Over the past year, it has started to feel like anything is possible in an AEW ring. They’ve been working alongside New Japan Pro Wrestling to set up the Forbidden Door PPV, DDT & TJPW have sent stars like Konosuke Takeshita & Maki Itoh stateside, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Add in Tony Khan buying Ring of Honor, signing the likes of Samoa Joe and more? And you have an insane roster with countless possible matches.
Samoa Joe & Minoru Suzuki Were In The Right Place At The Right Time
One of the biggest matches that was put together recently was Samoa Joe vs. Minoru Suzuki for the Ring of Honor Television Championship. Suzuki won the belt from Rhett Titus at ROH Supercard of Honor, the same night that Samoa Joe made his ROH return – and signed with AEW. Tony Khan saw a chance for a huge match, and Samoa Joe would say the following about how this match came together.
“Things move fast and that’s what it seems. I liken it to the math that Tony brought up before. We are used to overcoming insurmountable and unusual calculations and odds. I think that’s how the past few weeks have played out. You know, I came in, debuted for Ring Of Honor, made my debut on Dynamite, obviously a lot of fun there. A good little opponent just to get the blood boiling. Then coming right in, Tony offered me the opportunity, he said, ‘hey, I have this idea. Suzuki will be around, I just think it’s only natural that these two forces should collide,’ and I was 100 percent in. I said, ‘absolutely, let’s go.’”
The Match Did Enough To Meet The Hype
As for the match itself, Joe & Suzuki were able to deliver a solid match in the time they were given. Hard blows were exchanged, and we’d see some solid wrestling throughout. It had lofty expectations, but neither man is in their prime – and their character skills would shine through instead.
Fans also expected a re-run of the absolutely legendary Joe vs. Kenta Kobashi match, arguably the greatest of his career. Did you think that Joe vs. Suzuki met the hype? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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