text: At Victory Road in July 2006, Joe, Steiner, Sting, and Christian Cage took part in a four-way match to determine the number one contender to the NWA World Heavyweight Championship; the match ended when Sting pinned Steiner. At No Surrender in September 2006, Joe defeated Jeff Jarrett in a non-title "fan's revenge lumberjack match". After the match, he took Jarrett's title belt. On the October 12 episode of Impact, Joe agreed to return the belt to the winner of the forthcoming bout between Jarrett and Sting at Bound for Glory on the condition that the winner give him a title shot. This offer was turned down by TNA Management Director Jim Cornette, who gave Joe the choice of returning the title or be fired. After Joe again refused to return the belt, he got into a brawl with the debuting Kurt Angle, allowing Jarrett to retrieve the belt. At Bound for Glory later that month, Joe defeated Abyss, Brother Runt, and Raven in a Monster's Ball match after guest referee Jake Roberts performed a DDT on Raven, allowing Joe to defeat Raven. Later that night, Joe was involved in a pull-apart brawl with Angle after Cornette announced that he would be fired if he interfered in the match between Jarrett and Sting that involved Angle as special enforcer. At Genesis in November 2006, Joe lost to Angle after submitting to Angle's ankle lock. This ended his 18-month undefeated streak. At Turning Point in December 2006, Joe defeated Kurt Angle by submission. At Final Resolution in January 2007, Joe lost to Angle in a 30-minute Iron Man match. The feud between Joe and Angle was named PWI Feud of the Year for 2007 by Pro Wrestling Illustrated, while Joe was named PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year for 2006 by Pro Wrestling Illustrated.
  Dual champion; alliance with Kevin Nash (2007–2008)