Samao Joe

[Lil' Bitch 0]

A friend asked me a whole bunch of questions about Joe (in regards wrestling style, selling, mic skills, etc.), but since I've never seen his work, I couldn't answer him other than he was the world champion in RoH for a really long time. Why do you like Joe?

Match recommendations (RoH, TNA, anything that applies to his overall career)? Thanks in advance.

[Guest GoJoe]

Considering we're in the TNA folder, do we have to be TNA specific?

 

Because as great as his matches are, that's a pretty short list.

 

vs. Sabin - No Surrender

vs. AJ - Sacrifice

vs. AJ vs. Daniels - Unbreakable

w/ Daniels/Shelley vs. AJ/Sonjay/Aries - Prime Time Special

 

And his match with Liger, if only because of the significance of him being in a TNA ring.

[Guest *KNK*]

Why do I like Joe?

 

Easy answer: He's the best worker in NA today, and no one is close to him.

 

Match recommendations?

For starters, how about a ***** matches with Kenta Kobashi and CM Punk (including 2 other very good but not neccesarily equal matches). His stuff with Low Ki, Homicide, Danielson, Aries, Gibson and Lethal are worth checking out.

 

His mic work is his biggest flaw as he's very laid back and to the point.

 

His ring work continues to improve by leaps and bounds as he has a good grasp on the fundamentals of the ring but brings in alot of context with it. He's stiff but he's not stiff for the sake of being stiff. He's a fantastic bumper and can make anyone look good and yet credible (see his work with Aries as example).

 

Might I add he can bring the comedy as well? It's a small aside for Samoa Joe but he's also capable of busting up and putting on a comedy match. Is this important? No, but it shows he can be diverse inside the ring as he can work a NOAH style match, the indy style, can work with the juniors and can bring the funny. A dangerous combo if there ever was one.

[Guest Coffey]

He's got an original offense, which is refreshing. He's got an original look too. He's not just another muscle-head bodybuilder. He's kinda flabby ("nigga samoan, what he gonna do?" - Jules) but you can tell by looking at him that he's just a straight up ass kicker. Then the match starts and he'll just blow you away with his work. You look at him and think he shouldn't be doing half the shit he does at the speed he does it. He's put on a ton of great matches and already has at least one good one (the Unbreakable 3-way) in TNA.

 

He's a more than solid worker and from all accounts a great person and locker room leader. He has in-ring charisma which you can't really teach. He can't really talk but he doesn't really need to. I wouldn't say he's the best wrestler in North America but when other say that, I always let it go because I can see why people would think that.

 

Match recommendations? Check out all of his work with Punk in ROH. Also, when he loses the ROH World Title to Austin Aries, you should check that out too. Hell, his recent Pure Title match against James Gibson was good. He doesn't really have bad matches too often.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Who is Samao Joe?

 

 

Samoa Joe is the MVP of TNA right now, besides Daniels, in my eyes. His moveset is a refreshing change of pace from the WWE style and more importantly it looks believable. Give me Musclebusters and Ole Kicks over Canadian Destroyers any day.

 

I have no recommendations that wasn't already covered. Kobashi and the Unbreakable triple threat should be on the top of the lists though.

[Downhome 0]

This thread needs links to where we can download his **** and ***** matches.

[Slayer 0]

Both appearance and moveset-wise, he makes me think of a samoan Hashimoto

[The Niggardly King 0]

I just wish he'd get rid of those tights.

[Downhome 0]

I'm just shocked that someone with his look is getting over, both with fans and critics, in this day and age. You usually don't see many like that now other than in Japan.

 

Didn't Meltzer, or someone like him, predict that he would main event a WWE Wrestlemania within 3-5 years?

[dubq 0]

WWE would probably destroy Joe. Ie: make him job to Jerry Lawler or wear a thong or something that combines the fate of Taz and Rikishi in one neat little package.

