In Ring of Honors effort to grow and stay relevant in a pro wrestling world dominated by WWE, it has been a battle every step of the way ever since the company opened its doors in 2002.In its early years, as ROH grew in recognition and stature, the company began to make stars who gained worldwide notoriety through DVDs and word of mouth alone. As much as the wrestling itself spoke to fans longing for something different from what WWE had to offer in a post-Extreme Championship Wrestling world, a similar contingent of fans from New York and Philadelphia helped shape the presentation in a way thats served as the bedrock of its foundation.Fourteen years after ROHs debut, The Manhattan Center continues to be one of ?the most important venues in the companys history.Just a few steps away from the mecca that is Madison Square Garden, in the heart of New York City, the two venues inside The Manhattan Center building have seen their fair share of history. On Jan. 11, 1993, the first episode of WWEs Monday Night Raw emanated from The Grand Ballroom, and it later hosted ECW pay-per-views, CM Punks WWE debut and both editions of WWEs ECW One Night Stand.ROH has held more than 20 events between The Grand Ballroom and Hammerstein Ballroom over the years, with the levels of production slowly evolving to a point where the company can take full advantage of the sight lines and production values of the venues. But even as the company grew, cost concerns eventually resulted in the use of other New York venues that ultimately didnt sit well with fans. After several years absence, ROH returned to the Hammerstein Ballroom for its annual Final Battle?show on Friday -- a fitting setting for a show that could ultimately define the next few years for the company.?The 2016 edition of ROHs year-end spectacular was a much-hyped pay-per-view card, and it more than lived up to its high expectations in terms of execution. Over the course of three hours, ROH showcased its two biggest strengths over and over again -- an ability to attract new, up-and-coming stars, and an ability to utilize them in a way that accentuates their strengths, rather than trying to shoehorn them into something theyre less-equipped for.The first half of the show was highlighted by the ROH debut of Cody (sans the Rhodes surname for copyright reasons) against former longtime world champion Jay Lethal. In an omen of things to follow, including an announcement that Cody is the newest member of the Bullet Club, Cody went the opposite way of the feel-good story that he has told for most of his post-WWE run and nailed Lethal with a pair of low blows on his way to victory. Considering his run as Dashing Cody Rhodes represented his peak in terms of creativity and success in the WWE, Codys turning to the dark side is a potentially brilliant development for all parties involved.There was also a nice cross-section of everything a wrestling fan would want from an independent wrestling supershow, including a great (and stunningly serious) match from two of the best comedy wrestlers in the world today, Dalton Castle and Colt Cabana, and an appearance from legendary Japanese star Jushin Thunder Liger.The latter stages of Final Battle were dedicated to four championship matches that spoke volumes of the direction ROH seems to be headed as the calendar turns to 2017. The Kingdom (Matt Taven, Vinny Marseglia and TK ORyan) -- which is succeeding despite the lofty expectations that accompany a group that used to include Taven, Adam Cole and Mike Bennett?-- became the first ROH six-man tag team champions against a trio of young high flyers in Lio Rush, Jay White and Kushida.One of the show-stealers, to be sure, was an 11-minute three-way match for the ROH world television championship. Englishmen Marty Scurll and Will Ospreay had an incredible showing against Dragon Lee, the Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre star. Scurll retained his newly won TV title. Ospreay, just 23, lived up to?every bit of the hype surrounding him.In the penultimate contest of the night, The Young Bucks and The Briscoes had another in a long line of quality showdowns, with The Bucks -- freshly signed to new contracts -- taking it to the eight-time ROH tag team champions on the way to retaining. The match concluded with a fitting send-off to commentator Steve Corino, whos heading down to the WWEs Performance Center as a trainer, and his patented superkick call, as The Young Bucks hit a series of about 20 to win the match.The show wrapped with a much-anticipated main event, as Kyle OReilly finally broke through and beat Cole for the ROH world championship. In a no-disqualification match that included some ridiculous table spots, thumbtacks in the ring, and a submission with a metal chain (to say nothing of the various callbacks to their previous showdowns), OReilly got the star-making moment he has seemed close to in ROH for some time. We wont have to wait long for the rematch, either, as the longtime rivals will square off as part of New Japan Pro Wrestlings Wrestle Kingdom supershow at the Tokyo Dome in Japan on Jan. 4.In all, it was a tremendous send-off to a tremendous year for the company, but it left a number of lingering questions hanging in the air.With WWEs recent talent influx, including yet another wave of independent talent (which includes Corino as a trainer), there has been heavy speculation about whether some big-name ROH talent with expiring contracts will make a similar move to the WWE. Its not a new problem for ROH, with almost all of its world champions having eventually moved on, but with the expansion of WWEs cruiserweight division and NXT needing as many capable talents as possible, the next few months could drastically change the look of both