10 Best Daniel Bryan Vs. Samoa Joe Matches To Watch Before WWE SmackDown
6. Midnight Express Reunion - 2 October 2004
The first-ever match between Daniel Bryan and Samoa Joe in Ring Of Honor is still considered by a multitude of fans to be their best encounter. Samoa Joe was on a tear at the time as the reigning Ring Of Honor Champion, having already held the title for nearly a year and a half. While he’d yet to capture ROH gold, Daniel Bryan was no slouch either, and was already considered arguably the best technical wrestler in the world.
In what was his first challenge for ROH’s top prize, Daniel Bryan quickly took it to Samoa Joe, and both men worked a relentless style and pace throughout. Joe and Bryan seemed to throw everything at one another in one of Ring Of Honor’s most thrilling title defenses to that point. It was a match that for some time after became synonymous with what was to be expected from the most popular independent promotion in the country. Unfortunately for the American Dragon, he was unable to best the reigning champ on the night, but it surely was not to be his last attempt to win the the title or best his rival of Samoa Joe.