"Forged in honor" The Samoa Joe vs. CM Punk Trilogy. {English}
"Forged in honor"
The Samoa Joe vs. CM Punk ROH trilogy.
1) "The First dance"
Samoa Joe (C) vs. CM Punk - ROH World Title Classic - ROH World Championship (6/12/2004)
The first half of this match is centered around Punk's annoying headlocks, and how joe will try to break through them, Punk's tactic was trying to find joe's flaws, and the headlock was definitely a weakness, They really made the headlocks a big deal, whenever joe got out of one with a different tactic each time it really felt huge in the grand scheme of the match, but it was a game of chess in the ring, whenever Punk felt like he had the upper hand he attacked joe, and joe would get mad and beat his ass, his ego wouldn't let him make punk think that he got him with a headlock, while joe always had the upper hand physically and he always won every sequence, but this whole time, Punk was on top, Punk got joe mad, out of his comfortable zone, and the easiest man to beat is a mad man, but it is a very thin line because pushing a man to this point in a wrestling match can doom you, and in the second half of the match joe really punished punk for pushing him this far, none of his defenses really got over 30 minutes while Punk was an expert in long matches, every counter punk did in the final 10 minutes was scary, it had a real threat of a "What if he actually does it" and he got really close, but there is no hope against Joe.
Punk was overwhelmed with his strategy because for the first time, someone pushed joe, someone made joe feel scared, but on the other side that fueled joe more, Maybe if punk didn't hurt his knee on that pepsi plunge... Just maybe.
This match represented what ROH was all about, If we include the segment where they both raised the ROH title together with Punk's Promo saying that THIS is the best title in north America, Watching this in 2025 and seeing the state of the ROH title being defended in matches like "Bandido vs Takeshita" Really hurts, but this a story to tell on another day, This match is the most important match in ROH history, because for the First time, Joe doesn't feel like the best wrestler in ROH, and in that era, and the best wrestler in ROH is the best in the world.
4.5*
2) "The King's Gambit."
Samoa Joe (C) vs. CM Punk II - Samoa Joe vs. CM Punk - ROH World Championship (10/16/2004)
It's impossible for me to enjoy a 60 minute match, so it would be impossible for me to give it a full fiver, i couldn't give 2 of the Kenny vs. Okada matches a five star rating because it's really impossible to keep me locked in for 60 minutes and of course alot of 60 minute matches will lack content in the middle, But if anyone is gonna break that rule and do the impossible, it's gonna be Samoa joe and Phil brooks on a saturday night.
in the second greatest thing that happened that day (After Lionel Messi's debut) Joe and Punk Managed to PERFECTLY go deeper into the same ideas that were planted in the first match, This is the more technically advanced and defined masterpiece of the first match, the big difference is that this one isn't in neutral grounds, this is in Chicago, and there isn't a story more romantic than CM Punk in Chicago, Punk kinda worked this match from underneath, still relying on his headlocks but more carefully this time, because Joe came prepared this time and he showed that he did in the first 10 minutes, he didn't really struggle with them, This match felt more Raw as if their first match wasn't raw enough, Punk's performance was really interesting because even though he got his shit rocked from joe, He managed to target his head whenever he got the chance, The headlocks look better in this one because they look like they came from pure desperation but this was punk's plan all along, and when Joe finally notices Punk targeting his head Punk quickly managed to working the arm, distracting joe from defending his head, and that part... THAT FUCKING PART. is why this is one of the smartest matches i have ever seen.
And even though Joe came prepared for Punk's Tactics, Punk managed to push him over the edge once more, Joe's plan was random and he showed it perfectly whenever he needed to, it didn't feel pushed, it felt natural, Joe feels more uncomfortable now, he doesn't really feel comfortable even when he was controling the match, AND THAT, is what Punk exactly needed, whenever Punk was over joe Mentally, Joe was better Physically, Whenever Punk got the upper hand, Joe had a plan, it looks like they just CANNOT BEAT EACH OTHER, this match ended in a draw, Punk failed to win, but he also didn't lose, Joe survived by the bell, it's not a simple "Draw", it's that they both survived, 5 more minutes and we could've had a new champ, or we could've found the hometown hero killed and destroyed in the ring, The time limit draw doesn't leave that many questions, everything is clear actually, it's just 1 simple question.
We know what they both have, If they had a rematch which was needed after that finish, WHO'S GONNA LOSE.
this match was perfect, really few hour draws really keep me entertained the whole match, and even less keep me begging for more, NEEDING MORE, Sure Joe kept the title, but did he really when there? we got everything that we wanted from a "Pro wrestling match" in this match, but we never really got what we needed, which is a winner, I rarely care about a match winner, especially when a match happened before i was even born, But this one was different, Joe and Punk are the perfect Dance Partners.
5*
3) "The Final."
