Former Impact Wrestling star and NXT Champion Samoa Joe has made a huge impact since being called up to the main roster, already having won a huge match at the WWE Extreme Rules pay-per-view (PPV) when he defeated Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Finn Balor, and Bray Wyatt in a Fatal Five-Way match to determine the new No. 1-contender for the Universal Championship.
That title is currently held by “The Beast” Brock Lesnar, who will defend his title against Joe in the main event of the Great Balls Of Fire PPV this weekend. Joe recently did an interview with ESPN to promote his match against Lenar, talking about his decision to sign with WWE, already being in the main event, and getting the opportunity to face Brock Lesnar:
Signing with WWE full-time:
“After I made my initial debut at NXT TakeOver, they looked at the interest and merchandise sales and decided I would be better signed full-time than not. I had a pretty full calendar regardless, so for me there wasn’t much of an inherent risk in originally signing because there was other work in place if they didn’t sign me full-time. But it didn’t surprise me when it happened as fast as it did.”
Already being in the main event scene:
“There’s no timeline you can put on these things, but that I’m in the main event this quickly is a welcome surprise — but it’s not a surprise that it has happened. When you look around and see how many people I’ve worked with in former companies that are here now, it’s not surprising. Talent is one of the few things that can’t be created. It can be enhanced, it can be coached and brought out of people, but you can’t deny it.”
Getting the opportunity to face Brock Lesnar for the Universal Title:
“Some people want to be called up as quickly as possible, but I’ve been around the industry long enough to know that timing is one of the most key and important things. Brock was at the top of my list of guys that I wanted to work with. There are certain special guys in this industry and Brock is one of those special guys, and to be able to go out there and work with guys like that, that’s where legacies are built.”
If you’d like to read Joe’s full interview with ESPN you can do that by clicking this link here.
