AEW World Trios Champion Samoa Joe recently disclosed that he has been managing a fractured ankle sustained during filming of the second season of the Peacock series Twisted Metal, in which he plays the character Sweet Tooth. Despite this, Joe made his in-ring return on the August 13, 2025, episode of AEW Dynamite but was noticeably limited in physical involvement due to ongoing recovery from multiple injuries, including a shoulder issue[1][3].
According to Joe’s interview with PWInsider, the ankle fracture occurred halfway through Twisted Metal’s production. While filming driving stunts and performing combat scenes, he twisted his ankle hopping out of a vehicle onto rough asphalt, forcing him to tape it and limp through the remainder of filming. He emphasized the demanding, physical nature of the role, noting there is no stunt double for Sweet Tooth’s scenes. Joe drew parallels to his wrestling career, stating that handling the injury during such intense physical work was something he was prepared to manage given his ring experience[2][5].
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter recently reported that Joe is also coping with a separate shoulder injury, which contributed to his reduced ring activity during AEW Dynamite’s trios match, where teammates Powerhouse Hobbs and Katsuyori Shibata carried most of the workload. Despite these setbacks, Joe has been proactive in meeting all medical protocols and aims to stay active while healing, though AEW has yet to clarify if his in-ring role will continue to be scaled back moving forward[1][3][4].
Joe had been written off AEW television at the All In Texas pay-per-view to accommodate his shooting schedule for Twisted Metal Season 2. Now balancing commitments as a wrestling star and actor, he remains a key figure for AEW’s trios division. Sources close to AEW indicate that management and medical staff are closely monitoring his condition to ensure a safe and effective return to full action[3].
In summary, Samoa Joe is currently rehabilitating a fractured ankle sustained on Twisted Metal’s set, alongside a shoulder injury, resulting in a cautious reintegration into AEW competition. His ability to work through physical adversity both in the wrestling ring and on set underscores his reputation as a resilient and dedicated performer. Wrestling fans can expect updates as Joe progresses toward full recovery and presumably resumes a more active WWE-style wrestling schedule in AEW programming.