AEW star Samoa Joe discussed various topics with TV Insider, including his first thoughts on the Clockwork Carnage Match.
Joe said, “At this point in my career, I’ve probably been a part of as many crazy stipulation-type matches as you can possibly put out there. Kind of hearing the format and the layout, it’s par for the course. It took me a good two minutes to sit down and wrap my head around the concept. Depending on where I’m drawn, we’ll work out a gameplan.”
On his preparation for the match:
“It’s just like preparation for anything else. I think with a thing like this where you have so many moving parts and cogs in the wheel, it’s really about being sharp and being at your best. I look forward to the opportunities and what this one presents.”
On Will Ospreay’s World Title reign:
“I think Will’s done a pretty good job so far. He has risen to the occasion when he has been asked to. He has had a very hard, difficult rise to the top. I look forward to getting all that pressure off his shoulders here [at WrestleDream].”
On WrestleDream taking place in Orlando:
“Orlando has been a place where many of my wrestling moments have gone down. The amount I’ve done in the city, there’s bound to be something great to happen in there. Orlando has always been very special to me. It has been kind of my home arena away from home. Any opportunity I get to be back in Orlando doing what I do best, I always relish it a little bit. It’s nice to be able to drive home and sleep in your own bed at night. It’s a rare treat.”
on returning to AEW following the losses of Andy Williams and Benjamin Satterley:
“You know, the truth of it is there is no real established protocol beyond how anybody grieves amongst friends and loved ones. I think in times like this we try to be there for each other and available for that late-night call if you need to talk about it or something like that. I think we’re just more sensitive to that around these times. Obviously, the loss of Ben and Andy was felt far and beyond even AEW. Almost every locker room in the world felt it because they made an impact in the many places that they worked. With the show must go on mentality, I think if anything, we’re grateful that we even have the opportunity to have the show go on. I think we’re just more cognizant of that; I think we’re a bit more grateful of that. I think the endeavor that kind of starts with gratitude usually ends up being pretty spectacular in the end.”
On how Tony Khan is sensitive to these situations:
“Tony [Khan] is very admirable in that he’s very sensitive to these types of situations and how much we as performers mean to each other, especially over the breadth of our career and the journey that is what we do. However, I think that is across the board. I think it’d be selfish to say it is just AEW. I think we all understand the great loss that we’ve had to endure these past months. I think in these times we band together. We definitely cherish and have a better understanding that our time on this earth is precious. We should tell the people that we care about them, and we love them when we get the opportunity.”
On AEW being in an era of new faces:
“It’s definitely an era of new faces. I think you’re seeing a lot of younger guys that maybe weren’t in the spotlight or indefinitely in the main event picture, kind of forcing themselves into the picture, and rightfully so. It’s an exciting time being a part of this company. For me, it’s very special and very fun because you’re getting to see the evolution of so many young, extremely awesome talents kind of coming into their own.”
