AEW Star Reacts To John Cena & AJ Styles Tribute In WWE Match

An AEW star has reacted to John Cena and AJ Styles paying tribute to him in their match at WWE Crown Jewel.

Cena and Styles, in their last ever match together, paid tribute to many of their career rivals, allies and friends by using their moves.

One such moment was when AJ Styles locked John Cena in the Coquina Clutch, the finishing submission hold of Samoa Joe.

WWE announcers Michael Cole and Wade Barrett didn’t mention Joe by name at the time, but they did acknowledge the move as the Coquina Clutch.

Joe was asked about the tribute in an interview with SHAK Wrestling, responding:

“I haven’t seen the match yet, I’ve been out working all weekend, but I have heard plenty about it and it’s incredibly cool.

“Both those men are people that I have unyielding respect for and I’m so happy that they have enjoyed the successes that they both have in life.

“And hey, it was wonderful to be thought of in their big moment, and my best to both guys.”

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Adding further to his comments about them, Joe went on to say:

“I think AJ is one of a few wrestlers that changed the face of wrestling. He changed, definitely the prototype of an ideal wrestler. I mean he definitely expanded that category.

“Much like John, both had fantastic careers. I know for many fans it’s sad to see them go and I can obviously see why they’ve been such a big part of the industry for so long.

“For me, a bit of a different perspective but I’m super happy for them both. These are both men who have achieved so much in this industry and really have careers that they can put their feet up and look back on with a tremendous amount of pride and satisfaction.

“And I’m always happy to see people enter that phase in their life in a healthy manner and have great future prospects of other things on the horizon, which I think for both men is very much the case.”

Samoa Joe is heading towards an AEW World Championship match against Hangman Adam Page this weekend.