WWE: 10 Awesome Matches That Showcased Great Ring Psychology

2. Samoa Joe vs CM Punk 2 - (2004)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5CJ6WhvgRE This is the famous Dave Meltzer approved five star match, whatever that's worth. To be fair while some fans do take Mr Meltzer's ratings strangely seriously, it's hard to find anything wrong with this bout. For all intents and purposes, it's perfect. All wrestling fans of all ages should do themselves a favour and track this gem down. You will not be disappointed. In their first encounter Punk shocked the ROH faithful and Samoa Joe by taking the seemingly indestructible Samoan Submission Machine to the limit. Nobody expected Joe's 20th title defense to be anything other than business as usual, but Punk came in with a killer game plan and almost walked away with the gold. This time Joe is prepared, but Punk has the home field advantage in front of a partisan Chicago crowd. Punk cuts an awesome promo before the match saying he's taken beatings here before, one time kids came round to his house while he was eating dinner to beat him up, but he scratched, he clawed and he won: because they came to his house, just like Joe is doing tonight. He dares Joe to ring his doorbell because he will not be beat in Chicago. This is his night and he will not be denied. That's how you sell a match. They start the match with a handshake, a gesture Punk snubbed in their previous encounter, showing Joe earned his respect by lasting 60 minutes last time round. Brilliant little piece of psychology there. Punk plays head games early on, taking advantage on the mat and allowing Joe a clean break, despite Joe not paying him the same courtesy. He's sending a message that he doesn't need to play dirty to win this match. He's just better. The reigning ROH champion knows Punks plan is to wear him down like he did in Dayton, so Joe tries to take him out early but cannot get an advantage against the hometown hero. The quicker challenger has everything scouted and holds the headlock to keep the advantage. Punks failure in his previous attempt was to allow Joe too much offence, so he couldn't capitalise on the tired monster. He does not plan on making that same mistake twice. He wants 45 minutes to wear him down, before finally taking the title in the closing moments. But it's not that easy. CM Punk could only keep this behemoth down for so long. When the champ finally gets some serious offence he damn near kills him, hitting a backdrop suplex on the floor. Having taken away Punk's quickness he precedes to massacre the second city saint, who becomes increasingly desperate as defeat looms into view. He escapes surefire defeat hitting a hurricarana, a suicide dive and Joe's Ole Kick. The commentators leave their booths to watch the match and the crowd start banging Punk's music on the guard rail: they can feel a title change coming on. The closing minutes are pure insanity as both men hit everything in their arsenal to put the other away before the time limit. But nothing can keep either man down for the three. Except the Pepsi Plunge: the steak in Joe's heart. Punk goes to hit it, but time is running out, almost... 3, 2, 1... draw. Simply put, one of the greatest matches of all time.