Samoa Joe is back in NXT, and he's already making his presence felt. 

Joe returned to the black-and-gold brand in stunning fashion Tuesday night, interrupting NXT Champion Karrion Kross and William Regal. Kross was ridiculing the NXT General Manager until being confronted by Joe.

While the former NXT Champion said he couldn't accept Regal's offer to take over his duties as General Manager, he was happy to offer his services in a different way: as an assistant who isn't afraid to get his hands dirty.

We didn't have to wait long to see how hands-on Joe would be in this new capacity. With an unruly melee breaking out backstage between Kyle O'Reilly and Adam Cole, Joe locked the Coquina Clutch on Cole, putting him to sleep.

Needless to say, Joe's shocking return to his old stomping grounds lit up the WWE and NXT Universe.

Tick tock indeed. https://t.co/h9kyEXozVS

— Kevin Robert Kesar (@realKILLERkross) June 16, 2021

pic.twitter.com/cuLbGe06kP

— Finn Bálor (@FinnBalor) June 16, 2021

JOE

— Shinsuke Nakamura (@ShinsukeN) June 16, 2021

Who would want to provoke @SamoaJoe?!? Man, I love this place!!!! #WWENXT https://t.co/LpKZiLstFh

— Shawn Michaels (@ShawnMichaels) June 16, 2021

Welcome back @SamoaJoe 👊🏽☠️🇲🇽

— SANTOS ESCOBAR💀🇲🇽 (@EscobarWWE) June 16, 2021

JOE JOE JOE JOE JOE https://t.co/8JhoP7kNIb

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 16, 2021

So it was @SamoaJoe that parked in #hitrow parking spot huh???🤔#WWENXT

— The Realest Swerve Strickland (@swerveconfident) June 16, 2021

Joe's home.

One step closer.#WWENXT @WWENXT

— BIG BRONSON REED (@BRONSONISHERE) June 16, 2021

Professional wrestling perfection. #WWENXT

— Stu Bennett (@StuBennett) June 16, 2021