companies.Unlike in previous years, however, this season of change for ROH feels different.Re-signing The Young Bucks was a huge step, and there are plenty of positive signs that ROH intends to retain as much of its talent as possible. An agreement with The Manhattan Center, which will see more events returning to Hammerstein Ballroom as soon as March, proves that the resources are there to prevent a complete mass exodus.One thing is clear from watching the company evolve into the Sinclair Broadcasting-helmed entity that it is today: Ring of Honor is not only producing great matches, its telling great stories and building upon its reputation at a sustainable pace. ROH will always face a certain amount of adversity and competition operating in the shadow of the behemoth that is WWE, but by picking its spots and believing completely in its approach, ROH continues to grow and stay relevant.All images courtesy of Ring of Honor Adidas NMD Mens Clearance . -- Yogi Ferrell orchestrates pretty much everything in Indianas offence. Pharrell Williams Hu NMD Sale . Marincin has played in two NHL games so far this season with two penalty minutes. The 21-year-old has three goals, four assists and a plus-5 rating in 24 games with the American Hockey Leagues Oklahoma City Barons this season. http://www.cheapnmdonline.com/adidas-nmd-r1-vapour-pink-by3059-women-s.html . Gerald Green and Miles Plumlee? Green had bounced around the NBA when he wasnt playing overseas. The Pacers gave up on Plumlee after just one season. Now Green and Plumlee are key cogs in the Suns surprising breakout season. Pharrell NMD Hu China . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. Wholesale NMD . And follow TSN.ca right through Deadline Day for all the updates. From Pierre LeBrun While Anaheim GM Bob Murray said earlier this season he was not going to trade Jonas Hiller despite the fact hes an unrestricted free agent on July 1, some sources have told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun that Murray might be willing to move another goalie. DENVER -- Mike Montgomery was on a strict pitch count but did all he could to stretch it in his starting debut for the Chicago Cubs.Montgomery pitched four hitless inning before the low pitch count and a mistake ended his day two outs too soon, as the Cubs cruised to a 9-2 win over the Colorado Rockies on Saturday night.Kris Bryant launched a long homer and drove in four runs, and Ben Zobrist had three hits and also went deep for Chicago.Montgomery was solid in his first start since coming over in a trade with Seattle on July 20 but didnt stick around long enough to earn the decision. Manager Joe Maddon was cautious with the young left-hander and took him out after giving up a one-out homer in the fourth, the first and only hit he allowed.Montgomery threw just 60 pitches but had not started since July 17 with the Mariners. His first seven appearances with Chicago were out of the bullpen, so Maddon kept him on a strict pitch count.Its almost like spring training for him right now. Just stretching him out, Maddon said. I thought he was outstanding. Would I have loved to have left him out there? Absolutely.He walked two batters through four innings and got Ryan Raburn to start the fifth, but Nick Hundley got Colorados first hit off the lefty with a solo blast to left that made it 7-1.Maddon took him out after the homer and Trevor Cahill (3-3) pitched the final 4 2/3 innings for the win.As a competitor I wanted to stay in, Montgomery said. I was a little pissed but I understand the situation and the pitch count. Thats just how it goes. I felt good but I respect the decision.Miguel Montero had three hits and drove in three for the Cubs, who spoiled the major league debut of Rockies starter Jeff Hoffman.I felt very comfortable here, Hoffman said. I dont know why that was. I was really expecting to be nervous, to be jittery, all that stuff. For my first big league game, this was exactly what I was expecting.ddddddddddddHoffman (0-1), a former first-round pick who was acquired a year ago as part of the deal that sent Troy Tulowitzki to Toronto, started off well but ran into trouble the second time through against the NL Central leaders.Bryant made it 7-0 in the fifth with his 31st homer, a three-run drive that went an estimated 469 feet to dead center.It was scoreless until the fourth, when Dexter Fowler led with a single, went to third on an errant pickoff attempt by Hoffman and came home on Bryants single.Anthony Rizzo followed with a single, Zobrists double made it 2-0 and Montero beat the shift with a two-run single to right.The three-run homer hurt, Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. The big one was that two-run single by Montero. We get an out there, were in good shape.Hoffman allowed seven runs -- six earned -- on seven hits in four-plus innings.The Cubs added a run in the eighth and another on Zobrists 14th homer in the ninth.TRAINERS ROOMRockies: CF Charlie Blackmon was not in the starting lineup for the second straight game because of a bruised right toe. Manager Walt Weiss said Blackmon originally hurt it colliding with Washington pitcher Gio Gonzalez on Tuesday. Weiss said he doesnt think its a long-term issue but as of now running in the outfield is tough for Blackmon.ROSTER MOVEThe Rockies optioned RHP Christian Bergman to Albuquerque in order to recall Hoffman from Triple-A. To make room for Hoffman on the 40-man roster, Colorado placed LHP Jason Gurka on waivers for the purpose of granting him his unconditional release. Gurka pitched nine games for Colorado last year.UP NEXTThe Cubs will send RHP Jason Hammel (13-5, 2.75) against his former team to face Rockies LHP Jorge De La Rosa (7-7, 5.29) in the series finale Sunday. ' ' '
