What's the story?
Samoa Joe took on Universal Champion Brock Lesnar at the recent Great Balls of Fire pay-per-view and came up short after a hard fought contest. We bring you an update about what happened when the cameras stopped rolling.
In case you didn't know...
Samoa Joe won a Fatal 5-Way match at Extreme Rules to become the Number 1 contender for the Universal Championship held by Brock Lesnar, in his first title defence since he captured the championship. In the weeks leading up to the pay-per-view, he seemed like a genuine threat to The Beast Incarnate, choking him out and his advocate too.
While he got the early offence in at the big pay-per-view match, Lesnar retaliated with a string of suplexes and the big F5. This was one of Lesnar’s better matches in recent memory, and the crowd got their money’s worth, for a change with regard to the top prize.
The heart of the matter
A tweet indicates that when the cameras stopped rolling, the crowd chanted in appreciation of Joe, a familiar figure to most wrestling fans from his time at TNA, ROH, and even NXT, even though he’s relatively new on the main roster. The crowd expressed their gratitude for a full-time performer, who gives it his all, every time he steps into the ring.
Also read: Best and Worst of WWE Great Balls of Fire 2017
What’s next?
It is likely that Lesnar will move on to a new opponent for Summerslam, and while we have heard conflicting reports, it is likely to be either Braun Strowman or his arch nemesis and rival Roman Reigns. There was also a rumour that surfaced recently that Joe will not lose his push even after his loss at Great Balls of Fire, and if so, it is heartening news to hear.
Author’s note
Samoa Joe is a known, celebrated, and respected figure in the world of professional wrestling. We are just as proud of him as the audience at the pay-per-view was, considering the rough road he's travelled thus far. We hope he does hold the title someday soon.
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