Summary
WWE 2K24has just confirmed a major celebrity as a possible DLC character: the late boxing legend Muhammad Ali. While Ali is remembered largely for his boxing career and activism outside the ring, he also has a surprisingly deep connection to the world of professional wrestling. In 1976, Ali faced legendary wrestler and WWE Hall of Fame member Antonio Inoki in a special “boxer vs. wrestler” match in Tokyo, Japan that ended in a draw. About a decade later, Ali served as the special guest referee for the main event tag-team match at the first WrestleMania, setting the stage forseveral memorable celebrity appearancesat the Showcase of the Immortals.
WrestleMania will be the primary focus ofWWE 2K24’s 2K Showcase Mode, which will commemorate the annual event’s 40th anniversary by allowing fans to play through some of the biggest WrestleMania matches in history. Some of theseconfirmedWWE 2K24Showcase matchesinclude Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant’s memorable clash at WrestleMania 3, The Ultimate Warrior and “Ravishing” Rick Rude’s Intercontinental Title bout at WrestleMania 5, and Rhea Ripley and Charlotte Flair’s show-stealing confrontation at last year’s WrestleMania 39. Visual Concepts has four decades' worth of matches to mine for this year’s Showcase, and this might include one of the matches that started it all.
WWE 2K24released a new “Legacy” trailer, highlighting some of the matches and playable characters that will be included in this year’s wrestling simulator. Thisincludes long-requested gimmick stipulationslike Casket Matches, Ambulance Matches, and Special Guest Referee Matches, as well as improved Backstage Brawls. However, a big surprise came at the very end, when a digital version of Muhammad Ali entered the ring. This confirms that Ali will be part ofWWE 2K24’s roster of over 200 playable characters, but it isn’t clear if he is part of the core line-up or if he will be added as DLC later on.
WWE 2K24will mark Muhammad Ali’s first playable appearance in a mainlineWWEgame, but the late boxer was previously included in theWWE Championsmobile game. He has naturally been featured in countless boxing games over the years, and was even playable in the recentEA Sports UFC 5alongside fellow boxer and WrestleMania alumni Mike Tyson as a Heavyweight fighter.
Muhammad Ali’s confirmed appearance as aplayable character inWWE 2K24is a pleasant surprise for fans, especially since the boxing legend never actually competed in a WWE match despite his history with its flagship event. That history could be a major factor in Ali’s inclusion inWWE 2K24’s roster, and is a sign that the original WrestleMania’s tag-team main event might be featured in the 40 Years of WrestleMania Showcase. At the very least, fans will be able to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee as Muhammad Ali whenWWE 2K24launches on March 8.
WWE 2K24
WHERE TO PLAY
FORTY YEARS OF WRESTLEMANIAWrestleMania is the biggest event in sports entertainment, where Superstars become WWE Legends. Experience a gripping retelling of WrestleMania’s greatest moments in 2K Showcase of the Immortals, where you can relive a collection of some of the most unforgettable, career-defining matches.AN ICONIC ROSTERWWE 2K24 boasts a star-studded roster featuring WWE Legends like “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Undertaker, and Andre the Giant, alongside current WWE Superstars like “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes, John Cena, Rhea Ripley, and Roman Reigns, whose larger-than-life entrances and signature moves are heightened by ultra-realistic graphics.NEW MATCH TYPESFrom Guest Referee to Casket, Gauntlet, and Ambulance matches, there are a bevy of new match types to experience in WWE 2K24, including support for multiple Superstars in Backstage Brawl.PROVE YOURSELF IN MyRISEUnleash your raw talent and become the undisputed champ in MyRISE, featuring two thrilling career arcs and original storylines chronicling your ascent to WWE stardom from the men’s and women’s divisions.BUILD YOUR FACTIONAssemble your favorite WWE Superstars and Legends in MyFACTION. Acquire cards, build a dominant faction, compete in online multiplayer and the all-new ranked quickplay. Plus, earn exciting promotional and final rank rewards as you climb the new seasonal leaderboard!
