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After more than a year's absence, WWE 2K22 is just weeks away. If the early previews are anything to go by, the extra time development looks like it's paying off. The new wrestling system seems to combine the best elements from its predecessors and AKI's iconic wrestling engine ,seen in WWF No Mercy and the Def Jam series.
The developers have even included the long-requested General Manager mode, now known as MyGM. The GM mode has been absent in a WWE game since WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2009. Also making a return are the Superstar Ratings, which score individual wrestlers based on their abilities in and out of the ring. Unfortunately, with every new entry in the series, there will be ratings for wrestlers that prove to be questionable, and the developers have already made minor adjustments to the scores for certain wrestlers after fan outcry. Still, there are a few other WWE ratings that could use adjustments in WWE 2K22.
Disclaimer: The ratings for WWE 2K22 roster were correct at the time of writing and may be adjusted accordingly by the developer before after the game's launch on March 11, 2022.
8 Elias — 75
Elias' ratings are likely based more on his booking and his absence rather than his ability in the ring. However, he is easily one of the most underutilized wrestlers in the company. His look is in line with modern Macho Man and his musical performances always manage to get a reaction from the crowd. These guitar performances are reminiscent of the Rock during his comedic guitar playing days.
Whether Elias will return with a new gimmick remains to be seen, but his 75 rating is far too low. He's only rated six points higher than Eric Bischoff's character, which is ridiculous when put into perspective. Elias has huge potential as a superstar, and WWE should bill him as such upon his return.
7 Pete Dunne — 81
NXT Superstar Pete Dunne is one of the most technical wrestlers in the company, and is always billed as a potential threat to any opponent that stands in the ring with him. He has a shoot fighter style that's believable and entertaining to watch.
Dunne combines brawling with a submission style of wrestling that's reminiscent of fellow British wrestler William Regal. He's had successful runs as the UK NXT champion, and standout feud with the likes of Finn Balor. Unfortunately, his rating of 81 seems typical of anyone in the NXT roster.
6 Big Boss Man — 81
It's great to see the Big Boss Man included as part of the Legends line up. At his peak in the late 80s and early 90s, this Hall of Famer was one of the best big men in the business. He was surprisingly agile for a big man and had entertaining matches against Hulk Hogan that went overlooked.
He had a good run as one half of the Two Towers with Akeem/One Man Gang, and was a hugely popular mid-carder in his prime. As a man that was considered a threat to prime Hulk Hogan's reign as WWE champion, the Big Boss Man deserves a bit more love than an 81 rating.
5 Kane — 82
Billed as brother of The Undertaker, Kane was one of most dominant wrestlers in the WWE whether he was performing as a singles performer or as part of a tag team. In his prime, Kane was incredibly agile, performing moves like the flying forearm and top rope dives that one would expect from a cruiserweight as opposed to a 7-foot tall, 300lb super heavyweight.
The Big Show stated on WWE Network's Table for 3 that Kane was one of the strongest men he'd ever worked with. He's a three time world heavyweight champion, twelve time tag team champion, and a former intercontinental champion. Kane deserves to be rated higher than 82, but there is every chance the game could include prime Kane as an alternative option.
4 Randy Orton — 88
Many consider Randy Orton to be one of the greatest wrestlers today. The former "Legend Killer" has enjoyed success as one of the main draws in the WWE. Orton always gets a huge a pop from the crowd whether he's a face or a heel, and his unlikely pairing with Matt Riddle has gone over big with the fans.
Orton is a third generation superstar and is considered one of the most successful former WWE champions in the company, behind only John Cena, Triple H, and Ric Flair. While 88 is a good rating, he should still be rated in the early 90s when a current (but inactive) version of Triple H stands at 91.
3 Ultimate Warrior — 88
It's true that Ultimate Warrior's in-ring ability was extremely limited during his run in the WWE. However, fans that were around at the time of Warrior's peak will remember that he was always billed as an unstoppable superhero. He beat everyone put in front of him, from Mr. Perfect to Ravishing Rick Rude.
Let's not forget his iconic WrestleMania 6 showdown against the unbeatable Hulk Hogan, where he emerged victorious. Limitations aside, Warrior should get around a score of 90 based on his strength and charisma alone.
2 Macho Man Randy Savage — 88
The Macho Man Randy Savage is, without a doubt, one of the greatest wrestlers to lace up a pair of boots. He was equally good as heel or a face, and was capable of having exciting matches with anyone from big men like Hulk Hogan to technical stars like Ric Flair. In addition to his excellent work as a singles competitor, he had great run with Hulk Hogan as part of the memorable super team The Mega Powers before their inevitable implosion.
Savage's match against Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat in WrestleMania 3 has gone down in history as one of the greatest of all time. His Flying Elbow Drop finisher is still one of the best in the business, and is emulated by wrestlers like Shawn Michaels, CM Punk, and Bayley. Savage personified the 80s and 90s era of wrestling with his wild promos, memorable entrance theme, and of course his interactions with his valet Miss Elizabeth. The rating of 88 isn't bad, but Savage should be scored at least the same as Bret "The Hitman" Hart at 91.
1 Goldberg — 88
Goldberg is a divisive superstar that many modern day fans have become disgruntled with, due to his push over younger talent. Many fans fail to realize that Goldberg's matches in the WWE are an attraction to fans of the late 90s early 2000s era of WCW. It's true that the 55-year-old Goldberg of today isn't as convincing or as hard hitting as prime Goldberg, but he doesn't have many matches left. The WWE employ him on a part-time basis, which keeps him healthy and injury-free. Furthermore, even now, he looks more believable as a larger than life superstar than the majority of the younger roster.
Today's Goldberg is much more gracious and aware of his limitations. He's put over current superstars like Drew McIntyre and Bobby Lashley in entertaining matches — a far cry from the unstoppable destroyer he was in WCW. Rating the modern version of Goldberg at 88 is arguably more believable. However, it seems that the image used on the official WWE 2K22 page is prime Goldberg, and there's no way this version should be lower than 90. Brock is rated at 94, so Goldberg's score should be at least comparable to that.
What's more, one could argue that a score of 88 is still too low even at 55 years old. Goldberg is still a character that defeated Brock Lesnar, The Fiend, and the dominant Bobby Lashley. As a former WCW and WWE champion that was held up as the face of both promotions, Goldberg should rate higher based on his winning streak alone.
WWE 2K22 is available to on March 11, 2022, on the PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
