#3.) vs Samoa Joe – Final Battle 2004
645 days. That was the length of Samoa Joe’s ROH World Championship run – a record that still remains till date. It was an incredible reign that saw him have wars with the likes of superstars such as CM Punk (a recommended trilogy of matches). ROH had simple, straightforward storytelling and despite Joe being the company man and the fan favorite, fans were ready to see him lose the title.
Naturally, it was time for a change after almost two full years and in the Final Battle match, Aries got the win of a lifetime when he pinned Samoa Joe to become ROH World Champion. The payoff was incredible and the crowd popped big for the title change despite Aries being a heel. It solidified him as a main eventer as well as his legacy in ROH.
Next Page: Austin Aries’ 5 Best Matches
