The WWE 2K series has been a staple in wrestling video games for years, offering fans the chance to step into the ring with their favorite superstars. While the games always feature a mix of current wrestlers, legends, and rising stars, there have been several surprising and unexpected additions to the roster over the years. These characters, whether due to their rarity in WWE history, non-wrestling status, or surprising returns, left fans both delighted and bewildered. Here are some of the most unexpected WWE 2K roster additions.
1. The Terminator (WWE 2K16)
One of the most bizarre yet exciting additions to a WWE game was The Terminator in WWE 2K16. While Arnold Schwarzenegger never wrestled in WWE, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame’s celebrity wing. To promote the game and celebrate his ties to the wrestling world, the developers included The Terminator as a pre-order bonus. The character was based on his appearances in The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day, complete with his iconic leather jacket and sunglasses.
2. Fred Durst (SmackDown! Just Bring It)
Long before the WWE 2K series, SmackDown! Just Bring It surprising players by including Limp Bizkit’s lead singer, Fred Durst. His inclusion was tied to the fact that Limp Bizkit’s song “Rollin’” was The Undertaker’s theme at the time. However, few expected Durst to be an actual playable character, making him one of the strangest celebrity cameos in WWE gaming history.
3. Vince McMahon (Various WWE 2K Games)
While Vince McMahon has occasionally stepped into the ring in real life, seeing him as a fully playable character in multiple WWE 2K games is always a surprise. Given his role as WWE’s chairman and authority figure, it’s odd to have him competing against top superstars. Yet, year after year, he remains an unlockable or default part of the roster.
4. The Fiend (WWE 2K20)
Bray Wyatt’s alter ego, The Fiend, made his terrifying debut in 2019, and fans were excited when he was confirmed for WWE 2K20. However, what made this addition unexpected was that 2K initially left him out of the base game. Instead, he was part of the Bump in the Night DLC, featuring supernatural horror-themed elements. Given The Fiend’s immense popularity, many expected him to be a default roster inclusion rather than paid DLC.
5. Robocop (WCW/NWO Revenge & WWE 2K Battlegrounds)
Robocop’s connection to wrestling is bizarre, stemming from a WCW storyline in the early 1990s when he “saved” Sting from The Four Horsemen. His inclusion in WCW/NWO Revenge on the Nintendo 64 was strange enough, but his return decades later in WWE 2K Battlegrounds was even more surprising. Despite his limited wrestling relevance, he remains one of the most outlandish guest characters in a WWE game.
Colonel Sanders (WWE 2K18) (image via Getty)6. Colonel Sanders (WWE 2K18)
Yes, the KFC mascot himself, Colonel Sanders, was a playable character in WWE 2K18. This was part of a promotional campaign, and fans could use the fast-food icon in matches against the likes of John Cena and The Undertaker. While WWE has had its fair share of product placement, making Colonel Sanders a legitimate character in the game was completely unexpected.
7. Zombie Versions of Superstars (Various WWE 2K Games)
WWE 2K games have often dabbled in alternate character versions, but zombie versions of real-life wrestlers have been among the weirdest. WWE 2K20 heavily leaned into this concept with zombie versions of Sasha Banks, Braun Strowman, and others in its Bump in the Night DLC. While these variations were fun, they were certainly unexpected in a franchise mostly rooted in realism.
8. David Arquette (WWE 2K Battlegrounds)
Actor David Arquette, known for his role in Scream, also had an infamous wrestling stint when he won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship in 2000. Though his involvement in wrestling was mostly comedic, he later redeemed himself with a serious indie wrestling career. His inclusion in WWE 2K Battlegrounds was a nod to his past and his renewed commitment to wrestling, but few ever expected him to appear in a modern WWE game.
9. Ronda Rousey (WWE 2K19)
While Ronda Rousey eventually became a legitimate WWE star, her inclusion in WWE 2K19 was unexpected because she had only just made her official debut in WWE at WrestleMania 34. Typically, new stars take time before being added to the 2K roster, but Rousey’s mainstream appeal fast-tracked her into the game as a pre-order bonus character.
10. Machine Gun Kelly (WWE 2K22)
Machine Gun Kelly has been a WWE fan and even performed live on Monday Night Raw, but his inclusion as a playable character in WWE 2K22 still felt out of left field. The rapper had no in-ring experience, yet he was added as a DLC character. While some fans enjoyed the celebrity presence, others found it baffling.