Samoa Joe was previously told by Jim Ross that WWE has no interest in him.
Samoa Joe is one of AEW’s most prominent names today, but he already had a notable following even before becoming All Elite. While some might think all of this came from his time in WWE. He was also already well-known before becoming a superstar.
Samoa Joe wrestled in various promotions before his WWE run from 2015 to 2022. He was at Pro Wrestling Zero-One, Ring of Honor, Lucha Libre AAA, Pro Wrestling NOAH, and had a prominent TNA run from 2005 to 2015, where he was involved with the likes of Kevin Nash and Kurt Angle.
Although he already had several accomplishments before joining WWE, there was a time when legendary commentator Jim Ross told the current AEW star that the company would never sign him.
Samoa Joe Didn’t Take Jim Ross’ WWE Comments Negatively
While on Marking Out With MVP & Dwayne Swayze, Samoa Joe shared that earlier on in his wrestling career, Jim Ross told him that he didn’t fit WWE’s standards. Still, the former superstar didn’t take this comment negatively and worked on himself.
“When I first got started, Jim Ross told me to my face, ‘You will never work in WWE.’ That wasn’t malicious, it wasn’t a malicious thing. It was just saying, ‘Hey, listen, this is what we’re looking for. You are not it.’”
The current AEW star shared that hearing that from JR was “liberating” as his priorities changed after it. Stating that instead of chasing WWE, he was able to open his horizons to promotions that accepted what he could offer.
It was one of the most liberating statements that was ever spoken to me. Because then it uncoupled me from sitting there going, ‘I gotta be at every WWE house show that comes through the West Coast, I gotta be there, I gotta shake their hands,’ Instead, I said, ‘Listen, obviously they told me I ain’t gonna make it there, so now all my focus shifts to everywhere else I can make money.’”
Samoa Joe eventually joined WWE in 2015 but was released in 2022. However, he is thriving in AEW, where he is currently performing since his departure from the Stamford-based promotion.