Samoa Joe (C) vs. CM Punk III - ROH All-Star Extravaganza - ROH World Championship (12/4/2004)
"In the 50s it was Buddy Rogers and Lou Thesz, In the 60s it was Gorilla Monson and Bruno Sammartino, In the 70s It was Jack Brisco and Dory Funk JR, In the 80s It was Ric Flair and Ricky The Dragon steamboat, And now it is CM Punk and Samoa joe, AND IT IS ON."
- Jimmy Bower
*please play "The man who sold the World" by Nirvana before reading this*
If everything was perfect in the first match, i don't know what to call this, it taking place in the same arena Punk turned face in is really ironic, but still, This is Jersey and not chicago, and steamboat being first row really ties everything up and giving this match a big fight feel if the feeling wasn't already there before the bell rang, but then the bell rang.
Punk goes for the same strategy he always had, those damn headlocks.. but this time Joe came even more prepared, Punk had to earn them and he did by giving joe multiple headlock to the back of the neck, clearly painting a target on joe's neck, Punk didn't come to play games this time, he studied joe, and he's here to win it all, punk pieced everything up, he finally figured out how to the "samoa joe puzzle" that no one could figure it out before their first match, but will he crack it and beat joe once and for all?
sure, punk learned that he must not underestimate joe and went on to have full striking exchanges with him, but that was his first mistake, you never. EVER. win a striking exchange with samoa joe, and that cost him alot early on, causing him to bleed, and with that, everything changed, punk is bleeding now and it's not a matter of outsmarting joe, it's about surviving the best bell to bell wrestler in the world, the blood loss didn't only affect punk's stamina and made him wobble, it changed the way punk approached the match, he didn't search for joe's flaws to use them against him, he fought his way through the match, trying to deal as much damage as possible, and imo, that was the greatest selling of a crimson mask i have ever seen in my life, it's one thing to make it convincing, but it's a totally different story to change the entire trajectory of the match while being a great seller at the same time, punk had an incredible steamboat-esque performance in the match, his influence was easily noticeable in punk's performance
the way steamboat was planted into the match was perfect, in the final stretch when joe put punk in a sleeper hold, which is very smart considering punk was bleeding, and the ref was about to ring the bell for joe, it was steamboat who noticed punk was moving his fingers, this was a great callback to when steamboat cost punk a match vs styles earlier this year, but now, steamboat saved punk's hope in the match, but that wont last for long, as when punk had joe on the top rope, instead of going for the pepsi plunge he went fot a powerbomb, which joe countered into a rana, let me repeat that, SAMOA JOE HIT A FUCKING RANA, before going for the best and most convincing lariat of his career, which killed any hope punk had in the match, and even with that, it was impressive how he got the crowd over for him through his incredible babyface performance.
Every move was done with a purpose, everything was built based on their past matches and they planted some new ideas which they used perfectly. joe's performance was really another day for him in this PERFECT run he had, but at the sane tine, it was one of the best heel performances in America, and punk really proved that he is the best in the world, he didn't win, but this could've easily been the greatest babyface performance in ring of honor history if bryan danielson didn't exist.
i really can't put into words how perfect this match is, it's a perfect ending to a GREAT trilogy, but it also can stand alone to the eyes of anyone who didn't see their previous bouts, but it reallty shines when you do, it might not fit into my GMEC list, but it isn't too far of, One of the greatest matches in ring of honor history, and one of the greatest matches on American soil.
5*
Long Live CM PUNK
Long Live Samoa Joe
Long. Live. Ring of Honor.
Punk was overwhelmed with his strategy because for the first time, someone pushed joe, someone made joe feel scared, but on the other side that fueled joe more, Maybe if punk didn't hurt his knee on that pepsi plunge... Just maybe.
This match represented what ROH was all about, If we include the segment where they both raised the ROH title together with Punk's Promo saying that THIS is the best title in north America, Watching this in 2025 and seeing the state of the ROH title being defended in matches like "Bandido vs Takeshita" Really hurts, but this a story to tell on another day, This match is the most important match in ROH history, because for the First time, Joe doesn't feel like the best wrestler in ROH, and in that era, and the best wrestler in ROH is the best in the world.
4.5*
2) "The King's Gambit."
Samoa Joe (C) vs. CM Punk II - Samoa Joe vs. CM Punk - ROH World Championship (10/16/2004)
in the second greatest thing that happened that day (After Lionel Messi's debut) Joe and Punk Managed to PERFECTLY go deeper into the same ideas that were planted in the first match, This is the more technically advanced and defined masterpiece of the first match, the big difference is that this one isn't in neutral grounds, this is in Chicago, and there isn't a story more romantic than CM Punk in Chicago, Punk kinda worked this match from underneath, still relying on his headlocks but more carefully this time, because Joe came prepared this time and he showed that he did in the first 10 minutes, he didn't really struggle with them, This match felt more Raw as if their first match wasn't raw enough, Punk's performance was really interesting because even though he got his shit rocked from joe, He managed to target his head whenever he got the chance, The headlocks look better in this one because they look like they came from pure desperation but this was punk's plan all along, and when Joe finally notices Punk targeting his head Punk quickly managed to working the arm, distracting joe from defending his head, and that part... THAT FUCKING PART. is why this is one of the smartest matches i have ever seen.
