In a recent episode of the “Insight with Chris Van Vliet” podcast, AEW wrestling star Samoa Joe shared his thoughts on establishing his own identity in the wrestling industry, despite being a Samoan wrestler with no major wrestling family ties. Relevant extracts from the podcast are provided below:
When deliberating on the exclusivity of being a Samoan wrestler without any familial connection to a prominent wrestling family, Samoa Joe remarked, “Indeed, there are a handful. Nonetheless, it became an amusing occurrence, because during my independent wrestling days, many of the Samoans would lay claim to being related to ‘The Rock’.”
While discussing his aspiration to not exploit another family’s fame, Samoa Joe revealed, “To my mind, I always despised the notion of thriving off a surname that doesn’t belong to me. Therefore, I ensured to clarify, ‘I do not belong to the Anoa’i lineage, although they are a remarkable family and have indeed paved the way.’ I firmly intended to create a completely autonomous identity.”
Leon Slater, an emerging name in the wrestling world, aspires to bag the TNA X-Division Championship, a childhood ambition of his. Slater will compete in the Ultimate X match at TNA Rebellion, where the championship title will be defended by Moose.
In a recent discussion with Ash Rose, Slater expressed exuberance and appreciation for being part of this iconic match. In Slater’s words:
“I can’t contain my excitement. Not only due to my premier Ultimate X match taking place at Rebellion, but also because it’s my second shot at the X Division title, something I’ve been eying since I was just a kid.”
He added, “Not only does this present me with a second chance to clinch the title, but it also allows me to etch my name in the annals of history as the youngest ever X Division champion. Therefore, I am eagerly looking forward to Rebellion. The date, April 27, certainly fills me with a sense of anticipation because I believe it’s time for me to write my chapter in this illustrious book.”
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