Post by Supreme on Dec 27, 2004 18:57:18 GMT -5
Ring of Honor returned to Philadelphia for "FInal Battle 2004". This was an excellent show, even if there was no way humanly possible that the show could compare with last year's Final Battle, which featured All Japan talent, including The Great Muta, Kaz Hayashi, Satoshi Kojima, Arashi, Tomaoki Honma, and Kazushi Miyamoto.
Here are the match results:
Jimmy Jacobs defeated Trent Acid
After the match, Acid proclaimed that he was "quitting" Ring of Honor
Lacey and Deranged over Becky Bayless and Angel Dust, when Lacey pinned Becky after an inverted DDT.
After the match, the heel faction of Special K jumped Angel Dust, with Dunn and Marcos making the save.
Rockin' Rebel over Devon Moore
Homicide over Josh Daniels
John Walters defeated Jimmy Rave by submission with a novel finish on the outside of the ring that saw Walters hold a submission on Rave while outside the ring. At the 19 count, just before Walters himself would have been counted out (DQs and count outs only exist in Ring of Honor's Pure Wrestling Division) and Rave would have won
After the match, Prince Nana offered Walters a spot in The Embassy, to which Walters accepted and joined forces with Nana, Rave, and The Outcast Killaz.
Dan Maff and BJ Whitmer defeated The Carnage Crew in a Fight Without Honor (ROH's version of a hardcore match) with ladders, chairs, tables, and thumbtacks brought in by Mick Foley
In a promo that seemed to go on a bit long, Mick Foley and Ricky Steamboat wound up their program (with Steamboat going to WWE and not being available for many dates). Foley made cracks about what Steamboat might be able to do for such "talented wrestlers" as Heidenreich and Gene Snitsky...during which Steamboat couldn't keep a straight face. After commenting that Steamboat "might make HHH a legend" the crowd gave a "f$#f HHH" serenade.
Foley called out Samoa Joe, and tried to make up, given that it was the Christmas season after Samoa Joe's comments about Foley on December 4. The two shook hands, and as they were about to have a "manly hug", Joe jumped Foley and sucker punched him.
Jay Lethal defeated "Weapon of Mask Destruction #2" by pinfall
CM Punk and Steve Corino defeated Alex Shelley and Roderick Strong in a match that was one part comedy and one part stiff-fest
Post-match, Austin Aries came down and told Alex Shelley to step down, so he could have the top spot in GenereationNext. This lead to Aries beating down Shelley, and Strong siding with Aries.
In a (Japanese) political finish that pissed off the crowd big time, Low Ki (who works for Pro Wreslting NOAH) and American Dragon (who works for New Japan) went to a no-contest, which was an excellent match until the finish that saw the two brawl into the lobby of the Armory, and The Rottweilers (sans the Havana Pitbulls) joining in. The crowd was clearly NOT happy with the non-finish, and it took midway through the title match to get the crowd back into the show.
Austin Aries defeated Samoa Joe to become the NEW Ring of Honor World Champion. The match, which the crowd finally got back into when they seemed to buy into Aries actually winning the match. Throughout the match Aries tried to get up Joe for a brainbuster. Joe dominated much of the match. Toward the end Joe hit a sick looking Island Driver, which Aries kicked out of. Aries then hit his first 450 splash, and Joe kicked out.
The match ended with an incredible finishing sequence that ended with Joe goes for the muscle buster, Aries reversing and finnaly getting up Samoa Joe for a brainbuster and hitting his trademark 450 splash for the pinfall win which saw the crowd explode. As described by Mike Johnson in a brief report, the crowd was roaring up and down like the sea for the finishing 2 or so minutes of the match.
Ring of Honor returns to Philadelphia on March 5 (ironically enough, on what is almost to the day the one year anniversary after the most controversial moment in the promotion's history) and to Elizabeth, NJ on February 19th.
Here are the match results:
Jimmy Jacobs defeated Trent Acid
After the match, Acid proclaimed that he was "quitting" Ring of Honor
Lacey and Deranged over Becky Bayless and Angel Dust, when Lacey pinned Becky after an inverted DDT.
After the match, the heel faction of Special K jumped Angel Dust, with Dunn and Marcos making the save.
Rockin' Rebel over Devon Moore
Homicide over Josh Daniels
John Walters defeated Jimmy Rave by submission with a novel finish on the outside of the ring that saw Walters hold a submission on Rave while outside the ring. At the 19 count, just before Walters himself would have been counted out (DQs and count outs only exist in Ring of Honor's Pure Wrestling Division) and Rave would have won
After the match, Prince Nana offered Walters a spot in The Embassy, to which Walters accepted and joined forces with Nana, Rave, and The Outcast Killaz.
Dan Maff and BJ Whitmer defeated The Carnage Crew in a Fight Without Honor (ROH's version of a hardcore match) with ladders, chairs, tables, and thumbtacks brought in by Mick Foley
In a promo that seemed to go on a bit long, Mick Foley and Ricky Steamboat wound up their program (with Steamboat going to WWE and not being available for many dates). Foley made cracks about what Steamboat might be able to do for such "talented wrestlers" as Heidenreich and Gene Snitsky...during which Steamboat couldn't keep a straight face. After commenting that Steamboat "might make HHH a legend" the crowd gave a "f$#f HHH" serenade.
Foley called out Samoa Joe, and tried to make up, given that it was the Christmas season after Samoa Joe's comments about Foley on December 4. The two shook hands, and as they were about to have a "manly hug", Joe jumped Foley and sucker punched him.
Jay Lethal defeated "Weapon of Mask Destruction #2" by pinfall
CM Punk and Steve Corino defeated Alex Shelley and Roderick Strong in a match that was one part comedy and one part stiff-fest
Post-match, Austin Aries came down and told Alex Shelley to step down, so he could have the top spot in GenereationNext. This lead to Aries beating down Shelley, and Strong siding with Aries.
In a (Japanese) political finish that pissed off the crowd big time, Low Ki (who works for Pro Wreslting NOAH) and American Dragon (who works for New Japan) went to a no-contest, which was an excellent match until the finish that saw the two brawl into the lobby of the Armory, and The Rottweilers (sans the Havana Pitbulls) joining in. The crowd was clearly NOT happy with the non-finish, and it took midway through the title match to get the crowd back into the show.
Austin Aries defeated Samoa Joe to become the NEW Ring of Honor World Champion. The match, which the crowd finally got back into when they seemed to buy into Aries actually winning the match. Throughout the match Aries tried to get up Joe for a brainbuster. Joe dominated much of the match. Toward the end Joe hit a sick looking Island Driver, which Aries kicked out of. Aries then hit his first 450 splash, and Joe kicked out.
The match ended with an incredible finishing sequence that ended with Joe goes for the muscle buster, Aries reversing and finnaly getting up Samoa Joe for a brainbuster and hitting his trademark 450 splash for the pinfall win which saw the crowd explode. As described by Mike Johnson in a brief report, the crowd was roaring up and down like the sea for the finishing 2 or so minutes of the match.
Ring of Honor returns to Philadelphia on March 5 (ironically enough, on what is almost to the day the one year anniversary after the most controversial moment in the promotion's history) and to Elizabeth, NJ on February 19th.
