I think this is the first time I've seen this. Aries was a favourite of mine back in the day so I figured I must've watched it at some point, but nothing was coming back to me during it. Either way it was pretty good. It probably would've come off better had I watched it in proper context, but I don't really have the time or inclination to go through that entire Joe title run again and I think I got most of what they were shooting for anyway. Aries comes out quick and tries to catch Joe early, which makes some sense because we've already seen Punk and Danielson go long with him only for that strategy to fail. Joe was having none of it though and you kind of wonder if Aries has even the slimmest of chances. He briefly goes to the headlock, but again that was a Punk strategy Joe overcame and it doesn't last long. He goes to the legs and Gabe suggests it might be smart as we haven't seen anybody try that with Joe before. Punk immediately rattles off two examples to the contrary and Gabe concedes that maybe it is actually a strategy we've seen after all. But ultimately it matters little as Joe is unfazed and keeps moving forward. The middle of the match was fine as Joe is usually compelling enough in control, plus he looks like he's having fun beating on Aries and it makes those odds of a title change feel even longer. Finishing run was really compact and actually pretty great. They tease the brainbuster well throughout and it's what Aries tries to go back to at several points - his one potential ace in the hole. By minute sixteen you obviously don't think Joe's punched himself out, but things are getting frantic and you can tell it won't be long before someone goes down. Aries is slippery, he's fought his way back into it after looking utterly dominated, Joe is struggling to string together his big bombs while Aires keeps finding gaps to put together bigger combinations. It's not really that I bought Aries implementing a specific strategy and it bearing fruit at the end. It was more about his explosiveness and ability to reel off those combinations at the right time. He also knew when something was going to shit and was pragmatic enough to move off it - like the headlock or the leg work - so there's something to be said for that as well. The one thing he did stick by was the brainbuster, and he was right to because it was key in that final combo to seal the deal. Joe overextends just a little, Aries capitalises with a few killer strikes, finally hits the brainbuster and 450 1-2 punch...it was a pretty awesome finish. They have a rematch in early '05 so I'll definitely watch that soon as well.
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