REVIEW: Ring Of Honor Final Battle 2019: Final Wouldn’t Be Bad

Welcome to KB’s Old School (and New School) Reviews. I’ve been reviewing wrestling presentations for over ten years now and feature reviewed over 5,000 presentations. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, I’ll be posting a brand new assessment right here on Wrestlingrumors.internet, beginning nowadays. It may well be the rest from fashionable WWE to old skool to indies to the rest in between. Note that I fee the use of letters as a substitute of stars and I don’t fee suits underneath 3 mins as actually, how excellent or unhealthy can one thing that quick be?

Final Battle 2019
Date: December 13, 2019
Location: UMBC Events Center, Baltimore, Maryland
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman, Colt Cabana

Yeah I are aware of it’s been awhile since this exhibit came about however given where Ring of Honor has been in over the previous few….neatly just about years now, it took a while to get me to care sufficient to do the exhibit. That being mentioned, the corporate tends to be significantly better once they simply keep on with the wrestling so with a bit of luck that’s the case right here. Let’s get to it.

Pre-Show: Josh Woods/Silas Young vs. Joe Hendry/Dalton Castle

We do get a pleasing inclusion from remark as they are saying they have got 3 pre-show suits scheduled however they’re matter to time constraints. Why is that so onerous to determine? Castle is already operating his mouth at the apron as Hendry and Young lock as much as get started. Young headlocks him down however Hendry powers up and nips up off every other headlock try. Castle and Woods are available for a strive against off with neither having the ability to get the simpler of items.

With that giving us a standoff, it’s Hendry coming again in to suplex Young. A jawbreaker will get Young out of hassle so the whole lot breaks down, leaving Castle to get in hassle. Young kicks him within the head so Woods can get two off a part nelson. Castle in any case suplexes his approach to freedom and it’s again to Hendry to wash space. Everything breaks down once more and Castle walks into Young’s backbreaker/clothesline mixture. There’s a suplex to Hendry and a catapult right into a operating knee finishes Castle at 9:14.

Rating: C. Just a tag fit right here and that’s an effective way to open the exhibit. Young and Woods are beginning to get some momentum with the lovers and it’s lovely transparent that they will be grew to become face within the close to long run. Hendry and Castle then again, now not such a lot, as there isn’t a lot to them rather then they’re a wacky pair who can’t win a lot of the rest.

The Bouncers, sitting within the entrance row, aren’t inspired with Young and Woods.

Pre-Show: Kenny King vs. Rhett Titus

King has Amy Rose with him and it’s a struggle over who was once the Marty Jannetty of the All Night Express. Titus’ spouse and son are within the entrance row, roughly making certain that he loses right here. As an advantage, King comes out to the Express’ theme track. Feeling out procedure to start out they usually cross face to face for some expressions of anger. They each omit kicks to the pinnacle and it’s an early standoff.

King sends him throat first into the highest rope although and a clothesline takes Titus down once more. Titus is correct again as much as ship King outdoor, which means a slingshot dive can hit him even more difficult. After a snappy kiss to his son, Titus suplexes King at the ground, simplest to get spinebustered onto the apron. Back in and a stomach to stomach suplex into the nook offers King two, adopted through the camel take hold of.

That’s damaged up in a rush and Titus hits a clothesline, putting in place a top crossbody for 2. King is again up and tries a Lethal Injection, simplest to get dropkicked within the again. A Royal Flush vegetation King for 2 because the thoughts video games are on. Some operating kicks within the nook glance to arrange….one thing that we don’t get to peer as a result of Rose grabs Titus’ foot. The referee yells at her and it’s a low blow into the Royal Flush to complete Titus at 11:09.

Rating: C-. The motion was once fantastic however my goodness they’re killing the rest they might have with Titus each and every time he loses like this. I’m additionally now not positive how good it’s to have heels win the primary two suits (although Woods and Young are borderline) because the motion was once excellent, however now not excellent sufficient that the lovers don’t want one thing to cheer for. That and I don’t have any reason why to consider that King goes any place, as a result of, , he by no means does.

Pre-Show: Jeff Cobb vs. Dan Maff

They cross with the slugout to start out and Maff takes him down off a shoulder. Cobb is knocked outdoor so Maff hits a suicide dive, so Cobb muscle tissue him up with a suplex again inside of. That simply earns him a Pounce as the larger Maff has a unprecedented energy merit right here. The Cannonball (WAY too fashionable a transfer in wrestling this present day) misses Cobb within the nook and he muscle tissue Maff up for the apron superplex.

