Samoa Joe is one of the elite young stars of TNA and should soon vie for the NWA World Title within the next year. He has only been in the company for a little over a year, but he has already accomplished quite a bit. Here is a look back at Samoa Joe's first year in TNA.
On June 19th, 2005 at TNA's Slammiversary PPV, Samoa Joe made his TNA Debut when he defeated Sonjay Dutt. It was during this match that TNA's Lead Announcer Mike Tenay creatively dubbed him the "Samoan Submission Machine." Joe continued to make an impact (no pun intended) on TNA when he defeated Sonjay Dutt & Alex Shelley to advance to the finals of the Christopher Daniels Invitational Super X Cup. Samoa Joe then faced a tough test, as his opponent in the finals would be no other then the "Phenomenal" AJ Styles. Joe would go on to defeat Styles, though despite interference from Daniels. Samoa Joe became the number one contender to Daniels' X-Division Title as a result of his tournament win. Larry Zybszko made the match for the X-Division Title a three-way match though because of the interference from Daniels. The match took place on September 11th, 2006 at TNA's Unbreakable. Although Joe put up a valiant effort, he came up short as Styles picked up the win and his fifth X-Division Title when he pinned Christopher Daniels.
Joe momentarily took his eyes off the X-Division Title and was set to fight Japanese legend Jushin Thunder Liger on October 23rd at Bound For Glory. Joe then teamed up with former nemesis Christopher Daniels along with Alex Shelley & Roderick Strong to take on Sonjay Dutt, Chris Sabin, Matt Bentley, & Austin Aries on November 13th at TNA Genesis. Joe, Daniels, Shelley, & Strong won the match, but Joe turned on Daniels after the match and brutally assaulted him. After two Musclebusters and a chair shot, Joe left a bloodied and concussed Daniels in the middle of the ring in his own blood.
Over the following weeks on iMPACT!, Styles came to the aid of Daniels and called out Joe saying that Joe had violated the "X-Division Code of Honor." Joe dismissed Styles though and attacked him the following week rebutting that "he does not respect the X-Division Code." At TNA's Turning Point on December 11th, Samoa Joe won the X-Division Title after defeating Styles in one-on-one match without interference. Joe attempted to pulverize Styles after the match but Christopher Daniels prevented that.
Samoa Joe's first title defense was against Christopher Daniels on January 15th at TNA Final Resolution. Joe vowed to end Daniels' career during this match and if it weren't for AJ Styles, he very well could have. When Joe had Daniels all but beaten, Joe continued to beat on Daniels until Styles threw in the towel for Daniels resulting in a win for Joe. AJ Styles was next in line for the X-Division Title on February 12, 2006 at TNA Against All Odds. Daniels was later added into the match though because he felt that he didn't lose the previous match against Joe. Joe retained the title when he delivered the Musclebuster on Styles for the win. The match was so good that Larry Zybszko called for a rematch on March 12th at TNA's Destination X. This time it would be the X-Division's unique and signature match: Ultimate X! In the weeks leading up to the PPV, many wondered if the wires would support Joe. Although Joe lost the match, it is being considered as a possible match of the year by the notorious wrestling magazine Pro Wrestling Illustrated.
Despite Joe's great display in that match, Larry Zybszko expressed his need to put Joe in the Heavyweight division, much to the ire of Samoa Joe though. Zybszko announced that his opponent at Lockdown would be Sabu. Joe wasn't through with the X-Division yet though as he defeated Christopher Daniels on TNA iMPACT!'s Thursday night debut on April 13th. Joe's match against Sabu on March 25th at Lockdown turned into an X-Division Title match. Joe defended the title against Sabu showing that he is capable of beating anybody.
Samoa Joe ventured onto the fan favorite side as he teamed up with Sting at TNA Sacrifice to take on Jeff Jarrett and Scott Steiner. Although Joe and Sting won, Joe would go back to his rule breaking ways though as he turned his back on Sting as Jarrett and Steiner attacked him. On the May 15th edition of iMPACT!, Joe suffered a first-degree tear to the Posterior Cruciate Ligament and a second-degree tear to the Medial Collateral Ligament that kept him out of action for two weeks. During his short time off, TNA released a DVD entitled Unstoppable: The Best of Samoa Joe. Joe continued his rivalry with Steiner though and defeated him on June 18th at TNA's Slammiversary. This match concluded Joe's first full year as a member of TNA's roster. Undoubtedly more will come in the second year of this young and already great TNA Wrestler.
