Report: "Lots Of People" Vouching For AEW To Bring In Samoa Joe

Samoa Joe’s second WWE release in early January garnered widespread criticism from wrestling fans, media, and fellow professionals alike. 

‘The Samoan Submission Machine’s no compete clause is believed to be the standard WWE main roster 90-day clause, meaning it’s not due to expire until sometime around early April, but according to Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp during a Q&A session on Patreon, there are ‘lots of people’ in AEW vouching for Samoa Joe to join the company when he's free to do so.

Joe last wrestled in August 2021, defeating Karrion Kross for the NXT Championship, before quietly vacating the title and being removed from WWE television. Despite only having 13 matches in the last two years, many believe that Joe’s in-ring career is far from over, with former rival Kurt Angle saying we’ve not seen the last of Joe.

If Joe were to join AEW, it would remain to be seen if he would be hired in an in-ring capacity, or as part of AEW’s backstage staff, with Joe having worked commentary for WWE, as well as part of the talent scouting team with William Regal. And that’s not mentioning the value a name like Joe would have as a trainer, with the 20 plus year veteran being one of the most storied and respected wrestlers of his generation.