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[2005-02-26-ROH-Third Anniversary Celebration] Austin Aries vs Samoa Joe


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I was kind of torn about whether it was a good idea to book this match. You're basically saying to the audience that you've got this guy who's the ex-champ that's so much better than the guy who's the current champ. On the other hand, Joe deserved a return match. Aries ran from him too often at the beginning of the match, which is not the kind of image I'd want to present if I were the newly crowned champ, but eventually there was some good back and forth action and Aries began fighting with the guts that won him the belt. Unfortunately, the finish was botched. It was supposed to be a fluke pin where Joe's shoulders were accidently caught on the mat, but the ref counted three before Aries was ready and it looked incredibly awkward as Aries reserved the hold after the ref had already called for the bell.

Positives from the match -- Joe went hard and I'm enjoying his 2005 more than his title run. 

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  • 7 months later...

Big time rematch for the title here. I must say that at first I wasn't feeling Aries acting like a comedic cowardly heel at the start of this match (even though it is fitting given how they built the match up), but it actually ended up working as the match built on that. Once Aries gets busted open & starts fighting as the bleeding underdog? Ooh it's so good. Joe's monster performance is just amazing here: nasty killer work over the cut & in general everything he unloads is vicious as hell. I do dislike the finish though, especially hate the low-blow by Aries, but it's still a terrific match. Definitely 100% worth the watch if you're into some prime murder-mode Samoa mothafuckin' Joe. ****1/4

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