Ric Flair is a notable omission from the legends roster in the recently released WWE 2K25. Speaking to Escapist Magazine, the Hall of Famer confirmed he knew about the decision beforehand and wasn’t surprised, pointing directly to his contractual status with All Elite Wrestling.
When asked if he was aware he wouldn’t be included, Flair detailed his understanding of the situation and commented on the financial return for most non-cover athletes in the game.
“I knew about it, but I didn’t expect to be, as I’m still under contract at AEW. Unless you’re on the cover, you don’t make any money anyway. Maybe 0.3% or some damn thing!”
Flair signed a two-year agreement with AEW in November 2023. Despite the contract, he has not appeared on company programming since he was in Sting’s corner for his retirement match at Revolution earlier in 2024.
While Flair’s status for future video game installments remains tied to his AEW deal, development for the next entry in the series, WWE 2K26, is already moving forward. Publisher 2K Sports has confirmed the game is in production and is scheduled for release during Take-Two’s fiscal year 2026, pointing toward a likely March 2026 launch ahead of WrestleMania 42.
There has been no official announcement regarding the cover superstar for WWE 2K26. However, speculation based on current storylines and popularity includes top names such as Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, Rhea Ripley, Gunther, and Roman Reigns.