From the Shelf – ROH Final Battle 2005

ROH Final Battle 2005
12-17-05
Edison, NJ

Your hosts are Dave Prazak and Lenny Leonard.

Jimmy Rave w/Prince Nana vs. Milano Collection AT
Feeling out process to start and AT catches Rave in the bow and arrow. Hanging abdominal stretch by AT but Rave goes to the ropes to break. AT ties Rave up in the ropes and hits a dropkick on him. Snap mare into a basement dropkick by AT gets 2 and he goes to the chin lock. Rave backs AT into the corner to break and he hits a Northern lariat for 2. Rave works over AT and they botch a Northern Lights suplex. AT snaps Rave’s neck off the ropes to come back and he hits a dropkick from the floor for 2. Rave drop toe holds Milano into the corner and Rave hits a suplex for 2. Neck twist by Rave but AT fights out so Rave brings him down by the hair. Swinging neck breaker by Rave gets 2. Tilt-a-whirl into the Crossface by Rave but AT makes the ropes to break. Nana gets some cheap shots in so AT catches him with a baseball slide to end that. Enzuigiri by AT and both men are down. AT cleans house and he hits a back senton. AT goes up and hits a cross body off the top for 2. Backbreaker into Ghanarea by Rave gets 2. Handspring clothesline by AT and he hits a springboard corkscrew senton. Shining Wizard by AT gets 2. Rave blocks the Package Piledriver and hits a running knee strike. Greetings From Ghana gets 3.
Winner- Jimmy Rave ***1/4 (Ignoring the major slip up early in the match, this was a super fun opener with Milano getting a good chance to showcase himself and Rave in his time with the Embassy developed into a really good worker. Can’t ask for more out of an opener, this was good stuff.)

Bryan Danielson talks about the list of Jr. Heavyweights he has beaten so he doesn’t fear Naomichi Marufuji. He claims he is the best wrestler in the world and no one can beat him.

Azrieal vs. Colt Cabana
Feeling out process and we reach a standstill. Cabana warns Azrieal to not mess with him if he runs the ropes but Azrieal does, so Cabana slaps him. Dropkick by Azrieal gets 1 and he goes for a springboard moonsault press but Cabana dropkicks him on the way down for 2. They collide mid-ring and both men are down. Tilt-a-whirl head scissors by Azrieal and he hits a corner forearm. Enzuigiri by Azrieal and he rolls Cabana up for 2. DVD Driver by Azrieal gets 2. Jabs by Cabana and he hits a bionic elbow. Cabana hits a second rope shoulder tackle and he goes up. Missile dropkick by Cabana and he hits a lariat for 3.
Winner- Colt Cabana ** (I liked the dynamic of Azrieal trying to be goofy and have fun but Cabana refused to joke around and has changed as a result of the feud with Homicide. The match wasn’t much but it got over Cabana’s new attitude. )

After the match, Homicide and Ricky Reyes come out and Homicide says he is here to warn you. Homicide says he needs surgery and he will be out for six months. He blames Steve Corino for the injury and he is the guy he wants. He says when he is finished with Corino, he is coming after Cabana. He tells Cabana to stay out of his business and if he doesn’t, he will fuck him up.

