WWE 2K22: Most controversial roster ratings

One of the more unique part of the WWE 2K22 game is giving a value rating to each wrestler. The rating determines how powerful the wrestler is to use. This number is not assigned randomly, but based on the success rate of the wrestler, their iconography, and their overall experience in the sport.

It’s hard to determine wrestling stats based on a sport with pre-determined results and choreographed spots, but there is a logic behind it. WWE 2K22 is telling a story about which wrestlers they think are still trending and worth your time.

Whether the scoring system is based on a random algorithm, popular opinion, or the true feelings of management matters little. The important thing is that the social media is going crazy over who is getting their intended score.

There have been no hard feelings or bitterness for wrestlers receiving a lower score than desired in WWE 2K22, but some of the decisions have raised an eyebrow. With WWE 2K22’s roster you get 80s legends, WCW, and NXT. I can’t imagine it is easy coming up with a rating, but here are the ones that I find most perplexing.

1. Hollywood Hogan at 92

The man with six inch pythons has one of the highest scores in WWE 2K22. He is only dwarfed by Roman Reigns (95) and Brock Lesnar who has a 94. Hollywood Hogan is a household name in American wrestling culture and definitely a cornerstone in wrestling entertainment, but he is also a decade behind in relevance. I get that the WWE 2K22 is trying to build hype over their inclusion of the NWO (Kevin and Scott have 90). Hogan has not done anything significant (at least in a positive sense in the last ten years). The fact that WWE is extending an olive branch to him is an incredibly kind gesture.

Hogan has no current work to prove his rating and his last significant match was in The Main Event Mafia in TNA. Contrast this with The Ultimate Warrior and Randy Savage who have 88.

2. Elias and Akira Tozowa at 75

Sixty-nine is the lowest score on the roster (so far). Eric Bischoff takes that award. Elias and Akira are holding second-to-the-bottom and it shouldn’t surprise anyone. Elias, the heel musician and punching bag of Cena has not been relevant since August 2021 (according to a Google search of him). Akira Tozowa, a Cruiserweight champion, has not been turning heads since he was on the roster of WWE 2K17. A Google search of him did not bring up anything relevant.

This goes to show that WWE has a basement roster of unused talent. Thankfully, some of these guys are free agents.

3. Goldberg at 88

I don’t know if this is poetic justice to put Goldberg behind the NWO (who haven’t been in matches in over a decade). Goldberg has been the main event to help WWE champions get over. The WWE has been riding on his legacy as the unbeatable machine that finishes off jobbers in under a minute. That sounds like he should be at least a 90. But the fact that the main event draw and multiple belt champion is at 88 shows that even WWE might be getting tired of using him. To be fair, Rey Misterio (2009) has the same score, which means that maybe WWE should have stopped using him in 2009.

4. Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, and Sasha Banks

The women’s division ranges between 92 and 80 for most of the female wrestlers. Charlotte Flair has a 90, while Sasha Banks has 88. Becky Lynch has the top score with 92.  Bianca Belair, the hottest breakout women’s champion right now, has a stinking 86. I know she is newer than the women she is facing in PPVs, but 86 suggests a slight mid-card level. I get the rating from a career perspective. She is still fresh, while Charlotte, Sasha, and Becky have been the foundation of women’s wrestling. But, if experience determines the score, why does Chyna have an 87?

There are a lot of up-and-coming women superstars that have very humble scores. Liv Morgan has a 77, while Dakota Kai has a 79. Does this mean that Liv Morgan is only slightly valued above Elias?

5. John Cena TBD

Mr. Hustle and Respect’s absence from a rating has many scratching their head. We saw him in the trailer, but it has not been mentioned if he is even going to be in the game’s original roster. Not adding John Cena to WWE game is like removing the ring ropes (you just don’t do it).

For a near-complete list of wrestler ratings, you can visit here.