richards with a knee sweep into a head lock. Arm drags by Generico than the oh lita a drag and a dropkick sends Richard's to the floor. Fake out on the dave by Generico. Richards back in the ring and tags in Daniels. Headlock by Generico. Daniels goes for tilt whirl back breaker but Generico gets an arm drag instead. Generico goes for a TKO but Daniels gets a arm drag coming out of it. Hip toes by Daniels. Hip toss by Generico. Arm drag into the arm bar by Daniels. Daniels gets a wrist lock on Generico. Rave tags Generico. Head lock by Rave. Collision on the shoulder tackle. Rave dares Daniels to try but uses it to cheap shot Daniels. Exchange of shots. Leg lariat by Daniels than mourned forearms. Daniels tags in Richards. Rave rolls away and tags in Generico. Back drop suplex off a head lock by Richards on Generico. Hard kicks to the chest by Richards. Richards covers and gets two. Tag to Daniels by Richards. Vertical suplex by Daniels int a chin lock. Generico gets free but runs into a power slam. Arabian press by Daniels gets two. Daniels goes to run the ropes but Rave pulls them down Daniels falls to the floor. Rave tags Generico so he is now legal. Rave drops to the floor and Drives Daniels back first into the guard rail. Back in the ring Rave covers and gets two. Stomp to the face by Rave. Chin lock by Rave. Running knee to the stomach by Rave than a abdominal stretch in the center of the ring. Back drop suplex by than by Rave gets two. Seated abdominal stretch by Rave. Daniels gets back to his fee but the hold is still locked in.
Death Valley Driver by Daniels to get free. Both men are down. Daniels rolls to the corner and tag Richards. Hard chops by Richards over head belly to belly than a Spring board missile drop drop kick on Rave. Generico tags in and gets an atomic drop than a kick combo. Generico blocks the German suplex but takes the alarm clock and than the German suplex. DR Driver is blocked by Generico. Richards with a knee to the head on the brain buster attempt. Gut buster by Richards than a sit out power bomb. Daniels breaks up the pin. He drags Generico to the corner and tags in legally. Chin breaker by Richards than a kick combo Tilt whirl back breaker by Daniels than a Yurinagi. Best Moonsault ever by Daniels but Generico breaks up the pin. Angels Wings is set up for. Richard drives Daniels into the corner. Generico nails Daniels in the back of the head and than tags in Richards. Flying cross body by Generico. Swinging DDT by Generico gets two on Daniels. Top rope brain buster is set up for by Generico. Daniels fights off. Richards goes to German Generico again. Daniels goes for a flying cross body but both men leave. Daniels lands a enziquri on Richards. Double clotheslines takes out both Generico and Daniels. Handspring kick by Richards on Daniels. Running Hullia kick by Generico on Daniels. Generico tries of done on Richards but gets caught. Over head suplex into the turnbuckle by Richards on Generico. Running forearm by Richards. Richard to the top rope. Daniels cuts him off. Richards sends Daniels to the floor. Shot by Generico. Rave tags himself in on Richards. Top rope Brain buster into the turnbuckle by Generico on Richards. Rave rich tin and puts Generico into the heel hook to steal the win. Pretty good open. I like what they did with Rave doing some different things than the usual heel stuff to get the win.
Post match Rave gets a microphone as the fans chants bullshit over his stole win. Rave tells the fans they can boo and chants what ever they want but he deserves respect. Nigel McGunniess runs out and goes after Rave. Hard thrust and a head butt by Nigel. Nigel wants Rave to fight back but Rave acts like he's going to leave. Nigel turns his back so Rave goes of for a cheap shot. Nigel turns around and slaps Rave. Rave rolls to the floor. Rave yells its not over.
Adam Pearce and Shane Hagedorn make there way out. Pearce tells the people to shut up. Pearce runs down NYC calling it a toilet and saying the fans stink like shit. Pearce brings up Homicide. Pearce dedicates the night to Jim Cornette and promises as God as his witness there is no way hell Homicide walks out with the ROH title. Decent promo by Pearce. But I think the stuff with Homicide and Pearce should have been over. They already had there big blow off in Chicago. Also it doesn't make any reason since for Pearce to still be on Cornette's side. They would always claim "Pearce is such a kiss ass." But why would he still be kissing Cornette's ass since Cornette was out of power. Maybe if they had gone all to and implied Pearce was hoping Cornette would get him into TNA. But they never did that.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! NOT SMOKES! If you have never seen Smokes "manage" you are lucky! The guy is moron who runs around the ring taking screaming various lines distracting people from the match.IE the very opposite of what a good manager is supposed to do. WHY THE FUCK IS HE EVEN BACK! Smokes had been out for months so why return tonight? I know it's because he was Homicide manager and real life friend and Reyes was a stable mate of Homicide in the Rottweilers but again hadn't been in ROH in months. It be like TNA. Smokes get a microphone and refers to Pearce as a think ass Repo Man. Smokes speaks in what i assume is english but I had no idea what he is trying to say.
