Views from the Hawke’s Nest: The Best of Samoa Joe – Unstoppable

 

Jeremy Borash is our host (he disappeared completely after introducing us to the DVD though). Joe also does some talking-head interview spots in between the matches on this set to discuss his life and career. If there is ever something that seems notable all these years later, I will make mention of it (note: there proved to be nothing of note).

 

Slammiversary
June 19, 2005

Samoa Joe vs. Sonjay Dutt

I have watched this a handful of times, and I am always surprised by how much offense Dutt takes in the match. The crowd wanted Joe to maul him, and the match was a bit more competitive than it probably needed to be. All is well that ends well, I suppose. Well, for the story of Joe in TNA, all is well that is well for a year and half. Joe won with the Muscle Buster. (**)

Watch this match here.

 

Impact
June 24, 2005

Samoa Joe vs. Delirious

This was much more of a squash thankfully. Joe finished him with the Coquina Clutch.

 

No Surrender
July 15, 2005

Samoa Joe vs. Chris Sabin

Part of booking a monster like Joe is being able to make him look convincingly vulnerable because there will be no drama in the matches otherwise. Sabin, a natural heel, was surprisingly strong in the babyface underdog role. While I think TNA probably could have stood to keep Joe a monster for a few more months (as a special attraction PPV who just kills dudes), there is no doubt this match kicked off a string of great matches. Joe eventually won after the Coquina Clutch. (***3/4)

 

Sacrifice
August 14, 2005

Samoa Joe vs. AJ Styles

This was the finals of the Super X Cup. It’s like clockwork. Every time I watch this match, I wonder why I do not remember the match more fondly in comparison to the other big matches from this time. The dynamic is perfect. The work is a brilliant mix of excitement and physicality. The crowd is red hot. Everything is going beautifully…then they do a ref bump. Then Christopher Daniels interferes and basically decides the match. They should have come up with a more creative way to continue this three-way rivalry. Anyway, Joe ended making AJ tap out with the Coquina Clutch. A tainted match if there ever was one. (***3/4)

Watch this match here.

 

Unbreakable
September 11, 2005

Christopher Daniels(c) vs. Samoa Joe vs. AJ Styles [X-Division Championship]

The first twenty minutes are pretty consistently great with tons of exciting action and the occasional character beat. Then, things slow down for the last seven minutes (or so) and nothing of real note happens until the match ends. Overall though, I think the match holds up as being pretty great and should be watched by anyone who has not seen it before. While I would not say it is the best match in TNA history, I do think it was a cool match and moment for TNA. They could have built their company around these three guys. Instead, they fucked everything up. In a fairly anti-climatic finish, AJ reversed Angel’s Wings into a modified Northern Nights with a bridge to pick up the win and the title. (****)

Watch this match here.

 

Bound for Glory
October 23, 2005

Samoa Joe vs. Jushin Liger

The funny part of watching this match a decade later to me is that I have now seen Liger put in a number of better efforts on the American indies *since* this match. You think a match when he was a bit more spry and on a bigger stage (with 2005 Samoa Joe, no less) would lead to a better result. It lives down to its reputation though as being a complete nothing match and missed opportunity. I guess you can argue there was some value in Joe squashing Liger. I would disagree. Joe was coming off some hot PPV matches, and this was their biggest show of the year. He should have had another hot match. (Nothing)

Watch this match here.

 

Genesis
November 13, 2005

Samoa Joe, Alex Shelley, Roderick Strong, & Christopher Daniels vs. Matt Bentley, Austin Aries, Sonjay Dutt, & Chris Sabin

I had fond memories of this match, but it clearly suffers from feeling very, very rushed. There are still some cool sequences and moments, and I would definitely say that it was a fun match overall. Joe and Daniels ended up surviving for their team after Daniels pinned Sabin with Angel’s Wings. Joe was going to finish Sabin with the Muscle Buster, but Bentley interfered. Daniels stole the pin essentially, and Joe was not impressed. Joe ended up attacking Daniels with a steel chair. This was a massive beatdown, and Daniels did a stretcher job. AJ Styles came out afterwards and looked concerned. (***)

 

Impact
December 8, 2005

Samoa Joe vs. Amazing Red

Joe squashed him. Red basically got nothing in. I’m not sure why this was included.

 

Turning Point
December 11, 2005

AJ Styles(c) vs. Samoa Joe [X-Division Championship]

On top of the idiot-proof dynamic of flippy AJ taking on monster Joe, this match has a lot of cool stuff going in terms of story. AJ wanting to defend the title against Joe after Joe just destroyed Daniels at Genesis was just a nice way of giving his character a little bit more agency and depth. However, I think this match is a tad overrated by some, and I basically like it a little bit less each time that I see it.

I think they went a little long, and the match would have benefited from shaving off five minutes or so. Regardless, it’s clearly a great match. The dynamic and intensity of the match are fantastic. AJ passed out in the Coquina Clutch to give Joe the title. Joe was starting to beat AJ down after the match, but Christopher Daniels made the save. (****)

 

Impact
Decemember 17, 2005

Samoa Joe vs. Jay Lethal

This was yet another squash.

 

Final Resolution
January 15, 2006

Samoa Joe(c) vs. Christopher Daniels [X-Division Championship]

I was hoping for something similar to the matches Joe had with AJ, but this was much more methodical. Daniels did not seem really capable of working the violent brawl necessary to get over the feud. The finishing sequence was well-executed at least. Daniels survived the Muscle Buster and then got to the ropes before Joe could fully apply the Coquina Clutch. Joe proceeded to maul Daniels until AJ Styles threw in the towel. (***1/4)

 

Watch Samoa Joe matches for free!

Samoa Joe vs. AJ Styles vs. Christopher Daniels

Samoa Joe vs. Necro Butcher [Five star match]

Samoa Joe vs. Low Ki [Great match]

Samoa Joe vs. Kurt Angle

Samoa Joe vs. AJ Styles

Samoa Joe vs. Sting

Samoa Joe vs. Takeshi Morishima

Samoa Joe vs. AJ Styles

Samoa Joe & Jay Lethal vs. Austin Aries & Roderick Strong

Samoa Joe vs. Kurt Angle vs. Sting vs. Christian vs. Chris Harris

Samoa Joe vs. Eddie Kingston

8.5

The final score: review Very Good

The 411

This era of Samoa Joe's career both represents the peak of TNA and the most depressing aspect of TNA. Samoa Joe had tons of exciting matches and felt like a HUGE wrestling star during this period...and TNA completely fucking blew it. You could have been somebody, TNA. You could have been a contender. Instead you were a bum.