Yeah, we’re already five months into 2018, so it seems a little odd to read a headline like that. I’ll give you that. But, let’s be real – the WWE calendar pretty much runs from WrestleMania to WrestleMania. Given it doesn’t feel like a single damn thing has happened since WrestleMania 34, it’s time for the WWE to sit down and start thinking about long-term plans for the rest of 2018. Those plans should definitely feature Samoa Joe.
Joe and Roman Reigns may have just had a bit of Michael Hayes-produced dud at Backlash, but make no mistake – that blip aside, Joe has been on fire since his return.
His work on the microphone was phenomenal leading up to the Backlash main event. Joe has an ability to articulate a certain chaotic calm within his promos. He almost sounds like a mixture between the cunning of Jake “The Snake” Roberts, the chaotic imagination of Mick Foley, and the energy of Triple H. There’s a definite arrogance there, but he just exudes danger. You hear Samoa Joe talk, and you don’t doubt that the guy will go to any length to kick your ass.
He’s really a throwback type of smash-mouth heel in that regard. You don’t see that too often in WWE anymore. In that, you have a guy that you can run repeatedly at the top of the card. You don’t have to keep thinking up shenanigans for him to win when he wins. I think there’s a value in that.
But, he hasn’t shown that he’s taken a step back in the ring either. I mean, no – he’s not bumping onto arena stairs anymore, but he’s still going out there every week and putting on bangers. He’s a reliable guy. And, he can sell any match.
In other words, the guy’s just money.
And, since he’s been called up from NXT, he hasn’t had a real run atop the card. Sure, that’s mainly due to injuries, but it’s not like he’s had a clear direction from the jump. I thought he had an awesome match against Brock Lesnar at Great Balls of Fire. Had some awesome matches with Reigns on Raw over the course of the past year. Great stuff with Braun Strowman.
He’s sneakily become one of the best on the main roster, and it’s high time he’s booked like it. I mean, he’s 39 years old. It’s not like he has 20 years left in the tank. Or, hell – I guess you never say never in pro wrestling. But, the point is, he’s probably running out of years in his prime.
He may have languished about on the Raw roster for the past year, but switching to SmackDown provides the perfect opportunity for something new. The guy can come in and feud with A.J. Styles right away. He can take the WWE Championship, run with it throughout 2018, and take on a plethora of new challengers – Styles, Daniel Bryan, Shinsuke Nakamura, Jeff Hardy, Randy Orton, etc. etc.
It almost seems too easy. But, I’m hoping someone within the WWE sees it that way, too.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
Buy our shirt. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter @SoBrosNetwork. Listen on SoundCloud. Watch on YouTube. Shop our store on Redbubble.
