The 2021 Final Battle was the 20th
Final Battle
Final Battle is a professional wrestling event, held annually by the Ring of Honor promotion. The event was initially held in 2002, and is traditionally ROH's last show in the calendar year. The 2009 edition of the show was ROH's first internet ...
professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a form of theater that revolves around staged wrestling matches. The mock combat is performed in a ring similar to the kind used in boxing, and the dramatic aspects of pro wrestling may be performed both in the ring o ...
pay-per-view
Pay-per-view (PPV) is a type of pay television or webcast service that enables a viewer to pay to watch individual events via private telecast.
Events can be purchased through a multichannel television platform using their electronic program guid ...
event produced by American promotion
Ring of Honor
Ring of Honor (ROH) is an American professional wrestling promotion based in Jacksonville, Florida. The promotion was founded by Rob Feinstein on February 23, 2002, and was operated by Cary Silkin from 2004 until 2011, when the promotion was so ...
(ROH). It took place on December 11, 2021 at the
Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena in
Baltimore
Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...
,
Maryland
Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...
. 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
Jonathan Gresham (born March 20, 1988) is an American professional wrestler currently signed to Impact Wrestling. He has previously wrestled for All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and Ring of Honor (ROH), where he is a former ROH World Champion, ROH Pure ...
defeated
Jay Lethal
Jamar Shipman (born April 29, 1985), better known by the ring name Jay Lethal, is an American professional wrestler currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW).
Dubbed "The Franchise" of Ring of Honor, Lethal is a two-time ROH World Champion, ...
to win the vacant
ROH World Championship. In other prominent matches,
Dragon Lee defeated
Rey Horus
Rey Horus is a Mexican '' luchador enmascarado'', or masked professional wrestler currently signed to Ring of Honor (ROH). Formerly he wrestled for Major League Wrestling (MLW). He was also known as the second El Hijo de Rey Misterio, Spanish ...
,
Shane Taylor defeated
Kenny King Kenneth, Ken or Kenny King may refer to: Ken King
* Ken King (born 1971), American politician and businessman
* Ken King (ice hockey) (1952–2020), Canadian sports executive
Kenneth King
* Kenneth George King or Jonathan King (born 1944), Englis ...
by
pinfall
In wrestling, a pin is achieved by holding an opponent's shoulders to the mat for a three count. Pinfall is the term used in professional wrestling which is a way to win the match for that person or team.
Background
A pinfall is a victory condi ...
in a
Fight Without Honor
Ring of Honor (ROH) is an American professional wrestling promotion based in Jacksonville, Florida. The promotion was founded by Rob Feinstein on February 23, 2002, and was operated by Cary Silkin from 2004 until 2011, when the promotion was so ...
match,
Rok-C
Carla Gonzalez (born November 5, 2001) is an American professional wrestler signed to WWE where she performs on the NXT brand under the ring name Roxanne Perez, where she is the current NXT Women's Champion in her first reign. She is a former N ...
defeated
Willow Nightingale
Danielle Paultre (born January 25, 1994), better known by the ring-name Willow Nightingale, is an American professional wrestler currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW). She is best known for her tenures with Ring of Honor and Shimmer Wom ...
to retain the
ROH Women's World Championship
The ROH Women's World Championship is a women's professional wrestling world championship created and promoted by the American professional wrestling promotion Ring of Honor (ROH). The current champion is Athena, who is in her first reign.
His ...
and
The Briscoe Brothers
The Briscoe Brothers are an American professional wrestling tag team consisting of brothers Jay Briscoe (Jamin "Jay" Pugh) and Mark Briscoe (Mark Pugh). They are known for their 19-year tenure with the American promotion Ring of Honor (ROH). an ...
(
Jay Briscoe
Jamin "Jay" Pugh (born January 25, 1984) is an American professional wrestler best known by his ring name Jay Briscoe. He is currently signed with Ring of Honor, where he is the current one-half of ROH World Tag Team Champions with Mark Briscoe ...
and
Mark Briscoe
Mark Pugh (born January 18, 1985) is an American professional wrestler best known as Mark Briscoe. He is currently signed with Ring of Honor, where he is the current one-half of ROH World Tag Team Champions with Jay Briscoe in their thirtee ...
) defeated
The OGK
The OGK is a professional wrestling tag team consisting of Matt Taven and Mike Bennett, which currently wrestles for All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and their sister promotion Ring of Honor (ROH).
