Former AEW World Champion Taking Time Off (AEW News)
"Hollywood's ringing" for top veteran Samoa Joe. You won't see him in AEW for a while.
Samoa Joe revealed that "Hollywood's ringing" and he'll be off AEW television for a while during Wednesday's twin episode of Dynamite and Collision. Joe cut a promo stating that his partners in The Opps (Katsuyori Shibata, Hook and Anthony Bowens) know what they need to do during his absence.
"Hollywood" in this instance is the third season of Peacock show Twisted Metal. It's based on a cult video game series from the 1990s/early-2000s - in it, Joe plays the role of Sweet Tooth, although it's actor Will Arnett who voices the character.
Joe had only recently returned from a concussion layoff, but he's been in sparkling form since bursting back into view. In total, he's wrestled 5 matches in 2026 and only 3 of them have been singles bouts, but the Samoan went out with a bang by doing the honours for Will Ospreay at Double Or Nothing last weekend.
Their Owen Hart Foundation tournament quarter final was one of the finest matches on the entire pay-per-view, so Joe can rest easy whilst he's off shooting Twisted Metal. Realistically, he was never in the frame to defeat Ospreay. Tony Khan wants to strap a rocket to the Brit, and Joe knows his role in 2026.
Twisted Metal has been successful on Peacock, so this is a good spot for Joe to bag. It looks certain that Shibata, Hook and Bowens will continue pushing The Opps on AEW TV during their leader's time away. Joe pretty much laid that out during his promo on Dynamite/Collision.