A new teaser for the upcoming WWE 2K26 video game has hinted at the return of a former world champion to the video game franchise after over a decade away.
AJ Lee may be set for a return to the WWE 2K franchise, based on a new teaser shared by the official WWE Games social media account. As part of its ongoing promotion for WWE 2K26, WWE Games released a short video featuring a VHS player with the digital display reading “Light It Up”, the title of Lee’s former entrance theme in WWE. The reference has fuelled speculation that Lee could be included in this year’s game.
Strike a match. Climb anyway. Some chaos is intentional. 🔥#WWE2K26
More info ➡️ https://t.co/ommLenuj4tpic.twitter.com/b2WymL5CRE
— #WWE2K26 (@WWEgames) January 27, 2026
AJ Lee made her surprise return to WWE in September 2025 after more than a decade away from the company. She has wrestled twice since her comeback and remains undefeated in her return run.
AJ Lee previously appeared in multiple WWE video games. She made her series debut as downloadable content in WWE ’13 and was later included in the base games of WWE 2K14 and WWE 2K15
WWE 2K26 is expected to spotlight Lee’s husband, CM Punk, in its Showcase Mode, with the mode set to chronicle Punk’s career in WWE. If Lee is indeed part of the roster, it would mark her first appearance in a WWE video game in a decade.
When Will WWE 2K26 Release?
While there hasn’t been an official confirmation on the WWE 2K26 release date, WWE Hall of Famer Alundra Blayze posted on social media in response to WWE posting about a Monday Night Wars edition of the upcoming game, stating that she believes pre-orders for the game start at the end of January, with a release date expected in March.
A March release date would line up with previous editions of the yearly wrestling game franchise’s release dates, as last year’s game released on March 14.
