Best Samoa Joe Matches

2004:

• Samoa Joe Vs Bryan Danielson Vs AJ Styles - IWA MS 2004
• Samoa Joe Vs CM Punk – ROH World Title Classic – 4 ¼*
• Samoa Joe Vs Bryan Danielson – ROH: The Midnight Express Reunion – 4*
• Samoa Joe Vs CM Punk - ROH: Joe Vs Punk II – 5* - This was both mens first 5 star match. These two set the standard for independent wrestling in America, and really for a high percentage of the world. It’s incredible to see how far each man became in their own retrospective careers. This match really helped get Ring of Honor on the map, because people wanted to see this match, this would be their rematch from a couple of months ago that went to a 60 minute draw. This would be their second match in their infamous trilogy, but by far my favourite match of the lot. An interesting little backstage story is, after seeing this match Mick Foley who was there had spoken to WWE officials about potentially signing these wrestlers but were shut down almost immediately.
• Samoa Joe Vs CM Punk – ROH: All Star Extravaganza II – 4 ¼*
• Samoa Joe Vs Austin Aries – ROH: Final Battle 2004 – 4 ¼* - It’s crazy that it took both men over 10 years to get signed up WWE contracts, because if they saw matches like this you would have hoped they would’ve signed them then and there. This may be my favourite Austin Aries match in ROH, it is so good how well these two work together. Hope everyone gets to see this match, as one of Joe’s important ROH World Championship matches.

2005:

• Samoa Joe Vs Chris Sabin – TNA No Surrendor 2005 – 4 ¼*
• Samoa Joe Vs AJ Styles – TNA Sacrifice 2005 – 4 ¼*
• Samoa Joe Vs AJ Styles Vs Christopher Daniels – TNA Unbreakable 2005 – 5* - The one and only 5 star match in TNA company history. Most people will know this match since it is posted on this sub either weekly, and sometimes multiple times in a week. This match is really fun, and all 3 men work extremely well with each other – they would have rematches throughout the years on TNA which I’ve watched and believe they don’t live up to this match, that being said they are still very fun to watch.
• CM Punk vs Samoa Joe vs Christopher Daniels vs James Gibson - ROH Redemption 2005
• Samoa Joe Vs Kenta Kobashi – ROH: Joe Vs Kobashi – 5* -
• Samoa Joe Vs AJ Styles – TNA Turning Point 2005 – 4 ¾* - As I always say when I make these list and there is TNA matches, I’ve only seen a select few matches of TNA – ones I’ve been recommended by people, or matches I see with high ratings. This was one of those matches, it’s so fun and it’s amazing how well these two work together. Their time in the independents working with each other, really helps set the standards for how these matches go – I personally can’t wait until these two compete with each other in WWE.

2006:

• Samoa Joe Vs Christopher Daniels – TNA Final Resolution 2006 – 4 ¼*
• Samoa Joe Vs AJ Styles Vs Christopher Daniels – TNA Against All Odds 2006 – 4 ¼*
• Samoa Joe Vs Christopher Daniels – TNA Impact 13/04/2006 – 4 ¼*
• Samoa Joe Vs Bryan Danielson – ROH: Fight of the Century – 4 ¼* - (Can’t find link, sorry.)
• Samoa Joe Vs Kurt Angle – TNA Genesis 2006 – 4 ¼* - In 2006, news broke that Kurt Angle had left WWE, and honestly it was just limited time until he was signed to TNA – which was the way that TNA was in the mid-00’s/early-10’s. The buzz surrounding Angle signing with TNA even made me check out TNA for the first time in my life. Kurt Angle debuted in TNA by confronting the World Champion Samoa Joe and I still remember the headlines the next day ‘The Headbutt Heard All Around The Wrestling World’. I can’t say enough good things about Angles feud with Joe, I absolutely loved their matches together.
• Samoa Joe Vs Kurt Angle – TNA Turning Point 2006 – 4 ¼*

2007:

• Samoa Joe Vs Takeshi Morishima – ROH 5th Anniversary Show – 4 ½*
• Samoa Joe Vs Christian Cage – TNA Destination X 2007 – 4*
• Samoa Joe Vs Kurt Angle Vs AJ Styles Vs Chris Harris Vs Christian Cage – TNA Slammiversary 2007 – 4 ¼*
• Samoa Joe Vs Christian Cage – TNA Bound For Glory 2007 – 4*

