There’s more than 400 current WWE superstars and past legends who can be used, including CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, The Undertaker, Hollywood Hulk Hogan, Goldberg and John Cena.

2K previously announced a slight change to DLC for this year’s game. Instead of traditional packs being made available throughout the year, new collections will be drop via Ringside Pass, similar to season passes on games like Call of Duty.

There is a pack of 40 free unlockables that includes various NXT bundles, Eighth Wonder of the World bundle and a Hart Foundation bundle. The premium Ringside Pass unlockables will include playable characters from AAA, including El Hijo Del Vikingo and Mr. Iguana.

While there are several different ratings for superstars in different eras, the highest rated on the game present day is John Cena at 97 and Rhea Ripley for the women at 96.

There is a version of Cena – Super Cena – which is 100.

CM Punk is the cover athlete on this year’s game for the first time since WWE ’13. The game will release for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2 and Windows on March 13.

Gamers who pre-order any of the various special editions will have early access starting March 6.

2K’s WWE titles have bounced back superbly as of late after the disaster that was WWE 2K20.

The franchise took a year off to rebuilding the game and the iterations that followed have laregely been met with critical acclaim.

The free agency market is constantly changing in wrestling, and Khan always keeps his eye on the who is available.

“I am constantly evaluating the market and scouting for fantastic wrestlers if they are available to join AEW,” Khan said.

“And AEW is where the best wrestle, and it will be for a very long time.”

AEW has been aggressive about pursuing top talent ever since they formed in 2019.

Khan has managed several coups during that time including CM Punk, Bryan Danielson and Adam Cole.

Can he persuade AJ Styles to come on over? The Phenomenal One has reportedly rejected the idea for now, but who knows how the 48-year-old will feel down the road.

Ciampa is the latest big name to jump from WWE to AEW and Khan was thrilled to get him.

“He’s a fantastic wrestler,” Khan said. “And to have somebody of his quality come in, instantly he’s additive in AEW.

“We’ve got somebody that’s joined us that can have fantastic matches, whether it’s people he’s lined up against in past wrestling matches, whether it’s an old rival or somebody fresh and new that he’s never been matched up against, there’s so many exciting possibilities for Tommaso Ciampa in AEW.”

Breakker has eight weeks until WrestleMania and stars have been known to return in six from such an injury.

The 28-year-old Breakker is a two-time NXT Champion and two-time WWE Intercontinental Champion who has been on the main roster since the 2024 Royal Rumble.

Breakker, the son of WCW star Rick Steiner, and nephew of WCW star Scott Steiner, has been climbing towards the top of the card over the past year and is widely expected to face Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 42

Breakker was thought to be a potential winner of this year’s Royal Rumble and ran down the ramp as the No. 2 entrant.

However, a masked figure in a hoodie attacked him before he got to the ring and then threw him to No. 1 entrant Oba Femi, who easily eliminated him.

Wrestling Intel can confirm at one point, Breakker and Bianca Belair were WWE’s picks.

The last time Breakker truly participated in a wrestling match was the night before Royal Rumble on January 30, when he and the rest of The Vision lost to Cody Rhodes, Jey Uso, Randy Orton and Sami Zayn.

Joe told Kingston that he never gets it done when the title is on the line and therefore he is not worried about Kingston taking his belt away from him. Kingston warned Joe that if he doesn’t bring his best, he will “eat him alive.”

The evening’s first match saw Kazuchika Okada take on PAC in Gold League action of the 2025 AEW Continental Classic. Okada emerged victorious thanks to a roll-up, earning his first three points in the tournament.

Kyle Fletcher faced off against Kevin Knight, also in Gold League action, with Fletcher picking up the win and moving onto six points after his win over Okada last week. What a damn match this was – Knight is going to be a top star and Fletcher has already arrived. Fantastic TV contest.

The AEW Women’s World Tag-Team Championship Tournament also continued, with ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm and Mina Shirakawa advancing to the finals after a Hardcore Holiday Death Match against Megan Bayne and Marina Shafir. There was plenty of grit and gore in this match-up to serve something a little different on the show.

Backstage, Mark Briscoe issued a challenge to Daniel Garcia for the TNT Championship at AEW Collision in Cardiff, Wales.

Ricochet also announced that he will be defending his AEW National Championship against Dalton Castle at AEW Final Battle.

Meanwhile, Roderick Strong denied being a member of The Conglomeration and vowed to kick Orange Cassidy’s ass in their upcoming match.