The team was first formed in ROH, as part of the larg ...
(
Matt Taven
Matthew Marinelli (born March 20, 1985), known by his ring name, Matt Taven, is an American professional wrestler and wrestling trainer, who currently wrestles for All Elite Wrestling.
He is best known for his work with Ring of Honor (ROH), ...
and
Mike Bennett) to win the
ROH World Tag Team Championship
The ROH World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling world tag team championship contested for in the American professional wrestling promotion Ring of Honor. The championship is generally contested in professional wrestling matches, i ...
. The event is also notable for the ROH return of
Deonna Purrazzo
Deonna Purrazzo (born June 10, 1994) is an American professional wrestler currently signed to Impact Wrestling, where she is a former two-time Impact Knockouts World Champion and a former Impact Knockouts World Tag Team Champion. She also appe ...
, and the debuts of
Adam Scherr
Adam Joseph Scherr (born September 6, 1983) is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler and former Strongman (strength athlete), strongman. He is currently signed to WWE, where he performs on the SmackDown (WWE brand), SmackDo ...
,
Westin Blake and the tag team
FTR. As well as well wishes sent via pre-recorded message from ROH alumni
Eddie Edwards,
Moose
The moose (in North America) or elk (in Eurasia) (''Alces alces'') is a member of the New World deer subfamily and is the only species in the genus ''Alces''. It is the largest and heaviest extant species in the deer family. Most adult mal ...
,
Jerry Lynn
Jeremy Lynn (born June 12, 1963), better known by the ring name Jerry Lynn, is an American retired professional wrestler currently signed with All Elite Wrestling as a producer and coach. He has worked for promotions such as World Championship ...
,
Jimmy Jacobs
Christopher Scoville (born February 17, 1984) is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Jimmy Jacobs. He was recently signed to Impact Wrestling as a member of the creative team and producer. He is best known for his 1 ...
,
Matt Hardy
Matthew Moore Hardy (born September 23, 1974) is an American professional wrestler currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW). He is best known for his time with WWE.
With his real life brother Jeff, Hardy gained notoriety in WWF's tag team d ...
,
Christopher Daniels
Daniel Christopher Covell (born March 24, 1970), better known by the ring name Christopher Daniels, is an American semi-retired professional wrestler. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and is the Head of Talent Relations. He is best kno ...
,
Jay Lethal
Jamar Shipman (born April 29, 1985), better known by the ring name Jay Lethal, is an American professional wrestler currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW).
Dubbed "The Franchise" of Ring of Honor, Lethal is a two-time ROH World Champion, ...
,
Colt Cabana,
"Hangman" Adam Page,
CM Punk
Phillip Jack Brooks (born October 26, 1978), better known by the ring name CM Punk, is an American professional wrestler, sports commentator, actor, and retired mixed martial artist currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW). Best known for ...
,
Cody Rhodes
Cody Garrett Runnels Rhodes (''né'' Runnels; born June 30, 1985) is an American professional wrestler and actor. He is currently signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw brand. Rhodes is also known for his time in All Elite Wrestling (AEW ...
,
B. J. Whitmer
Benjamin Whitmer (born January 25, 1978), better known by the ring name B. J. Whitmer, is an American professional wrestler, producer, trainer, and color commentator. He is currently signed with All Elite Wrestling (AEW) as a producer. He is bes ...
,
Adam Cole
Austin Kirk Jenkins (born July 5, 1989) is an American professional wrestler currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he performs under the ring name Adam Cole. He is also known for his tenures with WWE and Ring of Honor (ROH).
Col ...
,
The Young Bucks
The Young Bucks are an American professional wrestling tag team and promoters, consisting of brothers Matthew and Nicholas Massie, who are known by their ring names Matt and Nick Jackson, respectively. They are signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW ...
, and
Bryan Danielson
Bryan Lloyd Danielson (born May 22, 1981) is an American professional wrestler. He is currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he is a member of the Blackpool Combat Club. He is also known for his time in WWE, where he worked fro ...
.
Production
Background
Final Battle is a
professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a form of theater that revolves around staged wrestling matches. The mock combat is performed in a ring similar to the kind used in boxing, and the dramatic aspects of pro wrestling may be performed both in the ring o ...
event produced by Ring of Honor. First held in 2002, it is traditionally ROH's last show in the calendar year. It is widely regarded as Ring of Honor's premiere flagship event, similar to
WWE
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., d/b/a as WWE, is an American professional wrestling promotion. A global integrated media and entertainment company, WWE has also branched out into other fields, including film, American football, and vario ...
