Samoa Joe is the only wrestler to hold the AEW, ROH, and TNA titles.
In short: Nuufolau Joel Seanoa, known as Samoa Joe, redefined professional wrestling with a stiff, mixed-martial-arts-inspired style. From a record-breaking 645-day reign as ROH World Champion to becoming a rare triple-promotion world title holder, his career spans decades of high-impact matches, injuries, and a successful transition into voice acting for major gaming franchises.
Born in 1979 in Orange County, California, Seanoa began his athletic journey in judo and football before discovering professional wrestling. After training at the United Independent Wrestling Alliance, he debuted in 1999. His early career saw him compete for Ultimate Pro Wrestling, where he feuded with John Cena, and later for the Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling Zero-One. It was his 2002 arrival in Ring of Honor (ROH) that established his reputation; his aggressive, realistic style stood out, leading to a record-setting 645-day tenure as ROH World Champion that concluded in December 2004.
In 2005, Seanoa joined Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), where he maintained an 18-month undefeated streak. His rivalry with Kurt Angle became a defining feature of the era, earning accolades from Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Despite his success, including winning the TNA World Heavyweight Championship in 2008, his career faced physical setbacks. A significant injury sustained during a 2008 match at Bound for Glory against Sting marked a turning point, with critics noting a shift in his performance and physical condition afterward.
Seanoa's later career included a notable stint in WWE, where he captured the NXT Championship three times and the United States Championship twice. Following his 2022 release, he joined All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and returned to ROH. By defeating MJF for the AEW World Championship in December 2023, he achieved a historic milestone as the only wrestler to hold the top titles in AEW, ROH, and TNA. Beyond the ring, he has cultivated a career in entertainment, voicing iconic characters like King Shark in the 2024 game Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and portraying Sweet Tooth in the 2023 television adaptation of Twisted Metal.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Samoa Joe
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