Torch Flashbacks

TORCH TALK FLASHBACK: Samoa Joe reveals original plans for ring name, talks early training days with John Cena



Mar 6, 2015 - 4:17:52 AM

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When Samoa Joe lands in WWE NXT later this year, chances are he will get a new ring name, unless WWE sees the value in Joe's stage name and if trademarks are worked out.



Interestingly, "Samoa Joe" was never supposed to stick. In this Torch Talk Flashback to May 2004, Joe talked about the name and his early years in wrestling, which included training with John Cena...



Torch Talk with Samoa Joe, pt. 1

Originally Published: May 8, 2004

PWTorch Newsletter #807



Excerpt from the VIP-exclusive Torch Talk Series, available for VIP Members...



Wade Keller: What name did you wrestle under for your first match?



Samoa Joe: Samoa Joe. It was a funny thing. When I first broke in, it was supposed to be my jobber name, the name I used when I first broke to lose under, then hopefully someday when I got better they'd give me a new name. But I started having some pretty decent matches from what I'm told, so when bookers would ask to book the Samoa Joe kid. That's the name booker knew. At the time I was so desperate for work and I wanted to work as much as I could, like anybody who starts out, I didn't dare change my name for fear that I might lose a booking or if I sent a resume somewhere with a different name, they wouldn't have heard of me. I didn't want to have to explain to people that I changed my name. So as more of a financial means and just to get on shows and get experience, I kept the name. So eventually I just realized Samoa Joe pretty much is my name. (laughs)



Keller: Did you have an idea of what name you were going to go by instead?



Samoa Joe: I never put a ton of thought into it. Even character-wise, I never really put a ton of thought into it. I think it's only just now I'm starting to develop the character that I want to develop. Before I just wanted to go out there and wrestle and do my thing. I didn't want to have a gimmick. I wasn't overly concerned with the gimmick. I was more concerned with wrestling and trying to be the best wrestler I could be...



I was working in the UIWA which is in Southern California here, working a lot of local independents. Then I got a call from Ultimate Pro Wrestling, the company Rick Bassman runs. He was just starting to expand UPW. He had just begun the process of getting a developmental program going with WWE at the time. They were looking for local guys to bring in to do shows. I was called to be brought in and booked. They ended up having me replace Aaron Baker who was sick or couldn't make the show. I worked the match. After I was done with that match, Rick Bassman came up to me after the event and said, "That was great. I want you booked on every show that we have." I said, "I appreciate that. Cool." I started working with UPW. UIWA eventually went the wayside and then folded. UPW was getting really, really hot here in Southern California. A lot of great, great talent started to join up with the company such as Frankie Kazarian, the Havana Pitbulls, Chris Daniels was there because Rick knew him. That's where I first met those guys.



UPW really exploded and WWE guys were sent in, they were doing training seminars at the camp. I learned a lot from them. William Regal came out and did a camp and the time I spent with him has opened my eyes tremendously. There's really not enough that I could say. Guys who have trained with William Regal know what I'm talking about. He's just a wealth of knowledge and it goes beyond wrestling. It's match theory and what you're really trying to convey to a crowd and what is really important in wrestling and what isn't. I give all the accolades in the world to him as a person and as a trainer. So I did that. Then when I started with UPW, I became a trainer at their university. I was training guys there and teaching classes for them, which was cool.



During that time I met John Cena. I became good friends with him. I'm proud as heck of him right now. He's doing great for himself. From UPW, of course they had the relationship with WWE. So I started doing WWE dark matches which inevitably led to the Velocity taping. Within a two year time span, I made it onto WWE TV, so I was pretty happy. I thought I was doing pretty okay for myself.



[Torch art credit Grant Gould (c) PWTorch.com]



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