Final Battle (2021)
| Final Battle (2021) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Promotion Ring of Honor | | ||
| Date | December 11, 2021 | ||
| City | Baltimore, Maryland | ||
| Venue | Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena | ||
| Tagline(s) | The End of an Era | ||
| Event chronology | |||
| |||
Final Battle chronology | |||
| |||
The 2021 Final Battle was the 20th
Final Battle professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by American promotion Ring of Honor (ROH). It took place on December 11, 2021 at the Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena in Baltimore, Maryland
. The event was billed as "The End of an Era", as it was the last Ring of Honor event to be held before the company went on hiatus, eventually resuming operations in April 2022.
Eleven matches were contested at the event, with three matches on the pre-show. In the main event,
Mike Bennett) to win the ROH World Tag Team Championship. The event is also notable for the ROH return of Deonna Purrazzo, and the debuts of Adam Scherr, Westin Blake and the tag team FTR. As well as well wishes sent via pre-recorded message from ROH alumni Eddie Edwards, Moose, Jerry Lynn, Jimmy Jacobs, Matt Hardy, Christopher Daniels, Jay Lethal, Colt Cabana, "Hangman" Adam Page, CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, B. J. Whitmer, Adam Cole, The Young Bucks, and Bryan Danielson
.
Production
| Role: | Name: |
|---|---|
| Commentators | Ian Riccaboni |
| Caprice Coleman | |
| Ring announcer | Bobby Cruise |
| Backstage interviewer | Denise Salcedo |
| Referees | |
| Stephon Smith | |
| Paul Turner | |
| Mike Posey |
Background
Final Battle is a professional wrestling event produced by Ring of Honor. First held in 2002, it is traditionally ROH's last show in the calendar year.[1] It is widely regarded as Ring of Honor's premiere flagship event, similar to WWE's WrestleMania.[2][3]
On October 11, 2021, ROH announced that Final Battle would be held at the Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena in Baltimore, Maryland on December 11.[4]
Storylines
The event featured eleven
scripted feuds, plots, and storylines that play out on ROH's television programs. Wrestlers portray villains or heroes as they follow a series of events that build tension and culminate in a wrestling match or series of matches.[5]
At
three-way matches, with the winners facing off in a #1 contender's match the week before Final Battle. The winner of that match will go onto the event to face Rok-C for the ROH Women's World Championship.[7] The following week, Willow bested Love and Alize in the first match to advance to the #1 contender's match.[8] On November 20, Leon defeated Kay and Adora in the second match.[9][10] On December 4, Willow defeated Leon,[11] thus making her Rok-C's challenger at Final Battle.[12]
On the February 27 "Championship Edition" of Ring of Honor Wrestling,
Fight Without Honor, courtesy of the ROH Board of Directors.[16]
On October 4, former
EC3; where Gresham would shake Bandido's hand.[6] At Honor for All, Gresham defeated No. 1 contender King, allowing him to advance to Final Battle and challenge Bandido for the ROH World Championship.[18] However, on December 9. it was announced that Bandido tested positive for COVID-19, meaning he would be taken off the card.[19] To replace him, two-time ROH World Champion and new All Elite Wrestling signee Jay Lethal, whose loyalty to The Foundation has been question after Vincent showed a clip of Lethal saying "I don't even like The Foundation", will now wrestle Gresham at Final Battle.[20]
At the event, it was announced that this match will be for the now vacated ROH World Championship, represented by the original title belt.
On the November 18 episode of Ring of Honor Wrestling, Brian Johnson officially entered the ROH Pure Championship division, winning a Pure Rules
John Walters,[9] before he would eventually become the No. 1 ranked contender. With his new position in the rankings, Johnson faced Pure Champion Josh Woods
at Final Battle.
Results
| No. | Results | Stipulations | Times Singles match for the vacant ROH World Championship[20] | 15:35 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
References
- ^ DeRosenroll, Mike (December 19, 2009). "DeRosenroll's Classic ROH Feuds: History of "Final Battle" ROH World Title matches (2002–2005)". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
Final Battle has been the name of the last ROH show of each year since the promotion started in 2002
- ^ "December 28th Newswire". Ring of Honor. 2011-12-28. Retrieved 2013-10-28.
The ROH athletes put it all on the line at the biggest event of the year. Replays of the iPPV broadcast of "Final Battle 2011" are available here.
- ^ "Final Battle 2012: Doomsday- New York, NY 12/16/12 (DVD)". Ring of Honor. Archived from the original on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2013-10-28.
Ring of Honor closes out 2012 with the biggest event of the year...
