CM Punk Is Finally Back In WWE 2K26 – But Only In Video Game Form
Oh look, CM Punk is gracing the cover of WWE 2K26‘s Standard Edition! Finally, a cover star who isn’t currently in the WWE but still somehow ended up on the box art. Talk about commitment to realism! In the new Showcase mode “Punked – CM Punk’s Personal Journey,” you can relive all his greatest moments, including the classic “What if CM Punk never left WWE” scenario. Spoiler alert: in this alternate universe, he probably still hates everyone and complains about everything! And yes, he narrates it himself because who else could possibly understand the deep, philosophical musings of someone who once held up a soda company?
But wait, there’s more! If you’re willing to spend extra money (and let’s be honest, you are), you can grab one of three special editions that are basically the Standard Edition with slightly different covers and a bunch of stuff you’ll probably never use.
The King of Kings Edition features Triple H looking like he just smelled something unpleasant. For your premium dollar, you get… hold onto your seats… playable versions of Triple H from 1998 and Stephanie McMahon from 2000! Wow, nothing says “cutting-edge gaming” like playing as wrestlers from two decades ago. You also get 32,500 VC (because who doesn’t love pretend money?) and a special Joe Hendry Pack. Joe who? Exactly.
Then there’s the Attitude Era Edition, perfect for those who think wrestling peaked when people still wore cargo pants unironically. This glorious time capsule includes Kane from 1998, The Rock from 1999, and Chyna from 1997. Yes, they specifically dated these characters because apparently time moves differently in wrestling video games. You also get 100,000 VC, which is exactly 67,500 more than the King of Kings Edition, making this mathematically the superior purchase. Take that, Triple H fans!
Finally, the Monday Night Wars Edition lets you relive the era when WWE and WCW tried to bankrupt each other through increasingly absurd stunts. This edition includes Shawn Michaels (DX version, because regular Shawn Michaels is apparently not good enough), Macho Man Randy Savage from 1998, and Rowdy Roddy Piper from 1998. Noticing a pattern here? They’ve somehow avoided including any wrestler who performed after Y2K. The edition also gives you access to the WCW Thunder Arena and promises a Wrestlemania 42 Pack coming later, which is perfect for when you’ve finished the game and need something to look forward to in 2042.
With over 400 playable characters including current stars like Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns (who definitely aren’t just there to promote upcoming WWE storylines), plus legends like Eddie Guerrero, Bret Hart, and Andre the Giant, there’s someone for everyone to play as once before immediately switching back to creating their own absurd character with gravity-defying hair and an outfit that would violate several athletic commission rules!
New match types include the Inferno Match where you literally set your opponent on fire to win, because nothing says “family-friendly entertainment” like digital arson! There’s also Three Stages of Hell (not to be confused with your average Monday morning), I Quit Match where you have to beat someone up and then shove a microphone in their face while they’re concussed, and Dumpster Match because apparently someone at 2K really loves garbage. Tables are now stackable, thumbtacks are weaponizable, and I’m just waiting for them to add “Slightly Damp Towel Match” as the ultimate test of grappling skill.
Create-A-Wrestler fans, rejoice! You can now create 200 wrestlers and 2000 images, which is exactly 199 more wrestlers and 1999 more images than anyone has ever needed. The improved body morphing and picture-import facial mapping mean you can finally create a perfect digital replica of yourself, complete with realistic cauliflower ear and that special something that makes people question your life choices. Combined with two-toned hair options, your creations are limited only by your willingness to spend hours tweaking nostril width and elbow crease definition.
MyRise gets more replayability by letting you play beyond the narrative story, which is perfect for those who thought the scripted storylines were holding them back from experiencing the true magic of predetermined outcomes. Universe Mode lets you run WWE your way, including a WWE Draft where you can make all those dream matches that will never, ever happen in real life because reality has a stubborn refusal to cater to your specific fantasies. The Island has been expanded (presumably to accommodate more people asking “can I romance Baron Corbin?”), and MyGM allows booking matches with more participants and intergender matches, because if there’s one thing wrestling games have always needed, it’s more complicated booking scenarios that make your head hurt.
WWE 2K26‘s Standard Edition releases March 13, with special editions launching March 6 for those who want to pay more money to play the exact same game a week early. Available everywhere except probably your toaster, though I wouldn’t be surprised if next year’s edition adds “Play on your smart refrigerator” as a selling point. Whether you’re a die-hard wrestling fan or just someone who enjoys creating wrestlers with disproportionately large body parts, there’s something in this game that will waste at least 40 of your precious hours. And isn’t that what gaming is all about?
Pixel P. Snarkbyte, widely regarded as the “Shakespeare of Sh*tposts,” is a video game expert with a unique knack for turning pixels into punchlines.
Born in the small town of Respawn, Pennsylvania, Pixel grew up mashing buttons on an ancient NES controller, firmly believing that “blowing into the cartridge” was a sacred ritual passed down through generations.
Pixel P. Snarkbyte: proving that life, much like a buggy open-world game, is better with a little lag-induced chaos.
