As theWWE 2Kfranchise finds its footing after a rough few years, there’s a new challenger to its 3D fighting crown set to arrive in 2022.AEW Fight Foreveris developed by Yuke’s andpublished by THQ Nordic, marking the former’s return to developing wrestling titles afterWWE 2K19in late 2018. Little is known about the project, as its roster is yet to be announced and the gameplay that has been shown is minimal.
AEW Fight Foreveris clearly a smaller and less ambitious release than itsWWE 2Kcounterparts, but there will be some similarities between the two franchises like intricate fighting mechanics, faithful character models, and a roster of talent that offers different gameplay quirks. The ratings of each wrestler is a big deal, and a massive deciding factor as to who players will gravitate toward when the game arrives in the near future. The system in which ratings will be decided is also not confirmed, so predictions will be based on the tried-and-testedWWE 2K22scale of 75-100.
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CM Punk - 95
Roman Reigns, the current WWE Universal and World Champion, is the highest rated superstar inWWE 2K22with a 95 rating. The franchise doesn’t typically adhere to whatMaddendoes with its 99 Club, and 95 is the highest it goes. It’s only fitting that as CM Punk is currently the lineal AEW Champion, he too should hold the highest rating.
Currently recovering from surgery for a broken foot, the Chicago-born wrestlermade his debut on AEW television in August 2021, and ascended through the company by besting the likes of Darby Allin, Eddie Kingston, MJF, and Adam Page to capture the AEW’s biggest prize. He’s an all-round fighter, and could offer players the luxury of intricate combos and a technical wrestling move set. He’s at the very top of AEW, so a 95 rating feels more than earned.
Jon Moxley - 94
Earning the right to fight for and subsequently win the AEW Championship after CM Punk took time out to recover, Jon Moxley made quick work of Hiroshi Tanahashi to gain the title on an interim basis. He’s one of the most beloved characters in the company, recently forming theBlackpool Combat Club with Bryan Danielson and William Regal, and his skill set translates beautifully to the video game medium, as proven by his inclusion inWWE 2K14through2K19.
Jon Moxley is one of the most important personalities in the company, and he always feels like a character that elevates the surrounding talent. A 94 overall rating would honor the impact he’s had on AEW, and placing him right below CM Punk would do well to show that his place as interim AEW Champion isn’t just as a placeholder. The possibility of anexploding barbed wire deathmatch inAEW Foreverwould be made even better using Moxley, especially given his past in CZW.
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Cody Rhodes - 88
The American Nightmare was the poster child of AEW for a long time, but his shock move to WWE means that his rating inAEW Fight Foreveris a challenging one to determine.Cody Rhodes has to be included, but placing him as high as the top performers would be an admission that his departure to World Wrestling Entertainment was a huge blow.
He deserves a high rating though, as his contributions to the company during its early years were invaluable. Sticking with 88 does well togive Rhodes his due respect inAEW Fight Forever, making him a more than viable option to play as, but having him break into the 90s would be a little insulting to the performers beneath him that remain on the roster.
Darby Allin - 90
Darby Allin is one of the most exciting wrestlers in the business, sporting now-iconic face paint and signature moves like the Coffin Drop and Last Supper. He’s one of the company’s best prospects, and a 90 would be a great indicator of his upward trajectory, as well as his proficiency now.
His wrestling style is dangerous, putting his body on the line to perform stunts that leave crowds breathless. He typically does as much damage to himself as he does his opponents, and being a smaller wrestler than most of his counterparts, he’s often portrayed as the underdog. In any case,Darby Allin is sure to be a serious contender in AEWfor years to come, and 90 would show thatAEW Fight Foreverwas ahead of the curve in predicting his career success.
AEW Fight Foreverlaunches 2022 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
