There were always debates about how "over" CM Punk was with the crowd in WWE. He ended them as fans continued to chant his name while he was gone for a decade. Time doesn't heal all wounds, especially in a business like wrestling. But after Punk's AEW run went sour, both he and WWE realized there was a whole bunch of money sitting in the middle of that table. His WWE 2K26 cover celebrates an icon who always went about it his own way, and finds himself vindicated for doing so.
“As a kid, I could only dream of being on the cover of a video game. Now I join a very exclusive group of WWE Superstars who have done it twice,” CM Punk said. "I enjoyed the experience of narrating the 2K Showcase, which gave me an opportunity to tell fans the straight, unfiltered story of the moments, matches, and controversies in my career. Players will get to step into my boots, relive some of my proudest WWE moments, and take on challenges I never had the opportunity to face.”
In addition to appearing on the cover of the WWE 2K26 Standard Edition, the multi-time champion is the star of the game's showcase mode, titled Punked, CM Punk's Personal Journey. From 2K Games:
"CM Punk jumps through time to relive incredible moments from his career. Narrated by "The Best in the World" himself, players will relive iconic matches and battle against WWE Legends in Fantasy Warfare. For those who want to truly prove their mettle, the Showcase Gauntlet looks to push players to their limits! CM Punk’s rise, rebellion, and return make this the most personal 2K Showcase yet."
There are so many what ifs along the pathway of Punk's career, and I'm glad this game will let us visit a few of them.