WWE Releases Samoa Joe

WWE has released Samoa Joe, according to Fightful.

Joe's reported release comes after a string of mass backstage firings on Wednesday as WWE overhauls its strategy with NXT and the Performance Center.

Joe confirmed he was no longer with the company via a short statement on Twitter;

“Extremely fortunate and grateful to all the young & amazing talent I had the pleasure of working with in the past months. Only saddened at the loss of an ‘excuse’ to see their continued growth & achievement . I am very excited for there future,….. and mine [upside-down face emoji],”

Joe's most recent role with WWE was as a coach working specifically with tryout camps and new recruits. He last wrestled at NXT Takeover 36 where he won the NXT Title from Karrison Kross but soon had to relinquish the belt because of an undisclosed injury. He had been working behind-the-scenes ever since.

This is the second time in less than a year that WWE has released Joe from his contract. He had been rehired by Triple H back in June last year just a few months after he was originally released from his WWE contract when was removed from his RAW commentary duties in April, at a time when Joe was also recovering from an injury.

Along with the shock releases of the likes of William Regal, WWE Hall Of Famer Brian "Road Dogg" James, Scott Armstrong and many more this week, it's yet another "Triple H guy" that WWE has released as President Nick Khan reportedly takes developmental into a whole new direction.