In many ways, the malignedWWE 2K20was one of the best things to happen to theWWE 2Kfranchise because, after taking a year off, it came back bigger and stronger than ever withWWE 2K22. WWE 2K23continued this pattern, and while it has not been announced yet, it seems safe to sayWWE 2K24will want to keep the same thing up. This means iteration and innovation on top of established formulas, bringing back and introducing match types,improving core elements of MyRise and MyGM, and ensuring there are some nice surprises along the way. One pattern it may want to continue is based on its cover stars.
Prior toWWE 2K20, it wasn’t exactly “necessary” for the cover star to take the lead in the game, but just asWWE 2K22andWWE 2K23’s Showcase Modesfocused on Rey Mysterio and John Cena respectively, this is a winning formula that may continue. Now, developers may need to get creative so it’s not just a bunch of matches as one star, as the studio did with John Cena, but picking a good, strong popular WWE superstar and focusing on their history and legacy seems important to the franchise. As such, that in and of itself becomes a pattern: Rey Mysterio and John Cena are essentially legacy picks for theWWE 2Kgames, and that focus means fans could perhaps narrow down who the next cover star could be inWWE 2K24.
In short, Rey Mysterio and John Cena tick off some boxes that would qualify them as “legacy superstars.” They have a long history of WWE matches to pull from, and the popularity of the two stars cannot be understated. Even now, both are very much affiliated with the WWE. Mysterio may be nearing retirement, but his feuds with his son Dominik, his reign as US Champion, and his story with the LWO ensure that he’s as popular, as present, as he’s ever been. Cena, meanwhile, may appear less, but he always returns to a massive pop. Cena may do a lot of work in Hollywood, but he’s easily still associated with the WWE even then. If Visual Concepts is looking at “legacy” stars who have great matches to use, who have tons of popularity, and who are still easily associated with WWE, then it’s very unlikely that up and comers (even those with some great matches) are less likely to get on theWWE 2K24cover, for now at least.
WWE 2K24 May Continue the Legacy Streak
It should be noted that, as the saying goes, “two’s a coincidence, three’s a pattern.“WWE 2K24could break from this use of legacy wrestlers, prove that it was just a coincidence, or it could establish it as a pattern. Some may wish the former. It would be great forWWE 2Kto currently use LA Knight’s Meteoric riseand put him on the cover, to use Roman Reigns and/or the Bloodline, or to use Cody Rhodes, Judgment Day, or so many who are active week in and week out. But they don’t really fit in this possible pattern.
AssumingWWE 2K24continues this pattern, then that may help narrow down cover stars. Looking at those who tick the same boxes as Mysterio and Cena, potentialWWE 2K24cover starscould include…
The popularity of each of these superstars cannot be understated, and while some are less active now than others, each are easily associated with WWE now. Of the pack, perhapsBrock Lesnar feels the most likely, hitting the same kind of boxes as Cena and Mysterio. WhileWWE 2K22was Rey Mysterio’s first outing as a solo cover star (appearing only back in the days when there was a handful),WWE 2K22was the second time Cena was a cover star afterWWE 2K15. It would be similar for Brock Lesnar since he appeared on the cover ofWWE 2K17, but all the same, he returns to the ring/WWE for periods, he is easily associated with product, and he has a long history that would make for great matches. Even hearing his commentary on why he turned on Cody Rhodes would be a great addition to the game.
Triple H and Shawn Michaels would be great, seeing as Triple H now leads WWE creative and Michaels oversees creative and talent development on NXT. Walking through their careers would be easy, though their current stints in the ring are obviously not as comparable to Cena or Mysterio’s. Meanwhile, there arerumors of Randy Orton returning to WWE before or close to Survivor Seriesafter reports indicated he could perhaps no longer wrestle, and he could potentially be as good of a pick as Brock Lesnar. The same could be said for Edge, especially given Judgment Day is his legacy in a way, although his recent move to AEW could muddy the waters a bit. It really depends on his contract and how bound to current ongoings eachWWE 2Ktitle is, but assuming he’s viable, he might be up there with Lesnar and Orton in their comparison to Cena and Mysterio.
Mick Foley, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and The Undertaker are all strong possibilities too, if missing a few boxes. The Undertaker’s recent appearance on NXT could be enough to justify it, and quite frankly, it’s long overdue that theUndertaker appear as a soloWWE 2Kcover star. While Stone Cold and Mick Foley are not near as active as possible others, they are still to this day easily associated with the WWE, and they would be strong picks. If anything, choosing Mick Foley would be fun if players were different versions of him in each match, and they game dramatized the differences in his characters gameplay-wise.
Ultimately, it remains to be seen, but one thing is clear. If theWWE 2K24cover star is someone perceivable as a “legacy character,” then there may be even more on the horizon. Fans will just have to wait for the proper reveal to find out.
