Appearing on the cover of the next WWE game is a big deal. Not only does it benefit the superstar, but it benefits the next game as well. WWE 2K cover stars often dictate the direction of the game, modes and extra content. Thus, choosing the optimal cover superstar is important in getting game’s focus across to consumers. Whether its featuring D-generation X in 2009 to highlight tag teams, or Brock Lesnar for 2K17 to shed a spot light on the Lesnar-Goldberg feud. With WWE 2K18 poised to be the greatest of all time, the right cover athlete could make all the difference.
Here are the top 10 superstars likely to make the cover of WWE 2K18.
Alexa Bliss
Alexa Bliss is a two-time Smackdown Live Women’s Champion and the current RAW Women’s Champion. She’s a star in the women’s division on two fronts and has proven herself to be an asset since leaving NXT. One could draw the parallelism between Bliss’s rise and 2K’s handling of WWE games IP. Simply getting better with each accolade. Furthermore, it’s certainly time for women to have better representation in WWE games.
Finn Balor
Having Balor as cover star aligns WWE 2K18 with that very idea. The only downside is WWE 2K18 has to come out strong with clear cut advantages over last year’s gameplay. That could be a tall order but the pay off is there. Your move 2K.
Kurt Angle
If WWE 2K18 has a showcase mode this year, no doubt Kurt Angle’s career makes a perfect focal point. A showcase mode about Kurt Angle also helps fill a couple of roster spots normally reserved for legends too. Of course, we won’t play through any Chris Benoit and Angle stories but there’s still room for feuds that involved Eddie Guerrero, Edge, Chavo Guerrero, a young John Cena, plus so many more.
Given how expansive Angle’s career has been, 2K18 wouldn’t need to be centered on the attitude era, meaning the whole game won’t be a nostalgia act. Looking at you WWE ’13.
John Cena
Not only that, Cena has tied Ric Flair in World Championship wins at 16. Despite going part time on Smackdown Live, John Cena has once again managed to stay relevant in the ring and prove he’s here to stay. If WWE 2K18 is focused on improving the framework established in previous titles while expanding its current game modes to their fullest then John Cena makes a near perfect candidate.
Randy Orton
If 2K18 focuses on bringing new life to the series by revitalizing old game modes, adding new features and fixing broken ones then Randy Orton makes quite the cover star. This may remind players of WWE ’12, but hey, it works.
Kevin Owens
Among his other accolades since starting with the WWE, Owens performs consistently well and entertains each time. Again, something you want in a superstar and a video game franchise. Owens has enough reputation, heel heat and accolades to be considered a definite candidate. A marketing strategy that builds around WWE 2K18‘s ability to deliver a consistent and entertaining experience across all game modes aligns perfectly with Kevin Owens.
Seth Rollins
Rollins was white hot as the top heel for Monday Night RAW while working with the Authority. If there was ever a time to be on the cover of a game, that was definitely it. I personally believe Rollins will have better days ahead, but with Finn Balor and Samoa Joe on the rise, his candidacy for cover athlete may be derailed a few years. If not this year, then when?
AJ Styles
In less than 6 months, he contended for the championship, not once but twice. Couple that with three wins over (two one-on-one) John Cena and putting away Shane McMahon at Wrestlemania 33, you pretty much have the right guy for the cover if WWE 2K18 plans to bring something big and bold to the franchise this year. The 2K series already offers great gameplay, it’s simply time for the rest of the game to catch up and truly be phenomenal.
Charlotte
Although credit is given to Nikki Bella, we know the Diva’s Revolution originally started with Paige and her sisters from NXT. This included Charlotte who broke the mold and defined the Women’s division for RAW completing the company’s transition from WWE Divas to WWE Women. Whether its based on gimmicks, popularity, skill or accolades, Charlotte deserves the cover. If Visual Concepts looks to break the mold with WWE 2K18, Charlotte is your star. Again, your move 2K.
Roman Reigns
Also like Seth Rollins, Reigns’ candidacy is waning but there is still time. He still gets pushed to the moon and proves WWE homegrown guys can still pack a punch despite the influx of genuinely better wrestlers. Although leagues behind the trajectory of someone like Alexa Bliss, Roman Reigns is indeed improving. Something one can easily compare to WWE games improving upon each predecessor. In terms of direction and flow, it will take some clever marketing but Roman Reigns has the look, merchandise sales, popularity and in ring pushes to be the guy. Simple as that.
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