The latest leaks and rumors suggest that the upcoming WWE 2K26 will feature a Showcase Mode entirely themed around current World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk, but if that's the case, it'll have to factor in the ongoing Vince McMahon scandal. WWE 2K26 it hasn't been officially revealed yet, but a logo has surfaced soon thanks to Logan Paul's video, and all signs point to the reveal happening within days.
WWE 2K26 leaks have leaked, suggesting that the new game will feature four new match types not featured in its predecessor, as well as the return of Showcase Mode, with this year's iteration focusing on CM Punk. CM Punk is one of the most decorated wrestlers in WWE history and easily one of the top stars on the roster, so it makes a lot of sense to make him a star WWE 2K26's Showcase. The problem is that one of CM Punk's most iconic and memorable moments featured multiple people who, if they appeared in the new game, would likely cause considerable controversy.
WWE 2K26 could be a return to the Attitude Era if the Logan Paul Video is any indication
WWE 2K26 may focus on the beloved Attitude Era of the wrestling organization, hinted at via a recent video from Logan Paul.
Showcase Mode in WWE 2K games typically look back at the greatest moments of a given wrestler's career. For CM Punk, one of the defining moments was when he won the WWE Championship for the first time by defeating John Cena at Money in the Bank 2011 in his hometown of Chicago. The end of the match featured the involvement of Vince McMahon and John Lauranitis, with Alberto Del Rio failing to cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase right after the match ended. Since Money in the Bank in 2011, Vince McMahon and John Lauranitis have been hit with a lawsuit filed by former WWE employee Janel Grant, who accused McMahon and Lauranitis of sexual assault and sex trafficking. Alberto Del Rio, meanwhile, has many controversies of his own that make it highly unlikely that he will ever return to WWE. In fact, Del Rio left the Mexican wrestling company AAA not long after it was acquired by WWE.
CM Punk vs. John Cena Money in the Bank 2011 Match
You can still have a CM Punk vs. John Cena's Money in the Bank 2011 match at the Showcase, but it won't be an entirely accurate representation of what happened unless you include McMahon, Lauranitis and Del Rio. Maybe these people will be featured in video packages explaining the match, or maybe WWE 2K26 will ignore their involvement. In any case, whether WWE 2K26 ignores or acknowledges the elephant in the room, makes a statement.
This wouldn't be the first time McMahon's lawsuit has hit WWE 2K
When McMahon's trial and related allegations first came to light, it caused a lot of trouble WWE 2K24which will force the developers to change the Showcase Mode of this game and remove Brock Lesnar from the list of playable wrestlers. Lesnar is not a defendant in Grant's lawsuit, but he is mentioned in it. According to Grant's lawsuit, McMahon allegedly tried to arrange a sexual encounter between her and Lesnar, but it never actually took place.
While Lesnar was removed from several WWE video games and pulled from television, he returned in 2025 and was added to WWE 2K25 as DLC. Lesnar is likely to be a part WWE 2K26 roster from the jump. Vince McMahon was also recently featured on WWE TV during John Cena's last match in a video package, so it appears WWE is slightly mitigating the portrayal of people named in the lawsuit.
CM Punk vs. John Cena should be a major part of WWE 2K23
In the past, WWE 2K Showcases of missed opportunities usually stem from wrestlers being under contract to other companies. In fact, this is exactly what happened with WWE 2K23 A showcase that was all about John Cena and the biggest losses of his career. It was wild to have a Showcase mode like this and not include CM Punk vs. John Cena, but Punk was working for AEW at the time and had yet to return to WWE.
At this point, we have no idea what matches will appear in it WWE 2K26 Showcase Mode, but it's likely that we'll learn a lot more about the game and its content in the near future.
