WWE 2K24 has been announced, with new features and promised improvements to the gameplay mechanics and its many wrestling modes. One of the biggest attractions for longtime fans is the 40 Years of WrestleMania Showcase mode. As it did with the 30 Years of WrestleMania in WWE 14, it gives fans a chance to relive some of the greatest and most iconic moments in WWE history.
Moreover, it could also mean that the roster could have a better selection of WWE Legends and more WrestleMania arenas to play in WWE 2K24. The trailer for WWE 2K24 revealed several details about the upcoming title, which includes some of the matches that will appear in WWE 2K24. This list will outline some of the WrestleMania Showcase matches spotted in the trailer and potential match-ups based on the latest teasers.
Updated February 29, 2024, by Michael Llewellyn: Now that all the Showcase of the Immortals matches for WWE 2K24 have been revealed, this list outlines all 21 of the confirmed matches. While there are some glaring omissions, like Hollywood Hogan vs. The Rock, there is a solid variety of matches that cover the Hogan and Austin eras, plus several modern matches from current stars like Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns.
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Hulk Hogan Versus Andre The Giant – WrestleMania 3
WWF Championship Bout Between The Two Biggest Names In Wrestling
The Andre the Giant and Hulk Hogan match was the biggest imaginable for wrestling fans. It was the equivalent of John Cena vs The Rock or The Rock vs Hulk Hogan in that it was a passing of the torch scenario. Before Hogan, Andre was literally and figuratively one of wrestling's biggest stars and attractions.
With Andre set up as the unbeatable giant and the Hulkster the betrayed friend and protégé of the big man, WrestleMania 3 was set to be the biggest match in the history of the WWF/WWE. While it wasn't the best match on the card – that honor goes to Ricky Steamboat and Randy Savage – it was the most memorable. It was a featured match in WWE '14, but now fans can recreate "the bodyslam heard around the world" when Hogan slammed the 500lb giant with WWE 2K24's slingshot gameplay features.
Ricky The Dragon Steamboat Versus Macho Man Randy Savage - WrestleMania 3
One Of The Greatest WrestleMania Matches Of All Time
Corey Graves hosted a Showcase reveal for WWE 2K24 and confirmed more matches between 1987 and 1989. One of these matches is Savage against Steamboat in WrestleMania 3. Even though the hype for WrestleMania 3 was geared toward the Hogan and Andre match, the match that stole the show was the incredible performance by the Macho Man Randy Savage and Ricky Steamboat.
The famous Intercontinental title match displayed both wrestler's talent as performers and athletes, and it had fans on the edges of their seats. The high-octane contest featured false finishes, close calls, and an incredible pace that should translate perfectly to WWE 2K24's Showcase mode. Better still, it confirms the return of a legend with Ricky Steamboat, who rightfully belongs in the roster among the greats.
Hulk Hogan Versus Macho Man Randy Savage - WrestleMania 5
The Mega Powers Explode For The WWF Title
Another match revealed on the Corey Graves showcase for WWE 2K24 was the WrestleMania 5 match between Hulk Hogan and Macho Man Randy Savage. Fans were treated to an entertaining run with Hogan and Savage teaming up as the Mega Powers with notable matches against the Mega Bucks team featuring Andre The Giant and The Million Dollar Man Ted Dibiase.
Hogan and Savage were the two most popular wrestlers at the time, and the storyline built up between them with their tensions mounting from Savage's jealous streak kept fans interested. Even though Savage was smaller than many of Hogan's rivals, like Andre, Big Boss Man, and King Kong Bundy, Savage didn't come away looking weak and put on a showing as one of Hogan's most competitive-looking matches in the 1980s.
The Ultimate Warrior Versus Ravishing Rick Rude – WrestleMania 5
One Of The Warrior's Best Intercontinental Title Matches
The latest preview showed off some new footage from its WrestleMania Showcase mode. One of the most interesting for fans of WWE Legends was the match between the Ultimate Warrior and Ravishing Rick Rude. This also marks the long-awaited return of the late Rick Rude in the WWE game. His last appearance was WWE 2K19, and his return in WWE 2K24 will mark his eighth appearance in a WWE wrestling game.
Interestingly, players take on the role of Rude in the Showcase, adding a nice dynamic as the heel instead of the heroic Warrior. A glimpse from footage captured by Smacktalks on YouTube shows that Rude's mannerisms have been recaptured accurately, making the transition from real-life footage to the in-game match look far smoother than its predecessors.
