Lexis King, a rising talent in WWE NXT, shared exciting news on Wednesday regarding the upcoming WWE 2K26 video game. He confirmed that his late father, Brian Pillman—known to fans as “The Loose Cannon”—will be included as a playable character in WWE and 2K Games’ next installment of the wrestling video game series. This announcement highlights the connection between Lexis and his father within the WWE universe, promising fans an opportunity to experience their legacy.
King expressed his deep personal connection to this inclusion, noting that it is part of reclaiming his birthright in the professional wrestling world. He explained that the third Ringside Pass for WWE 2K26 will feature Brian Pillman and allow players to compete alongside Lexis as a tag team, with the aim of capturing the tag team championship.
“Ladies and gentlemen, it has been a dream of mine to reclaim my birthright and take what belongs to me in the WWE, and that dream is quickly becoming a reality because I just heard through the grapevine that the WWE 2K26 Ringside Pass number three is going to include the legendary Brian Pillman. That’s right. You’re gonna get to play as me, you’re gonna get to play as my father, and you’re gonna get to play with us as a tag team and of course, you’re gonna make us the tag team champions because it belongs to us and it is my birthright.” – Lexis King, WWE NXT Talent
Reacting on social media, King posted a celebratory message declaring the news with enthusiasm, symbolizing his pride in carrying forward his family’s wrestling tradition.
IT IS KNOWN!!! 👑👑👑👑 https://t.co/ILl9Cuimcw – Lexis King, WWE NXT Talent
Robert Stone Credits Samoa Joe for NXT Breakthrough
During a recent episode of the Busted Open After Dark podcast, Robert Stone, WWE’s NXT Interim General Manager, reflected on how former wrestling star Samoa Joe influenced his career move to WWE’s developmental brand. Stone recounted his decision to leave TNA Wrestling after his contract ended and pursue an opportunity with WWE, emphasizing this was a goal he had always held in mind.
Stone revealed that shortly after publicly announcing his departure from TNA, Samoa Joe reached out to him inviting him to consider joining WWE NXT. Joe’s support helped open doors, possibly connecting Stone to William Regal, who at the time was instrumental in facilitating tryouts for new talent in WWE.
“So, TNA Wrestling was over. It was done, it was just at the end… I wasn’t really doing as much as I felt I should have. My contract was coming to an end and I finally said, you know what? I’m 34 years old at the time, and I was like, I gotta give WWE a shot. There’s no doubt about it, there’s no lies. The back of my mind, it’s where I always wanted to be. I let my contract run out. I think I announced on Twitter saying I’m no longer with TNA Wrestling. Immediately, and I mean within minutes, I get a text from Samoa Joe, our good friend from TNA Wrestling. He saw the news, said, ‘Do I have interest in coming to WWE NXT?’ Whatever it was. I told him, ‘Absolutely.’ I guess he put some feelers out, maybe to William Regal who at the time was helping talent get tryouts.” – Robert Stone, WWE NXT Interim GM
In addition to his general manager role, Stone described how he now dedicates part of his time to teaching a tag team wrestling class alongside Oney Lorcan (real name Chris Girard) at WWE’s Performance Center. Stone enjoys mentoring younger talents by sharing wrestling psychology and tag team basics, an experience that has reignited his passion for the sport even though he no longer competes regularly in the ring.
“I’ve been here long enough, and trainees know that I’ve been here long enough, and that I’m experienced, so yeah, they’ll come up to me after their matches and ask me if I saw anything or what I would do different; that kind of stuff. Plus, also, I twice a week now help teach a tag team class here on Wednesdays and Thursdays… Me and Chris Girard/Oney Lorcan. We help some of the tag teams out. Just, you know, learn simple psychology in tag team wrestling and basics for new guys, and that’s been fun and I didn’t realize how fun that would be for me… It almost kind of lit a new fire under me, because I haven’t gotten to do that in a while because I don’t regularly wrestle. I don’t get to put matches together so getting in the ring and kind of directing and helping, and seeing them actually learn and put it to use on live events, it’s been pretty cool.” – Robert Stone, WWE NXT Interim GM
Fans Can Immortalize Their Names on WWE Ring Canvas
WWE is providing fans with a unique chance to have their names featured on the ring canvas at the March 30th episode of WWE RAW, which will take place at Madison Square Garden in New York City. For $399.99, supporters can secure this exclusive inclusion on the match’s ring mat, granting them a permanent place in WWE history.
Purchasers will also receive a framed collage displaying a segment of the actual match-used canvas featuring their name as it appeared during the live broadcast. This memorabilia will be shipped by April 24th, offering fans a tangible connection to WWE’s flagship show.
“Monday Night Raw has been a wrestling institution for decades, and for the first time ever, you can own a piece of the action with this framed collage, fitted with a piece of match-used canvas featuring your name as you saw on TV. This 10″ x 20″ piece showcases iconic RAW imagery, celebrating the spectacle and excitement of WWE’s flagship show from March 30, 2026. What sets this collage apart is the inclusion of a genuine piece of match-used canvas featuring your own personal dedicated piece of history.” – WWEShop description
WWE underscored the excitement around this opportunity through social media reminders encouraging fans not to miss out on the chance to be part of the event’s ring canvas at Madison Square Garden.
Don’t miss your chance to have your name featured on the Canvas at #WWERaw at @TheGarden on Monday, March 30th! https://t.co/REQzrUw4so pic.twitter.com/w6XEWrDdvt – WWE Official Twitter
Significance of Brian Pillman’s Inclusion and Ongoing Developments in WWE
The addition of Brian Pillman as a playable character in WWE 2K26 holds considerable symbolic value, especially with his son Lexis King now carrying forward the Pillman legacy through NXT. This recognition reunites a beloved wrestling figure with new generations and highlights WWE’s commitment to honoring its history while integrating fresh talent.
Robert Stone’s reflections on his journey to NXT underscore the importance of mentorship and support within the WWE system, exemplified by Samoa Joe’s role in fostering new careers. Additionally, Stone’s involvement in coaching tag team techniques at the Performance Center emphasizes WWE’s focus on developing well-rounded wrestlers capable of engaging fans on multiple levels.
Meanwhile, WWE’s innovative fan engagement, such as the opportunity to feature names on the RAW ring canvas, illustrates how the company continues to deepen fan participation beyond traditional viewing experiences, enhancing loyalty and connection to live events at iconic venues like Madison Square Garden.
As WWE 2K26 approaches its release and RAW continues to innovate fan involvement, the combined storytelling of wrestling heritage, career progression, and audience engagement promises to sustain momentum for the brand’s future.
IT IS KNOWN!!! 👑👑👑👑 https://t.co/ILl9Cuimcw
— King (@LexisKingWWE) March 4, 2026
Don't miss your chance to have your name featured on the Canvas at #WWERaw at @TheGarden on Monday, March 30th! https://t.co/REQzrUw4so pic.twitter.com/w6XEWrDdvt
— WWE (@WWE) March 2, 2026