Adam Pearce with Shane Hagedorn vs Ricky Reyes with Julius Smokes- Reyes jumps Pearce to start the match and lands a series of kicks. Neck breaker by Reyes gets two. Hagedorn trips Reyes letting Pearce hit a spine buster. Elbow drop by Pearce. Smoke being an idiot is just running around the ring and trying talk to the referee. Vertical suplex by Pearce. Hard forearm by Pearce. Bite to head by Pearce. Pearce runs into the boot and gets a rana from Reyes. Enziquri misses. Pearce goes for a figure four but a small package by Reyes. Clothesline by Pearce puts Reyes down for two. Pearce chokes Reyes with the strap from singlet. Pearce goes for a power slam but Reyes gets the dragon sleeper. Hagadorn up not he apron so the refers misses Pearce taping out. Smokes pulls Hagadorn off the apron and hits the worse looking head butt ever. HOW DO YOU BLOW THAT MOVE? Simple make it look like your just rubbing his head with your own witch is what Smokes did. Pearce with a brass knuckle shot to steal the win. Blah match you had Pearce trying to breath life back into a dead feud taking a guy we haven't seen in months.
Post match Smokes gets jumped by Pearce and Hagadorn make them my new heroes! Spiked pile driver on Smokes. Smokes showing he is a total idiots instead of selling the move and not moving all selling the idea his head neck and spine could all be hurt he thrashes around dreaming and even trying to get up and screaming in a loud comical way as he get carried out! Any drama they were trying to get build with this spot is killed by this. It comes off almost like a bad parody of wrestling than an actual spot on a show. This is kind of stuff I mean when I say smokes is the worse manager ever. Even Jim Cornette at his Cornball worse wasn't this bad…. No even Vickie Guerrero would have enough since to kill a segment this bad.
Jimmy Jacobs and Brent Albright vs BJ Whitmer and Colt Cabana with Daizee Haze- Albright's gimmick is that of the hired gun wiling to hurt anyone for money. So the idea is Lacey has hired him to help Jacobs take out Whitmer and Cabana. Whitmer and Cabana come out through the crowd to jump start the match. Double team back body crop and than a double clothesline send Albright to the floor. Beat down on Jacobs. Double team shoulder block on Jacobs. Albright back up and he goes on the attack and pitches BJ to the floor. Double team on Cabana in the corner. Cabana with the STOP yell and than slaps Jacobs in the face and claps the ears of Albright. Cabana back body drops Jacobs onto Albright. BJ calls for Cabana to send Jacobs to the floor. So Cabana does just that. Big chop by Whitmer on Jacobs. Cabana out to the floor and whips Jacobs onto Whitmer who hits the exploder suplex on the ramp. Albright and Cabana exchange punches. Albright sent into the guard rail . Whitmer sends Jacobs into the ring. Cabana goes after Jacobs while Whitmer goes after Albright and sends him into the guard rail head first. Whitmer sets up a table. Whitmer climbs the turnbuckle and set up to Power bomb off the turn buckle through the table to the floor. (call back to previous one on one Jacobs vs Whitmer matches) Albright makes the save. Running forearm by Jacobs sends Colt off the apron to the floor. Whitmer sends Albright to the floor. Whitmer and Jacobs fight. Whitmer with a suplex over the top rope to the floor on Jacobs. Albright lays out Whitmer with a running clothesline. In the ring Albright covers and gets two. Tag to Jacobs. Yeah after about five minutes of just brawling they decided to follow the rules. ANd yes they must have decided since the referee didn't even act like he was trying to get control. Albright trails Cabana on the apron. Punches by Jacobs the a kick rich tot the face. Ground and pound punches by Jacobs and than a bite to the head. Jacobs tears at the face of Whitmer. Tag to Albright. Double Ax to the handle to the head by Albright. Chin lock by Albright. Cabana in and give Albright a wet wilily to break the hold. Albright locks the hold back in. Cabana in and goes after the eyes to break it up this time. Hard whip to the buckle by Albright tag to Jacobs. Double team whip. Albright picks Jacobs up and launches him like a lawn dart into a drop kick on Whitmer. Exchange of punches and Jacobs goes after the face again. Tag to Albright who stands on Whitmer's throat. Chin lock with the knee in the back by Albright. Knee to the gut on Whitmer than Albright knocks Cabana off the apron. Tag to Jacobs. Double team whip by the heels Assisted whip splash misses and Whitmer makes the hot tag.
House of fire time for Cabana. Series of Jabs from Cabana. Double kick to the gut of Cabana on the wind up for the atomic elbow by Albright and Jacobs. Kaparan by Cabana gets both Jacobs and Albright and gets a two count. Atomic elbows from Cabana. Than a series of Butt Butts. Cabana goes to the well once to often but gets mule kick on Albright. Right hand to Jacobs. Albright with pendulum knee on Cabana than a big spear by Jacobs. Whitmer makes the save. Spine buster by Whitmer on Albright. Exploder on Jacobs gets two. Whitmer tags in legally. Buckle bomb by Whitmer on Jacobs. Brain buster by Whitmer gets two. Tag to Cabana. Really awkward spot where all I can tell you is the faces went for a dooms day move and some how missed. Jacobs with the Contra Code on Cabana by Jacobs than the helicopter head scissors on Whitmer. Albright is bad up and power bombs BJ over the top rope to the floor though a table. Everyone but Albright is down. We get a great shot of a stunned Cabana seeing Whitmer laid out after the spot. Series of six German Suplexs on Cabana by Albright. Senton off the top rope by Jacobs for the win. Good match but it does have it issues mainly its that the rules were only in effect when they wanted them to be. The big spot with Whitmer was awesome to see and I like Jacobs picking up a win here.
