ROH Final Battle 2005 Review

Here's my review of Final Battle 2005. I was able to view this via ROHWrestling.com

ROH Final Battle 2005
Edison, New Jersey 12/17/05

1.) Jimmy Rave vs. Milano Collection AT: ***

This was a pretty decent opener. While he hasn't proven to have really great matches in ROH, all of his matches have proven to been good.

2.) Azrieal vs. Colt Cabana: **

Heard from many people that booker Gabe Sapolsky wanted to make this guy Azrieal into the next Roderick Strong. Where he got that idea I don't know, because Azrieal is NO Roderick Strong. This match was OK, nothing special.

3.) ROH Pure Title – Nigel McGuinness vs. Claudio Castagnoli: ***

This was a good match, but again, most of Nigel's 2005 title defenses were not really outstanding, just ok. Again however, I REALLY like how Nigel was booked as Pure Champion: using the rules of the Pure Title Match to cheat his way to victory. This match was a perfect example of that booking, and it worked (I thought).

4.) Alex Shelley vs. Steve Corino: **1/4

This is the second year in a row that Alex Shelley & Steve Corino have faced each other in a match at Final Battle (They were in a Tag Team match as opponents at Final Battle 2004). This was kind of just there. Nothing really special about this match.

After the match Homicide tries to kill Corino with Drano but Cabana makes his save, only to get Drano poured down his throat by Homicide. I actually like how The Rottweilers used these every day items as part of their gimmick. It further pushed their thug image, I liked it......made them stand out.

5.) Four Corner Survival – Jay Lethal vs. BJ Whitmer vs. Christopher Daniels vs. Samoa Joe: ***3/4

This was a VERY good four corner survival. You had Daniels & Joe (who've been having their feud), Daniels & Whitmer (who have their history from the early ROH days), and after the previous show, Joe & Lethal. Everything just really came together and made for a great Four-Corner Survival Match

6.) Davey Andrews vs. Ricky Reyes: DUD

Yeah.....Reyes just squashes another student. Aries & Strong make the save and called out the Tag Team Champs for their match.

7.) ROH Tag Team Titles – Tony Mamaluke & Sal Rinauro vs. Austin Aries & Roderick Strong: ***1/2

Finally the reign of Mamaluke & Rinauro is over!! This was actually a good match. Funny how Rinauro & Mamaluke's best matches as champs were their last two defenses. It was a nice match though. Aries & Strong as champs is definitely a step up. 

8.) ROH World Title - Bryan Danielson vs. Naomichi Marufuji: ***3/4

This is another Open Contract Title Match with Marufuji making his ROH Debut. This turned out to be a pretty good match. Marufuji is a great talent, and it furthered established Danielson's Title Reign.

9.) GHC Jr. Heavyweight Title – KENTA vs. Low Ki: ****3/4

I think this is the first time the GHC Jr. Heavyweight Title was defended on US soil. WOW, what this match great. What a way for KENTA to make his ROH Debut. He and Low Ki put on a great match, and it was an awesome way to close the show.

Overall: 8.5/10

This was a pretty good show. The first half was a little shaky with Cabana/Azrieal & Corino/Shelley, but everything else was good to great. A great way to end 2005 and it served as a preview for the future as Marufuji & KENTA would become more involved in the ROH product in the future.