I have watched professional wrestling since I was four years old. My first autograph came from Hacksaw Jim Duggan. Ted DiBiase interrupted the signing to tell Duggan he was going down later that night. I have lived through countless eras and grew up watching wrestlers whose children now thrive in the industry. After four decades as a fan, I had a first-hand experience unlike any before, stepping inside WWE headquarters to attend the WWE 2K26 Creator Fest.
At 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 19, I boarded a bus alongside more than 100 fellow creators and members of the press, with two buses making the trip from Manhattan to Stamford, where WWE’s headquarters is located. A large championship belt display and the prominent WWE logo stand out among the otherwise sterile office buildings that surround the facility. I felt a giddiness rooted in childhood and adolescence as I stepped into the building.
We entered the building via a red carpet set up for the day’s events. The atrium is massive, featuring an impressive mural of the larger-than-life Andre the Giant that stands more than four storeys tall. An LED wall, similar to one of WWE’s stage entrances, flashed images of the WWE 2K26 cover, while walkways on every floor were lined with gaming stations for attendees to try the game.
“After four decades as a fan, I had a first-hand experience unlike any before, stepping inside WWE headquarters to attend the WWE 2K26 Creator Fest.”
As organizers reviewed the rules for the day, “The Oracle,” Paul Heyman, made a surprise appearance to trash-talk the rules themselves. It was an early sign of the energy and spectacle to come. We took our seats and launched our copies of the game, capture cards ready, eager to experience the new features WWE 2K26 promised to deliver.
I began with standard matches to acclimate myself to any gameplay changes from the previous instalment. The differences were subtle but intuitive. Chain wrestling largely functioned the same, and the mechanics for kicking out of pins and reversing manoeuvres remained responsive. There are now more options available before a match begins. Players can trigger additional entrance effects, choose face or heel reactions while walking to the ring and decide whether to start the match with a handshake, a cheap shot or a classic stare-down.
I began with an Extreme Rules match to give myself more freedom to explore without the risk of an early loss. I also wanted to try one of the new weapons: thumbtacks. Scattering them across the ring and slamming an opponent onto them produces a visceral reaction. Each individual tack remains visible in the wrestler’s skin, with light reflecting off the metal. The detail makes the moment feel as impactful as it does in a live event.
I cycled through a wide range of WWE 2K26 wrestlers while browsing the expansive roster. I did not want to spend too much time deciding who to select, though I made sure to try a few favourites, including Cody Rhodes, CM Punk and Kane, to see their entrances. Choosing a classic Kane character model for the return of the Inferno Match struck a nostalgic chord. The updated Inferno Match mechanics, which involve building the flames and forcing an opponent into them, were particularly enjoyable.
The Three Stages of Hell match also returns in WWE 2K26 and provided one of the standout moments of Creator Fest. A 2K26 tournament took place during the event, though I opted not to participate. The final was a Three Stages of Hell match, structured as a best-of-three series with each fall contested under a different stipulation. The competitors were so evenly matched that the bout ran long enough to make the return bus schedule feel uncertain.
The Dumpster Match closely resembles a Casket Match in structure but references a specific period in WWE history during the Attitude Era, when Cactus Jack and Terry Funk, competing as Chainsaw Charlie, faced The New Age Outlaws. The inclusion of the “I Quit” match, in which the referee checks on a competitor while players use button combinations to avoid conceding, also recalled the brutal encounter between Mankind and The Rock.
“With limited time and frequent trips up and down the stairs to catch another superstar’s entrance or grab a quick bite, I managed to sample each of the available game modes.”
It was during a test run of the “I Quit” match that the unpredictability of the event revealed itself. The LED wall shifted, and the entrance music for Trish Stratus hit as she made her way out. Numerous wrestlers were in attendance, including Oba Femi, Joe Hendry, Iyo Sky, Penta, Jacob Fatu, Paul Heyman, Undisputed Champion Drew McIntyre and World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk, who also serves as the cover athlete for WWE 2K26. Many others were present to promote and discuss the game.
In addition to the performers, WWE SmackDown commentator Wade Barrett, one of the voices featured in WWE 2K26, attended the event. I also caught a glimpse of longtime WWE executive Bruce Prichard, whom I first knew as “Brother Love.” Wherever you looked, today’s top stars were either conducting interviews or playing the game alongside creators, which made it hard not to feel a little envious of those stationed on the main floor.
With limited time and frequent trips up and down the stairs to catch another superstar’s entrance or grab a quick bite, I managed to sample each of the available game modes. A deep dive into any single mode was not realistic given the schedule, so I opted for breadth over depth.
WWE 2K26’s 2K Showcase: Punked focuses on the career of CM Punk, guiding players through key moments with specific in-match objectives. Progressing through the mode highlights different eras of Punk’s presentation, from his earliest appearances to the version audiences see weekly on streaming platforms.
The Island is the mode furthest removed from traditional WWE presentation. In this setting, your created wrestler — built using a robust creation suite too expansive to detail here — enters “The Island,” joins one of three factions and competes for dominance in a semi-post-apocalyptic environment.
MyRise, the story mode in WWE 2K26, centres on a comeback narrative. Players step into the role of a wrestler returning after a long injury layoff. Each decision shifts your character between fan favourite and rule breaker, allowing for multiple story paths and varied experiences on subsequent playthroughs.
My preferred modes are those that put players fully in control, and MyGM delivers exactly that. Draft wrestlers, book matches — including intergender bouts and contests featuring up to eight competitors — and assign talent to promotional segments. There is added strategy involved, as an injured wrestler will be unable to appear for a scheduled promo. The objective is to build the most successful WWE brand within the company.
The day concluded with what I previously would have described as a 14-year-old version of myself’s dream scenario. We were given a behind-the-scenes tour of WWE headquarters, where bronze statues of legendary performers line the halls. Displays featuring full costumes and props from The Undertaker’s career were highlights, and although photography was not permitted, it took considerable restraint not to reach for my phone.
Meeting rooms were decorated with vintage ring skirts from classic pay-per-view events. One hallway displayed nearly every championship belt in the company’s history. We also toured a large production studio capable of shooting content in a fully virtual environment, including the cold open delivered by Triple H during the 2026 Royal Rumble. A full-sized ring served as an unconventional meeting space, positioned beneath a towering mural of wrestlers created for the Netflix launch.
Setting aside the excitement Creator Fest generated for creators and journalists — no easy task — my enthusiasm for WWE 2K26 stands on its own merits. I spoke with Creative Director Lynell Jinks of Visual Concepts and noted that, despite the warm reception to last year’s instalment, the team could have opted for only minor updates and still satisfied much of the audience. Instead, they chose to expand and refine the experience. This year, it appears the winners are the players.
