Chris Hero vs. Samoa Joe

[9.0] "This one reads like pure indie magic; the kind of match that makes you feel like you're part of something rare, a perfect storm of timing, talent, and crowd energy. Hero vs. Samoa Joe in Highland is exactly that. The brilliance of the match comes from the interplay between expectation and reaction. They start scientific and technical, trading chain wrestling, wristlocks, and facelocks, which shows the kind of subtle skill both men possess. But the crowd isn't having it--they want heat, they want chaos, they want impact. And both Hero and Joe recognize that immediately, calling an audible and turning the technical groundwork into a brutal, fast-paced slugfest. That responsiveness is what separates good matches from legendary ones. The strikes section alone reads like a clinic in pacing: slaps, chops, forearms, back elbows, rolling elbows, kicks; they all have weight and consequence. It's not about high spots or theatrical sequences; it's about rhythm, escalation, and storytelling through punishment. The duelling chants add a live-wire electricity; the crowd's emotional investment isn't just a backdrop, it drives the wrestlers' intensity. Hero's moments of control; the cravate suplex, Hangman's Clutch, Hero's Welcome; showcase his methodical, punishing style, while Joe's counters; the uranage, Death Valley Driver, and the Coquina Clutch finish; remind everyone why he's the champion and king of the indies. There's a perfect ebb and flow of dominance, desperation, and near-falls. The finish makes complete sense in context: Hero pushes, impresses, but Joe's vicious efficiency and the Coquina Clutch put an absolute cap on things. It's a logical, hard-earned ending to a match where the crowd demanded carnage and the wrestlers delivered. ****1/4"

[9.0] "There's something about an IWA-MS show in a basketball gym with the grimy ring and the loose ropes and the funny crowd that just hits right. In this case the crowd is actually pretty decent size and they are rabid. This is big bomb throwing and vicious, slows down a bit because I don't know if they planned on it but the crowd and circumstances demanded a big battle. Sometimes this is what you are looking for. ****1/2"

[7.0] "The kind of independent wrestling we like ! Fifteen minutes of hard-hitting action with one of the loudest crowd I've ever seen. You would think that a thousand fans were in the arena that night (while in reality there were only 250)."