10 Best Daniel Bryan Vs. Samoa Joe Matches To Watch Before WWE SmackDown
9. Survival Of The Fittest - 24 June 2004
In June of 2004, Ring of Honor presented a new concept to their audience dubbed the Survival of the Fittest. It was a one night tournament that culminated in a final six-man elimination match. The Philadelphia crowd was on the edge of their seats the entire night, having witnessed Samoa Joe defeat Matt Stryker to qualify for the finals and Daniel Bryan overcome the unorthodox Jack Evans.
Homicide, Mark Briscoe, Colt Cabana, and a then-up and coming Austin Aries joined them in the the elimination final. While the match featured some interaction between rivals Samoa Joe and Daniel Bryan, the night ultimately became a coming out party for Aries and a coronation for Bryan. Surprisingly, Joe was eliminated first from the match to the chagrin of some fans, but all was well by the time the final two competitors squared off.
Aries and Bryan had fought their way to the end, but the hardest battle had just arrived. The competitors traded blows, throws, and submissions, but nothing seemed to do the job. The last few minutes of the contest saw each man attempt every trick in their respective arsenals, and while Aries was made a star on this night, it was ultimately Daniel Bryan that walked away the winner. It was a match that many of the ROH faithful dubbed the best of 2004.