A WWE 2K22 player recently uncovered a wealth of hidden content that was cut from the finished game release, including a playable version of former WWE main eventer Bray Wyatt. Wyatt, whose gimmicks in the WWE have included a sinister cult leader, a twisted Mr. Rodgers parody, and a demonic entity known as The Fiend, was released from his contract with the company last June, and was thus absent from WWE 2K22’s roster when it finally released after a two-year-long hiatus earlier this month.
Bray Wyatt wasn’t the only popular WWE performer that was let go in recent years, as WWE has seen a wave of firings and layoffs that naturally affected the lengthy development of the recently-released WWE 2K22. Past rumors have suggested that developer Visual Concepts was originally going to focus its latest wrestling simulator around the WWE’s rookie-focused NXT brand, but the number of Superstars that were released from that show forced these plans to be scrapped. Even after WWE 2K22 was released, many fans noticed that the game’s roster included several stars that were released from WWE in the past year or so - though Bray Wyatt was not one of them.
Or so it seems, as Twitter user WhatsTheStatus recently discovered an assortment of content that was seemingly cut from WWE 2K22, as reported by VGC. This includes a fully playable character model of Bray Wyatt in his Fiend persona, complete with entrance music and an animation of the masked menace carrying his signature lantern to the ring. WhatsTheStatus also uncovered clues pertaining to other former wrestlers that were released during WWE 2K22’s development cycle, such as an entrance video for Ruby Riott and crowd signs for Bryan Danielson - who gained a strong following in the WWE as Daniel Bryan before being let go and crossing over into AEW. There are also hidden alternate attires for wrestlers who did make it into WWE 2K22, such as Drew McIntyre and Carmella, and WhatsTheStatus even found a menu image for an additional WWE 2K Showcase match chronicling the showdown between Rey Mysterio and Jushin Liger at WCW Starrcade 1996. This last cut was likely made due to legal issues surrounding Liger’s image, which is currently owned by a Japanese comic book publisher.
While there are still plenty of features and gameplay modes that fans wished WWE 2K22 included, the latest WWE-branded game is seen by many as a promising return to form for the series after the infamously glitch-ridden WWE 2K20. WWE 2K22 gained praise for its returning MyGM and Universe modes, as well as WWE 2K22's Rey Mysterio-centric 2K Showcase mode, customizable MyRise career mode, and the new, stable-building MyFaction mode. WWE 2K22’s impressive character creation suite has also been a strong source of entertainment for WWE 2K22 fans, who have recreated their favorite video game characters like Arthur Morgan of Red Dead Redemption 2 and even simulated a backstreet brawl between real-life rivals Kanye West and Pete Davidson.
Given WWE 2K22’s lengthy development cycle, it makes sense that Visual Concepts had plans to include popular performers like Bray Wyatt, Ruby Riott, and Bryan Danielson before they were let go from WWE - and that some of their in-game assets were further developed than others before the news of their departure hit. There may be even more hidden content locked away within WWE 2K22’s code, providing a glimpse into the wrestling game that could have been.