And even though Joe came prepared for Punk's Tactics, Punk managed to push him over the edge once more, Joe's plan was random and he showed it perfectly whenever he needed to, it didn't feel pushed, it felt natural, Joe feels more uncomfortable now, he doesn't really feel comfortable even when he was controling the match, AND THAT, is what Punk exactly needed, whenever Punk was over joe Mentally, Joe was better Physically, Whenever Punk got the upper hand, Joe had a plan, it looks like they just CANNOT BEAT EACH OTHER, this match ended in a draw, Punk failed to win, but he also didn't lose, Joe survived by the bell, it's not a simple "Draw", it's that they both survived, 5 more minutes and we could've had a new champ, or we could've found the hometown hero killed and destroyed in the ring, The time limit draw doesn't leave that many questions, everything is clear actually, it's just 1 simple question.
We know what they both have, If they had a rematch which was needed after that finish, WHO'S GONNA LOSE.
this match was perfect, really few hour draws really keep me entertained the whole match, and even less keep me begging for more, NEEDING MORE, Sure Joe kept the title, but did he really when there? we got everything that we wanted from a "Pro wrestling match" in this match, but we never really got what we needed, which is a winner, I rarely care about a match winner, especially when a match happened before i was even born, But this one was different, Joe and Punk are the perfect Dance Partners.
5*
3) "The Final."
Samoa Joe (C) vs. CM Punk III - ROH All-Star Extravaganza - ROH World Championship (12/4/2004)
- Jimmy Bower
*please play "The man who sold the World" by Nirvana before reading this*
If everything was perfect in the first match, i don't know what to call this, it taking place in the same arena Punk turned face in is really ironic, but still, This is Jersey and not chicago, and steamboat being first row really ties everything up and giving this match a big fight feel if the feeling wasn't already there before the bell rang, but then the bell rang.
Punk goes for the same strategy he always had, those damn headlocks.. but this time Joe came even more prepared, Punk had to earn them and he did by giving joe multiple headlock to the back of the neck, clearly painting a target on joe's neck, Punk didn't come to play games this time, he studied joe, and he's here to win it all, punk pieced everything up, he finally figured out how to the "samoa joe puzzle" that no one could figure it out before their first match, but will he crack it and beat joe once and for all?
sure, punk learned that he must not underestimate joe and went on to have full striking exchanges with him, but that was his first mistake, you never. EVER. win a striking exchange with samoa joe, and that cost him alot early on, causing him to bleed, and with that, everything changed, punk is bleeding now and it's not a matter of outsmarting joe, it's about surviving the best bell to bell wrestler in the world, the blood loss didn't only affect punk's stamina and made him wobble, it changed the way punk approached the match, he didn't search for joe's flaws to use them against him, he fought his way through the match, trying to deal as much damage as possible, and imo, that was the greatest selling of a crimson mask i have ever seen in my life, it's one thing to make it convincing, but it's a totally different story to change the entire trajectory of the match while being a great seller at the same time, punk had an incredible steamboat-esque performance in the match, his influence was easily noticeable in punk's performance
the way steamboat was planted into the match was perfect, in the final stretch when joe put punk in a sleeper hold, which is very smart considering punk was bleeding, and the ref was about to ring the bell for joe, it was steamboat who noticed punk was moving his fingers, this was a great callback to when steamboat cost punk a match vs styles earlier this year, but now, steamboat saved punk's hope in the match, but that wont last for long, as when punk had joe on the top rope, instead of going for the pepsi plunge he went fot a powerbomb, which joe countered into a rana, let me repeat that, SAMOA JOE HIT A FUCKING RANA, before going for the best and most convincing lariat of his career, which killed any hope punk had in the match, and even with that, it was impressive how he got the crowd over for him through his incredible babyface performance.
Every move was done with a purpose, everything was built based on their past matches and they planted some new ideas which they used perfectly. joe's performance was really another day for him in this PERFECT run he had, but at the sane tine, it was one of the best heel performances in America, and punk really proved that he is the best in the world, he didn't win, but this could've easily been the greatest babyface performance in ring of honor history if bryan danielson didn't exist.
i really can't put into words how perfect this match is, it's a perfect ending to a GREAT trilogy, but it also can stand alone to the eyes of anyone who didn't see their previous bouts, but it reallty shines when you do, it might not fit into my GMEC list, but it isn't too far of, One of the greatest matches in ring of honor history, and one of the greatest matches on American soil.
5*
Long Live CM PUNK
Long Live Samoa Joe
Long. Live. Ring of Honor.
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