Rhea Ripley expressed pride in CM Punk’s recent milestone and revealed her ambition to achieve similar recognition, including the possibility of competing against AJ Lee, Punk’s wife. During an interview with Matt Black for WrestleZone, Ripley discussed her thoughts on WWE 2K26’s cover reveal, gameplay features, and her aspirations related to the game and her career. Despite not being an avid gamer, Ripley enjoys the WWE 2K franchise, especially since CM Punk features on this year’s cover.
She shared,
“I’m so happy for him, I really am. He’s such a good guy, and like, to see him come back to WWE in general was such a milestone of a moment. Like, it was just amazing. But now to see, like, all these dreams coming true for him, and, like, all these awesome things happening for him makes me really it makes my heart happy,”
Ripley explained. She added,
“I’m so excited to see it, I’m so excited for it to be unveiled and for the world to see it.”
Ripley also hopes the 2K Showcase focuses heavily on CM Punk’s rivalry with John Cena, a matchup she recalls as a defining moment from her childhood. She said,
“My childhood was him and Cena. And that’s, like, the one that I really remember the most, because it was just so monumental, and just, like, so impactful, and they were just such complete opposites. So that’s one that I would definitely want to try and relive if I get to play the game.”
Aiming to Make History with a Solo WWE 2K Cover
Rhea Ripley previously appeared on the WWE 2K cover alongside Bianca Belair for the 2024 edition, but a female Superstar has never been featured as the solo cover star. Ripley shared her excitement about the possibility of becoming the first woman to hold this honor by herself, calling it a historic moment.
Reflecting on this, Ripley said,
“If I got the privilege to be that person, like, that’s absolute insanity,”
and expressed how deeply meaningful it would be to represent her hometown of Adelaide, South Australia. She continued,
“I’d just be so excited and so overwhelmed and just proud that, like, a little girl from Adelaide, South Australia, not only managed to accomplish her dreams of being a WWE superstar, but now is able to accomplish other things, like being on the cover of 2K, whether that be 2K27, 2K28.”
She acknowledged there’s no guarantee of such an opportunity but emphasized the significance of having previously shared a cover with Bianca Belair. Ripley confessed,
“It could [happen], it could also not be a thing, but even just the fact that I got to share the cover with Bianca Belair in that special edition one, it was just like mind-blowing to me. So if I got the OG cover to myself, I don’t know what kind of monster I would become.”
Hoping for a Match with AJ Lee in WWE 2K26 and Beyond
With WWE 2K26 boasting over 400 playable Superstars, the largest roster in the series’ history, fans can expect the return of several popular names. Ripley voiced her desire to see AJ Lee included in the game, noting AJ’s absence since WWE 2K15. She envisions an exciting clash between herself and AJ Lee both virtually and someday in real life.
Ripley stated,
“Obviously, one that really stands out to me, and with Punk being on the cover, obviously his wife. I’d love to see her in the game. I think that would be awesome. I think there could be some cool matchups there with AJ vs. Rhea Ripley.”
She also added with hope,
“And hopefully that happens one day in real life too,”
continuing,
“But she’s one that I would really love to see in this game. And if not in this one, then one in the near future. With there being over 400, I can’t see that not being a thing sometime down the line.”
Imagining Ideal Intergender Matches in WWE 2K26
For the second consecutive year, WWE 2K26 will feature intergender wrestling. Ripley noted that while a reunion match with Dominik Mysterio could be interesting, she is more intrigued by the idea of facing his father, Rey Mysterio, or revisiting her mini-rivalry with Randy Orton. Ripley feels that matches with these opponents would offer more significant challenges and compelling storylines.
Regarding this, Ripley remarked,
“As fun as wrestling Dom in the game would be, I’ve already been there and done that in real life. And honestly, he’s not much of a challenge for me. So, I would probably pick someone, like, maybe his father. That’d be a nice fight.”
She also expressed interest in a clash with Randy Orton, adding,
“Even someone like Randy Orton, I think that would be interesting. Especially because when I was with Dominik, everyone did want to see me get RKO’d. So, maybe you can RKO Rhea Ripley in 2K26.”
Release Details for WWE 2K26
The standard edition of WWE 2K26 is set to launch on Friday, March 13, with special editions such as King of Kings, Attitude Era, and Monday Night War available a week earlier on March 6. Fans can pre-order all versions of the game as anticipation builds towards its release.
. @YaOnlyLivvOnce did a run-in during a WWE 2K26 roundtable session.
She said it could have been the best game ever… IF they had just put LivDom or Judgment Day on the cover.
WWE 2K26 Deep Dive: Everything You Need To Know: https://t.co/qJ3ewR0Yp0 pic.twitter.com/6wHRHV0j9u
— WrestleZone (@WRESTLEZONEcom) January 30, 2026