ROH Pure Championship- Nigel McGuinness © vs. Claudio Castagnoli
There are two refs to prevent Nigel from getting a cheap win. Tilt-a-whirl arm drag by Nigel and he gets a hurricanrana for 2. Nigel throws a closed fist and tries to sell it like Claudio did it, but the ref on the outside gives Nigel a warning. Nigel does it again, so Nigel is deducted a rope break. Nigel begins to work the arm of Claudio but Claudio uses the ref to help reverse the tide. Nigel pushes off the ropes to help break the ropes, and the outside ref catches it, so Nigel loses another rope break. Small package by Claudo gets 2 and a back slide gets 2. Inside cradle gets 2 and Nigel bails. Claudio goes for the suicide dive but misses and lands on the outside ref!!!! Back in, Nigel hits the hammerlock DDT and he begins to work the hammerlock. Nigel works over Claudio in the corner and he hits a running uppercut in the corner for 2. Nigel puts Claudio on top and hits an enzuigiri to the back. Key lock by Nigel but Claudio gets to the ropes, causing him to lose his first rope break. Nigel continues to use the ropes, so Claudio gets to the ropes and uses a second rope break. Claudio blocks the Mule Kick and they trade uppercuts. Basement dropkick by Claudio and he hits an uppercut to the back for 2. Nigel blocks the Ricola Bomb so Claudio hits a Northern lights suplex for 2. Claudio puts Nigel on top and follows up. Nigel fights him up but Claudio catches him with an uppercut and hits the Tower of London for 2 as Nigel grabs the ropes, so Nigel is out of rope breaks. Uppercut by Claudio but Nigel attempts to come back with the Jawbreaker Lariat. He misses Claudio and nails the ref!!! Lariat by Nigel and he goes to use the iron but Claudio blocks. Nigel tosses the iron at Claudio but the ref is still down, so Claudio actually rams Nigel’s head into the iron for 3!!! BUT WAIT!!! The outside ref saw Claudio use the iron, so he is DQ’ed!!!
Winner by DQ and Still ROH Pure Champion- Nigel McGuinness ***1/4 ( I was really digging the two referees gimmick with Nigel getting outclassed due to not being able to cheat the system and the match told a good story but they went overboard with the ref bump and the Dusty finish, which ended up making Claudio look like a moron. )

Alex Shelley w/Prince Nana vs. Steve Corino
Corino brings out his personal ring announce but Nana nails him so Corino nails him. Shelley attacks to start but Corino comes back and begins to work the arm. Corino works over Shelley in the corner and he rips the ear of Shelley. Corino dumps Shelley and Shelley sends him into the barricade. Nana gets a cheap shot in and back in, Shelley snaps Corino’s arm off the ropes. Hammerlock by Shelley and he sends Corino shoulder first into the corner. He knocks Corino to the floor and Nana tosses him into the barricade. Back in, Shelley continues to work the arm and he places a chair in the corner. He goes to send Corino into the chair but he blocks and sends Shelley into the chair instead. Forearms by Corino but Shelley hits an enzuigiri to the arm to block. Corino knocks Shelley down with a chop and he hits a high knee. Drop toe hold by Shelley and he gets an inside cradle for 2. Cross arm breaker by Shelley but Corino makes the ropes to break. Shelley goes up but Corino stops him and follows up. Shelley hits a Tornado Divorce Court off the top for 2!!! Back to the cross arm breaker goes Shelley but again, Corino makes the ropes to break. Enzuigiri to the arm by Corino and he catches Shelley with the STO for 2. Nana holds Corino and Shelley charges but misses and nails Nana. Flatliner/DDT combo to Shelley and Nana. Lariat by Corino and he hits the Northern Lights Bomb for 2 as Nana nails the ref to stop the 3 count. Corino dumps Nana but Shelley catches him with a roll-up for 3!!!
Winner- Alex Shelley *** ( Solid match but this never really went into second gear. It was a bit of a styles clash as I think Shelley probably wanted to go at a quicker pace but Corino stuck to his more toned down, slower pace. It was good but it had the potential to be better. )

After the match, Homicide attacks Corino and he has DRANO!!!!! Colt Cabana saves Corino but Julius Smokes attacks Cabana from behind. HOMICIDE DUMPS DRANO INTO CABANA’S MOUTH!!!!!
ROH officials help Cabana to the back.

Gary Michael Copetta brings out Jay Lethal and he asks why Lethal turned on his mentor, Samoa Joe. Lethal says he wasn’t under Joe’s wing, he was under the fat of Joe’s arm. Lethal complains about Joe making more money than him despite the great year he had. He declares Jay Lethal’s services are open for business.

