Will there be WWE 2K23? Yes – and it could be the best WWE game yet!

Friend, as a lifelong fan who has played every WWE video game since the N64 days, I‘m pumped to share some exclusive details on WWE 2K23!

While 2K has not officially announced WWE 2K23 yet, all leaks point to it releasing in March 2023 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, and Windows PC.

As someone who still fondly remembers childhood weekends playing WWE No Mercy, the WWE 2K series has become my favorite wrestling video game franchise. So I‘m hyped to break down what we can expect from WWE 2K23 – which has the potential to become the greatest WWE game ever!

The WWE 2K Series: A Quick History

Let‘s first do a quick recap of the WWE 2K series journey to provide some background:

• Debuted in 2000 as WWE SmackDown! on the original PlayStation
• Transitioned to become WWE SmackDown vs Raw in 2004
• First version dubbed WWE 2K was WWE 2K14 in 2013
• Published annually until WWE 2K20 in 2019
• Took 2020 off after 2K20‘s poor reception
• Returned rejuvenated with WWE 2K22 in March 2022

In the US, the WWE 2K series has sold over 20 million copies across 22 years. Here are domestic sales for recent entries:

Game	Launch Year	US Sales
WWE 2K18	2017	1M
WWE 2K19	2018	1.5M
WWE 2K20	2019	0.5M
WWE 2K22	2022	1M

WWE 2K22 last year received 85% positive reviews and was praised for its improved gameplay after the disastrous 2K20. Clearly, developers Visual Concepts rededicated themselves and have regained fan trust.

Which brings us to the upcoming WWE 2K23!

When Will WWE 2K23 Release?

While 2K has not confirmed a date yet, based on the timing of recent games, we can expect WWE 2K23 to launch in March 2023.

Here are the release months for previous WWE 2K entries:

• October: WWE 2K14 – 2K17, WWE 2K19
• November: WWE 2K18
• March: WWE 2K22

The March window makes sense for several reasons:

• Capitalizes on hype after the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania season
• Avoid crowded October/November schedules against Call of Duty, NBA 2K, FIFA, etc.
• Gives time for roster changes from WrestleMania talent shakeups

Considering the positive reception to the March launch of WWE 2K22, I am confident WWE 2K23 will follow suit and hit shelves in March 2023.

WWE 2K23 Cover Star Speculation

One of the most exciting reveals each year is finding out which Superstar will grace the cover of the latest WWE 2K. Recent cover stars include:

• WWE 2K20: Becky Lynch
• WWE 2K22: Rey Mysterio

For WWE 2K23, the early betting favorite is Cody Rhodes. As a huge Cody fan dating back to his Legacy days with Randy Orton, I fully endorse this choice!

Here‘s why Cody Rhodes as the WWE 2K23 cover star makes perfect sense:

• Triumphant WWE return story: Cody left WWE in 2016, became a top AEW star, then shockingly returned to WWE at WrestleMania 38. What a story!
• Babyface momentum: Despite returning with a torn pec, Cody is 3-0 against Seth Rollins and looks primed for a big WrestleMania 39 match.
• Cross-brand appeal: Cody is a familiar face to both WWE and AEW fans. He‘d help sell copies across the board.

In my opinion, Cody capturing the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 39 and then appearing on the WWE 2K23 cover would be the cherry on top of his amazing redemption journey. Make it happen, 2K!

Projected WWE 2K23 Roster

As a franchise veteran, I know the roster is the backbone of any WWE game. WWE 2K22‘s starting roster was 177 Superstars, which grew to 208 with DLC.

For WWE 2K23, gaming site SmackTalks projects around 170+ characters again at launch.

Here are 5Exciting newcomers I‘m hoping make the WWE 2K23 roster:

• Cora Jade – The lovable NXT underdog is surging in popularity
• Theory – Mr. Money in the Bank is destined for main event status
• Gunther – This bruising beast badly needs to be playable
• Solo Sikoa – The Bloodline‘s enforcer is a perfect powerhouse fit
• Roxanne Perez – The sweetheart rookie has me reliving the Lita days!

And a few unfortunate cuts expected:

• Jeff Hardy – Released by WWE and signed to AEW
• Tommaso Ciampa – Shockingly let go despite great NXT tenure
• Hit Row – Recently released but have potential for a triumphant return

Ideally, I‘d love a roster count over 200 including legends. There are so many great current Superstars deserving a spot like Sheamus, Xavier Woods, Shinsuke Nakamura, and more. Plus who doesn‘t want Stone Cold Steve Austin to stomp mudholes on the current generation!

