[2002-09-29-EPIC-Bigger, Badder, Better] Samoa Joe vs Bryan Danielson

[Jetlag]

It's the birth of indy dream match wrestling baby. Joe has come back from japan and has yoinked all kinds of cool things from the legends while Danielson is starting to come into his own. The opening hold for hold trading isn't anything brilliant but still feels inventive by 2019 US indy wrestling standards. There is guard work and they work for cross armbreakers but also snug cravates. When Danielson tries to get cute and throw shots Joe would make him pay dearly with a few crossfaces of his own. This was generally pretty hard hitting and they do a good job building to the big spots. This was slightly before they were really starting to put it all together, Joe wasn't quite the menacing badass, but he would really lay into Bryan with kicks, slam him hard to counter a basic headlock etc. On the other hand he would also bump for a feeble Bryan shoulderblock which is just weird. Bryan was pretty fun also hitting a big enzugiri and suicide dive. The one weak part were his head kicks as there seemed to be a lot of light there. Finish was all kinds of fun.

[ohtani's jacket]

This was a good match, but Danielson looked tentative at times. I know he had those great Low Ki matches in 2002, but judging by his other matches, it seems he was still figuring things out. If someone were to say he was already one of the best workers in the States, or the World, in 2002, I'd have to give an emphatic no. That said, this style of wrestling is much closer to the kind of work I like and the indy guys are trending in the right direction.