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Thursday January 26 2017 – EBWF Performance Center
Samoa Joe had gotten his first match, and first victory out of the way in his debut match in the EBWF where he choked out the reigning Breakout Champion in the middle of the ring, Baron Corbin. That was exactly the sort of confidence he needed, a perfect platform to make an impact just one week before the highly anticipated Royal Rumble event. By now, the EBWF Universe knew what was coming their way on Sunday in New Orleans, and Samoa Joe was going to have a busy yet exciting night ahead of him. He was going to be involved in the first match of the evening, taking on a familiar foe in Kevin Owens with the chance to become the number one contender for the Path to Glory Championship on the line. Then, quite a long wait would be ahead of him as he was told he’d be the final entrant in the Rumble, adding a little bit more pressure on him to impress in his first major event with the organisation, but he cherished that challenge and even if he didn’t leave the arena as the winner, his aim was to make sure his name was the one fans were speaking of as they left the arena. Deep down, though, the aim was to do whatever he could to ensure he’s selected as the challenger to go on and compete in the WrestleMania main event, and create a big impact like never before.
The scene opened up inside of the EBWF Performance Center, deserted, quiet, cold. It was clear that it was quite late into the night, and the only lights that were on were in the far corner, as quiet grunting was heard followed by the sound of a punching bag taking a vicious beating. The cameras followed the light and the sounds, and they eventually saw Samoa Joe training, sweating profusely as he threw lefts and right at the bag, almost knocking it off. He quickly glanced at the EBWF cameras, but continued with his workout as he started to land some knees on to the bags as well, showing off his versatility and his numerous points of attack – something he’d need with a crazy night ahead of him on the weekend. Eventually, he stopped. He stared into the camera as he breathed heavily and put his white towel to good use by burying his face in it, and wiping away the sweat to show off he was taking the night seriously, contrary to what people might have believed beforehand. Joe signalled for the cameras to follow him with his right hand, as he got into the main wrestling ring, and started running the ropes, visualising what would happen in the ring before letting out a loud laugh and leaving the ring, sitting on the apron as he looked towards the camera, wiping away the sweat with his hand as he started to speak.
Samoa Joe: You know, I’m starting to like this company already. I mean, I had my reservations about how I’d be used, my opportunities, the importance I’d have. But it seems to be going okay, one match, one win and one opportunity to become the number one contender for the Path to Glory Championship. An opportunity to take on PJ Black, somebody who captures the gold at the same event I first emerged on, only…he did it one year earlier and I managed to stay more relevant in one month and managed to cause more destruction in that one month than the impact he’s made as champion in that one year.
Joe laughed to himself, almost laughing off the challenge ahead of him as if it was an easy task, if he could get past Owens.
Samoa Joe: I give that little son of a bitch some credit, though. That little, flying weasel has managed to somehow keep the championship around his waist, but that’s okay. He’s never competing anyway, and in order to not only successfully defend a championship against me, but to walk out on your own two feet…you need to be on a ridiculous wave of momentum. So, a firm warning to PJ…keep that championship warm, because I’m not here to sit on the sides and watch things go on as they are. I promised change, and I will deliver change and after I get through Owens and I win that Rumble, I’m coming for you and I’m choking you out to an extent where you can’t even fly again.
Joe had a sinister look on him as he stared into the camera, knowing his message would have gotten through to PJ Black, should they ever meet.
Samoa Joe: I’m hungry, and I want it all. I want every piece of gold around my waist, over my shoulder, around my neck, hell…I want the next Rolex Wes Ikeda decides to treat himself to. Every tournament, every bit of success will be associated with me and I’m going to make sure of that…personally. Because, I’m the only person, the ONLY monster on this roster that can say it and make it happen, and everybody from the office to the cleaners of this Performance Center knows that. But…the first aim at the Royal Rumble is to get past Kevin Owens and secure my spot as the number one contender for the Path to Glory Championship, my insurance policy. My back-up plan. Now, I’m not going to be one of those jack-offs that’ll sit here and complain about being put in a match like this before my guaranteed coronation at the end of the night. But not me, I know that the 2017 Royal Rumble is the event that will go down in history as the beginning of the Samoa Joe era, starting with you, Kevin.