Post match students run out start checking on Whitmer. Jacobs yells "Vindication BJ." While Albright blows snot rockets at him. We get our ROH Wrestling website plug reminding us we can get all or merchandise needs even stuff from WWE and TNA. I will now point out to ever ROH bot that ROH wouldn't not have been selling that stuff if it didn't sell.
The King of Wrestling with Larry Sweeney come out. Sweeney had debuted the night before and was billed as Hero's agent. Given the story goes I give all there guys credit. Sweeney never interacts with Claudio during the entrance only staying with Hero and and holding the ropes for him after Claudio gets in the ring. I know it's little but i like stuff like that. Hero gets a microphone. Hero introduces Sweeney and explains Sweeney is his personal agent and brags about having his own locker room for tonight. Hero talks ago this planned special farewell for Claudio but wants to deal with the Briscoes first. Hero brags about beating the Red Necks the night before. Hero and Claudio say its time they Man Up.
The Kings of Wrestling Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli with Larry Sweeney vs The Briscoe Brothers Jay and Mark Briscoe- You maybe the best tag team in all of ROH history vs the most over rated piles of shit in wrestling history. Jay charges the ring and goes after Claudio. Leg lariat by Jay sends Claudio to the floor. Jay goes after Hero. Hero basil out Mark who I guess was just hanging out runs out of the ramp and hits Hero than toss him into the guard rial. Claudio and Mark fight. Jay with a topa off the top turn buckle but over shoots Hero and Claudio. Its only Claudio being so tall that give him anything to land on. Claudio sent into the ring. Spring board cross body by Mark and Claudio goes back to the floor. Ok ROH you have a tag a match right before that is a wild and crazy brawl and you decided to start this one off a wild and crazy brawl as well. Learn to pace a show. Hero in and takes a double team Yurnigi that gets two. Mark runs into a back elbow. Tag to Jay. Mark with a spring board moonsault to the floor taking out Claudio. People ask "How can you call the Briscoes Spot Monkeys?" Simple when a match isn't even two minutes old and you do a move like that just to exit the ring. Missile drop kick by Jay to Hero gets two. Forearm by Jay than a tag to Mark. Double team spurn board enziquri by the Briscoes. Hero tags in Claudio. Double team chops by The Briscoes than a double team hip toss. Mark with a awful looking vertical supple that gets two. Second top flipping send by Mark gets two. Northern lights suplex by Mark. Tag to Jay. Snap suplex by Jay gets two. Blind tag to Hero. Claudio holds Jay upside down and Hero with a dropkick to the face. Hero cores and gets two. Hero with a handstand twisting senton. Tag to Claudio and wish bone by the Kings of Wrestling. Cover by Claudio gets two. Diving upper cut to the back by Claudio. Tag to Hero. Double team big boot by the Kings. fall away slam by Hero gets two. Tag to Claudio. Delayed vertical suplex by Claudio. Tag to Hero. Big right hand a thrust by Hero. Series of thrust by Hero. Exchange of shots and kicks. Awful looking fishermen's buster by Jay. Tag to Claudio who runs into a back body drop.. Hero pulls Mark off the apron preventing the tag. Big punches by Claudio. Tag to Hero. Stomps to the chest by Hero. Hero ties up the arms of Jay with his legs. Tag to CLaudio who drop kicks Jay in the face. Tag back to Hero after the upper cut. Double team suplex reversed into a double DDT by Jay. Tag to Mark. House of fire time by Mark. Awful looking over head suplex by Mark. Mark goes for a spring board splash but Hero get the knees up.
Tag to Claudio who comes in with an upper cut off the top rope. Ricola bomb by Claudio only gets two. Tag to Jay. Goard buster by Jay gets two. Spinning face buster by Claudio and a tag to Hero. Running boot by Hero than the big boot. Cravat toss by Hero gets two. Chop by Hero. Hero runs into the boot. Claudio into the sign with a step up enziquri. Claudio with a superplex followed by a Hero big splash. Mark breaks up the pin. Tag to Claudio. Marks the save on another suplex attempt. Hero in but gets his jaw snapped on the top rope. Super rana by Mark followed by the big splash from Jay gets two. Hero sent out of the ring. Tag to Mark. Double team neck break by the Briscoes. Hero breaks up the pin but gets sent to the floor again. Spring board dooms day device but Hero trips up Mark. The Brisoes get hung from Claudio who spins around and drop down. Hero with a suplex neck breaker. Mark with a spin kick on Hero. Upper cut by Claudio. Jump kick by Jay on Claudio. Big boot by Hero on Jay. Jay Driller on Hero. Water slide by Claudio on Hay. Burning Hammer by Mark on Claudio and everyone is down. Tag to Jay and Tag to Hero. Exchange of punches by Hero and Jay. Sweeney up to distract the referee. Thumb to the eye by Hero. Claudio goes to nail Jay with the Halliburton but Mark shoves Hero into it. Claudio sent to the floor. Shoot start by one and a leg drop by the other for the win by the Briscoes. This was tough match to get through. It was nothing but the typical Briscoes high spots. And it felt like the Kings had to go along with it.
