WWE Suspends Samoa Joe for Violation of Wellness Policy
“Raw” Superstar will be benched for 30 days
Tony Maglio and Jennifer Maas | February 25, 2020 @ 1:22 PM
Last Updated: February 25, 2020 @ 2:22 PM
WWE.com
WWE has suspended “Raw” Superstar Samoa Joe for 30 days following a first violation of the company’s wellness policy, which covers testing for performance-enhancing and recreational drugs.
His suspension went into effect yesterday.
“WWE has suspended Nuufolau Seanoa (Samoa Joe) for 30 days effective Monday, February 24, for his first violation of the company’s talent wellness policy,” the company said in a statement Tuesday.
Joe, who did not appear on Monday’s “Raw,” has been dealing with concussions recently and sustained a head injury while performing a stunt during the filming of a commercial for WWE two weeks ago, an individual with knowledge tells TheWrap.
The “Raw” Superstar has been part of the ongoing Seth Rollins-Kevin Owens feud, siding with Owens. His suspension will end March 24, just under two weeks out from WrestleMania 36, where he and Owens appeared destined to compete in a Raw Tag Team title match against Rollins and Buddy Murphy, the current champions.
WrestleMania 36 will be held at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. on April 5.
A world-traveled veteran of the mat game, the 282-pound Samoa Joe has used a blistering, MMA-inspired offense to rack up championships in top promotions across the globe. Before he ever set foot in WWE, Samoa Joe had already thrown down with the likes of John Cena, Daniel Bryan, Seth Rollins and Cesaro throughout his storied career.
Still, despite his pedigree, the thought of Samoa Joe entering a WWE ring seemed to be relegated to the imaginations of fantasy matchmakers worldwide. Yet, after barreling through WWE NXT and twice capturing the NXT Title, Joe officially signed to Monday Night Raw in 2017 and has since unleashed his vicious squared circle philosophy on Raw and SmackDown LIVE against opponents like AJ Styles, Roman Reigns, and even Brock Lesnar.
Samoa Joe’s path of destruction continues to grow with every beating that he executes, and his roughneck style has earned him multiple United States Championships. Still, whether Joe is carrying a title or not, he’s always one of the most dangerous threats to anyone in WWE.
Let's Get Ready to (Royal) Rumble With 32 Years of WWE Royal Rumble Winners (Photos)
We're days away from the 2020 WWE "Royal Rumble" pay-per-view, which will conclude with a 30-man over-the-top-rope battle royal.
Who will be the last man standing inside the (crowded, for most of it) ring? Well, Las Vegas favors Roman Reigns, despite the fact that Reigns also has a Falls Count Anywhere match with Baron Corbin to get through.
On the sports books' big boards, the Big Dog is followed by Drew McIntyre, and then it's a tie between Brock Lesnar and CM Punk. Reigns and Lesnar have both won the Royal Rumble Match once before, Punk and McIntyre have not.
Lesnar and Punk, who come with 6-to-1 odds each, both have pretty strong cases to NOT be good bets. Lesnar, by his own insistence, is entering the squared circle first of 30 spaced-out slots. As for Punk, he isn't technically even an active professional wrestler anymore. Punk's present-day wrestling involvement is pretty much limited to a part time gig on FS1's "WWE Backstage," a Fox Sports studio show that covers WWE wrestling.
Kevin Owens rounds out the Top 5, odds-wise. He'd be another first-time winner.
For the women, Sin City sees Shayna Baszler booking her trip to the WrestleMania main event with a Royal Rumble Match victory.
Behind Baszler is Ronda Rousey, who like Punk, is not an active wrestler. And then there is Rhea Ripley, Charlotte Flair and Sasha Banks.
Considering the Women's Royal Rumble Match just began in 2018 and that Asuka and Becky Lynch are booked in a title match on Sunday, there will be no repeat winner there.
Scroll through our gallery for all of the historical winners.
Can Brock Lesnar run the table on Sunday from his self-imposed No. 1 position?
We're days away from the 2020 WWE "Royal Rumble" pay-per-view, which will conclude with a 30-man over-the-top-rope battle royal.
Who will be the last man standing inside the (crowded, for most of it) ring? Well, Las Vegas favors Roman Reigns, despite the fact that Reigns also has a Falls Count Anywhere match with Baron Corbin to get through.
On the sports books' big boards, the Big Dog is followed by Drew McIntyre, and then it's a tie between Brock Lesnar and CM Punk. Reigns and Lesnar have both won the Royal Rumble Match once before, Punk and McIntyre have not.
Lesnar and Punk, who come with 6-to-1 odds each, both have pretty strong cases to NOT be good bets. Lesnar, by his own insistence, is entering the squared circle first of 30 spaced-out slots. As for Punk, he isn't technically even an active professional wrestler anymore. Punk's present-day wrestling involvement is pretty much limited to a part time gig on FS1's "WWE Backstage," a Fox Sports studio show that covers WWE wrestling.
Kevin Owens rounds out the Top 5, odds-wise. He'd be another first-time winner.
For the women, Sin City sees Shayna Baszler booking her trip to the WrestleMania main event with a Royal Rumble Match victory.
Behind Baszler is Ronda Rousey, who like Punk, is not an active wrestler. And then there is Rhea Ripley, Charlotte Flair and Sasha Banks.
Considering the Women's Royal Rumble Match just began in 2018 and that Asuka and Becky Lynch are booked in a title match on Sunday, there will be no repeat winner there.
Scroll through our gallery for all of the historical winners.
