FINAL BATTLE 2015 HYPE!!!

[cero2k]

Tag title and world title matches have been made official

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[Big Red Machine]

It feels like there has been absolutely no build for War Machine getting this title shot.

[cero2k]

It feels like there has been absolutely no build for War Machine getting this title shot.

there hasn't other than "we haven't lost". There is only that TV match when they completely decimated the Kingdom

[Big Red Machine]

It feels like there has been absolutely no build for War Machine getting this title shot.

there hasn't other than "we haven't lost". There is only that TV match when they completely decimated the Kingdom

Except that they went to NOAH and lost sooo...

My point is that this is dumb. It would have made a lot more sense to build up ANX for this spot. It doesn't matter if people won't be that into Addiction vs. ANX because the PPV is going to be sold by AJ vs. Lethal and Cole vs. O'Reilly.

[cero2k]

Except that they went to NOAH and lost sooo...

My point is that this is dumb. It would have made a lot more sense to build up ANX for this spot. It doesn't matter if people won't be that into Addiction vs. ANX because the PPV is going to be sold by AJ vs. Lethal and Cole vs. O'Reilly.

i actually don't see why not make ANX vs Addiction a No 1 contenders and make Kingdom vs Bucks for the titles. You can even add War Machine in one of those matches if you want to feature them in a big match

[Big Red Machine]

Except that they went to NOAH and lost sooo...

My point is that this is dumb. It would have made a lot more sense to build up ANX for this spot. It doesn't matter if people won't be that into Addiction vs. ANX because the PPV is going to be sold by AJ vs. Lethal and Cole vs. O'Reilly.

i actually don't see why not make ANX vs Addiction a No 1 contenders and make Kingdom vs Bucks for the titles. You can even add War Machine in one of those matches if you want to feature them in a big match

I'm pretty sure the reason the Bucks didn't get the tag title shot at Final Battle was because they weren't going to be on the October TV tapings (which should be almost all of the build to Final Battle). Also, they got pinned in the title match, but that could have easily been fixed by not trying to book The Addiction so strongly if they're not going to be in the title match at Final Battle (and, to make matters worse, they kind of killed that by having them job to the Briscoes in Pittsburgh). If you've going to shove them in a four-way or whatever, let them take the pin in the tag title match, give them their rematch at the October TV tapings and have them lose clean and then you can book them in an undercard match at Final Battle (making sure to have them put ANX over on the way there).

[Big Red Machine]

PWInsider is reporting that they are already almost sold out.

[Big Red Machine]

Fri, December 18th - 2300 Arena Philadelphia, Pa.
After more than a decade, FINAL BATTLE RETURNS TO PHILADELPHIA! On December 18th, Ring of Honor will present FINAL BATTLE 2015 on Pay-per-view. Plus, the very next night, we will return for the AFTERMATH and a huge television taping!

The heart and soul of ROH is in its Philadelphia roots. For the first time since 2004, FINAL BATTLE heads home! This year, we will be LIVE on PPV from the legendary 2300 Arena! FINAL BATTLE marks the culmination of a year's worth of rivalries and competition. There's no telling who will show up and who will leave as a champion. FINAL BATTLE is a must-see event for all professional wrestling fans! And the next night, all of the fallout will spill into a huge ROH television event!

- TRIPLE THREAT # 1 CONTENDERS MATCH - All Night Express (Rhett Titus & Kenny King) vs. Young Bucks vs. Mark & Jay Briscoe

The tag team scene in Ring of Honor has never been more competitive! Current champions, The Kingdom, have been flaunting their success both here in ROH and internationally as they tour with NJPW. But their grasp on the ROH World Tag Team titles is far from unchallenged!

Bennett and Taven's reign began back at ALL STAR EXTRAVAGANZA in San Antonio. Can they close out 2015 with the belts around their waist and a smile on Maria's face? We will find out LIVE on pay-per-view! The massive force that is WAR MACHINE is already scheduled to face The Kingdom at FINAL BATTLE on December 18th, with the championship on the line.

But regardless of who walks out of the 2300 Arena with a victory, on that same night we will also determine their next challenger in a TRIPLE THREAT #1 CONTENDERS MATCH! Three of the top tag teams in the world will be pitted against each other to crown the number one contender to the ROH World Tag Team Championship.

You cannot talk tag team wrestling without mentioning "Dem Boys"! When it comes to teams in ROH, Jay and Mark Briscoe have been setting the standard for well over a decade. With a combined EIGHT title reigns - the current record - The Briscoes have defined the tag team scene and remain perennial contenders for the gold! On December 18th, they have the chance to secure a championship opportunity and get one step closer to becoming NINE time ROH World Tag Team Champions.

Also added to the fray will be the indisputably hottest commodity in wrestling today, The Young Bucks! International superstars, the Bucks recently made a long term commitment to Ring of Honor and the best professional wrestling on the planet. With speculation about their future put to rest, Matt and Nick Jackson are free to focus on the top prize for any ROH tag team. But they might want to pay particularly close attention to the final team in this Triple Threat contest...ALL NIGHT EXPRESS!

Ever since reuniting at ALL STAR EXTRAVAGANZA, ANX have been on fire! Rhett Titus and Kenny King are former ROH World Tag Team Champions who were never pinned or submitted to lose their titles. This has made them more motivated than ever to become champions once again! They have a major psychological advantage going into this Triple Threat. At our recent stop in Hopkins, MN, ANX managed to score a visible pin over the Young Bucks for over ten seconds without the referee able to make the count. But this has proven that Titus and King CAN beat the Bucks!