[hyperchord24 0]

I've seen 1 match with Joe, and I can see why people like him already. First of all, his in-ring charisma is off the charts. I laughed my BUTT off watch dutt jump around, climb up the turn buckle and moonsault joe, but joe just stopped and walked away like dutt was a piece of crap. I've never seen anyone do that. It was just so funny. I know I haven't seen the majority of his work though

[World's Worst Man 0]

I'm just shocked that someone with his look is getting over, both with fans and critics, in this day and age. You usually don't see many like that now other than in Japan.

 

Didn't Meltzer, or someone like him, predict that he would main event a WWE Wrestlemania within 3-5 years?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I don't think the casual fans care how a guy looks. As long as he rolls out the spots, or is "cool" he'll be over. And Joe's a legitimately great worker, that's why he's over with the critics. He'll never get a good run with the WWE, unless things drastically and fundamentally change with that organization. Which just isn't going to happen. The real problem is that he hasn't been brought in by New Japan or NOAH yet, both of which are desperate for foreign talent (NJ not so much at the moment).

[Adam 0]

I thought he'd worked in Japan, or was that just for Zero-One?

[The Decemberists 0]

May 13th 2005

 

ROH - The Final Showdown

 

Samoa Joe vs Delirious vs Jack Evans vs Ebessan

 

Greatest

Match

Ever

[World's Worst Man 0]

I thought he'd worked in Japan, or was that just for Zero-One?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

He worked for Zero-One, but he's also affiliated with NJPW USA and the LA dojo, which is why it's perplexing that they never even gave him a shot.

[razazteca 0]

Who is Samao Joe?

The Dusty Rhodes of this generation.

[The Mandarin 0]

May 13th 2005

 

ROH - The Final Showdown

 

Samoa Joe vs Delirious vs Jack Evans vs Ebessan

 

Greatest

Match

Ever

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Sort

of

Dies

Half

Way

Through

Overrated

But

Still

Entertaining

[The Buzz 0]

Joe is a strong worker. He is strong on the mic only because his promos fit his character. He's there to kick ass in the ring. He's an honorable fighter and thus he's laid back when he's not fighting. I don't think you have to be over the top or have a huge vocabulary/no accent to be a good speaker on the microphone. Its the same thing I feel about Benoit and other guys that are called bad speakers because of an accent or a lack of zanyness.

 

So in closing...in ring charisma, great facials during his matches, innovative offense for this side of the globe, good pyschology, impressive endurance.

 

Joe is pro-wrestling

[Fökai 0]

Didn't Meltzer, or someone like him, predict that he would main event a WWE Wrestlemania within 3-5 years?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

That was Cornette...and he was talking about Matt Morgan.

[King Cucaracha 0]

His mic work is his biggest flaw as he's very laid back and to the point.

 

Even that's not 'bad' though. Infact, I like Joe on the mic. He's got that "why do I need to get worked up, it's obvious I'm gonna kick your ass" vibe about him. The promos he cut on the Necro Butcher in IWA:MS were pretty awesome.

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

The last 3 times Meltzer gave a ***** star rating to a match in North America...Samoa Joe was in it.

 

That's enough for now.

 

Bow down and recognize the greatness.

 

I think the last one before the Samoa Joe trilogy (vs. Kobashi (RoH), vs. Styles & Daniels (TNA) vs. Punk (RoH)) was the first Hell In a Cell. Just for a frame of reference to how long it's been.

[Rendclaw 0]

I love the guy. His in-ring work speaks for itself at this point. I think that aside from the Lyger match, I have yet to see a out-and-out bad match from him.

 

And its not just his moveset that impresses me, its his psychology and expressions in the ring that really set him apart. There was a point during the Sabin match where he looked pissed off legitimately that he didn't get a submission from Sabin after hooking in three different submission holds, and *chaining them together*.

 

While mic work is important in having the total package, there are those who don;t need it, and in my opinion its a touch overrated. Sure you need to be able to get your point across in a promo, but not everyone is a Rock, who can cut a razor-sharp promo at the drop of a hat. I don;t think that at this stage of his career, Joe doesn;t need to be stellar on the mic, as his skills in the ring overshadow it.

 

I am simply in awe of the man.

