With CM Punk headlining the cover this year, WWE 2K26’s Showcase puts the spotlight on one of the most influential and outspoken Superstars of our time, and true to form, “The Best in the World” is doing things his way.
In this Ringside Report, we’re focusing exclusively on Showcase Mode, which presents a career-spanning look at the matches, rivals, and moments that defined our cover star’s journey in the WWE.
CM Punk’s Showcase blends historical recreations with fantasy matchups and alternate timeline scenarios, giving players a mix of authentic WWE events and new “what if” possibilities. The mode covers more than 25 years of WWE history and features narration and perspective from Punk himself, providing additional context around each match and rivalry.
We don’t want to spoil all the surprises that are in store, but let’s take a look at some of the match list!
MATCH LIST
Starting it off from the match everyone was talking about last year, Showcase begins by placing players directly into the action of a WrestleMania 41 Triple Threat Main Event between CM Punk, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns, with Paul Heyman in Punk’s corner.
From there, we go backwards in time across different eras of WWE, revisiting Punk’s past while introducing new scenarios.
As part of Showcase, Punk will take players through three different categories: Historical Matches, Fantasy Warfare, and “What If” matches.
Historical Matches
As in previous Showcase modes, a portion of this year’s experience focuses on faithful recreations of real WWE matches.
These bouts feature authentic arenas, Superstar models, ring gear, and match objectives designed to reflect key moments and turning points. Players can follow historical outcomes or attempt to approach the matches differently through gameplay.
- CM Punk vs. JBL, SummerSlam 2008
- CM Punk vs. Rey Mysterio, Armageddon 2008
- CM Punk vs. Randy Orton, WrestleMania 27
- CM Punk vs. Undertaker, WrestleMania 29
- CM Punk vs. John Cena, RAW Feb. 2013
- CM Punk vs. The Rock, Elimination Chamber 2013
- CM Punk vs Brock Lesnar, SummerSlam 2013
- CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre, Bad Blood 2024
- CM Punk vs. Seth Freakin’ Rollins, RAW Jan. 2025
- CM Punk vs. Seth Freakin’ Rollins vs. Roman Reigns, WrestleMania 41
Fantasy Warfare
Fantasy Warfare brings matchups that never happened, but we’re going to make them happen anyway.
These are battles against the Legends and icons who influenced Punk’s journey, blending eras of WWE into unforgettable showdowns.
Because sometimes the biggest fights exist only in our imagination…until now. Here are three examples of Fantasy Warfare matches that players will get to see come to life:
- CM Punk vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin, CM Punkvillion
- CM Punk vs. Eddie Guerrero, CM Punkvillion
- CM Punk & AJ Lee vs. The Miz & Maryse
“What if” Matches
What if CM Punk never left WWE in 2014?
What if certain rivalries went differently?
What if redemption came sooner?
This year introduces timeline-bending scenarios that let players explore alternate realities and rewrite wrestling history. Showcase has a handful of these types of matches that we’ll reveal at a later date.
Unlockable Content
Like previous iterations of WWE 2K, players will be able to earn rewards as they make their way through each match and complete objectives. Rewards will fall into the following categories:
- Legends
- Alternate Attires
- Managers
- Championships
- Arenas
And for those of you who want to do things a little bit differently…
The Gauntlet
For players who want to skip straight to the action and unlock all the rewards, WWE 2K26 introduces an optional Gauntlet match.
In this format, players can choose to face 20 consecutive opponents either as CM Punk or AJ Lee. Completing the full run rewards all Showcase unlockables at once, including characters, arenas, and other content tied to the mode.
This provides an alternative path to completion for players who prefer a gameplay challenge over progressing through each match individually. But if you fail? Back to the start. It’s high risk, but high reward.
This year’s Showcase isn’t just about what happened. It’s about what could’ve happened, what should’ve happened, and what still might happen. How are you going to play it?
Stay tuned for more Ringside Reports as we break down even more modes, features, and surprises on the road to release.