Post match Sweeney yells at Claudio "What did you do?" The Briscoes leave. Sweeney goes to check on Hero. The fans start to chant thank you Claudio. I should explain. In 2006 Claudio has been offered a WWE contract and this was billed as his final show. Only something happened and his WWE deal fell through. What ever it was clearly didn't prevent him from ever working for the WWE since he's no Cesaro and by the time this is published might be WWE champion. Claudio gets to his feet and gets a microphone. The fans start a Kings of Wrestling Chant. Claudio says he had this big farewell speech planned but than says he will be sticking around ROH a little bit longer. Claudio stars to talk about what the Kings of Wrestling will do in 2007 when Sweeney takes the mike from him. Sweeney says Claudio killed the Kings of Wrestling and they Aint coming back. Sweeney says he and Hero have plans and tells Claudio to hit the bricks because the plans don't involve him. Claudio asks if Sweeney really thinks Hero will pick him? Sweeney goes to leave and calls for Hero. Hero looks torn but offers Claudio his hand and than leaves with Sweeney. Claudio is flabbergasted in the ring. Sweeney yells Claudio was holing Hero back. And that my friends is one of Gabe's biggest F"ups ever. Breaking up the Kings was a huge mistake as they had only been teaming in ROH for less than a year. So they still had plenty of things you could do with them. Also its clear Gabe didn't know what to do with Claudio as he actually kept him heel. And yes Hero and Claudio had some good matches as rivals but this turn was so sudden. They showed no problems with each other during the match. If your going to do that have them build to it. Or hell what I wish they had done keep the Kings together have them be the corner stone of SNSI and eventually turn them face to feud with Sweeney's new team The American Wolves of Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards.
With Claudio still in the ring Samoa Joe comes out in street clothes since he's not set to wrestle on this show. Joe kicks Claudio out of the ring man Christmas really is the loneliest time of year. Joe apologizes for not being able to compete. Joe talks about this challenge to Pro Wrestling NOAH. He calls for NOAH's best calling out Morishima and Misawa. Joe says on February the 16they will have a fight. Nigel McGuinness makes his way to the ring. Nigel says if NOAH doesn't send anyone else than he will take up the challenge. Jimmy Rave runs out and attacks Nigel. Joe bitch slaps Jimmy breaking up the attack. Joe tells Nigel he owes him one. Joe says since Jimmy and Nigel have a problem they should fight it out right here. This is an ok segment but kind of unneeded outside of setting up the Nigel vs Rave match. A problem with it is that they tease a Joe vs Nigel match even though that's not what we get i the NYC return instead it was Joe vs Morishima.
Intermission time Gary Michael Cappetta interviews Adam Pearce and Shane Hagadorn saying they were the downer of the fight half. Pearce says Mr. Cornette will be so proud. Pearce brags about hurting Smokes saying Danielson won't lose the title. Ok promo but again the feud with Pearce and Homicide should have been done.
Jimmy Rave vs Nigel McGuinness- I like both these guys but we really need to have another one on one match with these two they had wrestled in one on one matches the last two ROH weekends before this. Another problem is I feel both guys needed wins. Nigel had racked up very many since the Unification match during the Summer and they were building towards a Rave title shot during the Fifth Year Festival so he couldn't afford a loss after his recent loss. They would have been better off giving Nigel a clean win over someone like Shingo and saving another Rave vs Nigel match for 2007. Rave with a cheap shot during the prematch hand shake. Thrust to the throat and uppercuts by Nigel. Big back body drop by Nigel. Arm wringer takedown by Nigel and a second one. Jimmy is "hurt" so the referee holds Nigel back. Rave with a slap to the face. More thrust and uppercuts by Nigel. Nigel goes for running corner upper cut by Jimmy gets his leg up and Nigel runs into the knee. Ok I understand running into the boot but not the knee. Why on a upper cut would Nigel's head by that low. Maybe Rave's timing was off and Nigel did the that to salvage the spot. Nigel rolls to the apron. STO on the apron by Rave. Nigel sent head first into the guard rail. Chops and forearms by Rave. Rave goes to toss Nigel into the guard rail again but he trips and they both fall over. And no that was't meant to set p a spot Rave just tripped and they pulled Nigel down with him. Rave drives Nigel back first into the guard rail and than tosses him back into the ring and covers for one. Chin lock with the knee in the back by Rave. Nigel to his feet but runs into a knee in the gut. Stomp to the face by Rave. Rave drives his forearm to Nigel's face a move out of Nigel's playbook. Hammerlock and a hand tearing at the noise by Rave. The referee see the hold is illegal and counts for the break. Rave drives Nigel into the turnbuckles and than drives his shoulder into the gut. Cover by Rave gets two. Hammer lock takedown by McGuinness and both men are down. Forearm exchange. Back elbow off a whip by Nigel. Wrist lock and Rave is forced down by Nigel. Hammer lock with the arm by Nigel and than he grabs onto the other arm bends it around the back and bridges back. Rave ducks the short arm lariat and hits the spark. McGuinness rolls the floor. Rave with a running knee off the apron. Rave tosses Nigel into the ring and get a one count when Nigel grabs the rope. Running knee in the corner than a neck breaker by Rave gets two. Small package by Nigel gets two. ANother spear by Rave than a great looking running knee to the face by Rave gets two. Rave sets for the pedigree Nigel escapes. Rave ducks the short arm lariat. Rave ducks the jawbreaker lariat but Nigel finally hits the short arm lariat. Pinfall attempt by Nigel gets two. Uppercut by Nigel than a big thrust. Running corer clothesline misses as Rave move.
