Paige is one of the most popular women’s wrestlers in WWE history. She has the distinction of being the first-ever NXT Women’s Champion and a two-time holder of the WWE Diva’s Championship, notably winning her first one after defeating AJ Lee in her Raw debut. The successful filmFighting With My Familywas based on Paige’s life and her journey to WWE, and she has appeared in a variety of films and TV shows outside WWE as well.Paigehas accomplished a great deal at just 29 years old, though her WWE career was tragically cut short by neck injuries.
Even though Paige has not been an active competitor in WWE for years now, she remains under contract with the company and has continued to appear in video games as a playable character, including2019’sWWE 2K20. Since Paige has consistently been featured on WWE video game rosters in the years after her injuries, many assumed that she would be playable in the upcomingWWE 2K22, but that doesn’t appear to be the case.
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Paige took to Twitter to call outWWE 2K22for not including her on the game’s roster. This prompted a response from fellow legendary women’s wrestler Alundra Blayze (also known as Madusa), who is also not featured in the game. “I mean why did I sign the damn legend contract?” Blayze asked the official WWE games Twitter account.
Paige followed up her initial tweet by pointing out other female wrestlers who apparently won’t be included on theWWE 2K22roster. Zelina Vega, currently wrestling as Queen Zelina and set to appear in a match at WrestleMania 38, didn’t make the cut and neither did Doudrop, a performer who wrestled Becky Lynch at the Royal Rumble and also competed in the latest Elimination Chamber match. Brie and Nikki Bella, also known as The Bella Twins, are missing from the lineup as well.
Some of these exclusions can be explained away. In the case of Doudrop and Zelina, it’s likely that they weren’t members of the main WWE roster whenever theWWE 2K22rosterwas finalized. That would explain why they’re not part of theWWE 2K22roster despite being active competitors, while some wrestlers who aren’t even in WWE anymore and are in fact wrestling for competing company AEW are available to play as in the new game.
Paige asks about a “part 2” roster in her follow-up tweet, and it’s entirely possible that some of these exclusions will be added toWWE 2K22as DLC.WWE 2K22has at least five DLC packs planned for release down the line, with musician Machine Gun Kelly confirmed for one andrumors pointing to Ronda Rousey being DLCas well. Time will tell what theWWE 2K22DLC has in store, and if it will add missing stars like Paige to the game.
WWE 2K22launches March 11 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
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