Jay Lethal vs. BJ Whitmer w/Lacey vs. Christopher Daniels w/Allison Danger vs. Samoa Joe
Lethal and Joe start but Lethal immediately tags out to Whitmer. Flying forearm by Whitmer but Joe comes back with an enzuigiri. Chop to the back/kick to the chest/kneedrop combo by Joe and Daniels tags in. Jabs by Daniels and Joe catches him with a flapjack. Lethal throws a knee to the back and he tosses Joe into the barricade. Daniels tosses him into the ring and fires away. Backdrop by Daniels and he knocks Lethal down for 2. Whitmer low bridges Daniels, sending him crashing to the floor. Whitmer tosses Daniels into the barricade and back in, Lethal covers for 2. Back breaker by Lethal gets 2. Whitmer tags in and he hits a delayed suplex for 2. Bow and Arrow by Whitmer and he releases for 2. Tag to Lethal and Daniels tries to fight out of Whitmer’s corner. Lethal ends that with a clothesline and he he hits a dropkick to the back for 2. Japanese Stranglehold by Lethal but Daniels starts to fight out so Whitmer tags in. Whitmer chokes Daniels in the ropes and Daniels comes back with a jaw breaker. Slam by Daniels and he misses the Arabian Press. Lacey chokes Daniels in the ropes but Danger saves him. Danger tosses Lacey into the ring and they brawl. Whitmer saves Lacey and Daniels catches him with an enzuigiri. Joe tags in and Daniels tags Lethal, so Joe goes after him. Joe cleans house and hits an inverted atomic drop. Sick Kick into the back senton by Joe gets 2. ST Joe on Whitmer gets 2. Exploder suplex by Whitmer gets 2. Dropkick to the leg by Whitmer and he follows it up with a knee strike for 2. DVD by Joe gets 2 as Lethal saves. Flatliner by Daniels gets 2. Daniels puts Lethal on top and Lethal catches him with a second rope leg lariat for 2. Spinebuster by Lethal gets 2. Urinage by Daniels and he hits the BME for 2 as Whitmer saves!!! Joe and Daniels trade strikes and they lay out Whitmer and Lethal as they charged in. STO by Daniels to Lethal as he charged in with the X-Division title and Joe hits a big boot to Daniels. Joe hits the Muscle Buster on Daniels on the belt but Whitmer nails Joe in the back with a chair. Lethal hits a springboard dropkick to the back of Whitmer and he goes up. Diving Head butt by Lethal on Daniels gets 3!!!
Winner- Jay Lethal ***1/2 ( Really good four corner survival as to expect with the quality of talent here. Match picked up big time after the Daniels’ heat segment with the final stretch being incredibly hot and it set up some stories between Joe, Daniels, and Lethal heading into 2006. )

Gary Michael Cappetta interviews the Embassy and Prince Nana claims pro wrestling will be about them. Shelley says they should take all of ROH’s titles and they say 2006 will be an unbelieveable year.

Ricky Reyes w/Julius Smokes vs. Davey Andrews
Reyes attacks as we cut away to Cappetta going after Steve Corino. Corino freaks out about what Homicide did and he says he’s out of here since this is a unsafe work environment. Back to the action and Reyes throws some kicks to the chest of Andrews. Dragon Sleeper by Reyes and Andrews passes out. Reyes destroys Andrew’s Top of the Class Trophy after the match but Austin Aries saves. Aries calls Reyes pathetic for going after students and he claims Rocky Romero had to carry Reyes’ ass for over a year. He challenges Reyes to enter the ring but Smokes won’t let him.
Winner- Ricky Reyes ¼* ( Just a squash match that was more focused on the Homicide/Corino/Cabana continuation and the Generation Next interaction post match. )

