Entering TNA in 2009, Taz (dropping the 'z' once more) identified Samoa Joe as someone who had a lot of common with his own performances from over a decade before. Playing a similar 'hard man' character, Joe was basically Taz for a new generation, right down to the 'Joe is gonna' kill you' chants which had been ringing in the ears of his elder years previously, obviously with his name in there instead of Joe's. By 2009, Samoa Joe desperately needed something he could sink his teeth into, he was coming across as a truly unmotivated individual. Perhaps he had done all he could do with the company, which is exactly why Taz advised he go back to his roots, simply becoming a dominating wrestler once again. On-screen, Taz became Joe's short-lived mentor, and this was actually something the former ECW Champion pitched himself, feeling he could help Joe find his own identity and regain his momentum. The concept was sound, but wouldn't really work, too much damage had been done to the character of Samoa Joe (remember him 'killing' Scott Steiner?!).
Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.
