WWE 2K24 is out this week, and as our review suggests, it’s worth a purchase if you’re a wrestling fan.
One thing the review does point out, however, is that the game feels more like an evolution than a complete revamp, and the same goes for the wrestler likenesses.
Since the 2K22 edition, developer Visual Concepts has used a face scanning system which uses 80 hi-res cameras to scan wrestlers’ faces from a variety of angles, in order to get high quality character models.
With a roster of over 200 wrestlers, however, the team naturally focuses on the new additions each year, such as the up-and-coming NXT talent making their video game debuts.
What does this mean for the existing wrestlers, however? How many of them have new likenesses, and how many have been left unchanged?
Our massive gallery below will reveal all. We’ve put together comparison images for every superstar who appears in both this year’s and last year’s game.
On the left is how they looked in WWE 2K23, and on the right is how they now look in WWE 2K24.
For the most part we’ve used wrestlers’ entrance attires, partly because in some occasions a wrestler’s actual face scan won’t have changed but their outfit will have, in order to match their updated TV ring gear.
The only time we haven’t used a superstar’s entrance attire is when it covers their face, because that’s the main point of the article after all.
The last thing to bear in mind is that the game’s Edit Mode (which is where you get to see the character models in this much detail) has changed this year, and moved from an empty room in WWE 2K23 to an arena setting in WWE 2K24. As a result, the lighting is different, meaning some faces may look a little different even if the models are actually the same.
With this all in mind, here’s a full look at which returning WWE 2K24 faces are new, and which have remained the same.
Adam Pearce
AJ Styles
Akira Tozawa
Alba Fyre
Although Alba was featured in WWE 2K23, her current tag team partner Isla Dawn wasn’t.
This has changed in WWE 2K24, as Isla Dawn has now been added as a new member of the roster, meaning you can now play as the Unholy Union.
Alexa Bliss
Alexa is a good example of how some WWE 2K23 superstars have the same character model in 2K24, but still look a little better thanks to improved lighting.
Andre Chase
Andre the Giant
Although the WWE legends can’t be scanned because they’re either too old or too dead, some of them still have new faces.
This is presumably because some of them are featured in the Showcase mode – Andre the Giant is featured because of his match against Hulk Hogan, for example.
As such, some of them have presumably been given a tweak so they look better in cutscenes.
Angel Garza
Angelo Dawkins
Apollo Crews
Ashante Thee Adonis
Asuka
Asuka’s heel turn meant it was absolutely necessary to give her a new appearance in WWE 2K24.
Despite the wild change of look, it actually looks like she still has the same model for her face, which shows how different textures can make a world of difference.
Austin Theory
Axiom
Bad Bunny
Bad Bunny was a DLC pre-order bonus in WWE 2K23, but he’s available as a plain old regular character this time.
With the news that Post Malone is coming as DLC later on, you’ll be able to have a proper musical showdown in the future.
Baron Corbin
Baron Corbin no longer has the Happy Corbin gimmick he had in last year’s game.
As such, he loses the hat this time around.
Batista
Bayley
Bayley’s character model was the source of much debate, because early posts from the official WWE 2K account suggested that she wouldn’t look anything like her this year.
That appears to no longer be the case at launch, and while it could be argued that it’s still not a perfect match for Bayley’s current look, it’s still unquestionably Bayley.
Becky Lynch
Beth Phoenix
Beth Phoenix’s addition is a slightly awkward one, because her husband Edge is now at rival company AEW.
While Edge is no longer in the roster, however, Beth stays.
B-Fab
Bianca Belair
Big Boss Man
Boss Man has had the same face for a number of years now.
If anyone at Visual Concepts is reading this, we’re begging you to change it, because we’re (big) Boss Man fans at VGC and he still looks like a baby with a goatee.
Big E
Blair Davenport
Bobby Heenan
The Brain appears at ringside as the manager in a few of the early Showcase matches.
This would explain why he’s been given a new face here.
Bobby Lashley
Boogeyman
Booker T
Braun Strowman
Bray Wyatt
Fans were worried that the tragic death of Bray Wyatt would mean he wouldn’t feature in WWE 2K24.
On the contrary, the game is absolutely packed with him. Not only is his standard attire here, he also has a bunch of attires from the Firefly Funhouse match at WrestleMania.
His Fiend persona also returns, as does Uncle Howdy (seen further down).
Bret Hart
British Bulldog
Bron Breakker
Bruno Sammartino
Brutus Creed
Butch
Cactus Jack
Despite not really appearing in the Showcase mode, Mick Foley appears to have a new likeness this year.
As well as the return of Cactus Jack sporting a shiny new face, his Dude Love and Mankind personas also make a return to the series after a period of absence.
Cameron Grimes
Candice LeRae
Carmella
Carmelo Hayes
Cedric Alexander
Chad Gable
Charlotte Flair
Chyna
Cody Rhodes
Despite being the cover star this year, Cody doesn’t appear to have a new face.
This means you’re going to have to continue to put up with his grumpy look.