Rave charges the corner but Nigel moves. Kick to the back and falling lariat to the chest by Nigel gets two. Running uppercut finally hits for Nigel. Nigel hits the short arm lariat with the twisting entrances by Nigel. Nigel goes for tower of london and hits it. Nigel covers and only gets two. Nigel is stunned. Rave crawls to the apron and snaps the ropes into Nigel's face. Spring board into a DDTy by Rave gets two. Move that rocked the world by Rave gets two. Pedigree by Rave and he covers and Nigel kicks at one. From dusk till dawn into the cross face by Rave. Nigel fights towards the ropes and finally gets it to break the hold. Side suplex by Rave but Nigel no sells it and pops rich tup for the jawbreaker lariat. Rave kicks at two. I really don't like that. Nigel was starting to move into making that his finish and much like Rave's heel hook it needed to pick up wins. Nigel is back up and goes for tower of london again. Rave hooks the ropes. Uppercut by Nigel and he goes for a superplex. Rave fights it off and sends Nigel to the floor. Nigel right back up to the apron. Tower of London on the apron. Nigel core and Rave kicks at two. Ok that is really bad. Rave had already kicked out of the first TOL than the jawbreaker and now a TOL onto the hardest part of the ring. I am all for building up Rave but not killing Nigel's move set. Is that Jimmy Rave or John Cena in there. Nigel makes Jimmy straddle the top rope. Jumping lariat by Nigel only gets two. Upper cuts by Nigel. Rave duck the jaw barker lariat and gets the heel hook locked in an Nigel taps out. Bad match. These guys looked off. And Rave goes into John Cena mode killing off all of Nigel's big moves. Again I'm fine with them building up Rave but not to this point. It doesn't help by this time Nigel had started to over use lariats so his ring work really suffered.
Post match Nigel is in pain holding his leg as Rave spits on him. Rave has a microphone. Jimmy calls for the winner the of the world title match when they return to NYC. Its an ok segment but just a quick promo by Jimmy. I think having Nigel still in the ring still trying got get up kind of hurt it.
We cut to a shot of the ROH world title in front of Bryan Danielson as he warms up.Later in the show we will get similar footage of Homicide doing the same thing. And I do like that since remember the idea is wrestling is a fake sport so like a big MMA or boxing fight we would see stuff like this. But why no prematch interviews with either guy. I know ROH wasn't big on backstage promos and yes I had already bought the DVD so they have my money but I just feel a good pre match promo adds to the show overall. They do included the video wire that does feature promos by both men but remember those bonus stuff. I still think the main show needed it.
Dragon Gate Rules Blood Generation CIMA, Shingo, and Matt Sydal vs Austin Aries, Roderick Strong and Delirious- Ok now they clamming that in order to do the no tag thing you must be on the offense to enter there ring. Why haven't they explained that before also isn't being on the offense kind of subjective. What if my partner has been getting his ass kicked for five minutes and than hits a single chop could I jump in? Blood Generation is a stable out of Dragon Gate witch Sydal is a member off. But I really don't' understand having them in this match. For once Sydal has partner in Daniels who holds the ROH tag belts with. Also the night before CIMA and Shingo had challenged Sydal for those titles. I know ROH and indy wrestling live chasing the Five Star rating but sometimes you just gotta be logical. Of course as we would see months a head Gabe had gone crazy for Dragon Gate. In 2007 he would form numerous stables for almost every wrester in the company like Dragon Gate does. And after being fired from ROH Gabe would be put in charge of Dragon Gate USA witch he still runs to this day. Sydal has both ROH tag belts with him and uses them to mock Aries and Strong. CIMA plays around with Delirious who has gone into his pre match trance. The bell finally rings and Delirious comes out of it. Sydal and Delirious start us off. Delirious goes for a takedown but Sydal gets a waste lock. Reverse into a head lock by Delirious. Arm drag by the masked man into a crucifix for two. Delirious goes to cross body Sydal over the top. Only Delirious goes over a first and than Sydal just follow him out. I think maybe Sydal was to close to the ropes so he just hit than instead of being able to fall back right away. Shingo and Strong into the ring. Exchange of shoulder tackles and niter man goes does. FInally Strong must see the fans are getting bored afar they do it six or seven times so he lans a big chop that sends Shingo to the floor. CIMA in and hits a drop kick that sends Strong to the floor. Aries into the ring. Grecho knuckle oak for a test of strength. Aries with the advantage at first abut CIMA power Aries down. Stomp on the by CIMA. Drop kick by CIMA Head scissors by CIMA. Head stand escape drop kick by Aries. CIMA to floor. Twisting body press to the floor by Aries whips out all there men on the other team. Aries sends CIMA to the ring. CIMA rammed into Strong's boot. Tag to Strong and he hits a big chop. Tag to Delirious who boots CIMA in the side. Belly to back suplex by Delirious gets two. Tag to Aries. Suplex by Delirious than Aries in with a sling shot senton. Frog splash elbow by Aries gets two. Tag to Strong. Double team atomic drop by Aries and Strong than the double team side slam. Power slam by Strong. Delirious in with an elbow. Catapult by Strong into the Aries elbow followed up they the corkscrew elbow that gets two. Tag to Delirious. Diving head butt to the stomach. Strong in Attempt at the a double team. CIMA escape and swings Delirious foot into Strong's stomach. Takes both men down and hits a double stomp. Tag to Shingo. Double DDT attempt by Shingo. Strong and Delirious fight it off and start to club him. Cross body onto both men by Sydal. Aries tears out Sydal with a lariat. Big slam by Shingo on Aires.
