Samoa Joe Discusses How Vince McMahon Views NXT

Speaking in a new interview, NXT Champion Samoa Joe opened up about how Vince McMahon views NXT.

With NXT heading for “major changes,” experiencing talent cuts, and call-ups to the main roster having mixed success, some have speculated over how the WWE Chairman views the black and gold brand. This was highlighted further when it was revealed that Triple H spoke to Samoa Joe about returning to NXT just hours after being told that he was being released by WWE.

In conversation with French YouTube star Hal, Joe gave his thoughts on how he believes that Vince McMahon sees WWE’s third brand The Samoan Submission Machine explained that McMahon is “heavily invested” in NXT as he sees it as the future of WWE.

“I think he perceives it as the future of his company. I think that he’s heavily invested in it. It’s funny, you know, I read all this stuff that I hear from people… At the same time, he’s probably the biggest proponent of its existence, and much of what has happened in it thus far.

“NXT – it’s the future of WWE, and it’s a big reason why I’m excited to be kind of associated with it. Because I get to delve into the future. I get to work on new things and new projects and introduce new stars in the world. And that’s something that, at this point in my career, I’m very, very excited to.”

Joe was also asked about the ‘Forbidden Door.’ It’s a topic which came into sharp focus when Daniel Bryan openly spoke about wanting to perform elsewhere while still under contract with WWE.

By contrast, Joe has a very different view. The NXT Champion said that while he’s under contract with WWE, that’s where he sees his wrestling future. That being said, if stars from other companies want to come to him, he’ll welcome the competition.

“The Forbidden Door thing, I think it’s just more of like – I work for a company. If I played for a major football club in the world, you wouldn’t lend me out on the weekend to go play for the rival team. Messi isn’t doing day shifts over at Manchester United, you know? And really, I understand some fans want for that, and they want to see that. But at the same time, just with the whole politics of that type of situation, it wouldn’t be a good outcome anyways, if we really spoke about it. Nobody wants to look bad in that situation, everybody’s gonna be pushing and pulling this way, and it just becomes kind of a convoluted mess.

“If guys want to show up and they want to get down with Samoa Joe? Then get on my level, get out here, come find me – let’s do this… I ain’t making house calls right now.”

At NXT TakeOver: 36 Samoa Joe defeated Karrion Kross to become the first ever three-time NXT Champion.

Appearing back on NXT on August 24th Joe cut a promo welcoming a new challenger. Joe was immediately met by Pete Dunne, Kyle O’Reilly and LA Knight. While O’Reilly was taken out by Ridge Holland, Tomasso Ciampa took his shot at the Bruiserweight. This left Knight to try and take out Joe, but the champion laid out his would-be challenger.

Later in the show, Pete Dunne said that he would defeat Samoa Joe when they eventually met.

H/t to Cageside Seats for the transcription.