Implementations described and claimed herein provide a distal leading portion of a composite spinal implant for implantation in a spinal facet joint. In one implementation, the distal leading portion includes a distal leading end, a proximal trailing end, a first face, and a second face. The distal leading end has a distal surface generally opposite a proximal surface of the proximal trailing end. The first face has a first surface that is generally parallel with a second surface of the second face. The first and second faces extend between the distal leading end and the proximal trailing end, such that the first and second surfaces slope upwardly from the distal lead end to the proximal trailing end along a length of extending proximally. The first and second surfaces having one or more textured features adapted to provide friction with the spinal facet joint.