WWE 2K23 has confirmed all 14 matches that will be featured in the John Cena Showcase mode. WWE 2K video games have traditionally featured a Showcase mode focused on a single superstar, group, or era in WWE history. WWE 2K23 is no exception to the rule, though its Showcase mode has a rather interesting twist.
Typically, WWE 2K Showcase modes have put players in control of whichever wrestler that year's mode was about, allowing them to relive some of their greatest victories and moments. WWE 2K23 is flipping this concept on its head. Instead of players controlling John Cena and taking down some of his greatest opponents, they will instead play the role of Cena's enemies in some of the biggest and most memorable losses of his WWE career.
This should ensure that the WWE 2K23 Showcase has a lot more variety than previous iterations of the game mode. Fans now know all 14 matches they can look forward to in the WWE 2K23 Showcase mode, which ranges from Cena's first match on SmackDown in 2002 against Kurt Angle to his match against Roman Reigns at SummerSlam 2021. Other opponents Cena will face in the WWE 2K23 Showcase mode are Brock Lesnar, The Undertaker, Edge, Rob Van Dam, Triple H, Batista, Randy Orton, The Rock, and AJ Styles.
WWE 2K23 John Cena Showcase Matches
- John Cena vs. Kurt Angle (SmackDown 2002)
- John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar (Backlash 2003)
- John Cena vs. The Undertaker (Vengeance 2003)
- John Cena vs. Edge (New Year's Revolution 2006)
- John Cena vs. Rob Van Dam (ECW One Night Stand 2006)
- John Cena vs. Edge (SummerSlam 2006)
- John Cena vs. Triple H (Night of Champions 2008)
- John Cena vs. Batista (SummerSlam 2008)
- John Cena vs. Randy Orton (Hell in a Cell 2009)
- John Cena vs. The Rock (WrestleMania 28)
- John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar (SummerSlam 2014)
- John Cena vs. AJ Styles (SummerSlam 2016)
- John Cena vs. The Undertaker (WrestleMania 34)
- John Cena vs. Roman Reigns (SummerSlam 2021)
While this is a rather comprehensive lineup of John Cena's greatest WWE losses, there are some notable omissions. Perhaps the most glaring omission in the WWE 2K23 Cena Showcase is the lack of the CM Punk match from Money in the Bank 2011, where Cena lost the WWE Championship and, very temporarily, his job at the company. CM Punk has been on the outs with WWE for years, though, so it's not surprising that he's not featured in the WWE 2K23 Showcase mode. Beyond that, he's currently signed to WWE's chief competitor, All Elite Wrestling, even though he hasn't appeared on that company's television for months.
Some fans may also notice that Cena's SummerSlam loss to Daniel Bryan, aka Bryan Danielson, is nowhere on the list either. While Danielson reportedly has a good relationship with WWE, he too is currently signed with AEW, which likely prohibits from him appearing in the new WWE video game. Otherwise, the John Cena Showcase seems to hit all the big losses from his decades-long run in the company.
WWE 2K23 is ​​launches March 17 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