Joe scratched his neck, letting it sink in that it’s going to be a big challenge, but one that he cherished.
Samoa Joe: It seems like the company just feels the need to establish THE man, THE beast, THE giant…as soon as they possibly they. Because usually, when you move to a new company, they want to show off their prized asset, their newest acquisition, they want to make the new star look good so they put you in these matches they KNOW they can win. Because then, the fans think ‘okay, this is some serious ass kicker, we need to get behind this guy before the bandwagon gets full.’ It seems the opposite with me, because they’ve already fed me Baron Corbin and I showed the world that I don’t just talk like he does, I did what I said I’d do and I choked that useless oaf out in the middle of that ring and nobody will look at him seriously again. They fed me Baron, and now they’re feeding me you. The only difference is, the same principle applies because I don’t need a skinny little indie twig trying to make ends meet like a James Ellsworth to get in this ring so I can dismantle him to make me look good. I can do that with somebody like you, somebody I know is genuinely afraid to step in the ring with me and stand toe to toe with me because that’s what you’ve been all your life, a bitch who runs away from THE fight. So, you can fight and steamroll your way through the others all you want, you can pick up win after win after win, but you and I both know that when it’s you and me in that ring, you can’t hurt me, you can’t outrun me and you sure as hell can’t beat me.
Joe smiled into the camera again, nodding his head and trying to get into Kevin’s head ahead of Sunday.
Samoa Joe: I was just thinking to myself earlier, why? Why am I here training this late? I mean, I don’t know how much you want this, so I can’t say I want this more than you. Why am I busting my ass off here just so I can pick up a win I know is a guarantee over you? Surely I should be at home with my kids and making sure they go to school the next day and tell the kids around them that their Dad is not only going to kick Kevin Owens’ ass and become the number one contender, but their Dad is going to win the Royal Rumble and go to main event WrestleMania. Why am I here? Why did I think I was worried? I mean, you’ve been here for quite some time now, right? I’m…genuinely struggling to think of anything that’ll make me second guess my confidence ahead of our match, but I’m actually struggling. You were once The Miz’s lackey weren’t you? But then there’s that time you held the Intercontinental Championship for a little while and the whole nice guy act didn’t work for you either did it? I get it, you’re not only a loser, you’re a confused loser who’s out of place and out of his depth and if I were you, I’d feel embarrassed that you even think you’re worthy enough to be sharing the ring with me.
Joe then got a little closer to the camera, attempting to talk directly to Owens in another battle of the mind games.
Samoa Joe: I have to ask you, man, what are you going to achieve by stepping in there with me? What is it you want? You think because everybody has forgotten who you are, you’ll decide to share my limelight and ride my wave of momentum because I’m the man right now? The only thing that will do is make you look like a bigger fool than you already are, rather than losing on the pre-show where you belong where only a few thousand people will see your sorry ass walk up the ramp the loser, you’re going to have millions of eyes on you after I’m done with you. Then again, I don’t plan on letting you walk out, I’m hoping you suffer the same fate as Baron so that you don’t even wake up in time for the Rumble. Then while my kids are at school boasting about how amazing their Dad looked…what will Owen be going through, huh? I know he’s proud of his Dad, proud of how far he’s come. How’s he going to feel when for the first time he sees his father brutalised and left for dead in the middle of the ring and asking around why they’re carrying him out, why he didn’t see you in the Rumble and then he’ll have to face those questions the next day in school with the pointing and the laughing and then you can’t even show your face to him because you’re embarrassed that you let him down. Will I feel guilty? Probably not, in fact, I’d probably enjoy it a little bit, knowing he’s lost all respect for you and I was the reason for that, so just make sure you explain to him that it’s okay that he needs to be a fan of Samoa Joe now, because he’s not the first, and he won’t be the last, not after Sunday.
