The Twisted Metal TV series, featuring AEW’s Samoa Joe as Sweet Tooth, is returning for a second season. Joe provides the physical performance for the character, while Will Arnett voices him.
Based on the classic PlayStation game, the series stars Anthony Mackie, Tahj Vaughans, Stephanie Beatriz, Chelle Ramos, and Michael Carollo. A major addition to the cast is Anthony Carrigan (Barry, Gotham), who will portray Calypso, the enigmatic host of the Twisted Metal tournament.
Peacock announced the renewal in December 2023, and production wrapped up in November, after which Joe returned to AEW programming. Now, the first look at Season 2 has been released, with a teaser trailer offering glimpses of the tournament and new characters, including Calypso.
The new season is set to premiere this summer. The plot follows John Doe (Anthony Mackie) and Quiet (Stephanie Beatriz) as they navigate the chaos of the tournament, facing both new and familiar adversaries.
Peacock has touted Twisted Metal as its most-binged original series in its first week and one of the platform’s top three original shows of all time after Season 1.
Posted February 13th, 2025 in AEW. Tagged: Samoa Joe.
Samoa Joe made his return to AEW television during Wednesday’s episode of Dynamite. After HOOK faced Christian Cage in a hard-fought match, Cage, alongside Nick Wayne, attacked HOOK. Joe, accompanied by Katsuyori Shibata, ran out to make the save, ending the segment with a show of force.
Joe had been absent from AEW programming since July 2023, when he was written off television following a brutal street fight against Chris Jericho on Dynamite. In that match, Jericho, aided by Big Bill and Bryan Keith, used a forklift to drive Joe through a wall, resulting in the bout being stopped. HOOK was notably absent, having been sidelined after a fireball attack from Jericho the week prior. Katsuyori Shibata was also missing from the event. Following the match, Joe was stretchered out and loaded into an ambulance to signify his temporary departure from AEW.
Joe’s hiatus was due to his commitment to filming the second season of Peacock’s hit series Twisted Metal, where he portrays Sweet Tooth, a fan-favorite character from the classic PlayStation franchise. The show, starring Anthony Mackie, Stephanie Beatriz, Tahj Vaughans, Chelle Ramos, and Michael Carollo, became Peacock’s most-binged original in its first week. It ranked among the platform’s top three original series of all time. In December 2023, Peacock announced the renewal of Twisted Metal for a second season.
Anthony Mackie was deeply impressed by the acting talent of AEW’s Samoa Joe, the 46-year-old actor revealed this week. Mackie and Joe both star in Peacock’s Twisted Metal series, which recently wrapped filming for its second season.
In a conversation with Abbott Elementary star Tyler James Williams for Variety’s Actors on Actors series, Mackie reflected on the unexpected talent Joe brought to the set.
“I was blown away by this dude from the first moment he stepped on set… He was acting his ass off.”
Samoa Joe portrays the physical embodiment of Twisted Metal’s iconic Sweet Tooth, while Will Arnett (BoJack Horseman, LEGO Batman) provides the character’s voice. Despite not speaking, Joe vividly conveyed Sweet Tooth’s twisted psyche through his physical performance.
“It was literally like he was doing Vaudeville-type shtick… I don’t think a veteran actor could have done what he did.”
Twisted Metal is based on the popular vehicular combat game series of the same name. The story follows John Doe (Mackie), who must traverse the post-apocalyptic United States to deliver a mysterious package. The cast also includes Stephanie Beatriz (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), with Neve Campbell (Scream) appearing in a recurring role.
In AEW, Samoa Joe was written off television in July after an attack by The Learning Tree, allowing him time to film Twisted Metal’s second season. Now that filming has concluded, speculation is mounting about Joe’s return to AEW. Fans may soon see the former World Champion back in the ring—and back on the mic—sooner than expected.
Posted December 23rd, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: Samoa Joe.
Samoa Joe, a prominent figure in All Elite Wrestling (AEW), has been absent from recent programming, leading to speculation about his status. His hiatus is attributed to filming commitments for the second season of Peacock’s “Twisted Metal,” where he portrays the character Sweet Tooth. This filming schedule necessitated a temporary departure from AEW events.