Cobb hits a clothesline so onerous that he falls outdoor, permitting Maff to come back again with a superkick. Back in they usually slug it out till Cobb grabs a German suplex. A number of moves within the nook arrange a operating European uppercut however Maff received’t cross down. Maff comes again with a spear however every other suplex sends him flying once more. A powerbomb out of the nook doesn’t paintings for Maff and it’s again to again Tours of the Islands to complete Maff at 8:50.

Rating: C+. Now that was once a heck of a hoss combat as those guys beat the heck out of one another for a short time. That’s all you wish to have to do from time to time, and it’s made even higher when Cobb is robust sufficient to throw anyone like Maff round. Maff is a monster in his personal proper and has had a quite great resurgence in contemporary months.

Post fit they shake fingers and change chops in a show of recognize….I believe?

The opening video talks about how samurai fought for honor, however there have been some how didn’t care. Tonight, it’s PCO vs. Rush for the World Title. It’s as unexpected of a leap as it kind of feels to be.

Villain Enterprises vs. Flamita/Bandido

Marty Scurll/Flip Gordon for the Villains right here and Brody King is on remark. Gordon shoulders Flamita down for a nip as much as get started and a few headscissors paintings simply as neatly. Marty and Bandido are available to industry speedy fireplace close to falls right into a standoff. Bandido snaps off a hurricanrana right into a dropkick which means it’s already again to Gordon. That is going badly as Bandido takes him down, permitting Flamita to climb onto Bandido’s shoulders for a touch.

Scurll is available in to take over although and a sundown turn will get two on Flamita. We settle right down to Flamita superkicking Scurll down and Gordon getting knocked off the apron. A 619 units up a operating taking pictures famous person press for 2 and it’s a double Floss Dance right into a double moonsault. Gordon comes again in, will get knocked outdoor once more, and Flamita hits the massive turn dive (after slipping this is). Scurll is again up with a twister DDT to Flamita right into a superkick from Gordon for 2. Bandido is again as much as kick either one of them down, putting in place the operating turn dive.

Back in and Flamita superkicks Scurll, adopted through a Spanish Fly to plant Gordon. Scurll is again up with a powerbomb/Sliced Bread mixture for 2 on Flamita however Scurll kicks Gordon through mistake. A snappy neckbreaker places Flamita at the ground and Bandido hits a really perfect fall away slam on Gordon. Scurll is correct again with the chickenwing on Bandido however Flamita makes the save with a springboard 450. The X Knee places Gordon at the ropes and Scurll is knocked at the back of him. That way a 619 right into a double 21 Plex for the pin at Scurll at 13:51.

Rating: B. Sometimes you wish to have 4 guys to head available in the market and feature a fast moving tag fit to open the exhibit and that’s what we were given right here. Flamita and Bandido can do a wide variety of items within the ring and glance superior on the identical time in order that they may well be a fantastic addition. Then you could have the Villains, who’re as over as someone within the corporate. Good fit and an ideal selection for an opener.

We recap Matt Taven vs. Vincent. They had been within the Kingdom in combination however Vincent (Vinny Marseglia) sought after to do his personal factor so he began attacking other people. This incorporated a large beatdown with Vincent attacking Taven and busting him open. Taven: “You’ve always lived in my shadow and now I’m going to make sure my shadow is covered in your blood.” That’s a heck of a line as Taven is already extra fascinating in a couple of week as a face than he was once for years as a heel.

Matt Taven vs. Vincent

Taven is going immediately at him to start out and sends Vincent outdoor for the suicide dive. Kelly speedy fires off Taven’s resume as Vincent is backdropped over the barricade. That way a dive from Taven and a leaping enziguri within the nook again inside of rocks Vincent once more. There’s a powerbomb for 2 and a freaky leglock works on Vincent’s leg. That’s damaged up so Taven grabs a DDT for 2 extra however Vincent sends him outdoor for a drop onto the apron.

