7 Times A Wrestler Was Removed From A WWE Game Before Launch

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Professional wrestling is known for its unpredictable nature, with constant surprises happening both in the ring and behind the scenes. It’s a business where things can change quickly and dramatically.

When professional wrestling grew beyond the arena and into other areas like video games, it was only a matter of time before real-life events impacted a game’s development. The WWE has experienced this firsthand, with some interesting results.

WWE games have often faced last-minute changes due to real-life events. Wrestlers leaving the company, unfortunate tragedies, or legal problems have all caused characters to be removed from the game, sometimes just months before its release.

Ever noticed missing WWE superstars in your favorite wrestling game? We’re listing the most notable wrestlers who didn’t make the cut.

7. Chris Benoit

Removed Following A Horrific Tragedy

Following the tragic events surrounding his death, Chris Benoit was completely removed from all WWE-related materials. The video game SmackDown vs Raw 2008 was nearing release, and any trace of Benoit was eliminated from the game.

They removed absolutely everything associated with him – his signature moves, his entrance music, everything. It was a complete and total wipe.

The decision to remove this person from the project before its release was incredibly noticeable, and remains a painful memory for wrestling fans even today. Simply hearing their name brings back one of the most difficult moments in professional wrestling history.

6. Jeff Hardy

The Charismatic Enigma Was Deleted

Jeff Hardy has wrestled for most of the biggest wrestling companies throughout his career. He’s consistently moved between WWE, TNA, ROH, and AEW.

Jeff Hardy was originally planned to be in the “Here Comes The Pain” video game after appearing in the first two WWE SmackDown games. However, due to repeated failed drug tests, struggles with substance abuse, and erratic behavior behind the scenes, WWE ended his contract.

For years, fans have shared screenshots and videos from the classic pro wrestling game, Here Comes The Pain. Many consider it the best wrestling game ever made, so it’s disappointing that Jeff Hardy isn’t included.

Honestly, it really stings knowing Matt Hardy is in the game, but we’re not getting a Hardy Boyz tag team. It’s a tough pill to swallow as a fan who was hoping for that!

5. Jeff Jarrett

Cut From Two WWE Games

Jeff Jarrett moved between WWE and WCW several times during the late 1990s and early 2000s. He was originally planned to be featured in two different WWE video games back in the late 1990s.

Jeff Jarrett appeared in both In Your House and the original SmackDown video game for PlayStation. However, after leaving WWE for WCW on two separate occasions—first in 1996 and again in 1999—he was taken out of both games.

It was a strange coincidence that Jeff Jarrett appeared in both a WWE (then WWF) and a WCW video game released almost simultaneously. WWF WrestleMania 2000 and WCW Backstage Assault both included him and were released within days of each other.

Interestingly, he was also let go by WCW Nitro after returning to WWE, but that’s a story we can save for another time.

4. Ultimate Warrior

Speak To Me Warriors

A popular professional wrestler from the 1990s was originally planned to be in the 2003 video game Here Comes The Pain, and footage of them exists from before the game was released. You can actually find pictures and videos of this online.

When The Warrior filed a lawsuit against WWE, claiming they were using his image without permission, he was quickly removed from the company. The lawsuit posed a serious legal threat to WWE.

Back in the early 1990s, the performer formerly known as Jim Helwig officially changed his name to Warrior. Because of this, he felt WWE was violating his copyright.

Prior to his death in 2014, Warrior made peace with WWE and has appeared in numerous 2K games.

3. Big Show

Removed After Being Sent To Developmental

In 1999, Big Show switched from WCW to WWE and quickly rose to prominence as one of the company’s brightest young talents – a surprising feat considering his long career.

Everyone expected him to become WWE Champion quickly after joining the company. However, around the end of 2000, he was sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling, WWE’s training ground, because his wrestling skills needed improvement and he had some disagreements with established stars.

Consequently, he was cut from WWF No Mercy. Although it seemed strange to feature Stevie Richards prominently in the game’s story, that didn’t prevent WWF No Mercy from becoming a classic wrestling title.

2. Hulk Hogan

Whatcha Gonna Do When WWE Removes You, Brother?

When Hulk Hogan rejoined WWE in 2002 as a member of the reformed New World Order, he quickly became a key figure for the company. Because of this, WWE planned to feature him prominently in the next installment of the SmackDown video game series.

As a huge wrestling fan, I was really excited to hear that the developers, Yuke’s, were planning on giving us a bunch of different versions of Hulk Hogan in the game! They weren’t just going to give us one Hogan – they were aiming to include his look from when he was in the NWO, his iconic ’80s gear, and even his Mr. America persona. It would have been awesome to be able to play as all those different Hogans!

After a year of touring and growing dissatisfaction with the game’s development, Hogan left the company in 2003, just four months before the release of Here Comes The Pain.

Despite keeping Hogan’s in-game movements and animations, plans for any playable version of his character were ultimately cancelled.

1. Stone Cold Steve Austin

Austin 3:16 Says You Just Got Cut From Day Of Reckoning

Stone Cold Steve Austin was a huge draw for wrestling fans in the late 90s and early 2000s, but he started dealing with significant health problems. Additionally, in 2002, he felt creatively frustrated, believing his character wasn’t being used effectively.

He was incredibly frustrated when asked to lose a match on television to Brock Lesnar, who was quickly becoming the company’s biggest star. Feeling like his talent was being misused, Austin left the company and didn’t come back until early 2003.

Because of this, Stone Cold Steve Austin was taken out of the WWE Day of Reckoning video game. Interestingly, Brock Lesnar faced the same fate – he was removed from the game after leaving WWE following WrestleMania 20.

While you can still see Austin’s moves and animations in the game, he isn’t actually a playable character. It’s disappointing that such a legendary wrestler isn’t included in what many consider to be one of the greatest WWE games ever made, but that’s just how things often go in professional wrestling.

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2025-11-30 17:41