Final Battle (2021)
{{short description|2021 Ring of Honor pay-per-view}}
{{Infobox professional wrestling event
|name = Final Battle (2021)
|image = Final_Battle_2021.jpg
|caption = Promotional poster featuring various ROH wrestlers
|promotion = Ring of Honor
|date = December 11, 2021
|venue = Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena
|attendance =
|buyrate =
|tagline = The End of an Era
|liveevent = Y
|lastevent = Honor for All
|nextevent = Supercard of Honor
|event = Final Battle
|lastevent2 = 2020
|nextevent2 = 2022
}}
The 2021 Final Battle was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by American promotion Ring of Honor (ROH). It was the 20th Final Battle event and 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, Jonathan Gresham defeated Jay Lethal to win the vacant ROH World Championship. In other prominent matches, Dragon Lee defeated Rey Horus, Shane Taylor defeated Kenny King by pinfall in a Fight Without Honor match, Rok-C defeated Willow Nightingale to retain the ROH Women's World Championship and The Briscoe Brothers (Jay Briscoe and Mark Briscoe) defeated The OGK (Matt Taven and 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
| class=wikitable style="font-size:90%; margin: 0.5em 0 0.5em 1em; float: right; clear: right;"
|+ Other on-screen personnel !|Role: !|Name: |
| rowspan=2|Commentators |
| Caprice Coleman |
| Ring announcer |
| Backstage interviewer
|Denise Salcedo |
| rowspan=4|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.{{cite web|url=http://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/The_Specialists_34/article_37516.shtml|title=DeRosenroll's Classic ROH Feuds: History of "Final Battle" ROH World Title matches (2002–2005)|date=December 19, 2009|last=DeRosenroll|first=Mike|access-date=February 5, 2011|publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch|quote=Final Battle has been the name of the last ROH show of each year since the promotion started in 2002}} It is widely regarded as Ring of Honor's premiere flagship event, similar to WWE's WrestleMania.{{cite web|url=http://www.rohwrestling.com/news/december-28th-newswire|title=December 28th Newswire|date=2011-12-28|access-date=2013-10-28|work=Ring of Honor|quote=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.}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rohwrestling.com/product/final-battle-2012-doomsday-new-york-ny-121612-dvd|title=Final Battle 2012: Doomsday- New York, NY 12/16/12 (DVD)|access-date=2013-10-28|work=Ring of Honor|quote=Ring of Honor closes out 2012 with the biggest event of the year...|archive-date=2013-10-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029200702/http://www.rohwrestling.com/product/final-battle-2012-doomsday-new-york-ny-121612-dvd|url-status=dead}}
On October 11, 2021, ROH announced that Final Battle would be held at the Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena in Baltimore, Maryland on December 11.{{cite web|url=https://www.rohwrestling.com/news/final-battle-pay-view-set-saturday-dec-11-baltimore|title=Final Battle Pay-Per-View Set For Saturday, Dec. 11 In Baltimore|publisher=Ring of Honor|author=ROH Staff|date=October 11, 2021|access-date=October 23, 2021}}
=Storylines=
The event featured eleven professional wrestling matches, which involved different wrestlers from pre-existing 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.{{cite web | url = http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/pro-wrestling.htm | title = How Pro Wrestling Works | last=Grabianowski | first=Ed | accessdate=October 9, 2017 | work=HowStuffWorks, Inc. | publisher=Discovery Communications}}
