Daily Update: Sika, Adam Copeland, WWE 2K24

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Among the topics covered in this issue:

  • WWE sets gate record at Clash at the Castle, as well as a look at other metrics
  • Running down the news of the show
  • The Drew McIntyre angle
  • A look at the next two PPVs
  • What the other metrics tell us about the interest level for Clash
  • Why the Cung Le lawsuit that was thought to be settled hasn’t been ratified
  • What worried the Judge
  • What worries the lawyers on both sides
  • The real world and real life issues regarding the settlement
  • Update on Forbidden Door, All In and the Owen Hart tournament
  • Kevin Kelly talks suing AEW
  • The G1 Climax tournament
  • Key news notes on the tournament
  • Review of TripleMania in Tijuana
  • A look at this week’s episode of Who Killed WCW
  • The most detailed look at the ratings this past week for all the shows, quarters, competition and placings
  • CMLL Anniversary show note
  • Mistico anniversary week notes
  • Former WWE star now agent for AAA
  • Update on Giulia, Marigold and WWE
  • Notes on the death of one of Argentina’s top stars from the heyday
  • Shocker rehab notes
  • More on the shooting involving Shannon Ritch
  • Life of James Castle
  • TNA PPV rundown
  • AEW’s new Triller deal
  • Details on the Shane McMahon story going around
  • Attendance advances for all the upcoming WWE & AEW shows
  • Streaming numbers for the week
  • International ratings
  • Update on McGregor vs. Chandler
  • Thoughts on Jake Paul’s next fight
  • New Wyatt Sicks news
  • Injury updates
  • Timeline of Hulk Hogan coming to WWF from AWA

This week’s Wresting Observer Newsletter back issue

Tuesday Update

WWE

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • Adam Copeland on Instagram posted an update on his foot injury: “The splint is off! More scars! 5 more screws and another plate. I’m becoming Robocop.”
  • Renee Paquette talks to Nyla Rose this week on Close Up with Renee Paquette.
  • The Huber family is donating 100% of the royalties from the upcoming Brodie Lee Reebok sneakers to Highmark Caring.
  • In an interview with Tokyo Sports, Tetsuya Naito said he would give his G1 Climax spot to Jon Moxley if he fails to win the IWGP World Heavyweight title at Forbidden Door. 
  • TMZ has more on the 2 Cold Scorpio stabbing incident, including images from the victim who required dozens of staples and stitches following the altercation.
  • A no rope death match between Matt Riddle and Sami Callihan is set for MLW Blood and Thunder on July 12.
  • PWInsider reported that UWN’s Dave Marquez is the new head of production for MLW, which is upgrading their production setup ahead of Blood and Thunder.
  • Stevie Richards is launching a podcast that debuts on Friday.
  • Mance Warner will defend the GCW World Championship in a ladder match against Blake Christian and Joey Janela on August 24.

WWE 2K24 review: Don’t fix what isn’t broken

This year’s WWE video game offering, 2K24, isn’t that terribly different from last year’s entry. That’s good news, as 2K23 was a step in the right direction for a series still recovering from the poorly-received 2K20. While there aren’t any major changes, there are enough refinements and additions that make 2K24 one of the better WWE games that’s been put out in recent years, though there’s always room for further improvement.

Gameplay is largely the same as last year’s title, though there’s a few new additions. A new striking mini-game can appear during matches that allows the player to execute a strong-style battle of strikes against their opponent. These seem to happen out of the blue and I didn’t particularly like them as they took me out of the game. The more welcoming new feature is stacking three finishers together to unleash a new dramatic super finisher.

New match types this year include special referee, gauntlet, ambulance, and casket. Guest referee mode was the most fun to mess around with, though there’s a referee meter that grades based on how well the player does as a referee, and if it gets too low, another referee will come down to do the rest of the match. Thankfully that can be turned off so hijinks can ensue. Backstage Brawl matches have also been enhanced, adding things like elevators and vending machines. It’s easy to throw people off scaffolds and powerbomb opponents into objects during these kinds of matches, which is always a blast.

Like last year, MyRise has two different storylines: Unleashed, which follows a female independent talent trying to make it in WWE, and Unrivaled, which pits a male character in a storyline involving the Undisputed WWE Championship after Roman Reigns shockingly vacates the title to pursue Hollywood dreams. 2K puts a lot of effort into these stories, with branching paths that can be chosen to alter where the story goes. There’s even cameos from previous characters seen in last year’s story modes, which is a nice touch.

