Punk says before the match that his win-loss record isn’t the best, but when it comes to big matches, no one is better. Joe says that there have been many men step before him as challenger, and every one of them has left the same. What makes Punk think he’s gonna be any different? This is Joe’s 20th defense and Punk’s 1st shot at the title.
Punk acts cocky at the beginning before Joe uses the tree trunks he calls legs to send a message to him. He then dominates Punk on the mat with ease. This is gonna be another quick defense for Joe, at least that’s how it seems in the beginning for everyone in the building…everyone except for CM Punk. You see, every one of Joe’s title defenses had been less than 20 minutes up to this point. Punk knows this and his main mission is to stretch out this match as long as possible to take away the stamina of Samoa Joe. Punk has no problems with going 30 minutes or even an hour. He had done it multiple times all over the Indy scene. He just needs to take Joe’s offense long enough to wear him down. Only problem is…well….Samoa Joe is 270 pounds and hits like a linebacker, so that’s not always going to be easy.
Punk is more than game to get physical, and that pretty much pisses Joe off. He’s pretty much falling right into Punk’s hands here as they then start going all 90’s NJPW super juniors on it. Joe has never had to be too cerebral in his matches. He just uses his God given talent and strength to usually come out victorious. He annihilates Punk with elbows and kicks against the rope, but Punk covered up and took it all without hesitation. Joe is already a little winded and Punk is mocking him. Joe even gets his patented offense (face wash, sitting kick, knee drop) avoided by Punk. For one of the first times in his reign as Champion, Joe is forced to take a breather on the outside of the ring. That’s a big deal. Cool moment as Joe owns a fan on the outside, then Punk goes out and owns the same fan, then they go back in the ring and Joe extends his hand for the high five, but Punk jumps at him and gets the headlock again. In another cool spot, Joe goes for his patented knee drop which Punk has already avoided. Punk avoids it once more, but this time Joe saw it coming and gets it anyway. Joe is slowly learning, and that’s a scary thing. He gets a super cocky cover to reemphasize the point that he’s back in control. His ego gets the best of him as he goes for a stalling suplex, but it takes so much out of him that he can barely go for the cover. Punk gets right back into control because of this. Joe is huffing and puffing for air now, while Punk is just hitting his stride. This is unlike anything Joe has ever been apart of.
Punk even goes for Joe’s Ole kick on the outside. Joe gets up before he can connect, but the psychological damage has been done. Joe takes that as an insult, and proceeds to KILL Punk. Enough of this headlock shit, it’s time to die little boy. Joe gets all his offense in this time with ease. Joe is tired though, so he’s forced to catch his breath while applying a headlock with his legs. Joe’s lack of stamina is the only reason Punk’s still alive right now. If he had connected with this at the 10 minute mark, it’d only be a matter of time. The two men trade offense and Punk is the one left standing. Joe is dead tired now, and CM Punk is the cockroach that survived the nuclear attack. Punk knows it’s time to end it. He uses the sleeper and it’s bought as a legit end. All of the headlocks have paid off and come down to this. Joe fights out a couple times but damn, he so tired he can’t keep escaping. Joe destroys Punk with a desperation kick to escape. That might be all he has left though. Punk gets the biggest offensive move of the match with the top rope back drop suplex, but you can already guess that he’s too tired to get a quick cover. They’re doing a great job of selling the length of the match, while also keeping the match going at a high pace. The most important move of the match happens as Joe reverses a Shining Wizard into a kneed breaker that injures Punk’s already shot knees. About a minute later, Punk hits the Pepsi Fucking Plunge…but alas his knees are too hurt and he can’t even get a cover as he falls out of the ring. Crowd has been on their feet since about 30 minutes in, and they totally bought that as the finish. Punk gets back in and realizes he has almost no time left, so he gets a quick amount of offense, before Joe Dragon Screws him. Pretty brilliant as Joe knows that there is relatively no time left, so he’s just trying to take out Punk long enough to retain. They trade desperate offense before the time limit expires.
