WWE 2K26 MyRise is already stirring debate, as new details about this year’s campaign hint at a villainous turn for one of SmackDown’s most popular stars.
Speaking to TechRadar Gaming, MyRise lead narrative designer Sean Conaway revealed that the 2026 story mode, titled “The Comeback,” will center on a returning superstar known as “The Archetype.”
However, the path back to the top won’t be smooth. Paul Heyman, along with either Bron Breakker or Jordynne Grace, will stand in the way.
For many fans, Breakker in a bad-guy role makes sense. But Grace — currently a fiery babyface on SmackDown — playing a primary antagonist raised eyebrows.
WWE 2K26 MyRise Positions Jordynne Grace as Major Antagonist
Conaway addressed the surprise directly. “We work so far ahead from WWE that we kind of have to look in our crystal balls,” he said, explaining that the team tries to forecast who will be hot a year from now.
He pointed to a past example, noting, “We paired up Bron with Heyman before WWE did it.” The implication is clear — sometimes the game predicts the turn before television does.
Grace, who debuted on SmackDown in January and recently challenged Jade Cargill for the WWE Women’s Championship, has been portrayed as a determined fan favorite.
In MyRise, though, she aligns with Heyman and blocks the player’s comeback. Conaway added that the team “sees huge things” for Grace, suggesting the villain role reflects her projected rise rather than her current alignment.
The male and female stories will share a similar framework but feature different antagonists, with “substantial differences” in dialogue and cut scenes. The mode also brings back post-story content, allowing players to defend titles and continue in a new game plus loop.
While this doesn’t confirm a real-life heel turn, WWE 2K26 MyRise may be planting seeds. If Grace does flip the switch on SmackDown, fans might look back and say the game called an audible before the bell even rang.
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