WWE 2K22 is still at least a few months out from being released, but constant roster changes are making it look like tons of WWE stars could instead end up in the AEW Console Game.
With some of the biggest names of the past and present either in AEW or on their way, let's take a closer look at everyone that their untitled AEW Console Game could take from the potential WWE 2K22 roster.
WWE 2K22 will be missing these AEW stars that were in WWE 2K20
While WWE 2K Battlegrounds did launch last year, it was only published by 2K and instead developed by Saber Interactive with a very different style than traditional WWE games.
The last proper WWE title was WWE 2K20, released in late 2019 to largely negative reviews and with tons of bugs and glitches at launch.
Flawed as the game is, it also represents the last full roster in a WWE game, though a majority of those in the title were also included in WWE 2K Battlegrounds.
While fans were certainly hopeful to see much of those names on the WWE 2K22 roster, it doesn't look like that will be the case for quite a lot of them.
So far, we know of over a dozen wrestlers who were included in WWE 2K20 that could be seen in the AEW Console Game:
- Aleister Black (now Malakai Black)
- Andrade (now Andrade el Idolo)
- Big Show (now Paul Wight)
- Christian (now Christian Cage)
- Dash Wilder (now Cash Wheeler)
- Harper (later Mr. Brodie Lee)
- Jake Roberts
- Karl Anderson
- Mark Henry
- Matt Hardy
- Rusev (now Miro)
- Sting
- Scott Dawson (now Dax Harwood)
On top of that, there are two names we saw in WWE 2K20 that could find themselves in AEW soon, but that's not yet become a reality.
Daniel Bryan, likely to return to being known as "The American Dragon" Bryan Danielson, had his WWE contract expire and is heavily reported as on his way to AEW soon.
On top of that, recent reports indicate Adam Cole's WWE contract actually expired some time ago, but he's got an agreement with the company to work through SummerSlam weekend.
Should Cole decide not to re-sign with WWE and head to AEW where his girlfriend, Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D., is the reigning AEW Women's World Champion, we'd surely see him end up in the AEW Console Game.
AEW roster members have appeared in other WWE games
If we take a step back towards the past, there are several talents on the AEW roster, whether they be wrestlers or commentary or backstage personnel, who have been in WWE games prior to WWE 2K20.
The following former WWE game roster members are likely to be in the AEW Console Game:
- Chavo Guerrero Jr.
- Chris Jericho [CONFIRMED for AEW Console Game]
- Cody Rhodes
- Dustin Rhodes (formerly Goldust)
- Jake Hager (formerly Jack Swagger)
- Jon Moxley (formerly Dean Ambrose)
- Lance Archer (formerly Vance Archer)
- Matt Sydal (formerly Evan Bourne)
- PAC (formerly Adrian Neville)
- Shawn Spears (formerly Tye Dillinger)
- Taz (formerly Tazz)
- Jim Ross
- Justin Roberts
- Billy Gunn
- Vickie Guerrero
- Arn Anderson
- Dean Malenko
- Jerry Lynn
- Tony Schiavone (technically WCW games that WWE now owns)
There's also the elephant in the room known as CM Punk, who looks highly likely to arrive in AEW in a few short weeks and would definitely find a place in an AEW Console Game.
We could also see a few unique outliers, as former WWE stars Erick Rowan (now Erick Redbeard) and Zack Ryder (now Matt Cardona) have made appearances with AEW but aren't formal roster members just yet.
Mike Tyson has also appeared with AEW, and was previously in WWE '13, while this week will mark the appearance of Juventud Guerrera, who has been in WCW video games and in Fire Pro Wrestling.