Samoa Joe: I Think The Mainstream Is Totally Fine With The Label ‘Pro Wrestling’

Samoa Joe comments on pro wrestling’s place in the mainstream.

Samoa Joe comments on pro wrestling’s place in the mainstream.

Samoa Joe previously worked for WWE for several years, and he held the NXT Championship and the United States Championship during his time with the company. He signed with AEW in 2022 and quickly captured the ROH World Television Championship. Joe later won the AEW World Championship at AEW Worlds End in December 2023. 

Speaking with Joe Murray on 98.5 The Sports Hub, Samoa Joe was asked whether AEW was the place to be for pro wrestlers.

“We call it pro wrestling. We’re very proud of that label. The sports entertainment thing, it’s a very debated thing, either or. I give credence to both. I think both are wonderful art forms, but when it comes to AEW, we’re pro wrestling, and we’re pro wrestlers, and we’re proud to say that. We’re not trying to morph it into something else that maybe is more palatable to the mainstream. I think the mainstream is totally fine with the label ‘pro wrestling.’ At this point, I think it’s just silly semantics on both sides, to be honest with you. I think both sides are just kind of being dumb about it. I think the major reason why they were being dumb about it on the other side is probably gone, so maybe they’ll switch up their tone,” Samoa Joe said.

Samoa Joe is set to defend the AEW World Championship against Wardlow at AEW Dynamite: Big Business. Fightful will have coverage of the show as it airs on March 13.

Click here to see what Wardlow had to say about his upcoming match against Wardlow.

Check out Samoa Joe’s comments about AEW’s recent acquisitions here.

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