The Don Callis Family, including Kazuchika Okada, Josh Alexander, and Hechicero, confronted The Young Bucks fresh after Fletcher’s victory in the Continental Classic.

This sparked a brawl that led tot Jungle Boy Jack Perry and Luchasaurus helping The Bucks.

The fight ended with Kenny Omega making the save and clearing the ring. The Don Callis Family later appeared backstage, where they discussed their plans for the AEW Continental Classic and their confidence in bringing the championship back to their family.

Hangman Page also issued a challenge to Powerhouse Hobbs and Katsuyori Shibata for AEW Winter Is Coming, vowing to recapture his AEW title that their stablemate Samoa Joe currently holds. Of course, he is busy with Eddie Kingston at that same event.

Triangle of Madness addressed their battles with Kris Statlander and Jamie Hayter in Blood & Guts and Statlander sticking her nose in their business. This led to Hayter and the women’s champion throwing out the challenge for a tag team match in Cardiff, but Hayter said her and Statlander would need to chat after, as she eyed the AEW Women’s World Title.

Mercedes Mone address her upcoming battle with Red Velvet in full confidence given the fact she’s already beaten her. FTR then gave a very typical promo of them to the Bang Bang Gang over their AEW Tag Team titles – their livelihoods.

Just before the main event, The Opps (Powerhouse Hobbs, Katsuyori Shibata & HOOK) def. Dark Order (Evil Uno, John Silver & Alex Reynolds) in six-man action. The Opps continue to look formidable and Hook is settling into his new heel role nicely.

The evening’s main event saw Jon Moxley take on Claudio Castagnoli in Blue League action of the AEW Continental Classic, with Castagnoli emerging victorious and earning six points in the tournament. The inter-Death Rider battle made for compelling television, but the real push that Castagnoli is enjoying right now is fun to watch indeed. Another decent show!

The segment began with AVA – The Rock’s daughter – addressing the ladies, stating that they had the honour of being handpicked by John Cena to compete in the Iron Survivor Challenge.

Sol Ruca spoke about her journey, saying that she’s had her highs and lows, but she’s ready to gain her peace back by winning at Deadline and becoming the NXT Women’s Champion.

Jordynne Grace, on the other hand, expressed her determination to run through a brick wall to win the title, something the fans received well.

The tension escalated when Lola Vice and Kelani Jordan got into a heated argument, with Vice saying that John Cena chose her because she believes in herself.

Kelani Jordan responded by saying that she’s the standout and the others are just stand-ins.

The situation quickly turned physical, with all the women brawling in the ring. The chaos was eventually broken up by Sol Ruca, Lola Vice, and Kendal Grey, who cleared the ring.

Thea Hail def. Arianna Grace via submission. Thea Hail was able to make Arianna Grace tap out to the Kimura Lock.

Josh Briggs def. Tavion Heights.

Izzi Dame and Tatum Paxley had a intense confrontation as they try to hype up their upcoming title showdown.

Dame said she gave Paxley everything and made her a champion. Paxley responded by saying that she’s scared of what she’ll become without Dame’s guidance, but she’s ready to make Dame feel her pain at Deadline.

The evening also saw a 6-woman tag team match between Fatal Influence and Sol Ruca, Lola Vice, and Kendal Grey, with the latter team emerging victorious.

The contract signing for the NXT Championship match between Ricky Saints and Oba Femi also took place, with both competitors showing out on the microphone – no surprise there.

The main event of the evening saw Joe Hendry, Je’Von Evans, Leon Slater, and Myles Borne take on DarkState in an 8-man tag team match, with the former team emerging victorious.

In a recent interview on the Tim Weisberg Show in New Bedford, Massachusetts, Jericho addressed his plans for 2026, stating that he is “not done yet” and intends to continue wrestling.

Jericho, who has had a successful career spanning over four decades, has reinvented himself numerous times, and his passion for the sport remains strong.

When asked about his future in the ring, Jericho said: “Well, you never know, man. That’s the thing is — I’m not done yet. So, still figuring out everything and we’ll see where I end up.

“But I’m pretty sure you’ll see me in 2026 in a wrestling ring somewhere.”

It’s believed Jericho’s AEW deal is up anytime now and despite helping build the company since it’s inception in 2019, the 55-year-old has done pretty much everything he can in Tony Khan’s wrestling universe.

Beyond his wrestling career, Jericho has a diverse portfolio of projects, including his music career with Fozzy and Kuarantine, his podcast network, and various television opportunities.

