Results leading up to Final Battle 2012:
"Death Before Dishonor X" - 15/9/12
Kevin Steen def. Rhino to retain the ROH World Championship. During the match, Truth Martini hit Steen with the Book of Truth after pulling Veda Scott in front of Steen's Superkick and Steen later returned the favour by giving him a Package Piledriver, despite knowing well that Truth is a manager due to having to retire from wrestling because of a severe neck injury. Luckily for Truth, he was not re-injured. Steen delivered the F-Cinq to pin Rhino in the end. After, Michael Elgin gave Roderick Strong a Twisting Powerbomb, both having been involved in the match earlier on. This left Elgin's status as a House of Truth member in doubt.
"Killer Instinct" - 6/10/12
Kevin Steen def. Jay Lethal to retain the ROH World Championship. Despite Lethal unleashing his killer instinct, as motivated by Jim Cornette, and coming closer than anyone else to ending Steen's reign of terror, Lethal fell to interference from the ROH World Tag Team Champions, Steve Corino & Jimmy Jacobs. However, what everyone remembers is the shocking incident afterwards - Lethal cleared the champions from the ring with steel chairshots, took down Steen with another, then pulled a pair of scissors from under the ring. Grabbing Steen by the hair, Lethal audibly threatened to stab him in the neck if he didn't give him a rematch then and there. For the first time in a very long time, Steen gave into another person's demands and frantically offered the rematch and begged Lethal to let him go. As soon as Lethal called for the bell, ROH security hit the ring and dragged away the furious challenger, while Steen was left in the ring, visibly shaken.
"Glory By Honor XI" - 13/10/12
Kevin Steen def. Michael Elgin to retain the ROH World Championship. After interference from Roderick Strong, Steen managed to Package Piledrive Elgin for the victory. After the match, Strong delivered several chairshots across Elgin's back then put him in the Stronghold until officials pulled him off. Truth Martini begged Strong to stop.
On an episode of Ring Of Honor Wrestling, Truth Martini made a proposition to Jim Cornette. By this point, Kevin Steen had beat all odds and defended the championship 11 times in 5 months, including against a number of former world champions and the 3 main House of Truth members - Strong, Rhino and Elgin - individually. Cornette is getting desperate. Steen's connection with the fans and Cornette's failure to stop him have left the fans nearly 100% against him. If they're not cheering Steen attacking innocents and disgracing the whole idea of Ring Of Honor, they've given up on the product. Cornette's distraction with Steen has also lead to the business beginning to collapse, with many iPPV failures and no smooth handling of production.
Truth's proposal was this: the problem with taking out Steen is that in a singles environment, he has the advantage. He is able to outwit and take advantage of all his opponents, as well as use the numbers game with his SCUM members - Corino & Jacobs. Truth suggests the Final Battle 2012 main event should be a Fatal Fourway between Steen, Strong, Rhino and Elgin. Him and his Guardians of Truth will also be granted ringside access to prevent the involvement of SCUM. All other non-HoT roster members will be banned from ringside. He also says the House of Truth are prepared to work for free that night, but ask that when a HoT member wins the ROH World Championship, Truth gains control as ROH's Executive Producer - Cornette's job.
Cornette first laughs at the absurdity of this proposal, but Truth elaborates. Cornette will still go about his usual duties and running of the company, but Truth just wants the job title in order to simply be able to do whatever he wants - from making the occasional match, approving title matches for his champion and making sure his wrestlers get all the perks they deserve. He asks Cornette if he thinks it's not worth the risk. He makes some examples why there are no other united forces capable of taking out Steen in a similar match. The American Wolves hate each other now. The Briscoes love to compete against each other and will weaken themselves against Steen. Kenny King abandoned Rhett Titus. Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team are almost as bad as SCUM, but despised by the fans. The Embassy barely exists anymore. And a certain pale Mexican, who might be the only one capable of beating Steen on his own, doesn't want to help ROH anymore.
When Cornette asks what about the Elgin-Strong situation, Truth calls it the same thing he's called it for months - a bunch of "hoopla". Elgin and Strong may not be the best of friends anymore, but they both want the title and Steen out of ROH. Cornette, distraught by the compelling argument and the possibility of selling his soul to the devil, eventually comes round to the idea. Even if Strong and Elgin start fighting, there's still Rhino, and they couldn't just fight each other for the whole match, and neither has any real beef with Rhino. Cornette reluctantly accepts Truth's proposition.
Final Battle 2012
ROH World Championship
"Mr. Wrestling" Kevin Steen defends vs. Roderick Strong vs. "Unbreakable" Michael Elgin vs. "The Man Beast" Rhino
- The entire ROH roster is banned from ringside, except for Truth Martini and The Guardians of Truth
- If Strong, Elgin or Rhino win, Truth Martini will become the ROH Executive Producer
Truth's proposal was this: the problem with taking out Steen is that in a singles environment, he has the advantage. He is able to outwit and take advantage of all his opponents, as well as use the numbers game with his SCUM members - Corino & Jacobs. Truth suggests the Final Battle 2012 main event should be a Fatal Fourway between Steen, Strong, Rhino and Elgin. Him and his Guardians of Truth will also be granted ringside access to prevent the involvement of SCUM. All other non-HoT roster members will be banned from ringside. He also says the House of Truth are prepared to work for free that night, but ask that when a HoT member wins the ROH World Championship, Truth gains control as ROH's Executive Producer - Cornette's job.
Cornette first laughs at the absurdity of this proposal, but Truth elaborates. Cornette will still go about his usual duties and running of the company, but Truth just wants the job title in order to simply be able to do whatever he wants - from making the occasional match, approving title matches for his champion and making sure his wrestlers get all the perks they deserve. He asks Cornette if he thinks it's not worth the risk. He makes some examples why there are no other united forces capable of taking out Steen in a similar match. The American Wolves hate each other now. The Briscoes love to compete against each other and will weaken themselves against Steen. Kenny King abandoned Rhett Titus. Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team are almost as bad as SCUM, but despised by the fans. The Embassy barely exists anymore. And a certain pale Mexican, who might be the only one capable of beating Steen on his own, doesn't want to help ROH anymore.
When Cornette asks what about the Elgin-Strong situation, Truth calls it the same thing he's called it for months - a bunch of "hoopla". Elgin and Strong may not be the best of friends anymore, but they both want the title and Steen out of ROH. Cornette, distraught by the compelling argument and the possibility of selling his soul to the devil, eventually comes round to the idea. Even if Strong and Elgin start fighting, there's still Rhino, and they couldn't just fight each other for the whole match, and neither has any real beef with Rhino. Cornette reluctantly accepts Truth's proposition.
Final Battle 2012
ROH World Championship
"Mr. Wrestling" Kevin Steen defends vs. Roderick Strong vs. "Unbreakable" Michael Elgin vs. "The Man Beast" Rhino
- The entire ROH roster is banned from ringside, except for Truth Martini and The Guardians of Truth
- If Strong, Elgin or Rhino win, Truth Martini will become the ROH Executive Producer