Joe jumped off the ring, clearly happy with the disgusting comments he made, but he knew that to get into his mind, he’d have to be just as despicable as Owens is. But he didn’t care, he was walking towards the locker room, as he stopped once more and looking back into the camera, still as cocky as before.
Samoa Joe: Kevin, I’m standing here between the prize you want. The so-called prize you’ve been chasing for all your life. It’s the prize you’re longing for, and it’s not going to be an easy task trying to get it. I’M the real prizefighter. I’m the man that will go to any extent to get that prize, not you. I stand here and I DARE you to try and hurt me, because we both know every time you hit me, I’ll get back up and I’ll laugh in your face and tell you to go again because there’s nothing about you that scares me, and there’s nothing you can do that will hurt me and I know that deep down…you hate it, But that’s something you’ve been forced to live with since you first stepped into a wrestling ring. From the indies to the big time, you knew you were good but you always knew you were not quite as good as Samoa Joe. Come Sunday, you’re going to find out just vicious I can be, you’ve not seen anything yet.
Joe pushed the camera away as he laughed his way down the corridor, wiping his head yet again as his cocky walk and tone of voice just oozed charisma, looking better than ever as he hoped to make it two wins from two against another stellar opponent. Only time would tell whether he could back up his words yet again in his toughest challenge yet, hours before another big test in the form of the Royal Rumble.
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Saturday January 28 2017 – ESPN First Take
Jonathan Coachman: Welcome back ladies and gentlemen, you’re still watching First Take with me, Jonathan Coachman and we’re still previewing the EBWF Royal Rumble pay-per-view tomorrow night. We’ve talked Alex Riley and Roman Reigns. We’ve talked Natalya and Paige. We’ve talked the women’s Royal Rumble and we’ve talked the World Championship match between AJ Styles and Jimmy Havoc which means there’s still one match left for us to discuss and that is the main event, the 30-man Royal Rumble match with the winner securing a main event spot at WrestleMania for the World Championship. Well, it is my pleasure to welcome to you all at this time, joining us live from the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, kindly taking time out of his preparation to join us today to discuss that main event, Samoa Joe. Joe, welcome to First Take.
Samoa Joe:Thanks for having me.
The split screen saw Coach on the left side and Samoa Joe, who clearly didn’t want to be there, on the right hand side as he sat there with a blazer of his Samoa Joe shirt, and the earpiece in his ear with the EBWF crew constructing the Royal Rumble stage behind him. This was the final media duty Joe had to oblige before he could go and refocus on the Rumble event, and wanted to make sure he made it an appearance to remember.
Jonathan Coachman: Quite a night for you tomorrow, not only are you the final entrant in the Royal Rumble match, giving you a slight advantage, but you have a number one contenders match against Kevin Owens for the Path to Glory title in the first match of the evening. What’s going through your mind right now as you’re sat there?
Samoa Joe: I could sit here and tell you how surreal it is, how it was a long journey to get here, which it was, but I have to get it out there that this is probably the least I deserve. It’s about time I cracked the big time, and this is the single opportunity I need to show the world that I’m not here for a three weeks’ buzz and then I’ll go off somewhere else. I’m beating Kevin, I’m winning the Rumble and I’m dethroning the World Champion at WrestleMania. So, I’m feeling good, feeling great, excited and in my mind I’m already in that ring with my arm pointing to that WrestleMania sign with the fireworks going off to signal my coronation. Whether people want to believe it or not right now, that’s their choice, I’m just giving you all a heads up that it’s about time you prepare for it. That’s all.
Jonathan Coachman: Well there’s no better place to begin that Kevin Owens. A segment you shot with the EBWF has been blowing up on YouTube, some really personal comments. Aren’t you worried that maybe it could not only come back to haunt you in that first match, but perhaps Kevin could cost you the chance in the main event?
