Samoa Joe is currently off AEW television, with the company only publicly disclosing that he is dealing with a “non-contact injury.” And while some suspected this was a cover so he could work on other projects, Fightful Select has reported he is genuinely hurt and currently in concussion protocol. Unfortunately, Joe has had a history of concussions from his time in WWE, and therefore, it’s unlikely there is a set timeline for his return at present.
“There was a comment made on AEW Dynamite that Samoa Joe had sustained a non-contact injury and wasn’t cleared. However, Fightful is told that Samoa Joe has been in concussion protocol. It wasn’t known how long he’ll end up being out or the severity.” – Fightful Select
Nowadays, concussions are taken incredibly seriously in the wrestling business, with it known that repeated brain injury leads to severe long-term effects, primarily CTE, a degenerative brain disease. Potential symptoms can manifest as memory loss, confusion, aggression, depression, anxiety, and progressive dementia, often mimicking advanced Alzheimer’s. Therefore, while Joe’s absence from television is a huge blow to AEW, he won’t be able to return to the ring until he’s medically cleared.