Showcase mode continues to have the same problems that have plagued the 2K series for years. The focus this year is on 40 Years of WrestleMania, reliving some of WWE’s biggest WrestleMania moments. The problem is some of the matches, especially more recent fare, simply aren’t that memorable and are more along the lines of what people are available to use. That becomes even more apparent when footage involving fans, referees, and those not under any kind of contract to WWE have their faces blurred during usage of actual match and storyline footage. The tedious nature of having to follow a checklist to unlock every unlockable is still there, too.

Universe and MyGM are pretty much the same modes they have been for the last couple of years. Universe involves either watching the computer sim matches and premium live events or taking control of a wrestler as they go through shows and develop rivalries over time. MyGM allows the player to become General Manager of a brand where they are pitted against other GMs for brand supremacy. There are new GMs to use, and there are a few other new additions like the ability to trade talent following premium live events. These are always fun to play around and experiment with. 

MyFaction is the live service-type mode where the aim is to open cards and assemble teams to play against either CPU or real opponents over the internet. There’s rewards for daily logins, and real money can be used to purchase more powerful cards. This mode isn’t for me, but there’s enough content for people interested in this type of gameplay.

There’s a lot to like in WWE 2K24. The problems with Showcase mode remain, but the story modes are worth investing time in, and the new match types are fun to play with. Though there is still more to fix, this is very much a “don’t fix what isn’t broken” year for the 2K series, and that’s never a bad thing.

WWE 2K24 is out now on Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Steam. A PlayStation 5 code was provided for this review.

Snickers & WWE 2K returning as WrestleMania 40 sponsors

For the third straight year, Snickers and WWE 2K will be the sponsors of WrestleMania.

WWE, Mars, and Take-Two Interactive issued a press release on Thursday announcing that Snickers and WWE 2K will be the presenting sponsors of WrestleMania 40. They were also the sponsors of WrestleMania 38 in 2022 and WrestleMania 39 in 2023.

This is the ninth consecutive year that Snickers has been a WrestleMania sponsor.

The press release said:

Both brands will be showcased during WWE’s flagship TV programs Monday Night Raw on USA Network and Friday Night SmackDown on FOX leading up to WrestleMania, as well as during the WrestleMania Kickoff Show and WrestleMania each day on Peacock. The partnership also includes custom digital and social content on WWE.com and WWE’s YouTube channel, which is the No. 1 most-viewed sports channel in the world. 

Quotes from Mars, 2K, and TKO Group executives were included in the press release:

‘SNICKERS is proud to return to WrestleMania, bringing a satisfying solution to WWE fans around the world,’ said Martin Terwilliger, Marketing Vice President, Mars Wrigley. ‘We look forward to showing up for the passionate fanbase with WWE 2K24 as presenting partners for WrestleMania XL, bringing fans what is sure to be one of the most exciting sporting events of 2024.’

‘While fans can relive forty years of WrestleMania in WWE 2K24, we’ll once again tag-team with SNICKERS to co-present WrestleMania XL,’ said Dennis Ceccarelli, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Sports at 2K. ‘We’ll be cheering on our cover Superstars: Rallying Cody Rhodes to ‘Finish the Story,’ rooting for Rhea Ripley to defend her title, and looking forward to Bianca Belair putting on the ‘EST’ WrestleMania performance of all.’

‘WrestleMania XL is shaping up to be the biggest event in WWE history and we are excited to take our partnership with 2K and Snickers to new heights as the brands unite for a third consecutive year,’ said Grant Norris-Jones, EVP & Head of Global Partnerships, TKO.

The official release date for WWE 2K24 is Friday, March 8. Early access starts on Tuesday, March 5 for the Deluxe and Forty Years of WrestleMania editions of the game.

WrestleMania 40 is taking place from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7. The following matches have already been made official:

  • Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns defends against Cody Rhodes
  • WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY defends against Bayley
  • Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley defends against Becky Lynch
  • World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins defends against Drew McIntyre

CM Punk, Jade Cargill, Post Malone part of WWE 2K24 season pass

2K has announced DLC details for WWE 2K24.

During Monday’s Raw, a commercial was shown for the game’s upcoming season pass which will feature the likes of CM Punk, Jade Cargill, Pat McAfee, The Dudley Boyz, and singer Post Malone. The first DLC pack will be released on May 15, featuring Punk and former stars from ECW. 

Each DLC wave can be bought individually, and those who purchased the Deluxe and 40 Years of WrestleMania editions of WWE 2K24 will receive the season pass at no additional cost.

The standard edition of the game is set to be released on March 8 for PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox One & Xbox Series X, and PC. The Deluxe and 40 Years of WrestleMania editions will be released three days earlier.

