WWE 2K22released in March 2022 and was a suitable step forward for a franchise that has struggled to find its footing over the last few years. Its successor,WWE 2K23is still a while away, and as the company has seen a handful of managerial and personnel changes in recent times, it’s tough to imagine what the next game will be like and who will feature. There’sstill significant leaps theWWE 2Kproperty has to taketo be considered as one of the best fighting game series on the market, but the recognizable roster of talent gives it a leg-up above the rest.
In fact, it’s often the playable characters that are the biggest draw to theWWEgames for its player base, but it can be controversial when they’re given overall scores that fans deem unfair.LikeMadden,it can be a source of frustration for the competitors as well as players, but theorizing how each superstar will be rated is part of the fun. Visual Concepts will likely adopt a similar format in its nextWWEgame, but it’s not confirmed, so predictions will be based onWWE 2K22’s 75-100 scale.
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Brock Lesnar - 94
The cover star ofWWE 2K17, Brock Lesnar has sporadically appeared on WWE television after returning in 2013. His dominance is well-known among fans, and after winning the Universal Championship at WrestleMania 33, he held the title for a staggering 504 days until he dropped it toRoman Reignsat SummerSlam in 2018. Since then the championship has changed hands on numerous occasions but Lesnar has remained in the mix ever since.
Lesnar is a brawler with an impressive move set that’s heavily inspired by his time inthe UFC. As such, his eclectic and varied style could help players achieve victory in a number of ways. Lesnar’s real-world combat ability makes him a force to be reckoned with, and as he held a 93 score onWWE 2K19and2K20and a 94 on2K22, a 94 once again would be suitable.
Roman Reigns - 96
Brock Lesnar was given a lower rating than the aforementioned Roman Reigns inWWE 2K22, and given the current state of the company, it’s a safe bet to presume thatWWE 2K23will be the same. InWWE 2K22, Roman Reigns was given a 95 rating, and with over 700 days as both the WWE and Universal Champion it was thoroughly deserved. If it follows the same theme of its predecessor,WWE 2K23will aim for a March 2023 release date, and a lot can change before then. However, It’s unlikely that Roman Reigns will fall from grace byWWE 2K23’s release, so a 96 seems likely thanks to his dominant performance.
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Cody Rhodes - 90
Recently acquired from All Elite Wrestling, Cody Rhodes' reappearance at WrestleMania 38 is one of the biggest events in the industry this year.Rhodes may be confirmed to be inAEW Fight Forever, but his inclusion inWWE 2K23isn’t as solidified. However, the impact of his return was huge, and it would be a startling omission if he wasn’t a part of the festivities. It’s important for Visual Concepts to give him a high rating to help build hype for his presence in the WWE. However, Rhodes hasn’t been around long enough to make a significant impact. A 90 would be a suitable compromise between Rhodes' past and future.
Bianca Belair - 93
Bianca Belair won the WWE Women’s Championship by defeating Sasha Banks on night one of WrestleMania 38 and has had a pleasantly fast rise to the top of the company.WWE 2Kplaces a lot of emphasis on the women’s division, and Belair is the cream of the crop on Smackdown. Should the champion keep her title up to the release ofWWE 2K23, it’s only right that she is given the highest overall score.
After a 77 rating inWWE 2K19as a DLC characterfrom NXT, as well as the same score inWWE 2K20, 87 in2K22is a significant leap. It’s a true underdog story that the company always seems to love, and 93 would continue the fairytale while rewarding her hard work in the gaming space. Bianca Belair is at the top of an ever-competitive women’s division, and should be rated as such whenWWE 2K23launches.
WWE 2K23is in development for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
