Samoa Joe

Joe was previously known for his time with promotions Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) and Ring of Honor (ROH). He established himself in ROH from the promotion’s beginning in 2002, holding the ROH World Championship for a record 21 months from March 2003 to December 2004. Upon joining TNA in June 2005, he embarked on a 19-month-long undefeated streak, and went on to hold the TNA World Heavyweight Championship once, the TNA X Division Championship five times, the TNA World Tag Team Championship twice, and the TNA Television Championship once; completing the TNA Triple Crown and the TNA Grand Slam.

He also wrestled internationally and on the independent circuit for various promotions, winning several titles, including the GHC Tag Team Championship with Magnus in Pro Wrestling Noah, and he was an inaugural NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champion with Keiji Sakoda in Pro Wrestling Zero1. He left TNA in February 2015, briefly competing again in ROH and the independent circuit.

Joe officially debuted in WWE’s developmental territory NXT in May 2015, and signed a full-time contract with the company in June; he went on to become the first ever two-time NXT Champion, and the co-winner of the inaugural Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic (with Finn Bálor). After joining the main roster in January 2017, he headlined the pay-per-view events Extreme Rules, Great Balls of Fire and SummerSlam, in contention for the WWE Universal Championship at the last two.

Samoa Joe worked on the commentary table for a couple of years while out with injuries. He finally made his return to the ring in 2021, and defeated Karrion Kross for the NXT title at TakeOver 36.

Notable Matches

vs. AJ Styles at Turning Point 2005

vs. AJ Styles vs. Christopher Daniels at Unbreakable 2005

vs. Kurt Angle at Genesis 2006

vs. CM Punk at ROH Joe vs Punk II 2004

vs. Kurt Angle at Lockdown 2008

vs. Xavier at ROH Night of Champions 2003

vs. Kenta Kobashi at ROH Joe vs. Kobashi 2005

Notable Feuds

vs. Kurt Angle

vs. CM Punk

vs. AJ Styles

vs. Christopher Daniels

vs. Magnus

Other Notable Achievements

ROH Pure Championship

TNA Television Championship

TNA X Division Championship (5 times)

TNA World Tag Team Championship (2 times) – by himself (1), with Magnus (1)

King of the Mountain (2008)

Maximum Impact Tournament (2011)

Super X Cup (2005)

Feast or Fired (2009 – World Heavyweight Championship contract)

TNA Turkey Bowl (2007)

Wild Card Tournament (2011) – with Magnus

Natural Heavyweight Championship

Xtreme 8 Tournament (2006)

Mid-South Revolution Strong Style Tournament (2004)

GHC Tag Team Championship – with Magnus

NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Championship – with Keiji Sakoda

PWA Pure Wrestling Championship

TWE Heavyweight Championship

UPW Heavyweight Championship

UPW No Holds Barred Championship

UIWA Tag Team Championship (2 times)