After the match, Punk puts over the ROH title as something worth fighting an hour over, and proclaims it the most important belt in North America.
Only real drawbacks were that it kind of felt like they were trying to go an hour at the end of the match and there were some miscommunications. Having an hour match is certainly not easy though so something simple like Joe not ducking Punk’s missed clothesline when he was supposed to doesn’t really affect the match that much. Still brilliantly put together and not really something that you see every day in post 1990s North America. The headlocks worked perfectly in relation to the story of the match where Punk tried to wear down Joe enough to win. BTW, If anyone reading this had not seen this series, be sure to watch them in order. This is the first one in case your mother dropped you on you head.
****1/2
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Samoa Joe © vs. CM Punk (ROH World Title; Joe vs. Punk II)
Punk cuts a promo before the show in the ring. Joe couldn’t beat him and now they’re in Chicago, Punk’s hometown, and that’s gonna be the difference. You see, Punk’s taken many beatings before, particularly in this city when he was younger. Some kids came to his house once when he was eating dinner, and he scraped and clawed, and he didn’t look pretty after it was over, but he won…he won because they CAME TO HIS HOUSE, just like Joe’s doing tonight. Mick Foley and Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat are going to be in attendance (Foley in particular called this the greatest match he’s ever seen live). Punk DARES Joe to ring his doorbell tonight. He says there’s no way he’s gonna be beat in Chicago. A fucking masterpiece of a promo that I completely forgot ever existed.
Punk has “Home” written on his wrist tape. For what it’s worth, this is Dave Meltzer’s 1st “***** match” in 7 years. The original main event of this show was Samoa Joe vs. Steve Corino, but Corino had a prioir commitment he had to fufill in Japan. Punk is the overwhelming crowd favorite here, but Joe still has his supporters.
Handshake to start, which is something that Joe tried to have in the first match before Punk blew him off a bit. This shows that Joe earned Punk’s respect by lasting an hour in Dayton 4 months prior. Joe shoves Punk down on a lockup. He knows he’s in Punk’s backyard, and that was his way of marking his turf. They may be in Chicago, but this ring is where Joe is King. He shoves Punk again, and even tries a third time, but Punk crisply counters into a sleek pinfall attempt. “Almost had ya Joe.” Announcers do a great job in here I should say. They say that Punk’s tag partner and best friend, Colt Cabana beat Joe with a similar rollup type maneuver. They also say that Joe beat Cabana not that long a go IN CHICAGO, so Joe is not intimidated by the home town guy. They mat wrestle, but this time unlike their first match, Punk gets the upper hand with a take down. Things are clearly going his way tonight, and that frustrates Joe who doesn’t give a clean break moments later. More mat stuff, but this time Punk gets Joe into the corner…and gives him a clean break unlike Joe did for him. Punk is all about the head games tonight.
Punk knows that the headlock worked to near perfection in their previous match, so he smartly goes back to it here. Joe is able to counter out of it quicker than he did in the last match. He knows that Punk’s strategy is to wear him down, but this time Joe is prepared for it. Punk is too quick so he’s able to grad the headlocks right after there’s an opening in Joe’s defense. I should really note how crisp everything looks here. That’s not normally something that Punk is great at. I’ve called him “The least crisp great wrestler ever,” but on this night he is making me eat my words. Joe is getting super frustrated that this match is going the way the last one went, which is in Punk’s favor, so he plays heel by not breaking in the ropes again. He even tries to give Punk a taste of his own medicine via chin lock, but Punk reverses it to another front headlock. Punk is wrestling Joe perfectly, and that’s the only way to end Joe’s title run. Joe refuses to break in the corner again, but Punk’s quickness gives him the advantage to ground Joe once more. Punk has changed up his style from the first match great here. He used the rope-a-dope style there, and even though it wore down Joe, it still took a lot out of Punk, which lead to him not being able to capitalize on the offense so much towards the end of the match. Punk is not using the rope-a-dope here, but he’s staying with what he thinks will win him the title tonight, the headlock. Joe will be worn down and Punk will still be fresh towards the end. All Punk wants is 45 minutes of Hell, then he has 15 minutes left to win the title against a tired monster.