“There’s always things going on that kind of come across my plate. And it’s always cool to see — obviously there’s always wrestling stuff and there’s music stuff and there’s podcast stuff,” Jericho explained.

Jericho emphasised the rapid pace of his professional life, noting that new opportunities often arise unexpectedly.

He mentioned that even as his year seemed to be winding down with scheduled performances for his KISS cover band Kuarantine, another filming commitment immediately filled the gap.

“So you never know what’s going to be coming up for me, but it’s always busy,” Jericho said. “And, you know, even this week, the Kuarantine shows were going to be kind of the end of the year for me.

“And then another gig came up for me the following week to film some stuff for a show. So, it never ends and things happen. And when they happen, they happen quickly. So you just have to be ready to go.”

There’s no questions fan grew tired of Jericho towards the end of his AEW run and his character needed a break.

However, he is absolutely beloved in WWE and would be welcomed back with open arms for sure. A Hall of Fame induction would no doubt await him.

It’s hard to imagine exactly where Jericho would fit on a WWE card right now, but could he make a comeback at the 2026 Royal Rumble?

AEW Continental Classic, Gold League: Kyle Fletcher def. Kazuchika Okada

The first match of the night saw Kyle Fletcher face off against Kazuchika Okada in the AEW Continental Classic, Gold League. The two men shook hands before the match. The bell rang, and the match began with both men exchanging kicks and reversals. Fletcher took Okada down with a shoulder tackle, but Okada quickly recovered and landed a kick and a right hand. The match continued with both men trading blows and showing off their striking and technical skills.

After a commercial break, Okada bodyslammed Fletcher, but Fletcher pushed the referee onto the ropes, tripping Okada up. Fletcher then landed a superplex, and both men got to their feet, exchanging right hands. The match ended with Fletcher rolling Okada up and getting the pin, securing the win.

—

After the match, Don Callis got in the ring and hugged Kyle Fletcher, checking up on Okada. Fletcher extended his hand, and they shook hands again as Callis raised their arms in the air. The night also saw clips of Full Gear, and Lexy visited Kenny Omega’s door, discussing his stance on The Young Bucks.

AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship, Tournament Semi-Final: Babes of Wrath def. Sisters of Sin

The AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship, Tournament Semi-Final, saw Sisters of Sin (Julia Hart and Skye Blue) face off against Babes of Wrath (Willow Nightingale and Harley Cameron).

The match began with Cameron and Hart starting, and the two teams exchanged stiff blows. The finish saw Babes of Wrath emerge victorious, with Willow Nightingale pinning Julia Hart after a powerbomb.

Samoa Joe and The Opps

Tony Schiavone introduced the new AEW World Champion, Samoa Joe, who came out to the ring with The Opps. Joe took the microphone and told Tony to leave the ring, celebrating his win.

However, the celebration was interrupted by Swerve Strickland and Hangman Adam Page, who came to the ring with steel chains and began beating up The Opps security.

Jon Moxley def. Mascara Dorada

Jon Moxley faced off against Mascara Dorada in the Continental Classic, Blue League and got the victory with a sleeper.

After the match, Marina got in the ring, and Toni Storm appeared, announcing a hardcore holiday death match against Marina for next Wednesday.

AEW Continental Classic, Gold League: Kevin Knight def. Darby Allin

AEW Continental Classic, Blue League:Claudio Castagnoli def. Orange Cassidy

The night ended with the Death Riders and the majority of the rest of the Continental Classic competitors brawling in the ring taking the show off the air in chaos.

The world of professional wrestling has undergone significant transformations over the past decade, with the WWE being at the forefront of this evolution.

One aspect that has seen considerable change is the way in-ring performers are compensated with the move away from pay-per-view to streaming platforms. It’s not about buys anymore, it’s more broadly about subscribers.

WWE superstar CM Punk recently shared his insights on the current contract payout structure, highlighting both the positive and negative effects it has on wrestlers. In an appearance on the Mostly Sports with Mark Titus and Brandon Walker show, Punk delved into the intricacies of WWE contracts, comparing them to when he first signed with the company in 2005.

“The business has radically changed. It was a different place when I signed than when I debuted and then when I came back. Like, it’s such a radically different place,” Punk said.

Everyone makes more money overall, which he sees as both positive and negative.

“The thing with the title too is also it means you made more money. That does not exist anymore. It’s good and bad.

Like, we all make more money now, which is thumbs up. My paycheck was always predicated on how many people were in the building, so I was driven towards ticket sales and the business of it.

