With the Attitude Era spanning October 1997 to May 2002, many iconic Superstars and future Hall of Famers were part of the hottest period in WWE history, giving us plenty of options to choose from. There have been rumors in recent days that the likes of Test and Raven would be included in WWE 2K26, and with the game now revealed to be Attitude Era-focused, there seems to be some weight behind them. But who else could be included?
Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, The Undertaker, Kane, Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Kurt Angle, Chyna, Trish Stratus, Lita, Stephanie McMahon, and The Dudley Boyz are all confirmed due to being on the cover art.
Mankind and Road Dogg are also likely inclusions on the roster and are both seen in the Attitude Era reveal trailer, which also means that Billy Gunn and X-Pac are shoo-ins, too, to complete the D-Generation X lineup.
Rick Rude, Paul Bearer, Vince McMahon, and Shane McMahon also made appearances, but we’re not certain whether they will be on the roster or just appear in WWE 2K26’s Attitude Era-focused story mode. Salvatore Sincere makes a brief appearance, taking a Rock Bottom in The Rock’s debut TV match, but I wouldn’t expect him to be in the game.
Superstars such as Brock Lesnar, Booker T, The Hurricane, William Regal, R-Truth (K-Kwik), and Matt Bloom (Albert) will be excluded from this list due to being current WWE roster members or employees, which means their inclusion is almost a guarantee.
Former Superstars such as Edge, Christian, Big Show, Goldust, Jeff Jarrett, Tazz, and Dean Malenko are also excluded, due to being contracted to AEW, although TNA contracted wrestlers may make an appearance due to the working relationship it has with WWE.
Let’s take a look at who else should make an appearance in WWE 2K26 alongside Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock.
Chris Jericho
With Chris Jericho’s return rumoured to be imminent, WWE 2K26 would be the perfect game for him to return. This will mark the first time in several years that the Ayatollah of Rock ‘n’ Rolla has appeared in a WWE game, due to his signing with All Elite Wrestling before the company launched in 2019.
Chris Jericho had one of the greatest WWE debuts in August 1999, going toe-to-toe with The Rock in a promo. In the years that followed, Y2J became one of the most iconic WWE superstars of all time, even going on to become the first-ever Undisputed WWE Champion by defeating both Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock at the same pay-per-view.
Although Jericho hasn’t made his return to WWE on TV yet, it is still possible he could be included in the game. Typically, the motion capture and scans for the wrestlers are done months in advance, and with Jericho’s contract only ending last month, that doesn’t give us a lot of time for Y2J to be added to the game.
However, with a focus on the past, it is possible that we may see Jericho’s classic Attitude Era model used in the game instead, which may not require scanning at all. It is possible that we could see Chris Jericho added as DLC later on in the future, as we do typically see five or six DLC packs come out throughout the year
With Jericho being such a pivotal part of the Attitude Era and his return imminent, I don’t see a world where Y2J doesn’t make an appearance in some capacity in WWE 2K26.
Ken Shamrock
When thinking about the Intercontinental Championship, some think about Honkey Tonk Man, Ultimate Warrior, or Chris Jericho, but I always think of Ken Shamrock.
During the first half of the Attitude Era, The World’s Most Dangerous Man was a pivotal part of the WWE, from his feud with The Rock to becoming a member of The Corporation. Ken Shamrock never seemed to quite reach his full potential. It is a shame that he never became WWE Champion, but the former UFC Champion is still remembered and feared today.
And with signing a Legends deal and appearing in WWE 2K24 and 2K25, it would be surprising if he doesn’t continue this trend and appear in 2K26 too.
The Hardy Boyz
There are few periods in WWE when tag team wrestling was as popular as during the Attitude Era, and it is largely thanks to three teams: Edge & Christian, The Dudley Boyz, and The Hardy Boyz.
Bubba Ray and D’Von are already confirmed for WWE 2K26, while Edge & Christian sadly won’t be able to appear due to their AEW contracts. However, Matt and Jeff Hardy are both currently contracted to TNA and recently appeared on NXT, meaning they can be included in the roster.
The Hardy Boyz are two of the most iconic WWE Superstars of all-time, as well as one of the most decorated tag teams. Without them, the Attitude Era would have missed out on many legendary moments.
