As 2025 ended, Samoa Joe was enjoying a peak moment in his career, holding the AEW World Trios Championship and securing the AEW World Championship title for the second time. However, just one month into 2026, his fortunes took a downturn after he suffered an injury during training a few weeks prior, which caused him to lose the title and currently leaves him without a clear path to regain it.
The exact length of Samoa Joe’s recovery remains unknown. During a Fightful Select Answers Q&A, Sean Ross Sapp revealed that Joe’s return timeline is being assessed on a weekly basis. This approach indicates that while Joe might be cleared to return at any moment, AEW is exercising caution because of his health concerns, and he could be sidelined longer than initially expected.
Joe is reportedly under AEW’s concussion protocol, underscoring the company’s careful handling of his condition. Joe has a history of concussions and other health setbacks; in 2020, he suffered two illnesses in under a month, which shifted him to a commentary role for the rest of that year. He didn’t return to wrestling in WWE until August 22, 2021, when he won the NXT Championship by defeating Karrion Kross, but had to vacate the title after contracting COVID-19 and didn’t wrestle again in WWE before his release in January 2022.
Joe’s return date remains uncertain, and with Powerhouse Hobbs departing AEW for WWE under the name Royce Keyes, leadership of The Ops faction now falls to Hook. Hook announced at “AEW Collision” that he would take over as leader during Joe’s absence. It’s currently unclear if The Ops will continue as a unit with Hook and Katsuyori Shibata or if they will consider adding a new member.
Fan Take: Samoa Joe’s injury and absence mark a significant shift in AEW’s landscape, as he’s been a cornerstone of their championship scene. AEW fans should watch closely to see how his recovery and The Ops’ future leadership changes impact storylines and the broader competitive environment in the promotion.
