Editing Samoa Joe (section)

=== Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2005–2015)===

==== Undefeated streak; feud with Kurt Angle (2005–2007) ====
After being courted by both  [[Total Nonstop Action Wrestling]] (TNA) and [[World Wrestling Entertainment]] (WWE), Joe signed a contract with TNA in June 2005.<ref name="JoeTNA"/> He debuted later that month at [[Slammiversary (2005)|Slammiversary]], defeating [[Sonjay Dutt]].<ref name="Slammiversary2005"/> Joe subsequently entered the [[2005 TNA Super X Cup Tournament]], defeating Sonjay Dutt and [[Alex Shelley]] before defeating AJ Styles in the tournament finals at [[Sacrifice (2005)|Sacrifice]] in August 2005 following interference from [[Christopher Daniels]].<ref name="Wonsover2018"/><ref name="Sacrifice2005"/> As a result of Daniels' interference, [[TNA Director of Authority]] [[Larry Zbyszko]] booked a [[three-way match]] for Daniels' [[X Division Championship]] at [[TNA Unbreakable (2005)|Unbreakable]] in September 2005. The match was won by Styles, though Joe's undefeated streak remained intact as it was Daniels who was pinned.<ref name="Wonsover2018"/><ref name="Unbreakable"/> The match received an elusive "[[List of professional wrestling matches rated 5 or more stars by Dave Meltzer|five star]]" rating from journalist [[Dave Meltzer]].<ref name="Wonsover2018"/><ref name="TNAFiveStars"/> At [[Bound for Glory (2005)|Bound for Glory]] in October 2005, Joe defeated [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]]'s [[Jushin Liger]].<ref name="Sims2019"/><ref name="Kreikenbohm2005"/>

Joe defeated Styles to win the X Division Championship at [[Turning Point (2005 wrestling)|Turning Point]] in December 2005.<ref name="Kreikenbohm2005"/><ref name="Cygy2005B"/> At [[Final Resolution (2006)|Final Resolution]] in January 2006, Joe defended the championship against Daniels, winning by [[technical knockout]].<ref name="Hall2012"/> At [[Against All Odds (2006)|Against All Odds]] in February 2006, Joe defeated Daniels and Styles in a rematch from Unbreakable to retain the title.<ref name="Cygy2006E"/> At [[Destination X (2006)|Destination X]] in March 2006, Joe lost the title to Daniels in an [[Ultimate X match]] (a match in which there is no pinfall or submission, thus preserving Joe's undefeated streak).<ref name="Cygy2006F"/>

On the April 13, 2006 episode of ''Impact'', Joe defeated Christopher Daniels to win the X Division Championship for a second time.<ref name=TNA/> In late-May 2006, Joe was absent for two weeks while rehabilitating a major tear to his [[posterior cruciate ligament]].<ref name="Clark2006"/> At [[Slammiversary (2006)|Slammiversary]] in June 2006, Joe defeated [[Scott Steiner]].<ref name="Cygy2006I"/> On June 19, Joe defended the X Division Championship against [[Senshi (wrestler)|Senshi]] and [[Sonjay Dutt]] in a [[triple threat match]]; after Steiner interfered in the match and gave Joe a [[chair shot]], Senshi pinned Dutt to win the Championship, ending Joe's second reign.<ref name="TNA"/><ref name="Kreikenbohm2006"/>

