Samoa Joe has recently got the wrestling world talking by returning to Ring Of Honor, and signing with AEW. He is set to add more matches to his incredible career, but he would have to do a lot to get close to some of his best work. Throughout his career, Joe has been one of the most consistent workers in the company.
He's a hard-hitting wrestler, but someone who brings real speed, athleticism, and submission work. It has meant that his matches have been varied over the years, and that is one of the reasons he has become one of the all-time greats. Within his career, Joe has had some tremendous encounters, getting high ratings on Cagematch.net for his work.
10 Samoa Joe vs. Bryan Danielson (ROH Midnight Express Reunion, 2004) - 9.21
The fact that the lowest of Samoa Joe's top 10 matches still gained a rating of 9.21 showcases just how high the quality of his performances have been over the years. He and Bryan Danielson always worked well together, and this one was no different in that regard.
Bryan Danielson threw everything at the champion in this one, trying to take the belt in an almost 40-minute classic. However, Joe just refused to be put down, eventually catching Bryan in the Coquina Clutch for a huge victory.
9 Samoa Joe vs. CM Punk (ROH World Title Classic) - 9.24
While Samoa Joe had great matches with Bryan Danielson, it is CM Punk that will arguably go down as his greatest rival. This ROH World Title match lived up to its billing, with the two men going back and forth in a competitive manner. It was all about them pushing each other all the way.
That was summed up by the fact it finished in a time limit draw after an hour. They were able to entertain fans all the way through that time, which showcases just how talented each of them are, telling an effective story of Punk coming up short at the last second.
8 Samoa Joe vs Christopher Daniels vs. James Gibson vs. CM Punk (ROH Redemption, 2005) - 9.31
With 50 minutes to tell a story, that is exactly what these four men did for the ROH Championship, which was won by James Gibson here. They put in tons of effort, with each man getting time to shine, and even though there were a lot of moving parts, it worked well.
It's a great example of how well these stories can be told when the wrestlers inside a fatal four-way are brilliant ones. Samoa Joe got plenty of time to look good here, playing a vital part in this encounter.
7 Samoa Joe vs. Daniels vs. AJ Styles (TNA Turning Point, 2009) - 9.35
These three men always put together unforgettable encounters, and they did have an unbelievable triple threat, but this was not it. However, even though they had a better match together, that doesn't take anything away from this one, which was a repeat of that one.
It was a frantic match, which is to be expected with a triple threat between three men as talented as this. There was something going on at all points here, which was a lot of fun. They had some callbacks to the previous match, and ultimately it was AJ Styles who got the victory here.
6 Samoa Joe vs. Bryan Danielson (ROH Fight Of The Century, 2006) - 9.41
This was another excellent match between Samoa Joe and Bryan Danielson who never pulled their punches. It was an incredibly physical match, which is exactly what people were hoping for between them. There were times when this was wince-inducing due to how much they pushed each other.
They brawled both in and out of the ring, utilizing the situation around them to add even more violence to things. There was plenty of psychology involved, and overall it was a brilliant title match between two fantastic stars.
5 Samoa Joe vs. AJ Styles (TNA Turning Point, 2005) - 9.42
At this point, Samoa Joe was competing in the X Division, and for a lot of people, this was the greatest version of him as a wrestler, and a character. He was the Samoan Submission specialist, and he wouldn't hold back for anybody, bringing pace and aggression into everything he did.
That was clear in this match, with he and AJ Styles putting on a clinic. There was no resting with this one, as it was hard-hitting, but incredibly fast. The breakneck pace is something that helped them steal the show on the night, proving they were big-name players.
4 Samoa Joe vs. CM Punk (ROH All Star Extravaganza II, 2004) - 9.49
This one is considered to be an all-time classic by wrestling fans, with CM Punk and Samoa Joe having an unbelievable match that ended with Joe winning. Ricky Steamboat had a presence in this one, which only helped to make it memorable.
They were able to callback to previous spots and moments, with the two having reversals for certain situations, which was great for fans who had invested in their rivalry.
3 Samoa Joe vs. CM Punk (ROH Joe vs. Punk II, 2004) - 9.58
The fact that Ring Of Honor named an entire event around this match showcased how high the anticipation was for this one. They certainly delivered as well, with another time limit draw as the two men couldn't be separated within this encounter.
Of course, their chemistry was fantastic, with a great mix of technical work, strikes, and submissions blending a fun match together. It's the type of bout that leaves an impact and legacy, with this being exactly what the match did.
2 Samoa Joe vs. AJ Styles vs. Christopher Daniels (TNA: Unbreakable, 2005) - 9.67
When people think about TNA's greatest matches, this is often the one that will come up for fans. Everybody talks about this triple threat, and rightfully so, because it is an unforgettable encounter. They all brought their best here, creating a match that has gone down in history.
From incredible high-flying moves to great near falls, there was constantly something happening here. It's an example of how great each individual is, and when put together they were able to create something exceptional, with their chemistry being undeniable here.
1 Samoa Joe vs. Kenta Kobashi (ROH, 10/1/05) - 9.67
Out of all Samoa Joe's matches, it is his battle with Kenta Kobashi that took the top spot on Cagematch.net. It is often considered to be one of the greatest encounters in Ring Of Honor history, and it is clear to see why. For those that like physical wrestling, this certainly brings it and then some.
It is a case of two wrestlers hitting each other as hard as possible, pushing the other to their limits. It's an amazing match and something that really played into the strengths of Samoa Joe as a wrestler.