WWE recently made a call to release several WWE Superstars due to budget cuts and Samoa Joe was the biggest name let go by the company. WWE also same call on this day last year due to pandemic budget cuts and same happened this year.
WWE has come to terms on the release of Samoa Joe, Chelsea Green, Tucker, Kalisto, Bo Dallas and Wesley Blake.
We wish them all the best in all of their future endeavors. https://t.co/657qwu8wGc pic.twitter.com/gSSxc2JHFf
— WWE (@WWE) April 15, 2021
The former United States Champion Samoa Joe was sidelined die to multiple concussion related injuries and the company gave him a non-wrestling role as Raw Commentator. However, some reports states that Joe was anxious to get back to the ring but WWE didn’t clear him.
Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported that Samoa Joe’s age and history with injuries might been the reason for WWE to release him from the company. It’s similar to Christian Cage situation that WWE didn’t feel need to ‘compete’ for him.
“It becomes an interesting strategy because Joe, in particular, if he is in good shape, because he’s a star to the AEW fan base and can talk, could be a valuable acquisition. But perhaps WWE believes with his age and injuries, he wouldn’t be, similar to not competing to keep Jay Reso (Christian Cage).”
It’s also question that will AEW hire Joe, this report states that he’s a huge star with AEW fanbase but issues with AEW budget might make way for Tony Khan to hire Samoa Joe. Meltzer also stated that WWE is no longer fears AEW and that’s the reason company released many superstars that they are not using.
“In addition, the question is how many people can AEW hire within its own budget?”
“The company’s profit margin is its highest in history, but the goal is to improve profit margin. As noted in other moves of late, WWE no longer fears, or whatever the term would be, that AEW will be able to do numbers equivalent to Raw or SmackDown and instead of hoarding talent they wouldn’t be using, they are letting them go.”