At [[Victory Road (2006)|Victory Road]] in July 2006, Joe, Steiner, Sting, and [[Christian Cage]] took part in a [[four-way match]] to determine the number one contender to the [[NWA World Heavyweight Championship]]; the match ended when Sting pinned Steiner.<ref name="Cygy2006D"/> At [[No Surrender (2006)|No Surrender]] in September 2006, Joe defeated Jeff Jarrett in a non-title "fan's revenge [[lumberjack match]]". After the match, he took Jarrett's title belt. On the October 12 episode of ''Impact'', Joe agreed to return the belt to the winner of the forthcoming bout between Jarrett and Sting at [[Bound for Glory (2006)|Bound for Glory]] on the condition that the winner give him a title shot. This offer was turned down by TNA Management Director Jim Cornette, who gave Joe the choice of returning the title or be fired. After Joe again refused to return the belt, he got into a brawl with the debuting [[Kurt Angle]], allowing Jarrett to retrieve the belt. At Bound for Glory later that month, Joe defeated [[Abyss (wrestler)|Abyss]], [[Brother Runt]], and [[Raven (wrestler)|Raven]] in a [[Monster's Ball match]] after guest referee [[Jake Roberts]] performed a [[DDT (professional wrestling)|DDT]] on Raven, allowing Joe to defeat Raven. Later that night, Joe was involved in a pull-apart brawl with Angle after Cornette announced that he would be fired if he interfered in the match between Jarrett and Sting that involved Angle as special enforcer.<ref name="Cygy2006"/> At [[TNA Genesis (2006)|Genesis]] in November 2006, Joe lost to Angle after submitting to Angle's [[ankle lock]]. This ended his 18-month undefeated streak.<ref name="Cygy2006B"/> At [[Turning Point (2006 wrestling)|Turning Point]] in December 2006, Joe defeated Kurt Angle by submission.<ref name="Cygy2006C"/> At [[Final Resolution (2007)|Final Resolution]] in January 2007, Joe lost to Angle in a 30-minute [[Iron Man match]].<ref name="Cygy2007"/> The feud between Joe and Angle was named [[PWI Feud of the Year]] for 2007 by ''[[Pro Wrestling Illustrated]]'',<ref name="PWIFeud"/> while Joe was named [[PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year]] for 2006 by ''Pro Wrestling Illustrated''.<ref name="PWIPopular"/>

==== Dual champion; alliance with Kevin Nash (2007–2008) ====
[[File:Samoa Joe in 2007 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Joe in May 2007.]]

In February 2007, Joe won a [[Gauntlet for the Gold]] match to become the number one contender for the [[NWA World Heavyweight Championship]]; the following month at [[Destination X (2007)|Destination X]] he unsuccessfully challenged champion [[Christian Cage]].<ref name="Martin2007B"/><ref name="Cygy2007B"/> On the July 12 episode of ''Impact'', Joe defeated [[Jay Lethal]] and [[Chris Sabin]] to win the X Division Championship.<ref name=TNA/> His victory entitled him to take part in the "Match of Champions" at [[Victory Road (2007)|Victory Road]] later that month; during the Match of Champions, Joe pinned [[Bubba Ray Dudley|Brother Ray]] to win the [[TNA World Tag Team Championship]], making him the first wrestler in TNA to simultaneously hold multiple TNA championships.<ref name=TNA/> He opted to hold the Championship by himself rather than choosing a tag team partner. At [[Hard Justice (2007)|Hard Justice]] in August 2007, Joe put up the X Division Championship the TNA World Tag Team Championship against Kurt Angle's TNA World Heavyweight Championship and [[IWGP Heavyweight Championship (IGF)|IWGP Heavyweight Championship]], losing the match (and both his titles) thanks to interference by [[Karen Angle]].<ref name="Kreikenbohm2007"/>

At [[No Surrender (2007)|No Surrender]] in September 2007, Joe lost to Christian Cage. The following month at [[Bound For Glory (2007)|Bound For Glory]], Joe defeated Cage in a rematch. At [[Genesis (2007)|Genesis]] in November 2007, Joe defeated [[Robert Roode]].<ref name="Kreikenbohm2007"/> That same month, Joe won the inaugural [[TNA Turkey Bowl]].<ref name="Martin2007"/>

At [[Turning Point (2007)|Turning Point]] in December 2007, Joe was scheduled to team with [[Kevin Nash]] and [[Scott Hall]] to face the [[Angle Alliance]]. However, Hall, [[List of professional wrestling terms#N|no-showed]] the event. Before the match, Joe was asked to cut a [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Promo|promo]] introducing [[Eric Young (wrestler)|Eric Young]] as Hall's replacement. Joe went five minutes overtime and criticized Hall, Nash and several other wrestlers, legitimately angering Nash and TNA president [[Dixie Carter (wrestling)|Dixie Carter]], The match saw Joe, Nash, and Young defeat the Angle Alliance when Joe pinned [[Tomko (wrestler)|Tomko]]. After the match, Joe and Nash briefly argued and shoved one another backstage, with Joe apologizing at a talent meeting the following day.<ref name="Keller2007"/> The incident was parlayed into a storyline where Joe directed his frustrations towards TNA management, After complaining to TNA Management Director [[Jim Cornette]] that he did not have a match at [[Final Resolution (January 2008)|Final Resolution]] in January 2008, Cornette scheduled a match pitting Joe and Nash against TNA World Tag Team Champions [[AJ Styles and Tomko]]. The match saw Nash refuse to tag himself in, leading to Styles and Tomko defeating Joe.<ref name="Kreikenbohm2007"/>

