10 Saddest TNA Departures
3. Samoa Joe
Oh what could have been. Samoa Joe has had a good career in the professional wrestling business, but he should have had a great one. He should have made millions, and been one of the top stars of the last generation. WWE was interested in him years ago for their developmental system, but he decided to go to TNA. It was a big get for them, as he was someone they could build around for years.
The first year or so, he was pushed pretty well. But despite winning their Heavyweight Title, the company never went all in on him. A fatal mistake in TNAs plan was having Kurt Angle beat him in their first match. It sent the message WWE > TNA. The feud between the two was probably the best the company ever had, but it was still rushed, and they kept coming back to it to diminishing returns.
In his later years, Joe was woefully under-pushed. It became sad watching him as a background player, and the last we saw of him was as a member of the Beat Down Clan. All those years wasted. Still, he was big part of TNA, someone we rallied on to get the better push that never came. Then, hed had enough, and joined NXT where he is their current champ. Makes you wish hed been able to do that five years sooner.