's
WrestleMania
WrestleMania is a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) and livestreaming event held annually between mid-March and mid-April by WWE, the world's largest professional wrestling promotion. Since premiering in 1985, 37 editions followed, mos ...
.
On October 11, 2021, ROH announced that Final Battle would be held at the Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena in Baltimore, Maryland on December 11.
Storylines
The event featured eleven
professional wrestling matches
Many types of wrestling matches, sometimes called "concept" or "gimmick matches" in the jargon of the business, are performed in professional wrestling. Some gimmick matches are more common than others and are often used to advance or conclude a ...
, which involved different wrestlers from pre-existing
script
Script may refer to:
Writing systems
* Script, a distinctive writing system, based on a repertoire of specific elements or symbols, or that repertoire
* Script (styles of handwriting)
** Script typeface, a typeface with characteristics of handw ...
ed feuds,
plot
Plot or Plotting may refer to:
Art, media and entertainment
* Plot (narrative), the story of a piece of fiction
Music
* ''The Plot'' (album), a 1976 album by jazz trumpeter Enrico Rava
* The Plot (band), a band formed in 2003
Other
* ''Plot' ...
s, and
storylines that play out on ROH's television programs. Wrestlers portray
villains
A villain (also known as a "black hat" or "bad guy"; the feminine form is villainess) is a stock character, whether based on a historical narrative or one of literary fiction. ''Random House Unabridged Dictionary'' defines such a character a ...
or
heroes
Heroes or Héroes may refer to:
* Hero, one who displays courage and self-sacrifice for the greater good
Film
* ''Heroes'' (1977 film), an American drama
* ''Heroes'' (2008 film), an Indian Hindi film
Gaming
* ''Heroes of Might and Magic'' ...
as they follow a series of events that build tension and culminate in a wrestling match or series of matches.
At
Death Before Dishonor,
Rok-C
Carla Gonzalez (born November 5, 2001) is an American professional wrestler signed to WWE where she performs on the NXT brand under the ring name Roxanne Perez, where she is the current NXT Women's Champion in her first reign. She is a former N ...
defeated Miranda Alize in the finals of the Quest for Gold tournament to become the inaugural
ROH Women's World Champion
The ROH Women's World Championship is a women's professional wrestling world championship created and promoted by the American professional wrestling promotion Ring of Honor (ROH). The current champion is Athena, who is in her first reign.
Histor ...
.
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
Danielle Paultre (born January 25, 1994), better known by the ring-name Willow Nightingale, is an American professional wrestler currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW). She is best known for her tenures with Ring of Honor and Shimmer Wom ...
,
Allysin Kay
Allysin Kay (born November 5, 1987) is an American professional wrestler, who currently wrestles for the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and is a former NWA World Women's Tag Team champion. She is also a one-time NWA World Women's Champion. S ...
, and
The Allure (
Angelina Love
Lauren Williams (born September 13, 1981) is a Canadian professional wrestler She is best known for her time in TNA/Impact Wrestling under the ring name Angelina Love. She is currently signed with National Wrestling Alliance (NWA).
Between ROH ...
and
Mandy Leon
Amanda Leon (born March 3, 1992) is an American professional wrestler, where she is one half of tag team The Allure. Leon has also worked as a model, actress, and dancer.
Early life
Leon was born in Brooklyn, New York but grew up in both Lanc ...
). Seeing the talent in the ring, ROH Board of Directors member
Maria Kanellis-Bennett
Mary Louis "Maria" Kanellis-Bennett (born February 25, 1982) is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler, Manager (professional wrestling), professional wrestling manager, actress, model and former singer, She is best known for h ...
would make two
three-way match
Many types of wrestling matches, sometimes called "concept" or "gimmick matches" in the jargon of the business, are performed in professional wrestling. Some gimmick matches are more common than others and are often used to advance or conclude a ...
es, 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. The following week, Willow bested Love and Alize in the first match to advance to the #1 contender's match. On November 20, Leon defeated Kay and Adora in the second match.
On December 4, Willow defeated Leon, thus making her Rok-C's challenger at Final Battle.