==== World Heavyweight Champion (2008) ====
[[image:Samoa Joe in September 2008 (cropped).png|thumb|Joe as [[TNA World Heavyweight Champion]] in September 2008.]]

At [[Against All Odds (2008)|Against All Odds]] in February 2008, Joe served as the special enforcer for the [[TNA World Heavyweight Championship]] match between champion Kurt Angle and challenger Christian Cage. During the match, AJ Styles interfered and fought Joe away from the ring, enabling Tomko to interfere to help Angle win the match. On the February 14 episode of ''Impact'', Joe formed a stable with Cage and Kevin Nash to compete with Angle's [[Angle Alliance]].

At [[Lockdown (2008)|Lockdown]] in April 2008, Joe defeated Angle in a [[title versus career match]] to win his first and only TNA World Championship.<ref name=TNA/> Writing in 2015, the ''Wrestling Observer Newsletter'' described the bout between Angle and Joe as "arguably the company's peak in terms of creative, match quality, business, and production coming together".<ref name="JoeTNA"/> The win also made Joe the third [[TNA Triple Crown Champion]].<ref name=TNA/>

At [[Sacrifice (2008)|Sacrifice]] in May 2008, Joe successfully defended the TNA World Championship against [[Kaz (wrestler)|Kaz]] and [[Scott Steiner]] in a [[three way match]].<ref name="Kreikenbohm2008"/> At [[Slammiversary (2008)|Slammiversary]] the following month, Joe successfully defended the title against [[Booker T (wrestler)|Booker T]], Christian Cage, [[Rhino (wrestler)|Rhino]], and [[Robert Roode]] in a [[King of the Mountain match]].<ref name="tnaslam2008"/> At [[Victory Road (2008)|Victory Road]] in July 2008, Joe defended his title against Booker T in a singles match, with the match ending in a no contest after [[Sting (wrestler)|Sting]] hit Joe with a baseball bat and Booker T pinned him while Booker T's valet [[Sharmell Sullivan|Sharmell]] made the three count. At [[Hard Justice (2008)|Hard Justice]] in August 2008, Joe defeated Booker T in a [[cage match|steel cage]] [[weapons match]] to retain his title. At [[No Surrender (2008)|No Surrender]] in September 2008, Joe defeated Christian Cage and Kurt Angle in a [[three way match]] to retain his title.<ref name="Kreikenbohm2008"/>

At [[Bound for Glory IV]] in October 2008, Joe lost to Sting, ending his reign as TNA World Heavyweight Champion at 182 days. During the match, Joe suffered an injury after landing back-first on a flight of cement stairs while executing a [[dropkick]]; the ''[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]'' stated that subsequently Joe "was never the same [...] His work noticeably slowed down, he gained weight".<ref name="JoeTNA"/> Writing for the ''Wrestling Observer Newsletter'', Kyle Johnson stated "Joe’s standing as a main event star in the company entered a downward spiral from 2009 on and never recovered. His TNA World Heavyweight Championship run was almost completely unmemorable, ending at Bound for Glory 2008 in a match where he attempted a dropkick from a [[press box]] onto concrete stairs to horrifying effect. Joe was truly never the same after that bump."<ref name="Johnson2015B"/>

==== Front Line; Main Event Mafia (2008–2009) ====
{{see also|TNA Front Line|l1=Front Line|Main Event Mafia}}

