411 Video Review: Ring Of Honor: Final Battle 2002

Once again- thanks to Ring of Honor for sending me this tape. You can pick up Final Battle at- http://www.rfvideo.com/merchant/index.cfm?action=moreinfo&id=7714

CM Punk and Colt Cabana are driving to the arena as Cabana talks about all the stuff he is going to do. Punk gets mad at Ace Steel for filming all of this while he’s driving. Punk gets mad at Cabana for being selfish and only thinking of himself.

We get a video package of what’s gonna happen tonight.

Gary Michael Cappetta is with Steve Corino. Corino is miffed when Cappetta calls him the King of Old School. Corino cuts a promo on the fans for not being there for him. Corino puts over Zero One and is new style. Allison Danger shows up and gets yelled at.

Jay Lethal v. Homicide

They show highlights of the match and this is from the High Impact TV taping. Homicide squashes him and wins with the Cop Killah.

CM Punk v. Colt Cabana

The winner of this match will receive a Ring of Honor contract. Having an ROH contract means that ROH pays for your transportation and lodging. Since Punk and Cabana are long time friends, Punk said they should split the money between them so one isn’t out of luck. Cabana rejected that though so tonight- it’s all on the line. The two faced off at Night of the Butcher where Cabana got the win.

We’re clipped to Punk getting an armdrag. Punk gets dumped on the apron and tries to come in with a sunset flip but fails. He ends up coming in with a springboard senton for two. Punk works on the arm and walks on the ropes but gets crotched. Punk tries a rollup but its blocked and Cabana hits a big lariat. Cabana hammers away and chops him. Cabana drives him into the mat and hooks a surfboard. Cabana misses a blind charge. Punk comes off top but gets caught by Cabana and rammed into the corner. Cabana hits a lariat that causes the turnbuckle pad to fall. Punk gets a rollup for two but Cabana blocks the Shining Wizard. Cabana powerbombs him for two. They slug and chop it out and Punk does a Flair flop. Punk drops Cabana’s throat on the top rope. Punk hits a tope to the outside. Punk goes up top but gets caught by Cabana. Cabana hits a reverse superplex. Cabana covers him for two. Cabana goes up top but gets caught. Punk hits a top rope belly to belly from the top. Punk forearms him and hits an aeroplane spin. Punk goes up top and hits a split legged moonsault for two. Punk hits a running knee into the corner but Cabana blocks the Pepsi Plunge. Cabana dumps Punk on the mat and goes for a suplex but Punk lands on his feet. Punk hits the Shining Wizard…for two. Punk gives him a face wash and but Cabana blocks the boot scrape. Punk goes for it again and hits it. Both men go up top and Punk hits the Pepsi Plunge for the win and the contract. **1/4 This was a fine opener but it was just lacking something. Watching this match you wouldn’t know that Punk would take off in 2003.

Homicide runs into the Backseats. The Backseats tell Homicide that they knew nothing about the events of Glory by Honor. They exchange pleasantries.

Gary Michael Cappetta brings out Christopher Daniels and Simply Luscious. Daniels is miffed at Alexis for attacking Luscious at Night of the Butcher. He calls her out. Alexis runs out and wants Luscious RIGHT NOW.

Simply Luscious v. Alexis Laree

Luscious attacks her from behind. Alexis spears her down. The ref tends to Luscious allowing Daniels to hit the Last Rites on Alexis for the win. DUD

Steve Corino comes out. Corino talks about becoming a star in Japan. He talks about how he lost money working in ECW. The fans clap when he talks about his new found wealth so Corino tells them to shut up and goes off on them. Corino announces he is forming his own stable of wrestlers while Luscious makes her funny facial expressions. Corino then turns to Luscious and dumps her so she won’t reveal his secret to Daniels. Daniels challenges Corino to a fight but then leaves. Corino goes to cut another promo but the fans chant ‘You’re a Jobber’. Corino then cuts another promo on the fans. He calls out Homicide. Homicide runs out and they brawl. Homicide kicks his ass. Homicide takes out a fork and that causes Corino to run away.