A suplex onto the uncovered concrete bangs up Taven’s again much more they usually head again inside of. Instead of staying at the again although, Vincent begins in at the ankle with stomps and bending across the rope. That’s damaged up although and Taven sends him to the ground for the Flight of the Conqueror, adopted through a best rope splash to the apron for 2.

Back in and Vincent grabs a Side Effect, adopted through Redrum for a close to fall of his personal. A snappy Climax offers Taven two extra and a 2d will get the similar, leaving Taven surprised. With that now not operating, naturally it’s time for a hatchet however the tried homicide is countered right into a Dudley Dog to complete Taven at 13:32.

Rating: C+. I’m as surprised as you’re that Taven is operating so neatly as a face. He actually does appear to have been lacking the purpose all this time and whilst he isn’t an enormous famous person, he’s excellent sufficient to paintings in a place like this. I may opt for extra of him, however his ankle harm would put him at the shelf for a very long time. That’s a disgrace too, as he’s extra fascinating than he ever has been round right here.

Post fit Bateman comes out and is helping Vincent overwhelm Taven’s ankle.

We recap Mark Haskins vs. Bully Ray. Pick any Bully tale over the previous few years and it’s the similar factor, with Haskins status as much as him.

Bully Ray vs. Mark Haskins

Street combat and Haskins’ spouse Vicky is with him. Ray jumps Haskins from at the back of with a barbed cord board or even hits Vicky for an advantage. A chair to the again is sufficient to hit the bell and it’s time to go inside of, with Ray raking the cuts from the barbed cord. Some unlock German suplexes ship Haskins flying and Ray yells on the referee. Ray throws in a work of the barricade and tosses Haskins onto it as that is one sided to this point.

The Bully Bomb drops Haskins once more and let’s seize a cheese grater. Ray spends an excessive amount of time posing although and it’s an enziguri to take him down. That’s somewhat an excessive amount of promoting for Ray although and he throws in a kendo stick. He grabs the mic and talks about how he talked trash about Haskins’ circle of relatives whilst caning him down. Haskins says hit him more difficult and flips him off prior to sending Ray face first into the open chair.

A Van Daminator (pump kick as a substitute of a spinwheel kick) drops Ray and let’s have a ladder. Haskins climbs to Pillmanize the arm however Ray shoves the ladder over, sending Haskins crashing into the barricade. Naturally it’s desk time however Ray additionally throws within the barbed cord board and stacks it on best of the common desk.

Ray slams him via each and drops an elbow for 2, with the kickout incomes the referee a shot from at the back of. Another desk is introduced in, however first Ray must rub Haskins’ blood on his face. The heart rope splash is loaded up however Vicky comes again in with a cheese grater to the crotch. They each slam him down and Mark provides a best rope double stomp for the pin at 16:49.

Rating: D. It’s infrequently a excellent signal when you’ll reduce a fit in part and feature the similar factor. This was once a large number of slowly strolling round and beating on Haskins till he got here again and received. I don’t even watch the entire large Ring of Honor pay consistent with perspectives and I knew how this was once going to head. It’s how each and every Ray feud/blowoff fit is going and the general public don’t get a lot out of it, however he’s on ingenious so right here we’re.

Alex Shelley vs. Colt Cabana

This was once arrange at the pre-show. Shelley leads the lovers within the COLT CABANA chants and will get headlocked down for his efforts. Numerous rolling will get Cabana out of a wristlock after which he just about handstands his approach out of every other. Shelley cranks on each palms directly for a metamorphosis however Cabana reverses right into a bodyscissors. That’s reversed right into a surfboard however they get again up for a standoff. They run the ropes till Cabana grabs a wristlock, simplest to modify into the Superman pin for 2. Back up and Shelley grabs the wrist however pulls him down right into a crucifix for the pin at 6:33.

Rating: C. This was once extra of an exhibition than a normal fit and that’s good enough, particularly taking into consideration it will finish up being Cabana’s remaining fit with ROH. The lovers like either one of those guys so much and it’s cool to peer them getting to head available in the market and do one thing other than what we’ve been seeing to this point. Fun little fit too.

We recap Maria Manic vs. Angelina Love. Manic has been tormenting the Allure and now it’s time for her to if truth be told have a fit.

