2023 Ring of Honor pay-per-view
The 2023 Final Battle was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by American promotion Ring of Honor (ROH). It was the 22nd Final Battle event and took place on December 15, 2023 at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, Texas. The event exclusively aired on HonorClub and was the first Final Battle event since 2007 not to feature an ROH World Championship match on the card.
Fourteen matches were contested at the event, with four on the Zero-Hour pre-show. In the main event, Athena defeated Billie Starkz to retain the ROH Women's World Championship. In other prominent matches, Dem Top Guys (FTR (Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood) and Mark Briscoe) defeated Blackpool Combat Club (Bryan Danielson, Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli) in a Jay Briscoe Memorial Fight Without Honor, Kyle Fletcher defeated Komander, Bryan Keith, Lee Moriarty, Dalton Castle, and Lee Johnson in a Survival of the Fittest elimination match to win the vacant ROH World Television Championship, Ethan Page defeated Tony Nese in an "I Quit" match and in the opening contest, El Hijo del Vikingo defeated Black Taurus to retain the AAA Mega Championship.
Production.
Background.
Final Battle is a professional wrestling event produced by Ring of Honor. First held in 2002, it is traditionally ROH's last show in the calendar year. It is widely regarded as Ring of Honor's premiere flagship event, similar to WWE's WrestleMania. On October 18, 2023, ROH announced that Final Battle would be held at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, Texas on December 15 and would air exclusively on HonorClub.
Storylines.
The event featured professional wrestling matches that involve different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storylines. Wrestlers portray villains, heroes, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that build tension and culminate in a wrestling match or series of matches. Storylines will be produced on ROH's weekly series "ROH Honor Club TV" exclusively on their streaming service Honor Club, on television programs of sister promotion All Elite Wrestling including "Dynamite", "Rampage", and "Collision", and via promotional videos on both the ROH and AEW YouTube channels.
On the November 8 episode of "Dynamite", Samoa Joe vacated the ROH World Television Championship in order to challenge for the AEW World Championship. On the following "ROH Honor Club TV" episode, president Tony Khan announced that qualifying matches would take place over the next several weeks for the Survival of the Fittest elimination match that will take place at Final Battle on December 15, with the winner of that match becoming the new Television champion. The first two men to qualify were Dalton Castle and Komander, who defeated Evil Uno and Gringo Loco respectively. Kyle Fletcher, Lee Moriarty and Lee Johnson later qualified by beating Gravity, Josh Woods and Tracy Williams respectively. On the December 14 episode of ROH Wrestling, Tony Khan announced that the sixth and final competitor in the Survival of the Fittest elimination match would be revealed at Final Battle. 
On the December 2 episode of AEW Collision, interviewer Lexy Nair asked Keith Lee who he was referring to on the past week's Collision when Lee mentioning wanting to face "him". As Lee was about to speak, Shane Taylor walked up and said that their tag team match on last year's Final Battle, where Lee teamed up with Swerve Strickland to defeat Taylor and JD Griffey, didn't solve anything. Taylor then challenged Lee to a match for Final Battle, which Lee accepted. 
In weeks leading to Final Battle, "Smart" Mark Sterling scouted Ethan Page as a potential client, but Page turned down the invitation. Page went on a winning streak of five matches in a row. His next match was against Tony Nese, which he lost due to Sterling's interference. On the rematch, Sterling was ejected from ringside and Page won the match. For the rubber match, Sterling demanded he be allowed at ringside, and management agreed under the condition that Sterling will be handcuffed to the ring post. The official contract signing took place on the December 7 episode of ROH Wrestling. where Sterling told Page that the match would be an "I Quit" match. Nese and Page then signed the contract and Sterling then threw powder into Page's eyes with Nese tossing Page through a table. The match was then made official for Final Battle. 
On the December 7 episode of ROH Wrestling, Bryan Danielson recalled that at the 2003 Final Battle event, he faced the late Jay Briscoe in his only match against him. Danielson then said that at last year's Final Battle, Jay had his final match, in which he teamed with his brother Mark Briscoe, against FTR (Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood) in a Dog Collar match. Danielson then challenged Mark and FTR to face Blackpool Combat Club (Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli, and Jon Moxley) in a Jay Briscoe Memorial Fight Without Honor, which was made official. 
In weeks leading up to Final Battle, Athena became the mentor of Billie Starkz and Lexy Nair, with Starkz and Nair becoming her 'minions'. On the November 23 episode of "ROH Honor Club TV", Starkz and Athena lost to Ronda Rousey and Marina Shafir. On the following episode of ROH Wrestling, Starkz defeated Shafir in a one-on-one match, with Starkz proceeded to attack Shafir after the match. Athena and Nair come out and feigned announcing that Starkz had graduated from 'minion training'. Athena then announced that only Nair was the valedictorian. Starkz then got upset and attacked Athena. Starkz then met Tony Khan backstage and requested a championship match with Athena, which Khan accepted. The match was then made for Final Battle.
Event.
Zero-Hour.
There were four matches that took place on the Zero-Hour pre-show. In the opener, Taya Valkyrie (accompanied by Johnny TV) faced Jazmin Allure. In the closing stages, Valkyrie delivered a big boot and a sliding German suplex to Allure. Valkyrie then performed a superplex and a foot stomp to Allure and pinned her to win.
Next, The Von Erichs (Ross Von Erich and Marshall Von Erich) faced The Outrunners (Truth Magnum and Turbo Floyd). In the closing stages, Marshall delivered clotheslines to Magnum and Floyd. Marshall and Ross then delivered a double hip toss to Magnum and then applied stereo Iron Claws to Magnum and Floyd, forcing The Outrunners to tap out. After the match, Kevin Von Erich came out to applaud his sons.