Samoa Joe: I’m not worried. Why should I be worried? Everything I said to him, I meant it wholeheartedly because that’s just the type of son of a bitch I am. He’s got another thing coming if he thinks I’m going to apologise, or if he thinks he’s going to beat me. I don’t care if he’s the first one out there, or number 29, I’m going to beat him to kick off the night, and I’m going to beat him to conclude the night. I’d actually be disappointed in myself if he’s able to drag his sorry carcass out for the Rumble match, it’ll show I didn’t get the job done in the opening match, but hey, if he has a death wish then maybe I’ll rip his head in the ring and then throw him out to be forgotten. Kevin…Kevin is not my main worry, he’s not A worry. He’s nothing. A distant memory in an event that’s not even happened yet. Ask me something else.
Jonathan Coachman: Okay…well, so far 25 entrants have been confirmed, including yourself but you made the decision to reveal your entry number, revealing yourself with the lucky number 30. Aren’t you worried that may put you at a disadvantage as it takes out the element of surprise compared to everybody else? Especially since you have no idea who is coming out at which number!
Samoa Joe: You know what, let me make this easier for you so you know which questions you don’t need to ask. NOTHING worries me. Why would I be worried by announcing myself as the final entrant? How do I know that all 29 won’t already be somehow eliminated before I make my way to that ring? How do I know that it won’t be me and just one man out there, the number one entrant and me being the fresher man would put me in the driver’s seat. So Coach, nothing worries. I’m confident, I’m ready and I wish it was happening right now so I can get this predictable event over and dome with, it’s mine whether I came out first or whether I’m out last.
Jonathan Coachman: Okay, okay, feeling a little bit of hostility and anger here which can be a good thing. Well, we have plenty of time with you which I’m sure you’re not a fan of. So let’s run through some of the guys that have officially been announced for that Rumble and what your general thoughts are on them, is that okay?
Samoa Joe: Let’s do it.
Jonathan Coachman: Thank you for that, Joe. Let’s start with guys who have definitely caused a stir since arriving, associated with each other through their Japan and Bullet Club roots. We’ll have all of them in there, Tanga Roa, Bad Luck Fale, Kenny Omega, Karl Anderson, Tama Tonga, Luke Gallows and of course, all of them led by Finn Balor. Erm, it sounds like a daunting prospect, such a strong group of stars wanting to make an impact. I won’t ask if that worries you, but what are your thoughts on them all being in that match with you?
Samoa Joe: I’m not going to lie, that is a pretty strong group, but this isn’t a match made for groups or friends, so maybe the numbers game is a disadvantage for them all, plus it depends on when they all come out. Imagine if it’s one after another, I know they won’t stand there waiting, friends become enemies in a match like this and I don’t care how strong your bond is, being so close to the WrestleMania main event will make anybody do crazy things, and that includes all of those names you mentioned. But, they’re good stars, big names, vital assets and fans will be in for a treat, but the fact is on my worst day I can throw these punks over the top rope without batting an eyelid. They know that, I know if they’re in that ring together their main focus is to get rid of me, and to that I say bring it you sons of bitches because it’s going to take more than you guys to get me out so easily.
Jonathan Coachman: Any you see stronger than the others? Or are they all equally as dangerous or as important as each other?
Samoa Joe: Hmm…usually my answer would be the same, that I feel none are dangerous but I feel like I can cause some problems here between them, cause a little bit of friction with some ego problems. I’m saying it right off the bat, Kenny Omega and Tanga Roa are the weak links. I feel somebody like Finn will be able to live with the fact that they’re not there, I mean they may not be outright teams but there’s a connection there, some level of loyalty. So I think if Finn saw them walk up the ramp, he wouldn’t be worried which is understandable, because nobody should be worried about two guys that bring nothing, two guys that are happy to sit in the shadows. One pulling out his mop to clean the mess when nobody is looking and nobody cares, and the other trying his hardest to be like his brother when everybody knows he can’t be as good as him. So I’d say Kenny and Tanga Roa are no problem whatsoever. Then I’m actually going with Finn, I know he’s tough but it’ll take more than a group, a leather jacket and an Irish accent to scare people in that ring. I feel that being the leader adds more pressure on him, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we see some tension there. So Finn is not the strongest, then Karl Anderson. I feel Karl is too loyal to make any impact, I think if Finn tells him to jump over, he’d do it, stupidly. So for me, it comes down to Luke Gallows and Fale, two guys who can cause some damage but I think the strongest there has to be Gallows. I feel like if I had to choose between them as the final one to make it easier for myself, I’d say Fale. If it’s going to be a tough night for me, Luke is the guy who would cause me the problem, but I’d throw his ass out of the ring-ski whenever I feel like it.
