Samoa Joe is not ready to put a date on his final match. With much of his generation's biggest names stepping away, from John Cena and AJ Styles to Adam Copeland, who recently said 2027 will be his last year in the ring, the AEW star was asked about his own plans in an interview with SHAK Wrestling.
His focus for now, he said, is putting on fun matches for fans. "I want to leave as many good memories I can while I [still] have the opportunity [to]," Joe said, according to Wrestling Inc.'s transcription, adding that his time frame is still not quite nailed down.
Giving something back
Joe built his name in TNA, where he had heated rivalries with Styles, before becoming a major figure in AEW. Away from the ring, he has picked up acting work, most notably as the physical performer behind Sweet Tooth in the Twisted Metal series, along with video game roles in 2025's Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii and the upcoming Deadlock.
Even with those doors open, he said he still plans to give back to wrestling. He described his career as an amazing journey without much heartache, said he has loved traveling throughout it and noted how much warmth there is for performers with good intentions. Before he is done, he said, he wants to give a little back and leave the industry in better shape than when he arrived.
Reporting sources: Wrestling Inc. - Pro Wrestling News, WWE & AEW Results, Superstar Interviews, “AEW's Samoa Joe Shares Thoughts On In-Ring Retirement”.