2008:

• Samoa Joe Vs Kurt Angle – TNA Lockdown 2008 – 4 ¼*
• Samoa Joe Vs Sting - TNA Bound For Glory 2008 – 3 ¾*

2009:

• Samoa Joe Vs AJ Styles Vs Christopher Daniels – TNA Turning Point 2009 – 4 ½*

2010:

• Samoa Joe Vs AJ Styles – TNA Against All Odds 2010 – 3 ½*

2012:

• Samoa Joe Vs Austin Aries – TNA Slammiversary 2012– 3 ¾* - A great X-Division Championship match in the moderna era by two all time great wrestlers. Just finished this match upon writing this review I recommend it highly it was a great opening match for the TNA PPV. It's nice to see guys who busted their asses to make themselves become more famous and get signed to bigger companies in the the independants finally get rewarded for it, almost 10 years since their infamous match in ROH these two compete once again in the squared circle.

2014:

• Samoa Joe Vs Jay Briscoe – ROH: Supercard of Honor 9 – 3 ½ - Can't find the link, sorry.

2015:

• Samoa Joe Vs Kevin Owens – NXT 17/06/2015
• Samoa Joe & Finn Balor Vs Baron Corbin & Rhyno – NXT Takeover: Respect – 3*
• Samoa Joe Vs Finn Balor – NXT Takeover: London – 4*

2016:

• Samoa Joe Vs Sami Zayn – NXT 09/03/2016 - Since signing with WWE people seemed to start turning on Joe because he wasn’t given that much to work with – his feud with Kevin Owens was cut short when Owens was brought up to the main roster, he had a so/so feud with Baron Corbin and then started feuding with Balor (which people are split down the middle about). However, I really enjoyed this match, but for some reason (maybe cause it was almost a year ago) people seem to either to not remember it or just not like it. I thought it was a fantastic 2 out of 3 falls match, but I wont lie I see a very 50/50 feeling for this match, I’ve seen many people call this boring and slow, it’s all subjective.
• Samoa Joe Vs Finn Balor – NXT Takeover: Dallas - In mid-2015 Samoa Joe made his highly anticipated WWE debut in their developemental brand making the save for Sami Zayn against Kevin Owens (who I wish feuded and had a big blow off Takeover match). Within 6 months, he would turn heel against Dusty Rhode Tag Team Classic partner Finn Balor and for over 6 months compete for the NXT Championship. This match was their second of 3 main events at a Takeover event, and I think it’s one of their best. I really enjoy the match, however it seems like people think it’s the weakest of the three.
• Samoa Joe Vs Finn Balor – NXT Lowell, Ma House Show 27/04/2016 - In shocking events, on a non-televised NXT show Samoa Joe would defeat Finn Balor to win his first NXT World Championship.
• Samoa Joe Vs Shinsuke Nakamura - NXT Takeover: Brooklyn 2 – 4 ¼*
• Samoa Joe Vs Shinsuke Nakamura – NXT Takeover: Toronto – 4 ¼* - Personally I think this match was much better than their Brooklyn match, I feel like they work better with each other and really have the capability to sell injuries in this match. It would another shocking match in the career of Samoa Joe – however I liked that they continue to make Joe look strong against tough opponent such as Nakamura who was/is treated like that opponents must put all their effort and definition to defeat him.

2017:

• Samoa Joe Vs Shinsuke Nakamura – NXT 04/01/2017 – 3 ½* - Maybe I’m just biased because I was there for this match, but I really enjoyed this match between the two – so I thought it was worth including in this list – just like when I added it to the Essential 2016 Match List and Essential NXT Match List.
• Samoa Joe Vs Seth Rollins – WWE Payback 2017 – 3 ½*
• Samoa Joe Vs Bray Wyatt Vs Finn Balor – Raw 29/05/2017
• Samoa Joe Vs Seth Rollins Vs Roman Reigns Vs Finn Balor Vs Bray Wyatt – WWE Extreme Rules 2017 – 4 ½* - The last match on this list is the match that allowed Samoa Joe to face Brock Lesnar at the upcoming PPV ‘Great Balls of Fire’. This match was actually really well done, and I think Joe looks and feels like a great main eventer for WWE. I’m glad that WWE are taking Joe serious and actually making him look like a future WWE star and real threat to Lesnar.