PWTorch.com - The Terminal: McNEILL previews ROH's Final Battle 2014 PPV!

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The Terminal: McNEILL previews ROH's Final Battle 2014 PPV!

Dec 7, 2014 - 8:50:39 PM

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By Pat McNeill, PWTorch columnist

Wake the pets and call the neighbors. It's time for our semi-monthly ROH pay-per-view preview column!

DISCLAIMER: Projections are made by myself and for myself with absolutely no assistance from Joe Koff, Nigel McGuinness or The Man With The Lizard Face. Projections are not predictions, because this is the column where everything's made up and the points don't matter. This preview has been sealed in a mayonnaise jar on Funk & Wagnall's porch since noon today. Some of our departing contestants will receive a supply of baked goods from Sara Lee. Sara Lee bagels and muffins are a perfect and healthy way to start your mornings. And remember, four Whammys will bring tears to your eyes, and put you out of the game. Remember, this is only an exhibition. This is not a competition. Please, please, no wagering. This lineup is based on the best available information as of this writing. These predictions are based on what the columnist would do if he had creative control over ROH, unless a better one-liner comes along.

The big news going into tonight is C.M. Punk signing with UFC. The big ROH storylines going into the show are...Oh, just watch the preview show already. It's less typing for me. Larry Mercer and Mandy Leon are your hosts.

And without further ado, let's roll right into this month's Wrestling History Lesson. Twenty years ago, World Championship Wrestling presented the twelfth edition of the granddaddy of all wrestling pay-per-views, "Starrcade 1994." This show took place in Nashville, Tennessee on December 27th, 1994, and the deal kicked off with Hacksaw Jim Duggan defending the WCW United States Title against the man they call Vader. Tony Schiavone and Bobby Heenan had the call. Good times.

WCW Starrcade 1994 by f100000707858265

And, as your free gift for viewing this column, let's take you back to December 26, 2004 for "ROH Final Battle 2004" in Philadelphia. Your main event? It's Samoa Joe defending the ROH World Title against Austin Aries. Jimmy Bower & CM Punk had the call.

Austin Aries Vs Samoa Joe - ROH Final Battle 2004sur wat.tv

On with the projections!

I have no idea what the dark match will be for this show, but I hope Will Ferrara is involved.

Caprice Coleman vs. Hanson vs. Mark Briscoe vs. Jimmy Jacobs (Four Corner Survival Match): Call me a softie, but I enjoy the traditional ROH "Yes, you deserve a spot on the pay-per-view" multi-person opening bout. Projection? Mark is able to pin Jimmy Jacobs with the Froggy Bow during the inevitable four-way melee.

The Addiction & Cedric Alexander vs. The Young Bucks & ACH: Are you expecting some chaos here? Because I'm certainly expecting some chaos. Projection? Tadarius Thomas drops by ringside, allowing Cedric to pin ACH with the brainbuster in a mild upset.

Roderick Strong vs. Adam Page: Have you enjoyed Adam Page's rise through the ranks of independent wrestling? Do you like watching Roderick Strong matches? Good. You should like this. Projection? This is The Decade's big moment, as Page drops Strong with the piledriver to move up to the next level.

R.D. Evans vs. Moose Ojinnaka: So, did you like how this turned about to be Prince Nana's revenge on R.D. Evans for breaking up the Embassy two years ago. That's how storytelling works, kids. Projection? Moose wing, spearing the Barrister so hard he ends up back in the Chikara time travel storyline. A new monster heel in born.

Michael Elgin vs. Tomasso Ciampa: This match boils down to which character is more interesting. Is it Michael Elgin's shoot-style psychotic gimmick, or Tomasso Ciampa's traditional psychotic gimmick? Projection? It's Elgin's gimmick. But thanks for playing. The Big Hurt drops Ciampa with the spinning powerbomb and continues doing...whatever it is he's supposed to be doing.

Jay Lethal vs. Matt Sydal (ROH Television Title): Jay Lethal really has something as a heel, and I've been enjoying his latest run with the TV Title. Projection? But this show needs a big crowd-pleasing moment, and I can't think of anything that would make ROH fans happier than watching Matt Sydal go (ahem) airborne and hit Lethal with his finisher. We're going to have a new television champion tonight.

ReDragon (Yum!) vs. Time Splitters (ROH Tag Team Titles): In case you missed it, Kyle O'Reilly joined me on the PWTorch Livecast this past Wednesday. All four of these men will likely be at the Tokyo Dome for Wrestle Kingdom next month. So, what do we do with the titles. Projection Bobby Fish pins Kushida after the Flying Fish Hook.

Jay Briscoe vs. Adam Cole (ROH World Title - Fight Without Honor): ROHWrestling.com points out that this is only the 17th "Fight Without Honor" on the company's history. Stipulation matches mean more when they don't happen very often (ahem). Projection? I'm guessing the rest of the Kingdom is lurking somewhere in Terminal 5. Mark Briscoe tries to hold back the shenanigans, but Cole pins Briscoe after the Corona Crash. We have a new Ring of Honor World Champion.

Aftermath: Believe it or not, ROH's 13th Anniversary pay-per-view happens in March 2015. For fun, let's predict Adam Cole against Matt Sydal, and the Bullet Club drops in to face the Briscoes and ReDragon in an eight-man tag.

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Pat McNeill of Greenville, South Carolina has been a Torch columnist since February 2001. He'd take New England to beat San Diego tonight on Sunday Night Football. You know, if gambling were legal.

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