Shingo power bombs Sydal onto Aries and gets two. Shingo with an ax handle onto Aries than stand on his face. Elbow drop by Shingo gets two. CIMA tags in. CIMA ties up the legs of Aries and locks in a butterfly lock . CIMA rolls up and holds Aries in the air. Delirious comes in and breaks up the hold. Sydal holds Sydal bent over in the corner. Running drop kick to the butt by CIMA. Tag to Sydal. Cannon ball leg drop by Sydal. Strong breaks up the pin. Shingo tags in and lands s a big chop. Atomic drop by Shingo than a standing chin lock. Giant Swing with the chin lock by Shingo. Delirious breaks up the pin fall. Tag to Sydal. Stomp to the head by Sydal. Running clothes int eh corner by Sydal than the sling shot drop kick that gets two. Sydal holds Aries on the ropes. leap front over sydal into a bonze drop by Shingo. CIMA than with a big double stomp to Aries. Club to the back by CIMA. Catapult into the bottom rope by CIMA than he tears at Aries face. Tag to Sydal. Tripe team series by Blood Generation capped off with a standing moonsault by Sydal for two. Head scissors with elbows by Sydal. Aries gets to the ropes for a break. Tag to Shingo. Chops by Shingo. Shingo chokes Aries on the ropes. The fans seem really board this is clearly a case where the face in pearl stuff has gone on to long. Tag to Sydal who hits a drop-kick. Triple team by Blood Generation. Fishermen suplex by Sydal gets two. Sydal ties up the legs and than into front face lock. Tag to CIMA. Shingo in for a cheap shot. Aries ducks the double team cloth lines an chits kaprana. Tag to Strong. Hose of fire time for Strong. Delirious in to hit the leaping larding on sydal and than give Shingo a head scissors takedown. Strong with a face buster for Running forearm in the corner by Strong. Running drop kick by Ares and than the panic attack by Delirious on CIMA. Shingo in an nail Delirious in the back. Ok this is why the rules are stupid here. Shingo comes in when CIMA is about to be suplexed wouldn't' that be on the defensive? Never ending story on Shingo. Shingo blocks on and hits a clothesline o this own. TKO by Shingo on Delirious. Aries barks up the pin. Sydal to the top ropes but Aries cuts him off. Aires goes to power slam Sydal off the ropes but takes a head scissors instated. Leg lariat by Sydal. Strong into the ring and nail Sydal with a lariat. Again Aries isn't' in control but Strong can just jump with the referee saying nothing. Topa by Strong takes out Shingo on the floor. Everyone fights on the floor. Moonsault off the top to the floor by Sydal. wWhip out every except for Delirious who was to far away to sell it. Credit to Delirious a lot guys would sell that move and look foolish.
Aries and CIMA into the ring. Drop toe hold into a Indian death lock by CIMA. DDT Suplex on Delirious by CIMA. CIMA ties up Aries in the ropes. Shingo and Sydal hold Delirious in the air Double stomp by CIMA onto Delirious. CIMA rolls over a hits a lung blower on Aries. Strong breaks up the pin. Strong with a superplex on Shingo But Shingo no sells it. Of all the moves to no sell why that one? Sick kick by Strong on Shingo. CIMA gets the Bizzaro drives by Delirious. Sydal makes the save. Top rope rana by Sydal on Strong. Strong rolls through but Sydal keeps going and hits a neck breaker on Strong. Aries brakes up the pin. Kick to the face of Sydal by Aries. Chemical Imbalance two on Sydal by Delirious. CIMA brakes up the pin. Aries with a back drop suplex on CIMA. Double team back breaker by Aries and Strong on Shingo. Than the brain buster big chop combo. CIMA sends Aries to floor. Sunset-flip by Sydal on Strong gets two. Gut buster on Sydal by Strong follow by the Delirious shows over hell. 450 by Aries. CIMA breaks up the pin. Superkick by CIMA on Strong. Lariat by Shingo on Strong. Running corner lariat by Shingo on Aries. Doomsday cross body by the Dragon gate star.s Gut wrench suplex by Shingo on Aries. Delirious breaks up the pin. Roll up into the cobra stretch on Shingo. CIMA breaks up the hold. Super kick by CIMA on Delirious. Schwine by CIMA only gets two. CIMA hits a package pile driver for the win a second later. All this match showed me is ROH has no idea to pace a show. You have major world title match on this card and you put this match on right before it? And man this match is about 30 minutes long when it should have been about 20. It just felt like Gabe was hoping for another five star match using Dragon Gate talent so he over loaded it with high spots and giving it tons of time but it never really got to that point where the match was just flowing like a truly great match should.
Post match CIMA address the fans and thanks his partners and the fans. He declares his love of ROH and promises to see us in 2007. We the afore mentioned video of Homicide warming up. We hear him saying "Its time! Its time!" WE than cut to a video of Jack Evans highlights and it tells us he will be returning in 2007. Again I wonder why no pre match interviews/promos. Why not a video package highlighting the long past these two shared. Hell the year before they took part in a best of seven series. Also Homicide's previous shot at Danielson had ended with controversy when referee Todd Sinclair had stopped the match when Danielson landed a series of elbows but Homicide popped right up saying he was fine. Far to often ROH and it fans use the excuse of "in ring product." To cover for lack of presentation. As if adding anything extra takes away from the big match. I find that to total BS. Adding stuff like this to this big show that you had been building for months wold only make the viewing experience better. I don't' except an WWE level production here but a video showing the past matches these two have would' the that much to ask. Hell I know ROH can do it I've seen them do it. Oh but you know what they do? They have Gabe on commentary talk about what a big match and this and all the history in it. Show don't tell show us this history don't tell us the history!
