Samoa Joe doesn’t have a problem with wrestlers slapping their thighs to make strikes sound better, but he does have one pretty simple rule — don’t let everyone see you doing it. Once fans can spot the slap, Joe believes the whole trick has basically stopped working.
Speaking to SHAK Wrestling, Joe was asked about the long-running debate surrounding thigh slaps in wrestling. While some fans enjoy the extra pop they can give kicks and other strikes, Joe’s issue isn’t really with the technique itself.
“I think if people are seeing it, you probably shouldn’t be doing it.”
The interviewer suggested that Joe was talking about maintaining the mystique and making sure the audience never catches how the sound is being created. Joe immediately agreed, but the fact that thigh slaps have become noticeable enough to even require this conversation clearly bothered him.
“Yeah, absolutely. Like, the fact that we’re having that conversation, you know, to me, it sucks.”
Joe wasn’t finished there either. When the interviewer acknowledged what he was saying, Joe doubled down and made it pretty obvious how much he hates that fans are now watching closely enough to notice the trick.
“Yeah, it really does. It just sucks. It sucks that we’re having that conversation.”
For Joe, the issue seems pretty straightforward: the technique itself isn’t the problem as long as nobody notices it. Once fans start watching the slap instead of buying into the strike, part of the illusion wrestling is trying to create is already gone.
What do you think about Samoa Joe’s take on visible thigh slaps in wrestling? Do they take you out of a match when you notice them? Let us know in the comments below.
This transcript was produced exclusively for Ringside News from the original recording. Republishing the transcription in full is prohibited. When using excerpts, provide prominent credit and a link to this article.
