New Backstage Details On Samoa Joe's WWE Suspension

Here's how Joe's Wellness Policy violation was handled by WWE.

by Andy H Murray
Samoa Joe
WWE.com

It was confirmed earlier this week that WWE had handed Samoa Joe a 30-day suspension for violating the company's Wellness Policy, following on from an unusual reporting situation three weeks prior, with WrestleVotes hinting that Joe was about to be suspended, then issuing a full retraction and apology for apparently getting it wrong.

Dave Meltzer has a possible explanation for all of this in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

It is noted that as Vince McMahon and sometimes Triple H are generally the only people who know about Wellness Policy violations at the time they go down, it's entirely possible that Joe may have failed his test when WrestleVotes' original report emerged, with the company holding off on announcing it until earlier this week. Meltzer speculates that they may have chosen to do this as Joe is currently concussed and isn't able to wrestle anyway.

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Joe's 30-day suspension started on 24 February, meaning he'll be allowed to return to television on the week of WrestleMania 36. there's currently no word on whether or not he'll be involved in that card though he'd need to pass concussion testing to make the show.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.