WWE 2K23 has successfully capitalized on the momentum created by last year’s game, improving nearly every aspect of gameplay to give fans a more refined wrestling experience. With a new game also comes a new iteration of the MyRise game mode, WWE 2K’s story mode, where fans get a chance to experience the life of a WWE superstar. WWE 2K23 has released two story paths for fans to follow in this year’s MyRise, one as a second-generation superstar in The Legacy path, and one as a superstar hailed as “the next big thing” in The Lock career path.
WWE 2K’s MyRise game mode gives players the chance to rise through the ranks as newcomers to the WWE under the mentorship of Molly Holly in The Legacy path and Shawn Michaels in The Lock path. Each of the superstars have to go through their own difficulties throughout, with one trying to step out of the shadow of her aunt and the other attempts to break into the spotlight and gain a shot at the WWE Championship. Each of the two superstars in WWE 2K23’s MyRise game mode have their own origins that explain their path to the live shows, showing certain similarities to real life WWE superstars.
MyRise’s The Lock
In WWE 2K23’s The Lock career path, players will be able to control a new superstar who is hailed as a potential hall-of-famer prior to his first fight. The Lock is an indie wrestler who captured the attention of the WWE after finding success around the world competing for all sorts of wrestling companies and gaining a large following. Unfortunately, his time in the WWE was cut short when he accidentally pushed Shawn Michaels off the apron at the start of MyRise, causing the Vice President of Talent Development to fire the new superstar.
The Lock follows a career similar to Drew McIntyre, who entered the WWE hailed as the next great superstar by then WWE Chairman Vince McMahon. Like The Lock, McIntyre's first stint in the WWE was far from a success, and eventually the wrestler left the company and restarted life on the indie circuit in the hopes of one day returning to the pinnacle of sports entertainment. Like McIntyre, The Lock eventually makes his return to the WWE following a tremendous run of victories to ultimately beat Gabriel Slade and capture the WWE title, winning the respect of Shawn Michaels and the WWE fans in the process.
MyRise’s The Legacy
The Legacy career path in WWE 2K23’s MyRise game mode follows the niece of former WWE superstar and legend Justine as she attempts to forge her own path in the company. After spending years watching her aunt perform while traveling with her and then training with her to improve her talent, the superstar finally finds herself in the WWE, albeit to the displeasure of many women in the locker room. Unfortunately, the superstar finds herself fighting for not only the biggest prizes in the WWE, but also to stand apart from Justine and make a name for herself.
There have been many second and third generation WWE superstars to have competed inside the squared circle, some of them having the same problem as The Legacy’s superstar. Ted DiBiase, for example, son of hall-of-famer The Million Dollar Man, had a lot of trouble separating himself from his father’s image, which ultimately led to his career in the WWE being cut short. It is up to WWE 2K23 players to ensure that the superstar not only achieves success, but emerges as a standout superstar in her own right.
WWE 2K23’s MyRise delivers on giving fans a unique experience to the life of a WWE superstar, especially with all the struggles each of the superstars endure. Players were able to enjoy two very different storylines in the WWE, and while some of the side stories were a bit repetitive, MyRise looks to be moving in the right direction. While the dialogue and overall storyline is nothing to write home about, the excitement of fighting for the top spot in the WWE seemed to intensify as the game mode progressed, and the satisfaction of achieving what each superstar sought out to do makes WWE 2K23’s MyRise one of the better iterations of the game mode in recent years.
WWE 2K23 is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X\S.