Iconic wrestler Samoa Joe will reportedly soon return to the AEW following a months-long hiatus, according to new reports.
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Samoa Joe has been absent since July when on AEW Dynamite, an intense angle unfolded following Samoa Joe’s Stampede Street Fight against Chris Jericho. Jericho emerged victorious by referee stoppage after interference from Big Bill and Bryan Keith, who helped take down Joe.
The match culminated with Jericho driving a forklift through a wall, with Joe strapped to it. As part of the storyline, Joe was stretchered out and taken away in an ambulance.
Jeff Jones/AEW
Wrestling Observer Radio’s Dave Meltzer later confirmed that the angle was to explain Samoa Joe’s absence as he filmed Twisted Metal season 2.
“That’s the deal,” Meltzer said. “It was an injury angle to cover that he’s going to be out of action. That’s the situation. That’s why he lost the street fight. That’s why he’s doing the injury angle. And then when he comes back, he’s got a built-in grudge with Jericho to come back for.”
Now, multiple sources are reporting that primary photography on the second season of Twisted Metal has wrapped and Samoa Joe will be able to return to the AEW, presumably to face off with Jericho at some point.
Samoa Joe physically plays the character Sweet Tooth, the primary antagonist of Twisted Metal; the character is voiced by Will Arnett. The series is a live-action TV series based on the popular video game franchise of the same name, developed by PlayStation Productions and Sony Pictures Television.
The show follows John Doe, played by Anthony Mackie, a loner with amnesia who is tasked with delivering a mysterious package across a dangerous, lawless wasteland. Along the way, he forms an unlikely partnership with Quiet, a tough woman played by Stephanie Beatriz, and encounters a series of bizarre and violent characters, including the iconic Sweet Tooth.
Sweet Tooth is one of the most famous characters from the video game series—a psychotic clown with a flaming head, driving an ice cream truck armed with weapons.
Samoa Joe officially joined All Elite Wrestling (AEW) on March 30, 2022, making his debut at the AEW Dynamite: St. Patrick’s Day Slam event. His appearance was part of AEW’s ongoing expansion of talent, and he quickly became a key figure in the company.
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Joe’s debut came after he was released from WWE in early 2022, following a period of involvement in NXT. Since joining AEW, Joe has competed in high-profile matches, including winning the ROH World Television Championship and participating in key storylines, especially within AEW’s partnership with Ring of Honor (ROH).
Before joining the AEW, Samoa Joe became the first wrestler to win the NXT Championship twice, which played a key role in elevating NXT as a prominent brand in WWE.
On the main roster, Joe captured the WWE United States Championship twice, including in a memorable feud with Roman Reigns, and also held the WWE Intercontinental Championship once.
In addition to his singles accolades, Joe teamed up with Seth Rollins to win the WWE Raw Tag Team Championship in 2017. He also claimed the chaotic and often comedic WWE 24/7 Championship during his time on WWE television. Joe made a strong showing in the 2019 WWE Royal Rumble Match, where he was one of the Final Four participants.
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