Dunn and Marcos are setting up the ring. They are the top tag team in Ring of Honor and will rock the Prophecy….LIKE A HURRICANE!

Dunn and Marcos v. The Prophecy

Dunn and Marcos inform the Prophecy that they are Dunn and Marcos- and get their asses kicked.

Da Hit Squad are backstage- Special K is getting their asses beat tonight. They’re pissed at the Backseats for beating Homicide.

Special K v. Backseat Boyz v. Da Hit Squad in a scramble match

The crowd chants ’10-7’ in reference to the Giants defeating the Eagles by the score of 10-7. According to the commentators- this is the first time DHS and Backseats are facing each other in any kind of match. The bus trip rules.

Acid and Mafia start but Deranged tags himself in. Deranged tries to lead an ‘LSD’ chant. Deranged won’t shake Acid’s hand- so Acid slaps him. Acid shoves him in the corner but misses a big boot. They trade kicks and Acid hits two kicks. That was an awesome sequence. Kashmere and Angeldust go. They lock up and trade armdrags. Kashmere with a boot and they screw something up that leads to Kashmere spearing Angeldust. Mafia comes in and hits a dragon suplex onto Angeldust. Mafia hits Deranged with a big boot and suplexes Deranged onto Angeldust. The Backseats come in but DHS slam them into each other and then mock the Backseats before powerbombing them onto each other. Special K dropkick DHS into each other. Angeldust hits a moonsault onto the floor onto DHS. Deranged hits a springboard twisting moonsault to the floor. Deranged beats on the Backseats and a big brawl breaks out on the outside. Hydro runs in but Mack tosses him to the outside. The Backseats dive out onto everyone. Mafia hits a tope onto everyone. The Backseats hit a double powerbomb onto Deranged for two. They hit Angeldust with the Dream Sequence for two. Yeyo trips up Acid and they lowblow Kashmere before double kicking Kashmere. Deranged is backdropped onto Kashmere and they beat on Monsta Mack. Deranged is pressed onto Angeldust and then Mafia German suplexes both of them. Mafia figure fours Angeldust and Mack hits a top rope splash onto him. Acid saves. Acid hits the Mafia kick on both Hit Squad members. He hits Mack with another Mafia kick but Mack lariats him for two- Deranged saves. Deranged goes up top and gets crotched. Mafia hits a top-rope release suplex and goes for the Burning Hammer but Special K all run in and lay out Mafia for the win. This was the usual fun, hard to call and disjointed scramble match. ***1/4

Jay Briscoe v. Ace Steel

The match is clipped so you don’t hear my call some spots chant. This is from the High Impact TV taping. It’s a back and forth match that leads to Jay hitting the Jay Driller for the win.

The Prophecy v. The SAT in a 2/3 falls match for the ROH Tag Titles

The SAT won a scramble match at Night of the Butcher to set this up. No reason for it being 2/3 falls.

Fall 1: Morgan takes Jose down. Lockup- Morgan slaps him. We’re clipped to Daniels coming in and getting backdropped. The SAT hit a double bulldog on Daniels and slam Morgan. The SAT Boston Crab Morgan and camel clutch Daniels. Joel boots Daniels. Jose hits a running forearm on Daniels. The Prophecy dumps Joel and Daniels crotches Jose into the post. Morgan slides in with a boot. Morgan boots Jose and rolls him over for two as Jose plays face-in-peril. Daniels dropkicks Jose and dumps him out. Morgan whips him into the rail. Jose is tossed back in and Daniels hits a delayed suplex. Daniels hits the Arabian press for two. Tag Morgan. Morgan boots him and hooks a rollover abdominal stretch for two. Morgan covers him for two. It should be noted that Joel runs in about 10,000 times during this sequence- What an idiot. Daniels stomps away at Jose. Jose rolls up Daniels but the ref is distracted. Daniels clotheslines Jose for two. Tag Morgan. Morgan and Daniels work over Jose. Jose tries to comeback but Daniels fingers his eye. Blind charge his boot but Jose gets a tornado DDT. Hot tag Joel who cleans house on the Prophecy. Powerslam to Morgan and he goes after Daniels. Joel hits a crossbody press but Morgan saves. Morgan dumps Joel to the outside. Jose punches Morgan in the corner but gets pushed off. Daniels hits him with an enziguri and drill him with Revelations for the win.

