CM Punk is your WWE 2K26 cover star. WWE revealed the standard edition cover during the Royal Rumble kickoff event on January 30, confirming that “The Best in the World” will front this year’s release.
The news closes the loop on weeks of speculation that Punk was the leading candidate for the cover — a rumor Operation Sports tracked after industry chatter pointed to him as the favorite. It also follows 2K’s staggered rollout of special edition covers, including the previously revealed Attitude Era Edition, Monday Night Wars Edition, and King if Kings Edition, with the full marketing push landing right at the end of January.
Best in the World….. STILL
— #WWE2K26 (@WWEgames) January 30, 2026@CMPunk #WWE2K26 pic.twitter.com/KVYpnQ57hC
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WWE 2K26 is set to launch on March 13, with pre-orders going live today. As previously reported, the game will be a current-gen exclusive, released for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2.
CM Punk Is The Ideal Cover Athlete
For me personally, Punk being the cover star is also a pretty clean “signal” moment for what WWE and 2K may be building around this year’s package. In recent WWE 2K releases, the cover choice has often doubled as a roadmap for the game’s biggest marketing beats, and Punk is the kind of headliner who naturally fits this year’s theme. Beyond that, he’ll likely be the centerpiece of this year’s Showcase mode, so his getting the cover was a logical decision.
At the same time, the cover reveal arrives while fans are still waiting on hard confirmations around the biggest wish-list items. We have already highlighted how Universe Mode remains the mode most in need of meaningful expansion, with deeper faction support near the top of what players want to see. If WWE 2K26 truly aims to take a step forward for long-term booking, rivalries, and stable warfare, Punk is a fitting face for a game that’s leaning into “era-defining” storytelling.
With the cover now locked in, all eyes move to the next beats: gameplay, mode specifics, and what exactly 2K is doing to make WWE 2K26 feel like more than just another annual refresh. Stay tuned to Operation Sports as all of those details are revealed.
