WWE 2K22 is set to launch next week, marking the first main series WWE video game since 2019's disastrous WWE 2K20. There's a lot riding on WWE 2K22's success, and it will be interesting to see if it lives up to expectations. The developers certainly seem to be making a concerted effort to ensure that WWE 2K22 gets the series back on track by including fan favorite game modes like MyGM and the return of the Showcase mode.
Like past WWE games, the WWE 2K22 Showcase mode focuses on the career of a specific WWE superstar. Rey Mysterio is the Showcase star this time around, with the legendary high-flying wrestler also serving as the WWE 2K22 cover athlete. According to The SmackDown Hotel, the WWE 2K22 Showcase mode will feature 12 matches for players to complete, though the most important matches of Mysterio's career are missing from the lineup.
Rey Mysterio fans will notice that the Triple Threat match from WrestleMania 22, in which Mysterio won the World Heavyweight Championship by defeating Kurt Angle and Randy Orton, is nowhere to be seen. Not only that, but the Royal Rumble match that Mysterio won is not included in the WWE 2K22 Showcase mode. Since these represent some of Mysterio's biggest moments, some may be surprised to see that they're missing from the lineup, though there are obvious reasons for their exclusions.
WWE 2K22 Showcase Matches
- Rey Mysterio vs. Eddie Guerrero (WCW Halloween Havoc 1997)
- Rey Mysterio vs. Eddie Guerrero (WrestleMania 21)
- Rey Mysterio vs. Shawn Michaels (Eddie Tribute Show)
- Rey Mysterio vs. JBL (Judgment Day 2006)
- Rey Mysterio vs. Kane (Cyber Sunday 2008)
- Rey Mysterio vs. Dolph Ziggler (SummerSlam 2009)
- Rey Mysterio vs. Batista (SmackDown 2009)
- Rey Mysterio vs. The Undertaker (Royal Rumble 2010)
- Rey Mysterio vs. The Miz (Raw 2011)
- Rey Mysterio vs. Samoa Joe (Raw 2019)
- Rey Mysterio vs. Gran Metalik (Raw 2019)
- Rey & Dominik Mysterio Tag Team Match
While unconfirmed, the likely reasons why these particular matches are left out of Rey Mysterio's WWE 2K22 Showcase are because both would be missing wrestlers. Numerous wrestlers featured in the 2006 Royal Rumble match that Mysterio won are no longer with the company. As for the WrestleMania 22 Triple Threat match, Kurt Angle is not part of the WWE 2K22 roster, meaning Visual Concepts didn't have a proper way to do the match in the game.
While this is no doubt disappointing news to some Rey Mysterio fans, there are still some great matches included in the showcase. Rey Mysterio vs. Eddie Guerrero from WCW Halloween Havoc 1997 is an all-time classic, plus some of Mysterio's more underappreciated matches are also included in the lineup, like his fight with Dolph Ziggler at SummerSlam 2009.
WWE 2K22 launches March 11 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
Source: The SmackDown Hotel