Fall 2: They hit a version of the Hart Attack for two. Morgan hooks an armbar but Joel makes the ropes. Morgan rolls him up for two. Tag Daniels. Daniels suplexes him for two. Joel fights back but the Prophecy kick his ass. Morgan stretches him but Jose saves. Morgan covers him for two. Morgan dumps Joel who is GASSED. The Prophecy hit him with a double suplex for two. Joel fight back with punches but Daniels takes him down and hooks another submission but Jose saves. They trade slaps and both men collide with a double clothesline. Morgan takes out Joel and hooks a chinlock as Daniels jaws with the fans. Morgan clotheslines him for two. Tag Daniels. Joel boots Morgan and double clotheslines the Prophecy. Hot tag Jose and he comes off the top with a double dropkick. He backdrops Daniels. Morgan goes for the Sayonara but Jose hits a low blow. Jose hits a spinning DDT onto Morgan (off of Jose’s shoulders) but Daniels saves. Daniels gets dumped onto the apron. Daniels goes up top but gets crotched. They hit Daniels with the Spanish Fly for the win.

Fall 3: The match is clipped again to Joel DDting Morgan right on the apron and Daniels getting dumped to the floor. Jose tries to fly to the outside but he slips and falls. Joel DDTs Morgan for two. Morgan blocks the Maximo Explosion and hits the Golden Gate Swing for two. Morgan hits a brainbuster but Jose misses the cue so everyone looks stupid- until Jose comes off the top onto him. Daniles comes in and hits Jose with Angel Wings for two. Daniels slams Joel but misses the double jump moonsault. Joel hits him with the Maximo Explosion for two. Morgan runs in and elbows him. They go for the spinning DDT but Morgan hits a spinebuster onto Joel. Daniels hits the STO onto Joel for two. Daniels hits Joel with the Last Rites for the win. **

The SATs are definitely suited for normal tag team wrestling- and it SHOWED here. By Fall 2 they were gassed and it caused the Prophecy to have to slow it down to make sure they were okay. The match was way too long and the SATs got exposed for being spot monkeys. I think Ring of Honor was trying to see if they could be a top team in the promotion and sadly- the SATs failed the test.

Samoa Joe v. Outcast Killaz

From the TV taping- Joe kills them.

The Carnage Crew v. The Christopher Street Connection (w/Allison Danger)

They clip this match to just highlights. But don’t clip out Tony Devito getting kissed. The Carnage Crew get fed up and just beat them with hubcaps for the DQ. The CSC blade and even the ref gets his ass kicked.

Homicide talks about being a single parent and being on probation and how he needs to be champion for his son.

Jodie Fleisch v. The Amazing Red

This was billed as being an international dream match as it was the first time these two would be going at it. Everyone expected a crazy spotfest classic that would tear down the house. Instead we get…

They trade waistlocks and then trade armbars. Red gets a hammerlock but Fleisch reverses. Fleisch armdrags him and they face off. They lock up with Flesich getting a headlock. Neither man goes down on a shoulderblock. Fleisch misses a moonsault but lands on his feet. Red sweeps him out for two. Fleisch does the same. Red and Fleisch do the same sequence and again face off- to a standing ovation. They do some more stuff and Red gets an armdrag and a spinning kick. Fleisch bails and Red hits a plancha Red misses the 7-1-8 and Fleisch kicks him. Fleisch dropkicks him and Red bails. Fleisch hits a springboard shooting star press to the outside. They go up top and both take each other off the top rope. Special K come out as they slug it out in the ring. Red hits drives him into the mat for two. Fleisch hits a moonsault press for two. Fleisch goes up top but Red kicks him in the face. Red goes for the Infared but Special K pull Fleisch out of the way. Fleisch hits the DDT for the win after only SIX minutes of action. **

I still don’t understand the booking of this match. It was the first match signed for the show and was heavily hyped. Red was also coming off the 12.18 NWATNA show where he was made to look like a big star and became an even bigger name. Maybe one of them got hurt and they had to go home early. I just remember feeling cheated out of a potential classic and obviously the fans did as well.