The next match was a Survival of the Fittest qualifying match contested between Bryan Keith and Jack Cartwheel. In the closing stages, Cartwheel delivered a standing moonsault for a two-count. Cartwheel then performed a neckbreaker and the Spiccoli Driver for a two-count. Keith then delivered a jumping knee and a Tiger Driver to secure the victory.
In the Zero-Hour main event, Daniel Garcia faced Blake Christian. In the closing stages, Garcia delivered a butterfly suplex to Christian. Christian then landed two backbreakers and a springboard forearm to Garcia for a two-count. Christian then landed a running Spanish Fly on Garcia for a nearfall. Christian then landed a 450° splash on Garcia for a nearfall. Garcia then locked in the Dragon Tamer on Christian, forcing Christian to submit.
Preliminary matches.
The pay-per-view opened with a AAA Mega Championship match between defending champion El Hijo del Vikingo and Black Taurus. In the opening stages, Taurus delivered a reverse slingblade, a crucifix driver and a pop-up Samoan Drop to Vikingo for a two-count. Vikingo then landed a spinning heel kick, an enzeguiri and a 450° headscissors on Taurus for a two-count. Vikingo then delivered a Canadian Destroyer and a twisting 450° splash to Taurus for a two-count. Taurus then performed an overhead belly-to-belly suplex and an avalanche gorilla press for a two-count. Vikingo delivered a crucifix driver, but Taurus responded immediately with a spear. Vikingo delivered a 630° Denton to Taurus on the outside. Taurus performed a discus lariat for a nearfall. As Taurus lifted Vikingo onto his shoulders, Vikingo countered it into a crucifix driver and performed a poison Rana, running corner double knees and a 630° senton to retain his title.
The next match was for the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship contested between defending champions The Mogul Embassy (Bishop Kaun, Toa Liona and Brian Cage) (accompanied by Prince Nana) and TMDK (Kosei Fujita, Bad Dude Tito and Shane Haste). In the closing stages, Tito delivered a satellite DDT to Liona for a two-count. Haste attempted a brainbuster but countered it into a uranage and delivered a slingshot spear. Fujita delivered a slingshot dropkick to Kaun for a two-count. Tito delivered a Death Valley Driver to Cage, bur Cage then performed a pumphandle driver. Liona, Kaun and Cage then delivered an assisted powerbomb to Fujita, with Cage getting the pin.
The next match was an "I Quit" match between Tony Nese and Ethan Page, with "Smart" Mark Sterling handcuffed to the ring post. In the opening stages, Sterling attempted to throw powder into Page's eyes, but Page blocked and Sterling inadvertently threw the powder into Nese's eyes. Nese then delivered the Running Kneese to Page in the steel steps, but Page refuses to say I Quit. Nese then delivered another Running Kneese to Page in the steel steps. Page performed a springboard clothesline to Page from the guard rail and attempted to hit Page with a weight plate, but Page ducked. Nese then set up a pair of tables and attempted to send Page through them, but Page landed a rope-hung stunner and an Ace Crusher to Nese through the tables. Nese refused to quit. Page attempted an avalanche powerslam to Nese, but Nese countered it into a hurricarana. Nese then grabbed the keys to the handcuffs and released Sterling. Nese then attempted to hit Page with the weight plate until the returning Scorpio Sky appeared and attacked Sterling. Page then performed a running dropkick to Nese with Nese's hands stuck under the weight plate, allowing Page to deliver a DDT to Nese onto the plate. Page then hit Sterling with the weight plate and delivered the Ego's Edge to him. Nese then tied Page's hands behind his back and forced him to say I Quit, but Page responded with "Fuck You". Page then landed a big boot, allowing the referee to untie his hands. Page then smashed a chair into Nese's face and choked Nese with a chain. Nese then said "I Quit", thus ending the match and Page was declared the winner.
Next, Nyla Rose faced VertVixen. In the closing stages, VertVixen landed a double stomp. VertVixen attempted a jumping arm drag, but Rose impeded with a spinebuster for a two-count. Rose then performed a running knee strike and the Beast Bomb and pinned VertVixen to win the match.
The next match was the Survival of the Fittest finals for the vacant ROH World Television Championship contested between Kyle Fletcher, Komander (accompanied by Alex Abrahantes), Bryan Keith, Lee Moriarty, Dalton Castle (accompanied by The Boys (Brandon Tate and Brent Tate)), and Lee Johnson. In the opening stages, Moriarty delivered a suicide dive to Castle. Komander then delivered a tight-rope twisting plancha to everyone on the outside. Castle delivered a lariat to Komander, Keith delivered an enzeguiri to Castle and Johnson performed a Spiccoli Driver and a standing moonsault to Keith. Moriarty then landed The Fang and locked in the Border City Stretch on Johnson, forcing Johnson to tap out and thus, he was eliminated. Johnny TV then came out to distract Castle, allowing Moriarty to land another The Fang on Castle to eliminate him. Keith performed a running enzuigiri to Moriarty and an Ushigoroshi for a two-count. Keith then landed the Tiger Driver on Moriarty and pinned him to eliminate him. Komander delivered a satellite DDT to Keith. Keith attempted another Tiger Driver to Fletcher, but Fletcher countered it into a Grimstone and pinned him and thus Keith was eliminated. Fletcher and Komander were the final two men. Fletcher landed an enzuigiri and a tombstone piledriver to Komander on the apron. Fletcher then landed a brainbuster to Komander for a nearfall. Komander then performed a springboard Canadian Destroyer and a tight-rope 450° splash to Fletcher on the apron for a nearfall. As Komander attempted a tight-rope shooting star press, Fletcher blocked him and delivered a brainbuster onto the turbuckles for another nearfall. Fletcher then delivered a Grimstone and pinned Komander to win the ROH World Television Championship.
The next match was for the ROH Pure