Here is a list of each upcoming DLC wave:

DLC 1: ECW Punk Pack – May 15

  • CM Punk
  • Bubba Ray & D-Von Dudley
  • Sandman
  • Terry Funk
  • MyFACTION Content: ECW Paul Heyman Manager Card, Superstar Cards

DLC 2: Post Malone & Friends Pack – June 26

  • Post Malone
  • Sensational Sherri
  • Mosh & Thrasher
  • Honky Tonk Man
  • Jimmy Hart (Manager)
  • MyFACTION Content: Superstar cards

DLC 3: Pat McAfee Pack – July 24

  • Pat McAfee
  • Playable co-hosts (more details TBA)
  • MyFACTION content: Co-host manager cards (details TBA), Superstar cards

DLC 4: Global Superstars Pack – September 20

  • Jade Cargill
  • Nia Jax
  • Michelle McCool
  • Carlito
  • Kairi Sane
  • Lyra Valkyria
  • Dragon Lee
  • MyFACTION content: Superstar cards

DLC 5: WCW Pack – November 13

  • Diamond Dallas Page
  • Iron Sheik
  • Mr. Perfect
  • Great Muta
  • Lex Luger
  • MyFACTION content: Superstar cards

Report: Brock Lesnar removed as playable character in WWE 2K24

Brock Lesnar will reportedly not be a playable character when WWE 2K24 launches next month. 

2K released the full roster for the upcoming game on Wednesday and it did not include either Vince McMahon or Lesnar. 

However, Insider Gaming is reporting that files relating to Lesnar are still included in the game, as it was too late for them to be removed completely. 

“Multiple sources have told Insider Gaming that while it was too late to fully remove Lesnar from the game, the plan shifted to simply make him unplayable for players upon release,” writes Mike Straw. 

The game files still being included means players can potentially create Lesnar through the Create-A-Wrestler mode and upload it to Community Creations. 

It is not clear if game files relating to McMahon are still included. 

Popular gaming website, TheSmackDownHotel, notes that several other names were missing from 2K’s list, including Drew McIntyre and the previously announced Ken Shamrock. 

The official WWE 2k24 roster as announced by 2K is as follows:

