A New AEW Game Would Have a Golden Opportunity WWE 2K Doesn’t

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Due to All Elite Wrestling’s (AEW) swift expansion as a business, it was inevitable that they would eventually get their own complete wrestling video game. However, the 2023 release titled AEW Fight Forever turned out to be something of a mixed experience. The fundamental gameplay successfully captures the easy-to-grasp feel of early 2000s wrestling games developed by Yuke’s, but the game falls short in several areas. Critics have pointed out its uninspiring character creator, limited match and mode options, costly DLC packs, poor presentation, and forgettable story mode called Road to Elite. The weakness of this final aspect could actually become a new game’s key advantage, as AEW has the opportunity to do something that their competitors cannot.

If AEW aims to rival the WWE 2K series, it would face a significant challenge, possibly requiring collaboration with a prominent gaming developer such as EA for a product comparable in quality. However, even if AEW produces another game like Fight Forever that emphasizes enjoyable gameplay over visual appeal, it could offer an extensive narrative mode detailing the entire history of AEW. While WWE has numerous decades of history, Visual Concepts can only highlight significant moments in specific wrestlers’ careers or iconic events such as WrestleMania. Given AEW’s 5-year history, the upcoming game could cover almost every major storyline and event in the company’s short lifespan.

The Next AEW Video Game’s Story Mode Can Cover The Company’s Entire History

If the upcoming AEW game were to incorporate this idea into its single-player mode, it would open up some exciting gameplay possibilities. Players could navigate through various stages that AEW has gone through throughout the years as the narrative unfolds, witnessing the company’s growth from its time at Daily’s Place to medium-sized arenas and ultimately reaching landmark moments like Wembley Stadium. Fresh additions such as the International title and events like the Continental Classic tournament could be seamlessly integrated into the storyline, happening in real-world chronology. Players wouldn’t just observe the development of their controlled wrestlers but also the evolution of AEW itself, with the story mode serving as an enjoyable journey through its history that both newcomers and seasoned fans can enjoy for its mix of novelty and nostalgia.

In order to accommodate CM Punk’s contentious tenure at the company and his absence from WWE making future appearances unlikely, a “History of AEW” mode might have to bypass his rivalries and matches. Similarly, Cody Rhodes, one of AEW’s co-founders, would need to be excluded from such a presentation for the same reason.

A History of AEW Mode Could Let Its Biggest Stars Shine

To make this concept function, players would manage established wrestlers rather than creating their own characters. This is because incorporating a player-generated character into the mode contradicts the very essence of it. Luckily, several performers from AEW have had notable runs at the top, allowing for seamless transitions between stars as time passes. Here are some possible playable wrestlers for each era of AEW:

1. Early Era (2019 – 2020): Chris Jericho, Cody Rhodes, Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson)
2. Growth Era (2020 – 2021): Jon Moxley, Hangman Adam Page, Sting, Brian Cage, Luchasaurus
3. Expansion Era (2021 – Present and beyond): CM Punk, Bryan Danielson (Daniel Bryan), Dr. Britt Baker, Thunder Rosa, Malakai Black

  • 2019 – Chris Jericho: With Cody Rhodes not being an option, Chris Jericho is the next best choice to cover AEW’s earliest days, as he was its first world champion and was integral to its initial popularity.
  • 2020 – Jon Moxley: After shocking the world at the original Double or Nothing, the once-Dean Ambrose quickly won AEW’s world championship and went on a dominant run throughout 2020. Playing as Moxley would allow players to relive matches against fan favorites like Darby Allin and Eddie Kingston.
  • 2021 – Kenny Omega: Widely recognized as one of the best wrestlers in the world, Kenny Omega’s belt collector gimmick saw him not only winning the world title in AEW, but major titles in other companies at the same time. While the full extent of this run cannot be shown, Kenny’s great AEW matches from that year can, and players could dethrone him as Hangman Adam Page to wrap up this chunk of history and smoothly transition to a new character.
  • 2022 – Hangman Adam Page: While it would be awkward to work around Hangman losing his world title to CM Punk, as it may need to be addressed through a brief text description or time skip, playing as AEW’s main character for an extensive period would be a must. Matches against Lance Archer, Bryan Danielson, and Adam Cole could guarantee some variety in opponents.
  • 2023 – MJF: While his championship run ended with the divisive devil story, there’s no denying that Maxwell Jacob Friedman had a stellar 2023, and it deserves to be celebrated within a video game. His 60-minute Iron Man match with Bryan Danielson would be as fun to play as it was to watch, as would the Four Pillars Four-Way match.
  • 2024 – Bryan Danielson and Swerve Strickland: A unique approach could be taken to the latest full year of AEW history, as this time around, players could swap between two wrestlers. Swerve Strickland’s rise to superstardom thanks to his blood feud with Hangman Adam Page could be experienced, as could the final arc of Bryan Danielson’s full-time career. The story could even conclude by letting players pick who to control in the pair’s All In 2024 match-up, recreating Danielson’s real-life win or showing what could have been if Swerve was victorious.

Allowing AEW to stand out from WWE, they’ve focused on exceptional in-ring action, making each pay-per-view event a potential “Match of the Year” contender and generating buzz within the wrestling community. For their next project, it would be wise for them to follow suit, establishing their unique identity and providing an experience that sets it apart from WWE 2K. While the retro-style gameplay was intriguing and worth exploring, the upcoming AEW video game requires a substantial improvement in depth and replay value. An immersive story mode showcasing iconic moments from AEW could be an excellent way to deliver greater value to fans, so hopefully they prioritize its development, perhaps under the guidance of Kenny Omega and other key figures at the company.

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2025-01-06 00:07