Fleisch joins Special K post-match. The SAT run out and get their asses kicked. Divine Storm and Trinity run out and get killed. DHS and JT Smith come out but Slugger runs out and turns on JT Smith and a beatdown results.

Xavier comes out and taunts the fans as the crowd chants ‘AC Slater’. He runs down his previous opponents and London.

Xavier v. Paul London for the ROH Title

Xavier attacks him to start and chops away as the commentators bemoan the lack of handshake. London forearms away and takes him down. Standing moonsault gets two. London armdrags him thrice and knees him in the guts. He hits a hurricarana and Xavier bails. London wants to dive onto him but Xavier moves. Xavier stalls for a while drawing some heat. He tries to go back in but London nails him twice. Xavier shoulderblocks London but misses a monkeyflip. London hooks a headlock. London with a headlock takeover for two. London hooks another headlock. Xavier sends him into the corner and doesn’t give him a clean break. Xavier headbutts him and hammers away. London forearms him on a blind charge and hits a spin kick. Xavier drops him into the mat and hammers away. London hammers away and chops him. A chopwar results. Xavier drives him into the mat again for two. Xavier hammers away. Xavier gets a clothesline for two. Xavier brings the European uppercuts and knees him. Two bodyslams and he drives his knee into his back. Xavier gets a backbreaker but London gets a rollup for two. Xavier nails him in the knee and gets another slam for two. Xavier knees him in the head but London comes back with knees of his old. Xavier sends him into the corner and hits a stungun. Xavier hits a German for two. Xavier drops London onto the rope. Xavier nails him coming off the top for two. Xavier goes for the 450 Splash but London gets up. Xavier tries to kick him away. London bails on the apron and slaps Xavier. London goes for a superplex to the floor as the crowd chants Please Don’t Die. Xavier drops him right onto the turnbuckle. Xavier goes up top again but London crotches him. Xavier ducks a hurricarana but misses an enziguri. London hits a dropkick for two. London forearms him and powerbombs him. London kicks him and hits a bodyslam. London goes for the SSP but Xavier bails out so London hits the SHOOTING STAR PRESS TO THR FLOOR. They go back in but London misses the Shooting Star Press. Xavier rolls him up for two. London drives him into the mat for two. Xavier sends London into the corner but London stops himself. Xavier goes for the X Breaker but London hits the DDT for 1…2…3!!!!!! BUT WAIT! Xavier’s foot is on the ropes. Xavier goes for a cobra clutch suplex but London rolls off the ropes for two. Xavier retains the hold and hits the cobra clutch suplex. The X-Breaker wins it. ***1/2

This match established Paul London as a main eventer in Ring of Honor. The crowd was going crazy everytime they thought Paul was about to get the title. Both guys played their roles to perfection and the match was very well put together. While the match at Unscripted helped make Paul London a ‘name’ in Ring of Honor- THIS is the match that made people know he’d be a main eventer in ROH.

Gary Michael Cappetta runs into Special K and has some fun. DHS try to go to their locker room and get cut off by Slugger. Mack stops Maff from killing him.

Steve Corino comes out again. The crowd chants Who Booked This Shit. Corino: Who cares- we already have your money. Corino sits down and demands to be in the main event. Homicide comes out but gets forked. Corino hits a Northern Lights bomb and piledrives him. Joe comes out as Corino kills Homicide some more. Feinstein puts Corino in the match. This move pissed off the crowd a great deal since the Code of Honor explicitly states: No sneak attacks.

Low Ki v. Samoa Joe v. Steve Corino v. American Dragon in a four way match for the #1 contendership

Let’s run down the storylines:

Low Ki and Samoa Joe faced off at Glory By Honor in a ‘Fight Without Honor’ match that Low Ki barely won. They were on opposite sides of a 6 man at All Star Extravaganza and Joe’s side won that one. Dragon and Low Ki faced off at Round Robin Challenge with Dragon getting the victory. Dragon has been one win away from being the #1 contender at two shows (All Star Extravaganza and Night of the Butcher) but has come up short each time. Low Ki teamed with Corino at All Star but miscommunication caused them to lose to Ohtani and Tanaka. Low Ki is also mad at Corino for what just transpired since Homicide trained Low Ki and he is very loyal to him.