LEGENDS / ALUMNI

“Macho Man” Randy Savage

“Ravishing” Rick Rude

“Rowdy” Roddy Piper

“Stone Cold” Steve Austin

“Superstar” Billy Graham*

Andre The Giant

Bad Bunny

Batista

Beth Phoenix

Big Boss Man

Boogeyman

Booker T

Bray Wyatt

Bret “Hitman” Hart

British Bulldog

Bruno Sammartino

Cactus Jack

Chyna

Diesel

Doink The Clown

Dude Love

Dusty Rhodes*

Eddie Guerrero

Eric Bischoff

Eve Torres

Faarooq

Harley Race

Hollywood Hogan

Hulk Hogan

Jake “The Snake” Roberts

JBL

Jerry “The King” Lawler

Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart

John Cena

Kane

Kevin Nash

Lita

Mankind

Maryse

Mighty Molly

Molly Holly

Muhammad Ali

Rick Steiner

Rikishi

Rob Van Dam

Ronda Rousey

Scott Hall

Scott Steiner

Shane McMahon

Shawn Michaels

Stacy Keibler

Stephanie McMahon

Stardust*

Syxx

Ted DiBiase

The Fiend

The Hurricane

The Rock

The Undertaker

Triple H

Trish Stratus

Tyler Breeze

Ultimate Warrior

Umaga

Uncle Howdy

Vader

Wade Barrett

William Regal

X-Pac

Yokozuna

RAW

Akira Tozawa

Alexa Bliss

Becky Lynch

Bianca Belair

Big E

Braun Strowman

Bronson Reed

Candice LeRae

Carmella

Cedric Alexander

Chad Gable

Chelsea Green

Cody Rhodes

Damian Priest

Dexter Lumis

Dominik Mysterio

Erik

Finn Balor

Giovanni Vinci

Gunther

Indi Hartwell

Ivar

JD McDonagh

Jey Uso

Johnny Gargano

Kofi Kingston

Liv Morgan

Ludwig Kaiser

Maxxine Dupri

Natalya

Nikki Cross

Otis

Piper Niven

Raquel Rodriguez

Rhea Ripley

Ricochet

R-Truth

Sami Zayn

Seth “Freakin” Rollins

Shayna Baszler

Shinsuke Nakamura

Sonya Deville

Tegan Nox

The Miz

Tommaso Ciampa

Valhalla

Xavier Woods

Zoey Stark

SMACKDOWN

AJ Styles

Alba Fyre

Angelo Dawkins

Ashante “Thee” Adonis

Asuka

Austin Theory

Bayley

Bobby Lashley

Butch

Cameron Grimes

Charlotte Flair

Cruz Del Toro

Dakota Kai

Elton Prince

Grayson Waller

Isla Dawn

IYO SKY

Jimmy Uso

Joaquin Wilde

Karrion Kross

Katana Chance

Kayden Carter

Kevin Owens

Kit Wilson

LA Knight

Logan Paul

Luke Gallows

Michin Mia Yim

Montez Ford

MVP

Omos

Randy Orton

Rey Mysterio

Ridge Holland

Robert Roode

Roman Reigns

Santos Escobar

Scarlett

Sheamus

Shotzi

Solo Sikoa

Tamina

Xia Li

Zelina Vega

NXT

Andre Chase

Angel Garza

Apollo Crews

Axiom

Baron Corbin

Blair Davenport

Bron Breakker

Brooks Jensen

Brutus Creed

Carmelo Hayes

Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo

Cora Jade

Damon Kemp

Dijak

Drew Gulak

Duke Hudson

Fallon Henley

Gigi Dolin

Humberto

Ilja Dragunov

Ivy Nile

Jacy Jayne

Jinder Mahal

Joe Coffey

Joe Gacy

Josh Briggs

Julius Creed

Nathan Frazer

Nikkita Lyons

Noam Dar

Roxanne Perez

Sanga

SCRYPTS

Thea Hail

Tiffany Stratton

Tony D’Angelo

Trick Williams

Tyler Bate

Veer Mahaan

Wendy Choo

Wes Lee

Wolfgang

Daily Update: Rhea Ripley, WWE 2K24, Kenny Omega

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

We have another huge issue of the Observer with major stories looking back on the Ashley Massaro situation and how it has become major news this past week, the build to WrestleMania, New Japan changes losing Okada and Ospreay and much more.

  • A new statement by Ashley Massaro released by her former lawyer
  • Massaro’s best friend goes on television to weigh in on what she was told
  • What WWE said at the time and how they handled it with the media
  • What John Laurinaitis through his lawyer has said
  • A doctor who treated Massaro at the time confirms the story
  • Massaro’s original depositions on McMahon and her alleged rape by someone posing as a military doctor
  • Bret Hart talks the allegations against Vince McMahon
  • More people in the industry comment on the story
  • The background of how we go to where we are for WrestleMania involving Nick Khan, Ari Emanuel, Dwayne Johnson, Paul Levesque and the key decisions made and changed along the way
  • Updates on WWE Elimination Chamber and AEW Revolution
  • Why New Japan’s New Beginning in Osaka was such a noteworthy show and talk about the Bryan Danielson vs. Zack Sabre Jr. match and the controversial cage match
  • A look at the upcoming New Japan schedule
  • The story behind Billy Jack Haynes and his arrest, his one-time best friend and his wife who died of a gunshot wound
  • A look at Haynes’ wrestling career
  • More on the changes in TNA, not just Scott D’Amore but also Ed Nordholm, why it happened and the timeline of it happening
  • What happened at the call when Leonard Asper told talent about D’Amore being gone
  • Notes on the letter sent by talent to Asper
  • NTV 70th anniversary pro wrestling special and what was featured
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for all the pro wrestling shows, demo numbers, segment-by-segment and weekly rankings
  • The story behind the BCC heading to Mexico and Blue Panther being in the match
  • Will Ospreay statement on leaving NJPW
  • Matt Riddle talks starting in NJPW
  • Early FantasticaMania notes
  • Grandson of Brian Pillman gets awarded
  • The Angelo Mosca secret
  • A promotional merger announced
  • Latest rights fees story and how it may affect UFC & AEW
  • Tony Khan talks AEW future
  • More on Kazuchika Okada
  • Lots of injury updates
  • Upcoming ticket sales to WWE & AEW events
  • International TV numbers and streaming numbers
  • Crazy thing Dana White did on a podcast this week
  • Preview of this week’s UFC show
  • WWE deal with X
  • Steve Austin talks about the potential of him doing another match
  • Drew McIntyre update
  • Seth Rollins talks MMA fighters in pro wrestling
  • Bruce Prichard injury update

