Paul Heyman intro’s WWE 2K26’s MyRISE mode

Setting players up for a comeback, MyRISE mode in WWE 2K26 looks like it’ll be a battle. Paul Heyman is here to tell you the ins and outs.

MyRISE, interrupted

Everything is setting up perfectly. The Archetype is coming back to the WWE after a lengthy, two year absence, and is on track to make a splash. There’s a problem though, and it comes in the form of a client of none other than Paul Heyman.

And once said client gets their hands on The Archetype, well let’s just say that the comeback doesn’t go as planned. Sound like a WWE-level storyline? Well, it kind of is, and represents the tale behind WWE 2K26‘s MyRiSE mode.

The character of The Archetype will be an original one, a created character through which players will attempt that comeback that we mentioned above. Again though, completing the task won’t be easy. They’ll be running afoul of either Bron Breakker or Jordynne Grace as they return to the ring. Their foe will depend on whether they choose to create a male or female character, though the result won’t be good either way.

That means the “The Archetype” will have to make some choices in the wake of a brutal loss. Those will see them either continue their push for gold the old fashioned way, or turn their back on the rules and become a rogue. For fans itching for some details, the mode has gotten a full delving into from Heyman himself, in the latest trailer for WWE 2K26.

In MyRISE, players choose a Men’s or Women’s Division storyline to take on the role of The Archetype, a Superstar returning to WWE after a two-year absence. What should be a triumphant comeback quickly unravels, as players suffer a crushing defeat at the hands of one of Paul Heyman’s champions, Bron Breakker and Jordynne Grace. MyRISE challenges players to make important choices and decide what kind of Superstar they want to become, and if they will fight their way back to the top with honor, or turn their back on the WWE Universe, embracing deception to reclaim championship glory.

2K Games press release

A tale with some rewards

The MyRISE story mode aims to take players on quite a journey through the modern WWE. According to the press release, that’ll include the “Performance Center, a potential opportunity from Adam Pearce in NXT, and a high-stakes WrestleMania showdown”.

The publisher adds that the mode will serve up “cinematic storytelling, in-game cutscenes, and Paul Heyman’s valuable guidance”, in a “deeply personal comeback story where every decision matters”. So it certainly seems as though 2K and developer Visual Concepts are aiming to offer something with teeth.

But players won’t be playing purely for the story. Nope, as usual, MyRISE will have some rewards outside of seeing how its tale plays out. Those will be sprinkled through the mode, and include some pretty big stuff. 2K says that “indie-era CM Punk, “Burnt” Fiend, original MyRISE characters, and iconic gear from previous WWE 2K titles” will all be unlockable.

As for WWE 2K26 itself, that’s on the way to consoles and the PC on March 13th, 2026. Like every year though, those who buy into the special editions can get into the ring a little earlier. The King of Kings Edition, Attitude Era Edition, and Monday Night War Edition are all scheduled for release a week in advance. Look for them on Friday, March 6th.