Cora Jade
Cruz Del Toro
Dakota Kai
Damian Priest
Damon Kemp
Dexter Lumis
Diesel
Dijak
Dijak was known as T-Bar in last year’s game.
While he has a new persona and a new look, however, he appears to still have the same face.
Doink the Clown
Dominik Mysterio
Drew Gulak
Drew McIntyre
Eddie Guerrero
Eddie Guerrero 1997
Elton Prince
Eric Bischoff
Erik
Eve Torres
Farooq
Finn Balor
Finn Balor seems to have a similar appearance to last year’s game.
As before, his old Demon persona isn’t available, meaning you’re stuck with the standard unpainted Finn if you want to play as him.
Gigi Dolin
Giovanni Vinci
Grayson Waller
Gunther
Harley Race
Hollywood Hogan
Hulk Hogan
The Hulkster has another new face this year, but 2K still hasn’t quite nailed his likeness.
It seems that he just has one of those faces that still hasn’t perfectly made the jump to the digital world.
Hulk Hogan 2002
Humberto Carrillo
The Hurricane
Ilja Dragunov
Indi Hartwell
Ivar
Both Ivar and his tag partner Erik appear to have new faces this year.
Great news for fans of the Viking Raiders, then, though hopefully Erik returns from his injury soon.
Ivy Nile
Iyo Sky
Jacy Jayne
Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts
JBL
JD McDonagh
Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler
Jey Uso
Jimmy Uso
Jim Neidhart
Jinder Mahal
Joaquin Wilde
Joe Gacy
John Cena
We were obviously tempted to just paste a blank image here.
Johnny Gargano
Julius Creed
Kane
Kane 2008
Karl Anderson
Karrion Kross
Katana Chance
Kayden Carter
Kevin Nash
Kevin Owens
Kit Wilson
Kofi Kingston
Kurt Angle
The Olympic champ makes a few appearances in Showcase mode this year.
During the mode, a running joke is made of the way he always pulls his straps down mid-fight whenever things get serious.
It’s a good job they’ve been made extra nice and shiny here, then.
LA Knight
Lita
Liv Morgan
Logan Paul
Ludwig Kaiser
Luke Gallows
Macho Man Randy Savage
Despite appearing in a few Showcase matches, Savage is another wrestler who’s never had a really solid likeness.
His face remains sadly unchanged this year, meaning he still looks like he’s just noticed a bad smell.
Maryse
Michin
The Miz
Montez Ford
MVP
Natalya
Nathan Frazer
Nikki Cross
The Scot has finally ditched her Nikki A.S.H. superhero gimmick.
That means she’s back to her mask-free look this time around.
Nikkita Lyons
Noam Dar
We dont know what’s happened here, but Noam Dar looks different, and not in a good way.
He’s one of the few superstars this year who actually look worse than they did in WWE 2K23.
Omos
Otis
Paul Heyman
Piper Niven
Niven has thankfully dropped her Doudrop gimmick and appears to have a new face to celebrate.
She still hasn’t lost her love of wearing jackets to ringside, though.
Randy Orton
Randy Orton 2002
Raquel Rodriguez
Razor Ramon
Rey Mysterio
Rhea Ripley
Rick Steiner
Ricochet
Ridge Holland
Rikishi
Robert Roode
Rob Van Dam
The Rock
Roman Reigns
Ronda Rousey
Rowdy Roddy Piper
Roxanne Perez
R Truth
Sami Zayn
Sami is another one of a handful of superstars who we think has suffered a make-under.
His WWE 2K24 appearance certainly isn’t quite as lifelike as his 2K23 one.
Santos Escobar
Scarlett
Scott Hall
Scott Steiner
Seth Rollins
Shane McMahon
Shawn Michaels
Shawn Michaels 2005
Shayna Baszler
Sheamus
Shinsuke Nakamura
Solid proof that the act of turning from face to heel is as simple as parting your hair in the other direction.
Shotzi
Solo Sikoa
Sonya Deville
Stacy Keibler
Stephanie McMahon
She may have left the company, but Stephanie remains in the game as a playable wrestler.
Stone Cold Steve Austin
Syxx
Tamina
Ted DiBiase
Much like the Big Boss Man, the Million Dollar Man is another ’80s and ’90s era WWE legend who sadly still doesn’t have a perfect likeness.
Tiffany Stratton
Tommaso Ciampa
Tony D’Angelo
Trick Williams
Triple H
Triple H 2008
Trish Stratus
Trish’s surprising return for another run in the WWE has led to her getting a new face.
It’s a massive improvement over last year’s game and possibly the best upgrade of them all.
Tyler Bate
Tyler Breeze
Ultimate Warrior
Umaga
Uncle Howdy
The Undertaker
The Undertaker 1998
The Undertaker 2003
Vader
Valhalla
Veer Mahaan
Wade Barrett
Wendy Choo
Wes Lee
Xavier Woods
Xia Li
X-Pac
Yokozuna
Zelina Vega
Since she no longer has her Queen Zelina gimmick, Zelina Vega has lost her crown.
She does have much better hair, though, so there’s that at least.
Zoey Stark