Low Ki goes after Corino but Joe attacks him- Dragon attacks him. Low Ki and Dragon start officially. They knuckle up and both drive each other into the corner. Dragon starts winning and the commentators go over the Code of Honor. Finally! The crowd is totally ignoring these guys and taunting Corino. Low Ki takes Dragon down and gets a front facelock. Dragon turns into an STF-camel clutch. Dragon has a cobra clutch type move but Low Ki sends him into the corner and gets on top. Dragon turns it into a front facelock. Low Ki and Dragon continue to trade submissions. Dragon hits a butterfly throw. They lock wrists and Low Ki kicks him. They lock wrists again and Low Ki kicks him. Dragon taunts Joe and won’t tag him in. They lock knuckles again and Dragon takes him down. Dragon does the Giant Swing on Low Ki and Joe tags in. Joe elbows Dragon and locks in a facelock. Dragon rams his arm into his stomach and they roll out. Dragon tags Corino. Corino gets slapped and they soon trade forearms. Joe hits an enziguri and starts chopping him. Joe gets a waistlock but Corino reverses. Joe takes him down and gets on top but Corino is n the ropes. They trade chops and Joe elbows him down. Joe chops him and hits a running elbow. Joe suplexes him for two. Corino bails. Back in Joe kicks him but Corino goes for a leglock but Joe kicks him into the floor. Low Ki tags himself in. Corino headlocks Low Ki and gets a shoulderblock. Low Ki nails him and elbows him for two. Corino tags Dragon. They lock knuckles and Dragon rolls himself over and locks in a front facelock. Dragon starts kneeing his face and grabs him by his neck and suplexes him for two. Dragon just beats the piss out of him. Low Ki with a Mongolian chop but Dragoon knees him for two. Dragon slams him and hits two elbows. He covers but Corino breaks it up. Dragon brings the European uppercuts and tags Joe. Joe headbutts him thrice and shoulderblocks him for two. Joe knees him and hits a butterfly suplex. Joe locks in a front facelock and Corino tags in. Corino chops Low Ki and kicks him out of the ring. Corino kicks him outside the ring. Corino works him over and hits a running knee for two. Corino works on the arm but Low Ki kicks him. Corino chops him but Low Ki hits a running kick and then kicks him thrice. Low Ki brings the chops and locks in a headscissors. Joe breaks it up with a kick. Corino reverses into a crossface and adds some clubbing blows. Corino tags in Joe. Joe nails Low Ki and hits a running clothesline. Low Ki goes for a Tidal Crush but Joe catches him so Low Ki flips off and kicks Dragon. Corino runs in for a cover. Joe works over Dragon and hits a suplex for two. Joe locks in a chinlock and takes him down with a shoulderblock. Joe chops him five times and tags Low Ki. Low Ki hits a back suplex for one. Low Ki strikes him and chops him twice. Dragon hits a running forearm and hits a bridge slam for two as Corino breaks it up at two. Dragon chops him and hits a European uppercut. Corino runs in and covers Low Ki for two. Corino with a headscissors but Low Ki reverses and hits a Mongolian stomp. Low Ki chops him and hits a big boot. Low Ki covers and gets two. Low Ki hooks a dragon clutch but Corino breaks it and DDTs him for two. Corino chops him and hooks an abdominal stretch. Low Ki kicks him and tags Dragon. Dragon headbutts him for two. Corino starts chopping him and tags in Joe. Joe with a full nelson and they trade holds on the mat. Dragon hooks cattle mutilation but Low Ki runs in and stands on him. Dragon bridges up so Corino runs in and foreams Low Ki. Joe breaks the hold and hits a German suplex for two. Joe tags Corino who works on Dragon’s knee. Low Ki runs in and kicks him. Corino tags Joe. Joe does a variation of a Maple Leaf crab and drives his knee into the back of his neck. Low Ki comes in and starts kicking and striking the hell out of him. Joe European uppercuts him and chops the shit out of him. Joe locks in a triangle choke but Dragon rolls out and elbows out of the hold. Joe hits a back suplex for two. Joe tags in Low Ki who hooks the Dragon clutch. Joe hooks it again but Dragon is able to break it. Low Ki stomps away and hits the Krush Rush for two. Low Ki hooks a dragon cluch but Dragon bridges out of it and hits a fisherman buster for two. Dragon hits a running splash and rolls him up for two. Low Ki hits a brainbuster and Dragon bails. Low Ki knees Dragon and chops his back. Low Ki hits a suplex onto the floor. Low Ki chops him and rolls him back in. He covers him but Joe pulls him off. Low Ki tags Joe in. Joe hits a running knee and hits a suplex for two. Joe with a waistlock. Corino runs in and clotheslines Dragon and then Joe suplexes him for two. Corino comes in and slaps him. Corino elbows him for two. The crowd starts booing Corino so he locks in a chinlock. Low Ki runs in and kicks him in the face. Corino tags Joe. Dragon hits a desperation forearm and tags in Low Ki. Low Ki starts chopping the hell out of Joe. Joe comes back with Mongolian chops. Joe tags Corino. Corino stomps away and chops him. Corino chokes him. Low Ki chops him and locks in a submission hold while on Corino’s back. Low Ki blocks the Old School Expulsion and hits the Tidal Crush. Corino tags in Joe who gives Low Ki a facewash. Bootscrape to Dragon but Low Ki grabs his boot when he goes for one. Joe walks into a dragon screw from Corino and they go for figure four leglocks. Dragon and Low Ki break it up by hitting headbutts. Jor powerbombs him and hooks an STF. Joe dragon screws Low Ki and hooks a half crab. Dragon comes in and he gets STFed. Low Ki breaks it up with a kick to the face. Low Ki and Corino go and Low Ki kicks him. Corino bails. Low Ki blocks Dragon’s cattle mutilation and they trade forearms. Dragon goes crazy and hits a roaring elbow for two. Joe lariats the hell out of Dragon and kicks Low Ki. Low Ki no-sells it and kicks Joe. Joe gets up and they start striking and slapping each other. Corino breaks it up as Dragon chops Joe. Corino hits a top rope t-bone suplex as Dragon DDTs Joe. Two minutes left. Joe, Dragon, and Corino are all on the top. Joe hits Corino with a top-rope Ace Crusher but Dragon breaks it up. Dragon and Corino trade forearms. Low Ki and Joe enziguri them. Joe knees Low Ki but Dragon and Corino save. Dragon uppercuts Corino and Low Ki Germans Joe. Dragon hits a Northern lights suplex on Corino over Low Ki. Low Ki hits Joe with the Ki Krusher. Low Ki locks Corino in the dragon sleeper and Corino taps as time expires.