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

Tuesday Update

WWE

AEW & Other Wrestling

  • A court date for Cash Wheeler’s aggravated assault with a firearm charge has been set for May 20, with a pre-trial hearing set for May 7.
  • Rob Van Dam unboxed a new singlet he’ll debut for his upcoming match on Dynamite this Wednesday.
  • Sammy Guevara’s latest vlog.
  • Kenny Omega talked to GameSpot about Like a Dragon and its influence on him, including the Like a Dragon street fight held recently on AEW television.
  • Eddie Kingston comments on the 20th anniversary of AAW.
  • Mark Henry will be doing a standup show at Kowloon’s in Saugus, MA on March 12.
  • Kosei Fujita of NJPW announced he’s undergoing nasal surgery to deal with his chronic empyema and rhinitis.
  • Gabe Kidd on X: “DOWN BUT NEVER OUT‼️ I’LL BE BACK BEATING UP YOUR FAVORITES IN NO TIME. AND I GOT A SPECIAL BEATING INCOMING JUST FOR THAT RAT SHINGO TAKAGI, SEE YOU SOON BOY.”
  • Wrestling Revolver has added the entire match between Speedball Mike Bailey and Elijah (former WWE star Elias).
  • Mustafa Ali will make his Deadlock Pro Wrestling debut on March 10 against BK Westbrook.
  • This week’s episode of TNA Xplosion.
  • Tickets for GCW’s debut in Albuquerque, New Mexico on April 21 go on sale this Friday.

WWE 2K24 Showcase of the Immortals trailer released

2K has released a new trailer for the upcoming WWE 2K24 video game. 

This year’s Showcase mode, titled Showcase of the Immortals, is featured in the video. The game mode allows fans to play through 21 different iconic WrestleMania matches. 

16 of the 21 matches set to be featured in the mode were also revealed in today’s press release. 

WWE 2K24 Showcase of the Immortals match listing:

  • Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat w/George “The Animal” Steele vs. “Macho Man” Randy Savage – WrestleMania III
  • Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant w/Bobby “The Brain” Heenan – WrestleMania III
  • “Ravishing” Rick Rude w/Bobby “the Brain” Heenan vs. The Ultimate Warrior – WrestleMania V
  • Bret “Hitman” Hart vs. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper – WrestleMania VII
  • Razor Ramon vs. Shawn Michaels – WrestleMania X
  • Bret “Hitman” Hart vs. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin – WrestleMania 13
  • “Stone Cold” Steve Austin vs. The Rock – WrestleMania X-Seven
  • Eddie Guerrero vs. Kurt Angle – WrestleMania XX
  • The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels – WrestleMania 25
  • Seth Rollins vs. Randy Orton – WrestleMania 31
  • Becky Lynch vs. Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte Flair – WrestleMania 35
  • “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt vs. John Cena in a Firefly Funhouse match – WrestleMania 36
  • “Stone Cold” Steve Austin vs. Kevin Owens – WrestleMania 39
  • Rhea Ripley vs. Charlotte Flair – WrestleMania 39
  • Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes – WrestleMania 39
  • Bianca Belair vs. Asuka – WrestleMania 39
  • Other matches to be revealed later

Additionally, the website The SmackDown Hotel lists Hulk Hogan vs. Randy Savage from WrestleMania V and Ultimate Warrior vs. Hulk Hogan from WrestleMania VI as matches also featured. The website also states the WrestleMania I main event with Hulk Hogan & Mr. T vs. Paul Orndorff & Roddy Piper is likely to be included, as well as Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels from WrestleMania 21 and Kane vs. Triple H from WrestleMania XV. 

A 2K press release reads:

In the trailer, a who’s who of WWE Superstars and Legends including Cody Rhodes, The Rock, Hulk Hogan, Roman Reigns, Bianca Belair, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, Rhea Ripley, Eddie Guerrero, and many more do battle inside the squared circle as the most realistic WWE 2K graphics to-date seamlessly transition to real-life footage and back again, courtesy of cutting-edge Slingshot Technology. Unforgettable moments, including Hulk Hogan slamming Andre the Giant, Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon revolutionizing the Ladder Match, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin taking his frustrations out on the Rock in a No Disqualification Match, the unprecedented and surreal Firefly Funhouse pitting The Fiend against John Cena, and many more are on display as part of the 2K Showcase… of the Immortals experience.

The WWE deluxe edition will be available to those who pre-order the game on March 5 and for regular purchase on March 8. 

Daily Update: WWE 2K24, Batista, Ava

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Observer is an in-depth story on the fall of Vince McMahon. We go through all aspects of the story and have reactions from many people on subjects not talked about including feelings of different wrestlers, how this departure was different from the first McMahon departure, John Laurinaitis, Brock Lesnar, Stephanie McMahon, Ari Emanuel, Paul Levesque, Ann Callis and why she may end up a major figure in wrestling and this story going forward and much more. It’s a timeline in detail and what the timeline opens up.