Joe is a smart monster though, so he challenges Punk to a shoulder block clash in the middle of the ring. This will wear down Punk a little and give Joe the offensive opening that he needs. Plus, there’s no way that Punk won’t bite at a chance to one up Joe in front of his friends and family. Punk tries to trick Joe like he did in their first match where he faked running off the ropes and got another headlock, but this time Joe has it scouted and gets his first burst of offensive fury on Punk. Punk is unstoppable tonight though, and he gets the best of Joe AGAIN before Joe can string together more offense. Joe goes to the floor out of frustration just like in their first match. Maybe Joe can’t beat Punk? Maybe pure strength and impressive agility won’t get him by so easily tonight? Joe shows more frustration than he ever has before as he kicks the guardrail at a fan. Chicago is getting to him. In Dayton, he just mocked a Punk fan, but here it’s…different. He isn’t king of this environment, and that scares the behemoth. Joe is super hesitant to lock up with Punk again. He’s not himself and Punk knows it. Punk, sending a message to prove that he’s in control, actually gets a lifting takedown on Joe from behind him. It took a little out of Punk to do that, but getting in Joe’s head is the main key here. Whether it’s because Punk used a little energy there or not, Joe is able to finally counter Punk’s counters and ends up on top of Punk. Instead of hitting him, he gets up and slaps Punk on the back. Joe is saying he’s back in control with that. Punk is smart, so he bangs on the turnbuckle pad to try and get the crowd back into it. He knows that the crowd is getting to Joe, so he’s gonna try to turn the tide back in his favor. Joe is un-phased and gets another burst of offense. Punks tries to answer that but Joe simply kicks him in the face. Punk tried to change his strategy and it cost him a bruise there. Joe gets his first control segment of the match, but Punk knows that Joe being in control in a death sentence, so he smartly targets Joe’s arm. They get into a striking battle, which PUNK WINS. Punk knows how rare that is so he quickly goes back to working the arm. He even hits the rope-walk legdrop to the arm, which the announcer notes that he hasn’t done in 2 years. This match is just perfect, and we haven’t even gotten to the best part yet.
You just knew that Joe was gonna connect with a huge strike sooner or later and he finally does here. He goes for his patented offense, but again Punk has that scouted. It’s like he read the “How to Beat Samoa Joe” handbook. Now when Joe tries to escape the headlock, Punk just holds on to the lion’s injured paw and stays in control. Joe knows he’s in trouble, so in probably the smartest move of his career, he falls through the ropes to the outside. Punk still has the headlock even after that, but all Joe wanted was an opening as he KILLS Punk with a backdrop suplex on the foor. This is officially the turning point of the match.
Punk’s quickness has been taken away. His back is now shot. Punk realizes that he has to go for broke now. He needs to get back into Joe’s head, so after he counters the facewash, he gets one of his own. He’s lost a step though so Joe counters his offense with some of his own. Punk is desperate so he goes for a springboard cross body, but he hit that in their first match and Joe remembers it and moves with ease. He even gets the stalling suplex he got in the first match, but unlike in Dayton, he is more conditioned and it doesn’t take much out of him, while it just destroys Punk’s back. To show how much he’s in control, he connects with the leg sweep even after Punk had just countered it seconds before hand. All the counters in Punk’s arsenal aren’t going to save him now. Joe works over the back some more. Literally everything they’re doing makes sense here. Joe just kills Punk now. Just a massacre. Joe knows he can’t be beaten…ever. He emphasizes his dominance with an insulting cover on Punk. It’s all but over. But wait! Desperation Hurricanrana! Punk knows it’s now or never and connects with a Suicide Dive. The crowd is back in his corner. He even connects with Joe’s Ole Kick. Blasphemy! Joe is gonna murder bitches now. First attempt at the Ole Kick is blocked, but Joe eventually gets it. The match then goes into full nonstop badass-ness. The announcers are marking out so even they have to leave to booth to go into the crowd to watch. The crowd is full in to it too. They’re banging Punk’s entrance music on the guardrail. They can feel a title change.