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 Kenneth, Ken or Kenny King may refer to: Ken King
* Ken King (born 1971), American politician and businessman
* Ken King (ice hockey) (1952–2020), Canadian sports executive
Kenneth King
* Kenneth George King or Jonathan King (born 1944), Englis ...
. King and Taylor were old friends and also former partners in The Rebellion stable with
Caprice Coleman
Caprice Coleman (born March 20, 1977) is an American professional wrestler who competes or has competed in Mid-Atlantic and Southern independent promotions including Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, NWA Wildside, Ring of Honor and, in recent year ...
and
Rhett Titus
Everett Lawrence Titus (born September 15, 1987) is an American professional wrestler working for Ring of Honor (ROH). where he is a former ROH World Television Champion, an overall two-time ROH Tag Team Champion individually, as well as winn ...
. 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
The ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling championship owned by the Ring of Honor (ROH) promotion. Like most professional wrestling championships, the title is won as a result of a match with a predetermined outcome. ...
against LFI's King,
Dragon Lee, and
La Bestia del Ring
Arturo Muñoz Sánchez is a Mexican '' luchador'', or professional wrestler who is best known for his time performing Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), portraying a ''rudo'' ("Bad guy") wrestling ch ...
(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. On the December 7 edition of ''ROH Week By Week'', it was announced that this match would turn into a
Fight Without Honor
Ring of Honor (ROH) is an American professional wrestling promotion based in Jacksonville, Florida. The promotion was founded by Rob Feinstein on February 23, 2002, and was operated by Cary Silkin from 2004 until 2011, when the promotion was so ...
, courtesy of the ROH Board of Directors.
On October 4, former
ROH Pure Champion
The ROH Pure Championship is a professional wrestling championship contested for in the American professional wrestling promotion Ring of Honor (ROH). The championship is generally contested in professional wrestling matches, in which participa ...
Jonathan Gresham
Jonathan Gresham (born March 20, 1988) is an American professional wrestler currently signed to Impact Wrestling. He has previously wrestled for All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and Ring of Honor (ROH), where he is a former ROH World Champion, ROH Pure ...
announced his entry into the ROH World Championship picture. 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
Nathan Troy Blauvelt (born March 17, 1987), better known by his ring name Brody King, is an American professional wrestler and musician signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he is a member of The House of Black. King was previously signed t ...
,
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.
However, on December 9. it was announced that Bandido tested positive for
COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei, identified in Wuhan, China, in December ...
, meaning he would be taken off the card. To replace him, two-time ROH World Champion and new
All Elite Wrestling
All Elite Wrestling (AEW) is an American professional wrestling promotion based in Jacksonville, Florida. It is considered the second largest wrestling promotion in the United States behind WWE.
AEW is owned by Shahid Khan and his son Tony, w ...
signee
Jay Lethal
Jamar Shipman (born April 29, 1985), better known by the ring name Jay Lethal, is an American professional wrestler currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW).
Dubbed "The Franchise" of Ring of Honor, Lethal is a two-time ROH World Champion, ...
, whose loyalty to The Foundation has been question after
Vincent
Vincent ( la, Vincentius) is a male given name derived from the Roman name Vincentius, which is derived from the Latin word (''to conquer'').
People with the given name Artists
*Vincent Apap (1909–2003), Maltese sculptor
*Vincent van Gogh ...
showed a clip of Lethal saying "I don't even like The Foundation", will now wrestle Gresham at Final Battle.
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
Many types of wrestling matches, sometimes called "concept" or "gimmick matches" in the jargon of the business, are performed in professional wrestling. Some gimmick matches are more common than others and are often used to advance or conclude a ...
by last eliminating LSG via a dirty pinfall. Johnson would continue to bend the pure wrestling rules in matches against his former mentor
P. J. Black
Phillip Paul Lloyd (born 3 March 1981) is a South African-American professional wrestler. He is best known for his time in WWE, under the ring name Justin Gabriel. He is currently wrestling under the ring name P. J. Black.
A second-generation w ...
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
References
{{ROHPPV, Final Battle
2021 in professional wrestling
2021 in Maryland
Events in Baltimore
2021
File:2021 collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: the James Webb Space Telescope was launched in 2021; Protesters in Yangon, Myanmar following the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état, coup d'état; A civil demonstration against the October–November 2021 ...
Ring of Honor pay-per-view events
Professional wrestling in Baltimore
December 2021 events in the United States