One of the most hyped features of annual WWE 2K video game releases (when they run properly) has been seeing which WWE legends make their video game debut in the yearly entrant. Some of the heavily-requested legends to have recently been included in WWE2K games are the likes of Rick Martel, Bam Bam Bigelow, and Brian Pillman.
But for every year that passes, there are certain legends who go overlooked by 2K despite the impact they had in WWE in the past. These are 10 legends who should have been featured in the WWE 2K series but haven't done so, or at least haven't done so yet. Honorable mentions for this list include ECW legend Taz and Mil Mascaras.
10 Owen Hart
Perhaps the most requested entrant on this list by fans and the one least likely to ever be included is Owen Hart. Owen was a phenomenally gifted wrestler who blessed WWE fans with his rivalry against his brother Bret and the ensuing matches they had in WWE's New Generation era. Unfortunately, Owen's story remains one of the most heartbreaking of any former WWE superstar thanks to what occurred at Over The Edge in 1999, and given Hart's widow Martha understandably holding a serious grudge against WWE for what occurred, it seems implausible that we'll ever see Owen's likeness recreated in a WWE product.
9 Bull Nakano
With the focus the WWE has had on revitalizing their presentation of women's wrestling in the modern era through the women's revolution, it's surprising that Bull Nakano is yet to be featured in a WWE 2K game. Bull Nakano is one of the forgotten trailblazers in women's wrestling in WWE, thanks to her work in the early 90s alongside the likes of Alundra Blayze and Luna Vachon. Not only that, her powerhouse moveset and endlessly uniquely look would surely make her a popular choice for players in-game.
8 Raven
Recent WWE 2K games have lessened their ECW influence over the years, which has allowed wrestlers like Raven to slip through the cracks. Raven is one of the most popular wrestlers of the 90s thanks to his melancholic promo style and reliance on a misfit group of stablemates, yet he has never been featured in a WWE 2K game.
Though his WWE career was forgettable, Raven is another wrestling legend who would likely be extremely popular for WWE 2K players, particularly when setting up more hardcore matches; it would also be interesting to see how 2K could implement him in their story mode.
7 Dean Malenko
Dean Malenko's insertion into WWE2K has become considerably more unlikely given he is now a backstage producer at AEW, WWE's direct competition. But there's no doubt that he deserves to be immortalized in pixels in the modern era. Malenko is one of the most recognizable faces of WCW's cruiserweight division and gave years of his later career to the WWE in a backstage role where he has been directly responsible for the continued performance of WWE's top stars today. Malenko fans may be better served waiting for the eventual AEW game, where he stands a better chance of inclusion today.
6 Gorilla Monsoon
Though WWE 2K has previously included Michael Cole as a playable wrestler, they have never included the legendary Gorilla Monsoon, who commented for WWE throughout much of their Golden Age. Monsoon was an imposing in-ring presence thanks to his size which would make him an excellent choice for the game, as throwing other wrestlers around the ring is usually one of the more enjoyable playstyles in WWE 2K. They could go one step further and place Bobby Heenan in the game as a manager alongside others like Paul Bearer (who The Undertaker could take notes from in the near future).
5 Dynamite Kid
With Davey Boy Smith entering into the WWE Hall of Fame later this year, it seems like a no brainer that he should be included in the next installment. However, he shouldn't be included in the game alone, as The Dynamite Kid absolutely deserves to also be involved in a WWE 2K game, considering he's one-half of The British Bulldogs.
His wrestling style inspired the likes of Eddie Guerrero and Chris Jericho, and it would be remiss of 2K to allow players to embody The British Bulldog and not his tag-team partner, given how important the two men were to each others career.
4 Mae Young
This is more of an outlandish choice, but there isn't a WWE 2K player out there who wouldn't be interested in playing as Mae Young in the game. She is famous for her work in the Attitude Era and has recently been immortalized by WWE's Mae Young Classic all-women tournament. WWE 2K needs more female legends, and who better to include in one of their games than Mae Young, so fans can book dream matches like Mae Young vs Alexa Bliss? Just keep her away from Bubba Ray Dudley if he's also on the roster.
3 Rocky Johnson
Many know Rocky Johnson as The Rock's father, but Rocky was a perennial wrestling legend in his own right. Alongside Tony Atlas, Rocky was in fact one of the first black champions in WWE history when the two men won the Tag Team Championships. Due to his unfortunate death late last year, WWE 2K should definitely consider adding Rocky Johnson to their roster in the near future, to introduce him to a wave of younger fans and stress just how important his legacy is to the continued evolution of WWE today.
2 Jushin Liger
Jushin Thunder Liger is another entrant into WWE's Class of 2020 Hall of Fame later this year, and so there's no better time to include him officially in a WWE 2K game. Though Liger has only ever wrestled one match for the WWE, against Tyler Breeze on an NXT Takeover, his career has had a phenomenal influence around the world.
Liger retired from in-ring competition in January, so it would be particularly welcome to play as the famous masked superstar in a new WWE 2K game, where he has often been a popular wrestler to create in their create a wrestler mode. The ability to wrestle Rey Mysterio with Jushin Liger is enough to excite any fan of wrestling video games.
1 Harley Race
The legendary Harley Race is one of the most revered wrestlers to have performed in the 1970s, whilst he also worked for WWE for many years in the 1980s. Race, unfortunately, passed away last year, meaning the time is right to include him in a WWE 2K game. Harley Race is your favorite wrestler's favorite wrestler, whose talent and influence can be felt even today. It would be unforgivable of WWE and 2K Games to not suitably honor the man with a WWE 2K roster spot soon given his almost 40-year in-ring career and continued appreciation from stars like Daniel Bryan.