Jonathan Coachman: Ha ha, okay good stuff, I like the confidence. Let’s move on to three other talented guys confirmed for the match, Mark Andrews, Cesaro and a man you could potentially face one day soon…PJ Black.
Samoa Joe: I mean, I’ve gotta be honest. I’m going to have to Google the first one if I have time later on in my day but that just tell me that the company is really scraping the bottom of the barrel to make sure we have enough participants in the match. The name doesn’t ring a bell, maybe he’s come up to me a while ago asking for my autograph, trying to get into this business, I’ve genuinely no idea, and I don’t care. That name doesn’t stick out. That’s not a name I expect to hear again, maybe when I throw his ass out if he’s still there, maybe I’ll know who he is for a few seconds, otherwise, I don’t care. Cesaro is somebody who, on his day, can be really dangerous. I’m not going to shy away from that. He’s had his injury problems, but he’s not in a great run of form here and I feel that could be his downfall. I’m not here to make friends as I’ve said, so if I have to snap his shoulder permanently just for the sake of one main event, I’ll do it, as low as it sounds. I don’t think he has it in him, he doesn’t have that fire in him to go all the way, so I’ll put him out of his misery myself. As for PJ? Well, what can I say about PJ that hasn’t already been said about the challengers he’s managed to somehow get past over the past year? His championship is not on the line, you know what that means? That means it’s impossible for him to win. PJ only seems to turn up when his title is on the line on a pay-per-view, stick him on Warfare or a non-title match and he’s like a deer in headlights because he has no idea what to do, and he has no idea why he’s even there. In my eyes, he’s a useless champion, a useless competitor, and a useless human using valuable oxygen on this planet.
Jonathan Coachman: Wow, some harsh words there but again, loving the confidence ahead of the Rumble tomorrow night. We know Chris Jericho will be the first entrant, that was confirmed on Warfare, but we also have JTG, Randy Orton and Trent featured too. Any thoughts
Samoa Joe: Ha, I can keep this one short and sweet. JTG is irrelevant, he always has been and he always will be, he’s here to make the numbers. It’s as simple as that. The day JTG wins the Rumble and main events WrestleMania, I will retire, simple as that. Trent, I feel he’s been away for too long to be of any concern to me anyway. As cunning as Chris can be, I don’t expect him to be there when I get to the ring, in fact I think he’s the first one out, yeah, before JTG. I’d love to be the one to throw him over the top rope and watch him cry as he walks up the ramp, but I feel he’ll be long gone before that happens. And Randy? He’s good, real good. Dangerous. A real son of a bitch, just like me, I like that. But as I said, this is not a place to make friends, if he’s still there when I make my way down there, then it’s time to end the legend of Randy Orton once and for all, put him on the shelf with Brock Lesnar and John Cena where he belongs.
Jonathan Coachman: I feel like I know which way this one is going, but it’s my job to ask anyway. Edge. Baron Corbin. Sami Zayn.
Samoa Joe: Oh man, let’s not even go down the Baron Corbin route again. I’ve already exposed that phony champion for being a mediocre big man that’s stealing a living in this company. Edge, like most people, I forgot even exists so that should tell you the importance he has in this match and in my life. Actually, maybe he belongs on that shelf with Brock and John, then I’ll focus on putting Randy there. Sami Zayn, I…I don’t know how somebody like him can even reach the top of this company. I feel like the place must have had a depleted roster for something like that to happen because he’s not that good, and he knows it, and the last six months of his direction-less career have proven that. I think this whole situation is too much for him, too soon into 2017 and although the kid has balls, I think it’ll take more than that to walk out of there as the winner, and I know even he doesn’t visualise that happening. The quicker he gets that into his head, the easier that burden will be for the remainder of the year, especially when he’s on the pre-show for WrestleMania.