ROH Tag Team Championships- Sal Rinauro and Tony Mamaluke © vs. Generation Next (Austin Aries and Roderick Strong)
Mamaluke and Strong start. Feeling out process and we reach a stalemate. Strong works over Mamaluke in the corner and Mamaluke comes back with a dropkick to the leg. Inside cradle by Mamaluke gets 2 and he grabs the Triangle Choke. Strong powers out and we reach another stalemate. Tag to Rinauro and he takes control of Strong. Drop toe hold by Strong and he bends Rinauro back. Aries tags in and he hits a hilo to the back of Rinauro. Fisherman’s Suplex by Aries gets 2. Strong tags in and a chop knocks Rianuro to the floor. Back in, Strong grabs a chin lock with his knee driven into the back of Rinauro. Strong stomps on the back and Aries tags in. Northern lights suplex by Aries gets 2. Strong tags in and he hits a back suplex for 2. Tag to Aries and he hits a corner dropkick to Rinauro for 2. Tag to Strong and he chops away on Rinauro. Tag to Aries and Strong hits a butterfly suplex into the power drive elbow for 2. Rinauro fights back and Aries knocks him down with a forearm. Aries goes to slingshot but Mamaluke pulls him to the floor and drives Aries’ head into the barricade multiple times. Back in, Mamaluke slingshots Aries in the ropes and he hits a Saito suplex for 2. Cross arm breaker by Mamaluke but Aries makes the ropes to break. Snap mare and Mamaluke throws some kicks at Aries. Sitting chin lock by Mamaluke and he taunts Strong. Tag to Rinauro and he goes up for a flying elbow drop to the back of Aries for 2 as Strong breaks. Dropkick by Rinauro gets 2. Drop toe hold/gutbuster combo by the champs and Mamaluke works the heel of Aries. Aries pulls the hair to end that but Mamaluke catches him with a jaw breaker for 2. Tag to Rinauro and Aries begins to fight back. Tag to Strong and he cleans house. Butterfly gut buster by Strong to Rinauro gets 2. Rinauro counters a gut buster into a hurricanrana for 2. Forearms by Rinauro and Aries tags in. Hart Attack by Generation Next gets 2 as Mamaluke saves. Fireman’s Carry Roll by Aries and he goes up. Mamaluke stops him and follows up. Superplex into the springboard splash by the champs gets 2 as Strong saves. Tilt-a-whirl back breaker to Mamaluke and Strong and Rinauro dropkicks him from behind. The champs go to double team Aries but Strong saves with a dropkick. Brainbuster to Mamaluke and Strong hits a half nelson back breaker to Rinauro. 450 splash by Aries gets 3!!!
Winners and NEW ROH Tag Team Champions- Generation Next ***1/2 ( This was a pretty good tag match. It got plenty of time to develop and while the champs put on a solid outing, Aries and Strong were just in another league. Generation Next were the right team to end the year with the belts and their reign brought back the prestige and importance of the belts. )

ROH World Championship- Bryan Danielson © vs. Naomichi Marufuji
Test of strength to start and Marufuji steps on Danielson’s hand to end that. They trade chops and Marufuji misses a dropkick. Both men attempt a dropkick and we reach a stalemate. They trade blows and Danielson snap mares Marufuji into the Dragon Sleeper. Body scissors by Danielson and he throws some knees at the head of Marufuji. Danielson works over Marufuji in the corner and they trade slaps. Snap mare and Marufuji hits a sloppy slingshot basement dropkick for 2. Chin lock by Marufuji and he steps on Danielson’s face. Front face lock by Marufuji and he converts it into the Dragon Sleeper. Danielson breaks with a knee to the head and Marufuji dumps him to the floor. Danielson pulls Marufuji off the apron and they battle for a suplex on the apron. Marufuji tries a sunset flip bomb off the apron but Danielson blocks. Danielson sends Marufuji into the barricades and back in, Danielson covers for 2. Mexican Surfboard by Danielson and he stretches Marufuji while in the hold. Danielson drives Marufuji’s knees into the mat and he grabs a bridging Indian Deathlock. Marufuji makes the ropes to break. DDT by Danielson gets 2. Figure-4 by Danielson but Marufuji turns it over, forcing Danielson to go to the ropes to break. Dropkick by Marufuji and both men are down. Drop toe hold into a basement dropkick by Marufuji and he hits a corner back elbow. Marufuji puts Danielson on top and follows up. Danielson blocks the Frankensteiner and he leaps but Marufuji dropkicks him on the way down for 2. Marufuji suplexes Danielson to the floor and Marufuji goes for the baseball slide but misses and Danielson drives him into the barricade. Suicide dive by Danielson and back in, he goes up. Missile dropkick by Danielson and he hits a butterfly suplex for 2. Danielson puts Marufuji on top and follows up. Marufuji blocks the back superplex and he hangs Danielson in the tree of woe. Marufuji hits a basement dropkick and he springboards into the Coast to Coast!!!! Marufuji covers for 2 as Danielson grabs the ropes!!! Super kick by Marufuji and Danielson comes back with the roaring elbow. German suplex by Danielson gets 2 and he grabs Cattle Mutilation. Marufuji puts his foot on the ropes to break. Danielson puts Marufuji on top and follows up. Back superplex by Danielson gets 2!!! Cattle Mutilation by Danielson and he converts it into a cradle for 2!!! Marufuji blocks the Regal Plex and he hits Shiranui. Sunset flip by Marufuji gets 2 and they trade roll-ups for near falls until Danielson gets the jackknife roll-up for 3!!!
Winner and Still ROH World Champion- Bryan Danielson **** ( The first portion of the match Marufuji didn’t seem that comfortable and didn’t seem like he really putting his best foot forward. Once Danielson worked him over and they moved into the second half of the match, this was rocking and Marufuji and Danielson put a technical clinic. Danielson was incredible here and continued to prove he was an elite talent in the industry at that point. )