Maria Manic vs. Angelina Love

Angelina has Mandy Leon together with her. Maria doesn’t waste time and slams Angelina down in a rush however stops to overcome up Leon as neatly. Some operating boots hit Angelina within the nook as that is one sided to this point. A Pearl River Plunge connects for no duvet so Leon rather a lot up the hairspray, simplest to have it kicked out of her fingers. Mandy has to save lots of Angelina from a piledriver at the apron so Maria beats her up and gorilla presses Love to the ground as a substitute. Back in and a torture rack finishes Love, who didn’t get in one little bit of offense, at 6:22.

Rating: C. It wasn’t a aggressive fit in any way however dang that was once amusing and precisely what it will have to were. There was once no reason why to have this be the rest greater than whole destruction and that’s precisely what they did. Then after all ROH nearly controlled to make a screw up Maria’s contract when she may have been a large deal, however that’s ROH for you.

We recap Shane Taylor vs. Dragon Lee. Taylor has been champion for a excellent whilst now and needs to set the entire data. Lee then again is superior so this may well be fascinating.

TV Title: Shane Taylor vs. Dragon Lee

Taylor is protecting and has all of his goons with him. Lee dropkicks him into the nook however fees right into a spinebuster. That doesn’t appear to subject as he dropkicks Taylor to the ground, simplest to get slammed onto the apron. Taylor sends him into the barricade after which chokes at the apron for somewhat as the thrashing starts. The large legdrop will get two and Taylor tells him to do one thing.

Lee dodges a fee within the nook (that may be one thing) and kicks Taylor to the ground for a heck of a suicide dive. An even larger no fingers turn dive takes him down once more and a operating dropkick within the nook offers Lee two. Some operating moves to the face have Taylor at the apron so Lee snaps off a best rope double stomp. Another best rope double stomp will get two….so Lee slaps him within the face.

Taylor knocks him proper backpedal and a clothesline turns Lee inside of out. The bundle piledriver offers Taylor two and a German suplex drops him once more. Lee will get in a kick to the pinnacle within the nook although and the Alberto best rope double stomp will get two. Taylor snaps off Greetings From 216 for every other close to fall and the disappointment is robust.

With not anything else operating, Taylor pulls out a series however Lee is again as much as knock it away. Lee is correct again with a knee to the face, a Canadian Destroyer and every other operating knee with the chain wrapped round it for 2. The knee pad comes off and every other operating knee (bone to cranium) offers Lee the pin and the name at 14:34.

Rating: B. This was once a quite nice backward and forward energy vs. pace fit as the 2 of them beat each and every different up for roughly fifteen mins. It’s as elementary of a fit formulation as you’ll get and this one was once superb, because the loopy proficient Lee will get to take the name from the monster Taylor. I preferred this greater than anything at the exhibit and I will’t say I’m shocked through that in any way.

We recap Jay Lethal/Jonathan Gresham vs. the Briscoes. Gresham lured Lethal to the darkish facet with guarantees of luck and because Lethal’s resume is simplest missing a Tag Team Title, right here we cross.

Tag Team Titles: Briscoes vs. Jay Lethal/Jonathan Gresham

The Briscoes are protecting and for the sake of simplicity, Jay Briscoe will likely be known as Jay and Jay Lethal will likely be known as Lethal. PJ Black is on remark for an advantage and the Briscoes’ circle of relatives is within the crowd. Mark and Gresham get started issues off with Gresham taking it to the mat conveniently. That doesn’t remaining lengthy so it’s off to Jay vs. Lethal for some circling…and a tag to Gresham prior to there’s any touch. The Briscoes take Gresham into the nook for some slicing however he pulls Jay into the opposite nook to start out operating at the leg.

Jay avoids the basement dropkick and that implies every other standoff. Everything breaks down in a rush they usually all head outdoor with the Briscoes taking up. Mark throws a chair in for the operating turn dive, putting in place the Bang Bang elbow to Lethal. There’s a large boot to Gresham because it’s all Briscoes these days. Back in and Mark will get taken down through a dragon screw legwhip however Jay breaks up the Doomsday Device.

Jay cutters Lethal off the highest and the Doomsday Device will get two on Gresham. We settle backpedal with Gresham hitting a springboard moonsault press on Mark, putting in place the taking pictures famous person press for 2. Gresham begins operating at the leg much more and Lethal kicks the knee. A t-bone suplex will get Mark out of hassle although and it’s again to Jay to fireside off the forearms.