On the October 30, 2008 episode of ''Impact'', Joe and AJ Styles formed a faction of younger wrestlers called the "[[TNA Front Line|Front Line]]", to oppose the [[Main Event Mafia]] of Kurt Angle, Sting, Kevin Nash, Booker T, and Scott Steiner. At [[Turning Point (2008 wrestling)|Turning Point]] in November 2008, Nash defeated Joe by cheating. At [[Final Resolution (December 2008)|Final Resolution]] in December 2008, the Front Line lost to the Main Event Mafia in an [[eight man tag team match]].<ref name="Martin2009"/> On the December 18 episode of ''Impact'', Joe and Styles defeated Sting and Nash in a [[Six Sides of Steel match]]. Following the match, Joe was attacked by the Main Event Mafia; the attack was billed as having left him with injuries that would sideline him for the rest of the year.<ref name="Boutwell2008"/>

On the January 29, 2009 episode of ''Impact'', a video aired in which Joe – sporting a [[buzz cut]], [[face paint]], and a much heavier frame – stated he wanted to introduce the Main Event Mafia to his "Nation of Violence".<ref name="YouTubeJoeReturn"/> Joe subsequently began feuding with Main Event Mafia member Scott Steiner, including a controversial [[angle (professional wrestling)|angle]] where he menaced Steiner with a large knife. At [[Destination X (2009)|Destination X]] in March 2009, Joe quickly lost to Steiner by disqualification after throwing the referee out of the ring.<ref name="Reynolds"/> At [[Lockdown (2009)|Lockdown]] in April 2009, Joe teamed with Styles, Christopher Daniels, and Jeff Jarrett to defeat the Main Event Mafia in a [[Lethal Lockdown match]].<ref name="Caldwell2009A"/> Joe went to feud with Main Event Mafia member Kevin Nash, defeating him at [[TNA Sacrifice (2009)|Sacrifice]] in May 2009.<ref name="Caldwell2009B"/>

At [[Slammiversary Seven]] in June 2009, Joe competed in a [[King of the Mountain match]] for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship; at the climax of the match, instead of winning himself, Joe handed the title belt to Kurt Angle, enabling him to win.<ref name="Caldwell2009C"/><ref name="Reynolds"/> On the June 25 episode of ''Impact'', Joe officially joined the Main Event Mafia.<ref name="Sokol2009"/> At [[Victory Road (2009)|Victory Road]] in July 2009, Joe defeated Sting by submission in a grudge match with the assistance of the debuting [[Tazz|Taz]], who was announced as Joe's new adviser.<ref name="Keller2009"/> The relationship between Joe and Taz ended the following month when Taz became a [[color commentator]].<ref name="Keller2009B"/> At [[Hard Justice (2009)|Hard Justice]] in August 2009, Joe defeated [[Homicide (wrestler)|Homicide]] to win the X Division Championship for the fourth time.<ref name="Caldwell2009D"/> At [[No Surrender (2009)|No Surrender]] the following month, Joe successfully defended the X Division Championship against [[Christopher Daniels]].<ref name="Caldwell2009E"/> On the October 8 episode of ''Impact'', Joe lost the X Division Championship to [[Amazing Red]] after [[Bobby Lashley]] interfered in the match.<ref name="Wilkenfeld2009B"/> At [[Bound for Glory (2009)|Bound for Glory]] later that month, Lashley defeated Joe in a [[submission match]] via referee stoppage.<ref name="Caldwell2009F"/> On the following episode of ''Impact'', the Main Event Mafia was disbanded by Kurt Angle.<ref name="Wilkenfeld2009"/>

==== World Heavyweight Championship pursuits (2009–2010) ====
[[Image:Samoa Joe in July 2010 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Joe in July 2010.]]

In November 2009 at [[Turning Point (2009 wrestling)|Turning Point]], Joe unsuccessfully challenged TNA World Heavyweight Champion AJ Styles in a [[three-way match]] that also involved Christopher Daniels.<ref name="Caldwell2009G"/> At [[Final Resolution (2009)|Final Resolution]] in December 2009, Joe took part in the "[[Feast or Fired]]" match, winning the briefcase containing a title shot at the TNA World Heavyweight Championship.<ref name="Caldwell2009H"/> In January 2010, Joe took part in TNA's "Maximum Impact" tour of the UK.<ref name="Kreikenbohm2010"/> After being off TV for several weeks, Joe returned on the February 4 episode of ''Impact'', attacking Styles.<ref name="Wilkenfeld2010C"/> At [[Against All Odds (2010)|Against All Odds]] later that month, Joe unsuccessfully challenged Styles in a [[no disqualification match]] refereed by [[Eric Bischoff]].<ref name="Caldwell2010F"/> On the following episode of ''Impact'', Joe was attacked and abducted by "[[ninja]]s".<ref name="Reynolds"/><ref name="Wilkenfeld2010D"/>

