Retirements have been the talk of the town in terms of skilled wrestling over the previous couple of years, especially in firms like WWE and AEW where the likes of Sting and Bryan Danielson have already hung up their boots, and each John Cena and AJ Styles aren’t too far behind them. One other man who believes he’s within the twilight of his profession is Samoa Joe, who remains to be competing at the best level as he’ll challenge Hangman Page for the AEW Men’s World Championship at AEW WrestleDream on October 18. Joe has already admitted publicly that after his current contract with AEW expires, he’ll likely call time on his profession, and through a recent interview with “SHAK Wrestling,” Joe was asked if that was still the plan.
“I’d say most definitely, and truthfully I feel it’s for a variety of reasons and I feel most of them are responsible,” Joe said. “Obviously, you recognize you never wish to outstay your welcome on this industry and I have been fortunate that I have been capable of be involved with it for over 25 years now….The opposite thing too is you recognize, I feel lots of us wish to preserve what we will of our health for our latter years. So it’s something that might be the most definitely scenario, but hey, it’s an unusual world and strange opportunities come up, so we’ll see.”
When asked if he was willing to share a particular date on when that retirement could be, Joe stated that he would relatively do things in a more casual way. “It could be a surprise. It would just be in the future I’m gone and leave it at that. I’m not as ceremonial as everybody else you recognize? I like disappearing into the sunset.” Joe went on to clarify that he has all the time had his sights set solely on the longer term of the business, and would not wish to stand in the way in which of a younger talent who desires to grow and improve just so he can have one last dance within the highlight.
Will Samoa Joe Stick Around In Wrestling?
When wrestlers retire, they do not stray too far-off from the business as there are quite a lot of opportunities for performers to stick with major firms in each backstage and on-screen roles where they do not have to get physical. Joe has already tried his hand at commentary during his time recovering from injury while working for WWE, and when he was asked about potentially donning a headset once more, the previous AEW World Champion admitted that he’s open to any and all opportunities.
“Truthfully, whatever role could have me. Like once more, I’m not fearful about what it’s I’ll do, that is not a difficulty for me. I mean you plug me in wherever, I’ll do whatever it takes to assist us as much as we must be helped in that area. But yeah I mean I feel I definitely would live to have some involvement with the industry. I’d like to work with younger athletes and help them develop and change into higher, obviously in the event that they decide to wish to work with me, but yeah I mean that is really it.”
Joe rounded off by saying that he desires to help younger talent change into stronger and stronger in order that the fans can profit in the long term, and that the legacy he wants to go away behind is that if he manages to assist around ten wrestlers change into higher because they worked with him, then he might be very comfortable with himself.
Please credit “SHAK Wrestling” when using quotes from this text, and provides a H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.