Samoa Joe clarifies his contract situation

Samoa Joe said he will be signing a new contract with TNA during an interview with The Stranglehold radio show on KFNS radio in St. Louis. He explained the holdup in negotiations has been an issue with trademarks.

"I believe tomorrow me and TNA will be coming to terms," Joe said. "We had some trademark issues to work out and that's actually been stalling the process... I had trademarks pending and now they got put through, and just the timetable wasn't right. TNA, of course, they want to get me signed and locked down. I mean, I do have their championship. I believe by tomorrow I should be signed, sealed, and delivered to TNA."

Joe added that he will retain the rights to the Samoa Joe name. To listen to the full interview, click here. [Thanks to Dot Net reader Tony Kelly of Homewood, Ill.]

Powell's POV: It's good to know that Joe wasn't working the media when he stated during the conference call last week that he still had some contract issues to be resolved. He stated during past interviews that he signed a long-term deal with the company, so it seemed like he was misleading people at some point, but this explanation indicates that he was being truthful all along.