WWE just made Tuesday night must-see television. After the smoke cleared and rosters were reset following the two-night Superstar Shakeup event, it is clear SmackDown Live received a major shot of adrenaline with the arrival of Samoa Joe.
The Samoan Submission Machine has his sights set on anyone and everyone who gets in his way of achieving company gold.
Since arriving on the main roster scene last year, Samoa Joe has toiled on the fringe of the main event picture. An injury derailed any chance of him capturing the Universal Heavyweight Title before WrestleMania 34. Now, healthy once again, moving to Tuesday nights could mean a title run is in his near future. And the WWE Championship might be his for the taking.
After an impassioned speech of how he was going to dismantle Roman Reigns at the Payback pay-per-view, the former NXT champion took a walk over to SmackDown Live and issued a challenge to anybody on the roster who was listening.
Just the thought of Joe, AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura, Big Cass, Rusev and Daniel Bryan all in the same brand makes me giddy. WWE did a solid job in finding balance between two brands that were uneven and uncompetitive. Given WWE will now have pay-per-view events featuring both brands, business just picked up a bit for the long, hot summer.
The Styles-Nakamura feud is only part of the grand plan to create better and more exciting matches moving forward.
Suddenly, the idea of Joe and Styles or Joe and Bryan headlining SummerSlam is a real possibility. A program with Joe and Randy Orton could happen. If Rusev becomes a baby face, facing Samoa Joe is possible. Also, let’s not forget Jeff Hardy and his United States title.
The creative team for the blue brand now has options. The only way WWE can screw this up is if Samoa Joe does not win a title. That would be the biggest travesty of the shakeup.
I for one am hoping WWE gets it right and continues to push Samoa Joe as the baddest heel on SmackDown Live. Any other direction for this superstar is a step backward. Samoa Joe has already had enough pitfalls in his path towards title glory. Now it’s time for WW to cash in on how great this former NXT star really is.