Wrestler of the (4/14) Week–Samoa Joe
Our resident philosopher, Jay Shannon, takes a look at the new TNA World Champion. Samoa Joe is this week’s Pro Wrestling Daily: Wrestler of the Week.
At Lockdown, Samoa Joe finally earned the TNA World Title by taking out Kurt Angle with the Muscle Buster. This was my easiest choice ever for the Pro Wrestling Daily: Wrestler of the Week.
California Dreamin’
While Joe Seanoa (also often spelled Seannoa) is of Samoan ancestry, it does not appear that he is directly related to either the Anoa’i or Maivia families. In a Q&A feature in one of the leading print wrestling magazines, Joe was once asked “Aren’t all Samoans (wrestlers) related?” His answer was a simple “Yes”. If Joe is related to the other major Samoan families, it is possible that the relationship is a distant one.
Joe began his wrestling career at the West Coast Dojo of UIWA. He worked the independent groups around California until taking a position with UPW. Joe was the longest reigning UPW champion in the company’s history. One of Joe’s earliest rivals in UPW was The Prototype, who would later become WWE’s John Cena. Speaking of WWE, Joe actually had one match on the Jakked program, jobbing out to Essa Rios in March, 2001
Grabbing the Brass Ring (of Honor)
After leaving UPW, Joe moved to the East Coast of the US. He began working for numerous smaller promotions, up and down the Atlantic seaboard. His next big break came in Ring of Honor. Joe worked with many stars that he would later join in TNA,including Low-Ki/Senshi, Homicide and Christopher Daniels.
Joe defeated Xavier to win the ROH title on March 22,2003. He would hold onto that title for an amazing 21 months. He was eventually defeated by Austin Aries aka Austin Starr. Joe would also hold the ROH Pure title, defeating Jay Lethal in 2005. Joe also was one of the key players in the ROH v CZW wars. A knee injury sidelined him, temporarily. Before leaving ROH, Joe also challenged Pro Wrestling NOAH, based in Japan. Joe had spent some time in Japan in the earliest days of his career. That feud was short-lived, as Joe accepted an offer from TNA.
Tough N Amazing
Joe made his TNA debut at the 2005 edition of Slammiversary. It was in his very first match, against Sonjay Dutt, that Mike Tenay christened Joe “The Samoan Submission Machine”. Joe began an amazing 18-month unbeaten streak. That streak would end at the hands of his biggest rival in TNA, Kurt Angle.
Of all of Joe’s opponents, Kurt Angle has given Joe his biggest tests. The men have met five times with Joe winning twice. Their matches have been considered top candidates for Match of the Year and Feud of the Year awards.
Joe finally won the TNA World title, from Angle, on April 13, 2008 at Lockdown. Joe has also held the X-Division title on 3 different occasions. He also held the World Tag Team titles, by himself. Oddly enough, Joe lost his World Tag belts and one of his X-Titles to Kurt Angle.
In Conclusion:
Some critics have made fun of Joe over the years. One critic is notorious for calling Joe, “Sloppy Joe”. Amateur opinions aside, Joe is actually one of the top big men in the industry. His combination of power moves and submission holds have garnered him multiple titles and impressive win streaks.
Joe finally “iced the cake”, on Sunday, by besting Kurt Angle for the TNA World title. He faces Scott Steiner, next. How long Joe will hold the TNA World title is unknown, but he will likely battle hard to keep the top title in TNA. Samoa Joe is a fantastic young star with many years worth of success ahead of him. Joe took the next step with his win on Sunday. I am very proud to announce Samoa Joe as this week’s Pro Wrestling Daily: Wrestler of the Week.
– Jay Shannon
JayofPWD@SBCGlobal.net
(4/14/08)
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