It’s really hard to describe how great it gets so I won’t even try. Punk getting the Anaconda Vice on Joe’s hurt arm forcing Joe to go the ropes for like the first time ever is pretty fabulous. As is the look on Punk’s face when he gets the Devil’s Lock DDT and thinks it’s over. One of my favorite nearfalls happens as well when Punk hits the Shining Wizard out of no where and Joe drapes his hand across the rope to save the title. Punk tries everything to get the win, but Joe can’t be beat with just anything. Punk is running out of offense and time. It has to be now. Pepsi…Plunge. Joe’s weakness. The confrontation on the tope turnbuckle is the stuff legends are made of. The crowd is begging for Punk to connect with the Plunge. It doesn’t happen. Time Limit Draw. FUCK.
Crowd wants more time, but alas it was not to be. Punk gives the title to Joe and shakes his hand. Joe walks away still the champion, still unbeatable in title matches. Punk walks out to a standing ovation. A hometown hero.
Punk claims neither man can beat the other in 60 minutes. He knows for a fact that the Pepsi Plunge can beat Joe, but he’s not sure the Muscle Buster can beat him. He wants Joe with no time limit. Joe says that Punk’s 2nd chance was his last. He did his job and Punk didn’t do his. No more opportunities.
What can I say that I haven’t already? This is one of the greatest matches I’ve ever seen. Everything came together and everything made sense. The drama was off the charts, it had an epic atmosphere and it had every intangible that you could think of. If that isn’t a five star rating, I don’t know what is.
*****
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Samoa Joe © vs. CM Punk (ROH World Title; No Time Limit, there must be a winner; All Star Extravaganza II)
It is the wrestling trilogy of the 21st century, CM Punk/Samoa Joe. In the 50’s it was Buddy Rogers and Lou Thesz. In the 60’s it was Gorilla Monsoon and Bruno Sammartino . In the 70’s it was Jack Briscoe and Dory Funk Jr. In the 80’s it was Ric Flair and Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat. And now, it is CM Punk and Samoa Joe. There’s the bell and it…is…on!
- Mark Nulty
No prematch promos here. The time for talk is over. Ricky Steamboat is at the ringside table. This is Punk’s last shot at Joe and the title.
Crowd is HUGELY behind Joe here, although Punk has his vocal supporters. This is in New Jersey, not the friendly confines of Chicago. Mat wrestling is met with strikes from Joe. It’s all business tonight. Punk of course goes for the headlock early, but we’ve more than established that Joe is smarter than he looks. He avoids them with ease and chops down Punk forcing him to take an early break for the 1st time in their series. Punk’s got to play this one on the fly. Joe is as confident as ever so he asks Punk to chop him, fearing nothing that Punk can do. Punk obliges, but barely pats him on the chest. He then challenges Joe to chop him again. Joe doesn’t give a shit about mind games so he’s more than happy to. Punk smarty ducks and gets a backslide for an early nearfall which takes Joe off his game for a split second for Punk to lock in the headlock. Punk’s ring awareness will be his greatest strength tonight. He keeps his control segment ever-changing by dropkicking Joe in the head and then jumping right back on a headlock, followed by more head dropkicks. Punk has all the time in the world, so he’s gonna move at his pace. They both counter the other’s offense, after over 2 hours of time in the ring together, they know everything that the other man has up their sleeve. But unlike the 1st two matches, Joe is able to capitalize on his strikes. He capitalizes so much, that Punk gets busted open from a stiff knee. Punk is in the greatest trouble he’s been in so far in the series.
