Samoa Joe Competes In First Indie Match Since 2015, The Navajo Warrior Retires
Samoa Joe returned to the independent scene at IZW Long Live The King, taking on The Navajo Warrior.
This was Navajo Warrior’s retirement match.
Joe entered to “Mama Said Knock You Out” by LL Cool J, which is the theme he used during his time on the independents. Joe was victorious, locking on the coquino clutch and forcing the referee to stop the match.
On Saturday, Samoa Joe served as The Navajo Warrior’s final opponent, returning to the indies after a decade away.
Fittingly, he entered in familiar fashion…. pic.twitter.com/ny3CRrtG3R
— Joe Hulbert (@JoeHulbert) November 13, 2025
Great to get to see Samoa Joe in person again!
I didn't realize the legacy Navajo Warrior has, gonna have to do a deep dive now pic.twitter.com/heTL6SDCaY— StiffBump (@StiffBump) November 9, 2025
This was Joe’s first independent match since August 2015 at PWE in Scotland, before he officially joined WWE NXT.
The 55-year-old Navajo Warrior has been wrestling since the early 90s and appeared on WWF TV as Shawn Dakota.
Samoa Joe is set to challenge Hangman Page for the AEW World Title in a cage match at AEW Full Gear.
