The AEW World Championship reign of Samoa Joe is off to a strong start following a hard-fought victory over HOOK on this week’s Dynamite.
Joe has held the gold since December 30 when AEW held its first Worlds End pay-per-view. At that event, Samoa Joe won the AEW World Championship from MJF, ending the latter’s record-breaking reign. After the match, Adam Cole would be revealed as the Devil with Matt Taven, Mike Bennett, Roderick Strong, and Wardlow as his minions.
Samoa Joe Vs. HOOK
In the main event of this week’s Dynamite, Joe defended his gold against HOOK. Thanks to a sponsorship from the new Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League video game (in which Joe voices King Shark), the match aired commercial-free.
Joe dominated early on, and would put HOOK through the announce table, though the second-generation wrestler responded by flipping off the champ. This earned HOOK a powerbomb onto the apron, though he was able to make it back to the ring.
No matter how hard Samoa Joe throws HOOK around, he just keeps coming back!
Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS!@SamoaJoe | @730HOOK pic.twitter.com/KMLxlmLv03
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) January 18, 2024
HOOK mounted a comeback and was able to kick out of a Muscle Buster at one, to the surprise of Joe and the crowd. In the end, the Coquina Clutch sealed the win for the champion, but Joe looked shocked at how much it took to put HOOK away.
After the Match
Despite his defeat, HOOK refused to stay down and trash-talked Joe after the match. This earned the FTW Champion another beatdown. Before more damage could be done, ‘Hangman’ Adam Page and Swerve Strickland arrived on the scene and Joe walked away. Both Page and Strickland have made it clear they intend to challenge Joe for the AEW World Championship when the time is right.
#AEW World Champion Samoa Joe smelled the blood in the water, but “Hangman” Adam Page makes the save!
Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS!@SamoaJoe | @730HOOK | #HangmanAdamPage | @SwerveConfident pic.twitter.com/oNYgBD2ABf
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) January 18, 2024
