Bully Ray firmly believes 5-time WWE champion could be the biggest heel in AEW history

Bully Ray has shared his view that a former WWE champion has the tools to be AEW's most fearsome heel. The star in question, Samoa Joe, is set for a World Title match later this month.

Last month at WrestleDream 2025, The Samoan Submission Machine unsuccessfully challenged Adam Page for his AEW Men's World Championship. In the middle of his post-match display of sportsmanship, Joe attacked The Cowboy, turning heel alongside The Opps. Later on, he declared that he still had his eyes on the World Title, and earned a shot at the belt by winning a four-way number one contender's bout last week on Fright Night Dynamite.

On a recent edition of Busted Open Radio, WWE and ECW veteran Bully Ray argued that Samoa Joe is the most authentic heel currently active on the All Elite Wrestling roster, stating:

"Samoa Joe is the most credible heel, the most believable heel in AEW... Joe is amazing at what he does. When Joe talks, I listen, I believe. Joe has it, but they haven't done with Joe enough in my eyes. Just because they put a strap on you doesn't mean they're running with you."

Ray further claimed that The Destroyer could feasibly serve as a main event-level player even now, especially if AEW books him accordingly for the next year.

"I think Samoa Joe could be the biggest heel in that company and be in several main events," Bully said. "Joe is, you know, in his mid-40s...so he's kind of in, not cruise control mode, but Joe knows in that company sometimes they use him, sometimes they don't. I bet you if Joe knew 'Joe for the next year, this is what we have planned for you. You're going to do this, this, and this,' you'd find an even more motivated Samoa Joe that truly leaned in to everything." [H/T - Wrestling Inc]

Samoa Joe retained his title this week on AEW Dynamite

After being fooled and ambushed by Adam Page last week on Fright Night Dynamite, Samoa Joe and his trios partners confronted veteran announcer Tony Schiavone for helping the World Champion in his trickery this past Wednesday. The heel stable were interrupted by the arrival of The Hangman, and were then chased off by Hook and Eddie Kingston, who ran out to even the odds for Page.

The Cold Hearted Handsome Devil issued a challenge to Joe and his teammates to defend their AEW World Trios Championships against him, Kingston and Page that very night, a challenge Joe accepted. The Opps ended up retaining their belts in the main event of Dynamite, however, with Powerhouse Hobbs securing the victory for his team with a torture rack on Hook.

Screenshot from The Opps vs Hangman Page, Hook and Eddie Kingston on Dynamite [Image Credits: All Elite Wrestling on YouTube]

It remains to be seen if Samoa Joe will be able to recapture the AEW World Championship from Hangman Page at Full Gear 2025 later this month.