AEW star Samoa Joe has opened up about sustaining a fractured ankle during the filming of season two of the Peacock series Twisted Metal, revealing the injury happened in a surprising and unexpected way[1][2][4]. The “King of Television” explained that despite the physical demands of both professional wrestling and his action-packed role in Twisted Metal, the injury itself was caused by a simple accident while exiting a vehicle on rough terrain.

In a detailed interview with Mike Johnson of PWInsider, Samoa Joe described the incident: “Normally, I would say the ring is always a much more precarious place to be in, but halfway through the season, I fractured my ankle. Nothing crazy – we had done a series of pretty crazy driving stunts and some dangerous things here and there. Then it was just parking, and I had to hop out the back on some really rocky, busted-up asphalt. I turned my ankle and spent the rest of the season taping it up and limping through it.”[1][2]

Joe’s role as the iconic character ‘Sweet Tooth’ in Twisted Metal requires a high level of physicality, involving fight scenes and driving stunts. He emphasized that the demanding role was physically intense, but his extensive wrestling background prepared him well for the challenge: “Twisted Metal is incredibly physical – fighting scenes, driving scenes. Anytime that car is driving, you see me in it, it’s me. It’s a demanding role, but spending enough time in the ring as I have, it’s no new territory.”[1][2][5]

The injury forced Samoa Joe to work through discomfort for much of the season, taping and managing the fractured ankle while completing filming. Despite this setback, he confirmed that his return to AEW programming is imminent. According to Joe, “Definitely sooner than later. We’re clearing our various medical protocols, and as soon as we’re done with that, we’ll be back to business.”[1]

Samoa Joe’s absence from AEW television coincided with a storyline injury at the All In: Texas event, where he, alongside Katsuyori Shibata and Powerhouse Hobbs, successfully defended the AEW World Trios Championships before being attacked by the Death Riders faction[1][4]. After this, Joe focused on promoting Twisted Metal season two, which premiered on Peacock on July 31, 2025.

Samoa Joe made his AEW in-ring return on the August 13 episode of Dynamite, teaming with Shibata and Hobbs to secure a victory over Dralistico, RUSH, and The Beast Mortos[2]. His comeback comes at a critical time as AEW builds toward the high-profile Forbidden Door pay-per-view event set for August 24, 2025, in London[2].

Sources close to AEW and wrestling journalists highlight Joe’s resilience and professionalism, noting that pushing through a fractured ankle during filming is a testament to his dedication. A WWE insider remarked, “Joe’s work ethic is unmatched. To perform intense stunt and fight scenes on an injury like that shows why he’s respected across both wrestling and entertainment industries.”[4]

Joe’s crossover success from wrestling to mainstream acting via Twisted Metal continues to raise his profile beyond the squared circle. The series features Joe physically embodying Sweet Tooth while the character is voiced by Will Arnett, blending Joe’s wrestling charisma with his acting skills in this action-comedy environment[2][5].

In summary, Samoa Joe’s fractured ankle injury during Twisted Metal filming adds another chapter to his reputation for toughness and perseverance. The injury, caused off-set on rocky terrain rather than during stunts, did not stop him from completing shooting or preparing for his return to AEW competition. Fans can now catch Joe in both arenas: starring in the hit streaming series and back in AEW’s fight for gold.

For continued updates on Samoa Joe, AEW news, and Twisted Metal developments, stay tuned to official wrestling news outlets including WWE.com, Fightful, and insider reports.

Key highlights:

• Samoa Joe fractured his ankle during season two filming of Twisted Metal on Peacock[1][2].
• Injury happened while stepping out of a vehicle onto uneven asphalt, not during stunts or wrestling[1][5].
• Joe taped and limped through the rest of the filming season despite the injury[1][2].
• He plays ‘Sweet Tooth,’ performing physically demanding fight and driving scenes[1][2].
• Joe is cleared medically and making an AEW return after a storyline injury at All In: Texas[1][4].
• Returned on August 13 Dynamite, teaming to a victory as AEW builds toward Forbidden Door[2].
• Behind-the-scenes sources praise Joe’s dedication and toughness[4].
• Twisted Metal season two streams now on Peacock, expanding Joe’s entertainment career[2][5].