Samoa Joe: Ranking His 5 Best Matches Outside WWE

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Samoa Joe is known as one of the best wrestlers in the world today. Here’s a look at some of his best matches before he arrived in WWE.

Samoa Joe has made quite the impact since debuting in WWE in 2015. Upon his arrival, Joe won the first ever Dusty Rhodes Classic with his partner, Finn Balor. After this, he engaged in feuds with Balor, Baron Corbin, and Sami Zayn, before finally winning the NXT Championship at an NXT house show on April 21, 2016. After losing the title to Shinsuke Nakamura at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II on August 20, 2016, Samoa Joe regained the title at NXT TakeOver: Toronto on November 19, becoming the first ever 2-time NXT Champion. His title win over Nakamura was a match I was fortunate enough to watch live in Toronto, and it was fantastic.

Joe then debuted on the main roster in WWE on January 30, 2017, attacking Seth Rollins. While he has yet to win championship gold on the WWE Raw roster, it seems inevitable that Joe will be a champion sooner rather than later. Joe has already made himself known for his impressive promos, excellent matches, carrying himself like a legitimate champion. WWE fans are now discovering what Samoa Joe fans have been saying for years: He’s one of the best wrestlers in the world.

Having been a fan of Joe since 2003, I have compiled a list of 5 of his best matches (with a few bonuses thrown in) outside of WWE that you absolutely must see.