And Then Came Joe's Second yr in which he faced Olympic Hero...Kurt Angle...this rivalry was tipped to be the Match of the decade but was a dissapointment in many viewer's eyes and Joe was MADE to look foolish by first tapping out to a beaten up Angle...in a match where Joe Dominated and Angle used about only 5 to 6 moves.....and still Joe tapped out
Then on the IMPACT before Turning Point PPV....joe again gave up to an olympic slam....in a match which disappointed throughout...pitting 5 of TNA's Top Stars(no insults to Daniels,Styles)....and it lasted only abt 13 - 15 mins...disappointing end...TNA Fucked it up with the awful booking
But Atleast the Turning Point PPV match between Angle and Joe was pretty gud..much better than the one at Genesis and was really gud seeing the crowd go wild over this match...Joe Deserved the win...and Am Lookin Forward to a Angle VS Joe 3 At TNA's Final Resolution....or even better would be a build up for Joe capturing the NWA HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
On June 19th, 2005 at TNA's Slammiversary PPV, Samoa Joe made his TNA Debut when he defeated Sonjay Dutt. It was during this match that TNA's Lead Announcer Mike Tenay creatively dubbed him the "Samoan Submission Machine." Joe continued to make an impact (no pun intended) on TNA when he defeated Sonjay Dutt & Alex Shelley to advance to the finals of the Christopher Daniels Invitational Super X Cup. Samoa Joe then faced a tough test, as his opponent in the finals would be no other then the "Phenomenal" AJ Styles. Joe would go on to defeat Styles, though despite interference from Daniels. Samoa Joe became the number one contender to Daniels' X-Division Title as a result of his tournament win. Larry Zybszko made the match for the X-Division Title a three-way match though because of the interference from Daniels. The match took place on September 11th, 2006 at TNA's Unbreakable. Although Joe put up a valiant effort, he came up short as Styles picked up the win and his fifth X-Division Title when he pinned Christopher Daniels.
Joe momentarily took his eyes off the X-Division Title and was set to fight Japanese legend Jushin Thunder Liger on October 23rd at Bound For Glory. Joe then teamed up with former nemesis Christopher Daniels along with Alex Shelley & Roderick Strong to take on Sonjay Dutt, Chris Sabin, Matt Bentley, & Austin Aries on November 13th at TNA Genesis. Joe, Daniels, Shelley, & Strong won the match, but Joe turned on Daniels after the match and brutally assaulted him. After two Musclebusters and a chair shot, Joe left a bloodied and concussed Daniels in the middle of the ring in his own blood.
Over the following weeks on iMPACT!, Styles came to the aid of Daniels and called out Joe saying that Joe had violated the "X-Division Code of Honor." Joe dismissed Styles though and attacked him the following week rebutting that "he does not respect the X-Division Code." At TNA's Turning Point on December 11th, Samoa Joe won the X-Division Title after defeating Styles in one-on-one match without interference. Joe attempted to pulverize Styles after the match but Christopher Daniels prevented that.
Samoa Joe's first title defense was against Christopher Daniels on January 15th at TNA Final Resolution. Joe vowed to end Daniels' career during this match and if it weren't for AJ Styles, he very well could have. When Joe had Daniels all but beaten, Joe continued to beat on Daniels until Styles threw in the towel for Daniels resulting in a win for Joe. AJ Styles was next in line for the X-Division Title on February 12, 2006 at TNA Against All Odds. Daniels was later added into the match though because he felt that he didn't lose the previous match against Joe. Joe retained the title when he delivered the Musclebuster on Styles for the win. The match was so good that Larry Zybszko called for a rematch on March 12th at TNA's Destination X. This time it would be the X-Division's unique and signature match: Ultimate X! In the weeks leading up to the PPV, many wondered if the wires would support Joe. Although Joe lost the match, it is being considered as a possible match of the year by the notorious wrestling magazine Pro Wrestling Illustrated.
Despite Joe's great display in that match, Larry Zybszko expressed his need to put Joe in the Heavyweight division, much to the ire of Samoa Joe though. Zybszko announced that his opponent at Lockdown would be Sabu. Joe wasn't through with the X-Division yet though as he defeated Christopher Daniels on TNA iMPACT!'s Thursday night debut on April 13th. Joe's match against Sabu on March 25th at Lockdown turned into an X-Division Title match. Joe defended the title against Sabu showing that he is capable of beating anybody.
Samoa Joe ventured onto the fan favorite side as he teamed up with Sting at TNA Sacrifice to take on Jeff Jarrett and Scott Steiner. Although Joe and Sting won, Joe would go back to his rule breaking ways though as he turned his back on Sting as Jarrett and Steiner attacked him. On the May 15th edition of iMPACT!, Joe suffered a first-degree tear to the Posterior Cruciate Ligament and a second-degree tear to the Medial Collateral Ligament that kept him out of action for two weeks. During his short time off, TNA released a DVD entitled Unstoppable: The Best of Samoa Joe. Joe continued his rivalry with Steiner though and defeated him on June 18th at TNA's Slammiversary. This match concluded Joe's first full year as a member of TNA's roster. Undoubtedly more will come in the second year of this young and already great TNA Wrestler.
And Then Came Joe's Second yr in which he faced Olympic Hero...Kurt Angle...this rivalry was tipped to be the Match of the decade but was a dissapointment in many viewer's eyes and Joe was MADE to look foolish by first tapping out to a beaten up Angle...in a match where Joe Dominated and Angle used about only 5 to 6 moves.....and still Joe tapped out
Then on the IMPACT before Turning Point PPV....joe again gave up to an olympic slam....in a match which disappointed throughout...pitting 5 of TNA's Top Stars(no insults to Daniels,Styles)....and it lasted only abt 13 - 15 mins...disappointing end...TNA Fucked it up with the awful booking
But Atleast the Turning Point PPV match between Angle and Joe was pretty gud..much better than the one at Genesis and was really gud seeing the crowd go wild over this match...Joe Deserved the win...and Am Lookin Forward to a Angle VS Joe 3 At TNA's Final Resolution....or even better would be a build up for Joe capturing the NWA HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
