5 rare matches of Samoa Joe outside WWE you might not have seen (with videos)

#2 Samoa Joe vs CM Punk, ROH Punk vs Joe II

Ring of Honor was still growing as a promotion in 2004, but its reputation for being the home of the best ‘indie’ workers in the country was firmly established by that point. As proof, ROH was the host for one of the most dramatic and brutal wrestling feuds of the year between Samoa Joe and CM Punk.

The two of them had already faced each other once before, but felt the need to fight again in a bigger match at a show named after their feud. The match was known for featuring a myriad of impressive technical wrestling and chain grappling that hadn’t been seen from either of them till then, and served as an example of why both men were being praised so frequently at that point.

In those days, CM Punk tried to make a name for himself as ‘the Ironman of professional wrestling’ and he succeeded in garnering that reputation. He and Samoa Joe went for a full 60 minutes, and the match ended in a draw (just like another now-famous 60-minute match between Okada and Omega).

This match elevated both men’s reputations significantly, and proved their abilities as wrestlers.