Earlier today, 2K Games released the full roster for WWE 2K23. The latest entry in the video game series will be launching March 17 on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and Windows PC.
But even with several different editions (standard, Cross-Gen, Deluxe and Icon), and some legends to bulk out the lineup of wrestlers to pick from, there are still WWE Superstars missing from the list.
Granted, a good number of them are NXT talent, weren’t with the company until recently, or have some other issue. There is always a chance they can be released through some sort of DLC in the future, too.
But for those who are interested in seeing the current WWE roster members who are not available to play as in the game, I’ve gone ahead and cross-referenced everything for you.
Talent in the Game, but Using Another Name
Before naming the ones not in there whatsoever, let’s pinpoint a few Superstars who ARE in WWE 2K23, but by other monikers.
- Dabba-Kato only recently reverted back to that name. He’s in the game as Commander Azeez.
- Dijak is in the game as T-BAR.
- Doudrop is in the game, but Piper Niven isn’t. More than understandable, considering that name change just happened a few weeks ago.
- Nikki Cross is still going by Nikki A.S.H. in the game.
- Zelina Vega is technically listed as Queen Zelina.
- Baron Corbin is still Happy Corbin in the game.
- Scrypts from NXT is still in the game as Reggie.
WWE Superstars Not Included in WWE 2K23 Roster
Here is the full list of talent currently signed to the Raw, SmackDown or NXT rosters, or free agents like Brock Lesnar, who aren’t listed as being part of the game at this moment.
NXT Superstars are indicated with gold text. Superstars in italics were only re-signed to the company in the past few months or so, which explains their absence.
- Aleah James
- Amari Miller
- Andre Chase
- Arianna Grace
- Ashante “Thee” Adonis
- Ava Raine
- B-Fab
- Blair Davenport
- Boa
- Bray Wyatt
- Bronco Nima
- Bronson Reed
- Brooklyn Barlow
- Brooks Jensen
- Bryson Montana
- Candice LeRae
- Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo
- Charlie Dempsey
- Chelsea Green
- Damon Kemp
- Dani Palmer
- Duke Hudson
- Edris Enofe
- Elektra Lopez
- Elton Prince
- Emma
- Fallon Henley
- Gable Steveson
- Giovanna Eburneo
- Guru Raaj
- Ikemen Jiro
- Isla Dawn
- Ivy Nile
- Jagger Reid
- Jakara Jackson
- Javier Bernal
- Joe Coffey
- Joe Gacy
- Johnny Gargano
- Josh Briggs
- Kale Dixon
- Karl Anderson
- Kiana James
- Kit Wilson
- Lash Legend
- Lucien Price
- Luke Gallows
- Lyra Valkyria
- Malik Blade
- Mark Coffey
- Maxxine Dupri
- Meiko Satomura
- Mia Yim / Michin
- Myles Borne
- Naomi
- Nathan Frazer
- Oba Femi
- Odyssey Jones
- Oro Mensah
- Quincy Elliott
- Rip Fowler
- Roderick Strong
- Sarray
- Sol Ruca
- Stevie Turner
- Tank Ledger
- Tatum Paxley
- Tavion Heights
- Tegan Nox
- Thea Hail
- Tiffany Stratton
- Tony D’Angelo
- Top Dolla
- Trick Williams
- Valentina Feroz
- Valhalla
- Von Wagner
- Wendy Choo
- Wolfgang
- Xyon Quinn
- Yulisa Leon
Breakdown and Standout Names
81 names in total. But the bulk of them make sense.
Look at how many are from NXT. While there are some people like Bron Breakker, Carmelo Hayes, Cora Jade, Grayson Waller and Roxanne Perez in the game, those are among the biggest stars on the brand for the past year.
Granted, there are still some big names from NXT who aren’t involved, but arguably should have been. For instance, if The Creed Brothers are in the game, why not Gallus or Pretty Deadly? No Tony D’Angelo?
Most interestingly, Roderick Strong is not listed. He’s obviously been in the games before and is no newcomer to the roster. But since we haven’t seen him in so long, this could be a sign he’s sitting his contract out and isn’t returning.
Similarly, look at how Naomi isn’t in the game. She’s not in the same boat as someone like Johnny Gargano or Valhalla in that they were released, then brought back. With her changing her social media accounts recently to be “JUST TRINITY” and such, it is looking more and more like she’s gone from WWE and they just haven’t finished crossing the T’s and dotting the I’s.
Performance Center and Next in Line Recruits
As expected, all the Superstars who are new to the WWE Performance Center, haven’t been fully integrated into NXT quite yet, or are in the NIL program are not in the game. That would be absurd.
But that also extends to Gable Steveson, who is noteworthy in that WWE keeps referring to him as a contracted talent in different ways. Sometimes, he’s spoken of as an NIL recruit. He’s supposed to be a member of the Raw roster, but we haven’t seen anything from him beyond a few casual appearances and one spot at WrestleMania. Since his status as a Performance Center wrestler in one way or another is spotty at best, with health issues and a start/stop appearance, it makes sense why he’s not in the game. But you’d assume WWE was hoping he’d be in the last game, let alone this one.
Possible WWE 2K23 DLC Pack Ideas
Let’s assume WWE does want to bring some of these Superstars back into the mix later down the line. Technically, they could release any of them at any time and go about it that way. But it is more fun to speculate that they’d create some themed packs to build around.
Here are some of my suggestions and predictions I could see making sense:
- Main Roster Remainders (Men) = Ashante “Thee” Adonis, Bray Wyatt, Bronson Reed, Johnny Gargano, The Good Brothers and Top Dolla.
- Main Roster Remainders (Women) = B-Fab, Candice LeRae, Chelsea Green, Emma, Michin, Tegan Nox and Valhalla. Maybe Maxxine Dupri, if they’d even bother, but they did put Scarlett in there, so it’s a possibility.
- Alternatively, Hit Row could be a pack of three on their own, but I don’t think they’d invest that many resources into that. The likelihood they would sell really well is rather low.
- NXT Men = Not everyone could make the cut, as someone like Kale Dixon is too new for that. But the ones who do stand out to me would be Andre Chase, Duke Hudson, Brooks Jensen & Josh Briggs, Charlie Dempsey, Stacks & Tony D’Angelo, Damon Kemp, Pretty Deadly, Gallus, Schism, and Von Wagner…as well as possibly Trick Williams to accompany Carmelo Hayes. I could see making a case for Nathan Frazer, Oro Mensah, Odyssey Jones, Edris Enofe and Malik Blade, too, but I can’t defend them as much.
- NXT Women = Again, not everyone can make the cut. But the most notable exclusions right now to me are Blair Davenport, Fallon Henley, Kiana James, Isla Dawn, Ivy Nile, Meiko Satomura, Tiffany Stratton and Wendy Choo. B-tier options would be Amari Miller, Elektra Lopez, Lash Legend, Lyra Valkyria, Sol Ruca and Thea Hail. Someone like Tatum Paxley is working her way toward that level, but she could stay a create-a-character in a lot of ways for this particular game. Maybe next year.
Who from this list would you like to see put into the game as DLC? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
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