With theWWE 2K22release date right around the corner, 2K Sports and Visual Concepts have been revealing everything fans need to know before purchasing the game. Recently, the developers pulled the curtain back on the entireWWE 2K22roster and their overall ratings, confirming every playable wrestler that fans will be able to choose from come launch. TheWWE 2K22roster features 163 wrestlers in the base game and 168 wrestlers for those that spring for thenWo 4-Life Edition, including some surprises.
TheWWE 2K22roster not only features the biggest stars of the current real-world WWE roster, but it also features some wrestlers who are no longer with the company. WWE released quite a lot of high profile talent between the launch ofWWE 2K20andWWE 2K22, but a few of them are still readily available to play as in the new game,including wrestlers like Braun Strowmanand Samoa Joe. There are even some wrestlers on theWWE 2K22roster who are actively appearing on the competing company’s television, with stars like Keith Lee and Kyle O’Reilly appearing in the new game despite being signed to AEW.
RELATED:Paige Throws Shade at WWE 2K22 After Being Left Off Roster
Out of all the cut wrestlers inWWE 2K22, one of the most surprising inclusions is The Brian Kendrick, also known simply as Brian Kendrick, who has a 74 overall rating in the game. Brian Kendrick being part of theWWE 2K22roster is surprising not only because he’s no longer with WWE in real-life, but because of controversies that actually saw his planned AEW debut derailed.
Brian Kendrick was released from WWE at the beginning of February, and pretty much immediately after that he was announced to appear on an upcoming episode of AEW Dynamite to wrestle Jon Moxley. However, controversial comments Kendrick made in his past were brought to light, resulting in such a significant backlash thatAEW owner Tony Khanwound up removing him from the card.
Kendrick made the comments in “shoot” video interviews and elsewhere about a decade ago. Kendrick’s comments included downplaying the holocaust, saying that the death toll was exaggerated as a way to justify the creation of Israel. Kendrick also promoted the Sandy Hook conspiracy theory that the shooting was staged or planned, saying that it was part of a plan to cause a civil war and to justify taking guns away from Americans.
Considering the controversy surrounding Brian Kendrick’s canceled AEW debut, it is somewhat surprising to see that he is still included in theWWE 2K22roster, but it’s worth pointing out that Kendrick had been at WWE for years after making the comments. Since they resurfaced through the AEW situation, Kendrick has apologized and said, “These are not my beliefs and never were beliefs of mine, and I crossed the line.”
WWE 2K22launches March 11 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
MORE:Full List of WWE 2K22 Trophies and Achievements
