5 reasons Samoa Joe should replace AEW's Wardlow when he leaves The Pinnacle

AEW has been rumored to be Samoa Joe's next destination ever since he was let go by WWE for a second time in late 2021.

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful tweeted the following statement to Twitter on the day of his release:

"Samoa Joe has been released by WWE, Fightful has confirmed with the company. More details to come on FightfulSelect.com this evening," Sean Ross Sapp tweeted.

Ever since Joe relinquished the NXT Championship just days before the relaunch of NXT 2.0, the writing has been on the wall. Despite his run on the former black and gold brand being decent, his main roster career was overwhelming, to say the least.

Injuries and stop-start pushes stalled his career, and Joe was never able to live up to his potential in WWE because of that.

Now that he has been a free agent for some time, owner Tony Khan could be angling for a move on the wrestling veteran. He certainly would be an asset to the company, but the question remains on how he should debut for the promotion.

Currently, one of the most popular heavyweights in All Elite Wrestling is Wardlow, the muscle on The Pinnacle. Booked as a personal bodyguard to MJF, he has long been in a secondary role as MJF's assistant rather than as a singles competitor.

However, fans have begun seeing a new side of Mr. Mayhem in recent months. Now he's known for his dominant singles run, punctuated by the signature "Powerbomb Symphony."

It's only a matter of time before Wardlow steps out of MJF's shadows and battles with his current employer. But this would leave a spot open in the faction.

Here are five reasons why Samoa Joe should replace Wardlow when he leaves The Pinnacle.

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#5 On why Samoa Joe should replace AEW's Wardlow when he leaves The Pinnacle: The new enforcer

Wardlow's role has always been as the muscle of The Pinnacle, and he's played that to perfection in his run with the company thus far. Similarly, Samoa Joe can excel in the enforcer role he previously played in WWE.

He was once the enforcer for Triple H when he debuted on the main roster, taking out Seth Rollins. He also acted as the personal bodyguard for former NXT General Manager William Regal, dishing out his own brand of justice to the likes of Adam Cole and Karrion Kross.

Samoa Joe could debut as a heel and immediately align himself with MJF and his gang to do their dirty work.

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#4. Samoa Joe can feud with Wardlow in AEW

AEW could even debut Samoa Joe immediately opposite the person he potentially replaces in Wardlow. If Wardlow inevitably comes head-to-head with his employer MJF, the Long Island Loudmouth will want some backup of his own.

Enter Samoa Joe. We could be looking at a clash of heavyweights as MJF instructs Joe to take out his former protege. The veteran could also be used to eventually put over the younger Wardlow after a series of hard-hitting hoss fights.

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#3. Samoa Joe could help MJF in his feud with former rival CM Punk

In last week's AEW Dynamite, CM Punk teased on social media about teaming up with Samoa Joe when he had to find a partner to face off against Pinnacle members FTR.

The two wrestlers, of course, share a storied history. Both were legends of the independents and have gone on to have accomplished careers in the last two decades. Nobody knows CM Punk better than his former rival, Samoa Joe.

MJF could use Joe's knowledge to get a leg up on Punk, who he is currently feuding with. It is also a great way to play mind games with the 'Best in The World.' Imagine a scenario where Joe debuts and pretends to be on Punk's side, only to turn on him and align with his bitter enemy MJF.

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#2. Samoa Joe can act as MJF's personal bodyguard en route to the AEW World Championship

If AEW were to replace Wardlow with Samoa Joe, he would essentially take on the role MJF's personal bodyguard. The protection that Maxwell Jacob Friedman has received from Wardlow thus far has allowed him to rise to the top of the company.

Having someone with the experience and ruthlessness of Samoa Joe watching his back could help him go on to the next level. After his statement victory over CM Punk a couple of weeks ago, MJF could be eyeing the AEW World Championship next.

With Joe potentially by his side, the current champion Hangman Page might need to watch his back.

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#1. Samoa Joe can eventually feud with MJF in AEW

Long before MJF became a star in All Elite Wrestling, he appeared as an enhancement talent for NXT. In what would become a meme-worthy moment, MJF was a bodyguard for then-NXT champion Samoa Joe during his entrance, but he was unceremoniously shoved aside.

MJF's ego might not have led that slide, and him bringing Samoa Joe to The Pinnacle could just be an elaborate ploy to exact revenge on the veteran for that embarrassing moment.

MJF vs. Samoa Joe is definitely a marquee match that could appear on Dynamite or even on pay-per-view. It remains to be seen if that will come to pass, but as of now, Samoa Joe remains one of the most talented free agents in the market.

Where do you think Samoa Joe will go next?

Let us know in the comments below.