The ‘Samoan Submission Machine’ will be challenging AJ Styles for the WWE championship this Sunday at Hell In A Cell. Samoa Joe has proven just how damn good he is throughout his career, most notably against the likes of Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar, AJ Styles and Christopher Daniels back in Impact Wrestling.
Despite Joe’s impressive athleticism and strong mic skills, it may come to the surprise of many that there hasn’t been a company that has wanted the former NXT champion, according to Samoa Joe on the
Sam Roberts Wrestling Podcast:
"I had the greatest deal in the history of professional wrestling," said Joe about his time before signing a full-time WWE contract.
"I could work for WWE, anybody else that I wanted to and collect income from every one of those companies, including merchandise. It was a really good deal. Obviously, my prospects in WWE they felt they were extremely limited even initially when I got in. That was fine with me. Here's the thing, it isn't something that is new to me. There has never been a company that has wanted me, which sounds insane."
Joe goes on to talk about how whether in ROH, TNA or Japan, he always had offers so he didn't necessarily need them as much as they needed him. He embraces being a businessman in the world of pro wrestling and wrestlers should know their worth in order to maximize their earnings.
"We sacrifice ourselves every day when we go out there and I do it proudly," Joe stated.
"At the end of the day I know what I signed up for and I do not shy away from that fact at all. There is a good chance that at 60 I will be in a wheelchair, but hey, I signed up for that, I know that.
"That being said, I have an extreme amount of respect for people that do value their worth and do maintain the integrity of the business. When guys go out there and sell themselves short and they are out here booking themselves out when they are really talented and devaluing the market, I am really opposed to that. I always tell guys to get paid what you are worth and know what you are worth so that if you are worth it you will get that number. I support guys that do that."