The first large batch of names has been released for the roster of the upcoming WWE 2K17 video game.
Booker T, Brian Pillman, Jim Neidhart and Larry Zbysko are among some of the big names from wrestling's past who will be part of the playable main roster.
The announcement, one of several scheduled for the next few Tuesdays by IGN.com, which also released a gallery of in-game screenshots from the upcoming release, as well as the entrance video for Brock Lesnar, who will be on the cover this year.
Several current members of the roster were included in Tuesday's announcement, including Chris Jericho, the Bellas (Brie and Nikki), Erick Rowan, Heath Slater and R-Truth.
Tag teams made up a significant share of the 18-person list revealed with the Usos (Jimmy and Jey), the Vaudevillains (SImon Gotch and Aiden English), and the Ascension (Konnor and Viktor) included. Los Matadores (Diego and Fernando) also were announced, even though those two wrestlers already have been unmasked and repackaged on WWE programming as Primo and Epico, the Shining Stars.
Here is the full confirmed cast of playable characters for WWE 2K17:
- Aiden English
- Booker T
- Brian Pillman
- Brie Bella
- Brock Lesnar
- Chris Jericho
- Diego
- Erick Rowan
- Fernando
- Goldberg
- Heath Slater
- Jey Uso
- Jimmy Uso
- Jim Neidhart
- John Cena
- Konnor
- Larry Zbysko
- Nikki Bella
- R-Truth
- Sasha Banks
- Shane McMahon
- Simon Gotch
- Stephanie McMahon
- Ultimate Warrior
- Viktor
- Vince McMahon
2K Sports previously had announced a collectable "NXT Edition" which will feature Shinsuke Nakamura, Nia Jax and Apollo Crews as playable characters. That edition also includes a lithograph drawn by artist Rob Schamberger, a Finn Balor action figure and several other physical collectables.
WWE 2K17 will be released October 11 for Xbox, PlayStation and PC.
By John Moorehouse
