Samoa Joe first time AEW opponents: Five stars to face The Samoan Submission Machine after his return

AEW

Samoa Joe made his return to All Elite Wrestling for the first time in four months at AEW All Out 2026.

Following his comeback, Joe could step in the ring with some fresh, new opponents from the AEW roster.

Whether it be former champions or a star on the rise, there is a ton of possibilities for “The Samoan Submission Machine” now that he’s back.

Here are five potential first time AEW opponents for Samoa Joe after his return at All Out 2026.

“Jungle” Jack Perry

On the September 16 AEW Dynamite, “Jungle” Jack Perry called out Samoa Joe for a fight.

Wanting to become the best by facing the best, Perry has been on a mission to face former AEW World Champions.

After going 0-2 against Swerve Strickland and Jon Moxley, Perry will look to test himself against The Opps leader.

Joe facing off with Perry will make for an almost insurmountable obstacle for the former Jungle Boy to overcome.

Brody King

Brody King has risen to become a major star for All Elite Wrestling over the past year.

Whether it be singles, tag team or multi-man action, King has proven himself in every way in 2026.

Now that Samoa Joe is back, he could be the latest test for King in his current rise.

Despite being in the ring together in multi-man action, Joe has surprisingly never faced Brody and should make for a tantalizing hard hitting affair.

Konosuke Takeshita

Speaking of hard hitting action, Konosuke Takeshita is someone who is known for that style everywhere he goes.

“The Alpha” is one of the most physical competitors on the AEW roster today and has everything it takes to hang with any main event player in the promotion.

The former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion has faced a who’s who of top stars in AEW since his arrival in 2022.

However, Takeshita has never stepped in the squared circle against Samoa Joe, which could make for a highly anticipated battle.

Kyle Fletcher

Over the course of 2026, Kyle Fletcher has emerged as one of the premier in-ring performers in AEW.

With a litany of bangers and classics, Fletcher has become a reliable competitor who can steal the show any given night.

“The Protostar” may be a totally different beast for someone like Samoa Joe to overcome.

Fletcher standing in the way of Joe upon his return could create a new dynamic that would make this battle of generations intriguing.

Kenny Omega

There are some stars who have faced Samoa Joe in the past, but have never squared off in All Elite Wrestling.

Despite walking into the company in 2022, Joe has never faced off with Kenny Omega in AEW.

Back in 2007, Joe beat Omega on an independent show, but that was not “The Cleaner” or “Best Bout Machine.”

With both men’s legacies intact, Omega facing Joe now would make for an iconic battle of two of the biggest stars in AEW history.

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• AEW
• Samoa Joe

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