Gameplay Enhancements and New Modes

Beyond the roster, gameplay improvements are vital to keep the WWE 2K series feeling fresh. In my opinion, WWE 2K22 made solid strides in smoothing out the grappling and pacing.

For WWE 2K23, I hope they expand customization options, introduce more OMG moments and mini-games, and enhance backstage brawling. Seeing the return of GM Mode was awesome – I‘d love if they brought back special referee matches or WWE‘s ECW brand in some form.

And while Universe Mode continues improving, there is still so much untapped potential. I‘d like to see more control over storylines, cutscenes, city variety etc. Basically, I want to feel like Vince McMahon running the whole WWE!

Most importantly, gameplay needs to stay grounded and weighty. I‘m glad they moved away from the flippy fast-paced style of the older games. The new engine captures the hard-hitting spirit of wrestling so much better.

Above all, WWE 2K23 needs rock-solid mechanics at launch. WWE 2K20‘s horrendous bugs left a stain on the franchise. I have faith the developers will hold to a high quality standard after the lessons learned.

Will WWE 2K23 Have Cross-Platform Play?

This is one highly requested feature among myself and fellow WWE gaming friends. Unfortunately, cross-platform play allowing PS5 vs Xbox Series X|S vs PC is still not confirmed for WWE 2K23.

Based on 2K‘s comments, enabling cross-play is a complex undertaking requiring platform approval and network adjustments. I hope they can figure it out in the future – imagine 32-man Royal Rumbles with friends across consoles!

Even without full cross-play, I would at least love cross-progression. Let me keep one unified MyFaction roster or Universe Mode save between my PS5 and gaming PC.

Breaking Down Cora Jade‘s Net Worth

Alright, let‘s switch gears and talk NXT breakout star Cora Jade! Since you specifically asked about Cora‘s net worth, I‘m excited to provide the inside scoop on where her finances stand today.

In just one year since debuting in WWE, Cora Jade has captured the NXT audience with her bubbly personality and never-say-die attitude. Though only 24 years old, Cora is already being groomed for future stardom.

So what is former indie wrestler Cora Jade‘s current net worth? Let‘s analyze the numbers:

• NXT Salary – ~$250k: The typical NXT rookie contract pays around $250k annually, according to Forbes. This aligns with other reports of starting developmental wages.

• Merch Sales – ~$75k: Cora moves serious merch units, especially her skater girl themed shirts. She‘s reportedly one of NXT‘s top sellers.

• Appearances – ~$25k: Cora likely collects $500 – $1k for each non-televised live event or signing.

• YouTube/Social Media – ~$30k: With 50k+ YouTube subscribers and big followings on Instagram and TikTok, Cora earns solid sponsorship and ad revenue.

Factor in her previous indie income, and I estimate Cora Jade‘s current net worth sits around $350k – $400k. By wrestling standards, this is excellent for someone only 1 year into WWE.

Within 3 years, I could easily see Cora entering the $500k – $750k range or higher if she wins titles and breaks out to the main roster. She has all the tools to become WWE‘s next big star.

The sky‘s the limit for the lovable Cora Jade thanks to her infectious energy. I‘ll definitely be rooting for Cora to score a WWE 2K23 roster spot and further boost her profile!

The Bottom Line on WWE 2K23

We‘re hopeful that Cody Rhodes goes the distance and wins the WWE Championship in the culmination of his two-year redemption story at WrestleMania.

Then a few weeks later, we‘ll get to finally play as Cody in WWE 2K23 as he takes his rightful spot as the franchise‘s cover star and lead in an expanded MyCareer/MyRise mode.

Add in a beefed up Universe Mode, expanded Creation Suites, cross-platform play, and a 200+ character roster blending legends with today‘s Superstars – suddenly WWE 2K23 is primed to become the greatest wrestling game we‘ve ever experienced.

That‘s the ideal scenario we are manifesting! I don‘t know about you, but I truly feel WWE 2K23 has the chance to exceed our lofty expectations. The developers know they can‘t afford another misstep like 2K20.

Combined with renewed competition from AEW Fight Forever on the horizon, 2K has all the motivation needed to deliver a knockout wrestling gaming experience.

As a lifelong WWE fan who has played every wrestling game since the 90s, I could not be more pumped for WWE 2K23. Let the countdown begin – I‘ll see you in the virtual ring this March!