Earlier today, former TNA World Heavyweight Champion Samoa Joe took to Twitter to announce that he has left IMPACT Wrestling. Here is Joe’s tweet as it appeared on the social media platform:
I have decided to part ways with @ImpactWrestling. My very best to them moving forward, and my eternal thanks to the fans.
— Samoa Joe (@SamoaJoe) February 17, 2015
TNA confirmed Joe’s departure via John Gaburick’s Twitter account. This is what Gaburick posted:
On expiration of @SamoaJoe contract, TNA and Joe have agreed to part ways. Joe will always be a member of our family & we wish him the best.
— John Gaburick (@JohnGaburick) February 17, 2015
We wish Samoa Joe the best in the future.
Can’t say I’m upset about this departure. Joe hasn’t changed his in-ring style in the last 10 years that he’s been with the company. Not that he was ever bad in the ring; in fact, he’s been awesome to watch. But at some point you have to change up your style and Joe never did that (or may have never been asked to do that – I don’t know).
But I like Joe and it doesn’t seem like his exit is as angry as AJ Styles’ exit was or is as full of negative feelings like Mick Foley. Joe will probably do the Bullet Club/Aces & 8s 2.0/nWo v2010s thing in NJPW and maybe take a few dates for ROH. If he makes it to WWE, then I predict we’ll see some stupid McMahon-esque gimmick like Samoan Sammy or Tonga Kid, Jr. or some other ethnically-based rubbish.
The real question, I think, is who takes Joe’s spot on the roster when there are so many young, hungry talents out there… ?
“The real question, I think, is who takes Joe’s spot on the roster when there are so many young, hungry talents out there… ?”
It is for this reason that I’m with you in not being too upset about Joe’s departure. With all the cuts of 2013, TNA ended up with a roster that was very stacked towards the World Title scene.
Now with all the young hungry talents coming up the ranks in 2014/2015, sooner or later some of the older stars are going to need to step aside or be cycled down to lesser roles to give these younger guys a shot at the top. If that is the case then TNA can’t justify paying these stars the same as before, so if they can retain them for less money then great, but if that does not work out for either party then it makes sense that some people would choose to move on.
Joe has a lot of support outside of TNA, so he will no doubt make good money making appearances for other promotions. I hope he does. And if there is ever an opportunity and a need for Joe to make a return, it sounds like he departed on good terms so the door is open.
Yeah Joe will be missed but i’m not upset at his departure either, probably it was time for the old guard of TNA Originals (At least most of them anyway) to just step aside right now and let the new blood to take over. Joe will be fine in ROH (depending on their financial situation and with their owner the SBG not supporting them) or he would go to either Lucha Underground or NJPW. Unless the plan is for him to just take some time off, he has a family to spend time with.