Joe returned on the April 19, 2020 episode of ''Impact'' as the surprise partner of "Team Hogan" (Abyss, Jeff Jarrett, and [[Rob Terry]]) in an [[eight-man tag team match]] against "Team Flair" ([[Desmond Wolfe]], [[James Storm]], [[Robert Roode]], and Sting); his abduction never was explained.<ref name="Johnson2015B"/><ref name="Reynolds"/><ref name="Wilkenfeld2010B"/> In the following weeks, Joe randomly attacked wrestlers including  [[Brian Kendrick]], [[Doug Williams (wrestler)|Douglas Williams]], and [[Matt Morgan (wrestler)|Matt Morgan]].<ref name="Keller2010"/><ref name="Keller2010B"/> In May 2010, Joe was ranked number 10 in the inaugural TNA Championship Committee rankings to determine the number one contender for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship.<ref name="Keller2010C"/> Joe subsequently climbed the rankings, ultimately wrestling number two ranked [[Jeff Hardy]] to a 10-minute time limit draw on the July 22 episode of ''Impact''.<ref name="Boutwell2010"/><ref name="Boutwell2010B"/><ref name="Boutwell2010C"/> After the match with Hardy, Joe was upset with TNA's production crew for displaying a countdown to the time limit draw which Joe had specifically requested not be done to avoid spoiling the ending of the match; the "blow-up" resulted in Joe being suspended from TNA.<ref name="Martin2010"/><ref name="Martin2010B"/>

==== Various feuds; losing streak (2010–2011) ====
[[File:Samoa Joe October 2010.jpg|thumb|Joe in October 2010.]]

Joe returned from his suspension in August 2010,<ref name="Caldwell2010"/> aligning himself with [[Hulk Hogan]] and [[Jeff Jarrett]] in their feud with Kevin Nash and Sting.<ref name="Wilkenfeld2010"/> At [[No Surrender (2010)|No Surrender]] in September 2010, Joe and Jarrett defeated Nash and Sting in a tag team match.<ref name="Caldwell2010B"/> At [[Bound for Glory (2010)|Bound for Glory]] in October 2010, Joe and Jarrett faced Nash, Sting, and [[D'Angelo Dinero]] in a [[handicap match]] after Hogan, who was scheduled to team with Joe and Jarrett, pulled out of the match due to injury. Joe lost the match after being abandoned by Jarrett; subsequently, it was revealed that Hogan's injury had been a ruse as he helped Jeff Hardy win the vacant TNA World Heavyweight Championship and formed a new villainous stable, [[Immortal (professional wrestling)|Immortal]].<ref name="Caldwell2010C"/> At [[Turning Point (2010 wrestling)|Turning Point]] in November 2010, Jarrett defeated Joe after choking him out with a [[Baton (law enforcement)#Side-handle|baton]] following interference from Immortal.<ref name="Caldwell2010D"/> The following month at [[Final Resolution (2010)|Final Resolution]], Joe lost to Jarrett in a [[submission match]], again following interference from Immortal.<ref name="Caldwell2010E"/>

In December 2010, it was reported that Joe's contract with TNA had expired.<ref name="Gerweck2010"/> However, later that month TNA president [[Dixie Carter (wrestling)|Dixie Carter]] announced that Joe had signed a new contract.<ref name="Caldwell2010G"/> Joe returned on the January 6, 2011 episode of ''Impact'', confronting [[D'Angelo Dinero]] in a storyline where [[Okato (wrestler)|Okato]] (in a gimmick inspired by [[Kato (The Green Hornet)|Kato]] of ''[[The Green Hornet]]'') was hired by Joe to follow Dinero and film his activities in an attempt to prove he was a "scumbag".<ref name="Wilkenfeld2011"/><ref name="Keller2011D"/><ref name="Vieira2023"/> At [[TNA Against All Odds (2011)|Against All Odds]] in February 2011, Joe defeated Dinero with the help of Okato.<ref name="Caldwell2010H"/> At [[Lockdown (2011)|Lockdown]] in March 2011, Joe defeated Dinero by submission in a [[steel cage match]].<ref name="Caldwell2010I"/>

[[File:TNA Slammiversary Samoa Joe vs. Crimson.jpg|thumb|Joe wrestling [[Crimson (wrestler)|Crimson]] at [[Slammiversary IX]] in June 2011.]]