What Happened to Samoa Joe?
During the July 10 episode of AEW Dynamite, Joe faced Chris Jericho in a Canadian Stampede Street Fight. The match concluded dramatically when Jericho used a forklift to drive Joe through a wall, resulting in Joe being stretchered out and taken to a hospital.
This storyline was crafted to explain Joe’s impending absence due to his filming obligations.
Return Rumors
As of early November 2024, reports indicate that Joe has completed his filming commitments and is available to return to AEW. Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio noted that Joe’s return is now at AEW’s discretion, suggesting that fans can anticipate his reappearance in the near future.
Samoa Joe Yakuza Game
In addition to his wrestling and acting endeavors, Joe is set to feature in the upcoming video game “Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii,” scheduled for release on February 28, 2025. This project marks another expansion of Joe’s presence in the entertainment industry.
Posted November 4th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: Samoa Joe.
Former AEW World Champion Samoa Joe is set to appear in the upcoming video game Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, the latest entry in the long-running Yakuza franchise. This was revealed during the September 2024 RGG Summit, hosted by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and Sega.
The game, which focuses on series favorite Goro Majima battling pirates, has already generated excitement among fans. Some sharp-eyed viewers noticed Samoa Joe in the game’s trailer, where he appears as one of the villains. His involvement in the game adds to the anticipation surrounding its release.
The trailer showcases fast-paced action and pirate-themed battles, with the protagonist Goro Majima washing up on Rich Island in Hawaii. After engaging in combat with pirates, Majima eventually becomes captain of his own ship.
Samoa Joe in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawai
The plot will revolve around key characters Madlantis and Queen Michelle, introducing a new setting and storyline within the Yakuza universe.
Samoa Joe is in good company as a pro wrestler appearing in this gaming franchise. The Great Muta, Kazuchika Okada and Tetsuya Naito have appeared in prior installments. Joe has a history of voice acting in video games, most notably portraying King Shark in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.
His most recent AEW match took place in July 2024, when he faced Chris Jericho in a Stampede Street Fight on AEW Dynamite. Outside of wrestling, Joe has been part of the production for the upcoming season of Twisted Metal, where he’ll reprise his role as Sweet Tooth.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is scheduled for release on February 28, 2025, and will be available on all major gaming consoles and PC.
Fans shouldn’t expect to see Samoa Joe on AEW programming for the foreseeable future, but there’s a very good reason for that.
During the July 10, edition of AEW Dynamite, Joe faced Chris Jericho in a ‘Stampede Street Fight.’ Jericho’s use of a forklift would result in Joe no longer being able to compete and the match was called off with the Learning Tree being declared the winner. Joe was seen being taken away in an ambulance later in the show.
Big Bill, Bryan Keith & the FTW Champion 'The Learning Tree' Chris Jericho look ominously as the ambulance with Samoa Joe inside drives away.
With this attack, Samoa Joe has been written off TV but there’s a very good reason for that. This attack will give the former AEW World Champion the necessary time off to film Twisted Metal’s second season, PW Insider reports. Filming will start later this month and last until October. However it’s reported that there will be breaks during shooting meaning Joe may return before the October date.
Twisted Metal
Twisted Metal is based on the popular vehicular combat video game series of the same name and premiered in July 2023. Joe plays series favorite Sweet Tooth, while Will Arnett (Bojack Horseman, The LEGO Batman Movie) provides the voice of the character.
WWE Auditions
Samoa Joe is the only pro-wrestler attached to the show but that was nearly not the case. WWE’s very own Omos, Cedric Alexander, and Apollo Crews auditioned for the role of Axel in the show, PW Insider reports. Axel made his game debut in Twisted Metal 2. The show is moving ahead without any WWE talent being cast for the role.
All Elite Wrestling Fight Forever is still going strong after its official release last year. The game was released on June 29, 2023, on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4/5, and Steam. Although AEW Fight Forever was met with mixed reviews universally, the company is still adding more content to appease fans.
On X/Twitter, AEW revealed that they have updated the game for free with new character skins and five music tracks. The company also announced that Stadium Stampede mode has been updated.
