Samoa Joe will defend the Ring of Honor television title against Jay Lethal at Saturday’s Death Before Dishonor pay-per-view.
One of the building blocks and first-ever stars for ROH, Joe is back representing the brand, which is now owned by Tony Khan. Joe has also starred around the globe, including WWE, where he helped make NXT into a beloved brand during its iconic black-and-gold era. Having overcome a litany of injuries, he is healthy at 43 and back wrestling with a point to prove.
Speaking with Sports Illustrated, Joe discussed the upcoming Death Before Dishonor pay-per-view match, his memories of ROH’s early days, his one regret upon leaving NXT and why the match against Jay Lethal is taking place in a perfect location.