In April 2011, Joe began feuding with the undefeated [[Crimson (wrestler)|Crimson]].<ref name="Baxendell2011"/> In June 2011 at [[Slammiversary IX]], Joe lost to Crimson, and afterwards shook Crimson's hand.<ref name="Caldwell2011B"/> Subsequently, Joe went on a losing streak with losses to [[Rob Van Dam]], [[Devon (wrestler)|Devon]], Kazarian and Bobby Roode.<ref name="Keller2011"/><ref name="Baxendell2011B"/><ref name="Caldwell2011C"/><ref name="Keller2011B"/> After losing all nine of his matches in the [[2011 Bound for Glory Series]] to determine the number one contender to the TNA World Heavyweight Championship, Joe initially ended his losing streak on the August 4 episode of ''Impact Wrestling'' by defeating D'Angelo Dinero via submission; however, the decision was reversed after Joe refused to release the [[Coquina Clutch]] after the bell rang. Joe then gave a [[promo (professional wrestling)|promo]] in which he accused TNA management of being against him and stated "the blood would be on [their] hands".<ref name="Baxendell2011C"/> Joe went on to attempt to disrupt the Bound for Glory Series by attacking various participants, including Crimson, who was forced to withdraw from the Series after suffering a storyline ankle injury at the hands of Joe.<ref name="Boutwell2011B"/> In the final week of the Bound for Glory Series, Joe attempted to interfere in a match between [[Gunner (wrestler)|Gunner]] and Rob Van Dam, but was stopped by guest color commentator Matt Morgan.<ref name="Boutwell2011C"/> This led to a grudge match at [[No Surrender (2011)|No Surrender]] in September 2011 where Joe lost to Morgan.<ref name="Caldwell2011D"/> On the following episode of ''Impact Wrestling'', Joe definitively ended his losing streak by defeating Morgan in a [[submission match]].<ref name="Boutwell2011D"/> Joe then resumed his feud with the returning Crimson, who defeated Joe in a singles match on the October 6 episode of ''Impact Wrestling'', and then again in a [[three-way match]], also involving Matt Morgan, at [[Bound for Glory (2011)|Bound for Glory]] later that month.<ref name="Keller2011C"/><ref name="Caldwell2011E"/>

==== World Tag Team Champion; Television Champion (2011–2012) ====
[[image:Magnus and Samoa Joe in March 2012 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Joe (right) and [[Magnus (wrestler)|Magnus]] in March 2012 during their reign as [[TNA World Tag Team Champions]].]]

In November 2011, Joe won the [[Maximum Impact Tournament]]; he subsequently received a title shot against TNA World Heavyweight Champion [[Bobby Roode]] in the [[MEN Arena]] in [[Manchester]], England, but was unsuccessful.<ref name="Caldwell2012O"/> In December 2011, Joe began teaming with [[Magnus (wrestler)|Magnus]], with Magnus stating in 2013 that booker [[Vince Russo]] put them together because "we were both always pissed off, so we could be pissed off together".<ref name="Powell2011"/> The duo won the four week-long [[Wild Card Tournament]] to become the number one contenders to the TNA World Tag Team Championship.<ref name="Caldwell2011"/><ref name="Boutwell2011"/><ref name="Impact010512"/> At [[Genesis (2012)|Genesis]] in January 2012, Joe and Magnus unsuccessfully challenged Crimson and Matt Morgan for the TNA World Tag Team Championship.<ref name="Caldwell2012B"/> In a rematch the following month at [[Against All Odds (2012)|Against All Odds]], Joe and Magnus defeated Crimson and Morgan to win the TNA World Tag Team Championship.<ref name="Caldwell2012C"/> Joe and Magnus then defeated Crimson and Morgan in rematches on ''Impact Wrestling'' and at [[Victory Road (2012)|Victory Road]] to retain the Championship.<ref name="Turner2012"/><ref name="Caldwell2012D"/> After successfully defending the Championship against teams including [[Mexican America (professional wrestling)|Mexican America]],<ref name="Turner2012B"/> the [[Motor City Machine Guns]],<ref name="Caldwell2012E"/> and [[Jeff Hardy]] and [[Ken Anderson (wrestler)|Mr. Anderson]],<ref name="Turner2012C"/> Joe and Magnus lost the TNA World Tag Team Championship to [[Christopher Daniels and Kazarian]] at [[TNA Sacrifice (2012)|Sacrifice]] in May 2012.<ref name="Caldwell2012F"/>

