WWE 2K22: Every Superstar Confirmed So Far. The roster reveals for WWE’s annual video game is arguably the most anticipated factor ahead of the game’s actual release.
Because of how packed the real-life roster is, there’s no way everyone can make the cut. You’re hardly going to see fans clamoring for Riddick Moss, a bland heel somehow still signed to the company, if it means Trey Baxter, a standout of the indie scene, won’t be included.
For WWE 2K22, this situation may be as extreme as it ever has been, with over fifty wrestlers cut from WWE’s roster in 2021. The Big Show, for example, will presumably be cut from the 2K22 roster given his current status in All Elite Wrestling; the ‘World’s Largest Athlete’ had previously been a mainstay in the franchise since his WWE games debut in 1999’s WrestleMania 2000.
WWE 2K22: All The New Superstars
WWE 2K22, the awaited wrestling game is set to launch next year on March 22. The game was previously announced at WrestleMania 37 in April and was set to launch in this calendar year. Unfortunately, that will not be happening, as suggested by the new March reveal. However, we do have a trailer for the title now.
The new trailer debuted during the WWE SummerSlam broadcast and a full reveal for the same is expected to come in January 2022. The reveal features a compilation of WWE 2K22 gameplay featuring WWE superstar Rey Mysterio, as well as the first glance at Roman Reigns, Goldberg, Bayley, Bobby Lashley, Drew McIntyre, The Miz, Sheamus, Shinsuke Nakamura, Rhea Ripley, Finn Bálor, Ricochet, and Kane.
22 names are now confirmed for the WWE 2K22 roster, including Edge, Bayley, Cesaro, Rey Mysterio, and Bobby Lashley. With WWE 2K22 delayed until early 2022, it won’t be until Christmas that we know its exact make-up – but that doesn’t stop us speculating. Below are 61 grapplers we expect to see in this year’s game. Bookmark the page for further announcements all the way through to release, as part of GR’s WWE 2K22 roster guide.
So far, we know these WWE superstars will be included in WWE 2K22:
- Bayley
- Bobby Lashley
- Cesaro
- Charlotte Flair
- Drew McIntyre
- Dolph Ziegler
- Edge
- Finn Bálor
- Goldberg
- Kane
- Kofi Kingston
- Rey Mysterio
- Rhea Ripley
- Ricochet
- Roman Reigns
- Sheamus
- Shinsuke Nakamura
- The Miz
WWE 2K22: What to expect?
WWE 2K22 promises new controls, incredible graphics, and a redesigned engine for the most impressive WWE 2K experience to date. As part of the game’s development process, 85 percent of the in-game roster has taken part in facial scanning for ultra-realistic and updated character models, and more than 3,400 new animations have been captured.
Not a lot beyond this is known at the moment and more details will only be seen in January reveal it seems. WWE 2K22 succeeds WWE 2K20, which as per a report by Eurogamer was so poorly received that a planned WWE 2K21 sequel to the game was scrapped. The reasons included broken gameplay and very old graphics. WWE 2K22 will aim at improving on those aspects.
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The Bottom Line
The WWE roster has changed more than in previous years, partly due to Covid-19 resulting in multiple layoffs. It means that the WWE 2K22 roster may not be nailed down just yet, and could offer a few surprises. The break-in development means the roster could look quite different, which should help freshen things up.
Some debutants we’re likely to see include Dominik Mysterio and Angel Garza, with popular NXT wrestlers also making the cut. We’d also expect the usual legends to make an appearance, like The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin, as well as prominent superstars like Asuka and AJ Styles.
While many wrestling game veterans would like to see WWE 2K22 build upon the rock-solid foundations that games like WWF No Mercy established, most people are clamoring for popular modes that were axed from previous games, like GM Mode from Smackdown vs Raw 2006.
GM Mode let you sign wrestlers, book shows, and create feuds, and players were awarded ratings based on how exciting the matches were. In a post on the official 2K forums, which asked fans for their top three requests (which not everyone stuck to), GM Mode was a prominent request.
