Tony Khan Confirms Samoa Joe Could Return Soon to AEW

Samoa Joe’s absence from AEW television now has an official explanation.

During the AEW Revolution media call on March 12, 2026, Tony Khan confirmed that the former AEW World Champion is currently dealing with an injury. Khan did not reveal the exact nature of the issue, but he made it clear that Joe remains highly valued within the company and expressed optimism that the veteran star will return to AEW programming in the near future.

Khan also took time to praise Joe’s legacy in professional wrestling, referring to him as one of the greatest champions in the history of the business while discussing his current situation.

Joe has been off AEW television since late January. During the January 28 episode of AEW Dynamite, commentary revealed that he had suffered a non-contact injury while training and was not medically cleared to compete. At the time, AEW did not provide any additional details about the injury or offer a timeline for his return.

Before the injury occurred, Joe was deeply involved in the AEW World Championship picture. At the Worlds End pay-per-view event, he defended the AEW World Title in a four-way match against MJF, Swerve Strickland, and Hangman Page, where MJF ultimately captured the championship.

Joe’s most recent in-ring appearance came on the January 12 episode of Dynamite, where he defeated “Speedball” Mike Bailey. Since then, he has remained on the sidelines while recovering.

Earlier this month, Joe hinted that fans may not have to wait long to see him return. While speaking with Monopoly Events on March 6, he suggested that his comeback to AEW could happen sooner rather than later while also mentioning that the third season of the Twisted Metal series is on the way.

With Tony Khan now confirming that Joe is indeed injured but expected back, it appears that AEW is hopeful the former champion will rejoin the roster before too long.

Do you think Samoa Joe should jump right back into the AEW World Championship scene when he returns, or would you rather see AEW bring him back in a different role first? Let us know your thoughts and leave your feedback in the comments.