The first ever meeting between these two took place on August 16, 2003 in Fairfield, CT at Ring of Honor's Bitter Friends, Stiffer Enemies show.
At the time Samoa Joe was the ROH Champion having defeated Xavier for the Title a couple of months previous. The champion was involved in a feud with the Propecy whose leader Christopher Daniels was desprate to get the belt back into the stable. Meanwhile CM Punk was emboiled in a much more twisted and bitter feud with Raven, Punk was also the number two contender in the Top Five rankings.
Raven opens the show in the locker room claiming that he had nothing to do with the attack on Lucy (from Punk's stable), but he does threaten Punk and says he wants to face him in a Clockwork Orange House of Fun cage match. The next clip we see is off an angrey Punk showing up at the arena having returned from Japan and looking for answers.
Joe VS. Punk 1 (Non-Title Challenge match)
Pre-match Punk calls unpon his soldiers (the majority) for support, he hypes the cage match with Raven and claims it will be the most brutal in ROH. Fans chant "Raven's gonna Kill You" Punk slams anyone who supports Raven. Joe makes a far more subdued, focus entrence.
The two share tentative hand shakes before the match. They exchange hammer locks in the early seconds, Punk goes to the elbow, but is met by a drop toe hold into a crossface before Punk makes the ropes. The pace quickers a little following a Punk headscissors and a chop in the corner, but as he sends Joe for the ride to far side he is swotted out of the corner. An arm dragg by Punk, but Joe escapes and hits a beautiful over head suplex followed by a running boot to the chin. The bout goes outside of the ring for the only time where Joe fires his foe back first into the guard rail. He then sets him up on a chair, but just as he is charging in for a kick, he is met with a drop toe hold onto the chair (very Raven like). Punk then tries to turn the tables by hitting Joe's own move on him, but Joe counters and shows him how its down, the crowd heat raised at this point. The champion recieves another chair from a fan and hits a second running kick. Back inside Joe catches Punk coming off the ropes with a strong spinbuster, he then hooks in a leglock, Punk is able to kick his way free, but is then hung upside down in the corner, running boat to weakened knee follows. Punk escapes another corner hangman, hit a armbar drop followed by a swanton from the outside in, he then remains focused on the champions arm and does a Undertaker style rope walk and comes down accross Joe's arm getting a two count for his troubles. Punk blocks a hiptoss attempted and takes Joe down in a armbar, but Joe quickly makes the rope. The two then battle on the top rope, at one point it looks like Punk might hit his pluncha, but Joes battles out, and a dropping karate kick straddles CM, an sharp dragon whip off the turnbuckle gets a two count. Reverse elbow from Punk off the ropes, but Joe fires back with a legsweep, they exchange chops on the mat, Punk hits a shining wizard for the closest fall of the match to date. Joe regains the edge with another legsweep and hooks half a boston crab driving his weight down and quickly gets the tap out victory.
Daniels runs in post match and nails Joe with the Angel Wings, he then smiles at Punk (who is struggling with his knee) and leaves. It seems that Punk was trying to help Joe, there is respect as they shake hands.
Match Verdict: The match had a good solid build, with a good story to both men, and sound wrestling with Punk focusing on Joe's arm and the champ working on CM's leg. The brawling outside broke the match up nicely and was ejoyable, the crowd heat was also pretty strong throughout. I would have liked it to have gone a bit longer and maybe for Punk to be presented as less of a underdog. Also maybe their side issues destracted a little from the actually match. Still a good first meeting, with hopefully even better to come.
Match Rating: 7.5/10
Other results from the card:
1. Homicide smashed Prince Nana who looked out of his depth as a wrestler.
2. The Purists (John Walters and Tony Mamaluke) defeated Dunn and Marcos via submission in a sloppy and rushed affair.
3. Matt Stryker and BJ Whitmer wrestled to a 15 Time Limit Draw in a very sound wrestling match.
4. The Backsteat Boys beat Special K, The Carnage Crew and SAT in a scrappy stunt match.
5. Alexis Laree (future Mickie James) pinned Becky in a match which had too much interfearence.
6. Christopher Daniels beat Xavier in an excellent match to become the number one contender for the ROH Title.
7. Deranged pinned Jonny Storm to win an entertaing Four Corners match also involving Slyk Wagner Brown and Hydro.
8. Homicide beats Steve Corino in a fantastic, blood filled war, after Corino's manager throws in the towel.
9. And Low Ki defeats Dan Maff in a decent match, which couldn't possibly follow what came before it.
