It’s looking more likely that Samoa Joe is about to move up to the main roster. Joe, who has lost twice in a row to Shinsuke Nakamura, could be a great top heel for Raw or Smackdown Live. According to the latest Wrestling Observer newsletter, there is an idea pitched to bring Joe up with a major push and to include him in one of the top WrestleMania matches. If Vince McMahon approves the idea then it means he would either start at the Royal Rumble or shortly thereafter. As previously noted, they are looking at six of seven top matches for this year’s show.
Joe has wrestled a limited house show dates in the last month but he was not featured on the latest NXT TV tapings and he is not figured into the match card for NXT Takeover: San Antonio. He did wrestle a dark match with Bobby Roode as his partner against Tajiri and Shinsuke Nakamura.
A move to the main roster could freshen up the heel side on either brand and Joe would be a credible threat to whoever is the babyface champion.