On the May 31, 2012 episode of ''Impact Wrestling'', Joe had a confrontation with X Division Champion [[Austin Aries]], leading to a match at [[Slammiversary 10]] the following month where Joe unsuccessfully challenged Aries.<ref name="Caldwell2012G"/><ref name="Caldwell2012H"/> Joe subsequently entered the [[2012 Bound for Glory Series]], ultimately being eliminated after losing to Jeff Hardy at [[No Surrender (2012)|No Surrender]] in September 2012.<ref name="Caldwell2012I"/>

On the September 27, 2012 episode of ''Impact Wrestling'', Joe defeated [[Mr. Anderson (wrestler)|Mr. Anderson]] to win the [[vacant (professional wrestling)|vacant]] [[TNA Television Championship]], making him the third [[TNA Grand Slam Champion]].<ref name="Caldwell2012J"/> At [[Bound for Glory (2012)|Bound for Glory]] the following month, Joe successfully defended the title against Magnus.<ref name="Caldwell2012K"/> At [[Turning Point (2012 wrestling)|Turning Point]] in November 2012, Joe again successfully defended the title against Magnus, this time in a [[no disqualification match]].<ref name="Caldwell2012L"/> On the December 6, 2012 episode of ''Impact Wrestling'', Joe lost the TNA Television Championship to [[Devon (wrestler)|Devon]] after [[DOC (wrestler)|DOC]] of [[Aces & Eights]] hit him with a [[ball-peen hammer]].<ref name="Caldwell2012M"/>

==== Feuds with Aces & Eights and Team Dixie (2012–2014) ====
{{see also|Main Event Mafia}}
[[Image:Samoa Joe Rear Naked Choke.jpg|thumb|Joe (left) applying the ''[[Coquina Clutch]]'' on Kurt Angle in January 2013.]]

At [[Final Resolution (2012)|Final Resolution]] in December 2012, Joe teamed with [[Garett Bischoff]], Kurt Angle, and [[Wes Brisco]] to defeat Devon, DOC, and two masked members of Aces & Eights in an [[eight-man tag team match]].<ref name="Caldwell2012N"/> At [[Genesis (2013)|Genesis]] in January 2013, Joe lost to Aces & Eights member Mr. Anderson in a singles match following interference from [[Mike Knox]].<ref name="Caldwell2013"/> At [[Lockdown (2013)|Lockdown]] in March 2013, "Team TNA" (Joe, Eric Young, James Storm, Magnus, and Sting) defeated Aces & Eights (Devon, DOC, Garett Bischoff, Mike Knox, and Mr. Anderson) in a [[Lethal Lockdown match]].<ref name="Caldwell2013B"/> On the April 18 episode of ''Impact Wrestling'', Joe challenged Devon for the Television Championship, but lost after interference from Aces & Eights.<ref name="Caldwell2013C"/> At [[Slammiversary XI]] in June 2013, Joe teamed with Jeff Hardy and Magnus to defeat Garett Bischoff, Mr. Anderson, and [[Wes Brisco]] of Aces & Eights in a [[six-man tag team match]].<ref name="Caldwell2013D"/> Later that month, Joe was announced as a member of the reformed [[Main Event Mafia]] alongside Sting and Kurt Angle.<ref name="Caldwell2013E"/> In October 2013 at [[Bound for Glory (2013)|Bound For Glory]], Joe competed in an [[Ultimate X match]] that was won by [[Chris Sabin]].<ref name="Hall2013"/> On November 7, 2013, the Main Event Mafia was disbanded by Sting due to Aces & Eights having been defeated.<ref name="Nemer2013"/>

