As the March launch of WWE 2K26 approaches, legendary WWE advocate Paul Heyman is going on the offensive—not in the ring, but in the gaming arena. In a recent interview with Fightful, Heyman made a bold and direct appeal to players: put down Fortnite and Call of Duty and pick up this year’s wrestling title instead.
Sitting in front of prominent WWE 2K26 branding, Heyman outlined his vision for the game’s place in a crowded market. Acknowledging he’s “older than the typical gamer,” Heyman stressed that modern games must offer “24/7, 365 engagement and interaction” to succeed. His pitch, however, was anything but old-fashioned.
“I would like to steal people from other video game franchises,” Heyman declared. “I’d like to entice people to not play Fortnite, but to play WWE 2K26. I would like to entice people not to play Call of Duty, but to play WWE 2K26.”
He framed this not just as a wish for nostalgic fantasy bookings—like pitting Lou Thesz, Bruno Sammartino, and Brock Lesnar in a triple-threat match—but as a necessary appeal to “today’s gamer audience.” His comments highlight the competitive mindset 2K and WWE are adopting to position the title in a landscape dominated by live-service giants.
WWE 2K26 is set to launch next month with several new features revealed in recent exclusives, including new match types and a fresh seasonal model called the “Ringside Pass.” The game will be fronted by cover star CM Punk, reinforcing its contemporary appeal.
Heyman’s ambitious call to action is sure to spark debate. Can a yearly sports title genuinely pull players away from entrenched free-to-play behemoths and first-person shooter staples? While the goal may be optimistic, it signals WWE and 2K’s confidence in this year’s installment and their desire to frame it as a must-play event rather than just a franchise update.
Whether players will heed Heyman’s advice remains to be seen, but his message is clear: WWE 2K26 isn’t just for wrestling fans—it’s aiming for everyone’s hard drive.
