One is the Beast Incarnate and the other is The Destroyer. At some point, these two massive men will meet, and when they finally do come to blows, fans the world over will look forward to not only their face-to-face confrontation but their matches against one another. Both have developed not only their in-ring skills but have a mixed martial arts background.
Lesnar has achieved NCAA Championships, UFC championships, and the WWE championships, but there was a huge gap of time in the wrestling ring because of his pursuit of a career in the octagon. In comparison, Joe has dedicated as much time developing and emerging as an intense in-ring competitor as anyone in the world. These two men are similar in age, but there are a few intangible qualities that make them different from one another.
No one can deny the drawing power of Lesnar, but some may question other things about him in comparison to the Destroyer. Both are exceptional, but there are some things that simply appear to make Joe better.
Here are five reasons why the Destroyer is better than the Beast.
#5 His match versatility
One of the greatest skills that Samoa Joe has is his ability to compete in any type of match and tell a story better than many wrestlers today. Whether he is competing in a cage match against Finn Balor for the NXT championship or facing the likes of Sami Zayn in match after match to determine a decisive winner, Joe is phenomenal in the ring.
When we think of his past in TNA, Joe has demonstrated an incredible ability to compete in any match, regardless of the stipulation. Many fans will recall Joe competing in X-division matches, including an Ultimate X match. The risks were great for someone his size to take part.
However, he is capable of adapting to what the expectations of a match happen to be. We would be hard pressed to see Brock Lesnar adjust to the expectations that this type of match would demand. He may be bigger than Joe in size and strength, but if he was put in a match that wasn't a straight-ahead confrontation, it doesn't seem likely that he would be as successful.
#4 His ability to have convincing promos
It was once said, ‘When he's good he's good, but when he's bad he's better'. That statement resonates when discussing Samoa Joe's ability to deliver a promo. As the Destroyer, Joe has been relentless in his pursuit of different challengers.
When he was in NXT, he could make fans believe he was being completely sincere, just to swerve everyone and turn on them. He could convince the fans that he was remorseful for his actions only to switch completely.
In comparison, Brock Lesnar has had Paul Heyman convey messages on his behalf. Lesnar can deliver a promo, but Joe can and has given far more compelling promos regarding any and all opponents. Whether addressing AJ Styles or Kurt Angle, Joe has consistently delivered one passionate and meaningful promo after another.
It's a special quality to be either a heel and a face, and be convincing either way, but Joe is able to sell himself and has been able to do this consistently over the course of the last fifteen years.
#3 He matches up well regardless of the opponent
Whether he is facing someone 50 lbs lighter or 50 lbs heavier, Samoa Joe can compete with anyone in the ring. As many may recall from his time in Ring of Honor and TNA, Joe competed against some of the stiffest strikers in the ring. His matches and rivalries with the likes of CM Punk and Nigel McGuinness were an early example of how someone his size could move around the ring with guys that were lighter than him.
When he was in the ring with the likes of Abyss in TNA, it tested Joe's ability to strike and move with a wrestler that was both taller and heavier than he was. The key to his matches is Joe's conditioning; his in-ring stamina is tremendous. His matches won't end in a few minutes because he is able to attack consistently, and still sell the offence of his opposition.
On the other hand, while Lesnar has a similar ability to develop his character and strike, his matches don't last a great deal of time. It's a strength Joe certainly can showcase in their match against one another.
#2 The fans can appreciate how long it has taken for him to get to WWE
It isn't about how long it takes someone to get somewhere, as long as they get there. That belief certainly applies to Samoa Joe. The seventeen-year veteran has put in time developing his craft and earning his way to WWE. It had been reported that there were no guarantees that Joe would even be a part of the main roster.
However, with Joe's consistently passionate promos, quality in-ring work, and professionalism, it was impossible to argue that he would not eventually be brought to either the Raw or Smackdown Live rosters.
Those that have followed Joe from the beginning have seen him appear against Essa Rios in a tryout match for WWE while sporting blond hair. After that he competed in Ring of Honor, captured the championship and held it for a record length, and was undefeated for over a year after his debut in TNA, and more recently he won the NXT Championship twice.
While Brock is every bit as deserving of being in WWE and ascending to the top, fans respect the time and effort Joe has put into being where he is today.
#1 His ability to build a program
One of the best qualities about Joe is his ability to help create a program and be actively engaged in its delivery, throughout his career. Fans would be hard-pressed to think of a moment when Joe wasn't there to either complete a heel turn, or lead a faction, or simply build towards a one-on-one battle either as champion or challenger.
In comparison, Brock can't do that. Whether we attribute that to his schedule, or a dependence on Paul Heyman to deliver endorsements of his client, his direct engagement in his storylines is more limited. While there's nothing wrong with having someone speak on your behalf, it most certainly doesn't hold as much value if it isn't coming from the competitor.
Joe hasn't had someone speak on his behalf. He has had allies, or walked alone, but has always been the one to lay down the challenge or stand up to the challenge, either in promos or vignettes leading up to an event. Joe's consistent attendance and promos have made his ability to build a program that much more impactful.