Who will leave FINAL BATTLE with an ROH World Tag Team Championship opportunity on lock? You can watch LIVE on pay-per-view to find out...or be there yourself in Philadelphia! As always, ROHWRESTLING.com is the place for the latest updates on stars and matches signed for December 18th and 19th, but don't wait to get your tickets. ROH events in Philadelphia SELL OUT, and FINAL BATTLE 2015 is a can't miss conclusion to our best year yet!

[Big Red Machine]

Well... this was certainly been haphazzardly thrown together, hasn't it?
Let's take a look into the booking mind of Delirious:

Ever since reuniting at ALL STAR EXTRAVAGANZA, ANX have been on fire! Rhett Titus and Kenny King are former ROH World Tag Team Champions who were never pinned or submitted to lose their titles. This has made them more motivated than ever to become champions once again! They have a major psychological advantage going into this Triple Threat. At our recent stop in Hopkins, MN, ANX managed to score a visible pin over the Young Bucks for over ten seconds without the referee able to make the count. But this has proven that Titus and King CAN beat the Bucks!

All of this is true.

But what's also true is that ANX have been pinned cleanly by the Briscoes and also LOST that match to the Young Bucks, so they really shouldn't have any sort of psychological advantage at all.

Is anyone else concerned that Delirious' way of trying to build heat for this match was to overbook a random match that only involved two of the three teams when it would have been just as easy to keep the teams unbeaten by using jobber teams like Bruiser & Silas, Diesel & Dijak, Brutal Bob & Tim Hughes, or maybe give some local teams a chance?

[cero2k]

not my Bullet Club vs KRD dream match that i want, but i'll take it

[Big Red Machine]

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[cero2k]

i wonder if they're considering a whitmer vs nigel thing here now that Corino is out

[Big Red Machine]

i wonder if they're considering a whitmer vs nigel thing here now that Corino is out

I was thinking this as well. They could do an angle here to set up a match for the anniversary show, which would buy a nice amount of time for Corino to get healthy again for next summer

In reality, though, I think that they will do the following:
Whitmer will unmask Wrestling III as Corino in the hopes of getting him fired so that he could take over on commentary. Nigel will be pissed at Whimer which will result in Page getting in trouble and thus lead to the Page-Whitmer split they have been laying the groundwork for (a TERRIBLE idea, IMO), and Whitmer will feud with Page until Corino comes back.

[Big Red Machine]

By Kevin Kelly
The Big Picture: Fish vs Strong
More than Gold On the Line
By Kevin Kelly

When I have a guest at commentary on ROH Television, I want to hear their point-of-view but I don’t want them to take away from the match in the ring. But two weeks ago, Bobby Fish’s comments on Roderick Strong made me want to call a timeout.

Bobby made these controversial statements during Strong’s victory over Samson Walker, donned Roddy’s belt and tried to start a fight. Fish’s antics, however, were pedestrian compared to what he said. This was not the usual pre-fight banter.

Bobby Fish said that Roderick Strong getting a shot at the Television title against Jay Lethal was a “consolation prize” awarded by ROH Matchmaker Nigel McGuinness after Strong came up short twice in World title opportunities. Fish also said that Roddy didn’t beat Lethal for the ROH World Championship because he’s not “the guy”.

There is a lot of gravity in those remarks. In just a few sentences, Bobby Fish insulted Roderick Strong, Jay Lethal, Nigel McGuinness, the ROH World Television title and every champion that has held the belt.

In my opinion, that was exactly what Bobby Fish wanted to do.

Fish beat Roderick Strong on September 12, 2015 in a contest that was as fine a wrestling match as I saw in the past year. The idea of beating Strong twice in three months in a clean wrestling match is not out of the realm of possibility but Roddy is on another level since beating Lethal and Fish knows it. So, was Bobby trying to provoke Strong into making a mistake at Final Battle?

These words were more than just about the match, the title and competitiveness. Fish’s statements were a stinging indictment of Strong and a rebuke of McGuinness for giving Roddy the Number One contendership before Fish got his rematch following the controversial outcome at All-Star Extravaganza.

Not only did Bobby Fish say those things on purpose but he meant them. Fish carries grudges and never forgets when he thinks he’s been wronged. I appreciate Fish’s outspokenness but he’s not just trying to market his match. He spoke out in a way few in ROH would if given the opportunity. It is fine for Bobby to feel that way but if Roddy beats him at Final Battle, I hope Fish will shake his hand.

But he will never forget.

[Big Red Machine]

These words were more than just about the match, the title and competitiveness. Fish’s statements were a stinging indictment of Strong and a rebuke of McGuinness for giving Roddy the Number One contendership before Fish got his rematch following the controversial outcome at All-Star Extravaganza.

See... this is one of the major problems with Delirious' booking: He'll get this idea for a story and maybe he'll book all of the components into place in terms of wins and finishes and stuff, but he always seems to skip over the details that are supposed to show us that these things are connected.
Did Fish ever once complain about the finish of his TV Title match at All-Star Extravaganza VII? I'm almost certain that he never did, and I'm only a little less certain than that about the fact that Fish himself never commented that he was upset that Roddy got a title shot before he got a rematch, which, if this is supposed to be the story heading into Final Battle, is exactly what he should have been doing on commentary on TV last week.