At Death Before Dishonor, Rok-C defeated Miranda Alize in the finals of the Quest for Gold tournament to become the inaugural ROH Women's World Champion.{{cite web | url = https://www.rohwrestling.com/news/death-dishonor-recap-bandido-beats-odds-retains-roh-world-title | title = 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 | accessdate=October 27, 2021 | publisher=ROH Wrestling}} On the October 2 episode of Ring of Honor Wrestling, Rok-C would have her first in-ring interview as champion, before being interrupted by Alize, Trish Adora, Willow Nightingale, Allysin Kay, and The Allure (Angelina Love and Mandy Leon). Seeing the talent in the ring, ROH Board of Directors member Maria Kanellis-Bennett would make two 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.{{cite web | url = https://www.rohwrestling.com/news/roh-tv-recap-violence-unlimited-prevails-wild-eight-man-tag | title = ROH TV RECAP: VIOLENCE UNLIMITED PREVAILS IN WILD EIGHT-MAN TAG OVER PCO, DANHAUSEN, SLEDGE, DEMONIC FLAMITA | accessdate=October 27, 2021 | publisher=ROH Wrestling}} The following week, Willow bested Love and Alize in the first match to advance to the #1 contender's match.{{cite web | url = https://www.rohwrestling.com/news/roh-tv-recap-ogk-beats-bandido-and-horus-willow-wins-triple-threat-contenders-match | title = ROH TV RECAP: OGK BEATS BANDIDO AND HORUS; WILLOW WINS TRIPLE THREAT CONTENDERS MATCH | accessdate=October 27, 2021 | publisher=ROH Wrestling}} On November 20, Leon defeated Kay and Adora in the second match.{{cite web | url = https://www.rohwrestling.com/news/roh-tv-recap-dalton-castle-beats-dragon-lee-win-roh-world-television-title | title = ROH TV RECAP: DALTON CASTLE BEATS DRAGON LEE TO WIN ROH WORLD TELEVISION TITLE | accessdate=November 23, 2021 | publisher=ROH Wrestling}}{{cite web | url = https://www.rohwrestling.com/news/rok-c-defend-roh-womens-world-title-against-willow-or-mandy-leon-final-battle | title = ROK-C TO DEFEND ROH WOMEN'S WORLD TITLE AGAINST WILLOW OR MANDY LEON AT FINAL BATTLE: END OF AN ERA | accessdate=November 30, 2021 | publisher=ROH Wrestling}} On December 4, Willow defeated Leon,{{cite web | url = https://www.rohwrestling.com/news/roh-tv-recap-willow-wins-no-1-contenders-match | title = ROH TV RECAP: WILLOW WINS NO. 1 CONTENDER'S MATCH; BANDIDO, REY HORUS TOP PJ BLACK, FLIP GORDON IN IMPROMPTU TAG MATCH | accessdate=December 7, 2021 | publisher=ROH Wrestling}} thus making her Rok-C's challenger at Final Battle.{{cite web | url = https://www.rohwrestling.com/news/roh-womens-world-champion-rok-c-versus-willow-set-final-battle | title = ROH WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPION ROK-C VERSUS WILLOW SET FOR FINAL BATTLE | accessdate=December 7, 2021 | publisher=ROH Wrestling}}
On the February 27 "Championship Edition" of Ring of Honor Wrestling, Rush defeated Shane Taylor to retain the ROH World Championship thanks to a chair shot from Rush's stablemate Kenny King.{{cite web | url = https://www.rohwrestling.com/news/roh-tv-recap-rush-retains-roh-world-title-thanks-kenny-king-king-and-dragon-lee-win-tag | title = ROH TV RECAP: RUSH RETAINS ROH WORLD TITLE THANKS TO KENNY KING; KING AND DRAGON LEE WIN WORLD TAG TITLE | accessdate=November 12, 2021 | publisher=ROH Wrestling}} King and Taylor were old friends and also former partners in The Rebellion stable with Caprice Coleman and Rhett Titus. Seeing this as an act of betrayal, Taylor would begin a long-running feud with King, which would extend to a stable rivalry between Shane Taylor Promotions and La Facción Ingobernable. At Death Before Dishonor, STP were scheduled to defend the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship against LFI's King, Dragon Lee, and La Bestia del Ring (who replaced Rush due to injury). Before the bell rang, King repeatedly struck Taylor with a steel chair, rendering him unable to compete and leaving O'Shay Edwards to take his place. By the end of the match, Taylor returned to give King a chair shot of his own, allowing STP to retain the titles. On the November 12 edition of ROH's weekly web news article Eck's Files by Kevin Eck, it was announced that Shane Taylor and Kenny King will have a one-on-one grudge match at Final Battle.