10 Best Daniel Bryan Vs. Samoa Joe Matches To Watch Before WWE SmackDown

10. Best In The World - 25 March 2006

Only a few times did rivals Daniel Bryan and Samoa Joe work together as a team, and it was often to the dissatisfaction of both men. However, on 25 March 2006 at Ring of Honor's Best in the World, the American Dragon and the Samoan Submission Machine faced off with two of Pro Wrestling NOAH's best in Naomichi Marufuji and KENTA - now Hideo Itami. It was nonstop action from the opening bell, a match that saw hard-hitting strikes, high-flying risks, and punishing submissions. Despite the undercurrent of animosity between them, Joe and Bryan were able to work cohesively in this battle between promotions.

While Joe and Bryan were the hometown favorites, of sorts, the crowd was electric for KENTA and Marufuji - who were international sensations at the time. The frightening Samoan and the intense American Dragon didn’t back down from the fight and instead brought it to the NOAH team - much to the delight of the red-hot crowd. In the end, however, KENTA was able to score an upset pinfall on the then-ROH World Champion, Daniel Bryan. But there was to be no respect shown between the competitors, even after the bell, as KENTA grabbed Bryan’s ROH title and raised it high. The audience roared, as it was a sign of more to come, but Bryan and even Joe were livid, chasing off the Japanese contingent.