After a long January full of predictions, leaks, and rumors, the WWE 2K26 gameplay trailer is finally live. From the first few seconds of the trailer, we already know that Booker T and Wade Barrett are joining the commentary team. The trailer also gives us a look at some of our favorite wrestlers, alongside new AAA talent.
Headlining the game is the new cover star, current World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk. If you’ve been keeping up with the rumors, the Three Stages of Hell and Dumpstar match type showcases shouldn’t come as a surprise, but they look like a lot of fun. The game launches on March 13, 2026, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC (Steam).
What To Expect From WWE 2K26
CM Punk has graced the cover of a WWE game with his presence before (WWE 13), but things are much different now, more than a decade later. This time, with Punk headlining the Showcase mode, we’ll get a close and thoughtful look at his personal journey. The Showcase mode is fittingly titled Punked: CM Punk’s Personal Journey. I recommend reading our hopes (and concerns) about this Showcase mode here.
CM Punk personally seems to feel accomplished with how the Showcase plays out:
“I enjoyed the experience of narrating the 2K Showcase, which gave me an opportunity to tell fans the straight, unfiltered story of the moments, matches, and controversies in my career.”
The Ringside Pass is another new introduction, and it replaces the traditional DLC model. Rewards are spread across all modes, and the game will have “seasons” that deliver new content with each update. These seasons will deliver free and premium awards (available only to Ringside Premium Pass holders). The premium tier will include 40 additional items on top of the 60 items from the free tier, and it will include exclusive playable superstars, stadiums, and a bunch of other bonuses. So far, the Joe Hendry pack appears to be the only purchasable post-launch DLC.
In terms of new content, we have 400+ wrestlers (including AAA talent, AJ Lee, and some NXT additions), four new match types, more weapons (shopping carts, thumbtacks, stackable tables), and support for more Intergender matches across modes. The trailer also mentions that physics and animations have been upgraded, but we’ll see how that fares when we get our hands on the game.
