it's no secret AEW Fight Forever It wasn't the game many fans expected. Yes, it had its strengths, such as a nostalgic gameplay style reminiscent of old wrestling games, but the number of flaws was far greater. Outdated visuals, lack of commentary, and an unfinished entrance were just the tip of the iceberg. The disappointing pin system, lack of match types, and very disappointing character creator were all deeper problems. The lack of a My GM equivalent was another problem, but perhaps the biggest problem with the first AEW game was the roster.
during AEW Fight Forever The roster was nothing to scoff at when the game first dropped, but it's become painfully outdated since then. Change can happen quickly, and professional wrestling is no different, with signings and departures happening constantly, making quick roster updates essential for any sports franchise. fight forever Now it's been several years without an update and it shows. Seeing the likes of CM Punk in an AEW ring in 2026, even in a digital ring, feels wrong due to his infamously messy start. Likewise, one of fight foreverThe very expensive DLC spot for Danhausen, who criticized the company on social media both during his signing and shortly after his departure, is also unpleasant. We're missing some really cool stars. fight foreverA look at the card for Double or Nothing 2026 highlights just how different the next AEW game will be.
I hope a new day in AEW video games is upon us soon.
With All Elite Wrestling rumored to soon be signing a big deal for their tag division, there could be a further push for a new video game.
Some of Double or Nothing's biggest matches couldn't be done at Fight Forever.
AEW's Double or Nothing 2026 match card is as follows:
- Darby Allin vs. M.J.F. (Hair vs. Title Match)
- Thekla vs. Shida Hikaru vs. Chris Statlander vs. Jamie Hayter (AEW Women's World Championship)
- Kyle O'Reilly vs. Jon Moxley (AEW Continental Championship)
- Takeshita Konosuke VS Okada Kazuchika (international championships)
- Cage & Cope vs. FTR (I quit the AEW World Tag Team Championship match. If Copeland and Christian lose, they retire as a team.)
- Jericho, The Hurt Syndicate, The Elite vs. The Demand, The Dogs, The Don Callis Family (stadium stampede)
- Samoa Joe vs. Will Ospreay (Owen Tournament Quarterfinals)
- Bandido vs. Swerve Strickland (Owen Tournament Quarterfinals)
- Athena vs. Silika and Mina (Owen Tournament Quarterfinals)
Looking at this card reveals something very shocking. 7 out of 9 cannot exist. fight foreverUnless someone tries to use the game's lackluster character creator to create these stars. No Will Ospreay means his match is halted and neither Athena nor Mina participate in the game, eliminating Owen's match. The women's four-way is impossible without Thekla, so Stadium Stampede is also left out as they are missing Ricochet, The Demand, The Dogs, Mark Davis and Hurt Syndicate. No Kyle O'Reilly means no Moxley fight, and no Bandido means no Swerve fight either. And despite being the best of Japan's best wrestlers, Takeshita and Rainmaker are not participating. fight foreverWhich one.
Place the consoles in the correct order.
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Place the consoles in the correct order.
Easy (5)Medium (7)Difficult (10)
Currently, AEW matches only allow Men's World Championship and World Tag Team Championship matches, and even that doesn't feel right. MJF's model felt outdated. fight forever Released as if he were in the middle of the Better Than You Baybay arc and a champion, he seemed like he was in the early days of the company. Likewise, Christian Cage's now iconic heel-turned-tweener father persona is not used in the film. fight foreverThe lack of a turtleneck means the match feels wrong. This phenomenon can be seen throughout the game as well. Jungle Boy is no longer a boy, Kris Statlander is no longer an alien, Jamie Hayter has a whole new sense of style, and Jericho has gone through about five gimmick changes in his look. fight forever. This doesn't even take into account people who aren't on the Double or Nothing card, like Toni Storm, who became truly Timeless thanks to her gimmick change.
