Samoa Joe has informed promoters that he will no longer be taking bookings from August onward, a big sign that he has or is in the process of agreeing a full-time WWE contract. WWE’s initial plan was that he would work for them but also take independent bookings, similar to Rhyno, but Destination America’s announcement last week that they had signed the rights to Ring of Honor’s TV program changed that and now it appears that Joe’s appearance – at least on their television show – is doubtful, but still possible as the deal had been agreed on before the ROH/Destination America deal was signed or announced last Wednesday.
Other variables taken into consideration by WWE are the lack of star power on the NXT brand due to the injuries suffered by Finn Balor and Hideo Itami. Itami’s injury in particular will hurt WWE’s announcement earlier today that on 7/4 they will broadcast an NXT special from Tokyo, Japan, but with Finn Balor challenging Kevin Owens for the NXT Championship on that show it may not need Itami’s name to sell tickets as Balor was also a big star in New Japan Pro Wrestling as Prince Devitt.
Joe’s t-shirt sales were also said to be very strong, but the main catalyst for the decision was him working for ROH while it is on cable television.
Source: Wrestling Observer