- ^ ROH Staff (October 11, 2021). "Final Battle Pay-Per-View Set For Saturday, Dec. 11 In Baltimore". Ring of Honor. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
- Discovery Communications. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
- ^ a b c "DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR RECAP: BANDIDO BEATS THE ODDS, RETAINS ROH WORLD TITLE IN FOUR-WAY ELIMINATION MATCH; NEW WOMEN'S DIVISION AND PURE CHAMPIONS CROWNED". ROH Wrestling. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
- ^ "ROH TV RECAP: VIOLENCE UNLIMITED PREVAILS IN WILD EIGHT-MAN TAG OVER PCO, DANHAUSEN, SLEDGE, DEMONIC FLAMITA". ROH Wrestling. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
- ^ "ROH TV RECAP: OGK BEATS BANDIDO AND HORUS; WILLOW WINS TRIPLE THREAT CONTENDERS MATCH". ROH Wrestling. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
- ^ a b "ROH TV RECAP: DALTON CASTLE BEATS DRAGON LEE TO WIN ROH WORLD TELEVISION TITLE". ROH Wrestling. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
- ^ "ROK-C TO DEFEND ROH WOMEN'S WORLD TITLE AGAINST WILLOW OR MANDY LEON AT FINAL BATTLE: END OF AN ERA". ROH Wrestling. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
- ^ "ROH TV RECAP: WILLOW WINS NO. 1 CONTENDER'S MATCH; BANDIDO, REY HORUS TOP PJ BLACK, FLIP GORDON IN IMPROMPTU TAG MATCH". ROH Wrestling. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- ^ a b "ROH WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPION ROK-C VERSUS WILLOW SET FOR FINAL BATTLE". ROH Wrestling. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- ^ "ROH TV RECAP: RUSH RETAINS ROH WORLD TITLE THANKS TO KENNY KING; KING AND DRAGON LEE WIN WORLD TAG TITLE". ROH Wrestling. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
- ^ "ECK'S FILES: SHANE TAYLOR, KENNY KING FACE OFF IN GRUDGE MATCH AT FINAL BATTLE; LUFISTO GUESTS ON ROHSTRONG PODCAST". ROH Wrestling. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
- ^ "SHANE TAYLOR GETS LONG-AWAITED OPPORTUNITY FOR VENGEANCE AGAINST KENNY KING AT FINAL BATTLE". ROH Wrestling. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
- ^ a b "SHANE TAYLOR-KENNY KING MATCH AT FINAL BATTLE WILL NOW BE A FIGHT WITHOUT HONOR". ROH Wrestling. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- ^ "BREAKING NEWS: JONATHAN GRESHAM ENTERING ROH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION". Ring of Honor. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
- ^ "JONATHAN GRESHAM GETS HIS SHOT AT ROH WORLD CHAMPION BANDIDO AT FINAL BATTLE". Ring of Honor. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
- ^ Lambert, Jeremy (December 9, 2021). "Bandido Tests Positive For COVID, ROH Final Battle Match To Change". Fightful. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
- ^ a b "JAY LETHAL RETURNING TO FACE JONATHAN GRESHAM AS PART OF DOUBLE MAIN EVENT AT FINAL BATTLE: END OF AN ERA!". Ring of Honor. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
- ^ "ROH TV RECAP: BRIAN JOHNSON STEALS PURE GAUNTLET; MIKE BENNETT BESTS RHETT TITUS BY SPLIT DECISION IN PURE MATCH". ROH Wrestling. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
- ^ "ROH TV RECAP: BRODY KING PREVAILS IN ALL-STAR FOUR CORNER SURVIVAL MATCH". ROH Wrestling. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
- ^ "SHANE TAYLOR PROMOTIONS PUTS ROH WORLD SIX-MAN TAG TITLE ON THE LINE AGAINST THE RIGHTEOUS AT FINAL BATTLE". ROH Wrestling. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
- ^ "THE ALLURE AND MIRANDA ALIZE COLLIDE WITH CHELSEA GREEN AND THE HEX IN SIX-WOMAN TAG MATCH AT FINAL BATTLE". ROH Wrestling. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
- ^ "DRAGON LEE, REY HORUS MEET AT FINAL BATTLE IN REMATCH OF INSTANT CLASSIC TV BOUT". ROH Wrestling. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
- ^ "DALTON CASTLE TO DEFEND WORLD TV TITLE IN FOUR CORNER SURVIVAL MATCH AT FINAL BATTLE AGAINST RHETT TITUS, SILAS YOUNG, RETURNING JOE HENDRY". ROH Wrestling. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- ^ "BRIAN JOHNSON CHALLENGES JOSH WOODS FOR PURE TITLE AT FINAL BATTLE". ROH Wrestling. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
- ^ "VIOLENCE UNLIMITED CLASHES WITH TRACY WILLIAMS, ELI ISOM, TAYLOR RUST IN SIX-MAN TAG MATCH AT FINAL BATTLE". ROH Wrestling. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- ^ "BRISCOES SEEK 12TH ROH WORLD TAG TEAM TITLE WHEN THEY FACE NEW CHAMPS OGK AT FINAL BATTLE". Ring of Honor. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
- ^ Powell, Jason (December 11, 2021). "ROH Final Battle results: Powell's live review of Jay Lethal vs. Jonathan Gresham, Mike Bennett and Matt Taven vs. Jay Briscoe and Mark Briscoe for the ROH Tag Titles, Rok-C vs. Willow for the ROH Women's World Championship, Josh Woods vs. Brian Johnson for the ROH Pure Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved December 11, 2021.