Samoa Joe on how being released from WWE was a blessing in disguise

Recently AEW star Samoa Joe opened up about how being released from WWE ended up being a temporary setback even if it felt monumental at the time.

Samoa Joe had a complicated employment history with WWE, being released twice from the company despite exceptional in-ring work and plenty of fan support.

Blessing in disguise

However, it turns out that had he not been released there could certainly be a very different version of Twisted Metal on Peacock, the series which stars Joe as the actor behind the dastardly Sweet Tooth.

Speaking on A Principle Driven Life, Samoa Joe shared his fascinating story of the extreme lows and the major highs all in one day.

Commenting on his release from WWE and being encouraged by his wife to keep his faith in God during the challenging time, Samoa Joe revealed that the turnaround was remarkably quick.

Samoa Joe said:

“It was a rough morning; obviously, it’s tough to explain how that happened in a matter of a few weeks. I remember looking at my wife and saying, ‘I got fired.’ I remember her looking up at me and going, ‘It’s alright. God’s got this. We’re going to be fine. We prayed on this. It’s going to work out.’ It took me years to get to this point, but I looked back at her with the utmost confidence and I knew she was absolutely right.

Fast forward to four hours later, I received a phone call from a friend I hadn’t spoken to for 15 years. He says, ‘Listen, I don’t know what your schedule is. I don’t know if you’re busy, but I’m doing a new TV show for Peacock. I’d love you to come in and star in it. Please, will you send me an audition tape? I think you’re the right guy for the job. Lo and behold, I started Twisted Metal. Went back into the room, looked at my wife and said, ‘Well, I’m now starring in a TV series. I think everything is okay.’ She said, ‘I told you it would all work out.'”

New beginnings

Samoa Joe didn’t just have his Twisted Metal gig to look forward to as he would go on to sign with ROH and AEW in 2022.

Joining the AEW roster and not only becoming the AEW World Champion, Joe also went on to found the

Returning to action on this week’s AEW Dynamite, Samoa Joe is back with a vengeance, set to take on Jack Perry on the special Tuesday edition on October 6, 2026 which happens to air head-to-head against WWE NXT.

Transcription via Fightful

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