How good is Samoa Joe in 2016?

[mrbananagrabber]

I never watched TNA, so I didn't see any of Samoa Joe's matches. In fact, I think the only stuff I've seen with Samoa Joe are clips of him standing behind Angle like he's about to murder him, standing in the ring before the debut of that MMA guy that no-one cared about (roll the Anderson head scratch gif) and him being kidnapped by ninjas. I have heard varying reports of how good he is.

In his motivated prime - he was great. Then he got motivated and TNA'd and sucked.

So where is he on the scale now? Cos I reckon he's pretty damn great, is this what I've missed in TNA?

[Tom S]

Probably the only person on the roster who i could buy as a legit threat to Lesnar

[Allie Kitsune]

He's almost a monster again.

Which is to say, while he looks great and crisp again, he doesn't have that aura of "Nobody can touch him" that a guy like Brock has.

This is a good thing.

[Magic knows Black Lives Matter]

Physically, he's slower but that's because of wear & tear that comes with years of wrestling the physical style he does.

He'll never be as good as he was at his peak because his body won't allow him to be but he's about as good as he can possibly be at this stage of his career. So, he's pretty damn close to where he was during his early TNA years and light years ahead of where he was during his latter TNA years where he stopped giving a f***.

[01010010 01101001 01100011]

After 09-10 I never thought I'd see this Samoa Joe again. This NXT run has reinvigorated him and given us a look back to the guy him in 05-06 should have been on top of the world.

[lebuddha]

[spagett]

I love Joe in NXT but it's ridiculous he's been down there for so long.

The main roster is in desperate need of some proper main event heels and Joe is right there under their noses.

[Deleted]

I never saw Joe before 2008. This is probably the best he's been in those years I've watched him. He had some good periods in TNA, but always seemed to get derailed somehow.

[Bub (BLM)]

Triple H said it best when asked about Joe a couple months ago, stating that he's seemingly gone back in time.

[Yacht Persona]

Personally, I think Joe is one of the greatest of all time for his in-ring contributions to the business, so I'm forever a mark of his. His run in NXT has been a joy to behold and I hope he continues the momentum. He's got enough skill that even if he slows down he can adapt and continue to put on clinics out there.

[Allie Kitsune]

Feb 27, 2016 18:59:45 GMT -5 Magic knows Black Lives Matter said:

Physically, he's slower but that's because of wear & tear that comes with years of wrestling the physical style he does.

He'll never be as good as he was at his peak because his body won't allow him to be but he's about as good as he can possibly be at this stage of his career. So, he's pretty damn close to where he was during his early TNA years and light years ahead of where he was during his latter TNA years where he stopped giving a f***.

Joe slowing down makes him more of a tough, deliberate bastard, character-wise, though.

He's the bitter veteran who wasted multiple years of his life down in Dixieland, he finally made it into a place that has a loyal fanbase and some real buzz, and now he's using his veteran experience to scrap for every bit of respect and credibility he can take.

And if he has to pound fan favorites into dust to do it, he will.

[Mozenrath]

Feb 27, 2016 19:57:41 GMT -5 spagett said:

I love Joe in NXT but it's ridiculous he's been down there for so long.

The main roster is in desperate need of some proper main event heels and Joe is right there under their noses.

I think they have him there to have guys under his learning tree. He'd be great on the main roster, but I guess they're trying to invest in the next crop.

[Welfare Willis]

He's as good as the cookie that bears his heritage.

[berlynwright]

He's actually lot slower now, but he's pretty good in adapting so we now see more monster type of deal. He should get run with the title if he isn't making to the main roster.

[Surfer Sandman]

I honestly don't think that Samoa Joe has looked better than he does now in NXT. I want him on the main roster so badly, even if it's not a championship run.

[Allie Kitsune]

Feb 27, 2016 23:54:20 GMT -5 berlynwright said:

He's actually lot slower now, but he's pretty good in adapting so we now see more monster type of deal. He should get run with the title if he isn't making to the main roster.

Exactly. He's not speeding across the ring to show that he can anymore. He's picking and choosing his spots, because he knows he can hurt anybody he wants, and the ring is only so big; they can't evade him forever.

Joe's not the upstart with everything to prove anymore.

He's the savvy veteran who knows he's a tough bastard who can pound faces in, and he knows he's been around long enough to know how to get you where he wants you.

He's working smarter now, not faster. He doesn't have the energy to waste anymore.

[MichaelMartini]

Feb 28, 2016 0:16:29 GMT -5 Surfer Sandman said:

I honestly don't think that Samoa Joe has looked better than he does now in NXT. I want him on the main roster so badly, even if it's not a championship run.

Me too. He's a veteran and has proven he can work WWE style already. He's had some of his best matches ever this past year. What's the hold up? Everyone's injured to boot.

I hope the brand split rumors are true because it would make sense for them to wait. He's too similar to Owens. It would be best to split them.

[Final Countdown Jones]

Joe is the kind of ridiculous talent where even if years in the ring haven't left him able to move like he used to, he's been able to easily adapt and work a better style for him that's still showing his chops. He can't move like he used to, but he's still a world class wrestler and I see him managing to stay that way for quite some time to come.

[Big Bad Kahuna]

Feb 27, 2016 19:57:41 GMT -5 spagett said:

I love Joe in NXT but it's ridiculous he's been down there for so long.

The main roster is in desperate need of some proper main event heels and Joe is right there under their noses.

9 months since his debut at Unstoppable

There are strong rumours about him joining the main roster sooner than later

[taker1990]

I'm still liking his work.

I think he debuts night after WM and attacks IC champ Styles.