Samoa Joe Joins the Pirate Yakuza: A Wrestling Legend’s Epic Cameo!

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Toward the close of 2024, it was officially announced that Samoa Joe, a past WWE United States Champion and AEW World Champion, would feature in the game “Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii“. This revelation definitely heightened anticipation for the upcoming release. However, it’s worth noting that Samoa Joe isn’t the first celebrity to be part of a Yakuza video game. In fact, celebrity cameos are quite common in the “Like a Dragon” series, and “Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii” is expected to maintain this tradition.

For readers, it’s not crucial to fully grasp the specific naming patterns of this series, but it is significant to note that “Like a Dragon” and “Yakuza” can essentially be used interchangeably. In reality, games labeled as “Like a Dragon” and those labeled as “Yakuza” belong to the same sequence, though their distinct titles might imply otherwise.

Celebrities in the Like a Dragon Series

Throughout the years, a variety of celebrities have made appearances within the Like a Dragon series. Some celebrities take on characters with significant roles in the game’s narratives. For instance, actor Danny Trejo played Dwight Mendez in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, while “Beat” Takeshi Kitano appeared as Toru Hirose in Yakuza 6: The Song of Life. It appears that wrestler Samoa Joe is set to join their ranks next.

Additionally, some real-life personalities make appearances in the Like a Dragon series, either as themselves or in exaggerated forms. For instance, players can encounter celebrity chef Tatsuya Kawagoe from Yakuza 5, and professional wrestler Saki Aki at Club Shine within Yakuza 6: The Song of Life. Notably, the Six Lunatics group in Yakuza 6 is portrayed by professional wrestlers from New Japan Pro-Wrestling, including Kazuchika Okada, Tetsuya Naito, and Hiroshi Tanahashi.

In the game Yakuza Kiwami 2, some characters from the Six Lunatics group are present, along with this, other professional wrestlers like Keiji Mutoh, Masahiro Chono, and Riki Choshu make an appearance. Notably, Kenny Omega, a wrestler known for his multiple titles, can also be found in Like a Dragon: Ishin!, strengthening the link between professional wrestling and the Yakuza series of games.

Samoa Joe in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

It’s no wonder that Samoa Joe appears in “Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii,” given the “Like a Dragon” series’ penchant for featuring celebrities and wrestlers. Although we don’t know much about the character Samoa Joe is portraying, some aspects of it have been revealed.

  • He is Pirate King Raymond Law.
  • He spends time in Madlantis, a location in Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii where pirates congregate

It’s unclear if Pirate King Raymond Law will turn out to be an ally or an adversary; nevertheless, some wrestling enthusiasts will undoubtedly be thrilled by Samoa Joe’s presence, disregarding his allegiance. Interestingly, certain gamers might choose to play the Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii game with English dialogue instead of Japanese, solely for the pleasure of listening to the professional wrestler’s voice acting.

The Future of Cameos in the Like a Dragon Series

In the movie “Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii,” Samoa Joe’s presence follows the pattern of star appearances in Yakuza games. However, this doesn’t signal the conclusion of such cameos. Towards the close of 2024, whispers were heard hinting at Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s ambition to involve well-known celebrities in their future “Like a Dragon” series. Actors like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Keanu Reeves, and Seth Rogen are among those rumored, and their inclusion could significantly boost the visibility of any game they join.

Before any celebrity appearances are officially announced, the developer will likely unveil their upcoming “Like a Dragon” game, presumably as part of the main series rather than spin-offs like “Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.” The announcement for this game may come during RGG Summit 2025, which is not expected until Fall. So, fans might have to wait a while before they hear about any celebrities potentially featuring in the next installment of the series.

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2025-02-10 22:04