SILAS YOUNG VS. DALTON CASTLE

  Another book-ended week, with the next post looking at a match from Ring of Honor's Final Battle 2015 event. It's the rubber match between Silas Young and Dalton Castle, Castle won their first match back in June at Best in the World, Young stole his win back and Castle's boys at All Star Extravaganza VII in September. In his own words, Young is “turning them into men” but Castle wants them back. A really good video package hypes this matchup before the entrances. Of course, Kevin Kelly and his mysterious partner Mr Wrestling III are on commentary.

  Silas Young enters first with The Boys as Kevin Kelly mentions this match is about retribution for Dalton Castle. He and Mr Wrestling III then list the things Young has had The Boys do to become men like change tyres and chop wood. Silas Young isn't happy with the fans throwing streamers for his entrance, the ungrateful swine. Dalton Castle enters and it's clearly a crappy situation for him seeing The Boys with Young. He embraces the streamers, and the fans cover the ring with them for Castle's entrance. “Dalton Castle” chants fill the arena as Mr. Wrestling III guesses The Boys actually like being with Silas Young over Dalton Castle. I'd have to agree if they do, being the perfect picture of masculinity I'd take the last real man over a flamboyant guy like Castle. The dude says he's from a place called Planet Peacock for Christ's sake!

SILAS YOUNG VS. DALTON CASTLE

Ring of Honor Final Battle (18^th December 2015)

No Code of Honor is this match, Castle charges Young into the corner, Young tries to escape but is sent to another corner before the referee asks for a break. Dalton Castle ducks a right hand out of the corner and takes Young down, riding him to the ropes. Commentary plugs the hashtag #FreeTheBoys as Young escapes out to the floor. Castle follows him but is intercepted by The Boys. Castle asks what they're doing and Young takes the chance to charge through them, hitting Castle. Young sends Castle into the barricade before taking it back to the ring. A “Free The Boys” chant starts, as Castle gets to his feet and rocks Young with a right hand. Castle charges, but Young lifts him overhead and Castle lands in the corner. Young hits Castle with a forearm, keeping him in the corner before deciding on a change of scenery. Castle hits the opposite corner hard and drops to the mat as Mr. Wrestling III claims The Boys may have Stockholm Syndrome, so basically the same thing he said two minutes ago. Castle grabs the bottom rope to avoid an irish whip because Silas was bust telling referee Paul Turner the rules.

Castle fights out of the corner but gets overconfident, he tries to springboard off the middle rope but Young trips him, sending him out to the floor. Young hits a double axe handle from the apron before sending Castle back in the ring, wanting to win like a real man should. Young comes back in the ring with a slingshot double stomp. Young shoves Castle down with his boot and covers with one foot, only getting two. The crowd reminds him he still sucks. Young kinda proves them right when he only gets halfway to a suplex before giving up and dropping Castle to the mat, but only holding him down for a 1 count. A proper suplex might have got 2 at least... Young goes straight to a chinlock on the mat, keeping his weight on Castle. Castle is able to use his arm to find separation from Young and he gets out of the hold with strikes. Castle tries to close the gap but Young's ready for him with a backbreaker. Castle ducks a follow-up clothesline, but Young counters a neckbreaker, Castle ducks a second clothesline before dropping Castle with a release german suplex!

They're slow to their feet, feeling the effects of that sequence, and Silas Young misses a third clothesline (I'm gonna lose my shit when he hits one) Castle hits Young with chops and rights before shoving him back into the ropes, Castle catches him and knees him in the gut before taking him over for a nearfall. I don't know the proper name, but that's a cool move. Silas Young crawls to the corner to make it to his feet as Castle watches over him from across the ring. Castle hits a running double-knee, lifting Young for an aeroplane spin before dropping him on the top turnbuckle. Castle runs across the ring, lifting himself over to the apron before returning to Silas Young with a knee lift. Silas Young lands on the apron in front of The Boys as the fans chant “man up” (that's really a Briscoes thing guys...) Dalton Castle lifts one of the safety mats, setting Young up for a suplex. Young fights out of it with right hands so they slug it out on the apron. Dalton Castle decides he wants a run-up but Young sends him over the corner post. Young spears Castle through the corner to the floor! The Boys cheer for Young by the heap of bodies as Young is able to send Castle back in the ring. Silas Young immediately covers, 1, 2, no!

We see a replay of the spear as they get to their feet. Dalton Castle slides out of a Time for Victory, with Young avoiding an Xploder suplex into the corner. Castle's clothesline senses tingle and he takes Young down in a backslide, but Young immediately rolls through and kicks Castle in the head. Young hits a springboard clothesline from the middle rope! Young covers but only gets a nearfall. Castle rocks Young with a forearm and tries to pick up speed but Young follows him, knocking him with another clothesline. Young hits the rolling fireman's carry `plunge' but Castle avoids the arabian press. Young charges at Castle in the corner but gets lifted over the top rope and slammed on the apron! Castle lifts Young back in the ring with a bridging german suplex in one fluid motion, Young gets a shoulder up at two still! Castle scrambles to Young as we see a replay of the german suplex, bringing Young to his feet in a front facelock. Young slips out of a Bangarang attempt into a sunset flip but Castle rolls through booting Young in the face as they get to their feet.

Dalton Castle catches Young's ankles in the corner, he brings Young out but Young backflips to his feet, Castle charges him back into the corner, no Young gets a last-minute DDT into the bottom turnbuckle! Young covers but still can't get the win. Mr Wrestling III gives Silas Young props for his positioning on the cover, blocking Castle from finding the ropes to break the pin. Young tells Castle to quit, and Castle is out of it. Castle fights to his feet from underneath, picking up steam and taking Young back into the corner for more overhand rights. Young gets one shot back and Castle's legs turn back to jelly. Young lifts himself up to the middle rope but gets caught and thrown overhead. The Boys try to stop Young getting dragged into another German suplex but one gets dragged into the ring too. He helps Young avoid the deadlift german suplex and gets sent into Dalton Castle for his troubles. Young hits a shocked Dalton Castle with a running boot. Young puts Castle away with Misery.

WINNER: SILAS YOUNG

  This match came to my attention because they're two guys I wish I'd found and had more access to earlier. Silas Young impressed me with his match against Jushin Liger I reviewed here, but it was good to see him against someone on a similar level. Castle took a real beating here with what he got in having a really damaging effect on Young in the match, and his own Boy costing him the match by accident was a real kicker. WORKRATE: 3.75/5 PERSONAL ENJOYMENT: 3.75/5 OVERALL: 7.5/10

Young tells Castle to say Young's a real man, but Castle refuses. Silas Young tries stomping as a form of persuasion but Castle still won't do it. Silas Young grabs a pair of chairs from under the ring, handing one to each of The Boys. He tells Castle to admit it, or The Boys are let loose on him. Castle asks for the microphone getting to his feet using the ropes. He says Young is a man, a foolish man and The Boys turn on Young! They're back with Dalton Castle, but they mistimed the chair shots. Dalton Castle sends Young out to the floor with a Bangarang and celebrates with his Boys in the ring.

You can buy the Ring of Honor Final Battle 2015 DVD here.

  Next week I shall star moving forward to January. One big story for NJPW's Wrestle Kingdom just inside the new year is Chris Jericho facing Kenny Omega for the NJPW United States championship in a No Disqualification match. Meaning next week I'll post matches from past Wrestle Kingdom events.