This week on Rewind Mania, we reviewed Samoa Joe’s match against Kenta Kobashi from ROH’s “Joe vs. Kobashi” on Oct. 1, 2005.
This match occurred nearly 20 years ago, and it’s still the barometer for “dream matches” in professional wrestling. That’s because of how unprecedented it was. This was only Kobashi’s second match in the United States. Meanwhile, Samoa Joe was at the peak of his powers in 2005 and arguably the best wrestler alive, having stellar matches across ROH, TNA, IWA-Mid South and PWG.
For professional wrestling’s true sycophants, this was a clash of titanic proportions. Not only by virtue of their status, but their styles. Joe’s affinity for AJPW’s “Four Heavenly Pillars” was well documented—greatly influencing his in-ring philosophies. Kobashi was at the forefront of that movement, carrying it into the new millennium as the ace of Pro-Wrestling NOAH.
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