Samoa Joe Admits Tyson Kidd Injury Is His Biggest Career Regret

Nearly a decade after the devastating injury that ended Tyson Kidd’s in-ring career, Samoa Joe is opening up about the moment that changed both their lives—and why it still haunts him.

Back in 2015, Kidd (real name TJ Wilson) suffered a near-fatal spinal cord injury after taking Joe’s signature Muscle Buster during a dark match before WWE Raw. The injury was so severe that doctors told Kidd only 5% of people survive it. He required 16 staples, four screws, and a rod in his neck. The former tag team champion was forced to retire and has since become one of WWE’s most respected producers.

Now, speaking on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Samoa Joe is reflecting on the incident—and the weight it still carries.

When asked if he ever considered using the Muscle Buster again after the accident, Joe didn’t hold back: “No, and to this day that probably remains the largest regret in my career that happened.”

Joe emphasized his respect for Kidd, praising his work backstage: “That doesn’t change things for Tyson. Doesn’t change things for a guy who is probably one of the most passionate people in the world of professional wrestling… WWE is fortunate to have him.”

He made it clear that he didn’t feel anything went wrong with the move itself. “Didn’t feel any different. It’s just when I turned around and went for the pin and got back up… Cesaro looked back up at me. I know when Cesaro is concerned, and then I was like, oh my God, I hope everything is okay.”

Joe also explained that once he realized Kidd had been seriously hurt, it affected him deeply: “It just makes me sick to this day that guy is not out there being the Tyson Kidd that I know that he is.”

As for using the move again, Joe revealed he avoided it out of respect: “I didn’t want to replay the car crash in front of somebody… I did my best to distance myself from it as much as possible.”

Joe also shared how he came up with the Muscle Buster in the first place. He said it was inspired by flipping through the Kinnikuman manga while training in Japan. “I remember I’d seen it a few times in Mexico and I was like that’s pretty cool I might start using that.”

Tyson Kidd may be done in the ring, but his legacy continues through the matches he helps produce behind the scenes—and Samoa Joe made it clear the respect is mutual.