5 Samoa Joe matches fans want to see if he returns to the ring

Samoa Joe has successfully transitioned into the role of a commentator on Monday Night RAW in recent months.

The Samoan Submission Machine last wrestled in an eight-man tag team match on the February 10, 2020, episode of Monday Night RAW. Samoa Joe suffered a concussion that has kept him out of action. Since then, the WWE Superstar's voice on the broadcast team has become a staple of the red brand.

Last year, Joe admitted that he enjoyed his role behind the announcers' desk, but he hasn't ruled out an in-ring return yet. There are plenty of great rivalries and matches that Samoa Joe could participate in if he returns to in-ring action.

Joe is one of the best wrestlers on the WWE roster, so the red brand would surely benefit if he stepped back into the ring. He's a former WWE United States Champion, but he hasn't received a proper push in the main event scene in quite some time.

If Samoa Joe plans to embark on another run as a WWE Superstar, here are five of potential matches that fans would love to see in the future.

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#5 Daniel Bryan and Samoa Joe could wrestle each other in a singles match for the first time in WWE

Daniel Bryan and Samoa Joe are two stars who have faced off in classic singles matches against each other before they became a part of WWE.

But during their WWE careers, Bryan and Joe have only faced off in multi-man matches. Bryan defeated Joe via count-out in a Gauntlet Match in 2018. Otherwise, the two fan-favorite stars have never faced each other in a singles match in WWE.

Bryan has evolved into a veteran who puts over underutilized talent in WWE, and he is also a part of the creative team. If Joe decides to make an in-ring return, Bryan's creative status could certainly facilitate a storyline between the two.

Given their shared history in Ring of Honor (ROH), fans and critics would love to see a full-circle moment between Bryan and Samoa Joe. The wealth of experience that both stars have accumulated over the years will also play a major role in their match at this stage of their careers.

For what it's worth, Bryan could also be considered a potential candidate for Samoa Joe's retirement match in the future, and vice versa.

#4 Seth Rollins and Samoa Joe should conclude their unfinished business in WWE

Seth Rollins and Samoa Joe in WWE

Before Samoa Joe joined Monday Night RAW's commentary team, he was involved in a feud with Seth Rollins and the Messiah's disciples.

Even during the pandemic, Samoa Joe seemed like he was about to return to in-ring action at one point. During an episode of RAW in August 2020, Joe stood up to Seth Rollins and Murphy when the self-proclaimed Messiah threatened to attack Tom Phillips for the "greater good."

The Samoan Submission Machine even accepted a match against Rollins. But the match didn't take place because Dominik Mysterio arrived on the scene to even the odds against Rollins and Murphy.

The last time Joe and Rollins faced each other in one-on-one action was in 2017, but there hasn't been a follow-up to their more recent feud inside the ring. A singles match between the two stars would be the most logical reason for Joe to step back in the ring.

The Samoan Suplex Machine would be able to conclude his rivalry with Rollins after this potential clash. Joe could then move on to bigger things in his WWE career.

#3 Samoa Joe vs. Bobby Lashley would be an epic clash of the titans

Bobby Lashley in WWE

While Samoa Joe is an intimidating star, Bobby Lashley has one of the best physiques in WWE today. Plus, the current United States Champion's booking has been quite remarkable for the past few months.

Lashley has gradually turned into an unstoppable beast since he aligned with MVP and The Hurt Business. Few WWE Superstars could defeat Lashley at the moment, but Samoa Joe could convincingly challenge his dominance.

Joe and Lashley have a detailed history that dates back to their time in TNA Wrestling. But they haven't wrestled in a singles match against each other in WWE. Given how poorly Lashley was booked in WWE at one point in time, it made sense why the higher-ups may have avoided a feud between the two stars.

But things have changed a lot since Lashley's controversial wedding angle with Lana and Rusev. He is an impressive champion, so a rivalry with Samoa Joe could help both competitors.

Samoa Joe could act as the perfect roadblock for Lashley. As a result, other members of The Hurt Business would also get the chance to fight "The Samoan Suplex Machine." In theory, everyone involved in this potential storyline only stands to benefit.

#2 Samoa Joe and John Cena's WWE dream match should happen in the future

While Samoa Joe was a major part of TNA Wrestling before he came to WWE, John Cena was the flagbearer of Vince McMahon's promotion for several years.

When Samoa Joe finally made his main roster WWE debut in 2017, fans wanted to see a dream clash between The Samoan Submission Machine and the leader of the Cenation.

Joe even expressed in an interview that facing someone like Cena has to be a top priority for him in WWE. But the dream match between these two hasn't happened yet. There are only two recorded instances of the two stars participating in the same match.

First, Joe and The Miz teamed up to face Cena and Roman Reigns on an episode of Monday Night RAW in 2017. In the same year, they were also part of the traditional RAW vs. SmackDown Survivor Series Match.

Though Cena's Hollywood career has overshadowed his role as a WWE star recently, an enticing one-on-one match against Samoa Joe could be the perfect hook to bring him back to the ring.

#1 Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe would be a blockbuster match in the current WWE landscape

Samoa Joe and Roman Reigns

Roman Reigns and Samoa Joe have wrestled in several one-on-one matches in WWE. But it is important to remember that Reigns was a very different Superstar during these clashes.

Samoa Joe was always the heel during their numerous encounters, and Reigns was the traditional top babyface of the company. Last year, Reigns transformed into The Tribal Chief. He has become one of the best heels that WWE fans have seen in years.

The current Universal Champion's segments and matches have been critically acclaimed since he aligned with Paul Heyman last summer. The Anoa'i family from the American Samoa territory has played a major role in his storylines. As a result, Samoa Joe could logically challenge The Tribal Chief.

Though Samoa Joe is technically unrelated to the Anoa'i family, he could criticize the way Reigns has been flaunting his heritage. Samoa Joe could play the role of a cool babyface, and many fans would undoubtedly be excited for a clash between Joe and Reigns under this fresh premise.