‘Ring of Honor: Final Battle 2024’ PPV Review
Welcome to our review of this year’s Ring of Honor Final Battle pay-per-view, the latest ROH PPV under the auspices of Tony Khan’s ownership. ROH still doesn’t have a TV, which is a crying shame but production continues apace on what some might say is the “Dark” to AEW’s main programming these days.
The show opened with the usual “Zero Hour” on YouTube that saw the Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake & Zack Gibson) defeat Dark Order (Alex Reynolds & John Silver); Stardom’s Hanako beat Harley Cameron; The Undisputed Kingdom (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) beat The Infantry (Shawn Dean & Carlie Bravo); and Gates of Agony (Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona) defeat LEEJ (Lee Johnson & EJ Nduka). With that said, let’s see what went down on the rest of this show…
Match #1: Atlantis Jr. def. Mansoor
The following is courtesy of ringofhonor.com:
Mansoor took down Atlantis with an inside wristlock takeover. Atlantis cut down Mansoor with flying head scissors. Mason interfered, sweeping out Atlantis’ legs from the apron. Mansoor capitalized with a slingshot neck breaker followed by a falcon arrow. Atlantis began to target Mansoor’s back as the momentum of the match shifted in his favor. Mason distracted Atlantis long enough for Mansoor to suplex Atlantis from the top turnbuckle. Atlantis dodged a moonsault. Mansoor tried again and landed the moonsault on the second attempt, good for a near fall. Atlantis caught Mansoor with a cutter and went for the pin, but Mansoor got his boot on the ropes just in the nick of time. As the ref was distracted, Mason interfered again. Danhausen crawled out from beneath the ring and hit Mason with a low blow. Atlantis followed up with a tope! Atlantis hit the frog splash on Mansoor and pinned him!
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #2: Katsuyori Shibata def. “Dynamite Kid” Tommy Billington
The following is courtesy of ringofhonor.com:
Shibata put Billington in the Indian Death Lock. Somehow Tommy managed to escape, using his snake pit training, no doubt. Billington ran and jumped through the ropes, risking it all, and connecting with a flying headbutt to Shibata. Shibata charged back with a running boot to Billington’s head. Shibata applied a figure four leg lock. Billington reversed it. Shibata and Billington jockeyed for position, countering and reversing one another. Billington rolled to the ropes and the ref broke the hold. Billington scored with a snap brain buster. Shibata planted Billington with an STO out of nowhere. Billington displayed poise, rocking Shibata with a shotgun dropkick. Billington was staying with a game plan. The Dynamite Kid drilled Shibata with a springboard DDT on the apron. Billington landed a diving headbutt. Shibata grabbed a sleeper submission out of nowhere and forced Billington to tap out!
My Score: 4 out of 5
Match #3: Jay Lethal def. QT Marshall
The following is courtesy of ringofhonor.com:
Jay jabbed at QT and followed up with a big elbow. Jay landed a double ax handle on QT’s head. Lethal rocketed out of the ring with a tope suicida. Marshall nailed Jay with a tornado DDT, stopping Lethal’s rally. Lethal stunned QT with a neck breaker. Lethal applied a figure four leg lock. Solo jumped in the ring, but Dutt put Solo in the figure four! QT gouged Lethal in the eyes and then QT clocked Dutt with a diamond cutter. Jay punished Marshall with the Lethal Combination. Lethal climbed up top but Solo knocked Lethal off his perch. Karen went to slap Solo, but Solo grabbed her wrist. Jeff Jarrett came down to the ring and smashed a guitar over Solo’s head! Lethal hit the Hail to the King elbow drop but QT kicked out. Marshall countered the Lethal Injection with the Cross Rhodes, but Jay kicked out at the two-count. Lethal pump kicked QT and then blasted QT with a cutter! QT fired back with a Lethal Injection, but Jay kicked out! Jay smashed QT with the Lethal Injection and won via pinfall!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #4: ROH Women’s World TV Championship – Red Velvet def. Leyla Hirsch
The following is courtesy of ringofhonor.com:
Red Velvet walloped Leyla with a running double knee strike as Leyla was draped across the ropes. Leyla, determined, dropkicked Red Velvet. Leyla threw Red Velvet with a suplex, but Red Velvet fired back with a spear. Leyla nailed Red Velvet with a swingout German Suplex! Leyla and Red traded open hand strikes, neither woman retreating. Leyla power bombed Red Velvet and followed up with a moonsault for a near fall. Leyla may have hyperextended her elbow in the process. Red Velvet rocked Leyla with a roundhouse kick. Red Velvet kicked Leyla in the arm. Red Velvet smashed Leyla with a knockout right hand strike. Leyla grabbed Red Velvet and spiked her with the snake eyes in the corner. Red Velvet retaliated with the Stir It Up for a near fall. Red Velvet went under the ring and grabbed a steel turnbuckle. Ref Paul Turner pulled it away and while he was distracted, Red Velvet clobbered Leyla with a wrench and stole the pin!
