A recent episode of WWE’s Monday Night Raw saw an intriguing promotion for Peacock’s new Twisted Metal series. Based on the popular PlayStation game, this action-comedy brings to life the chaotic vehicular combat world that has intrigued audiences for years. Despite the excitement around the show’s star-studded cast including Anthony Mackie and Stephanie Beatriz, fans were quick to notice a glaring omission – Samoa Joe, the man behind the mask of antagonist ‘Sweet Tooth.’
Samoa Joe, a wrestling star and reigning ROH World Television Champion, and a member of the Anoa’i family, wasn’t in the promotional materials that aired during Monday Night RAW.
Despite his vital role in Twisted Metal, the WWE, it seems, chose not to shine a spotlight on this particular All Elite Wrestling star. It’s as if they were saying, “Yes, we want you excited for ‘Twisted Metal’, but let’s just forget about Samoa Joe, shall we?”
The irony wasn’t lost on Samoa Joe himself, who reacted with good humor to being cut from the promotional materials in a tweet, saying, “Y’all know,” with two laughing emojis. His fans too, seemed to find humor in the situation, comparing Sweet Tooth’s absence to promoting Disney without Mickey Mouse.
This role, as the body behind the notorious Sweet Tooth, represents Samoa Joe’s most significant role to date. Although the voice is that of Will Arnett of Bojack Horseman and The LEGO Batman Movie fame, it’s Samoa Joe’s imposing physicality that brings Sweet Tooth to life. Will Arnett’s voice acting experience led the show’s creators to suggest him as the voice actor for Sweet Tooth.
It wasn’t always this way, though. In a recent podcast episode, Samoa Joe spoke fondly about the call offering him the role of Sweet Tooth, which came just hours after his release from WWE. As a long-time fan of Twisted Metal, Joe didn’t hesitate to step into the shoes (or should we say, clown shoes?) of the character he’d loved for so long.
It’s interesting how Joe’s wrestling career helped him adapt to the role of Sweet Tooth. His in-ring experiences taught him how to express emotions physically, a skill that became invaluable in portraying the chaotic and wild Sweet Tooth. Samoa Joe sees his fellow pro wrestlers and actors as kindred spirits, both doing similar work but on different stages.
While his WWE tenure ended, Samoa Joe’s star is rising in the acting world. He also lent his voice to the character of King Shark in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, which was delayed to next year due to fan backlash. Although his career path has taken a twist, it’s clear that Samoa Joe is carving out his niche in both wrestling and acting.
The Twisted Metal live-action adaptation series, despite Samoa Joe’s conspicuous absence from promotional materials on the WWE, received glowing reviews from audiences. Fans praised the show’s humor and Joe’s performance, proving that the man beneath the Sweet Tooth mask is indeed making his mark on the acting world.
Some fans even wished that Joe could have lent his voice to Sweet Tooth as well. They feel his voice carries a menacing cadence perfect for the character. Alas, WWE may have chosen to downplay Samoa Joe’s role, but his work speaks for itself.
