It’s time for the inaugural Ringside Report video series for WWE 2K26, which releases on March 13, 2026, or March 6th for those who get in on Early Access. The team at 2K Games and Virtual Concepts is excited to have you back with us.
In one of many Ringside Reports on the road to release, we have a ton of new gameplay updates to give players a sneak peek on. Spoiler alert, we think you’ll love them.
Here’s what we’re going to cover:
NEW MATCH TYPES
This year we’re adding four match types that fans have been asking for with each bringing new strategies, win conditions, and unforgettable moments to the ring.
To start off, we have the I Quit Match. One of WWE’s most punishing stipulations makes its long-awaited debut. It’s a classic 1v1 contest where victory doesn’t come from a pin or submission, it’s about breaking your opponent’s will. Players must wear down their opponent until they finally surrender and say the words “I QUIT!”
Next up, for those who tuned into SmackDown recently and were hyped by the 3 Stages of Hell Match championship between Cody and Drew, it’s coming to WWE 2K26! Players will be able to pit two Superstars against each other in a best two out of three falls match across three different match types. All three stages are user-defined, so players can choose any combination of match types they want to duke it out in.
Throw rules in the trash with the Dumpster Match. The objective is simple in this 1v1 match type, throw your opponent into the dumpster and slam the lid shut.
Finally, we’re taking pyro to the next level with the Inferno Match. Miss the days when Kane and Undertaker would set each other on fire in one of these? The fire and spectacle is coming back in dramatic fashion to WWE 2K26. The Inferno match is a 1v1 match type in which the objective of the match is to set the opponent on fire. With the ring surrounded by flames, the more bumps and moves performed, the hotter the ring becomes. Grow the flames large enough for one Superstar to finally set their opponent on fire and secure victory.
GAMEPLAY MECHANIC UPDATES
Every year we aim to introduce more realism from the action of WWE to players' hands. 2K26 introduces gameplay updates designed to make movement, combat, and momentum feel more organic.
It’s a regular occurrence in the WWE for Superstars to fight around the ring and amongst the crowd. This year, invisible barriers and restrictive ledges have been reduced, allowing Superstars to interact more naturally with the environment and with props.
Bumps and collisions will feel heavier this year as well with a few updates to combat physics. Superstars will more naturally fall off elevated surfaces and interact more realistically with uneven objects such as steel steps or announce tables. For example, landing your opponent on a grounded prop like a chair or title belt (and especially the new thumbtacks) will trigger more damaging reactions and an increased chance of blood.
Keep your eyes peeled during Championship matches as well. You’ll notice a Championship atop a pedestal ringside which you can grab and use as a weapon against your opponent.
It doesn’t stop at ringside either. Crowd combat has expanded to more match types, with revamped action in the crowd to allow more freedom and more possibilities for mayhem. Superstars can also now battle it out on top of the barricade using strikes and grapples, setting up more options for barricade dives!
Reversal revamps are also getting an update this year which rebalances the flow of offense and defense, particularly at higher skill levels. Successful offense now carries greater weight, while stamina plays a more meaningful role in determining when a Superstar can fight back. Clearer feedback helps players better understand reversal windows and stamina effects, rewarding strategy and resource management throughout a match.
NEW USABLE OBJECTS
WWE’s most memorable moments often come from pure mayhem, and WWE 2K26 expands the arsenal available to players.
The Shopping Cart debuts as a fully interactive weapon in brawl environments, opening the door to entirely new forms of punishment. Opponents can be dragged into the cart, whipped into it, struck with weapons while trapped inside, or pushed around the environment. Do your best to channel Stone Cold Steve Austin, tossing Booker T into one of these.
Hardcore fans will also appreciate the addition of thumbtacks, allowing players to pour them onto the mat and inflict excruciating damage with every slam and fall. Players can also choose to keep the thumbtacks in the bag and use the bag as a weapon to attack your opponents with.
Tables can now be stacked as well, letting players pile two tables on top of each other before driving an opponent through both for devastating damage. Also, as a part of the update to combat physics, you’ll notice that characters will now react to slams or collisions with tables, ladders, chairs, and steel steps.
START OF MATCH ACTIONS
Matches in WWE are about more than just what happens during the fight, they’re also about the moments leading up to it. We’re introducing a Start of Match Actions system this year that offers additional storytelling from the opening bell.
Superstars can set the tone of the match before it even starts through a variety of options:
- Play to the crowd
- Offer a handshake
- Engage in chain wrestling
- Trade blows
- Launch a surprise attack
Get the jump on your opponent and control the narrative of the match from the opening seconds.
AI SETTINGS & CUSTOMIZATION
AI behavior has received a major upgrade, giving players more control over how Superstars perform in the ring. The new AI Sequences system allows players to define specific move chains that AI Superstars will attempt to execute during a match. Created and edited in Create-A-Moveset, these sequences influence AI strategy and attack selection, making matches feel more deliberate and authentic. Additionally, AI Superstars will also now display more natural reactions and animations in-between actions they perform during a match.
NEW COMMENTARY TEAM & IMPROVED PRESENTATION
Commentary is critical when tuning into a WWE match, and this iteration of WWE 2K26 introduces a refreshed commentary team featuring Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Byron Saxton, Booker T, and Wade Barrett to add more personality to each match you play.
We recently had Booker T and Wade Barrett in the studio and they put in some serious voice work to bring all the realism of their commentary to WWE 2K26. Make sure to listen for an iconic Booker T “NO BREAD, NO WATER, JUST MEAT” line when you jump into the game!
On top of commentary, presentation improvements elevate every match to feel closer to a live WWE broadcast. Camera refinements include improved depth of field, reduced dead zones, and enhanced camera shakes. Visual effects also have been upgraded, including improved particle lighting and full-screen VFX.
Entrances also become more interactive this year, giving players control over key gestures, taunts, and pyro moments including multiple escalation levels that puts the player in control of the intensity of a Superstar’s entrance.
There’s a lot to talk about, so keep coming back for the Ringside Reports still to come where we’ll cover updates to game modes and more. Stay tuned!