[Downhome 0]

Check out all of these videos:

 

http://samoajoe.com/videos

[Guest Coffey]

Rendclaw, you do realize that a semi-colon isn't the same as an apostrophe, right? That's irksome.

 

To re-iterate: I like Joe because he's not the common mold that WWE have made famous. Above that, however, he's a terrific wrestler. Especially for his size, which just makes it all so much more unbelievable and enjoyable to watch. He's putting on matches on the Indy circuit which most people would pay $35 for on PPV in a heartbeat. He has a freshness about him that's unseen on WWE programming. It's not about his look. It's not about his promos. It's about a wrestler wrestling. Joe leaves it all in the ring and that's appreciated.

[Guest The Showcase]

The reason he hasn't worked in NJPW is because they didn't offer him enough money. They sent him a contract and Joe thought he'd make off better in other places (TNA).

 

He's still under affiliation with the Inoki Dojo in Santa Monica, though.

[Mystery Eskimo 0]

I think he said in a shoot interview that they also wanted him to do a wild Samoan fish eating type gimmick. Although maybe that wasnt NJPW.

 

Anyway, the Punk trilogy is a pretty good way to get acquainted with Joe. ROH should release those matches as a special DVD, with bonus commentary etc.

[Guest OSIcon]

It was reported a little while back that one of the reasons Joe has trouble getting work in Japan is because he has the "stink of Zero-One" on him. The major promotions in Japan (All Japan, New Japan, and NOAH) all look down on Zero-One as a second-class promotion and justifiably so. What isn't as justifiable is that they are reportedly hesitant to bring aboard any wrestler that had a past affiliation with Zero-One. Zero-One tended to be more gimmicky which I guess plays a big part. Joe was known as 'King Joe' there and played more of a 'traditional' Samoan gimmick so that probably has something to do with the feeling.

 

The problem of course is people don't really look at Joe has a Zero One guy, at least not in the states. I'd imagine it wouldn't be much different in Japan given that he wrestled for them almost 5 years ago (in 2001) and wasn't given a huge push. So if that is the line of thinking, it is dumb.

 

What makes Joe so good is that he gets wrestling more than most any other wrestler out there. He understands what to do and when to do it. A lot of the guys have the tools Joe has in terms of moves, quickness, ect. but he understands how to use all of that to correctly. Given that he has so far been pegged into a certain style in TNA and people STILL love his matches, shows just how good he is.

[Rendclaw 0]

Rendclaw, you do realize that a semi-colon isn't the same as an apostrophe, right? That's irksome.

 

I type quickly and instead of hitting the apostrophe key, I hit the semi-colon key a lot. Unless I make some spelling errors, I'm not going to edit the post because of that. Call me lazy, but I think I get my point across.

 

What makes Joe so good is that he gets wrestling more than most any other wrestler out there. He understands what to do and when to do it. A lot of the guys have the tools Joe has in terms of moves, quickness, ect. but he understands how to use all of that to correctly. Given that he has so far been pegged into a certain style in TNA and people STILL love his matches, shows just how good he is.

 

Very good way of putting it, OSI. It's been so long since I have seen a wrestler *really* wrestling, I almost forgot what it looks like, and Joe is such a refreshing change from the WWE-style of wrestling that we al have been force-fed for years, its just a joy to watch him work. The guys on Between The Ropes had been hyping him for a long time, and now I understand why.

 

And those videos are cool as hell. I haven;t seen him bust out the Chimera-plex in TNA yet, so that was fun to watch.

[razazteca 0]

Anyway, the Punk trilogy is a pretty good way to get acquainted with Joe. ROH should release those matches as a special DVD, with bonus commentary etc.

I'll pay $30 for a multi-disc best of Samoa Joe DVD set.

[Cheex Incarnate 0]

I was so surprised when all the Joe hype started circulating. I wasnt familiar with the guy offhand, and the only reason I knew the name was his stint in UPW (the old WWE farm territory) a few years ago. There wasn't much broohaha around the guy back then, but my, how things have changed.

 

 

-Cheex