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WWE’s WALTER would love to face Samoa Joe in NXT dream match as he gives injury update
The champ opens up before a huge title defence (Picture: WWE)
WWE superstar WALTER would love to face Samoa Joe one day and sees some similarities in the way they work.
The NXT United Kingdom Champion, who will defend his title against Ilja Dragunov at NXT TakeOver 36 on Sunday night, has weighed in on the in-ring return of the Samoan Submission Machine as he’s set to face NXT champ Karrion Kross the very same night.
Pondering a potential match with Joe, he exclusively told Metro.co.uk: ‘One hundred percent, I would love to have a match with Joe.
‘When I started with wrestling and stuff like that, Joe was somebody I’d be impressed with – “Oh that’s the guy, right now”. And he was, for so long. He was the guy wherever he went.
‘I think we kind of feel the same position, just in different generations in wrestling. Joe’s match Kenta Kobashi years ago, it’s still one of my favourites and it’s great to watch. If there’s ever a chance to compete against Joe, I would love to do it.’
Before that, though, WALTER has the aforementioned date with Dragunov at the Capitol Wrestling Center in Florida after the match was postponed from its planned airing on NXT UK due to an injury.
Samoa Joe is making his in-ring return this weekend (Picture: WWE)
The Austrian star revealed: ‘It was just in training, I injured the hand – nothing particular, just basic movement. Bad luck, but it led us to a match at TakeOver now in Orlando so it all worked out.’
It’s actually one of only two injuries he’s suffered in his wrestling career, with the other – to his knee – coming just before the hand was revealed.
‘I had a little injury in my knee just before the one with the hand but those have been the only injuries that I’ve had in 15 years. I’m still pretty happy with my record, so I’m not complaining,’ he laughed.
‘[The match] was supposed to happen at BT Sport Studios. But then it had to be postponed because of the hand injury and they moved it to TakeOver which, at the end, was the best solution I think.’
There has been plenty of speculation amongst fans about future plans for both NXT and NXT UK, but WALTER insisted it’s not something he really concerns himself with.
‘I focus on me and my career because that’s what’s important to me. I’m in my best age now, I gotta make the most of it and that’s what I need to focus on,’ he said.
‘I can’t get my head around speculation about where the whole company goes, which direction – that’s not my responsibility and I’m glad it’s not! [laughs]’
Indeed, WALTER prefers to focus on himself to the extent that he didn’t even keep up with Dragunov’s journey between their first NXT UK match in October 2020 and their paths crossing again recently.
‘I gotta be honest, I didn’t really follow Ilja’s stuff as much. [laughs] I always try to focus on my own stuff, what I’ve got lined up. Sometimes, away from it, I’ll catch up on other stuff. But I just wanna be focused on what I do, because I don’t compare myself to anybody else,’ he explained.
‘I need to treat it as my work. I still have so much passion for [wrestling], but I have to approach it differently now.
‘I’m not part of the side that’s supposed to actively enjoy it, I’m there to make people enjoy it now. That’s a different approach, and you can’t be both in my opinion.’
WALTER and Ilja will clash on Sunday (Picture: WWE)
Although he still loves wrestling – ‘I love everything around it, and its own charm’ – it means WALTER turns to other passions and interests away from the ring, although he kept things vague.
‘You need a real life outside of wrestling that is in a good state. Obviously before, when we were all young and started, we had to work a regular job and on the weekdays we would go and wrestle,’ he pondered.
‘It would be more of a hobby or just a goal you work towards. But then at some point, when success comes and becomes your profession, that changes.’
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So, fans know WALTER the wrestler – but does his life away from the ring throw up any surprises?
‘Nah, there’s no hidden talent,’ he laughed. ‘I’m not a masked singer or something like that anyway. I’m a pretty regular guy outside of wrestling!’
Back to Sunday’s match then, and WALTER is clearly looking forward to being back in front of a live crowd and getting to work in his favourite atmosphere.
He added: ‘In general, I always enjoyed wrestling as a live entertainment the most. I would always prefer live events over watching it on TV, for example – just my personal opinion. Obviously having the fans back will be great again, so it’s gonna be exciting.’
*NXT TakeOver 36 airs Sunday, August 22 at 1am on the WWE Network.
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