New Ring of Honor Champ at Philly Show!

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Samoa Joe, who has been Ring of Honor Champion since defeating Xavier over a year and nine months ago on March 22, 2003, was finally defeated on Sunday night.

In the main event at RoH’s Final Battle 2004 in Philadelphia, PA, Austin Aries beat Samoa Joe, pinning him after a 450 splash, to become the promotion’s fourth champion following Low Ki, Xavier and Joe.

According to PWInsider.com, ROHWrestling.com’s message board crashed last night due to extreme traffic caused by this surprising result.

Also at the event, according to ROHWrestling.com’s message boards, Jimmy Jacobs def. Trent Acid, Lacey and Deranged def. Angel Dust and Becky Bayless, John Walters def. Jimmy Jacobs to retain the Pure Title belt, “selling out on the fans” and joining the Embassy, Rockin Rebel def. Unknown Jobber, BJ Whitmer and Danny Maff def. The Carnage Crew of Loc and Devito, with Mick Foley and a Christmas Socko (stocking!) making an appearance in the match, along with plenty of thumbtacks, Homicide def. Josh Daniels, Lethal def. The Weapon of MASK Destruction #2, CM Punk and Steve Corino def. Generation Next of Alex Shelley and Roderick Strong, with Aries turning on Shelley after the match and becoming the new leader of Generation Next, and Referee Hanson threw out Lo Ki vs. Bryan Danielson.

As far as the Foley/Steamboat confrontation goes, here’s a live account from liamharvester’s RoH message board post:

Speaking of Foley, his interaction with Steamboat was GREAT. Both of them admit that pure wrestling is the foundation of ROH, but hardcore is a fun attraction that is necessary sometimes. Foley also says he was out of line when he disrespected Flair backstage at RAW (Foley calls the skit he was in on RAW “the most distasteful, racially charged skit I’ve ever taken part in.”). He also says Joe was out of line in disrespecting Joe. Joe comes out and shakes Foley’s hand and then goes for a hug, but decks him. Mick grabs a kendo stick and Steamboat pulls them apart. Joe challenges Mick to a match. Intruiging.

Credit: ROHWrestling.com

Matthew Michaels is editor emeritus of Pulse Wrestling, and has been since the site launched.