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Maven
Hey Maven, guys here. When he’s not being…When he’s not running his incredibly successful YouTube channel, Maven was once a WWE…Before running a very successful YouTube channel, Maven was once a WWE Superstar between 2001 and 2005, most notably being the winner of the very first Tough Enough competition.
following this he made following this he made a huge buzz for himself when he eliminated The Undertaker at the Royal Rumble 2002 this moment is still played on T this moment is still talked about today which shows thatThis moment is still talked about today, which shows that even though he had a fairly short career 20 years ago now, he has remained an incredibly important part of wrestling history, and the fact that he’s got so much buzz around him would just make him a great addition for the game.
It depends on how far the WWE looks to go when it comes to Attitude Era content. They could be focusing on 97 to around 2000-2001 when the invasion happened, but if they go off the true end of the Attitude Era, that would be May 2002.
Maven was still a part that had a memorable moment during it. So if nothing else, it could just serve as a little clip in the story mode, but seeing him playable in the game for the first time in more than 20 years would just be really cool. To be honest, I really hope that they do this.
The Nation Of Domination
The Nation of Domination’s feud with D-Generation X was one of the highlights of 1998, and also helped to propel The Rock towards the WWE Championship following the dissolution of the group. Headed up by Farooq, the Nation of Domination helped to push D’Lo Brown and Mark Henry, along with giving Charles Wight a new purpose in the company before he became the legendary Godfather character.
With Mark Henry now having left AEW and signed a Legends contract, it is likely that he will appear in WWE 2K26. Apart from the Nation of Domination, Mark Henry also saw great success with his Sexual Chocolate gimmick. D’Lo Brown hasn’t appeared in a WWE game since 2K16 where he was included in an Attitude Era-themed DLC pack, making now a great time for him to return. Charles Wright frequently appears in WWE games as both The Godfather and Papa Shango, as recently as 2K22, while Farooq has been included as recently as 2K25.
Bradshaw
WWE can’t include Farooq in a WWE game without adding his APA tag team partner, Bradshaw. Whether as part of The New Blackjacks, The Acolytes, or its later APA iteration, Bradshaw was a feared wrestler who spared no punches and was incredibly stiff in the ring.
Following his retirement from wrestling, JBL became a mainstay at the commentary table, and although he doesn’t do as much with the WWE these days, he is still strongly associated with them and appears in most games, including WWE 2K25.
Right To Censor
The Right To Censor team, as well as its individual members, were mainstays of the Attitude Era. Led by Steven Richards, Right To Censor were hated by most WWE fans, and many still likely have nightmares about the awful ‘theme music.’
Not only was Right To Censor a major part of the mid-card throughout 1999, but its individual members also had prominence in the Attitude Era, particularly The Godfather, who was discussed in the Nation Of Domination entry, and Val Venis. From debuting as an adult entertainer, Val Venis became a multi-time European and Intercontinental Champion, feuding with the likes of Goldust, Kai En Tai, Ken Shamrock, and D’Lo Brown throughout 1998 and 1999.
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Ivory began reappearing in WWE games with WWE 2K17 after having not been seen since WWE Smackdown: Shut Your Mouth way back in 2002, but she hasn’t been seen since WWE 2K19. The Attitude Era-focused WWE 2K26 feels like a great way to bring her back to the spotlight.
Stevie Richards has spent even longer away from WWE games, having last been seen in 2005’s Smackdown Vs. Raw 2006. The former leader of the BWO and Right To Censor may have been forgotten about by WWE, but his podcast, ‘The Stevie Richards Show,’ has become incredibly popular, as the former ECW Champion deep dives into current wrestling news, shows, and gives technical analysis on matches and spots. His show is a weekly listen for me, along with Dutch Mantell’s, and I am always excited when a new episode drops.
Steve Blackman
He’s as cold as ice. The Lethal Weapon Steve Blackman was a mainstay on the mid-card during the late 90s into the early 2000s.
His gimmick of Al Snowhead cheese was awesome, and he had a very memorable Hardcore Match with Shane McMahon at SummerSlam 2000, which saw Shane McMahon fall from the Titan Tron at about 50 feet in height.
Usually seen with his nunchucks or kendo sticks, Steve Blackman was and still is a legitimate tough guy, and today can be found as a bail bondsman in the US. If you ever find yourself in jail in the central Pennsylvania area, you may be calling Steve Blackman to come and rescue you.
Al Snow
Like many of you, I should not have been telling people I wanted head at the age I was during the Attitude Era, but Al Snow had one of the most memorable gimmicks, especially in the mid-card during that time.
Accompanied by his Head mannequin, which talked to him and gave him advice on matches, Al Snow was a very entertaining character, and he was a mainstay in the Hardcore division throughout 1999.