Joe knows what’s on the line, so he attacks the wound with animalistic precision. He’s literally trying to rip open Punk’s face here. The tides have turned a full 180. Now Joe is the one that is going to be able to last a long amount of time, and now Punk is going to have to be the one that has to end it as early as possible. Joe now uses Punk’s greatest weapon against him and uses the headlock to wear him down. There’s no way Punk can go over an hour tonight, if he’s got a shot, he’ll have to end it early. That cut is a target for the baddest motherfucker alive. Punk also doesn’t have the Chicago crowd to get him back into it. Joe just murders him for a long period of time. Punk takes a massive shitkicking, and it’s incredible to witness. He blocks a second attempt at the Ole Kick, and goes on the apron. Now, twice he’s had his jumping hurricanrana from the apron reversed into a face full of guardrail from Joe, so now he takes out the champion with a dropkick. Punk gets some chants, so he plays to that portion of the crowd to keep him in it. He even hits a Ricky Steamboat-like crossbody for a nearfall in a cool callback to that series. Another cool spot as Punk reverses the armbar that Joe had been using so effectively in the series to a School Boy. They fight on the top in a spot very reminiscent to the ending of the 2nd match, but Punk knows that a Pepsi Plunge is out of the question so early in this match, so he drops down and goes for a Powerbomb (which Joe had been using so well in the series) and Joe reverses that with a hurricanrana (which Punk had been using so well in the series). What’s better than a Joe hurricanrana? A Joe lariat that nearly decapitates Punk of course, which only gets a two count to everyone’s surprise. Moments later Joe FINALLY gets the choke for the first time in the series, which is amazing when you think about how much time these two had in the ring. Punk’s hand falls three times and it’s oer. Joe has retained the title…
BUT WAIT! Ricky Steamboat is stopping the time keeper from ringing the bell! He’s pointing to Punk, whose fingers were moving, he’s back in it as the ref calls off the timekeeper from stopping the match. Punk tries to fight out but Joe’s a Pitbull that won’t let go. Punk uses that to his advantage and gets the reversal that Bret got on Piper at Mania VIII and Austin at Survivor Series 96…it’s only two this time though as Joe was forced to let go. Crowd is really into it right now. Quick pinfall variations from Punk and Joe now. They’re going balls to the wall. It’s like they never even went 60 minutes. Huge moment of not only the match but Joe’s reign as he is so desperate to keep the title that he uses the ropes to try and pin Punk. Crowd is pissed at that. These two talked about these matches in their shoot together, and they said that Steamboat came up with that. They thought it was stupid at first, but eventually realized it was brilliant in relation to the match. Plunge is again reversed by Joe. Punk now realizes that the Plunge, although the one weapon in his arsenal that can beat Joe, can’t be hit, especially not after the beating that Punk has taken. He goes for a rollup, hoping that will be his saving grace, but Joe counters into the choke. Punk knows that he only has a few seconds to escape, but Joe realizes that too, and drops him on his head to keep him in it with huge trapped suplexes. Crowd begs for Punk to hold on, but he has already given everything. He has nothing left. Joe retains via pass out.
Joe gets on the mic and proclaims the ROH title the most important belt in the world. He shakes Punk’s hand and declares that he’s unstoppable as ROH champion. No one in any locker room in the world can beat him when it matters. Long live the King.
Phenomenal match that made both guys even bigger after it was over. One of the best of this decade. It didn’t have enough to push it into ***** territory, but it left an imprint on me anyway. I love how they “only” went 31 minutes as opposed to over an hour like everyone thought they would because of Punk’s injury. Psychology was great too. If you’re a fan of matches that have call backs to other matches, then this is defiantly right up you alley. A true classic.
****3/4
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