Samoa Joe recently shared how his experience portraying Sweet Tooth in Peacock’s “Twisted Metal” series has positively influenced his wrestling body language, improving the emotional depth he brings to the ring. During an interview with The Sportster, Joe credited the role for pushing him to express emotion through his physicality even while wearing the character’s signature mask, which limits facial expression.
He explained that playing Sweet Tooth, a character whose mask
“is very, very not inclined to show a lot of emotion,”
forced him to rely predominantly on body language to convey feelings. This practice has enhanced his ability to communicate more effectively and emotively during his professional wrestling matches, evolving the way he connects with the audience and his opponents.
Joe reflected,
“I mean, a tremendous amount, I think. Being forced, especially with the Sweet Tooth mask, which is very, very not inclined to show a lot of emotion just by its nature. Yeah, just in the practice of being that character, your body language and how you express yourself can’t help it improve. And yeah, I’ve definitely noticed myself being a little bit more emotive in the ring whenever I do things.”
—Samoa Joe, Professional Wrestler and Actor
Recent Wrestling News and Notable Updates
While Samoa Joe has been gaining recognition for his dual talents, the wrestling world continues to experience several notable developments. <a href="https://cynicaltimes.org/category/wrestling-news/wwe/”>WWE recently uploaded the full main event from an NXT show featuring Trick Williams versus Je’Von Evans, where Evans earned a title shot against Oba Femi for the upcoming Heatwave event. This confrontation is generating significant anticipation among fans.
On the independent circuit, notable matchups have been scheduled such as Leon Slater facing Francesco Akira this Friday at RevPro’s Global Wars UK event in London. The following day, Yuya Uemura will battle JJ Gale during RevPro’s 13th anniversary show. Additionally, Major League Wrestling will host a first-round Opera Cup tournament match between KUSHIDA and Austin Aries in North Richland Hills, Texas, on September 13.
TNA has refreshed its digital presence with a redesigned website, signaling ongoing efforts to engage its fanbase. Meanwhile, “Filthy” Tom Lawlor confirmed he is recovering well after hip replacement surgery, posting simply, “I’m ALIVE. That’s all!”—“Filthy” Tom Lawlor, Professional Wrestler.
Wrestling Community Achievements and Honors
In other highlights, Natalya received recognition from the Cauliflower Alley Club when she was honored with the Lou Thesz Award, which celebrates technical excellence, leadership, and multifaceted contributions within the wrestling industry. Grateful for the accolade, she said,
“To be the first woman to be awarded the prestigious Lou Thesz award means so much to me as Lou Thesz is held as a standard bearer in wrestling. Like everything worth spending a life chasing, the wrestling business has never been easy. It’s not easy today. It never gets easy, and if it ever does, I’ll know that’s when it’s time to hang them up. Thank you so much @caulifloweralleyclub for thinking of me.”
—Natalya, Professional Wrestler
Across the wrestling and combat sports spectrum, UFC fighter Michael Chandler was featured on Celtic Warrior Workouts alongside Sheamus, blending the worlds of MMA and pro wrestling. Former WWE star John Cena participated in an Autocomplete Interview with WIRED, offering fans a personal glimpse beyond the ring.
Emotional Moments from Wrestling Stars
The wrestling community also faced somber moments, as Trish Stratus announced the passing of her mother after a courageous battle with cancer. Stratus expressed her heartache and resolve, sharing,
“My heart feels broken in a way I can’t describe. Life will never feel the same. I can’t imagine my world without her… not being able to pick up the phone to hear her voice, her advice, her laugh. People have told me time will heal but right now it just feels like a piece of me will be missing forever and I will never feel whole again. My only solace is that I will carry her in everything I do and mama, I promise your grandkids will never forget the incredible woman their Nana was. Thank you for loving me so fiercely, for shaping me into who I am, and for showing me what it means to be resilient. You are my literal fighting spirit and dammit, I’m gonna miss you so much!”
—Trish Stratus, Former WWE Superstar
Roman Reigns also shared a touching response to the news that his cousins Naomi and Jimmy Uso are expecting a child, expressing pride and optimism about family growth with,
“Welp, time to start over. Looks like he’s got the youngest now. I don’t got the babies. We’re in school, we’re good, we’re starting to empty our house out. He’s got to start back over. That’s awesome, though. Congrats, I love both of y’all. It’s a blessing. To have our family continue to grow – nothing like it. This is completely god-sent. Congrats, guys. Love y’all.”
—Roman Reigns, WWE Superstar
Upcoming Events and Future Prospects in Wrestling
The wrestling calendar remains lively, with several major shows and tournaments scheduled through the remainder of the month. RevPro’s events in the UK are set to feature compelling matches, while MLW prepares for the much-anticipated Opera Cup tournament in Texas. These events continue to showcase emerging talent and veteran expertise alike, promising fan engagement and dynamic competition.
Moreover, the blending of entertainment mediums, as demonstrated by Samoa Joe’s crossover role in “Twisted Metal,” is expected to redefine how wrestlers approach character-building and in-ring storytelling. Joe’s experience underlines a growing trend that enriches wrestling performance with acting skills to enhance emotional resonance.
Given his insights on using subtle physical expression to convey emotion effectively despite restrictive costume elements, Samoa Joe’s evolving wrestling body language serves as an example of innovative training tools benefiting professional athletes. This development not only invigorates Joe’s matches but could inspire peers to explore similar cross-training opportunities.
