Bully Ray recently praised Samoa Joe, the new AEW World Champion, following their match at AEW Full Gear, while offering critical comments about Hangman Adam Page. On “Busted Open,” Ray underscored Joe’s talent, recalling his days in ROH where he stood out against future stars like AJ Styles and CM Punk. Analyzing the Full Gear main event, Ray boldly asserted that Joe genuinely embodies a wrestler, whereas he feels Page only appears to be one. During the match, Joe’s aggressive style was evident as he dominated the early moments by cornering and assaulting Page, illustrating the stark contrast between the two men. Ultimately, Joe triumphed with a Muscle Buster inside the steel cage, reclaiming the AEW World Championship.
Ray also emphasized two key qualities that make Samoa Joe exceptional: authenticity and credibility. He described Joe as a true standout in wrestling, lamenting that AEW has not fully tapped into Joe’s potential. Despite Joe’s previous run as world champion, Ray feels that stint was more transitional. He hopes Joe’s current title reign is substantial, allowing him to be the reliable figure around whom babyfaces can revolve for an extended period. If AEW plans a lengthy program involving Joe and Swerve Strickland, the former champion who appeared after Joe’s victory, Ray is fully supportive and eager to dive into that storyline.
Fan Take: This endorsement from a veteran like Bully Ray highlights Samoa Joe’s growing prominence in AEW, signaling that the promotion may finally unlock his full potential as a top-tier champion. For AEW fans, Joe’s reign and ongoing rivalry with Swerve could mark an exciting era of compelling storytelling and high-stakes wrestling that could elevate the sport’s quality and popularity.
