Booker T Didn’t Know He Was on the WWE 2K26 Cover—His Honest Reaction Says It All
Booker T has lived through every era of professional wrestling, but even the two-time WWE Hall of Famer wasn’t ready for what he saw this week.
As WWE and 2K Games roll out details for WWE 2K26, one reveal delivered a genuine shock: Booker T discovered he was featured on the game’s cover at the same time as everyone else.
The surprise appearance comes as part of the newly announced Monday Night Wars edition of WWE 2K26, a special version honoring the iconic WCW vs. WWF rivalry that reshaped the industry. The edition highlights stars who carried wrestling through its most competitive and chaotic period — and Booker T’s inclusion was impossible to ignore.
Speaking on his Hall of Fame podcast, Booker admitted he had no advance notice about the cover. Seeing himself immortalized in a 2026 video game left him stunned and grateful. He reflected on the physical toll of his career, the long tours, the injuries, and the moments when he assumed wrestling would be far behind him by now. Ending up on a major WWE video game cover decades later was something he never thought he’d experience.
While Booker T’s reaction quickly caught fans’ attention, WWE 2K26 is already stacking up storylines beyond nostalgia.
CM Punk has been confirmed as the main cover star for the standard edition, with the game officially launching on March 13. Players who pick up select premium editions will gain early access starting March 6, adding even more anticipation to the release window.
The cover conversation also brought Rhea Ripley back into focus. The former WWE Women’s Champion recently revisited her own milestone moment—appearing on the cover of WWE 2K24 alongside Bianca Belair.
In an interview with Yahoo! Uncrowned, Ripley described the experience as surreal, saying it felt like public confirmation that her work throughout the year truly mattered. Seeing herself featured in major retail stores was, in her words, a moment that made everything feel real.
Ripley also shared a rare “what if” from her career, pointing to Tegan Nox’s injury as a turning point that may have altered the path of her own rise in WWE.
Looking ahead, Ripley believes the future of WWE 2K covers is wide open. She praised Austin Theory’s athletic growth and consistency, highlighted Bron Breakker’s explosive style as tailor-made for a cover spot, and even suggested that an entire faction could headline one—much like The Bloodline did in the past.
With legends being honored unexpectedly, current stars reflecting on their journeys, and new names emerging as potential cover athletes, WWE 2K26 is shaping up as more than just another annual release. It’s becoming a snapshot of wrestling’s past, present, and future—and Booker T’s surprise moment proves that even legends can still be caught off guard.
