Random Ring of Honor Matches #7: Final Battle 2008 Edition

-These three matches are the final matches of RoH's big annual event Final Battle, which is their last show each calendar year. These matches all took place on 12/27/08.

-Ring of Honor World Championship #1 Contender's Match: Tyler Black VS Austin Aries

-Pre-match video shows Black pinning Aries three weeks prior, and Aries'...interesting reaction to it.

Dueling chants before the match starts. Slow start as Aries controls on the mat, seemingly getting more and more agitated at the fans cheering for Black. Black gets a headscissors and Aries tries his signature escape of a headstand followed by a dropkick, but misses on the dropkick. Moments later, Aries gets Black in a headscissors, and Black successfully uses Aries' escape, which irritates Aries further. Aries takes Black down with an STO, but hesitates and misses the power elbow. Black takes too long getting fired up in the corner before charging, allowing Aries to connecting with a running forearm. Aries tries the same thing Black does, but takes a boot to the face for his troubles.

Black goes for a springboard clothesline, but Aries pushes Black to the floor, then follows up with a suicide dive for two. Back outside, Aries sits Black in a chair, and hits a running dropkick to the face. Aries locks in the Last Chancery, but Black makes it to the ropes. Black hits an F5 on the ring apron. Black hits a running shooting star over the ropes to the outside on Aries, drawing a "holy shit!" chant, and a two count. Aries fights off God's Last Gift, but Black fights off a brainbuster and hits an inverted suplex for two. Aries rolls out of a running powerbomb attempt, hits a series of knees to the head, and locks in the Last Chancery again. Black won't tap, so Aries goes for the KO with more knees.

When that doesn't work, Aries signals for the brainbuster, but Black school boys him for two. Black hits a big kick to the head, then a running powerbomb into the turnbuckles for two. Black goes up for the Phoniex Splash as Jimmy Jacobs walks out. Black misses, and Aries hits a big kick to the head, a brainbuster, then after slipping and falling off the ring apron, a 450 splash for the pin. Really good match as Aries sold his frustration well. I expected this to go a bit longer.

Jacobs gets in the ring to berate Black. They shove each other, but Black has seconds thoughts about nailing Jacobs. This allows Jacobs to kick Black in the nuts and lock in the end time. Jacobs goes to Pillmanize Black's neck, but Aries runs back out for the save...before turning and nailing Black with the chair. Black is busted open, and Aries & Jacobs double team him for a bit before they walk away separately.

-Ring of Honor World Championship: Nigel McGuinness [c] VS Naomichi Marafuji

-Pre-match video shows Marafuji defeating McGuinness in 2006.

Feeling out process early on. Nigel goes for the Jawbreaker, but Marafuji avoids it, triggering a rollup reversal series. Marafuji works over Nigel's neck, including utilizing a slower version of the Skullfucker. Nigel sends Marafuji outside, but walks into a superkick, and a Shiranui off the barricade and onto the floor. Nigel starts working on Marafuji's arm, hitting a hammerlock powerslam. Nigel sends Marafuji outside again, but stops to jaw with the fans while sticking his head through the ropes, and takes a dropkick for it.

Marafuji locks in a Cobra Clutch, and turns it into a triangle choke while holding onto the Cobra. Marafuji hits a lungblower for two. Marafuji blocks the Tower of London, but Nigel blocks the Shiranui. Nigel gets Marafuji into position for the Tower of London to the floor, but Marafuji counters into a shiranui on the apron for two. Nigel gets tied to the Tree of Woe, but manages to avoid the Coast-to-Coast dropkick. Marafuji blocks the Tower of London in the ring, but Nigel goes to the eyes, and hits the Tower of London on the apron for two.

Nigel avoids a clothesline and hits a big lariat for two, as he holds his right arm close to him, in obvious pain. Nigel sets Marafuji on the top rope, and hits a top rope lariat for two. Marafuji hits a superkick while Nigel is in a heastand in the corner, then another to keep him in place for the Coast-to-Coast dropkick for two. Nigel takes a couple big kicks, but ducks a third and rolls up Marafuji for two. When Marafuji kicks out, Nigel slingshots back with the Jawbreaker Lariat for the pin to retain. Not bad, nothing great either. Never really had a fast pace to it, and I'm not sure anyone bought Marafuji possibly beating Nigel at the time.

Jerry Lynn comes out to congratulate Nigel and put the company over, but Nigel gets offended and calls Lynn a "washed up dinosaur". Lynn snaps and challenges Nigel to a fight. Lynn blocks the aisleway, so Nigel exits through the crowd.

-Fight Without Honor: Bryan Danielson VS Takeshi Morishima

-A "Fight Without Honor" is another way of saying "no DQ". Much like WWE has "street fight", "no holds barred", and a couple others I can't remember right now.

Danielson attacks from behind while his entrance music is still playing. Danielson dives into the crowd. Danielson uses the ring bell to dig into Morishima's eye. Danielson takes Morishima down with headbuts. Danielson tries for a German suplex on the apron, but Morishima throws him off. Danielson tries a powerbomb off the apron, but Morishima sits on his chest. Morishima sends Danielson into the barricade, busting him open. Morishima works on the cut, and nails Danielson with a STIFF kick to the back. Morishima wraps a chain around Danielson's neck.

Morishima whiffs on a missile dropkick. Danielson hits a suicide dive, then a missile dropkick to the knee. Danielson lands a series of stiff kicks for two. Morishima blocks an attempt at Cattle Mutiliation, and hits a urinage for two. Danielson rolls out of the Backdrop Driver, and gets a small package for two. German suplex gets two, then Danielson transitions right into Cattle Mutiliation and a series of elbows.

Lariat knocks Danielson for a loop. Morishima uses the chain again to try and choke Danielson out. Danielson gets a belly-to-back superplex for two. Danielson wraps the chain around Morishima's neck, kicks his head in, then locks in a triangle choke, but Morishima survives. Lariat sets up the Backdrop Driver, but Danielson gets his foot on the bottom rope. Morishima wraps the chain around his arm and goes for a lariat, but Danielson counters in an armbar.

Danielson ties Morishima's arms behind his back, but a couple kicks to the head keep Danielson down. The two start visably calling spots. Danielson kicks Morishima in the nuts. Danielson wraps the chain around his arm, and delivers 20 elbows before locking in Cattle Mutilation. Morishima is KO'd, so Danielson wins. Pretty good blood feud match. At about 20 minutes, could have been a lot longer.

Danielson gets on the mic and thanks (at least at that point), the largest crowd in RoH history, and invites them all to an after-party.