  • The John Laurinaitis story
  • More questions on Ari Emanuel’s decision
  • Paul Levesque’s performance
  • Shawn Michaels reaction
  • Reaction from several in the business
  • Why Vince McMahon apparently stopped payments
  • Who is Ann Callis and why is she so important to this story
  • The insurance angle
  • The original investigation
  • The timeline of Stephanie McMahon
  • The various allegations and settlements
  • Members of the board leaving
  • Vince’s power play to return
  • Dwayne Johnson and Pat McAfee
  • Vince’s background
  • Full Royal Rumble coverage
  • Rumble surprises and debuts
  • WrestleMania original lineup and what is changing
  • Rumble records
  • Business numbers
  • Rock vs. Roman update
  • The most detailed look at the ratings over the past week
  • New streaming channel for a promotion that is getting criticized due to price
  • Okada and Mercedes updates
  • Anniversary show for one of the most important cultural matches in history
  • Top matches of 2023
  • TNA PPV update
  • AEW valuation
  • Upcoming ticket sales for the major WWE & AEW shows
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • Update on MJF
  • Which company has the highest current injury rate, AEW or WWE?
  • Jericho Cruise notes
  • Conor McGregor update
  • TV announcer talks his frustrations with social media
  • Documentary on MAX about a UFC fighter about to be released
  • Lots more on the Netflix deal
  • Best merchandise sellers
  • Notes from all the TV shows

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

Tuesday Update

WWE

  • WWE 2K24 released a gameplay trailer on Tuesday, with a brief shot of Muhammad Ali at the end. The trailer also showed Brock Lesnar being replaced by John Cena on one of the game’s covers.
  • The Cody Rhodes/Shinsuke Nakamura bull rope match has been added to WWE’s YouTube in full, including the post-match attack from Drew McIntyre.
  • NFL star George Kittle shared his thoughts on the Cody Rhodes/Rock/Roman Reigns situation on X. Triple H quoted the post, writing “The People’s Tight End knows what’s up…”
  • Gunther expressed interest in facing Kazuchika Okada in an interview with Nick Hausman. “I think Okada is fantastic,” he said. “I always love Japanese wrestling. When I grew up in professional wrestling, understanding everything, I always enjoyed Japanese wrestling the most. I was more of an All Japan guy than a New Japan guy, to be honest. But yeah, he’s one of the best in the world, and if he joins WWE, he’s very welcome to, and I think he finds great competition here.”
  • Carmelo Hayes wrote on X: “Woke up today and chose to be undeniable.”
  • Ava has deleted her X account. She had mentioned recently that she had been receiving death threats due to The Rock/Roman Reigns/Cody Rhodes situation.
  • WWE is currently looking to hire a new writer.
  • Free matches added to WWE’s YouTube page on Tuesday include an Elimination Chamber qualifying battle royal from the February 17, 2012 edition of SmackDown and Bayley vs. Becky Lynch in an Elimination Chamber qualifying match from the February 6, 2023 edition of Raw.

AEW & Other Wrestling

  • Dave Bautista will star in a movie titled ‘Afterburn’ starring Samuel L. Jackson, which was described as a “futuristic action-adventure” film.
  • Mercedes Mone on X: “Oh it feels good when executing a vision.”
  • After it was announced that Jack Perry would be at NJPW’s Windy City Riot event in April, Gabe Kidd posted on X: “And someone tell Jack Perry if he wants to get in a scrap backstage, I’ll see him in Chicago. Little rat. Can’t get booked by your own boss so you turn up to our shows. We don’t want you ya little t***.”
  • The Acclaimed will have a pop-up meet & greet and food truck event on February 7 in Pascagoula, Mississippi.
  • Titus Alexander was interviewed by HypeTalkTV.
  • Grizzled Young Vets have been announced for the upcoming For the Love Of Progress event on March 1.
  • FXE Wrestling’s ‘Crush Live’ event has been announced for Hendersonville, Tennessee on February 18. More information can be found here.
  • The 2024 Hana Kimura memorial show has been announced for May 23 at Korakuen Hall.

Wrestling Observer Live: From WrestleFest to WWE 2K24

Editor’s Note: This was recorded prior to the news of the Vince McMahon/Janel Grant lawsuit and McMahon’s resignation from TKO.

On Saturday’s Wrestling Observer Live, it’s time for the Royal Rumble — one of the most fun and popular PLEs on the WWE calendar and where fans get an idea of what to expect at WrestleMania.

It was a historic week for WWE with the announcements that Raw will be streaming on Netflix starting next January and that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is now on the TKO board and he has regained all rights to his wrestling name.

We are also going to have a little fun and talk wrestling video games with Patrick from the YouTube channel PatmanQC: History of Arcade Games. He’s played every WWE 2K game and tons more. We’ll get his thoughts on the upcoming WWE 2K24 game and then reminisce about everything from WrestleFest to Fire Pro and more.

Click Here to Listen (sub needed)

Cody Rhodes, Rhea Ripley & Bianca Belair announced as WWE 2K24 cover stars

The cover stars for WWE 2K24 have been revealed. 

