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Questions will forever be asked as to why Samoa Joe never ascended the mountain of WWE. Seemingly destined to thrive in a promotion where titans prosper, Joe endured a WWE career with monumental ups and downs.
The only 3-time NXT Champion has stood toe-to-toe with Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns, and while they usually dwarf their competition in the way they are presented, Joe was presented as a legitimate outside challenger.
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His Great Balls of Fire clash with the Beast Incarnate was a statement of intent, at times convincing the crowd that they were going to witness an upset. Even in defeat, Samoa Joe had made his mark on the main event scene and established himself as one of Lesnar's greatest opponents since his 2012 return to professional wrestling.
A sore combination of injuries, long-term plans not concerning Joe, and a general change in direction for the NXT brand he had returned to halted his WWE career.
As with any released WWE talent, fans will speculate about his next destination, and the prevailing suggestion will be AEW. Tony Khan's promotion has risen in just over two years to become the top alternative product to WWE, and has been the landing pad for talents such as Malakai Black, Miro and Andrade El Idolo.
But that doesn't necessarily make it the best option for Samoa Joe. There are a variety of thought processes needed before making such a jump. Let's take a look at what could work in Joe's favor and where he could benefit from looking elsewhere.
#3 (Should) Samoa Joe will have the chance to nurture the next generation
It cannot be denied that AEW has a keen eye on the future. Whether it be second-generation prospects like Hook or Austin Gunn, or pillars of the future like MJF and Jungle Boy.
Samoa Joe was assigned a coaching role when he was off television, seen working with the likes of William Regal to spot and nurture the budding stars in the WWE PC.
If he were to join AEW, he could impart his own wealth of experience to the future stars of the business.
#2 (Should Not) AEW may be too top-heavy for Samoa Joe to thrive
As soon as Samoa Joe's departure from WWE was announced, social media users flocked to their platforms with "Samoa Joe is All-Elite". The issue arising, however, is that AEW simply does not have enough room for more main event attractions.
Much like any habitat, the introduction of a new predator will displace the established system. AEW has seen its roster grow with the likes of Bryan Danielson, Adam Cole, and CM Punk over the past year. Adding Joe could over-saturate the main event picture and further make it harder for new stars to break the upper mid-card ceiling.
On top of that, there is no guarantee that Samoa Joe himself will slot into the main event picture. With so much competition, something has got to give and it wouldn't necessarily bode well for the former NXT champion.
#2 (Should) Samoa Joe deserves a main event run once more
Samoa Joe had all it took to hold the WWE title, simply put. When a wrestler can stand toe-to-toe with Brock Lesnar and not look out of place, it acts as a testament to their ability in the ring and the way fans receive they presence. He did just that at Great Balls of Fire and the SummerSlam 2017 four-way also involving Roman Reigns and Braun Strowman.
The foundations for his WWE career were laid in blood and tears spilled on the independent scene and with IMPACT, reigning as world champion on multiple occasions.
Joe's main event status has translated wherever he has gone, something many have tried and failed to do in their transition from the indies to WWE. He's a unique commodity in the wrestling landscape but he deserves one more run in the main event scene.
AEW could well be the venue for such a run. With greater creative freedom, Joe's mannerisms and penchant for violence in the ring would slot him easily against top babyfaces such as Hangman Page or CM Punk.
#1 (Should Not) Samoa Joe has plenty of options outside of AEW
Samoa Joe not joining AEW will open up an entirely new world of opportunities, with the wrestling landscape flourishing like never before. In his absence, promotions such as NJPW and GCW have risen to prominence, putting on classic matches and breaking down barriers to produce a multiverse of wrestling.
With the flourishing independent scene, a name like Samoa Joe carries weight when speaking of dream matches. Whether it be first-time collisions with the likes of Minoru Suzuki, or revisiting those that came too early like his clash with Kazuchika Okada, Joe has a number of options.
Even going with the singular promotion approach, Joe doesn't have to pick AEW as his destination. He could return to IMPACT, staking a claim for the throne held by Moose.
One could argue Joe might even be the perfect monster heel for Josh Alexander to overcome as he attempts to climb to the top once more. The point being that there are other promotions outside of AEW that have a lot to offer Samoa Joe, and maybe he doesn't have to pick a single one.
#1 (Should) Dream matches await Samoa Joe in AEW
Part of the desire to have free agents in the wrestling business join a promotion is the dream matches that become possible. This is no different for Samoa Joe, who is a dream-match factory.
AEW, meanwhile, has such a deep and expansive roster that it's almost like the character selection menu of Marvel vs Capcom. Looking up and down the card there are so many options for many reasons.
Samoa Joe vs CM Punk would be an intense feud so deep and layered in history; their promo battles would be legendary. A bout with Kenny Omega would be a clinic of wrestling between two of the best minds in the business. He could even put on a physical bloodbath with Jon Moxley or Eddie Kingston,
AEW is not only the largest pond for Samoa Joe it is also inhabited by the greatest predators waiting for a piece of the Samoan Submission Machine.