“As a thank you to the fans for making #AEW the fastest growing wrestling promotion of all-time, the new Elite Beats and Stampede Expansion is available to #AEWFightForever players starting today,” wrote AEW.
The timing of the update is interesting as the company will celebrate the anniversary of its first pay-per-view, AEW Double or Nothing, on May 25. This year, the annual AEW event will occur on May 26 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. It’s unclear if the AEW Fight Forever will add more free content in connection to other milestone events for the company. However, AEW Fight Forever fans will appreciate the free additions to the game.
AEW Fight Forever Season Pass 4 DLC
Along with adding a free update, AEW has also announced that their fourth Season Pass is available for download today for $19.99 on social media. The game has added Samoa Joe, Jay White, and Adam Copeland to be playable for fans who purchased it. AEW Fight Forever Season Pass 4 also adds two arenas, 30 move sets, and a new tournament mode.
The new DLC is notable for wrestling fans as it will be the first game that Copeland will be involved in which isn’t WWE. The last game he was involved in was WWE 2K23 from the previous year.
There are still wrestlers that have yet to appear in the game. It’s possible AEW Fight Forever could add more DLC or a free update later this year. However, their latest update could be enough for now to enjoy.
All Elite Wrestling returns on pay-per-view for their first Dynasty event tonight. The event will occur at the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Missouri. AEW has been building towards the card for weeks, and the PPV is set to have 12 matches.
In the main event, AEW World Champion Samoa Joe will defend his title against Swerve Strickland. The challenger earned an opportunity after defeating Konosuke Takeshita to become the number one contender on the March 27 episode of AEW Dynamite. Strickland enters the matchup motivated to dethrone Joe and become the first black AEW World Champion. However, he won’t have an easy task, as Joe has yet to lose in over six months.
Elsewhere on the card, Will Ospreay will face Bryan Danielson in a highly anticipated match. Since officially joining the roster at AEW Revolution last month, Ospreay has quickly become a threat in the men’s division. He has won five matchups in the company to join the conversation of being a potential AEW world title contender. That said, Danielson stands in his way and will try to humble the former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion.
Start Time & How To Watch
AEW Dynasty will kick off their event with a pre-show at 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT. The pre-show will have three matches and be streamed live on AEW’s YouTube channel for free.
After the pre-show, the event will move toward pay-per-view at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT. AEW fans must pay $49.99 to watch on Bleacher Report, AEW’s YouTube channel, or Triller TV. The PPV portion will consist of nine matches, including the AEW World Championship main event.
AEW Dynasty
AEW Dynasty Full Match Card
(Match Card Is Subject To Change)
Pre-Show Card:
Matt Sydal vs. Trent Beretta
Katsuyori Shibata & Orange Cassidy vs. Shane Taylor Promotions (Lee Moriarty & Shane Taylor)
(C) Billy Gunn & The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens & Max Caster) vs. (C) Bullet Club Gold (Austin Gunn, Colten Gunn & Jay White)-AEW World Trios / ROH World Six Man Tag Team Championship Match
PPV Card:
(C) Hook vs. Chris Jericho-FTW Championship Match
(C) Roderick Strong vs. Kyle O’Reilly-AEW International Championship Match
(C) Kazuchika Okada vs. PAC-AEW Continental Championship Match
(C) Toni Storm with Luther & Mariah May vs. Thunder Rosa-AEW Women’s World Championship Match
Adam Copeland, Eddie Kingston & Mark Briscoe vs. House Of Black (Brody King, Buddy Matthews & Malakai Black)-Six Man Tag Team Match
The Young Bucks (Matthew Jackson & Nicholas Jackson) vs. FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood)-Vacant AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament Final Ladder Match
(C) Julia Hart vs. Willow Nightingale with Stokely Hathaway-AEW TBS Championship House Rules Match
Bryan Danielson vs. Will Ospreay
(C) Samoa Joe vs. Swerve Strickland with Prince Nana-AEW World Championship Match
The Rock has a new nickname, thanks to Brian Gewirtz, but it’s not necessarily a brand-new moniker. He is The Final Boss, but that is already a name that Samoa Joe has used in the past. AEW doesn’t want fans to forget about it, either.