GHC Jr. Heavyweight Championship- KENTA © vs. Low Ki w/Ricky Reyes
Ki goes for the cross arm breaker but KENTA is in the ropes, which forces the break. Back in, Ki grabs the head scissors but KENTA is able to escape. Kicks to the chest by Ki and KENTA comes back with a back elbow. Kicks to the chest by KENTA and he knocks Ki down for 1. They trade slaps and Ki catches him with an axe kick for 2. Ki works over KENTA in the corner and KENTA snaps Ki’s neck off the ropes to come back. Sleeper in the ropes by KENTA and he goes up. Clothesline off the top by KENTA gets 2. Snap mare and KENTA throws a kick to the back for 2. KENTA dumps Ki to the floor and he sends Ki into the barricade. Kicks to the chest by KENTA back in gets 2. Capo kick by Ki and he gord busters KENTA in the ropes. Kick to the chest knocks KENTA to the floor and Ki hits a springboard crossbody to the floor!!!! Back in, Ki covers for 2 and he toys with KENTA some more. Forearms by KENTA but Ki ends that with the enzuigiri. Slam by Ki gets 2. A second slam by Ki and he throws a kick to the back for 2. Body scissors by Ki but KENTA makes the ropes to break. Ki blocks a sunset flip with a double stomp for 2. Waist lock by Ki but KENTA makes the ropes again to break. Ki throws some kicks to the chest and they head to the floor. Ki drives KENTA into the barricade and then drives him sternum first into the apron. Back in, Ki covers for 2. Drop toe hold into the ropes by Ki and he goes up. Double stomp to the back by Ki!!!! Back in, Ki covers for 2. Power slam by KENTA and he hits the Yakuza kick in the corner. Sick kick by KENTA and he throws some kicks at Ki. Springboard dropkick by KENTA gets 2. Kicks to the chest by KENTA and he hits the butterfly suplex into the cross arm breaker. Ki makes the ropes to break. Falcon Arrow by KENTA gets 2. KENTA puts Ki on top and he follows up. Ki puts him in the tree of woe and he hits Warrior’s Wrath on KENTA for 2!!!! Rapid chops by Ki but KENTA fires back with strikes. Springboard enzuigiri to the back of the head by Ki gets 2. Rapid kicks to the head by Ki and he goes up. KENTA SPRINGBOARDS UP INTO THE SUPER FALCON ARROW FOR 2!!! They trade slaps and KENTA knocks Ki down for 2. KENTA throws strikes and goes for the flying knee strike but Ki counters into the Ki Crusher for 2!!!! Tidal Wave in the corner by Ki and KENTA comes back with a Tiger Suplex for 2. KENTA throws some strikes but Ki ends that with a dropkick. Ki goes up and hits the Ghetto Stomp for 2!!! Ki goes up but misses the Phoenix Splash. GTS by KENTA and he hits the Busaiku Knee Kick for 3!!!!
Winner and Still GHC Jr. Heavyweight Champion- KENTA ****1/2 ( Outstanding main event. These two beat the ever loving crap out of each other and it was nice to see Ki look vulnerable against someone who is as good or better at the striking style than he is. They brought the crowd on a roller coaster ride and held nothing back here. KENTA made his mark in his first ROH match and established himself as one of ROH’s most endearing special attractions ever. )

Christopher Daniels says the biggest regret of his career was bringing Joe into ROH. He says Joe trying to end his career ends soon.

9.0

The final score: review Amazing

The 411

This was a phenomenal show to close out one of ROH's strongest years. Bringing in Marufuji and KENTA, who at the time where two of the hottest stars in Pro Wrestling NOAH added a special element to the show and they both delivered in their matches against Danielson and Ki. The entire show was filled with good wrestling across the board and it was a good balance of bringing closure to the new year while setting things up for the beginning of 2006 such as the continuation of the Cabana/Homicide feud and the Embassy moving their ambitions toward the ROH World Championship. This is a gem of a show in ROH history and Ki/KENTA is still highly regarded as one of ROH's best matches ever, so you should absolutely check this show out.