We have a draw. The crowd really enjoys that. This was a really good strong style match that was a bit too slow because of the ending they had booked. Making Corino the big heel was both good and bad. The good was they could have a heel control the tempo and try to draw heat on any of the faces but the bad was- whenever Corino was on the apron the fans were taunting him and not paying attention to the match which took away the heat. ***3/4

Da Hit Squad, SATs and Divine Storm storm the locker room and run Special K and Slugger out.

The Carnage Crew are reminiscing about beating the crap out of the CSC. When you come home to your screaming kids, nagging wife and bills- you need some things to laugh about. They don’t care about winning or losing- they just like to hurt people.

Low Ki talks about his 4-way match and Low Ki must improve and prepare so he can reach three goals- 1) Hurt Xavier. 2) Destroy the Prophecy. 3) Win the ROH Title. Well he’s 1-3 so far.

Gary Michael Cappetta is with Steve Corino. The first member of the Group is…Simply Luscious! SWERVE!

The Bottom Line- While not one of their best shows- this tape still offers some high quality wrestling and as usual there’s something for everyone. This show is also an important one as it started Group v. Prophecy. Corino v. Homicide and London’s status as main eventer.

Once again you can pick it up at- http://www.rfvideo.com/merchant/index.cfm?action=moreinfo&id=7714

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