AEW is going full-speed ahead in promoting Samoa Joe’s Final Boss t-shirt, despite The Rock using the name. Although nobody has the trademark locked down, there is now a bit of a battle over the nickname.
The Final Boss Battle
Dwayne Johnson has been calling himself The Final Boss for weeks now, and he’s having a great time getting heat in the process. The nickname is not locked down with any trademark within the pro wrestling bubble.
There are a few active trademarks for The Final Boss, but none of them are connected to AEW, WWE or The Rock. A couple of them are related to beer or food products, and another is in the advertising realm. So, The Rock and Samoa Joe can both technically use The Final Boss, because neither of them own it, yet.
AEW is actively promoting a “Final Boss” shirt for Samoa Joe, which was first released on January 17. They are embracing the term, and they are also making it very clear that Joe had the nickname first.
The Rock is set to team up with Roman Reigns to take on Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40. That feud got bloody on the March 25 episode of RAW, as Dwayne Johnson called himself “The Final Boss” the whole time.
The Final Boss name will likely stick around in WWE until Mania. It will be interesting to see if anyone tries to lock that name down with a trademark, as intellectual property is a very important issue in pro wrestling.
SEScoops will have more on this story, and many more, as we go down the road to WrestleMania 40. Keep checking back throughout the day for more headlines!
Samoa Joe says locker room troubles in AEW are a thing of past and this is a different AEW under his reign.
The AEW World Heavyweight Champion took part in the post-Revolution media scrum after successfully defending his title against Swerve Strickland and Hangman Page in a triple threat match at the show.
During the interview, he was asked about Swerve making fun of his commentary stint in WWE, and if he ever doubted he would be competing at this level again. The AEW star replied negatively, explaining that it was all about taking the time to heal properly:
“No, because obviously, I was planning and taking the time to recover so that I could be back here at this capacity, competing at this level. Far too many dumber athletes in this industry don’t take the time to heal, don’t bet on themselves and say, ‘Hey, listen, I’m gonna step away from things a little bit. And I’m going to come back, not 90%, not 80%, 110’%’
I took that time and I came back 110%. Now I’m AEW world champion. So this is just indicative of me understanding what I need to do to get things done. I’m playing this on a very different level than everybody else. Everybody else out here just hoping they get their shot. Hoping they’re doing things. I’m planning dynasties. It starts with me, and that’s not going to change anytime soon.
They’re playing checkers. I’m out here playing chess. It’s totally different game. That time doing commentary in ponchos, I still a millionaire. I don’t know what he’s talking about. He may not like that, but hey, that guy on the poncho just whipped his ass tonight and is still world champion. So I mean, you tell me, you tell me who’s running things around here?”
Samoa Joe Comments On Locker Room Issues In AEW
Samoa Joe was also asked about the many backstage issues that plagued AEW in 2023 and how are things now. The heavyweight star mentioned that there is genuine excitement in the locker room that has not been felt in a long time:
“I think you summed it up perfectly, that was last year. This is the AEW underneath my reign. As far as our locker room community and stuff, I don’t think it’s ever been tighter. I don’t think it’s ever been better. There’s a enthusiasm backstage that is infectious.
It’s because we have so much new talent. We have so many new opportunities to go out there and entertain the crowd with the people that we have at our disposal. There’s just genuine excitement among the locker room. I think it’s been a long time since the spirit has been felt here. I’m very much looking forward to where this leads us in the future.”
It’s been almost a decade-and-a-half since Rob Van Dam first grappled up with Samoa Joe in TNA and now the roles are somewhat reversed this Wednesday on AEW Dynamite.
RVD first wrestled Samoa Joe on the July 8, 2010 episode of TNA Impact. Back then, Van Dam was the World Heavyweight Champion of the promotion and he took on Samoa Joe in a non-title match main event.
RVD came out victorious after he pulled a “Bret Hart to Roddy Piper at WrestleMania VIII” 1-2-3 when Joe had him in the Kokina Clutch, but Van Dam used the turnbuckle to flip over and pin the then “Samoan Suplex Machine.”