In November 2013, Joe was announced as an entrant in an eight-man tournament for the vacant TNA World Heavyweight Championship by TNA president Dixie Carter, who had stripped AJ Styles of the title. Joe subsequently angered Carter by announcing that, if he won the tournament, he would defend the title it against Styles, "whether it's here or anywhere else in the world".<ref name="Nemer2013B"/> At [[Turning Point (2013 wrestling)|Turning Point]] later that month, Magnus defeated Joe in a [[falls count anywhere match]], eliminating him from the tournament.<ref name="Matthews2013"/> Magnus went on to win the tournament, and the title, at [[Final Resolution (2013)|Final Resolution]] the following month with the assistance from [[Rockstar Spud]] and Carter's storyline nephew, [[Ethan Carter III]].<ref name="Veal2013"/> Joe went on to feud with "[[Team Dixie]]".<ref name="Barie2014"/> At [[Genesis (2014)|Genesis]] in January 2014, Joe defeated Rockstar Spud by submission, then unsuccessfully attempted to help Sting defeat Magnus for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship.<ref name="Pritchard2014"/> At [[One Night Only:#OldSchool]] (which was recorded in December 2013, but aired in February 2014) Joe unsuccessfully challenged Magnus for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship following interference from Ethan Carter III.<ref name="Kreikenbohm2013"/><ref name="Hall2014"/> At [[Lockdown (2014)|Lockdown]] in March 2014, Joe unsuccessfully challenged Magnus in a [[cage match]] following interference from Abyss.<ref name="Killam2014"/>

==== Final appearances (2014–2015) ====
{{See also|Beat Down Clan}}

In June 2014, Joe defeated [[Low Ki]] and [[Sanada (wrestler)|Sanada]] in the finals of a [[List of Impact Wrestling tournaments#TNA X Division Championship Tournament (2014)|tournament]] to win the [[TNA X Division Championship]] for a fifth and final time.<ref name="Strode2014"/> At [[Hardcore Justice (2014)|Hardcore Justice]] in August 2014, Joe successfully defended the X Division Championship against Low Ki. However, he vacated the title the following month due an injury.<ref name="Harris2014"/> At [[Bound for Glory (2014)|Bound for Glory]] in the [[Korakuen Hall]] in [[Tokyo]], Japan in October 2014, Joe defended the title against [[Kaz Hayashi]] and Low Ki by in a [[three way dance]] despite not being the champion at the time, as the angle in which he vacated the title did not air until November 2014 due to a [[broadcast delay]].

On the January 7, 2015 episode of ''Impact Wrestling'', Joe, MVP, Kenny King, Low Ki, and Eric Young helped Bobby Lashley win the [[TNA World Heavyweight Championship]] from Bobby Roode. MVP subsequently named the group the [[Beat Down Clan]] and declared Lashley to be a founding member. However, Lashley refused to join the Beat Down Clan, prompting the Beat Down Clan to attack him. At [[Lockdown (2015)|Lockdown]] later that month, the Beat Down Clan lost to Lashley, [[Austin Aries]], [[Gunner (wrestler)|Gunner]], and [[Kurt Angle]] in a [[Lethal Lockdown match]].  Writing for the ''[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]'', Kyle Johnson described Joe as "relegated to little more than a henchman in a cumbersome heel stable".<ref name="Johnson2015B"/> Joe wrestled his final match for TNA on January 31, 2015, losing to Austin Aries in [[Wembley Arena]] in [[London]], England (due to broadcast delay the match did not air until March 2015).<ref name="Johnson2015B"/> In February 2015, Joe announced his departure from TNA, ending his run of nearly a decade with the company.<ref name="JoeTNA"/> According to Joe, he left TNA because of an incident during the European tour when the X Division Champion, Low Ki, suffered an injury and Joe was forced to book a match where he would lose the title; perceiving that TNA management did not care about the title change, he told TNA President Dixie Carter he would leave TNA.<ref name="Martínez2025"/>