When Samoa Joe was NXT Champion, he ran into a MJF backstage. Literally.
Making his way to the ring, Joe shoved MJF, who was working as security, aside.
“I remember just the whole segment coming together. What had really happened is we had done a couple runs of the common entering the arena shot, and I kept going I’m bored of the shot because, it’s just so walking to the deal. Then as a joke, I said, and I didn’t tell MJF the time because I was kind of just doing as a gag. I go, ‘Hey man, when I’m coming out now just really be clearing out the hallways for me.’ ‘Yeah, sure, bro, no problem.’ I come out and I shoved him and we cut whatever there. I remember I looked up and everybody was dying behind the camera. And I looked at him, and he was like giggling too. I think it ended up going to the truck Hunter was in the truck, kind of doing pre-production for the show and he just goes, Oh God, we’re keeping that," Joe recalled to Chris Van Vliet on Insight.
MJF would go on to become one of the top names in AEW and a the longest-reigning AEW World Champion.
Asked if he knew MJF would reach that level, Joe said, “No, none. Well, I knew all the guys there at the time were, I think they were Brian Myers’ guys, essentially from his school, Create A Pro. I knew he had good dudes so I remember asking are you Brian’s guys, yeah, okay, cool. So I remember when I was doing the bit, the guy would get it, and he did. It was a hilarious thing. I’m glad we got to revisit it.”
The two revisited the spot at AEW All Out 2023 when Joe, who was walking down the ramp, shoved MJF, who was walking up the ramp.
Elsewhere during the interview, Joe commented on working with Brock Lesnar. You can find his full comments here.