“Samoa Joe is awesome by the way, you know, and it doesn’t seem like that long ago to me having that match. So when you put the year in like that it makes sense, then it’s like, ‘Wow, okay.’ So I guess 14 years ago, that’s a pretty big chunk of time. You only get so many 14 [year] blocks of time in your life.”
Now this Wednesday RVD will tag up once again with HOOK and the wild card, Hangman Page as they take on Joe, Swerve Strickland and Brian Cage. However, this time, it’s Joe who’s the World Champion in this full-circle situation.
Does Van Dam Have His Eyes On AEW Gold?
RVD later makes note that he isn’t one to shy away from making firsts in pro wrestling and getting hold of the AEW “Big Platinum” isn’t something he’s ruling out of the cards forthcoming.
“So if I go after the AEW Championship, say I collect that f***ing gold and add that and become the only wrestler to have held the WWE, TNA, ECW and AEW Championship. I mean, I do s*** like that. I’m always finding new ways to stand out and be one of a kind. Imagine if that happened, how inspired people would be in general to think they grew up watching me decades ago. And then here at 53, they’re seeing me, perspectively, maybe having the best matches or the best year of my career.”
Samoa Joe doesn’t tend to walk away from a fight, but from a high-flyer? Sign him up. During a recent interview with veteran journalist Justin Barrasso for Sports Illustrated, Joe was asked about a notorious spot he’s done in matches since his early days in the ring.
Whenever an opponent climbs the top rope and goes for an aerial assault, he casually walks out of the vicinity of the attack and leaves his foe looking foolish. Joe gave some common sense reasoning as to why he’s implemented such a magical moment in the ring.
“As a small youth in my younger days, if I saw something large or very destructive coming toward me, it was only natural to step aside,” said Joe. “It’s not rocket science.”
Joe says the inspiration behind the fan favorite spot draws from the early days of mankind.
“The cavemen understood this, too,” said Joe. “If you see a rock coming toward you from the top of the hill, move a little to the left.”
While he’s done the “nope” countless times in matches, a recent moment in AEW went viral during a squash match where Joe walked away and the talent was caught mid-air with a “WTF” expression on his face.
It’s not just enhancement talent who falls prey to Joe’s “walk away.” CM Punk became just another victim of Joe’s casual decision-making during his AEW matches with his long-time rival.
If one were going by the live crowd reaction, Joe was tremendously over to start the fight, but two-thirds into the battle, Joe and HOOK got the audience completely over on the challenger’s side.
Speaking on an episode of “My World,” Jarrett talked about how it takes a rare talent to be able to do that for their opponents. Joe did just as much during his undefeated streak in TNA.
“My default answer was, ‘Joe can win and still help get guys over.’ That’s an art. That was taught to me in many different ways from my dad and Jerry Lawler, but it is so true, and if you can’t really do that, I don’t think you can really get to the next level. It’s easy to win and get yourself over. It’s even more difficult to win and get your opponent over, but Joe could do it.”
How TNA Ended Joe’s Undefeated Streak In TNA
Jarrett admitted there was no end in sight for Samoa Joe to lose to anyone in TNA, but then Kurt Angle came along and signed with the company.
“…then that quick conversation to Orlando from Dave Hawk, who is Kurt’s manager, and said, ‘Hey man. I think you’ve got a shot if you want to have Kurt come on board ‘ and how all that came together, and then the Kurt and Joe trilogy.”
Please credit My World and h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
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!
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!
Samoa Joe is known to be a hard-hitter, but the AEW World Champion named three other names who pack their own special kind of power. However, none of them hit as hard as he does.
The champ was asked about who he would name as the hardest hitters in wrestling. Joe named two Japanese legends before naming three modern talents that devastate with their own power.
“The list is a Mount Rushmore of some of the most dangerous people in the world,” he said. “You start from [Kenta] Kobashi and [Mitsuharu] Misawa. Young Wardlow. He hits like a truck. Brock Lesnar hits like a truck. Roman Reigns hits like a truck.”
There’s tons of people around the sphere of wrestling who all hit hard, and I’ve felt all that power, but they don’t hit as hard as me.”
Reigns and Lesnar have had their fair share of championships, but the AEW World Title is the first World Championship Joe has held since his TNA days.