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #5: ROH Pure Championship Open Challenge – Lee Moriarty def. Nigel McGuinness
The following is courtesy of ringofhonor.com:
Moriarty and Nigel both fought for wrist control at the start of the match. Nigel forced an incidental rope break on Lee, and Nigel smirked. Moriarty was charged a second rope break as Nigel feigned being knocked down. Shane Taylor ordered a second ref to officiate the match, knowing that Nigel will use every trick in the book, since Nigel wrote the book on this style of a match. Lee locked on the Border City Stretch. Nigel escaped by touching the ropes with his boot, using his first rope break. Shane Taylor began to jaw jack at Nigel. Lee tried to ambush Nigel, but Nigel moved, and Lee inadvertently knocked down Shane Taylor. Lee slipped out of the Tower of London. The champ hit a belly to belly suplex. Nigel stunned Lee with the Tower of London as Lee was on the top turnbuckle. Nigel applied the London Dungeon. Lee kicked out of it and put Nigel in the Border City Stretch. Nigel was forced to use rope break number two. Moriarty went right back to the Border City Stretch. Nigel used his third and final rope break to escape the hold. Moriarty cradled Nigel and grabbed the ropes but the second ref saw this. Nigel clobbered Moriarty with the comebacker lariat for a near fall. Nigel rocked Lee with another Tower of London. Nigel covered Lee and Lee used his third and final rope break to prevent the three count. They traded European uppercuts in the center of the ring. Moriarty applied the London Dungeon and then hit the comebacker lariat for a near fall on Nigel. Moriarty put Nigel in the Border City Stretch but Nigel rolled through and cradled Moriarty for a two-count. Moriarty applied the Border City Stretch again and Nigel was out of rope breaks, which gave Nigel no choice but to tap out!
My Score: 4.5 out of 5
Match #6: ROH World Tag Team Championship Double Bull Rope Match – The Sons of Texas (Dustin Rhodes & Sammy Guevara) def. The Righteous (Vincent & Dutch)
The following is courtesy of ringofhonor.com:
The teams began to brawl right away! Sammy flipped over the top rope and wiped out the Righteous on the floor. Dutch got to his feet, jumped in the ring, and then flipped over the top, taking down Dustin and Sammy. Vincent kicked away the cowbells as the ref tried to tether the teams. Dustin and Sammy double suplexed Dutch. Guevara landed a standing moonsault on Dutch. Dustin followed up with a shining wizard on Dutch. Dustin and Sammy attached themselves to Vincent and Dutch with the bull rope. Dustin paired up with Dutch, while Sammy paired up with Vincent. Sammy and Dustin stunned the Righteous with a pair of Shattered Dreams! Vincent face planted Dustin right on the cowbell. Rhodes whacked Dutch in the back with a steel chair. Vincent unloaded on Sammy, grounding and pounding him. Dutch planted Dustin with the Bossman Slam on the ramp. Dutch pulled out a barbed wire table! Dustin headbutted Dutch, knocking Dutch off the turnbuckles and sending him crashing through the barbed wire table. Vincent clobbered Sammy with the Orange Sunshine on the floor. Vincent cut himself free with a pair of scissors. Vincent pulled back on the bull rope as it was wrapped around Dustin and the ring post. Sammy jumped at Vincent so he could save his partner. Sammy served up a thrust kick to Vincent. Sammy countered an Orange Sunshine attempt with a cutter off the barricade. Sammy went for a senton off the top of a ladder, but Vincent moved, and Sammy crashed through the table. Dustin planted Vincent with a bulldog. Dutch cracked Dustin with a cowbell and Vincent covered Dustin, but the Natural kicked out! The Righteous stomped on Dustin. Dustin flipped them off until Vincent served up Orange Sunshine. Sammy jumped in to break up the pin attempt just in time. Dustin drilled Dutch with a destroyer while Sammy hit the GTH on Vincent outside the ring! Dustin pointed to the heavens and then blasted Dutch with the cowbell. Dustin Rhodes covered Dutch and picked up the 1-2-3! The Sons of Texas retained!