ROH World Championship Bryan Danielson © vs Homicide- Homicide comes out alone. Danielson is introduced as the "Best Champion These Wannabe Thugs Have Ever Seen." To get heat. Sadly the crowd is cheering for both men. Don't get me wrong they want to see the title change. But this just shows how foolish it was to have these to do zero building towards this match for so many months. Danielson also refuses to shake hands and flips Homicide of before doing the same to the fans. Circling around the ring to start. Waste lock takedown by Danielson, Homicide escapes. Test of strength. Modified northern night suplex by Danielson. Headlock takeover by Homicide. Head scissors by Danielson. Headstand escape into a head lock by Homicide. Shoulder tackle by Homicide back to the head lock. Danielson with a rollup gets two. Danielson sits Homicide on the top rope and slaps him. Wrist lock by Danielson and he drags Homicide. Down. Scissor hold on the knee by Homicide. Homicide pulls at Homicide bad arms and reverse the position into a wrist lock. Chin lock by Homicide. Shoulder block by Homicide. Danielson keeps going into the ropes so the ref will hold Homicide back. Single leg takedown and Danielson sets up for the Mexican surfboard. Danielson gets the hold in and raise Homicide into the air. Danielson drop down and than rocks back into the hold. Finally Danielson uses the the chance to drive the knees into the canvas. Uppercut by Danielson big slap by Homicide. Big uppercut by Danielson knocks Homicide off his feet. Danielson uses his boot to choke Homicide. Sling shot suplex by Danielson gets two. Strangle hold by Danielson with a knee in the back. Danielson stands up so he can fall back and pull Homicide across the legs. Homicide uses this as a chance to reverse the hold. Knee drop by Homicide and than he tosses Danielson toe the floor. Double ax handle off the apron by Homicide than he whips Danielson into the guard rail. Danielson sent back into the ring. Snap mare into a chin lock by Homicide. Stunner by Danielson to get free. Danielson uses the ropes to choke the challenger. Cannon ball onto Homicide by Danielson. The Champions tries it again but Homicide moves out of the way. Three amiss suplex series by Homicide. Homicide to the top rope. Adam Pearce and Shane Hagadorn hit the ring and attack Homicide right in front of the referee who calls for the bell. Spiked shoulder breaker by Pearce. Danielson grabs the belt and heads up the aisle. Some of Homicide'e crew hop the rail but are cut off by Pearce. Smokes runs out and hits a the worst looking drop kick ever on Pearce. So much for selling any of that injury angle. The rest of the crew take out Pearce and Hagadorn. Bobby Cruise starts to announce the winner. Todd Sinclair grabs the microphone and restarts the match. Well that was just stupid. There was no tension no drama to the entire thing. Danielson comes back out pissed off. Homicide jumps on Danielson when he gets back int he ring. Running cover clotheslines by Homicide. Ok if you are going to be stupid enough to do that run in than have Homicide hurt not in fired up face offense mode when it restarts. You have Dave Prazak claiming the damage had been done when Homicide appears to be fine.
Over head belly to belly suplex by Homicide gets two. Arm breaker by Danielson and finally Homicide sells his bad arm. Another arm breaker. Homicide than chops with the back arm. A third arm break. Butterfly suplex into a cross arm breaker by Danielson. Homicide gets the ropes. Smokes will not stop yelling. Remember this match is supposed to be all or nothing for Homicide if he loses he's done with ROH and you have this idiot on the outside screaming non stop. Think of how annoying it is when a fan won't' do that and remember ROH was paying him.Danielson ties up the arms and gets a modified wrest lock. Roaring elbow by Danielson stomps Homicide's comeback. Danielson to the top rope and goes for the diving head butt but Homicide turns it into a an ace crusher. Back body drop by Homicide. Homicide suplex Homicide to the floor and than hits the Topa Con Helio. Homicide soars over the guar rail and lands in the crowd.. Smokes is so worried he starts barking at the guy. I hate to harp on this but could you see any good manger doing that at that moment? Both men are up. Danielson goes for a running forearm smash but Homicide moves and Danielson hits the ring post. Homicide drives the arm into guard rail and than gives i an arm breaker. We see Danielson s bleeding out of lips. Back to the ring. Arm breaker by Homicide than he ties p the arm of Danielson in the ropes. Atomic drop by Homicide and than Homicide puts him on the top rope. Hammer lock takedown off the top rope by Homicide. Arm bar by Homicide. Danielson gets the ropes. Homicide runs into the back elbow. Diving uppercut by Danielson. Danielson to the top rope and hits the diving head butt and only gets two. Danielson goes for the chickening but Homicide escapes it. German suplex with a bridge gets two for Danielson. Homicide for a arm bar this time dead center of the ring. Danielson gets the ropes after fighting for position. Running big boot by Homicide. Forearm by Danielson. Spot gets reaped over and over again. Spear by Homicide takes Danielson out of the ring. Baseball slide drop kick by Homicide misses. Danielson clothesline Homicide into the crowd. Danielson with a Spring board dive into the cross from the top rope. Both men are down. Smokes seeing both men are down decides to mug for the camera because he is an idiot and wants you to focus on him and not the two actual wrestlers.
