'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
AEW would do well to keep an eye on WWE's latest batch of releases. The biggest names were William Regal and Samoa Joe. The latter has the dubious distinction of being released twice a year.
Joe was initially let go earlier in the year as part of WWE's infamous budget cuts post-WrestleMania. Before that, he mainly worked as a color commentator for RAW while recovering from his latest injury setback.
The Samoan Submission Machine was rehired at Triple H's request and soon won the title from Karrion Kross. He relinquished the NXT Championship days before the launch of NXT 2.0. It seemed like the writing was on the wall as the company moved towards a focus on younger talents. Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful broke the news on Twitter this past week:
Trending
New Champs in WWE! More RIGHT HERE
Now that Samoa Joe has been released for a second time, AEW could use an asset like him once the veteran is cleared. He has a history with several former WWE talents currently on the AEW roster. Joe was involved in Adam Cole and Kyle O'Reilly's rivalry in his last NXT run while he also faced CM Punk numerous times on the independents. But here are five wrestlers he wrestled on WWE TV.
#5. AEW tag team FTR | Samoa Joe & Finn Balor vs. Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder, NXT TakeOver: Respect 2015
During his initial NXT run, Joe debuted as a badass babyface. He teamed up with then-NXT champion Finn Balor for a makeshift tag team that entered the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic in 2015. The duo opened NXT TakeOver: Respect in a semi-final bout against AEW's FTR.
Previously named Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder in WWE, The Mechanics were still relative newcomers at the time. They hadn't earned the accolade of the best tag team in the world yet that they now possess in AEW. But the future AEW Tag Team Champions showed off their massive potential and gave the two veterans a run for their money.
#4. AEW wrestler Andrade El Idolo | Fatal 4-Way for US championship, Fastlane 2019
Before AEW signed Andrade El Idolo, he was poised to become WWE's next Latino star. He was treated well upon his SmackDown debut and was thrust into a rivalry with Rey Mysterio. Both competitors were involved in the United States championship scene in 2019. This puts them directly in the headlights of one Samoa Joe.
The Samoan Submission Machine was in the middle of a dominant US title run in the early months of 2019. Joe, Mysterio, Andrade, and R-Truth battled in a tremendous Fatal-Four-Way match at Fastlane. All four men gave a show-stealing performance that was one of Joe's best matches in WWE.
#3. Former AEW TNT champion Miro | Samoa Joe vs. Rusev, SmackDown 2018
AEW powerhouse Miro is barely recognizable from his wasted run in WWE. He has become a charismatic performer and has had a memorable run as the TNT Champion.
One bright spot of his WWE career was his Rusev Day run in 2018. Flanked by Aiden English, who sang Rusev to the ring, he had a fun one-off match with Samoa Joe that summer on SmackDown. Both stars were part of that year's Money in the Bank match. It was a bruising battle between two heavyweights.
God's Favorite Champion vs. The Samoan Submission Machine would be a mouthwatering clash in AEW. Debuting Joe opposite The Bulgarian Brute would immediately become the most intriguing storyline in AEW.
#2. Former AEW champion Chris Jericho | Samoa Joe vs. Chris Jericho, Raw 2017
Former AEW Champion Chris Jericho has wrestled everybody in his 30-year career. That includes nearly two decades in the WWE. It's no surprise that Jericho has crossed paths with Samoa Joe at least once.
In 2017, Le Champion experienced a career resurgence with his scarf-wearing, list-making gimmick. He even had a brief run as US Champion heading into that year's WrestleMania. During an episode of RAW, the two battled for the first time in a non-title match.
It would've been awesome if they had an extended feud in WWE. AEW can stand to benefit by bringing Joe into the company and giving fans a rivalry between the two grizzled veterans.
#1. AEW star Bryan Danielson | Gauntlet Match, SmackDown 2018
Imagine a Samoa Joe vs. Bryan Danielson match in AEW, especially this version of The American Dragon. Bryan is operating on a whole other level in Tony Khan's promotion and is living up to his status as the best wrestler in the world.
Free from the shackles of WWE's formulaic style, Bryan's matches have been hard-hitting, fully showcasing his technical capabilities inside the ring. Facing a debuting Samoa Joe will bring more out of the former WWE Champion.
Despite being in WWE for a few years, the duo has barely crossed paths or engaged in a fully-fledged feud. The two stars were part of a memorable Elimination Chamber match in 2019, but the story of that night was Kofi Kingston's amazing performance. They also had a match within a match in 2018. It was a gauntlet stipulation to become the #1 contender, which was won by Rusev.
So far, the spotlight has never truly been on the duo in a big match environment. Samoa Joe can brawl, his offense looks believable, and mixing it up against Bryan Danielson is a recipe for success. AEW would be the perfect place to set them loose and work their magic.
