Samoa Joe was released in April by WWE after the company reshuffled their commentary teams. He’d moved behind the announce table after suffering two concussions in early 2020, and with him now deemed surplus to requirements, he was let go. However, it’s believed Triple H did not agree with this decision, and following a recent meeting at the Performance Center, it was confirmed that Joe had been rehired.
Wasting no time, Joe has already made his return to WWE television, appearing during the opening segment of this week’s NXT. General Manager William Regal would state he’d done all he could for the show and was struggling with the chaos, indicating he was about to quit. This led to NXT Champion Karrion Kross accompanied by Scarlett coming out, calling him “completely pathetic.” He’d instruct Regal to say, “Kross conquers all,” but Joe would come out to a big pop with fans chanting his name.
Regal would say that he wanted Joe to take over as General Manager, but Joe declined. Instead, he suggested that his role could be ensuring that everyone respects Regal, seemingly offering to be an enforcer. Regal said it’s an interesting idea, but only under the conditions that Joe isn’t a competitor and that he can’t lay a hand on anyone unless provoked.
These conditions were likely made to explain why Joe won’t be wrestling due to not being medically cleared. Although that day may not be too far off, as later in the show, Joe would get physical after being shoved during a backstage angle between Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly. This appeared to qualify as a provocation as Joe would take off his jacket and choked out Cole.