Jonathan Coachman: We are almost at the end now so let’s speed through these final few names, we have Bobby Roode, Matt Sydal and Alex Riley in this match too.
Samoa Joe: Ha, last I heard Bobby was threatening to sue me as he took a vacation to recover from that neck injury. The Bobby I know, he won’t be there, he knows he can’t afford to be there in the state he’s in. He has nothing to gain, not only will he look like a jackass, but he’ll be a losing jackass who’ll get his neck damaged even more when I get my hands on him. Alex has done a good job as the champion, but I don’t think a win is possible without the guidance of The Miz and he’s not somebody who can help him here so I think he’d get exposed for being a fluke too. Matt Sydal, I’d say…is probably just about a bigger joke than JTG. Now if HE wins the Rumble, not only will I retire but I’ll carry that guys bags around until the day I die and I’ll come to the ring before every single one of his matches and announce him as the man that effectively ended my career. Come on, Coach. Let’s be serious. Mention his name in my bracket and I won’t be doing this again.
Jonathan Coachman: My apologies for that, just three more guys I’m hoping you can give your thoughts on, three amazing athletes. Bully Ray. The Rock. Roman Reigns. Now that’s a three that can cause you and anybody else plenty of problems.
Samoa Joe: I actually know Bully Ray quite well, and I like to think he’s more of a Disney version of myself. He doesn’t give a crap like me, he’ll do whatever it takes to win, like me. I just think he has a limit whereas I don’t. If I was a fan, he’d be my pick to win, but because I’m involved, I’m the favourite to win. I do seriously see it coming down to me and him, and it’s going to be tough, but nothing that will make me doubt myself. Roman, a talented kid, not taking anything away from the guy and he’s in a similar situation to myself as we have a match before the Rumble too. Will the occasion get the better of him? I don’t know. I guess we’ll find that out on the night, but I hope he knows that I’d take great pleasure in snatching his moment away from him because it’s a dog eat dog world, I just take pleasure in making sure the opponent knows that. So yeah, there are hard feelings, and I hope he wakes up daily knowing he could have been in the main event at WrestleMania, but I ruined it for him.
There was an awkward silence as Joe was wondering if he could leave, until Coach interrupted again.
Jonathan Coachman: Sorry, Joe. Just one more guy, I don’t know if you managed to catch it, The Rock. Any thoughts on his chances?
Samoa Joe: Man, BEEP that guy. I don’t have anything to say about him. Come and go, come and go. Go and take that Hollywood bullshit somewhere else, pumping iron and taking selfies for Instagram isn’t something that’ll intimidate me. Take your fat ass Hollywood paycheque and get away from here because as much as I’d love to embarrass you in front of your bigwig friends from the big screen, I’m sure that’s bad business for the EBWF. The only Samoan that matters here is me, and that son of a bitch will realise that at the Rumble when I kick his ass all over that ring and throw him over like it’s another day at the office. I don’t care if it’s him and me as he final two, I genuinely do not care who it is. Give me anybody and I will throw them over the ropes, I don’t care if it’s a cruiserweight, a heavyweight, a commentator, a fan, a returning legend thinking he deserves MY spot, give me them all and I’ll do the same thing to them, make them wish they never even turned up.
Jonathan Coachman: Uh, well apologies for any bad language you may have heard. Perhaps this is a good time to call it a day, uh, thank you for joining me. You guys can catch the Royal Rumble live tomorrow on pay-per-view. Any final words, Joe?
Samoa Joe: Yeah, sure. Catch me in the main event of WrestleMania.
Jonathan Coachman: The man is still confident, you have to admire that, we’ll be back after this break.
And that was it, Samoa Joes media duties had now been fulfilled with a successful appearance on ESPN’s First Take. He said what he had to and the next stop was the final stop, and it would make his path towards WrestleMania a lot clearer in the hope that he goes on to main event the show to continue his dominant start.