WWE superstar Samoa Joe talks with The Post’s Joseph Staszewski before battling Brock Lesnar, Braun Strowman and Roman Reigns for the Universal title Sunday at SummerSlam.
Q: Is this fatal-four-way match for the Universal title on Sunday maybe the biggest of your career, considering it is SummerSlam and for a title?
A: Absolutely, I say it is. Obviously I’ve had big matches all around the world, but I think the biggest thing is [Sunday] at SummerSlam, one of the biggest kind of pay-per-view franchises in the industry, and I am in the main event. So yeah, by far this is the biggest match of my career.
Q: Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman have said they will leave WWE if Brock loses. If you are the reason that happens, what would it mean to add that distinction to your career?
A: (Laughs) It would be great. To be the guy that ran Brock Lesnar out of WWE, that is definitely a title I would love to hold and am looking to accomplish next Sunday.
Q: What’s your relationship with Brock and Paul backstage? I know there has been talk that they are big supporters of yours.
A: I think there is a lot of mutual respect there, for the most part. I think we both understand and have great respect for what we bring to the table. So, it’s at times amicable.
Q: You think that is one of the reasons the match at Great Balls of Fire (which Lesnar won) went the way it did, and both you guys left looking pretty good?
A: Absolutely, I think Brock and Paul definitely understand the intensity that I bring to the table and the vibe that I put out there whenever I’m getting ready for big matches. They recognized it for the big match that it was. I definitely did. At the end, I think it went to a lot of the fans enjoyment.
Q: The last time you performed at Barclays on SummerSlam weekend, you lost the NXT title to Shinsuke Nakamura. What do you remember most about that night?
A: I think the biggest thing I remember is how many fans from around the world come into Brooklyn, along with the native New Yorkers to attend these events, to attend this weekend. SummerSlam has kind of become part of this big Red Hook renaissance? Everybody comes out. It’s an event to attend and be a part of. So it is really cool to kind of see the atmosphere. It’s very international and it’s very, very lively.
Q: What’s it like performing with Shinsuke in the ring? He is known for his strong style.
A: Shinsuke, he is by far one of the best competitors in the world. It is no surprise to me that he found his way to WWE. I think when you look at the WWE roster now you are seeing guys who are consistently the top guys in this industry, all around the world, converging on WWE in all these events, SummerSlam, WrestleMania. It is a really, really cool time to be a wrestling fan.
Q: You have said in the past that when you first signed with WWE it was basically an NXT/merchandise deal and not a full-time one because you were in your 30s. How did you take it at the time?
A: I took it as an opportunity, which is what it was. I think something that escapes a lot of people is my entire career … I call myself the “often unwanted” because when I got to Ring of Honor I was told it was supposed to be one-off deal. I said, “That’s fine,” knowing that when I went in there it was going to be more than that and it was.
When I got to TNA, I was brought in because they didn’t have television. They told me, “Hey listen, we like you because you have an internet following,” and that was where they were broadcasting their shows predominantly and there was much more [for me] after that.
I knew once I got there and I did my thing that wouldn’t be the case and it wasn’t. When I got to the WWE, when I was presented with that initial opportunity, I knew once again it was my oyster to crack open and take the prize. That’s what I did, and I find myself here in the main event of SummerSlam.
Q: Why do you think that so many organizations have thought you didn’t fit what they wanted or viewed you as a one-off thing?
A: It’s tough to say. I think it’s obviously timing and being circumstantial. I think it’s varying different views. With Ring of Honor, it was more of a budgetary issue. I was a California guy and to pay that flight consistently every month, it was a tough go for them as a starting-up company at the time. They found the money and they made the time and brought me on full time.
With TNA it was very different situation. They didn’t have television. They were transferring from FOX to working out the Spike [TV] deal. Basically they were just trying keep a buzz and to bring in names that would turn the heads to the audience they were aiming to reach at the time.
With WWE, I have been on the outskirts of this company for the majority of my career, so an opportunity presented itself. NXT was a new hot product and specifically I was more or less brought in to help build the brand. Based on my efforts, I was brought up to the main roster.
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Q: Wrestler past or present you’d love to have a match with?
A: Bruiser Brody, I always say. I would love to have gotten in the ring with him and throw it around a little bit. Presently now, there are really far too many to list. We haven’t even scratched the surface as far as dream matches in WWE. I think in the coming weeks and months we will definitely see some of that come to fruition.
Q: Favorite hobby in your off-time?
A: I’m a big gamer, I think like most people my age (38). I’m a big reader. Whenever I am on the road, if I am in an airplane or on a bus, I am usually cracking a book and taking in some reading.
Q: Favorite game and book?
A: Favorite game? I really can’t even scratch the surface on that because there are too many I’ve played.
Q: Are you a Call of Duty guy?
A: Literally the entire gamut, everything from first-person shooters to RPGs to sports games. As far as favorite book, I think I constantly refer back to the Hagakure, which is an old Japanese philosophy book, but always find interesting insight in it.
Q: Lastly, what’s you prediction for Sunday night at SummerSlam?
A: At Sunday night at SummerSlam I will be more than happy to be starting my first reign as WWE Universal Champion.