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Samoa Joe Turns Down TNA Contract Extension

Critic of the DawnPosted on 07/06/07 at 17:21:44

TNA superstar Samoa Joe was offered a three-year contract extension from TNA within the past 2 weeks but refused sign it. TNA has been trying to sign Joe to a new deal for quite some time and is prepared to book him several different ways depending on how the negotiations go.

Joe reportedly has been expecting a raise from TNA and became very angry when he found out the extra money would only come after he signed a three year deal.

No word on Joe considering a jump to WWE but do not be surprised to see Joe use the possibility of leaving to gain leverage in the negotiations.
Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter as reported by Rajah.com

If memory serves, this is the second dispute between Samoa Joe and TNA over money - for those that don't remember, the first came about 6 months after his debut.  Back then, Joe had a clause in his contract allowing him to ask for more money if he did well, but when the time came TNA was hesitant to go with it.

I am 100% of the opinion that Samoa Joe is being wise here.  Why on earth would anyone sign something committing them to three more years on only a promise that more money might eventually be forthcoming?  Joe has worked his ass off (including working through injuries) since TNA brought him in, and has legitimately earned his spot near the top of the roster.  Joe has very little to lose and a lot to gain; if he and TNA can't sign a deal, he's got a very good shot at a WWE contract, and if that falls through ROH would sign him in a second.  On their side, all TNA can do if he refuses to sign is to try to bury him.  While that might hurt Joe in the short term, TNA has invested too much in him as a top player to risk too much of this.

In short, Joe once again has TNA right where he wants them.  They're going to pay him what he wants, or he'll find someone else (probably WWE) who will.

Eric "Critic of the Dawn"
pszPosted on 07/06/07 at 19:57:24

I said it before, and not to long ago: Something's not quite right in Orlando.

If he doesn't re-sign, this will be the fourth "name guy" in three months that's jumped ship.

Maybe the "Indy" guys are getting tired of the "WWE" guys showing up and ruling the roost.
suicidalbynaturePosted on 07/06/07 at 21:12:07

I've been a big fan of Samoa Joe's for a while now but the thought of Joe in a WWE ring doesn't feel right to me. I have a hard time believing that McMahon and Co. will push him as a legit name because of the fact that he isn't one of their boys. A Joe/Umaga feud would be interesting, a Joe/Umaga tag team would be even better.

I think Joe will end up getting more money from TNA. They can't afford to lose the one big name they created.
JakePosted on 07/06/07 at 21:16:58

On 07/06/07 at 21:12:07, suicidalbynature wrote:They can't afford to lose the one big name they created.
:o

TNA didn't make Samoa Joe.
pszPosted on 07/07/07 at 00:28:24

He was in WWE before he was in TNA ;->

(I'd say ROH "made" him, though)
The TNM Members ChampPosted on 07/07/07 at 00:47:09

Samoa Joe made Samoa Joe. If a wrestler doesn't have personality, wrestling ability, and the ability to connect with the crowd, it doesn't matter how the promotion pushes them.

Samoa Joe in ECW would rule. I think if they did sign him, they wouldn't job him to Umaga. At most, I think they'd build both as unbeatable and they'd fight at WrestleMania XXIV.

Besides, another Samoa Joe/CM Punk feud would do wonders for ECW.
UnrightPosted on 07/07/07 at 02:05:58

On 07/07/07 at 00:47:09, The TNM Members Champ wrote:Samoa Joe made Samoa Joe. If a wrestler doesn't have personality, wrestling ability, and the ability to connect with the crowd, it doesn't matter how the promotion pushes them.
Bah.. I was going to say the same thing.

If WWE signed Joe, their best bet would be to keep Umaga and Joe separate for as long as possible, but tease encounters every once and a while.
suicidalbynaturePosted on 07/07/07 at 06:25:55

When I said TNA made Samoa Joe, they made him popular in the mainstream. When  I say the name Samoa Joe to any of my casual wrestling fan friends they'll associate him with TNA, not Ring of Honor. ROH made him a big name on the East Coast but TNA put him on the national spotlight. Also, saying he was in the E is a bit of a stretch considering it was just UPW. If that's the case then Bryan Danielson was in the E and Spanky has been E property for ages.
JakePosted on 07/07/07 at 15:20:57

On 07/07/07 at 06:25:55, suicidalbynature wrote:Also, saying he was in the E is a bit of a stretch considering it was just UPW. If that's the case then Bryan Danielson was in the E and Spanky has been E property for ages.
Joe actually wrestled for WWE before. He was a jobber to Essa Rios.
AllPowerfulGARTHPosted on 07/07/07 at 18:49:46

I have no doubts that WWE would sign Samoa Joe if he were willing to go along with it, but I have to believe that Joe going to WWE would be a huge disappointment to all his fans. We all know how much WWE prefers to use its own homegrown talent rather than using talent created by others, and while mid-90s/early 2000s WWE was known to push guys who were big stars in WCW, that was more in the interest of competition and I don't think WWE really views TNA as competition at this point.

Unless WWE could come up with some new hook for Samoa Joe that would allow them to take some metaphorical ownership in his character, I don't think he'd rise above upper-midcard level there unless he were to be placed in ECW and the brand were to still be struggling with its main event scene when this all went down.
pszPosted on 07/07/07 at 19:01:27

On 07/07/07 at 15:20:57, Jake wrote:
Joe actually wrestled for WWE before. He was a jobber to Essa Rios.
Though it was not a squash match, thankfully.
suicidalbynaturePosted on 07/07/07 at 20:18:11

On 07/07/07 at 15:20:57, Jake wrote:
Joe actually wrestled for WWE before. He was a jobber to Essa Rios.
And Bryan Danielson wrestled Jaime Knoble and John Cena on Velocity in 2003 and so on and so forth. When I said that I can't see Samoa Joe in the E I mean that I can't picture him being billed as a top line performer amongst the likes of Cena, Edge, Batista, Undertaker, Orton, Booker T, etc. I don't trust the writers with his character and I'd much rather see him stay with TNA or go to Ring of Honor or even Japan. However, the man needs to eat (obviously) and pay his bills so I wouldn't be one of his fans that would bitch and moan and cry if he ends up in the WWE. It's just business.