And when you’re in the main events, you got paid more money. Now everyone is just kind of on salary. I think that’s good and bad. It’s good for the boys. But also I feel there’s not the same ambition, you know?”

He admitted that this new system removes the old motivation to chase main event spots and perhaps saps the competitive juices out of the company.

“I always wanted to be in the main event because it got me more money. Now I don’t care if I’m the opening match, because I’m still going to make the same. I can shower and watch the show now.”

The WWE’s business model has shifted significantly, with a greater emphasis on television deals and broadcasting rights. The company generates over $800 million annually from its television contracts for Raw, SmackDown, and NXT, with an additional $325 million from its recent broadcast deal with ESPN for PLEs.

This change has reduced the reliance on ticket sales, allowing the WWE to focus on other revenue streams. Although, the company have sky rocketed prices in recent years to capitalise on the demand.

As a result, the company is more inclined to offer guaranteed money to its wrestlers, partly due to increased competition from promotions like AEW, TNA, New Japan, and CMLL.

This shift in the WWE’s business model has also led to a change in the way wrestlers are viewed outside of the ring.

In the past, wrestlers like John Cena were hesitant to turn heel due to the potential negative impact on their outside business ventures. However, with the WWE’s more transparent approach, as seen in their recent Netflix docuseries, the company is no longer as concerned with maintaining a certain image for its stars.

Also, there used to be a tangible way to say whether someone was a draw or not and that’s often a metric in the GOAT debate. Steve Austin was undoubtedly a huge draw, as was Hulk Hogan and many others.

They sold pay-per-views, sold out stadiums, moved merchandise and drew TV ratings when they were ‘on top’.

Now, one could argue WWE the brand sells tickets when it’s hot and that has been the case for the last few years. However, Punk can still have his quarterly ratings and merch to prove he’s still one of the top dogs – and the latter does help your pay packet.

Results:

WWE Evolve Championship match: Jackson Drake (c) def. Sean Legacy

WWE Speed Championship: Fallon Henley def. Zaria

TNA World Knockouts Championship: Lei Ying Lee def. Kelani Jordan and Jordynne Grace

WWE Evolve Womens Championship: Kendal Grey def. Lainey Reid

Iron Survivor Qualifying match: Myles Borne def. Trick WilliamsThe participants for the Men’s and Women’s Iron Survivor matches were also announced by John Cena in a pre-taped segment.

The Men’s Iron Survivor participants include TNA X-Division Champion Leon Slater, Joe Hendry, Je’Von Evans, Dion Lennox, and as we learned last night, Myles Borne. The Women’s Iron Survivor participants are Sol Ruca, Lola Vice, Jordynne Grace, Kelani Jordan, and Kendal Grey. These matches promise to be highly competitive and entertaining, with some of the best talent in the WWE competing for the top spots.

For a closer look at the action, viewers can check out the following videos:

The 30-year-old YouTube personality, who moved to the island in 2021, has been showcasing his new mansion on his YouTube channel, giving his followers a tour of the luxurious property.

The new home features a range of amenities, including a pool, a large backyard, and a home theatre.

Paul, who has built a business empire through his YouTube presence and other ventures, including the Prime hydration brand, seems to be enjoying his new life in Puerto Rico.

In a recent vlog, he was seen celebrating the purchase of his new home by doing a front flip into his pool, surrounded by his family and friends.

https://youtu.be/bTJ0Ulpqr7k

Paul’s move to Puerto Rico marks a new chapter in his life, both personally and professionally.

Since 2022, he has been a WWE Superstar, and has quickly made a name for himself in the world of professional wrestling.

With less than 30 career matches under his belt, Paul has already become a top star, winning the United States championship and being widely regarded as a future world champion.

Paul’s success in the WWE is a testament to his hard work and dedication to his craft. He has been praised by fans and critics alike for his charisma and in-ring ability, and has quickly become one of the most popular figures in the sport.

His match against John Cena at Clash in Paris, one of the final matches of Cena’s illustrious career, is a testament WWE’s belief in him. He will also be one of the 10 featured superstars in the men’s War Games match at Survivor Series next week.

Paul’s new home features a range of luxurious amenities, including a private pool and a home theater. The property also boasts a large backyard, perfect for entertaining guests and hosting events.

Paul’s decision to purchase the property is a sign of his commitment to his new life in Puerto Rico, and his desire to put down roots on the island.

His brother Jake also maintains his professional boxing career out of Puerto Rico and that’s where he has his training camps.