Samoa Joe Says His Next AEW Contract Could Be His Last

Samoa Joe isn’t planning a farewell tour, and he doesn’t want your standing ovation either.

During a new interview with SHAK Wrestling, the AEW star made it clear that when he walks away from wrestling, it’s probably going to be without any big sendoff. The former world champion was asked directly if his current AEW run would be his last—and he didn’t shy away from the truth.

“I’d say most likely. And honestly, I think it’s for a lot of reasons, and I think most of them are responsible. You never want to overstay your welcome in this industry. I’ve been fortunate that I’ve been able to be involved with it for over 25 years now. And the other thing too is, I think many of us want to preserve what we can of our health for our latter years. So, it is something that is probably the most likely scenario. But hey, it is an unusual world, and unusual opportunities come up, so we’ll see.”

Joe also revealed that he has no interest in the kind of public sendoff that legends like John Cena or Ric Flair have had. When it’s time, he plans to quietly disappear.

“No, not at all. It might be a surprise. It might just be one day I’m gone and leave it at that. I’m not as ceremonial as everybody else. I like disappearing into the sunset.”

When asked why he feels so strongly about leaving without the spotlight, Joe dropped some insight about his values—and the industry’s future.

“It’s in a lot of ways… I feel it’s important maybe to me more than anybody else. I wouldn’t want to hold up a young, burgeoning industry on behalf of myself. Not that anybody else isn’t deserving of that honor—I’m not saying that. But what I am saying is, I’ve always been somebody that’s been firmly planted with my head toward the future and never tried to dwell too much in the past. And it’s kind of been my theory with the industry too. I would hope we always look towards the future and not, obviously, appreciate the past, but not miss it too much.”

This outlook comes after a career that’s already spanned multiple eras of pro wrestling. Joe signed with WWE in 2015 after a legendary run in TNA and Ring of Honor, where his hard-hitting style and charisma made him a top star. In WWE, he became a two-time NXT Champion, won the United States Championship, and faced names like Brock Lesnar, Roman Reigns, and AJ Styles before injuries and creative shifts slowed his momentum. After his WWE release in 2021, Joe returned briefly to NXT before parting ways for good and finding his place in AEW. Since then, he’s cemented himself as one of the promotion’s most respected veterans, holding the TNT Championship, ROH Television Title, and AEW World Championship while helping elevate younger talent.

Joe’s quiet confidence and willingness to step aside show exactly why he’s earned so much respect over the years. He’s not here for nostalgia. He’s here to do the job, elevate the next generation, and then step out of the way.

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