Samoa Joe’s Unmatched Presence
Samoa Joe is truly one of a kind in All Elite Wrestling, combining experience, strength, technical skill, and, well, a certain brutality that sets him apart. And no one knows this better than Hangman Adam Page.
“It’s like fighting a refrigerator,” Page shares, letting out a nervous laugh. “You might be able to lift it for a moment, but actually handling it? That’s another story.” He speaks from experience, as he’ll face Joe this Saturday in a steel cage at Full Gear, where Joe is aiming to take the AEW World Championship from him—again. The circumstances, though, have changed since their last encounter at Wrestle Dream in October.
Since their last match, Hangman has noticed a shift in Joe’s demeanor. The anger, the desperation, and a more resilient strategy have all added new layers to this upcoming fight. This change became evident after Joe faced Jon Moxley and the Death Riders, which seems to have awakened a more violent side in him.
“After I beat Joe at Wrestle Dream, I could sense his disappointment,” Page recalls. “When it was down to just us, he couldn’t pull through. He’s been fighting all year for this title.” Joe had much at stake; he earned his shot, but in the end, it just wasn’t enough for him.
“Now I see him leaning on some of the same tactics that were used against him throughout the year,” Page observes.
There’s a palpable frustration in Page’s words regarding his recent experiences with both Will “Powerhouse” Hobbs and Katsuyori Shibata. This frustration has pushed him to opt for a cage match at Full Gear to eliminate any outside interference and settle things one-on-one. While it was an impulsive decision fueled by this anger, Page brushes it off. “I’m not thinking about it,” he states with confidence. That makes sense, considering how he approaches wrestling as a champion—always looking ahead, embracing his instincts, even when they might defy logic.
Last time Page and I spoke in May, he shared his need to shed emotional baggage and improve his approach. Now, as he stands on the brink of his second championship match, he reflects on the cage match stipulation. It could help him evade attacks from other wrestlers, but it could also mean facing off against one of wrestling’s most brutal competitors, potentially diminishing his speed advantage.
“I see the argument,” he admits, considering whether this decision may backfire. “As clever as he is, I think I can find a way to navigate through it. That’s the essence of our matchup.” Page believes that one-on-one, it’s better for both of them.
While Page’s primary focus is retaining his title, he can’t ignore the rest of the card. After all, as champion, he’s essentially the face of AEW. Right now, he’s keeping an eye on competitors like Kenny Omega and Jurassic Express, who face the Young Bucks and Josh Alexander.
I asked him to reflect on the past, and if he could choose any historical figure to face off against, who would it be.
“Maybe Abraham Lincoln? I mean, he was potentially a wrestler and had a good physique. It would be intriguing to know what wrestling looked like in his era—and what that match would even be like. I can picture him wearing a hat, so maybe the goal would be trying to knock it off!”
As it stands, Hangman’s focus is on his immediate challenge, which feels like fighting the devil himself—not MJF, but something much deeper. For now, it’s all about defending his title against Samoa Joe in the cage. That alone is a daunting enough task.
Full Gear will air live on pay-per-view this Saturday at 8 PM ET.
