Samoa Joe, absent from AEW television since his appearance at All In: Texas, recently shared the unexpected history behind the popular chant associated with him. Fans have long shouted “Joe’s gonna kill you” during his matches, believing he helped create it, but Joe clarified its true origin during an interview on Marking Out.
Joe explained that the chant gained traction during his time in TNA Wrestling, particularly in matches against notable competitors like AJ Styles and Christopher Daniels. Although he may have used the phrase once in a promo, he never encouraged the audience to chant it, yet it developed organically and became closely linked to his persona.
“So yeah, man, I think kind of going into the matches with AJ Styles and Christopher Daniels at the time, when the chants started to pick up—it really took a life of its own. I mean, it was never something I ever said in a promo. It was never anything that I had preempted the crowd or prompted the crowd to say. I think I’ve used it once in a promo, and that was months after it had already been chanted.” —Samoa Joe
Tracing the Chant’s Roots Back to the 1990s Wrestling Scene
Further into the interview, Samoa Joe traced the chant’s beginnings even earlier, revealing it started in the 1990s during the ECW era. The chant gained additional momentum when Ring of Honor (ROH) picked up the torch following ECW’s closure, as many fans and wrestlers moved from one promotion to another, carrying the chant with them.
“Shout out to Taz, man. That originally started as an ECW chant, and if you know, you know—ROH very much filled that void in the northeast when ECW collapsed. And much of that fan base, who were sitting in the front row at ECW shows, were sitting right there at those early ROH shows. They brought a lot of that culture with them. So that was definitely one of the chants that migrated from the ECW era into ROH and the TNA era.” —Samoa Joe
This migration contributed to the chant‘s widespread recognition during Joe’s run in TNA, solidifying its connection to his wrestling identity far beyond any single promotion.
Possible Future Impact of the Chant in AEW Future Storylines
With Samoa Joe currently on the sidelines, the chant might find new targets within AEW, particularly The Death Riders stable. At the All In event, this group was instrumental in taking out the former WWE Superstar, who was stretchered from the ring, suggesting that Joe’s eventual return could feature a feud influenced by this rivalry.
The chant, deeply embedded in wrestling culture and Joe’s career, could serve as a rallying cry for fans anticipating his comeback and quest for vengeance against those responsible for his injury.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Samoa Joe in Yakuza?
A. Sega unveiled a new trailer for Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza set in Hawaii, showing AEW star Samoa Joe’s character before the game’s release on February 21.
Q. Is Samoa Joe in Yakuza: Like a Dragon?
A. Samoa Joe’s part in “Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii” has been unveiled. Sega shared a new trailer for the game, set to come out on February 21, showcasing Samoa Joe, who is also an AEW star.
