Numerous wrestlers of Samoan heritage, such as The Rock and Roman Reigns, hail from one specific family, yet the Samoan wrestler Samoa Joe doesn’t share this family lineage.
In the latest episode of the “Insight” podcast, Joe opened up about not belonging to this renowned wrestling family and his views on those who falsely claim a connection. He said,
“I think Toa Liona is also standalone, much like myself. Funnily, during my time in independent wrestling, a number of Samoan guys would boast about their supposed connections, claiming ‘Oh yeah mate, I’m Rock’s cousin, so and so.’
To me, that always unsettled me. I never wanted to gain fame illegitimately by piggybacking a family name that wasn’t my own. I was always vigilant. I’m not an Anoa’i, but they’re an impressive family who have definitely left their mark in wrestling. Nevertheless, I was determined to carve out my own unique path.”
Joe has had professional encounters with multiple family members, notably his main event program with Roman Reigns in 2017 that was broadcasted on WWE’s RAW.
Currently, Joe is allied with AEW, working hand in hand with HOOK and Katsuyori Shibata, as part of the newly-formed faction titled ‘The Opps.’
In related news, Samoa Joe recently achieved a significant accolade. Click this link for more information.