{{cite web | url = https://www.rohwrestling.com/news/ecks-files-shane-taylor-kenny-king-face-grudge-match-final-battle-lufisto-guests-rohstrong | title = ECK'S FILES: SHANE TAYLOR, KENNY KING FACE OFF IN GRUDGE MATCH AT FINAL BATTLE; LUFISTO GUESTS ON ROHSTRONG PODCAST | accessdate=November 12, 2021 | publisher=ROH Wrestling}}{{cite web | url = https://www.rohwrestling.com/news/shane-taylor-gets-long-awaited-opportunity-vengeance-against-kenny-king-final-battleg | title = SHANE TAYLOR GETS LONG-AWAITED OPPORTUNITY FOR VENGEANCE AGAINST KENNY KING AT FINAL BATTLE | accessdate=November 18, 2021 | publisher=ROH Wrestling}} On the December 7 edition of ROH Week By Week, it was announced that this match would turn into a Fight Without Honor, courtesy of the ROH Board of Directors.{{cite web | url = https://www.rohwrestling.com/news/shane-taylor-kenny-king-match-final-battle-will-now-be-fight-without-honor | title = SHANE TAYLOR-KENNY KING MATCH AT FINAL BATTLE WILL NOW BE A FIGHT WITHOUT HONOR | accessdate=December 7, 2021 | publisher=ROH Wrestling}}
On October 4, former ROH Pure Champion Jonathan Gresham announced his entry into the ROH World Championship picture.{{cite web | url = https://www.rohwrestling.com/news/breaking-news-jonathan-gresham-entering-roh-world-championship-division | title = BREAKING NEWS: JONATHAN GRESHAM ENTERING ROH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION | accessdate=November 16, 2021 | publisher=Ring of Honor}} This transition was hinted at the end of Death Before Dishonor, when Gresham and The Foundation arrived after Bandido's title defense against Brody King, Demonic Flamita, and EC3; where Gresham would shake Bandido's hand. 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.{{cite web | url = https://www.rohwrestling.com/news/jonathan-gresham-gets-his-shot-roh-world-champion-bandido-final-battle | title = JONATHAN GRESHAM GETS HIS SHOT AT ROH WORLD CHAMPION BANDIDO AT FINAL BATTLE | accessdate=November 16, 2021 | publisher=Ring of Honor}} However, on December 9. it was announced that Bandido tested positive for COVID-19, meaning he would be taken off the card.{{cite web | first=Jeremy | last=Lambert | url = https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/bandido-tests-positive-covid-roh-final-battle-match-change | title = Bandido Tests Positive For COVID, ROH Final Battle Match To Change | date=December 9, 2021 | accessdate=December 9, 2021 | publisher=Fightful}} 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.{{cite web | url = https://www.rohwrestling.com/news/jay-lethal-returning-face-jonathan-gresham | title = JAY LETHAL RETURNING TO FACE JONATHAN GRESHAM AS PART OF DOUBLE MAIN EVENT AT FINAL BATTLE: END OF AN ERA! | accessdate=December 10, 2021 | publisher=Ring of Honor}} 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 gauntlet match by last eliminating LSG via a dirty pinfall.{{cite web | url = https://www.rohwrestling.com/news/roh-tv-recap-brian-johnson-steals-pure-gauntlet-mike-bennett-bests-rhett-titus | title = ROH TV RECAP: BRIAN JOHNSON STEALS PURE GAUNTLET; MIKE BENNETT BESTS RHETT TITUS BY SPLIT DECISION IN PURE MATCH | accessdate=November 23, 2021 | publisher=ROH Wrestling}} Johnson would continue to bend the pure wrestling rules in matches against his former mentor P. J. Black{{cite web | url = https://www.rohwrestling.com/news/roh-tv-recap-brody-king-prevails-all-star-four-corner-survival-match | title = ROH TV RECAP: BRODY KING PREVAILS IN ALL-STAR FOUR CORNER SURVIVAL MATCH | accessdate=November 23, 2021 | publisher=ROH Wrestling}} and John Walters, 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
{{Professional wrestling results table
|match1 = The Righteous (Vincent, Bateman, and Dutch) (with Vita VonStarr) defeated Shane Taylor Promotions (Kaun, Moses and O'Shay Edwards) (with Ron Hunt) (c) by pinfall
