By Samoa Joe has weighed in on one of wrestling’s longest-running debates, and his verdict on thigh slaps is refreshingly simple: the technique is fine, but letting the audience see it is not.
Speaking to SHAK Wrestling, the AEW veteran addressed the practice of wrestlers slapping their own thighs to make strikes sound more impactful. While some fans love the extra pop it gives kicks and chops, Joe’s issue is with performers who make the move glaringly obvious.
Samoa Joe (Credits: AEW)
“The Fact That We’re Having That Conversation, To Me, It Sucks”
Joe laid out his rule plainly: “I think if people are seeing it, you probably shouldn’t be doing it.” When the interviewer suggested the point was about preserving the illusion so fans never spot how the sound is made, Joe agreed — but admitted the very existence of the debate bothered him.
His logic is airtight from a performer’s perspective. Wrestling sells the fantasy that every strike is real. The moment fans start watching for the slap instead of buying into the hit, the trick stops working and part of the magic dies.
A Debate That Won’t Die
Thigh slaps have divided the wrestling world for years, with old-school purists calling them a shortcut and modern fans barely noticing them when done well. Joe’s take lands somewhere in the middle: he is not policing the technique itself, only its execution.
So the next time a kick lands with an suspiciously crisp crack, keep your eyes on the hands — if you can spot it, Samoa Joe would like a word.
The thigh slap debate has simmered for the better part of a decade. Traditionalists argue it is a cheap shortcut that insults the audience’s intelligence, while defenders say it is a harmless piece of showmanship that makes matches sound better on television. High-profile names on both sides have weighed in over the years, and the practice shows no sign of disappearing.
Joe’s authority on the subject is hard to dispute. A veteran of WWE, ROH, TNA and now AEW, he has built a reputation on snug, believable offense. His message is not to ban the move but to respect the craft: sell the strike, hide the trick, and never let the audience see the strings.
Also Read: Samoa Joe Says Queen Aminata & Trish Adora Are The AEW Stars Fans Need To Watch and William Regal Drops Blunt Advice For Wrestlers: “Kick Out Like Your Life And Career Depend On It”
Source: Ringside News — read the full story there.