In essence, whether through a successful gimmick change or a new star taking the spotlight, Double or Nothing 2026 highlights just how old it has become. fight forever And even more so, how promising the next AEW game looks. Delivering countless bangers with Bandido, being as menacing as Jon Moxley's version of Death Rider, and dominating the women's division with Thekla should be a real possibility within the AEW game. And that doesn't even take into account all the stars who aren't on the DoN cards but are eligible to participate in the next release. Alex Windsor, Mercedes Mone, Billie Starkz, Willow Nightingale, Brody King, Roderick Strong, Tomasso Ciampa, Mark Briscoe, and Kyle Fletcher all come to mind. AEW has evolved in surprising ways since the last video game, and the next game should really represent those improvements and not just roster additions.
The next AEW game is also a clear opportunity to improve the DLC offering. Any themed wrestler pack WWE 2K Previously working with downloadable content could work great. Legendary packs may include Brodie Lee, Owen Hart, Jay Briscoe, Bryan Danielson, Jeff Jarrett, and Taz, while another example is the ROH pack featuring Nigel McGuinness, Jay Lethal, Lee Moriarty, Athena, Billie Starkz, and Blake Christian.
All Former AEW Stars Playable in WWE 2K26
As stars continue to bounce between wrestling's two biggest companies, it's no surprise that WWE 2K26 features several former AEW employees.
Double or Nothing's powerful story proves to be the true cover star of AEW's next game.
Contrary to what AEW haters claim online, the company has told some truly great stories over the years, from Hangman and Swerve's house-burning rivalry to Mariah May and Toni Storm's Hollywood Ending arc. Double or Nothing 2026 is no different. That's because there are multiple storylines highlighting potential cover stars and a story mode that acts like a showcase for them. while fight forever's core art depicting as many stars as possible was significant because it was the first true AEW video game, and the company now had a true legacy after years of storylines. It is a legacy that has launched many outstanding careers.
There is probably no better candidate for the honor of being the first solo AEW game cover star than MJF. Arguably the best microphone in the world and a top ten candidate for in-ring work, Maxwell Jacob Friedman has been and will continue to be a huge hit. Maintaining kayfabe on social media and in interviews has made him a unique heel of the modern era, and his movie roles have proven that WWE doesn't need him to make a successful leap to the big screen. Having MJF on the cover of the next game would easily help sell copies. By betting on himself and becoming a guy so good that even most WWE die-hards can't help but respect him, he becomes a modern-day megastar.
What is that weapon?
Check out the silhouette before time runs out.
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Check out the silhouette before time runs out.
Easy (7.5 seconds) Medium (5.0 seconds) Hard (2.5 seconds) Eternal Death (2.5 seconds)
However, there are equally good options available from AEW Games, Tony Khan, and the developers who will take Yuke's place in the next release, namely Darby Allin, MJF's Double or Nothing counterpart. The reigning world champion has been on an absolutely incredible run so far, performing a number of his trademark stunts and putting together multiple five-star matches in just a few weeks. Unlike MJF, who would shine brightly in WWE, Darby represents unique AEW characters and matches that “elsewhere” wouldn't allow. Whether they were too violent, too “unmarketable”, or simply too realistic, guys like Eddie Kingston, Mark Briscoe, and, indeed, Darby Allin, became fan favorites in their own right. This is especially true when WWE leaves little room for unique characters and forces a certain look for too long. Of course it would be cool to honor that by putting Darby in a box.
But ultimately, AEW has a lot of options when it comes to dealing with its stars. It doesn't matter if they're true legends like company ace Jon Moxley, the beloved Will Ospreay (who's in the fascinating Death Rider arc that could be a viable story mode option), the most dangerous Swerve Strickland, Anxious Millennial Cowboy Hangman Adam Page, or Sting. Grinding one of these stars with a special mode and matching cover would be a huge step forward. wwe 2K The series is correct. And when combined with a suitably deep roster (and a better character creator who can add new contracts on their own), you'll soon have a game as consistently impressive as the company it's based on.
