Samoa Joe: Is He Worthy Of A Shot In WWE?
F4WOnline recently reported that Samoa Joe is likely to receive a contract offer with WWE in the near future. The former TNA and ROH wrestler recently returned to the latter of these organizations at their 13th Anniversary Show, having a face-off with ROH Champion Jay Briscoe to close the evening. However, if these reports are to be believed, this return to the independent scene will be short-lived, as Triple H has long been considered a fan of the Samoan Submission Machine. Many times over the past decade he has been a part of WWE, Joe has been linked with a move to WWE, and that finally looks set to come to fruition.
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However, a question remains as to whether Joe, at this point in his career, is worthy of an opportunity to make it on the WWE roster. Samoa Joe is now 35 years old, which would make him one of the oldest members of the NXT roster, presuming that he would have to go through that process. Now, WWE has had little problem of signing people who are over thirty onto NXT, as Finn Balor and Hideo Itami (both 33) can attest to. But, with the likes of Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens only recently turning thirty and Adrian Neville even younger still, they are the true future of the industry for the next decade, whilst Joe’s career expectancy is much shorter.
The situation becomes even more difficult to comprehend when looking at the age of some on the main roster. Long-term WWE veterans such as Daniel Bryan, Cody Rhodes and the Miz are younger than Joe. The next wave of main event talent, the likes of Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, Bray Wyatt and Roman Reigns are ascending to the top of the industry before they have turned thirty. If somebody considers Batista joining the WWE in his early thirties as late to start their career, Joe would take that situation to a whole new level if he were to make it on the main roster.
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His age is not the key issue though, although it stands out more than others. No, there are even more difficult issues to overcome for Joe to have an impact on the WWE roster. First, there is his reputation to consider. The likes of Balor and Itami were brought into NXT despite their more advanced ages due to their repute in the wider wrestling world as well as their ability. Does the name “Samoa Joe” still carry that reputation? Sure, it is a name that is recognizable among smart fans of the industry and followers of the independent scene. But, I feel that recognition has extremely diminished over the past five years, as Joe fell down the roster in TNA.
His name might not even remain Samoa Joe when he enters WWE, although there should be little reason to change it. But Joe’s run at the summit of TNA came between 2006 and 2010, and since that end point took on a minimal role in the company. He was like a utility player that had a significant history behind him, moving from faction to faction, lower-level championship runs and numerous face/heel turns with minimal explanation. Joe was not exactly pushed to the moon in his final five years with the company, making the WWE’s interest in him with regards to his reputation seem a little haphazard.
There is also his look, and what separates him from other members of the WWE and NXT rosters. Samoa Joe has always been considered a big, powerful wrestler with an adeptness for submissions and uncanny speed. When watching him in his early years in TNA, it was incredible watching this 300 lb man sprint across the ring with flying kicks and diving over the top rope. His submission holds came out of nowhere, and his look and style was certainly unique enough to get him into the WWE on its own.
But, times have changed in the period in which Joe has remained in TNA. Kevin Owens fits the look of a superstar with a bulkier build with the speed and athleticism to connect with maneuvers that nobody would expect. He can dive over the top rope, connect with cannonballs in the corner, and soar off the top rope with flips aplenty. Bull Dempsey and Bray Wyatt are also two members currently under a WWE contract that fit the bill of a larger superstar that has the ability to produce a quick and atypical offense in the ring. Joe would thus not be special, but simply another competitor that fits this mold.
Yet, the major issue I have with Samoa Joe joining the WWE is his current ring style and ability. In the past few years, wrestling forums and sites have noted how much heavier he has gotten, and that has led to a reduction in the agility and explosiveness that made him a cult figure. Of course, the WWE Performance Center could restore in him the motivation and desire to lose weight and push himself back into how he was competing before he turned thirty. But, when I watch TNA in the last few years of Joe’s time their, their is one word I would use to describe his attitude towards matches he competed in: uninterested.
He wasn’t pushing himself, extending his abilities to produce some of the matches he was capable of. Joe was coasting, which is likely as much reason for his lack of an extended push as creative mismanagement. Would there not be at least some concern that if he were to fall off the cliff or lose interest in the direction of the company. He would simply be a talent, past his prime and with little time to make an impact regardless, being an unnecessary drain on the WWE’s money and rescources.
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So, I feel the best decision for both parties is for Samoa Joe to maintain his stay at ROH and continue to circle the independent scene where he can retain some relevance and control. I feel a move to WWE doesn’t work for either his interests or those of the company, and whilst won’t lead to disaster, is unlikely to make any noticeable positive impact to make the switch worthwhile.
Should WWE hire Samoa Joe? Leave your comments below.
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