Samoa Joe has identified three performers he believes deserve closer attention as their futures continue to develop within the AEW and ROH landscape.
During a recent interview, the former AEW World Champion was asked which wrestlers fans should be watching more closely. Joe pointed to Queen Aminata and Trish Adora on the women’s side, while naming his The Opps stablemate Action Andretti among the men he sees as capable of becoming an even greater force with expanded opportunities.
Joe’s choices put the focus squarely on potential. Rather than simply naming already established headliners, he highlighted wrestlers he feels still have major room to grow and whose strongest work may not yet be behind them.
“I think Queen Aminata. There is a ton of potential that is kind of unrealized there. I would say the same thing with Trish Adora. I think those are two talents that I consistently see where maybe their best is still kind of in front of them.”
For more background on this topic, read Mike Bailey Explains Why He Hesitated Before Joining United Empire in AEW.
For Aminata, the endorsement arrives after a significant championship opportunity. At Dynamite: Grand Slam France, she challenged Mercedes Moné for the AEW Women’s World Championship. Even in defeat, a title match of that stature placed Aminata opposite one of the promotion’s most decorated champions and gave her a prominent setting in which to show what she can bring to the division.
Joe’s comments suggest he sees that appearance as part of a larger trajectory rather than a final destination. Describing Aminata’s potential as “kind of unrealized” is a notable assessment from a veteran who has spent decades evaluating the pressure, consistency and adaptability required to thrive at the highest level of televised professional wrestling.
Queen Aminata’s Championship Opportunity Stands Out
Aminata’s challenge against Moné at Grand Slam France was an important spotlight within AEW’s women’s division. Championship matches can rapidly change a wrestler’s profile, particularly when they come against a champion with Moné’s status. While the result did not deliver the title to Aminata, Joe’s remarks reinforce the idea that a loss in a major match does not have to limit a wrestler’s ceiling.
His wording also makes clear that he is looking beyond a single result. Joe did not frame Aminata simply as someone who had a good performance or a favorable matchup. He described an underlying level of potential that he believes has yet to be fully realized. That is a meaningful distinction in a division where opportunities to build momentum often come through sustained television exposure, high-level opponents and the ability to capitalize when a major match arrives.
There is no prediction from Joe about when Aminata may receive another title opportunity or what program could come next. Still, his comments place her among the performers he believes merit more attention. For a wrestler who has already competed for the AEW Women’s World Championship at a special event, that vote of confidence carries added weight.
Trish Adora Also Earns Joe’s Backing
Joe paired Aminata with Trish Adora when discussing the women’s roster, making Adora the other talent he believes has more to show. His assessment of the two was similarly focused on the future.
By grouping them together, Joe indicated that he sees a comparable quality in both wrestlers: the sense that their most complete and impactful run could still be ahead. It was not a claim that either woman has already reached a finished version of what she can be in AEW. Instead, it was an argument for paying attention to what happens as they continue to receive chances to perform and develop.
That kind of praise is particularly notable coming from Joe because it is not presented as casual approval. He specified that Aminata and Adora are talents he “consistently” sees as having their best ahead of them. The implication is that his view is based on an ongoing impression rather than one isolated showing.
For Adora, the remarks offer recognition from one of AEW’s most experienced active voices. Joe has performed across multiple major stages during his career and has worked alongside a broad range of wrestlers. His choice to single out Adora in response to a question about names people should follow more closely puts her firmly in the conversation around emerging possibilities within the company.
As with Aminata, Joe did not attach his praise to a specific prospective rivalry, championship pursuit or upcoming event. The takeaway is more fundamental: he believes Adora possesses the kind of ability that warrants greater audience attention as her career progresses.
Action Andretti Receives a Vote of Confidence From The Opps Teammate
When the conversation turned to the men’s side, Joe said there were many possibilities before naming Action Andretti. Andretti is not only part of AEW and ROH’s talent pool; he is also Joe’s faction mate in The Opps and currently holds the ROH World Television Championship.
“On the men’s side, there are also a lot. I’d say (Action) Andretti. I think him being given more opportunity and given more spots could be quite the force to be reckoned with.”
Joe’s comments on Andretti were direct. He tied Andretti’s potential to opportunity, suggesting that more prominent positions and more chances to perform could reveal just how formidable he can become. It is praise built not only around the champion’s current standing, but around the possibility of what further exposure could produce.
Andretti already has a tangible marker of success as ROH World Television Champion. That championship establishes his place among Ring of Honor’s titleholders while his membership in The Opps gives him a direct connection to Joe. The stablemate relationship naturally gives Joe a closer view of Andretti, but the veteran’s words went beyond simple group loyalty. He specifically described Andretti as someone who could become “quite the force to be reckoned with” if given additional opportunities.
That assessment does not guarantee an immediate move into any particular championship scene or a defined change in presentation. Joe did not state that Andretti is headed for a specific match, feud or title challenge. What he did offer was a clear case for why audiences should keep Andretti on their radar: he believes there is another level available to the reigning ROH World Television Champion.
Joe’s Comments Center on Opportunity and Growth
The common thread across all three names is Joe’s belief that opportunity can be transformative. He sees Aminata and Adora as wrestlers whose best may still be in front of them. He sees Andretti as someone who could become a major force with more chances and more prominent spots. The three endorsements are not identical, but they all come back to development, visibility and the prospect of greater impact.
That perspective reflects one of the most important realities of a deep roster. Talent alone matters, but timing and opportunity also shape how quickly a wrestler can establish themselves. A major title match, a stretch of consistent appearances, a defining performance or a bigger role within a faction can all alter how a performer is perceived. Joe’s selections are wrestlers he believes can make the most of those moments.
For AEW and ROH followers, his remarks also offer a useful lens for watching the weeks ahead. Aminata’s recent match with Moné showed that she can be placed in a top championship environment. Adora has Joe’s backing as a talent with an untapped next level. Andretti enters the discussion while holding ROH gold and operating alongside Joe in The Opps.
None of those factors alone determines what comes next. Professional wrestling careers are shaped by match results, creative direction, rivalries and the opportunities available at a given time. But Joe’s comments are a meaningful endorsement of the foundation each performer has already built.
For now, Samoa Joe has made his position clear. Queen Aminata, Trish Adora and Action Andretti are three wrestlers he believes fans should not overlook. In Joe’s view, their most significant contributions may still be waiting to come into focus.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.