7 Ups & 2 Downs From ROH Death Before Dishonor 2022
6. That Pre-Bell Violence
Credit goes to Jay Lethal and Samoa Joe for finding a way to heap sympathy on the Samoan. That's hardly easy, because it's a challenge to convince fans that Joe is genuinely in peril or might not be able to fight his way back. Having the reigning ROH TV Champ brawl from underneath here was smart.
Lethal wrapped a steel chair around Joe's arm and rammed him into the steel post before the bell had even sounded. That, once both men were inside the ring, forced the referee to eject Satnam Singh from ringside so the actual match was strictly one-on-one.
Again, clever.
Who knows where Joe goes with the TV Title in the future, but having him hold one of the undercard belts adds instant credibility to Ring Of Honor. Also, that belt shot near fall tricked everybody in attendance, and was one of the night's most convincing false finishes.