The touch, the feel of… platinum? It sounds like chrome is the fabric of Samoa Joe‘s life.
Ella Jay spoke with Samoa Joe for SEScoops ahead of ROH Death Before Dishonor where he will defend his World Television Championship. Joe says he loves the new design of his title because no one had it before him, therefore it doesn’t hold the stench of losing.
“It’s just a lot better just because I’ve had it. That’s pretty much it. You know, it doesn’t have like the stink of past failures and other people who’ve lost it and had not been as awesome as I haven’t been as Television Champion,” Joe stated. “I kind of felt it’s a vibe thing, you know? I’d have the belt on and be like, ‘Some loser wore this.’ And, you know, inevitably that was the truth.
“Now, it’s a brand new belt, fresh chrome. I mean, it feels nice against the skin. It’s soft, it’s hypoallergenic, doesn’t really mess you up. It’s good vibes on it,” Joe added. “You know, it’s just, oh, winner, winner winner. That’s what you feel off the plates. And I think that’s just the biggest difference, you know, it’s just it’s more of a personal thing than it is anything aesthetic.”
Samoa Joe was also asked about approaching Jay Lethal’s record for most days as ROH World Television Champion. Joe has a little more than 100 days until he surpasses Lethal’s record, but he says it’s more of a foregone conclusion than anything.
“I’d love to say it was something I consider a milestone, but is more of an expectation. I mean, I’ve set championship records in Ring of Honor before,” Joe said. “I don’t know why anybody would think that would be any different now. Having this opportunity to eclipse yet another great ROH superstars championship legacy is just one more thing I like to do for the world.”
Talent Shines Through
Samoa Joe spoke with WrestleZone ahead of his title defense at Death Before Dishonor. Joe was asked how ROH can continue to raise its profile while competing for attention alongside some of the bigger AEW shows. He said it’s about the talent establishing themselves and letting their personalities shine through.
“That’s just gonna be par for the course for AEW when they run big weekend events. That’s not to be unexpected,” Joe said. “Having big, marquee match-ups day after day is something AEW prides itself on, so that’s nothing new.
“To have Ring of Honor featured in that mix is very key. It’s really just a matter now of the performers on Ring of Honor now establishing themselves and [their] identities. There was a time of upheaval of the newness and it being integrated with AEW. I think now, we’re in a period where you’re going to start seeing the personalities of Ring of Honor start to shine through.”
