5 Memorable moments from Samoa Joe's WWE career

Samoa Joe is one of the most recognizable names in the wrestling industry. The Samoan Submission Machine was a big deal before ever arriving in WWE.

He made his way into Vince McMahon's company in 2015. It was then Joe made his debut in NXT. After years of working in TNA and the indies, The Samoan Bulldozer looked to make his mark in World Wrestling Entertainment.

He went on to have a great run on the black and gold brand. Joe eventually captured the NXT Championship and won the Dusty Cup alongside Finn Balor. The duo also had one of the most memorable rivalries in the history of NXT.

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The man wasn't meant to stay in NXT for long. His persona was too large for the then-developmental brand, and he found himself on the main roster in 2017.

When Samoa Joe debuted on RAW, it was expected he would set the world on fire. It was easy to see why. WWE now had one of the biggest stars from outside their promotion inside their wheelhouse for the first time.

That didn't quite happen. Now Joe has unfortunately been released by WWE. Still, when you're Samoa Joe, you're bound to have plenty of memorable moments. Let's take a look at his best moments in WWE.

#5. Samoa Joe makes a dominant debut on RAW

NXT call-ups don't normally get the celebrity treatment upon their debut. This wasn't the case for the Samoan Submission Machine. He came to the main roster immediately establishing his dominant presence.

When Joe debuted on RAW, he set his eyes on Seth Rollins while aligning himself with Triple H. The big man beat down The Architect in a brutal display of power.

This was certainly a big deal when it happened. The shock of seeing Joe on RAW alone was enough to make this one of the most memorable moments in his WWE career.

It also left room for a lot of interesting stories. What was Joe's beef with Rollins? How was Triple H involved in all of this? Granted, most of these questions were left unanswered. Rollins injured himself during the beat down, so the story was halted right off the bat.

But that doesn't take away from the moment. The sight of Samoa Joe beating up Seth Rollins in a WWE ring will forever be remembered.

#4. Samoa Joe gives commentary a try

Samoa Joe proved to be an asset outside of the wrestling ring in many ways. Much has been said about his ability to produce matches and teach. The man clearly has many talents that could prove useful to any wrestling promotion.

One of the most memorable endeavors Joe took up during his time in WWE was commentary. Ever since Samoa Joe's last injury, he's taken to a role at the RAW commentary desk like a fish to water.

He took up the role after Dio Madden left the announce booth. Madden became part of the RETRIBUTION stable while Joe comfortably made the transition into his commentary role.

Samoa Joe proved himself to be a hot commodity on the mic. He had chemistry with everyone who worked alongside him. It was also nice to hear the veteran's insight into the matches and moves. Whether it was an episode of RAW, a pay-per-view, or with Byron Saxton, Joe showed he could be more than just a wrestler.

#3. Samoa Joe captures the U.S. Championship

Samoa Joe captured his first main roster title on SmackDown in March of 2018. He answered the R-Truth U.S. Open Challenge alongside Andrade and Rey Mysterio. The four put on a fatal four-way scrap in the main event that night, which ended with Joe claiming the belt.

It was fantastic to see The Samoan Submission Machine with gold around his waist. The title win felt like it had been a long time coming, and when he finally captured the prize, fans were pleased.

The win was seen as a step in the right direction for Joe. He had failed to capture the WWE title a few times, and the victory was seen as a way of correcting the course.

It was even rumored at the time that the title win would set up a dream match for Joe at the upcoming WrestleMania. It was speculated the TNA legend would take on John Cena, but sadly this didn't happen. Still, he got a title match at WrestleMania out of the run.

#2. Samoa Joe becomes the first two-time NXT Champion

Samoa Joe beats Nakamura to reclaim his NXT title

It's easy to say Samoa Joe's brightest days in the company came during his time in NXT. One of the highlights of his time on the black and gold brand came when he became the first two-time NXT champion.

The win was momentous for The Samoan Submission Machine. The history of the brand had never seen a two-time champion. Given his experience, it made sense that Samoa Joe would become the first superstar to accomplish this achievement.

Joe claimed the prize from Shinsuke Nakamura at NXT TakeOver: Toronto. The King of Strong Style had won the prize from Joe at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II after Joe suffered a broken jaw.

His second reign wasn't meant to last, however. Just two weeks later, he lost the title to Nakamura in Osaka, Japan. The 14-day reign would be the shortest in the title's history.

Nevertheless, the reign is significant for many reasons. The history books will always state Samoa Joe was the first-ever two-time NXT champ.

#1. Samoa Joe claims the big one in NXT

Samoa Joe captured his first NXT title at a live event on April 21st. The win came as a shock. It's not too often that titles change hands on non-televised events. Despite this, fans of the Samoan were elated to hear the news of Joe capturing the big one.

After a few attempts at the belt, it felt like Joe wasn't destined to win the grand prize. He lost a title bout to Finn Balor at NXT TakeOver: London. He then had a lackluster match against Balor at TakeOver: Dallas, where the referee repeatedly stopped the match due to Joe suffering a large cut on his cheek.

These were just setbacks, as he eventually claimed the title. Joe would then solidify his title run with a win over Finn in a steel cage match at TakeOver: The End.

The title run, and subsequent feud with Balor, are easily Joe's most memorable moments in WWE. He's sure to generate more memories for the fans wherever he goes next!

Edited by James Sullivan