In the early years of this century, Samoa Joe was a monster on the Independent scene. He continued this dominance when he debuted for TNA running riot over the X-Division. Sabu has been insane with the hardcore spots he pulls over for a decade. This is pushing the “No Limits” tagline of the X-Division in a new way.
Mike Tenay goes over the X-Factors for the match; Samoa Joe’s
undefeated run over the last 10 months. Sabu and Samoa Joe defining No Limits,
and finally Larry Zbyszko putting the title shot outside of the regular X-Division.
Sabu brings a chair to the ring, and I just noticed they spliced crowd
reactions into his entrance video. Samoa Joe walks down to the ring looking
focused for his title defence as Tenay keeps pushing the similarities between Sabu
in the 90’s and Joe now.
Mike Tenay and Don West are on commentary for this match.
SAMOA JOE © VS.
SABU
TNA Lockdown
2006 (23rd April 2006)
Sabu throws the chair at Samoa Joe and dives for the leg. Joe goes down and I’m not sure he was supposed to, Sabu puts the camel clutch on Joe but he only has one arm trapped so Joe crawls out. Samoa Joe slaps Sabu’s back and connects with roundhouse kicks in the corner.
Samoa Joe hits the ropes but runs into a chair that Sabu throws at his face. Sabu covers but Samoa Joe kicks out at 1. Don West says Sabu recently broke his arm in Mexico, Tenay says it’s not stopping him fighting for the X-Division Championship. It’s also not stopping him from hitting Joe. Samoa Joe jabs Sabu, knocking him down. Joe hits some European uppercuts and sends Sabu’s head into the turnbuckle. Samoa Joe puts Sabu in a front facelock in the corner, the referee can’t do anything about it in the cage. Sabu lashes out at a cameraman and Joe sends Sabu into the cage. I doubt those two things are related. Sabu’s busted open after hitting the cage, Samoa Joe with a snapmare. Joe chops Sabu’s back and kicks his chest, putting him in position for the knee drop. Sabu fights back with right hands as they’re on their feet.
Sabu sends Joe into the top turnbuckle and stands the chair between them, Sabu jumps from the chair into Samoa Joe before a chair-assisted leg drop. Sabu moves the chair and hits a triple jump rotating leg drop most of the way across the ring. Sabu has a spike from his boot, Samoa Joe is able to fight the spike away from his eye and puts the broken arm in an armbar! Slick Johnson gets the spike from Sabu and Joe attacks the injured arm as he releases the hold. Samoa Joe brings Sabu down in a top wristlock, stomping on Sabu before bending Sabu’s arm across his own knee. Sabu fights free with right hands and knocks Joe down with a dropkick before climbing the cage. Samoa Joe gets to the top rope and they exchange punches, Joe sends Sabu’s injured arm off the cage wall and hits a cutter down to the ring! Sabu still kicks out at 2, Sabu avoids another knee drop and stomps on Samoa Joe.
Sabu uses the chair to jump to the top rope and uses the
cage to balance himself, giving Joe time to throw the chair in his face. Sabu
gets caught with the Muscle Buster, giving Joe the 3.
WINNER: SAMOA JOE (STILL TNA X-DIVISION Champion)
This was a mismatch on paper,
and they didn’t seem to click for me. The Impact Zone fans were into it, but that’s
not much of a measuring stick. There were a few big moves in there, but the
match looked clunky. Sabu shouldn’t have blown his load so early with the one move
he knew that isn’t using himself as a missile. [*½] 3/10
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