The next iteration of the WWE 2K franchise is currently being worked on. After the technical issues and ensuing negative reaction to WWE 2K20, the series was put on hold while the developer Visual Concepts went back to the drawing board. There was no official confirmation as to why WWE 2K21 was canceled, but a large portion of fans believe it's likely due to the negative launch of the last game in the series. Many fans have been wondering who will be on the cover of WWE 2K22, and there are several choices for the new cover star.
The cover stars of WWE 2K have generally been big stars and world champions, with the likes of John Cena, Triple H, CM Punk, and many more gracing the game sleeves over the years. Since WWE 2K20 was released in late 2019, the WWE landscape has changed in a lot of ways, due to the ongoing global health crisis. New stars have emerged, some received a refreshed direction, and there have been some high-profile returns. For the next game, WWE has no shortage of options for the next cover star.
RELATED: The New AEW Games Are Actually Good News for WWE 2K21 and Beyond
One of the most likely candidates to appear on the next cover could be Edge, the returning legend. The Hall of Famer mounted an unlikely comeback in 2020 after being retired for nine years and being told he would never wrestle again, only to be injured once more. After months of rehabilitation, Edge returned at the Royal Rumble in January 2021 and won the Royal Rumble match. He's currently set to face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 37 for the Universal Title, capping off his unlikely comeback. For many fans, this has been one of the most emotional and surprising comebacks of all time, making the Rated-R Superstar a strong candidate to grace the next cover.
Drew McIntyre is a superstar whose stock rose significantly over the past 12 months or so. After winning the 2020 iteration of the Royal Rumble match, The Chosen One seemingly fulfilled his destiny at WrestleMania 36, when he dethroned Brock Lesnar for his first world championship in WWE. Since this title win, many fans consider him the biggest star on Monday Night Raw, and he has crafted a true fighting champion persona. Drew McIntyre has come a long way since his first WWE run and has arguably carried the Raw brand during an extremely difficult time, making him a prime contender to be the next cover star.
One of the fastest rising stars in all of WWE is Bianca Belair, the winner of the Women's Royal Rumble match this year. She was working as part of the NXT brand until last year when she appeared on the main roster, and since then she has continued to grow in popularity.
Her faceoff with SmackDown Women's Champion, Sasha Banks, is one of the most anticipated matches at WrestleMania, with many fans expecting her to win her first-ever championship in wrestling. Bianca Belair is as likely a candidate as any to be made the cover star for the next WWE 2K game. Some gamers weren't too excited about WWE 2K Battlegrounds, but this could be turned around with the next mainline game in the series, potentially with Bianca Belair on the cover.
Roman Reigns is the current Universal Champion, and he's set to take on Edge at WrestleMania. The Samoan superstar has had several world championship reigns, but none quite like his current run at the top of SmackDown. With his special counsel, Paul Heyman, Reigns has taken on a highly successful heel character and has enjoyed a string of acclaimed matches. WWE has made several attempts to popularize Reigns over the years, but his bad guy persona and tweaks to his appearance have seemingly done the trick. Roman Reigns has appeared on the covers of games before, but for some fans, he's never been more deserving of it than he is right now.
For some fans, 2K Games has work to do to improve the next WWE 2K game and make sure it isn't received as negatively as the last title in the franchise. The WWE 2K games tend to receive some news around the time of WrestleMania, which is happening in just a few weeks. There is a chance that fans will learn some more about the game soon. Historically, 2K Games reveal the cover star during summer, and this year could be no exception to that tradition. While numerous superstars have earned the opportunity to be on the game cover, it's arguable that Edge, Drew McIntyre, Bianca Belair, and Roman Reigns are the most likely options.
The next WWE 2K game is currently in development.
MORE: WWE Games Lawsuit Over Randy Orton's Tattoos Heads to Court