For the few of us that saw ROH's Final Battle, this surely has to go to the El Generico and Kevin Steen match that headlined the PPV. They've been feuding for all of 2010, and this match was Generico's mask vs Kevin Steen's ROH career.
The backstory behind the match was that Steen and Generico were former tag team partners. Steen had tired of losing matches due to Generico, and turned on him after they lost at ROH's first online PPV in December of 2009. Steen then teamed with Steve Corino, and Generico partnered with Colt Cabana. The teams wrestled a series of matches against each other, including a brutal chain match in which Cabana forced Corino to tap out. Following the match, Steen stole Generico's mask, unmasking him for the first time. This set up their epic encounter at Final Battle.
Match of the week: El Generico vs Kevin Steen- I expected a bloodbath from this match, as it was the culmination of a year long feud that had been quite brutal at times. It certainly delivered that. Steen powerbombed Generico on the edge of the stage in a sickening manner, and really set the tone for the match. Steen played the role of a sick bastard better then anyone Ive seen, especially when he smiled as he licked his own blood. The "without honor" stipulation was certainly in full effect, including interference by Cabana on Generico's part, and Steve Corino doing the same for Steen. They knocked two refs out in breaking up pins, and Cabana and Generico each delivered a chair shot apiece to Steen's head, the second of which lead to the decisive pinfall for Generico. My only complaint was the unprotected chairshots to the head, which just shouldnt happen in 2010, even within the context of this match. Still an awesome match storytelling wise, and a fitting match of the week, and surely a candidate for Match of the Year.
Honorable mentions: The first has to go to John Morrison and Sheamus, as they really stole the show at the TLC PPV. I wasn't sure how Sheamus would adapt in this environment, but he certainly did quite well. From a storytelling standpoint, this may have been the best match of Morrison's career in the way he sold his knee. The right man went over as well, as the win benefits Morrison far more then it hurts Sheamus.
The other nod has to go to John Cena and Dolph Ziggler on both Raw and Smackdown. Quite the rub for Ziggler to go toe to toe with the face of the company on consecutive nights, and he surely delivered. Cena sold like hell for him, but the work Ziggler did can't be discredited either. Ziggler effortlessly at times countered Cena's signature moves as if they had wrestled many times before, and he was often the aggressor against the typically aggressive Cena. Even in losses, Ziggler is elevated just for hanging with Cena and looking like he truly belongs. Were it not for the ROH PPV, either these matches or the Sheamus/Morrison match could easily have been Match of the Week.
The backstory behind the match was that Steen and Generico were former tag team partners. Steen had tired of losing matches due to Generico, and turned on him after they lost at ROH's first online PPV in December of 2009. Steen then teamed with Steve Corino, and Generico partnered with Colt Cabana. The teams wrestled a series of matches against each other, including a brutal chain match in which Cabana forced Corino to tap out. Following the match, Steen stole Generico's mask, unmasking him for the first time. This set up their epic encounter at Final Battle.
Match of the week: El Generico vs Kevin Steen- I expected a bloodbath from this match, as it was the culmination of a year long feud that had been quite brutal at times. It certainly delivered that. Steen powerbombed Generico on the edge of the stage in a sickening manner, and really set the tone for the match. Steen played the role of a sick bastard better then anyone Ive seen, especially when he smiled as he licked his own blood. The "without honor" stipulation was certainly in full effect, including interference by Cabana on Generico's part, and Steve Corino doing the same for Steen. They knocked two refs out in breaking up pins, and Cabana and Generico each delivered a chair shot apiece to Steen's head, the second of which lead to the decisive pinfall for Generico. My only complaint was the unprotected chairshots to the head, which just shouldnt happen in 2010, even within the context of this match. Still an awesome match storytelling wise, and a fitting match of the week, and surely a candidate for Match of the Year.
Honorable mentions: The first has to go to John Morrison and Sheamus, as they really stole the show at the TLC PPV. I wasn't sure how Sheamus would adapt in this environment, but he certainly did quite well. From a storytelling standpoint, this may have been the best match of Morrison's career in the way he sold his knee. The right man went over as well, as the win benefits Morrison far more then it hurts Sheamus.
The other nod has to go to John Cena and Dolph Ziggler on both Raw and Smackdown. Quite the rub for Ziggler to go toe to toe with the face of the company on consecutive nights, and he surely delivered. Cena sold like hell for him, but the work Ziggler did can't be discredited either. Ziggler effortlessly at times countered Cena's signature moves as if they had wrestled many times before, and he was often the aggressor against the typically aggressive Cena. Even in losses, Ziggler is elevated just for hanging with Cena and looking like he truly belongs. Were it not for the ROH PPV, either these matches or the Sheamus/Morrison match could easily have been Match of the Week.