Danielson is first to stand up. Danielson to the top rope back in the ring and hits a missile drop kick. Kip up by Danielson and hits the running forearm. Danielson goes for the belly to back superplex. Homicide revers into a cross body and gets two. Danielson rolls through for two. Homicide ducks the clones line and hits an exploder. Homicide to the top rope. Danielson cuts Homicide off. Belly to back superplex by Danielson gets two. Danielson into the elbows Ok this should have been huge spot given this his how there first match ended. But given how poorly ROH built this up and only in passing brought up the controversial stoppage along with the fact Danielson hadn't used the elbows as a finish in months really leads to nothing. Homicide back to his feet. Crossface chicken win by Danielson in the center of the ring. Homicide starts to fade. The referee checks the arm. Really lame moment here where Homicide lets his arm fall so Sinclair goes to ring the bell but than Homicide holds onto Sinclair leg so the match goes on. Homicide gets the ropes. Danielson won't break the hold even on five. The referee won't DQ Danielson. Again I think ROH was hoping these would be big shock moments but they don't come off that way. Hell now given he can't be DQ'ed what's to stop Danielson from low blowing Homicide, poking his eyes getting the belt and smacking Homicide with it? Instead of the lame in and all this how drama padding how these two just have a straight up match. Than late in the go have Danielson lock in the chicken wing. Refuse to break so the referee pulls him off. Danielson goes to leave when the ref orders it to keep going? The fans already knew Danielson wasn't going to be DQ"ed since Sinclair had even gotten not eh microphone to say it wouldn't' end by DQ. Butterfly suplex by Homicide. The Homicide lariat misses. Dragon screw leg whip by Homicide into the STF. Danielson is about to get the ropes so Homicide pulls him back. Danielson goes to the eyes. Danielson escapes the cop killer. Big boot by Homicide. Divorce court by Danielson into that cattle mutilation. Homicide gets free. Tiger suplex by Danielson gets two. Back to Cattle Mutilation. Danielson goes for the elbows than back to cattle mutilation. Homicide to his feet and we got the finish to Hart vs Piper at Mania 8 and that gets two. Danielson goes for the roaring elbow but Homicide ducks it. Cop Killer! Danielson gets the ropes and finally the fans pop for a near fall. Homicide pulls his first and drop the shoulder straps. Homicide grabs the ring bell teasing he is going to use it. Again they want this to be a bid dramatic moment like Homicide is about to snap and get DQ'ed. The free takes the bell away from Homicide. Low blow by Danielson be hinder the referee back Small package by Danielson only gets two. Danielson blocks the lariat once but not the second one. 1 2 3 New Champion!.
I feel really bad for Bryan Danielson and Homicide watching this match. It's clear they wanted this match to be great. They tried and worked as hard as they could. But so many things worked against this match. First as I have stated time and again ROH didn't do enough with Homicide vs Danielson. Homicide feuded with Cornette and co while Danielson was mostly working with Samoa Joe. Yes in 1998 the WWF had Rock vs Foley and Austin vs McMahon but it was clear the end game was Rock vs Austin. That match really meant something. The run in with Pearce kills a lot of the drama. And attempts to add drama like the stuff with the no DQ on the rope hold actually take it away. Its still a good match but not a classic moment. It really is to bad as this does have potential. Homicide and Danielson were great rivals in the past. They both had a history. The story of a guy that had been with ROH since day one wanting to finally win the big one.
Post match Homicide embraces smokes and the ROH locker comes out to celebrates with the new champion. Even former ROH star Monster Mac comes out to hug his mentor. Danielson snatches the belt from the referee. Danielson finally extends his hand to Homicide who takes it. Danielson than presents the belt to the new champion. Danielson takes his leave and the new champion holds the belt high. The fans are clearly thrilled to see a new champion. Homicide gets the microphone and says "Oh shit this feels good." Homicide says they will party all night. Homicide says fuck you to his haters and thanks the fans and the guys in the company for making to ROH. He calls ROH his Famila and than give a shoot out to Brooklyn. I will give ROH credit they do a great job of hoping up what a big deal a title change is. I love having the roster come out to celebrate the title change. Well if you ever wanted to see Homicide dance buy this DVD because both he and Samoa Joe bust a move as music plays. Finally Homicide jumps int the crowd to celebrate with the fan.
We than get a video recapping Homicides time in ROH. We hear him talk about never getting destiny from the promo where he promised to leave ROH if he didn't by the end of the year. We see teaming with various legend who have stopped by in ROH the infamous riot at the first anniversary show. He feuds Corino, Cabana, Carnage crew and Samoa Joe. We get him talking about the bad choices he made in his life and how he wold do anything to win that belt. Him joining ROH in the war with CZW. Him wanting to become a world champion more than anything. We than cut to highlights from the title win over Danielson. I find having the highlight strange since we just watched the match. The first part of the video is awesome and I wish they had aired it before the world title match.
Overall Final Battle 2006 is one of of those show I want to like but really can't. Signs of Gabe's burnout are all over especially in the second half of the card. He builds up Rave for a single title shot while terming down Nigel who was a champion in the making. He breaks up a great tag team leaving both guys to in natural for months. He miss paces the card but putting two long matches back to back. And the main event just feels padded with drama to make up for a bad build. I only recommend buying this if you really want to see every ROH title change or if you a really big Homicide fan. Even than borrow it from a friend its not worth a lot of money.
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