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #7: ROH World TV Championship Survival Of The Fittest – Komander def. AR Fox, Blake Christian, Willie Mack, Mark Davis & Brian Cage
The following is courtesy of ringofhonor.com:
Cage sent AR Fox soaring over the top rope with a press slam. Cage hit Davis with a combination, followed up by a German Suplex. Davis fired back with a running senton. Willie Mack cracked Davis with a running knee strike. Blake got caught by a senton from Fox. Fox followed up with a dive to Mack and Cage! Komander kicked Fox in the midsection. Komander wiped out everyone with a two and a half rotation dive to the outside. Komander tried the rope walk but Blake kicked the ropes and then speared Komander! Cage caught Blake and drove him hard into the mat. Cage kicked Davis in the face. Cage hurled Fox into the corner. Cage hit a double German Suplex on Komander and Fox! Cage slammed Komander with a one armed press. Willie Mack used a sling blade leg sweep on the champion. Mack used Komander as a battering ram. Mack put Fox and Komander on his shoulders and planted them with a double Samoan drop! Mack landed a standing moonsault press on Davis and then served up stunners to Cage, Fox, Blake, and Davis! Willie Mack dazed Komander with a super stunner. Cage connected with a shot under Mack’s chin and pinned him, eliminating Mack. Fox drilled Davis with a pendulum DDT. Fox got a near fall on Blake after a package power bomb. Komander tried to spear Fox through the ropes, but Fox countered with a DDT on the apron! Fox wiped out everyone with a gainer cannonball to the outside. Fox landed a 450 splash on Komander, but Komander kicked out at the two-count! Fox booted Cage in the head. Cage was out on his feet. Cage countered a Spanish Fly with an Awesome Bomb and pinned Fox! Fox was the second man eliminated, both eliminations coming from Cage. Davis and Cage traded German Suplexes! Komander entered the fray and chopped down the tree that is Cage. Cage planted Komander with the spin out. Davis grabbed an inside cradle on Cage for a near fall. Davis decked Cage with a running lariat. Davis spiked Cage with a piledriver and pinned Cage! Brian Cage was eliminated, guaranteeing there will be a new ROH TV Champion tonight. Blake Christian scored with a low blow and pinned Davis! Komander and Christian were the final two in the match. Christian nailed Komander with a back breaker and a release German Suplex. Blake landed a dropkick from the top rope. Blake shoved Komander off the top turnbuckle and rocketed out of the ring with a tope suicida. Komander and Blake exchanged thrust kicks. Blake planted Komander with a Spanish Fly for a near fall. Komander spiked Christian with a super poison rana. Christian rolled out of the ring to create some distance. Komander walked the ropes and landed on Blake with the flip dive. Back in the ring, after knocking Komander off the ropes, Blake curb stomped Komander but Komander kicked out at the two-count! Blake served up a side suplex from the second rope. Komander smashed Blake with a Mexican Destroyer! Komander hit the moonsault on Blake and pinned Blake!
