Suzuki’s reign stopped by the Samoan Submission Machine on Dynamite

AEW Dynamite was headlined on April 13 by an ROH Television Championship match as new champion Minoru Suzuki looked to make his first defence against Samoa Joe. 

The match started as expected, with a high tempo and rapid strikes exchanged as the New Orleans crowd roared its approval. Chests were beaten red and purple as neither man gave an inch, until a feint allowed Joe to drop Suzuki for the first time in the match. Still, the champion kept his cool, luring his challenger to the ropes, where an armbar had Joe in trouble; as both men spilled to the floor, the forearm and chop exchanges continued. 

As both re-entered the ring, Suzuki found a Fujiwara armbar, and then transitioned into a double armbar as Suzuki targeted Joe’s taped left elbow. When Joe made the ropes, he fought back with headbutts and then a powerbomb, locking in an STF as Suzuki kicked out. The champion refused to lose to the hold, and rocked Joe with a PK, but chose to go back to strikes rather than pin Joe with a Gotch Style Piledriver. 

The pride was perhaps the King’s downfall, a rear naked choke quickly countered with a sidewalk slam. The champion scored with a short range dropkick, but couldn’t land the finishing blow on Joe, who hit a gamengiri in the corner. Suzuki fought out of a Muscle Buster at first, but not for a second time, as Joe took the victory and the title. 

Suzuki faces Tomohiro Ishii in a singles contest Saturday at Windy City Riot.  

Watch AEW Dynamite Wednesdays on TBS! 

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