Key Takeaways
- Samoa Joe will appear in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, set to release on February 28, 2025.
- The former WWE superstar and AEW champion has appeared in multiple wrestling games over the years.
- The Yakuza series is known for featuring real-life wrestlers, with stars like Kenny Omega and Hiroshi Tanahashi appearing in past games.
Former WWE superstar and AEW champion Samoa Joe will appear in the newly announced Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio just revealed the latest spin-off in its Yakuza series, which will be centered around Goro Majima losing his memory on a tropical island near Hawaii. From there, he must team up with a young boy named Noah to get to the bottom of a plot involving the yakuza and a radioactive waste dump, even becoming the captain of a pirate crew in the process.
The recent Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii trailer featured plenty of action, with Goro battling pirates with both sword attacks and martial arts moves. While there didn’t seem to be any shown in the trailer, it wouldn’t be surprising if Goro unleashes some wrestling-inspired finishers in his latest adventure, as past Yakuza games have allowed players to defeat enemies using powerbombs and suplexes worthy of the squared circle. Real-life champions of the ring like Kenny Omega, The Great Muta, and Hiroshi Tanahashi have also appeared in the Yakuza series, with Yoshiaki Fujiwara even having a recurring role as The Florist of Sai.
Now it looks like another wrestling legend is making his way into the Yakuza series, and he’s someone who may be quickly recognizable to WWE and AEW fans. As pointed out on the r/AEWOfficial Reddit forum not too long after Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii was revealed, Samoa Joe can be seen briefly toward the end of the trailer. While his role in the game isn’t entirely clear from the short time he was shown, it looks as if he may be an enemy pirate whom Goro and his friends may need to seek counsel at some point.
Samoa Joe Will Be in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
Like many modern-day wrestlers, Samoa Joe has been a playable character in multiple wrestling games over the years, having been featured in the WWE 2K series during his tenure at the company. He was also added to last year’s AEW Fight Forever as part of its Season 4 DLC wave back in April. Outside of wrestling, Samoa Joe starred as the physical actor for Sweet Tooth in the live-action Twisted Metal series, and most recently voiced King Shark in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.
Samoa Joe will join the growing list of wrestlers who have had their digital likeness featured in the Yakuza series when Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii sets sail on February 28, 2025. Fans don’t yet know if he will be an ally to Goro or a boss that players will have to square off against, but seeing the Samoan Suplex Machine in the latest Yakuza game will be a major treat for those who enjoy both pro-wrestling and Ryu Ga Gotoku’s beloved series of action RPGs.