WWE 2K24's DLC was great, with one glaring exception in the Pat McAfee and Friends Pack. Nobody wanted this DLC before McAfee's co-host insulted wrestling fans by suggesting they'd rather play as "some loser no one's heard of from NXT." Afterwards, there was understandable backlash. WWE 2K25 DLC has been revealed, and they're poised to give us several more "wrestlers" nobody wants, including some NBA superstars.
The June 25 Dunks and Destruction pack looks like one you might want to avoid if you purchase the DLCs solo. It includes Abyss, The Great Khali, and three NBA stars to be announced. Several NBA players have dabbled in wrestling, most notably Shaquille O' Neal and Dennis Rodman. None of them have ever been involved in a match you would rewatch for anything other than ironic purposes.
Even the wrestlers in this pack, Abyss and The Great Khali, aren't popular additions. Abyss never worked a match in WWE, but he's a producer so his rights were easy for them to get. I watched TNA Wrestling during his heyday so I'll give him a try, but if we're honest, they're relying on Great Khali to move this DLC. He entertained me a couple of times, but he's best known for being so immobile he makes Andre The Giant look like Rey Mysterio Jr.
Games have always has secret characters, ranging from sci-fi characters to presidents such as Bill Clinton. The difference between then and now is those characters got unlocked for free by doing in-game tasks. Now almost nothing in gaming is free. If you're going to charge me extra for more wrestlers, I'd like them to be wrestlers I might actually use. Also, ex-WWE stars are often signed to a Legends deal so they can be included. This is true of the recent addition of Tito Santana to the Legends fold. Santana confirmed he had talked to WWE, but felt they weren't treating him and other legends fairly.
I'm happy to drop my $9.99 for wrestlers such as Santana, they were an indelible part of my childhood. The inclusion of NBA players is simply a lazy reuse of assets 2K has because it also makes NBA games. The glorified casino that is NBA 2K has already taken more than enough of my money. I signed up for that. Don't let NBA 2K ruin my wrestling games, 2K.
Two other DLCs, the New Wave Pack and the Fearless Pack, include "celebrity guests to be announced." We'll keep you posted, but I am not optimistic about these inclusions.