Hulk Hogan Versus The Ultimate Warrior - WrestleMania 6
The Ultimate Warrior's Most Memorable Match
The trailer shows Hulk Hogan performing his finishing move on the Ultimate Warrior. This is likely a repeat showing of their iconic main event match at WrestleMania 6. It was a match featured in the Thirty Years of WrestleMania in WWE 2K14.
With modern graphics and the game's Slingshot mechanics, the contest dubbed The Ultimate Challenge will look better than ever. Several edge-of-the-seat spots can be recreated in the game, like the comebacks and bouts of invincibility that both wrestlers used as part of their superhero-like gimmicks.
Bret Hart Versus Roddy Piper - WrestleMania 8
A Classic Match Of Styles For The Intercontinental Championship
The WWF Intercontinental title match was one of the best matchups of Rowdy Roddy Piper's career, and one of the few occasions where he lost clean to his opponent. It was a showdown between two of the top good guys in the WWE at the time, but Piper adopted a semi-villainous persona by using his brawling style.
The match was exciting, and the fans were on the side of both wrestlers. However, Bret emerged victorious in one of the most memorable Intercontinental title matches since Steamboat and Savage. There will be a lot of exciting moments in the match to recreate in the Showcase mode and several moments for Bret to make his comeback and grab the pinfall from the sleeper hold.
Shawn Michaels Versus Razor Ramon – WrestleMania 10
One Of The Greatest Ladder Matches Of All Time
The iconic Ladder match between Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon at WrestleMania 10 didn't appear in the reveal trailer. However, the official WWE 2K social media accounts posted the image of a ladder, tagging Shawn Michaels on Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and Facebook.
The teaser likely referred to the incredible contest between two of the best Intercontinental Champions in the 1990s. The match features iconic and exciting moments like Michaels' splash from the top of the ladder and more to be recreated in WWE 2K24's Showcase mode.
Steve Austin Versus Bret Hart – WrestleMania 13
The Iconic Submission Match That Put Austin On The Map
WrestleMania 13 wasn't filled with memorable matches, but it did feature the iconic contest between Bret The Hitman Hart and Stone Cold Steve Austin in a Submission match. Despite being the villain, fans were starting to cheer for the take-no-prisoners persona of Steve Austin and slowly turning on Bret's clean-cut good guy.
It was a believable grudge match led by two of the best at the top of their game. The match ended with a bloodied Austin refusing to submit Bret's Sharpshooter and passing out from the pain. This cemented Austin as the unyielding badass of the WWE and transitioned Bret into his new role as one of the top heels/villains of the company. Interestingly, the trailer didn't show Ken Shamrock as the special guest referee, but the generic ref used could be replaced later, as WWE 2K24 will feature Special Guest Referee Matches. As Shamrock is now working under a WWE Legends contract, fans are hopeful they could see the return of the former UFC champion in WWE 2K24.
Stone Cold Steve Austin Versus The Rock - WrestleMania 17
The Clash Between The Two Biggest Icons Of The Attitude Era
The WrestleMania 17 match between The Rock and Steve Austin is rightly considered one of the greatest, and deserves a spot on the Showcase of the Immortals mode in WWE 2K24. It had some of the best hype and build-up of any match, and gave a sense of a big match feel between two of the best.
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The match was a no-disqualification match between the stars. This opens up a lot of spots for the Showcase mode to replicate. Austin has to counter The Rock's rule-breaking attacks with the ring bell, the belt, and chairs with rule-breaking antics of his own. A significant question fans have is how Vince McMahon's involvement in the match will be portrayed as he plays an integral role in Steve Austin's heel turn.
Eddie Guerrero Versus Kurt Angle - WrestleMania 20
A Stunning Clash Between Two Of The Greatest Performers Of All Time
Eddie Guerrero and Kurt Angle's match is considered one of the best WrestleMania contests in history. Both performers were known for being at the top of their game. Eddie was on a high as the champion going up against Angle, who was in his element as the pompous heel questioning Eddie's worthiness as championship material.
The match between the two legends was packed with near falls, counters, and reversals, all of which should play well into the Showcase mode from WWE 2K24. It's a masterclass in the feeling-out process that develops into something special for Eddie to pick up the win with an inside cradle.