CM Punk & Jack Perry fought backstage at AEW All In 2023, but the pair did not have some epic showdown according to Samoa Joe.
The infamous brawl would take place after Perry’s kick-off match with HOOK, in which the former Jungle Boy referred to using real glass. Punk, who has previously made clear his opposition to using real glass, would confront Perry about the comment, resulting in a fight.
Samoa Joe On All In Brawl
Much like the brawl at AEW All Out 2022, the fight at Wembley Stadium would dominate headlines and in the eyes of many, would overshadow AEW’s historic international event. Despite threatening to quit AEW on the spot, Punk would compete in the All In main-card opening contest against Samoa Joe. In a recent interview with ESPN, the reigning AEW World Champion played down the notion that the fight between Perry and Punk was some massive spectacle.
“There was a little bit of an incident. We got it broken up. We went out there and wrestled, man. That’s the gist of it. Everybody wants it to be a lot more than what it is, but that’s what it was. And to speak any more on it would be pointless unless you’re trying to get a scorecard and stuff — but trust me, it wasn’t that type of a fight.”
Samoa Joe is quite intrigued for his upcoming title fight against HOOK. The AEW World Champion will put his newly acquired hardware on the line against the FTW Champion in what will be Joe’s first defense of the belt.
“This typifies what I want to see during my reign–I want these first-time matchups with something at stake. Hook is quite the dynamic little athlete, and he’s been doing his best to make his case. His record speaks for itself, and we’re going to find out if he’s the truth or not.
“It takes about 29 other athletes to equal something approximating me, so this will be a good little test,” said Joe. “We’ll find out where we’re at.”
The fight got a good deal of stir on social media as AEW President was heavy in defending the match-up against his critics and notoriously factored Jinder Mahal into the equation.
This match-up isn’t just intriguing to Samoa Joe, however. Rob Van Dam recently mentioned on his “1 Of A Kind” podcast that he’s thinks it’s going to be beneficial for both Joe and HOOK. He also stated that he believe HOOK has what it takes to be a top star in pro wrestling. RVD mentioned that the bout could end in the two exchanging handshakes and that could be a possibility, as Joe envisions his father Taz in some well-regard.
“That no-nonsense attitude, destroy-at-all-costs, that’s who he was. That’s who I am. Now it’s exemplified in an athlete like Hook, so let’s get in the ring and go.”
Rob Van Dam believes HOOK has a very “high” ceiling in pro wrestling.
On the upcoming episode of “1 Of A Kind With RVD” Van Dam got word that Samoa Joe was going to put his AEW World Title on the line against HOOK. Taz’s son will actually be Joe’s first title defense and it’s set to go down next week on AEW Dynamite.
RVD was asked what he thought about the Joe vs. HOOK match-up and if he thinks the current FTW Champion has what it takes to be a top guy.
“From what I know about him, absolutely. What I don’t know about him is very important here because this sounds like a good matchup. It’s probably a really exciting matchup.”
Van Dam said that he wasn’t completely aware of HOOK’s AEW journey and the path that he has taken to get to Samoa Joe, but believes their styles and size difference will compliment one another.
When asked about the bout itself, Van Dam believes HOOK being with Joe will elevate him even further and could see the finish of the fight involving the two earning one another’s respect. He adds that when that happens along with the two stars earning the crowd’s respect, that creates a special moment in wrestling.
“I could totally see that happening with these two guys. You know, I could see Samoa liking [HOOK] and maybe who knows, maybe take him under his wing or something?”
RVD also happened to share a special moment with Joe. On the previous episode of “1 Of A Kind” Van Dam talked about how while the two were in TNA Samoa Joe saved his life from choking to death on a hot dog.
MJF lost the AEW World Title to Samoa Joe at Worlds End, and that put the end to his impressive run as champion. Since Our Scumbag is taking a much-deserved hiatus, and his name is actually gone from the official AEW roster, Samoa Joe is carrying on as his own type of World Champion.
Samoa Joe Debuts New AEW World Title
Samoa Joe debuted his new AEW World Title on Dynamite this week. The setting for this moment was special, as Daily’s Place was host for Tony Khan’s flagship show once again.