Since leaving WWE, he has had a very successful career as a trainer, and he is currently running OVW, which used to be a developmental territory for WWE. OVW is where the likes of Brock Lesnar, John Cena, Randy Orton, Shelton Benjamin, and Batista all got their start, and Al Snow is the perfect person to continue the legacy of the promotion and training school.
With WWE 2K26 being focused on both the Attitude Era and Hardcore division, there is no way that it can be done without including Al Snow.
The Headbangers
The Headbangers were an entertaining team to watch during 1997-1999, despite never seeing much success in terms of championships or pushes. The team could often be found in the lower card or part of multi-team matches, regularly competing against the likes of The New Age Outlaws, The Hardy Boyz, The Acolytes, and Kai En Tai.
After not appearing in any WWE games since WrestleMania 2000, The Headbangers were included as DLC in WWE 2K24 before being main roster Legends in 2K25.
Hardcore And Crash Holly
WWE 2K26 can’t focus on the Hardcore division without spotlighting Hardcore Holly and his kayfabe cousin Crash Holly.
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Following the beginning of the division, Bob Holly changed his name to Hardcore Holly, a name that stuck with him throughout the rest of his career and was a key part of the early success of the Hardcore Championship. His matches against Al Snow and Road Dogg in early 1999 were highlights of the shows they were on, and his later work alongside Crash Holly was some of the best moments of his career.
Speaking of Crash Holly, he held the Hardcore Championship 22-times, although some for mere seconds, only lagging behind Raven, who was champion on 26 occasions. Sadly, the WWE has seemingly forgotten about Crash Holly since his untimely death in 2003, so WWE 2K26 would be a great way to honour his contribution to the Attitude Era.
Too Cool
Too Cool is still fondly remembered today, in part due to their dance moves. Grandmaster Sexay, Scotty 2 Hotty, and later Rikishi always made sure the fans went home happy.
Although the team never found too much success in terms of championship wins, Too Cool seemed to transcend the need for gold around their waist, with fans coming to the show more to see the trio dance, and that is not a bad thing.
While many teams and Superstars are forgotten with time, Too Cool remains a key part of the Attitude Era nostalgia. Sadly, Grandmaster Sexay (Brian Christopher) passed away in 2018, but Scotty 2 Hotty is still performing today, regularly doing tours around Europe and other parts of the world. Rikishi still has a presence in WWE, with his sons The Usos and Solo Sikoa being heavily featured in recent years.
Marc Mero, Jacqueline, and Sable
I decided to group these four entries as their success and relevance in the Attitude Era were closely linked. Marc Mero made his debut in the WWE in 1996 alongside his then-wife Sable, becoming the first Superstar to receive a guaranteed contract.
As the Attitude Era got into full swing, Sable began to break away from Mero, becoming one of the most popular Superstars in the company. Mero was then paired with Jacqueline, with the two women feuding throughout 1998. Before this, Mero and Sable found themselves feuding with the likes of Goldust and Luna Vachon, culminating in a match at WrestleMania 14. Mero and Sable left the WWE in 1999, leaving behind a legacy that is still talked about today.
Jacqueline remained in the WWE until 2004, becoming a vital part of the women’s division, even becoming the Cruiserweight Champion, one of the few women to ever hold a men’s title.
The Corporation/Ministry Of Darkness
The first half of 1999 was dominated by The Corporation vs Ministry of Darkness storyline, pitting evil vs…evil?
In late 1998, Vince McMahon formed The Corporation, with the likes of The Rock, Ken Shamrock, and The Big Boss Man doing McMahon’s bidding and rubbing shoulders with the owner of the company. This helped to propel The Rock to megastardom, feuding with the likes of Mankind, Triple H, and Stone Cold Steve Austin.
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At the same time, The Undertaker formed The Ministry of Darkness, which included The Acolytes, The Brood, Mideon, and Viscera, as a gothic, demonic cult led by The Deadman. The two factions soon crossed paths as The Undertaker kidnapped Stephanie McMahon, forcing her to marry him before Stone Cold Steve Austin managed to save the future CEO of WWE. It soon transpired that the two groups had been working together, leading to the formation of The Corporate Ministry.
It would be difficult to focus on The Attitude Era without paying tribute to these two factions, along with their members. Some names in the group, such as The Rock, Triple H, Kane, and The Undertaker, are guaranteed to be in WWE 2K26 already, and others, such as Ken Shamrock, have been named further up in this list. But it would also be great to see the likes of Mideon and The Big Boss Man make appearances on the roster. Unfortunately, Edge & Christian will likely be excluded due to current contracts with AEW.
