Samoa Joe's In-Ring Return Confirmed On WWE NXT
Samoa Joe returnesto a WWE ring against Karrion Kross later this month.
It's official: Samoa Joe will return to a WWE ring for the first time in 18 months at NXT TakeOver 36 (22 August).
What was spoiled following last week's television tapings was confirmed last night, as Joe offered his resignation from his role as William Regal's enforcer in exchange for the NXT General Manager granting his in-ring comeback. Regal consented - and made the TakeOver match official.
Joe and Kross have clashed consistently since Joe returned to NXT in a non-wrestling capacity a few weeks ago. Things came to an ugly head last week, when Kross laid Regal out in an unseen backstage beatdown, infuriating Joe and sparking last night's segment.
This will be the first time Joe has wrestled since February 2020, when he was ruled out after suffering a concussion while shooting a commercial for WWE. It came at the end of a rotten string of luck including another injury and a suspension for violating the company's Wellness Policy, leading, ultimately, to the former NXT Champion serving solely as a Raw announcer.
Released by WWE as part of its 15 April cuts, Joe was re-signed in June.