2K and WWE announced on Monday that Cody Rhodes will be the cover star for the standard version of the game and the deluxe edition will feature Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley. 

“Multi-time champions and Women’s Royal Rumble winners Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley share the Deluxe Edition cover, marking the first time in history two women have graced a dedicated WWE 2K cover,” WWE.com writes. 

A special “40 Years of WrestleMania” edition of the game was also revealed on Monday. 

The standard and cross-generational versions of the game will be released on Friday, March 8, 2024, while the deluxe and 40 Years of WrestleMania editions will be released three days earlier on Tuesday, March 5, 2024.

“I’ve been known to keep a checklist of key milestones I want to experience on the path to finishing my story,” said Rhodes in a statement. “As an avid gamer, being named WWE 2K cover Superstar is very, very close to the top of that list and I’m very happy to work with the teams at 2K and Visual Concepts to bring that dream to life.”

“This is an incredible milestone in my career and I’m so excited to show the world why WWE 2K24 is a must-have and the EST game for every WWE fan and gamer,” said Belair.

“I’ve proven myself to be the most dominant competitor to ever hold the WWE Women’s World Championship,” Ripley said. “Earning the accolade of WWE 2K24 cover Superstar is only fitting, and I’m proud to add it to my list of accomplishments.” 

An official trailer for the game has also been released: 

New match types are set to be included in the game this year as well, including Casket Matches, Special Referee, Gauntlet, and Ambulance matches. 

This year’s 2K Showcase mode will feature matches from the 40-year history of WrestleMania. The mode will include alternate attires, such as “Macho King” Randy Savage from WrestleMania VI, Rey Mysterio at WrestleMania 22, Triple H at WrestleMania 30, Charlotte Flair from WrestleMania 33, and Rhea Ripley from WrestleMania 36. 

From WWE.com:

WWE 2K24 features several hallmarks of the franchise, as well some new additions and twists on fan favorites:

  • 2K Showcase…of the Immortals: For 40 years, WrestleMania has captivated millions of fans around the globe as WWE Superstars became Legends and spectacular moments – from Hulk Hogan slamming Andre the Giant, to “Mr. WrestleMania” Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker putting on a match for the ages, and many more – cemented WWE Hall of Fame legacies. “The Grandest Stage of Them All,” has drawn earth-shaking roars from 100,000+ in attendance, as the biggest icons in WWE made history, and left every drop of blood, sweat and tears in the squared circle. 40 years in the making, the WWE 2K24 Showcase…of the Immortals puts players in control, playing through the most iconic moments in WrestleMania history as 2K’s distinctive Slingshot Tech seamlessly morphs gameplay to live-action footage and back again for the most immersive WrestleMania video game experience to date. A host of unlockable content adds challenge and replay value to this historical experience.
  • Iconic Roster: WWE 2K24 boasts a star-studded roster featuring WWE Legends including “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Undertaker, and Andre the Giant, alongside current WWE Superstars including “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes, Bianca Belair, John Cena, Rhea Ripley, and Roman Reigns, whose larger-than-life entrances and signature moves are heightened by ultra-realistic graphics.
  • New Match Types and Improvements on Existing Match Types: Players asked, and WWE 2K24delivers, with four new, chaotic match types: Special Guest Referee, Ambulance Match, Casket Match, and Gauntlet Match. In addition, the Backstage Brawl now features 4-player support and new interactive environmental elements – including a working elevator, breakable control room glass, and a vending machine with throwable sodas – while the Royal Rumble now offers support for eight online players in 30-Superstar online matches. All of the familiar WWE 2K match types, such as WarGames, Extreme Rules, TLC, Submission, Hell in a Cell, and many more also return. More details on each new match type will be shared soon.
  • Gameplay Upgrades: WWE 2K24 features improvements to gameplay throughout, including Super Finishers, the Trading Blows mini-game, top rope dive onto a group of opponents outside the ring, double title matches, new Paybacks and much more. New weapon types, including trash cans, guitars and microphones, plus the ability to throw weapons, allow players to bring the pain. Also, seven real WWE referees are featured to add to the immersive experience.
  • MyGM: The popular WWE brand management simulation continues to expand with new GMs and brands to choose from, more match types, more Dramas, more Championships, talent scouts, Superstar trading between brands, Superstar contract management and the new Superstar Journey, which allows Superstars to earn XP, train and level up to gain new benefits after participating in matches.
  • MyFACTION: The team-building mode in which players collect, manage, and upgrade an array of WWE Superstars and Legends to create their ultimate four-person factions returns with a new direct purchase card market and updated multiplayer experience. Players can now compete in ranked online QuickPlay with unique rewards and seasonal leaderboards, challenge themselves with Weekly Towers, and take on a revamped Faction Wars 2.0, featuring more real-world factions, more 4v4 match types, a Faction Wars specific reward shop and more. New themed card packs and goals will continue to roll out regularly throughout the year with seasonal content refreshes.**
  • MyRISE: In WWE 2K’s unique career mode experience, two new storylines – Undisputed (men’s) and Unleashed (women’s) – put players in control of custom created Superstars looking to make a name for themselves and cement their legacies in WWE history. Featuring Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, Mick Foley and others performing MyRISE voiceover for the first time, alongside other Superstars and Legends, expanded rewards, original MyRISE characters and unlockables carrying-over into other game modes, and new environments, MyRISE is more impactful on the overall WWE 2K experience than ever before.
  • Universe: The ultimate WWE Universe sandbox that puts players in charge of Superstar rosters, feuds, champions, weekly shows, and Premium Live Events now features expanded Rivalry actions, including run-ins, Money in the Bank cash-ins, scenarios and brawls, as well as new cutscenes, Special Guest Referee support, Double Title Matches and a Loser Leaves Town stipulation.
  • Creation Suite: The crown jewel of the WWE 2K franchise, the best-in-class, most detailed and robust creation suite returns with all-new support for Create-A-Referee and Create-A-Sign, as well as new parts and animations to design custom Superstars, GMs, arenas, entrances, move sets, championships and more.
  • Peacock Promotion:*** New subscribers get 1 month of Peacock at no extra cost (a $5.99 value) with purchase of any edition of WWE 2K24 by April 14, 2024. Promotional code must be redeemed between March 12 and May 31, 2024. After offer ends, plan auto-renews at the then-current retail price (plus tax) until canceled by subscriber. Eligibility restrictions and terms apply. See https://www.peacocktv.com/offer-terms/2k for full terms, availability, redemption, and cancellation instructions.

