Shane Taylor Wins Eliminator Tournament, Earns ROH TV Title Shot Against Samoa Joe

Shane Taylor versus Samoa Joe is finally a reality.

Thursday’s episode of Ring Of Honor TV saw Shane Taylor defeat Gravity in the finals of the Ring of Honor World Television Championship Eliminator Tournament. With the win, Taylor earned a shot at Samoa Joe and the ROH World Television title.

Taylor was close to challenging Joe before. He faced off with Dalton Castle for a shot at the title at Death Before Dishonor. Castle won that match, but Samoa Joe told WrestleZone that he can see a match with Taylor coming to fruition.

“I would imagine at some point, I collide with Shane Taylor. It’s just — I think he’s very much still a guy that’s still ‘becoming’. As soon as he’s the finished predator we all hope he becomes, then yeah, I’d be more than happy to take him on.”

The date for the Shane Taylor vs. Samoa Joe match has not been confirmed yet. Joe will be in action on the August 17 episode of ROH TV, as he’ll team with Stokely Hathaway against Dalton Castle’s Boys. After that, Joe will be headed to London as he recently challenged CM Punk for a match at the All In event.

Dream Match

Shane Taylor has been looking for a match with Joe for quite some time. He told Sportskeeda‘s Dr. Chris Featherstone that Joe would be a dream match.

“Number one is Samoa Joe,” Shane Taylor said. “Stylistically, I feel like I’ve always been… My run in Ring of Honor with the TV Title is similar to his run with the world title. He held it much longer, but there’s something about going to battle with someone who’s not out here trying to be the best catch as catch can, technical, five-star wrestler.

“You have guys that do that. I’m here to square up and punch you in the face. [Let’s] see who’s really about that life, who’s really gonna stand there and go toe to toe and fire those things off. When you look at Joe, when you watch what he does, he’s got such a mix of every kind of style. But when you really see him at his best, it’s when people push him to do that. When they bring that savage Joe out, Joey Head-Rocker, that’s the guy that I want to fight. So Joe would be up there.”

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