Nearly two decades ago, Samoa Joe and CM Punk elevated Ring of Honor to a whole new level of notoriety.
They are now afforded the same opportunity with Collision, AEW’s newest show, which will debut Saturday night on TNT.
For the first time since 2005, Samoa Joe and Punk will wrestle each other. They embarked upon wildly different journeys, but the destination has brought them right back where they started: standing across from each other in the same ring.
Punk is making his in-ring return on Collision, wrestling his first match since regaining the AEW title in September. Since then, a lot has transpired: a press conference blowup and ensuing backstage altercation, an injury rehab and the occasional self-defense on social media. Finally, the discourse returns to what takes place on camera, and so begins a remarkable opportunity to see Samoa Joe and Punk reignite a rivalry that belonged, seemingly, solely to the past.
If people tune in to Collision, they will be treated to Punk and FTR teaming against Samoa Joe, Jay White and Juice Robinson. It is a collection of talent that spans generations, and the crowd at the United Center in Chicago should explode when Punk and Samoa Joe are tagged in at the same time.
“We’ve always competed to have the best match of the night, and that’s what we’re still competing to do,” says Samoa Joe. “It was our ambition that brought us together. We were two young gentlemen who believed we were the best in the world and that we could take it to anybody. That was evident in the young versions of both of us, and it’s manifested to where we are today.”
The friendship between Punk and Samoa Joe dates back decades. Joe is well versed in Phil Brooks, the man who brings Punk to life. That also means he is intimately familiar with Punk’s ability to be a cult of personality and lightning rod of controversy.
“I understand the nature of the beast,” says Joe. “It’s not a beast that’s easily tamed, so color me unsurprised. I don’t lie to myself and think that everybody acts the same way. People have their own interpretations of things. So color me unphased.
“The guy’s my friend. He’s been my friend for years, and I have a lot of respect for him. But I understand the nature of the beast. I know what to expect.”
Courtesy of AEW
Asked to share his perspective on the rivalry between Punk and The Elite’s Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks, Joe did not mince words, especially when asked whether their perceived problems stemmed from a generational gap.
“This isn’t a divide, it’s an argument between men,” says Joe. “All those dudes don’t represent the entire genre of their generation. They have their own issues and their own problems. I don’t think it’s that deep. They’re grown-ass men. They have disagreements, they can figure it out or not. That’s between them.”
History has a knack of repeating itself in pro wrestling. When they were working together in ROH just a shade under two decades ago, Punk possessed that same ability to evoke emotion through a unique blend of compelling controversy—and Joe was still the same intense professional, with a sharp, biting promo and an intensely physical style that made people believe in what they were watching.
The two helped reinvigorate the independent wrestling scene, which was in rough condition in the early 2000s.
“I worked for the ability to have more work on the independent circuit,” says Joe. “We worked to build out a scene that would bring in more fans. There were a lot of small houses. When I left independent wrestling, those houses were dramatically up.
“And it was an exciting process to be part of this new company exploding onto the scene. Back then, there weren’t a lot of places to work in the industry. If you weren’t in WWE at the time, potentially TNA but they were in their early days, there weren’t many places where a young independent wrestler could get out there in front of fans and build a fan base. We were selling out small buildings in Ring of Honor and the fans were rabid. It was such a fun time.”
The Punk-Joe singles matches from 2004 are the stuff of legend. There were two 60-minute draws and a 30-plus-minute bout. Punk has not beaten Joe in their singles history, which spans six matches—a rich piece of history that now belongs to AEW.
“When you look at the breadth of our careers, there was a large span of time when we didn’t touch,” says Joe. “Now we’re back together, doing what we do best. I’m looking forward to seeing what he’s picked up, I’m down to show him what I’ve picked up, and we’ll see how it all hashes out in the ring.”
In addition to Joe and Punk, the match also features one of the best tag teams in the world in FTR, as well as White and Robinson. This match could be a launchpad for the latter pair. White is finding his footing in AEW after an immensely successful run in New Japan Pro-Wrestling and Robinson remains overlooked, but there will be a subtlety and nuance on display in his work tomorrow.
“Juice is wildly underrated,” says Joe. “Jay is coming into a new market, and not everyone has seen his work before, but that’s all part of the process. Stylistically, physically, they’re in their prime. FTR is an amazing tag team. I’ve got to watch their evolution from NXT to AEW. I’m looking forward to facing off against them.”
All eyes in the wrestling world will be fixated on Collision tomorrow night. This will be Punk’s moment, but Samoa Joe has the ability to leave people in awe, especially when squared up against Punk.
“I’m out there to pick a fight, get into one, and rock that building to its foundation,” says Joe. “The mantra and mission haven’t changed. This is a chance to show who really is the best in the world.”
Justin Barrasso can be reached at JBarrasso@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinBarrasso.