WWE 2K24 Editions

WWE 2K24 features four editions of the game: Standard Edition, Standard Cross-Gen Digital Edition, Deluxe Edition, and Forty Years of WrestleMania Edition:

  • The Standard Edition will be available for $59.99 on previous-gen platforms (PS4, Xbox One consoles) and PC and for $69.99 on current-gen consoles (PS5 and Xbox Series X|S);
    • Pre-Order Bonus Offers****: Players who pre-order the WWE 2K24 Standard Edition will receive the Nightmare Family Pack: a bonus pack of content including four playable Superstars – two alternate versions of Cody Rhodes (The “Undashing” masked Cody and the flamboyant Stardust), as well as the 1976 version of his father, WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes, plus one of Dusty’s greatest rivals, “Superstar” Billy Graham, all available as playable characters. Additional MyFACTION content includes three MyFACTION cards – a Mattel “Bruised” Cody Rhodes Gold Rarity card and, for the first time ever, Cody’s dog, Pharaoh, appears in WWE 2Kas a Gold Rarity Manager card**. In addition, all Digital Pre-Orders of any edition of WWE 2K24will include the Standard Edition of WWE 2K23, the highest-rated game in franchise history according to Metacritic*****;
  • The Standard Cross-Gen Digital Edition will be available for $69.99 on PlayStation and Xbox consoles. The Standard Cross-Gen Digital Edition includes the Standard Edition across previous and current-gen platforms within the same console family and the same PlayStation or Xbox account******;
  • The Deluxe Edition will be available for $99.99 for PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC. The Deluxe Edition includes the Standard Cross-Gen Edition, Nightmare Family Pack, plus a Season Pass to all five post-launch DLC content packs*******; the MyRISE Mega-Boost and SuperCharger; Gold Rarity Rhea Ripley MyFACTION Card, Gold Rarity Bianca Belair MyFACTION Card, and alternate attires for Bianca and Rhea. The Deluxe Edition will be available from March 5, 2024 – three days ahead of Standard and Cross-Gen Editions!
  • The Forty Years of WrestleMania Edition will be available for $119.99 for PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC. In addition to the Standard Cross-Gen Edition and all bonus content included in the Deluxe Edition, the Forty Years of WrestleMania Edition includes the Forty Years of WrestleMania Pack, which features alternate attires for “Macho King” Randy Savage (WrestleMania VI), Rey Mysterio (WrestleMania 22), Triple H (WrestleMania 30), Charlotte Flair (WrestleMania 33), and Rhea Ripley (WrestleMania 36), as well as Gold Rarity MyFACTION cards for each, instant unlocking of all playable Showcase characters, and the WrestleMania 40 Arena, which will be available after launch.******* The Forty Years of WrestleMania Edition will be available from March 5, 2024 – three days ahead of Standard and Standard Cross-Gen Editions!