WWE 2K26: Release Date, Roster, Match Types and 20 Things to Know

With the unveiling of the WWE 2K26: The King of King Edition and the official reveal happening on January 30, 2026, it's almost time to play the game. Here's what we know and believe about WWE 2K26.

When is the Release Date?

We strongly believe WWE 2K26 will drop in the first week of March, but let's look at what's been publicly confirmed.

2K hasn't given a hard date yet, but the window is clear. WWE 2K26 is scheduled to launch within Take-Two's fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, with multiple outlets pointing to early-mid March 2026 and three-day early access for special editions. Full reveal and preorders open January 30, 2026 .

How Many Platforms will WWE 2K26 Support?

This is likely to be the year last-gen gamers are forced to make a choice as it pertains to the WWE 2K franchise. All signs point to a release on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC and Nintendo Switch 2.

Expected platforms include PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One and PC, mirroring 2K25. Some reports speculate a Nintendo Switch 2 version , but that isn't confirmed.

How Many Editions Will There Be?

WWE 2K will have the Standard Edition, Attitude Era Edition , the Monday Night Wars Edition and the King of Kings Edition.

Is Mr. Iguana and Other AAA Stars Included?

Monday's tease locks in Mr. Iguana and you can bet he's just one of the AAA stars that'll appear in WWE 2K26.

A SmackDown/SNME teaser graphic included a pet iguana icon, which several gaming sites interpreted as a playful hint that AAA's Mr. Iguana might appear. Until 2K explicitly names him, treat Mr. Iguana and other AAA names as likely but not officially confirmed.

Will There Be New Match Types?

We've seen confirmation on Three Stages of Hell, but there's more.

Confirmed and newly returned match types include Inferno Match, I Quit Match and Three Stages of Hell, plus a Dumpster Match debuting for the first time in the series. Core modes like Hell in a Cell, Steel Cage, Ladder, Backstage Brawl and Royal Rumble all return with expanded configurations.

Will There Be New Arenas?

Bank on it. With CM Punk as the theme of the Showcase mode , MyRise returning and the addition of Attitude Era venues along with AAA, there will definitely be new arenas.

According to previous leaks, WWE 2K26 adds multiple Brawl environments, including NXT Parking Lot and WWE Archives variants alongside backstage sets. The Attitude and Monday Night War focus strongly implies retro Raw, Nitro and classic PPV arenas.

Will There Be New Weapons?

The Attitude Era means hardcore matches should get some love, and one of the teases showed off a shopping cart . That could be related to Raven, whom many people hope is included. In any case, something is up with the shopping carts.

The custom Weapon Wheel is sure getting an upgrade.

Is Torrie Wilson Coming to WWE 2K26?

The Attitude Era legend gave the special edition the old "eyes emoji" repost on X , so you can bet on her being included either as DLC or a part of the launch roster.

Torrie Wilson hasn't been officially confirmed, but social media activity and the Attitude Era focus make her a strong candidate.

Is Stephanie McMahon Returning?

Steph is on the Attitude Era cover, so she is a lock to be in the game. If she was just a non-playable character, she probably wouldn't be on the cover.

Is Kelly Kelly Coming to WWE 2K26?

This feels more like it'll be a thing. Kelly Kelly hasn't been teased and she hasn't shown her hand, but with Torrie Wilson likely in, it makes sense for 2K to go after Kelly Kelly too.

Will We See More Attitude Era Legends in WWE 2K26?

While not called out specifically, there is no way we're getting an Attitude Era edition without more wrestlers from that era. We'd look at guys like Al Snow, Steve Blackman, Val Venis (then again, maybe not) and Brian Pillman, though he would be more of the Monday Night Wars.

The Attitude Era Edition marketing strongly suggests more Attitude-era legends than 2K25, but specific names beyond the usual suspects haven't been formally confirmed.

Is Ric Flair Returning to WWE 2K26?

How can 2K do the Monday Night Wars without Flair? This makes sense, but it also feels like something related to him should have been teased at this point. Our collective fingers are still crossed, though.

Flair is not currently under a standard WWE deal, so his inclusion would require special licensing.

Is Luke Harper Returning to WWE 2K26?

R.I.P. Harper's inclusion would allow 2K to have the original Wyatt Family, and fans would love to see Harper added. That said, we don't think he'll be in.

Is Chris Jericho Returning to WWE 2K26?

If Jericho returns to WWE as almost everyone expects, he's got to be in the game, right? It only seems right and we're willing to bet he lands on DLC .

Jericho is currently in AEW , so his inclusion would require special licensing. The Monday Night Wars focus makes him a logical candidate if a deal can be reached.

Is Jeff Hardy Returning to WWE 2K26?

Thanks to his signing with TNA and the company being owned by WWE, Jeff is a virtual lock to be in the game.

Is Matt Hardy Returning to WWE 2K26?

Same as above.

Will We See New Personas in WWE 2K26?

Persona cards from MyFaction were one of the most polarizing elements in WWE 2K25. Some people love them, some people hate them. But the best ones, like TNA AJ Styles and the Drew McIntyre from 2010 were super popular with the community. Bank on them returning and perhaps with even more in WWE 2K26.

Early coverage mentions more focus on alternate attires and personas, especially for CM Punk and Attitude mainstays.

If Royce Keys is at the Royal Rumble, Will He Be in WWE 2K26?

It's been confirmed by multiple credible sources that Powerhouse Hobbs has not only signed with WWE , but he has also agreed to go by the name of Royce Keys. If he is in the Royal Rumble, you'd think WWE would want him in the game. He won't be as big of a deal as Jericho or Hardy, so maybe he doesn't get in.

Historically, a surprise Royal Rumble entrant does not guarantee inclusion that same year—licensing and development lead times are too long. At best, he might be a candidate for a later DLC pack.

Will Matt Cardona Be in WWE 2K26?

Because Cardona has already been wrestling in WWE for the past month or so, and because his wife Chelsea Green has spoken on her desire for him to be in the game, we think it is safe to say he makes it in.

Is Nic Nemeth Returning to WWE 2K26?

Nic Nemeth aka Dolph Ziggler had a match in WWE during the John Cena Time is Now Tournament. It seems like a one-night only deal, but we wouldn't be shocked if TNA and WWE work something out to have him included.

Stay locked into Athlon Sports for the latest info on the upcoming release and to keep tabs on what happens post release.

Related: WWE 2K26 Release Info: New Monday Night War Edition Details

Related: WWE 2K26 Roster: 10 Personas That Could Be Included

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jan 27, 2026, where it first appeared in the Sports Video Games section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.