|stip1 = Six man tag team match for the ROH World Six Man Tag Team Championship{{cite web | url = https://www.rohwrestling.com/news/shane-taylor-promotions-puts-roh-world-six-man-tag-title-line-against-righteous-final-battle | title = SHANE TAYLOR PROMOTIONS PUTS ROH WORLD SIX-MAN TAG TITLE ON THE LINE AGAINST THE RIGHTEOUS AT FINAL BATTLE | accessdate=December 1, 2021 | publisher=ROH Wrestling}}
|note1 = pre
|time1 = 10:00
|match2 = Miranda Alize and The Allüre (Angelina Love and Mandy Leon) defeated Chelsea Green and The Hex (Allysin Kay and Marti Belle) by pinfall
|stip2 = Six-woman tag team match{{cite web | url = https://www.rohwrestling.com/news/allure-and-miranda-alize-collide-chelsea-green-and-hex-six-woman-tag-match-final-battle | title = THE ALLURE AND MIRANDA ALIZE COLLIDE WITH CHELSEA GREEN AND THE HEX IN SIX-WOMAN TAG MATCH AT FINAL BATTLE
| accessdate=December 9, 2021 | publisher=ROH Wrestling}}
|note2 = pre
|time2 = 6:50
|match3 = P. J. Black, Flip Gordon, Brian Milonas, Beer City Bruiser, and World Famous CB defeated LSG, Sledge, Max the Impaler, Demonic Flamita, and Will Ferrara (with Amy Rose) by pinfall
|stip3 = 10-man tag team match
|note3 = pre
|time3 = 10:20
|match4 = Dragon Lee defeated Rey Horus by pinfall
|stip4 = Singles match{{cite web | url = https://www.rohwrestling.com/news/dragon-lee-rey-horus-meet-final-battle-rematch-instant-classic-tv-bout | title = DRAGON LEE, REY HORUS MEET AT FINAL BATTLE IN REMATCH OF INSTANT CLASSIC TV BOUT | accessdate=December 8, 2021 | publisher=ROH Wrestling}}
|time4 = 11:20
|match5 = Rhett Titus defeated Dalton Castle (c), Silas Young and Joe Hendry by pinfall
|stip5 = Four Corner Survival match for the ROH World Television Championship{{cite web | url = https://www.rohwrestling.com/news/dalton-castle-defend-world-tv-title-four-corner-survival-match | title = DALTON CASTLE TO DEFEND WORLD TV TITLE IN FOUR CORNER SURVIVAL MATCH AT FINAL BATTLE AGAINST RHETT TITUS, SILAS YOUNG, RETURNING JOE HENDRY | accessdate=December 7, 2021 | publisher=ROH Wrestling}}
|time5 = 8:15
|match6 = Josh Woods (c) defeated Brian Johnson by technical submission
|stip6 = Pure wrestling rules match for the ROH Pure Championship{{cite web | url = https://www.rohwrestling.com/news/brian-johnson-challenges-josh-woods-pure-title-final-battle | title = BRIAN JOHNSON CHALLENGES JOSH WOODS FOR PURE TITLE AT FINAL BATTLE | accessdate=November 23, 2021 | publisher=ROH Wrestling}}
|time6 = 12:58
|match7 = Shane Taylor defeated Kenny King by pinfall
|stip7 = Fight Without Honor
|time7 = 18:00
|match8 = Rok-C (c) defeated Willow Nightingale by pinfall
|stip8 = Singles match for the ROH Women's World Championship
|time8 = 9:50
|match9 = VLNCE UNLTD (Brody King, Homicide, and Tony Deppen), and Rocky Romero (with Chris Dickinson) defeated EC3, Eli Isom, Taylor Rust, and Tracy Williams by pinfall
|stip9 = Eight-man tag team match{{cite web | url = https://www.rohwrestling.com/news/violence-unlimited-clashes-tracy-williams-eli-isom-taylor-rust | title = VIOLENCE UNLIMITED CLASHES WITH TRACY WILLIAMS, ELI ISOM, TAYLOR RUST IN SIX-MAN TAG MATCH AT FINAL BATTLE | accessdate=December 7, 2021 | publisher=ROH Wrestling}}
|time9 = 14:45
|match10 = The Briscoe Brothers (Jay Briscoe and Mark Briscoe) defeated The OGK (Matt Taven and Mike Bennett) (c) (with Maria Kanellis-Bennett) by pinfall
|stip10 = Tag team match for the ROH World Tag Team Championship{{cite web|url=https://www.rohwrestling.com/news/briscoes-seek-12th-roh-world-tag-team-title-when-they-face-new-champs-ogk-final-battle|title=BRISCOES SEEK 12TH ROH WORLD TAG TEAM TITLE WHEN THEY FACE NEW CHAMPS OGK AT FINAL BATTLE|work=Ring of Honor|access-date=November 16, 2021}}
|time10 = 15:40
|match11 = Jonathan Gresham defeated Jay Lethal by submission
|stip11 = Singles match for the vacant ROH World Championship
|time11 = 15:35
}}