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Samoa Joe has teased changes within The Opps, and his comments appeared to point at HOOK.
The segment happened on AEW Collision, with Joe standing alongside HOOK and Katsuyori Shibata in a backstage promo. Joe said the perception of The Opps has changed recently, and he suggested that change could reflect on who was allowed to lead.
HOOK had been leading The Opps during Joe’s absence. Joe stepped away on May 27, and HOOK took over leadership responsibilities until Joe returned on September 26. Joe did not name HOOK directly in the promo, but his comments appeared to be aimed at the former FTW Champion.
Joe spoke about the importance of perception, and he said The Opps were once seen as a group that should not be approached, and if approached, only with caution. He said that perception has changed, and people seem to be barking louder in their presence.
He called that a failure in leadership, or a failure in who they let lead. He then made clear that he is back, and he said the perception of The Opps will change, or they will change the nature of the beast.
The segment left questions about the group’s future direction, and whether Joe intends to reclaim control of the faction outright. It also left HOOK’s position unclear, which is likely the point. AEW does not usually tease a leadership split this openly without a payoff coming.
Two other Opps members were notable by their absence. Anthony Bowens, whose AEW contract was due to expire in early October, was not in the segment. Action Andretti was also not in the segment.
The Opps have been a central part of AEW’s recent programming, and Joe’s return in September was presented as a major moment. His promo on Collision builds on that return, and it sets up a story about control inside the group.
There is no match announced yet off the back of the promo, and no formal change in leadership has been confirmed. What is confirmed is that Joe is not happy with how The Opps have been perceived, and he is putting that squarely on the leadership that was in place while he was away.
That is a story to watch heading into Blood and Guts on Wednesday, November 4, and Full Gear on November 14.
Source: F4WOnline – https://www.f4wonline.com/news/aew/samoa-joe-hints-at-changes-within-the-opps/
