Samoa Joe has been sidelined since late January, but AEW President Tony Khan is expressing optimism about his return. Joe was announced as injured on the January 28th edition of AEW Dynamite, with the company citing a non-contact injury suffered during training. He has not appeared on AEW television since.
Khan addressed Joe’s status during Thursday’s media call promoting AEW Revolution, speaking with Adam Barnard of The Sportster. He praised Joe as one of the greatest champions in professional wrestling history and confirmed that while Joe is still in recovery, Khan is optimistic he will be back “very soon.”
Joe Was Reported Under Concussion Protocol Ahead of Expected Return
Reports last month indicated that Joe had been placed under concussion protocol during his absence. His most recent in-ring appearance came on the January 12th edition of AEW Dynamite, where he faced Mike Bailey. Joe himself addressed his timeline at For the Love of Wrestling, telling fans he expects to be back “sooner than later.”
Joe has been one of AEW’s most prominent figures in recent years, holding the AEW World Championship and establishing himself as a cornerstone of the promotion’s main event scene. His return will be a significant boost to a roster that MJF himself recently called the most competitive in AEW history.