Samoa Joe recently spoke with the folks from The Saudi Gazette to promote the WWE Greatest Royal Rumble event next Friday. Featured below are some of the highlights from the interview.
On returning to the ring after being on the sidelines since January: "I'm dying to get back in the ring as I've been nursing an injury, so to be in Saudi Arabia and to be able to get all of those months of frustration out, well I'll definitely be ready to go. It's a return to the ring for me and it's a debut for me in a new culture, so that's two factors that mean I'm looking forward to it."
On traveling overseas: "I think it's absolutely necessary that we, the people in the West, do see that the everyday lives of people in Saudi Arabia. To see a Saudi family enjoying a night out and being able to see that no matter how much culturally different we might be we are still the same. I think it sends a powerful message. It puts a face on people, its puts a face on the region, and it's a very different face than perhaps the one we are used to seeing through traditional media outlets. If we can help a fan in the West look over and say 'Wow, they are not much different from us, they enjoy wrestling as much as we do,' I think we've done a service. It's my greatest hope that comes out of these efforts."
On having an international audience see Saudi Arabia enjoying WWE: "I think it's absolutely necessary that we, the people in the West, do see that the everyday lives of people in Saudi Arabia. To see a Saudi family enjoying a night out and being able to see that no matter how much culturally different we might be we are still the same. I think it sends a powerful message. It puts a face on people, its puts a face on the region, and it's a very different face than perhaps the one we are used to seeing through traditional media outlets. If we can help a fan in the West look over and say 'Wow, they are not much different from us, they enjoy wrestling as much as we do,' I think we've done a service. It's my greatest hope that comes out of these efforts."
Check out the complete Samoa Joe interview at SaudiGazette.com.sa.