Every year there are superstars missing from the WWE 2K roster that fans wish were available. Even with the most playable wrestlers ever on release, WWE 2K19 was not immune from this. Their latest DLC Rising Stars helps address this, adding 7 new superstars to your roster. This pack includes Maria & Mike Kanellis, Lio Rush, Candice LeRae, and Dakota Kai, but the headliners here are current NXT North American Champion Ricochet and Raw's latest female superstar Lacey Evans.
Ricochet came to WWE in 2018 after a glittering independent career in which was world famous for his athletic, high-flying style and ability to put on a headlining match with anyone. He won championships across America and Japan, and was the main protagonist for the first few years of Lucha Underground, fulfilling a lifelong dream of wrestling Rey Mysterio.
Lacey Evans is a former US Marine who has been wrestling since 2014. In April 2016 she signed a WWE contract and made her first appearance on NXT TV later that year. In June 2017 she was announced as a competitor in the inaugural Mae Young Classic, making it to the second round before being eliminated. She spent most of 2018 on NXT gaining experience and competing against the likes of Dakota Kai and Kairi Sane before moving up to Raw at the end of the year. She has already been announced as taking part in the 2019 Royal Rumble.
New Faces, New Moves
Along with the new wrestlers you get a lot of new moves added to the game that thanks to the creation suite you can add to existing wrestlers arsenals or deck out a created superstar with even bigger, flashier moves. You get Ricochet's ridiculous 630 senton finisher as well as his "One & Only Feint", which makes you feel like a superhero.
You also get the vicious "Kairopractor", Dakota Kai's sunset flip backstabber finisher. There's Lio Rush's diving clothesline and middle rope cutter and Candice LeRae's avalanche swinging neckbreaker.
You can add these to the list of most spectacular moves in WWE 2K19, so if you are already tiring of your usual offense make sure you dip into the creation suite and explore all the options available.
What are the stats?
As far as stats go, none of these new superstars can touch AJ Styles or Asuka. Ricochet leads the way with an 82 rating while Lio Rush gets a 77, and Lacey Evans a 76. Behind them are Candice LeRae (75) and Dakota Kai (74) while the Kanellis' bring up the rear. Mike gets a 70 while the '08 version of Maria Kanellis ranks as the lowest superstar with a 66 rating.
Within these ratings are some incredible attributes. Ricochet gets an 85 aerial offense score and 95 aerial range along with 95 agility and 85 movement speed. He also has a max 80 out of 80 strength for a cruiserweight. Lio Rush manages to outdo Ricochet, with a 97 movement speed and 95 agility. Lacey Evans is something of a powerhouse with her 75 strength, max 80 body durability, and 70 grapple offense while Candice LeRae is indeed one tough cupcake with her 75/80 damage recovery and 80/90 grapple reversal.
The Rising Stars DLC is now available for $9.99/£7.99, or free if you purchased the season pass or special edition version of WWE 2K19.