With Call of Duty Season 5 now about halfway completed, fans have had multiple weeks to play as Cody Rhodes and Rhea Ripley. They've also had a chance to play as Rey Mysterio but those characters show up few and far between in Warzone and Multiplayer. The WWE Superstars appearances on Activisions big-ticket platform is just the latest in a series of WWE fighters making their way into non-wrestling video games.
While I'll argue that King in the Tekken series is the most dominant playable wrestler ever, I'll allow for some alternate views. Here's a look at some of the top appearances over the years.
13. Ronda Rousey in MK 11
We're not going to include Rousey's time in UFC games, as she started her career there first so that isn't a crossover. But her voicing the infamous Sonya Blade character? That counts for something.
12. Undertaker, New Day, Mankind in Fall Guys
11. CM Punk in UFC 2 and UFC 3
Punk actually tried his hand at MMA fighting, so his inclusion here makes a ton of sense.
10. Randy "Macho Man" Savage" as El Machismo in Cars Race-o-Rama
Yeah, I didn't believe it either, but rest in peace, legend.
El Machismo
— The Voice Artist's Spotlight (@vas_90s) March 17, 2021
Video Game: Cars Race-O-Rama
Year: 2009
There's a part of me that want to say El Machismo was meant for the Cars movie, but was cut at the last minute. This would be Randy Savage's last role before his death in 2011.#RandySavage @OutOfCntx_Luxo @NC_DisneyTVA pic.twitter.com/xrunDiJq7y
9. Rowdy Roddy Piper in Saints Row 4
Saints Row 3 had WWE voice actors, but this iteration actually had Piper as a character within the game. There's a big question as to whether or not WWE licensed this appearance.
8. Samoa Joe as King Shark in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
The first-ever three-time NXT champion and two-time US Champion, Joe finds himself in the AEW now, but he was recently featured as a voice actor in the 2024 release.
New details about story and gameplay for ‘SUICIDE SQUAD: KILL THE JUSTICE LEAGUE’ will release on Wednesday. https://t.co/4Qgt5ogvlC
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) November 13, 2023
7. Brock Lesnar in UFC series
Unlike Punk, Lesnar was a respectable combatant in the UFC, with a record of 5 wins, 3 losses, and 1 no contest. He even became UFC Heavyweight Champion, so of course he's been
6. Brock Lesnar in Madden 06
After a stint with the Vikings in training camp, Lesnar was embedded into Madden history as well.
Fun Fact: Brock Lesnar is the only wrestler to appear in a WWE, Madden, and UFC game
— EliteRockers© (@EliteClubSOB) June 4, 2023
GOAT FOR A REASON🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/kPKctypKWk
5. Rosa Mendes in Need for Speed: Most Wanted
Some consider this the best of the racing franchise, and Mendes - who went from stalker fan to WWE manager - voiced the character of Izzy.
4. Bautista in Gears of War 5
The big-time actor and former champion crossed over into the video game realm as a character skin in the epic series' fifth interation. Players can use Bautista in campaign mode as he replaces Marcus Fenix.
3. New Day in Gears of War 5
Bautista wasn't the only one in Gears 5, as the entire New Day faction (Kofi Kingston, Big-E and Xavier Woods) all made an appearance in the game. In fact, they even donned their game gear in Survivor Series 2020. Their personality came through in the game, including their catch phrases.
2. John Cena, Becky Lynch and Bianca Belair in Fortnite
There's little competition to Fortnite in their universal appeal across the ages and Cena's stardom made him the first crossover character. The two huge female stars followed along in 2023.
1. Rainbow Six Siege
The first-person shooter switched things up and allowed their characters to cosplay as Roman Reigns, Undertaker, Becky Lynch and Rhea Ripley.