Samoa Joe is having a career-defining run in AEW

Samoa Joe is reminding fans why he’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer every time he steps into the ring or in front of a camera while in AEW. 

There is a lot to enjoy going on in All Elite Wrestling today. Fantastic matches and cards are plenty, and fans get to watch their favorite performers each week. With all that greatness, there’s one individual who is going on a career-defining run like a veteran quarterback chasing one more championship. Samoa Joe has had a banner campaign since jumping to AEW and he should be recognized for his greatness.

Since his signing with AEW in 2022, Samoa Joe has remained pro wrestling fans exactly who he has always been, one of the best in the game. He’s held the ROH World Television Championship for 530 days, picking up wins over the likes of Shayne Taylor, Dalton Castle, Brian Cage, Mark Briscoe, and more. Along the way, he’d capture the AEW TNT Championship two times. It was his involvement that helped elevate the AEW TNT title after it had dropped off in value briefly. Joe is an impact player that can fit in any role.

This is the same man that WWE benched over medical issues, slotting him into a role as a commentator where he also excelled. But in the ring was where Joe belonged and he’s shown that during his time in AEW. There are so many excellent matches to pick from and point to while exclaiming “he’s still got it.” Everything about Joe is so believable he can’t help but be a fan favorite.

AEW has used Joe perfectly during this run. On the one hand, he’s winning matches over important figures like Darby Allin, Roderick Strong, Jeff Hardy, and others. But when he runs into the upper echelon of main event players, they are the ones benefiting from his stature. He and MJF had an excellent match at AEW Dynamite Grand Slam for example. The experiment didn’t quite work with Wardlow, but that’s not a detraction from Samoa Joe in any fashion.

Samoa Joe is in the right place for this phase of his career. Every week, his biggest fans get to see him perform and wreck a few opponents along the way. Then, he’s placed in big angles against the top names in the promotion, and he doesn’t always come out on top. In the scripted world of wrestling, this is exactly how someone in his place should be used. Samoa Joe is having a career-defining run in All Elite Wrestling and his performance in this position deserves all the praise.