Samoa Joe, the reigning AEW champion known as The Samoan Submission Machine, recently shared a fascinating confession about some of the most unusual places in which he has wrestled. His admission came during an interview explaining his absence from AEW television over the past few weeks.
Joe was last seen competing at All In: Texas, the massive stadium event organized by AEW President Tony Khan last month. There, he teamed with Katsuyori Shibata and Powerhouse Hobbs to successfully defend their AEW World Trios Championships against The Death Riders—Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, and Gabe Kidd. The match ended with Joe being brutally attacked post-match by the heel group, an incident that led to his current hiatus from TV appearances.
AEW has since produced a series of shows from Chicago’s Aragorn Ballroom, praised for its intimate atmosphere and innovative production approach. Fans have responded well to the promotion’s shift to more compact, personal venues.
Uncovering the Most Unconventional Places Joe Has Wrestled
In a candid conversation with Matt Black of WrestleZone, Samoa Joe reminisced about some shocking and wild wrestling locations from earlier in his career. His experiences ranged far beyond traditional arenas, highlighting his adaptability throughout his years in the industry.
“Ooh, I mean, I’ve wrestled in st*** clubs. I’ve wrestled in rodeo, essentially, like the holding pen for all the cattle [laughs]. I’ve wrestled at a CFL halftime shows. Yeah, there’s been some pretty wild venues in my time,” Samoa Joe said.
He went on to describe one of his more extraordinary matches:
“I wrestled on the back of a U-Haul truck that was converted into a ring on Monster Garage. There’s been quite a few wacky venues in my time,” he added. “I’m sure I’ll remember a few more once we get done with this interview.” —Samoa Joe, AEW World Champion
Current Status and Health Update from Samoa Joe
Addressing his injury following the vicious attack at All In: Texas, Joe provided insight into his rehabilitation progress. He explained that he is taking concussion protocols seriously and hopes for a swift medical clearance to return to AEW competition soon.
“Obviously, we’re working through concussion protocols right now, something that I’m going to take very seriously. And you know we’ll see, hopefully doctors will clear me sooner than later. We can make amends for things that maybe shouldn’t have gone on,” he stated.
His health remains the primary factor in determining when he will rejoin AEW programming, where excitement is already building for upcoming events, including the planned residency in the historic 2300 Arena later this month.
