From the ROH Rumor Mill: Cody's possible opponent for Final Battle 2017 revealed
What’s the story?
As per Wrestling Observer, Dalton Castle is slated to face the ROH World Champion Cody at the Final Battle PPV event for the ROH World Championship.
In case you didn’t know…
Cody, previously known as Stardust and Cody Rhodes in the WWE, made his ROH debut on December 2, 2016, at the ROH Final Battle event facing ROH veteran Jay Lethal. Cody has gone on to bigger and better things since joining the independent circuit.
Cody, now a member of the Bullet Club, has achieved quite a lot in a short span of time, as he became the ROH World Champion on June 23, at ROH's Best in the World event. He also became the number one contender for Kazuchika Okada’s IWGP Heavyweight Championship, although could not win the belt.
Dalton Castle, on the other hand, is not new to ROH and debuted with the company back in 2013. A dynamic and vibrant personality, he has gained a cult-like following and is undoubtedly one of the most popular guys on the roster.
Accompanied at all times by his lackeys known simply as “The Boys”, Castle has a habit of making grand entrances and indulging in offbeat mannerisms. He was rumored to be WWE's top target a couple of months back, but the flamboyant star instead chose to renew his ROH contract.
The heart of the matter
Both these men have been embroiled in a bitter rivalry as of late. Dalton and his boys recently lost the coveted ROH 6 man Tag Team Championships to Cody’s fellow Bullet Club members, Adam Page and the Young Bucks, which has further fuelled the fire in the ongoing feud between Cody and Dalton.
It is also believed that Dalton was in line for the ROH Title after Christopher Daniels, but Cody’s debut resulted in a change of plans. It will be interesting to see whether Dalton is able to win his first ROH World championship or if Cody will be able to continue his streak of dominance.
What's next?
The Final Battle PPV will be held on December 15, 2017, at The Manhattan Center's Hammerstein Ballroom in New York.
Author’s take
Dalton Castle has been a loyal soldier and a cornerstone of the ROH for the past few years. He has also been one of the most consistent performers and one of the most over stars on the roster. It is high time Dalton gets his reward.
Castle has all the makings to become the next face of ROH if given the right opportunity. Cody, who is a member of the Bullet Club in New Japan Pro Wrestling, could go on to have feuds with Hiroshi Tanahashi for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship, or even Kenny Omega in the future.
The future is bright for both men, but we will just have to wait and see if the ROH management has finally gained faith in Dalton’s ability to make him the top champion of the company.