As an AEW Fan, I’m Buying WWE 2K26 to Save Mariah May From Her Terrible Booking

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Just to be upfront, I haven’t been a dedicated WWE fan in years, and I’m a big supporter of AEW. I prefer AEW because it focuses more on the wrestling itself, and I appreciate how Tony Khan values the broader wrestling world. AEW consistently showcases a diverse range of wrestling styles, which I find really impressive. Lately, WWE has leaned into things I don’t enjoy, like the shows in Saudi Arabia and giving a platform to political figures I strongly disagree with. Even putting those issues aside, WWE just isn’t my preference. I find the lengthy, talk-heavy segments, constant commercials, endless recaps that explain everything, and predictable matches with frustrating finishes – like disqualifications or quick roll-ups – don’t align with what I enjoy about wrestling.

I was really let down when Mariah May, now known as Blake Monroe, left our promotion for a company I don’t believe in. While I respect her decision to pursue her dream at WWE and I’m happy she seems content there, it’s good that wrestlers have choices to find the best fit for their careers. However, everything I’ve seen of her time in WWE so far has been underwhelming, even offensive. The shift from our 2025 match of the year, the Hollywood Ending with Toni Storm, to a standard, less exciting cage match was a red flag. The mistake during a recent NXT kickout wouldn’t have happened if she’d been on the main roster where she belonged, but the biggest issue is the character they’ve given her.

Blake Monroe is one of the 30+ wrestlers that have been confirmed for WWE 2K26 thus far.

Image via WWE

It seems WWE worried that Mariah May’s character would be too similar to Tiffany Stratton’s, and that she wouldn’t connect with fans as a result. However, presenting Blake Monroe as a copy of Toni Storm was a mistake. The attempt to make her an unpredictable character feels forced and awkward, especially since it lacks the qualities that make Toni Storm so compelling. It’s disappointing that WWE overlooked Mariah May’s strong work in AEW – including great matches against Willow Nightingale – and instead created a pale imitation of her rival. This makes it seem like WWE didn’t genuinely want Mariah, but simply wanted to undermine AEW by signing one of their stars. The overly produced and scripted promos clash with the unpredictable persona they’re trying to create, and honestly, watching how they’re booking her is cringeworthy. If I get WWE 2K26, fixing her character will be my first priority.

WWE 2K26’s MyGM Mode Remains a Godsend for Frustrated Fans

One of the biggest shortcomings of the AEW Fight Forever game is its limited character creation and lack of a general manager mode – features that the WWE 2K series does well. If I were in charge, I’d use these tools to book wrestler Mariah May in a way that highlights her potential. My first change would be to drop her current ring name, Blake Monroe. While it seems small, Mariah May has a strong history and was part of a fantastic rivalry in women’s wrestling. Blake Monroe, however, is tied to a less successful feud with Jordynne Grace that didn’t benefit either wrestler, and felt like an unnecessary attempt to change a character that was already working. Frankly, “Blake Monroe” just isn’t as memorable a name as her previous one would have been. I understand why WWE rebrands its wrestlers – to control their image – but it’s a corporate practice I dislike, as it often hinders the careers of talented performers. That’s why renaming her would be my immediate priority.

I’d change Mariah May’s look and character to make her stand out on her own. She already has a great personality – her playful comment about being a “nepo baby” on social media proved that – and WWE should focus on that. I’d get rid of anything that reminds people of Toni Storm, especially the mirror scenes which feel like a copycat act. It’s interesting that Mariah successfully impersonated Toni during a rivalry with a popular wrestler from another company, showing she can pull off that character if needed. This makes it clear the current issue isn’t with Mariah herself, but with WWE’s creative team. They seem to be selectively borrowing parts of Toni Storm’s style, leaving Mariah in an awkward position. I’d much rather see the original, authentic Mariah return and let her personality shine.

Image via 2K

Like many of my favorite wrestlers today – Will Ospreay, Kyle Fletcher, Darby Allin, and others from AEW – I first became a fan of Mariah May because of her incredible skills in the ring. While her turn on Toni Storm was a memorable moment, and the storyline leading up to it was very entertaining, I especially loved watching her powerful and exciting moves. She’s a fantastic wrestler, but WWE’s cautious and predictable match style doesn’t let her shine. If I were creating a wrestling video game, I’d build storylines around Mariah that matched the amazing matches she had weekly on AEW TV, and I wouldn’t rush her from NXT to the main roster like WWE seems to be doing. Here are some of the rivalries I’d create for her:

  • Rhea Ripley — two contrasting styles that could make for some fun matches
  • Bayley — a fun feud that I’d like to see before Bayley inevitably goes to AEW
  • Tiffany Stratton — embrace their similar vibes instead of ruining Mariah’s character
  • Stephanie Vaquer —can play into how both came to WWE primarily as a result of their AEW work, leaning into how Vaquer has found more success and did so fast while Mariah has struggled, breaking the fourth wall a bit for some shoot-like promos
  • Bianca Belair — a phenomenal in-ring performer, a match between Bianca and Mariah would be a guaranteed banger

It Wouldn’t Take Long For My AEW Bias to Show if I purchased WWE 2K26, But I’d Regret Nothing

Image via AEW

While AEW consistently delivers great wrestling, their video game, Fight Forever, didn’t quite live up to expectations. Even with paid downloadable content, it still misses some major stars like Mercedes Mone, Will Ospreay, and Kazuchika Okada. Luckily, WWE 2K26 lets you create custom rosters, so I can add all my favorite wrestlers. This means I can finally create matches featuring Mariah May against opponents she never got to face in AEW. I’m especially disappointed we didn’t get to see her wrestle Kris Statlander, Mercedes Mone, Athena, and Jamie Hayter – and that’s just the beginning! The women’s wrestling scene has really expanded since Mariah moved to a different promotion, with talents like Alex Windsor, Thekla, and Megan Bayne joining the ranks.

I’d prefer not to support WWE financially if I can avoid it, especially given their questionable practices – it’s great to see people like Mick Foley speaking out. However, I might buy a used copy of their game if I can’t find a good, current wrestling game from AEW to satisfy my interest. While I admire some WWE performers like Bayley, Ilja Dragunov, Shinsuke Nakamura, AJ Styles, and Rhea Ripley, I’d really enjoy creating a roster with my favorite AEW stars and essentially using WWE 2K26 as the AEW game I’ve been hoping for. Ultimately though, my main focus would be making sure Mariah May gets the recognition and in-game treatment she deserves.

Mariah May’s time in WWE feels hampered by the harsh words Toni Storm spoke during their final confrontation, where Storm essentially predicted May would never reach her full potential. And so far, May’s run has been underwhelming. While their rivalry set a high standard, the WWE version of Mariah hasn’t come close to matching it. I don’t believe this is May’s fault. WWE’s restrictions on what performers can say and do, along with the direction they’ve given her character, are all contributing to the problem. If May is content with how things are going, that’s great, but as a fan, I’m frustrated with WWE’s booking. She made the most of her time in AEW, but her first year in WWE has been stagnant in NXT when she should have been on the main roster. Some AEW fans might see this as payback for her leaving, but I’m simply disappointed that her talent isn’t being utilized. It’s frustrating that it seems to take a video game appearance for her to finally get a strong booking.

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2026-01-26 04:05