Two matches added to ROH Final Battle.
Ring of Honor announced Shane Taylor will defend his ROH Television Title against Dragon Lee at Final Battle on Dec. 13. Also announced for the show is a grudge match pitting former Kingdom members Matt Taven and Vincent (Vinny Marseglia) against each other.
Shane Taylor has been a fighting champion since winning the ROH World Television Title in May, but he could be in for his toughest fight yet when he takes on challenger Dragon Lee at the Final Battle pay-per-view on Dec. 13 in Baltimore.
The high-flying Lee is coming off his biggest singles victory in ROH, as he handed former ROH World Television Champion Jeff Cobb a rare pinfall loss at The Experience earlier this month. The next night at ROH Unauthorized, Lee teamed with his brother, ROH World Champion RUSH, to defeat LifeBlood’s Mark Haskins and Tracy Williams.
If Lee wins the title from Taylor at Final Battle and RUSH retains against PCO that night, they would become the first pair of brothers to hold the top two singles championships in ROH simultaneously.
Lee, a former IWGP Heavyweight Champion, has been in the ring with Taylor once before, in a four-way match for the title at Death Before Dishonor on Sept. 27. Lee, who did not factor into the finish, got in Taylor’s face afterwards and told him he wanted a one-on-one match with him.
Taking the title from Taylor will be a tall order for anyone, even a competitor as talented as Lee. Fueled by the huge chip on his shoulder, the bad man from the mean streets of East Cleveland is in the midst of the best year of his career.
Taylor, the centerpiece of Shane Taylor Promotions, has scored pinfalls over the likes of former ROH World Champions Jay Lethal and Dalton Castle, as well as Bandido, Kenny King, Flip Gordon and Joe Hendry.
Matt Taven hand-picked Vincent when he formed his new Kingdom three years ago, but the friendship between the two of them actually dated back years before then.
That’s why it was so shocking when Vincent literally took an axe to their friendship and left Taven lying in a pool of his own blood earlier this month.
At The Experience, Vincent ambushed Taven and sliced open his forehead with his axe. It was one of the most heinous acts and disturbing scenes ever witnessed in ROH.
Taven understandably was heartbroken, but now the former ROH World Champion is out for revenge. He’ll get his opportunity when he faces Vincent in a grudge match at the Final Battle pay-per-view on Dec. 13 in Baltimore.
Vincent’s actions at The Experience made it apparent that he was actually behind the mysterious attacks on himself and TK O’Ryan that had occurred the past couple months. The reason for the “Horror King’s” appalling betrayal remains to be seen, but one thing has never been clearer: Vincent is the most twisted and sadistic figure in ROH.
For Taven, one of only two Grand Slam champions in ROH history, Final Battle won’t be about titles or glory. When he faces the remorseless Vincent, Taven may very well be fighting for his very existence.
ROH Final Battle is scheduled for Dec. 13 in Baltimore. Here's a look at the updated card.
ROH Championship
RUSH (c) vs. PCOROH Tag Team Championships
The Briscoes (Mark & Jay Briscoe) (c) vs. Jay Lethal & Jonathan GreshamStreet Fight
Bully Ray vs. Mark HaskinsMatt Taven vs. Vincent
ROH Television Championship
Shane Taylor (c) vs. Dragon Lee