Daily’s Place played home for AEW during the pandemic, and the crowd was hot for the night’s event. Samoa Joe’s promo stuck with the crowd, and they were all behind Joe as World Champion.
Then Hangman Page and Swerve Strickland came out to join the promo party. This all culminated with Hook making his presence felt, as he reiterated a challenge he laid down during AEW Collision last week.
Through Swerve or not, “Hangman” Adam Page wants to make the #AEW World Championship his!
In case you were unaware, this big change for the AEW World Title was totally expected. Samoa Joe ripped on MJF’s Burberry Title Belt during the AEW Worlds End press conference.
Joe did not appreciate MJF’s Burberry flair for the AEW World Title, either, as he called it “Knock-off Gucci.”
“Oh, this is going in the garbage, don’t worry about that. This trash right here. This little knockoff Gucci stuff that he got going on, it’s going away. We got the good belt, the right belt, something that’s designed well. I spoke with Tony Khan intensely about it, and we’re very much looking forward to it.
Samoa Joe will defend that new AEW World Title against Hook for his first opponent. That match will take place on the January 17th episode of AEW Dynamite.
During this week’s AEW Collision, FTW Champion Hook appeared and pointed out that his win/loss record in the promotion is second to none. Hook added that it’s time for him to go after another championship. Hook went on to say that thanks to ‘personal connections’ he’s had a close eye on the person he has his crosshairs on. Hook ended his promo by making it clear he’s coming for Samoa Joe and his AEW World Championship.
Hook debuted for AEW in 2020 and wasted no time in aligning himself with his father Taz as part of Team Taz. It wouldn’t be until December of 2021 that Hook made his in-ring debut, besting Fuego Del Sol on an episode of Rampage.
Hook is a two-time FTW Champion, a title introduced by his father in the original ECW. Hook’s current reign began with his victory over Jack Perry during the AEW All In Zero Hour pre-show.
Samoa Joe beat MJF at AEW Worlds End, and now he is the AEW World Champion. That will come with an aesthetic change for the title belt itself.
Samoa Joe expressed his clear intention to change the design of the AEW World Title, doing away with the Burberry title and pledging to present a more respectable one. ‘
Recent details have emerged, with Sean Sapp on Fightful Select stating that, while it’s unclear if the title will be entirely new, steps have been taken to make some alterations. He also dropped a photo that could be a massive spoiler for the upcoming title.
Tony Khan, in a recent gesture, presented a custom title to the Clemson Tigers, indicating the possibility of side plate options for the new title. Following Clemson’s victory in the AEW TaxSlayer bowl, Khan customized a world title for them with Clemson side plates. There are, at the very least, side plate options for the upcoming version of the championship, with AEW also having plates produced for Kentucky had they won.
The report mentioned that the new version of the title seen so far displays the AEW logo on a black background. The debut of this title remains to be seen.
Samoa Joe had notably criticized MJF’s Burberry World Title during the press conference after Worlds End.
“Oh, this is going in the garbage, don’t worry about that. This trash right here. This little knockoff Gucci stuff that he got going on, it’s going away. We got the good belt, the right belt, something that’s designed well. I spoke with Tony Khan intensely about it, and we’re very much looking forward to it.
After months of build, the reveal of the Devil has had the wrestling world talking. Taking to Twitter, Cole shared a snippet from the song ‘pride.is.the.devil. by J. Cole and Lil Baby.
Anthony Bowens has been aligned with MJF and was attacked by The Devil’s henchmen alongside the rest of the Acclaimed recently. The AEW Trios Champion had just two words for Cole and his allies.
Alex Hammerstone recently wrapped up his time with MLW and has teased joining AEW. The former MLW World Champion shared a photo of himself alongside MJF, and others during their time as The Dynasty and asked if MJF needs some help.
There have been some negative reactions to the closing moments of AEW Worlds End, but that hasn’t phased Samoa Joe. The new AEW World Champion made it clear he’s enjoying the ‘salty tears’ of fans.
Damn, ankles gonna swell all these salty tears I’m drinking.
The new AEW World Heavyweight Champion Samoa Joe has confirmed that we will be getting a new belt for the top prize of the company in his new era.
