Samoa Joe Vs Delirious TNA Impact 06-21-2005
Samoa Joe in TNA was such a huge deal for me
I've probably mentioned before how big a fan of was of Ring of Honor, but in case I haven't here we go. In 2004 I discovered ROH and fell in love with it . I set out to watch as much ROH as possible and between tapes and other....less legal methods. By 2005 I was fully invested in ROH and it's lore. I'm pretty sure ROH DVDs were the first thing I ever got my parents to purchase over the internet. We had a PO Box and so the days we would go and get that slip that said, Come to the Main Counter, were the best days. Days we got that slip and the counter were closed, were the worst days. I grew up lower middle class, my life was low stakes back then.
I loved ROH, but I could only watch so much. I couldn't afford to get every DVD and the less than legal means didn't always have the best video quality. I don't think I was even aware of Youtube yet, and so that avenue was closed. Luckily, I had TNA. I mentioned before what a game-changer TNA was for me. A national television product featuring so many new wrestlers, mixed in with veterans I had fond memories of. The news of Samoa Joe showing up there meant I would get to see him every week now!
Bit of a monkey's paw situation though
See, TNA had a show on Fox Sports Net every Friday afternoon. I loved it and made sure I was home to watch it. Well, TNA's run on FSN ended in June of 2005 and they got a new TV deal on....wait...they didn't. That's right for about six months, TNA Impact could be viewed on TNAWrestling.Com if you had a realplayer and that was about it. After being so excited and hyped for Samoa Joe to be on my TV, I had to watch him on my computer until the fall.
Like I said, Monkey's Paw.
It didn't take away from how awesome Joe was though, because in 2005 he was an absolute badass. This was the Samoa Joe who had only recently lost the ROH World title. The Joe who had the legendary Punk trilogy. The Joe who I saw kick Nigel McGuiness super hard in the face when Nigel was doing that corner handstand thing, The Joe I love. Sure he wasn't going to be on my TV right away, but I loved Joe and love is messy
Tonight we are in the Impact Zone in June 2005 as Samoa Joe takes on Delirious. Delirious is the Danhausen of his day. Not in a similar style or appearance but rather I have no idea how to explain the gimmick to anyone. He's maybe a reptilian person who wears a mask and is a weirdo? We don't need logic for everything . Delirious is definitely a guy who was a bit ahead of his time on the indies. He had a bizarre gimmick when everyone else was serious wrestlers, so it'd be interesting to see what would have happened if he came around now.
This is Joe's third match in TNA, his first being a debut on PPV against Sonjay Dutt where he obviously won. The bell rings and Delirious goes crazy because....I don't know man it's what Delirious does. NOT EVERYTHING NEEDS LORE. Delirious runs all around the ring before running at Joe who hits a leg sweep that knocks Delirious down. I love this combination of wrestlers by the way. I love two well-defined characters who are opposites interacting. The fun in wrestling is two see how two divergent characters collide. Joe proceeds to chop the ever loving hell out of Delirious. They sound more like thuds than chops. Delirious in the corner and Joe hits the CM Punk corner Shining Wizard to Delirious. God bless Don West, he is such an underrated announcer with how he reacts to big moves. Joe sees Delirious face is a little dirty so he starts cleaning it with his boot before hitting a big face wash boot. I have no idea how the facewash boot doesn't hurt, and please don't tell me. I don't want any Secrets of Wrestling Magic exposed. YOU HEAR ME VALENTINO? A couple headbutts and then a BRUTAL CHOP TO DELIRIOUS BACK. Delirious sits up in pain while Joe hits the ropes and DELIVERS THE KNEE TO BACK OF DELIRIOUS NECK. I don't know if that was on purpose or an accident but that looked rough. Joe hits a senton and then locks in abdominal stretch. If you've read enough of these you know I hate the submission spots in matches.
Most of the time, but not this because
JOE ACTUALLY WORKS THE HOLD.
Instead of catching his breath, Joe moves the hold around and makes it look like he is actually trying to hurt Delirious. What a novel concept, trying to win a wrestling match. Delirious dodges a Joe attack in the corner and finally sees daylight. He rushes Joe with a splash WHO KILLS HIM WITH A URANAGE. I've seen that move hundreds of times, and I've never seen it not look great. Delirious able to recover with some clotheslines that leave Joe wobbling, but a Delirious attack is countered by Joe's amazing powerslam. It is incredible how low that powerslam gets. Every time they get perilously close to disaster, but it seemingly never fails. He gets Delirious up with a sick musclebuster followed by a rear naked choke for the win. Of Course he doesn't release the hold because Samoa Joe doesn't abide by your rules
A Great great match, not Hall of Fame worthy yet just because we have to see what else we have from the Samoa Joe TNA run. Joe was meant for a blog like this and I'm really excited to see him in the future. The irony that after whining about having to watch him on my computer that I want you to watch him on your computer is not lost on me.
TLDR Review
Joe. Joe. Joe
If you're interested in more condensed version of my thoughts, You can check out my Twitter where I talk about wrestling or stress out during Boston Celtics games. Hell, I'll even take suggestions for matches you want to see reviewed. You can also check out my Youtube where I make weird videos where I put on wigs in front of a camera to mask my true identity.