

Samoa Joe’s absence from AEW is tied to more than just storyline. The former champion confirmed he’s dealing with two real injuries: a fractured ankle from filming the Peacock series Twisted Metal and a concussion from his last AEW match.
In an August 12 interview with Mike Johnson of PWInsider, Joe explained the ankle injury didn’t happen during a stunt.
“Normally, I would say the ring is always a much more precarious place to be in, but halfway through the season, I fractured my ankle,” Joe said. “It was just parking, and I had to hop out the back on some really rocky, busted-up asphalt. I turned my ankle and spent the rest of the season taping it up and limping through it.”
Joe still finished shooting season two of Twisted Metal, which debuted July 31. He credited his years in wrestling for giving him the toughness to work through the injury while playing Sweet Tooth.
The concussion came during his July 12 AEW appearance, when The Death Riders attacked him after the match. The angle ended with him being stretchered out, but Joe confirmed in interviews with PWInsider and WrestleZone that the head injury was real. AEW’s medical staff is overseeing his recovery.
Joe’s return will depend on clearing all required evaluations for both injuries.
“Definitely sooner than later. We’re clearing our various medical protocols, and as soon as we’re done with that, we’ll be back to business.”
When he’s cleared, Joe has already hinted at targeting The Death Riders, the group that took him out on TV and played a part in his time away from the ring.
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