Everything breaks down once more and the Death Valley Driver vegetation Lethal. Gresham pulls the referee out at two and Lethal will get in a belt shot for a similar. The Figure Four has Jay in additional hassle till Mark makes the save with the Froggy Bow. The Doomsday Device is damaged up although and Lethal rolls Jay up with a seize of the tights for the pin at 21:55.

Rating: B+. These guys beat each and every different up for a very long time and it ended with the one sensible end result. Lethal and Gresham have been arrange as the massive heels for a very long time now and giving them the titles was once the one approach to cross. The fit was once the superior, motion packed showdown that you’d have anticipated and it was once some of the very best issues in regards to the exhibit to this point. Great fit and the fitting outcome.

We recap PCO vs. Rush. PCO is 51 years previous and making an attempt to succeed in the highest of the sector after successful a event to achieve the wonder name shot. Rush doesn’t actually care.

Ring of Honor World Title: PCO vs. Rush

PCO is protecting and the rest is going. They stare each and every different down to start out and forearm it out with PCO shouting so much. A clothesline drops Rush however he stops a suicide dive with a chair to the pinnacle. Rush whips him with a digicam wire, adopted through the operating slap within the face within the nook. That way a Tranquilo pose however Rush would quite cross over the barricade to get a small ladder. He throws the ladder at PCO after which wedges it within the nook prior to whipping PCO onerous into mentioned ladder/nook.

The posing takes too lengthy although and it’s a pop up powerbomb to ship Rush outdoor. PCO misses the Swanton to the apron although and Rush suplexes him onto the timekeeper’s desk. They combat up the aisle and Rush hits him within the head with a barricade. Rush stacks up a host of barricades and chairs prior to throwing PCO off the degree for an enormous crash.

PCO is somewhat useless so right here’s his instructor Destro to pop open the hoot of a neatly positioned hearse…..and leap get started PCO the use of some jumper cables. Well after all he does, permitting PCO to chokeslam Rush onto the automobile. Rush suplexes him off of the automobile and heads again to the hoop, simplest to have PCO stagger after him.

That way it’s time for some doorways, with Rush status them up in reverse corners. Rush knocks him down and will get one off a best rope backsplash. PCO will get despatched in the course of the door however after all he’s proper again as much as ship Rush via every other door. The PCOsault will get two so Rush is going outdoor to overcome up Destro. The prolong we could PCO hit a chokeslam and every other PCOsault via a desk finishes Rush at 22:28.

Rating: D. And no. The drawback right here comes right down to the truth that Ring of Honor was once in a horrible position at this level and that is what they offer us for the principle tournament of the largest exhibit of the 12 months? It was once only a brawl, however an overly gradual paced one that are supposed to were about ten mins shorter. The PCO tale is a pleasing inspirational one about by no means giving up to your dream, however this was once a actually tough sit down, particularly on this spot. It wasn’t how to cross given the place Ring of Honor was once and it was once an attractive horrible fit consequently. Cut this down to 10 mins and put it in the midst of the cardboard and possibly, however now not like this.

Villain Enterprises pop out to rejoice to finish the exhibit.

Overall Rating: B-. It’s an up and down exhibit with not anything that can blow you away, however a excellent string of forged sufficient suits to make it paintings. That being mentioned, the unhealthy stuff was once quite unhealthy and felt misplaced at the greatest exhibit of the 12 months. Ring of Honor has gotten somewhat higher since this exhibit, however they have got to this point to visit get again to the rest on the subject of excellent that one exhibit doesn’t subject.

As it’s, the exhibit was once extra excellent than unhealthy, however there are some primary problems that stand out, together with placing the promotion on PCO in a tale that a large number of lovers aren’t going to care about in a nasty major tournament. It may have been worse although, and that’s now not one thing it’s essential say very ceaselessly about this corporate in 2019.

Thomas Hall has been a wrestling fan for over thirty years and has noticed over 50,000 wrestling suits. He has additionally been a wrestling reviewer since 2009 with over 5,000 complete presentations lined. You can in finding his paintings at kbwrestlingreviews.com, or take a look at his- Amazon creator web page with 30 wrestling books. Get the newest and largest in skilled wrestling information through signing up for our day by day e-mail e-newsletter. Just glance under for “GET EXCLUSIVE UPDATES” to enroll. Thank you for studying!

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