Ring of Honor Final Battle 2022 predictions: Claudio wins ROH World Title

We have almost reached the end of 2022, a year filled with plenty of tremendous professional wrestling throughout several promotions. Before we reminisce about what we saw over the last 12 months, we still have a couple of pay-per-views to get through. One of them is Ring of Honor’s premier pay-per-view: Final Battle.

This year’s Final Battle will be the first since AEW president Tony Khan purchased ROH in March. The brand has produced solid PPV buyrates since then, so we shall see if that momentum continues with this show.

The card certainly gives it a fighting chance. Fans will see seven matches on this show, with all but one having a championship at stake.

Ring of Honor’s Final Battle pay-per-view looks like a good show. Here are some predictions for how the matches could unfold.

Swerve in our Glory (Keith Lee and Swerve Strickland) vs. Shane Taylor Promotions (Shane Taylor and JD Griffey)

So, is Keith Lee so bereft of friends that he has no choice but to turn to Swerve Strickland — a man Lee deemed so untrustworthy that Lee walked out on him during a WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH — as a partner against Shane Taylor Promotions? Also, why does Swerve want to team with Lee so badly, especially after Lee ditched him the last time they paired up?

A swerve (no pun intended) of some sort is likely coming here, and it will probably involve Strickland getting some sort of revenge on Lee for his actions at Full Gear. This should open the door for a Taylor win. Prediction: Shane Taylor Promotions win (Shane Taylor pins Keith Lee)

Dalton Castle and The Boys (c) vs. The Embassy (Brian Cage, Bishop Kaun, and Toa Liona)- ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship match

On one hand, you have a babyface trio that’s led by a man who generates a great reaction every time he’s on screen. On the other, you have a monster heel trio that could use a big win to reinforce their imposing aura.

A win for either team makes sense, but let’s play it safe and go with a crowd-pleasing result. Prediction: Dalton Castle and The Boys win, retain the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (Castle pins Kaun)

Daniel Garcia (c) vs. Wheeler Yuta- ROH Pure Championship match

Even as the Blackpool Combat Club/Jericho Appreciation Society feud has grown stale, these two should wrestle each other once a year for the next few years to establish this as a tentpole rivalry between two ascending stars for ROH/AEW.

These two have lost a bit of momentum over the last few months (a common issue with AEW) — Yuta took a bit of a backseat to Garcia during Garcia’s dalliance with Bryan Danielson and the BCC, and Garcia’s decision to stick with the JAS has cooled him off — so a good match could remind fans why these two are such highly-touted prospects.

Of the two, Yuta needs the win more, and that combined with the looming threat of Lee Moriarty points to a babyface win here. Prediction: Wheeler Yuta pins Daniel Garcia, wins the ROH Pure Championship

Samoa Joe (c) vs. Juice Robinson- ROH World Television Championship match

Yes, this is a heel vs. heel pairing, but Samoa Joe gets consistent cheers despite his alignment as a heel, so don’t expect the fans to struggle to pick someone to side with in this match. Plus, Juice Robinson will surely receive a decent reaction, as most visiting Bullet Club members do.

Joe has looked rejuvenated since turning heel a few weeks ago. He’s coming off a great title defense against Darby Allin and the “King of Television” schtick has resonated with the viewers. As such, it’s far too soon to take the World TV Title off of him, especially in favor of a wrestler who won’t appear regularly on AEW television. The match should be fun, though. Prediction: Samoa Joe makes Juice Robinson tap out, retains the ROH World Television Championship

Mercedes Martinez (c) vs. Athena- ROH Women’s World Championship match

Speaking of freshly-turned heels who have hit their stride, Athena has found something with this newfound edge of hers, and it could result in her gaining a world championship. A great worker with some momentum, “The Fallen Goddess” makes plenty of sense to anchor ROH’s women’s division.

We shall see if ROH wants to take the title off of Mercedes Martinez — who started to pick up some steam before her injury — so soon after returning, but it’s time to strike while the iron is hot with Athena. Prediction: Athena pins Mercedes Martinez, wins the ROH Women’s World Championship

FTR (Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood) (c) vs. The Briscoes (Jay and Mark)- Double Dog Collar Match, ROH World Tag Team Championship

This match should wrap up any debate over whether or not FTR is the tag team of the year if that wasn’t settled already. The conclusion to the FTR/Briscoes trilogy will likely be the most violent of the meetings. Fans shouldn’t expect anything less with the Double Dog Collar stipulation attached.

With the Briscoes not under contract to AEW or ROH, there’s no reason to think they will win the tag titles, but expect plenty of brutality from these teams before FTR picks up the win and continues their hot run as the sport’s top duo. Prediction: FTR beat The Briscoes, retain the ROH World Tag Team Championship (Dax Warwood pins Mark Briscoe)

Chris Jericho (c) vs. Claudio Castagnoli- ROH World Championship match; if Castagnoli loses, he must join the Jericho Appreciation Society

It wouldn’t surprise anyone to see this one slide into the semi-main event slot behind FTR vs. The Briscoes. That would allow Chris Jericho and Claudio Castagnoli to tell their story to an audience that isn’t worn out from a potential Match of the Year contender.

As alluded to earlier, it’s time for the BCC/JAS stuff to end. Jericho has put together a commendable 2022 and has enjoyed a fun run as “The Ocho”, but the novelty of putting Castagnoli in the sports-entertainment faction doesn’t have much staying power. Plus, it means that these two factions will continue to battle each other and…no. It’s time to move on.

So, ROH should put the belt back on Castagnoli and book both parties to go their separate ways. Prediction: Cladio Castagnoli pins Chris Jericho, wins the ROH World Championship