My Score: 4.5 out of 5
Match #8: ROH World Championship – Chris Jericho def. Matt Cardona
The following is courtesy of ringofhonor.com:
Cardona blasted Radio Silence right out of the gates for a near fall on Jericho! Cardona followed up with a running boot. Cardona flipped over the top rope and wiped out Jericho and Keith, pulling out all the stops tonight! Matt’s dad was sitting in the front row, and he pie faced Jericho. Cardona whipped Jericho with the ROH World Championship belt. Cardona back dropped Jericho over the top rope. Cardona connected with a split legged dropkick to Jericho and Keith outside the ring. Jericho knocked the wind out of Cardona with a back body drop onto the ramp. Jericho grounded and pounded Cardona back in the ring. Jericho blistered Cardona’s chest with chops. Jericho knocked Cardona out of the ring with a sliding dropkick. Keith stomped on Cardona as Jericho distracted the referee. Jericho pie faced Matt’s dad! Jericho planted Cardona on the steel ring steps. Cardona delivered a forearm. They traded chops. Jericho wiped out Cardona with a hurracanrana off the top rope. Cardona regained momentum with a big dropkick. Jericho cut Cardona short with a lionsault for a near fall. Cardona planted Jericho with a spinebuster. The crowd rallied behind Cardona. Jericho superplexed Cardona but Cardona popped right back up to his feet. Cardona blasted Jericho with a Tiger Driver for a near fall! Jericho planted Cardona with a Code Breaker, but Cardona kicked out at the two-count. Jericho applied the Lion Tamer. Cardona twisted his way out and rolled up Jericho with an inside cradle for a near fall. Jericho countered the Radio Silence with a Lion Tamer. Cardona made it to the ropes to force the ref to break the hold. Out of nowhere, Big Bill ran down and pump kicked Cardona in the face! Jericho covered Cardona but Cardona kicked out. Cardona blocked the Judas Effect and countered with the Code Breaker for a near fall! Cardona hit the Radio Silence from the top! Big Bill distracted the referee while Bryan Keith brained Cardona with the title belt! Jericho rolled over and pinned Matt Cardona to retain the ROH World Championship!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #9: ROH Women’s World Championship – Athena def. Billie Starkz
The following is courtesy of ringofhonor.com:
Billie Starkz had the champion retreating early on after a quick onslaught of offense. Athena cartwheeled and clotheslined Billie. Athena nailed Billie with a slingshot into a Spicolli Driver. Athena countered a kick with a stretch muffler. Athena choke slammed the challenger after Billie tried to lock on an arm bar. Starkz used a flatliner and planted Athena onto the point of the steel steps. Athena rocked Billie with a pop-up power bomb on the arena floor. Starkz drilled Athena with a DDT as Athena was entering the ring. Billie delivered a big left clothesline. Billie hit the smash mouse on Athena for a near fall. Billie stunned Athena with a brain buster on the knee. Athena retaliated with a fallaway slam from the top rope. Billie blocked the O-Face with a German Suplex. Billie spiked the champion with a tombstone piledriver for a near fall! Starkz stunned Athena with an Alabama Slam on the apron. Starkz followed up with a Swanton dive to Athena on the floor. Athena picked up Billie and hurled her over the top rope. Athena wiped out Billie and the ref, who was holding Billie up, with a tope! The ref was knocked unconscious. Lexy Nair handed Athena a microphone, but Billie blocked it. Billie picked up Athena in an electric chair position and planted her for a near fall. Athena pulled off the turnbuckle pad. Billie charged and Athena knocked Billie into the exposed turnbuckle. Athena hit the O-Face and retained the championship via pinfall!
My Score: 4 out of 5
Final Verdict: 4.5/5
No matter what you think about this iteration of Ring of Honor, you can’t deny that Tony Khan can put together a decent PPV – as he does for EVERY pay-per-view, no matter the brand – and this year’s Final Battle was no exception. In fact, some of the matches on this card were easily among the best Khan and co. have produced this year – across ALL of his wrestling shows, AEW included! The only letdown to a stacked, well-done card was the Jericho/Cardona match which felt, at least to me, like a WWE-esque match featuring a gassed veteran beyond his years. Ultimately though, I enjoyed this pay-per-view a LOT and – even though we don’t review ROH on a weekly basis – I’ll be keeping up my Honor Club sub for another year after this!
