Samoa Joe Talks AEW WrestleDream, Mentorship, And Wrestling’s Future

Samoa Joe has been a household name in professional wrestling for a long time. His world championship runs span two decades, beginning as the third-ever Ring of Honor World Champion in 2003 and continuing as the seventh AEW World Champion in 2023.

Now, 18 months removed from his reign atop AEW, Joe is back in the world title picture. He’s set to headline the WrestleDream pay-per-view on Saturday, Oct. 18, where he’ll challenge Hangman Adam Page for AEW’s top men’s prize in one of the night’s marquee matches.

Ahead of the show, Forbes spoke with Joe about his bout with Page, his perspective on the next generation of pro wrestlers, AJ Styles’ in-ring tribute, and more.

Rob Wolkenbrod: Looking back on your first AEW World Championship reign, what stands out to you most, and how did it resonate compared to your title runs in other companies?

Samoa Joe: I kind of explained to the world that the World Championship is very much on the table for me wherever I go. That was obviously the biggest point to prove, I think, with that first championship run. But it felt right. It felt good. I don’t think I could have kicked it off against a better individual. And we’re looking forward to the second one.

Wolkenbrod: You had a relatively short runway to build up your WrestleDream match, but fans praised your promo with Adam Page as one of the best examples of selling a big fight. What have you learned about the art of selling a match over the course of your career?

Joe: I think the biggest thing is that you really want to resonate with fans and have them feel a deep investment in what you do and what you accomplish out there. And I think this is no different. Obviously, Hangman Adam Page has been quite the champion for the fans of AEW, and he has done his best to be that standard-bearer. But at the same time, I think many of our fans—and many fans around the world—understand what’s at the table when it comes to a World Championship, what a Samoa Joe reign entails, and what they expect. It’s something people are clamoring for, and I’m happy to serve them up.

Wolkenbrod: After all these years in the business, what does it mean to you personally to still be headlining major pay-per-views?

Joe: It feels right. I mean, it’s no surprise to me. I’ve been maligned throughout my career by various people saying I’d never make it this far or be a centerpiece at this level of competition for the majority of my career. So, yeah, it’s to be expected. Nothing’s changed, nothing will, and this is par for the course.

Wolkenbrod: When you say that, do those thoughts still stick with you in the ring? Even after all these years, do you feel that drive to prove people wrong?

Joe: No, I’ve never based anything I’ve done on spite for fandom. I think that’s a ridiculous approach to take to anything. You have to understand that the world is going to do its very best to put you into a box and categorize you in a logical space. I’ve just wanted to break past those restrictions and become much more than what I’ve been given. I’ll continue to do that, and that’s not out of spite for those people—it’s about my own personal growth and refusing to be limited by other people’s expectations.

Wolkenbrod: We’re seeing many wrestlers from your generation either retiring or preparing for that next chapter. What do you see from the generation that’s coming up behind you, and how do you feel about the future of the business?

Joe: I’m absolutely hopeful. I think wrestling has never been stronger than it is right now. It’s legitimately never been bigger. Seeing where the industry is today, I hope it continues to grow and expand. The young athletes coming up now are making better life decisions overall, and as a result, they’re becoming better athletes. I look forward to what the future holds, and I hope it brings even greater things than the past. Achieving that kind of progress is how we ensure the survival of this industry, and that’s something I want.

Wolkenbrod: Is there anyone in particular who stands out to you as representing that new generation coming up?

Joe: I think several in AEW. When you’re talking about truly young talents and people coming up, I think Kyle Fletcher really springs to the front of my mind as somebody who has limitless potential. As far as guys with me on The Opps, Powerhouse Hobbs is another gentleman. And if you go up and down the AEW roster, you’ll see a lot of new talent, and as they begin to be showcased, I think they will also suss out tremendous talent for the future.

Wolkenbrod: We also recently saw AJ Styles use your Coquina Clutch in a match over the weekend as a tribute. When moments like that happen, where peers or old rivals acknowledge you, how does it feel?

Joe: I mean, it’s cool. It’s really, really cool. Obviously, I’m super flattered, but I think my friendship with AJ over the years has always been super duper strong. So, I mean, any tribute always pales in comparison to the phone calls and trash talk that usually happen anytime we get together. So, yeah, I’m obviously more than honored and flattered. It’s good to know that your peers appreciate that sense, especially when it talks about the breadth of their career and what it means to them. I’m beyond honored—it’s an awesome thing to see. I have unyielding amounts of respect for both men involved in that match, and I’m so happy that [Styles and John Cena] are getting their flowers.

Wolkenbrod: We’ve seen you work with younger wrestlers on screen, so how involved are you in mentoring talent behind the scenes, and do you envision yourself stepping into a coach or producer role one day?

Joe: Listen, I don’t mentor anybody. If people want to come up and ask my opinion, I’m not big on giving unsolicited advice. I think, generationally speaking, it’s not something that’s as genuinely welcomed as much as it used to be. If you have a genuine interest and want to pick my brain, I’m always an open book. I don’t claim mentorship over anyone, because if you have a question and want an answer, come talk to me and I’ll give you my opinion. From there, you’re more than free to do what you want with it. With my opinion, if you throw it in the trash, that’s your business. But yeah, it’s always available.

Wolkenbrod: When it comes to mentoring, do you notice a difference in how often younger talent comes to ask for advice now compared to 20 years ago?

Joe: Yeah, it is, but I also think there are a lot of different social dynamics in a lot of locker rooms now. I think people’s journeys were different from mine coming up through the independents, so I’m not one to sit there and press on people that they have to act a certain way around me. Shake my hand or don’t—do what you will. If you want to shake my hand, shake my hand. If you don’t, that’s fine too. I’m not going to stress over it, and it’s not going to take a second out of my day. The same goes for advice. If you’d like my advice, you’re more than welcome to come ask for it, but I’ve gotten out of the business of giving unsolicited advice because, more often than not, people are on their own journey. Sometimes people just learn the hard way. I’m more than content to let people listen to me. If you do, cool. If you don’t, that’s fine.

Wolkenbrod: If you do win at WrestleDream, is there anyone in particular you’d like to face next? Or more broadly, is there anyone you still hope to face before your career wraps up?

Joe: Whatever the fans want. This isn’t about my wish list or the things I want to happen before my career is said and done. This is about what the fans would like to see. So, yeah, I don’t sit at home and pine over who my dream opponents are going to be. At the end of the day, anybody can get it. Whoever the fans want to see me face, that’s who it’s going to be. That’s where I leave it.

Wolkenbrod: Looking back on your AEW run so far, are there any matches or opponents that really stand out to you as ones you’re especially proud of?

Joe: I mean, the majority of it. It would be wrong of me to say I wasn’t proud of certain opponents or matches more than others. It’s been a fantastic experience overall. If you want to talk about things that have really stood out and been awesome, obviously the stuff with Darby, the stuff with Hook, and the stuff with MJF have all been really fun programs. Even leading up to the many encounters with the Death Riders—whatever you put in front of me—it’s all been something I’ve enjoyed.

Wolkenbrod: When fans look back on Samoa Joe’s career years from now, what do you hope they remember most?

Joe: I just hope they had fun. I mean, that’s really the gist of it. I’m not trying to shape a narrative of who they think I should be or who I think I am. I just hope that when they watched, whether they loved or hated me, they had a good time in the process. And that really is the only thing that matters.

The conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.