The Samoan Submission Machine took part in the World’s End press conference after his big win at the PPV. He was asked about the current title design and Joe confirmed that the current belt is ‘going into garbage’:
“Oh this is going into garbage, Don’t worry about that. I mean this trash right here, this little knockoff, BS Lucha stuff that he got going on, this is going away.
We’re getting the good belt, the right belt. Something that’s designed well. I’ve spoken with Tony intensively about it and we’re we’re very much looking forward to it. I mean, we got a whole new era starting up here.”
The current AEW title design was introduced by MJF last year after he defeated Jon Moxley at the Full Gear PPV to win the title.
The Scumbag held the championship for 406 days before Samoa Joe defeated him for the title. Though Joe had a lot of help in doing so.
The new AEW champion had been helped by the mysterious devil who was revealed at the show tonight. You can check out the identity of the masked man here, and read what the future holds for MJF after the show tonight here.
If you use any quotes from the article please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription
AEW Worlds End will go down as one of the worst nights in the career of MJF, who lost his AEW World Championship and his best friend in one fell swoop.
For months, MJF has been targeted by somebody in his ‘Devil’ mask, who has been attacking anyone close to the scarf-wearing wrestler. Suspicion had been running rampant within AEW, with several wrestlers and even MJF himself being accused of being behind the attacks.
A New AEW World Champion
With his tag-team partner Adam Cole injured, MJF was until recently in an unlikely team with Samoa Joe. On this week’s Dynamite though, Joe betrayed MJF, who would lose the ROH World Tag Team Championships to two of the Devil’s henchmen. It was revealed on Dynamite that MJF had done ‘business’ with the Devil.
At Worlds End, MJF defended his AEW World Championship against Joe and a title change took place. The finish saw Samoa Joe lock MJF in the Coquina Clutch, and his arm fell three times, resulting in the submission victory and a title change.
Following the match, the Devil’s goons attacked MJF and Cole, who was at ringside for the match to ‘support’ his ‘friend.’ When one of the masked men was about to hit Cole with a chair, the lights went out. When they came back on, CVole was revealed as the Devil.
The masked men were also revealed as Roderick Strong, Wardlow, Mike Bennett, and Matt Taven. The four men beat down MJF and left him out cold to close the show.
Samoa Joe is gearing up for AEW Worlds End pay-per-view where he will challenge MJF for the AEW World Championship. Ahead of AEW’s final pay-per-view, he has shed light on his inspiration which has helped him polish his mic skills for almost two decades.
‘The Samoan Submission Machine’ remains to be one of the most feared opponents in the pro wrestling industry. For a man of his size, the in-ring athleticism is remarkable and it has kept him the standout wrestler for years. 18 years have passed since Joe made a breakthrough as a pro wrestler and he has top promotions in his resume including TNA/Impact, NXT, WWE, ROH, and AEW.
Not only his in-ring ability, but his promo skills are unparalleled. He has revealed that the inspiration for scathing promos comes from movies.
Samoe Joe talks about his inspiration
In an interview with Orlando Sentinel, the two-time AEW TNT Champion revealed that he’s been enjoying the matches from Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) from Mexico:
“It’s great action, and they obviously have a lot of guys who are tremendously skilled,” he said.
However, he has drawn inspiration for big talk from action movies.
“Most of my inspiration comes from outside the (wrestling) industry,” Joe said. “I watch a lot of drama, a lot of big action films, with great speakers plying their trade. I’ll see something that inspires me, recycle it, change it and make it my own.”
Samoa Joe believes he can defeat MJF at AEW Worlds End
Joe is gearing up for his shot at MJF’s World title and wants the champ to be at his best. Thereby, the veteran star is trying to protect him and even teamed up with him in the past. During the same interview, Joe said that MJF presents challenges for him and he’ll be merciless at Worlds End. He said:
“MJF presents some unique challenges for me. He’s got an abrasive tongue and wit. He’s duplicitous when he needs to be. But I plan to take a healthy MJF and beat him in due course. I’ll pummel him unmercifully when the time comes at Worlds End.”
We will have to wait and see if Samoe Joe manages to live up to his words at AEW Worlds End which takes place on Saturday, December 30 at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in New York.
