WWE 2k24 showcase matches: What Most People Get Wrong

You ever feel like you're doing chores just to see a movie? That’s basically the vibe some people get from the WWE 2k24 showcase matches. Don’t get me wrong, celebrating 40 years of WrestleMania is a massive flex by 2K, but if you go into this expecting a seamless wrestling experience, you’re gonna be surprised. It’s less of a "game" and more of a playable documentary where the referee is actually a checklist.

Honestly, the Slingshot technology they use—the thing that transitions from the game's 3D models to real-life grainy footage—is still kinda mind-blowing. One second you're mashing buttons as "Macho Man" Randy Savage, and the next, you're watching the actual 1987 footage of him at WrestleMania III. It’s cool. But it also means you aren't really "winning" the matches in the traditional sense. You're reenacting them.

The Match List: Who Made the Cut (and Who Didn't)

There are 21 matches in total. 21. That’s a lot of history to pack into one mode, yet somehow it feels like there are giant holes. Why? Because lawyers.

Since many legends are currently signed with other companies (looking at you, AEW), we don't get Edge, The Hardys, or even Sting. And because of... well, real-life "situations," guys like Brock Lesnar and CM Punk are basically ghosts in this mode, even if they were part of the original history.

Here is the general flow of what you’ll actually be playing through:

The Golden Era and New Generation

• WrestleMania III: Ricky Steamboat vs. "Macho Man" Randy Savage. This is the opener. It’s fast. It’s technical. It’s basically the blueprint for every "workrate" match you love today.
• WrestleMania III: Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant. You know the drill. Slam the giant, win the match.
• WrestleMania V: Rick Rude vs. Ultimate Warrior.
• WrestleMania V: Hulk Hogan vs. Randy Savage. The Mega Powers exploding.
• WrestleMania VI: Ultimate Warrior vs. Hulk Hogan. The "Challenge" where everyone was a babyface and the crowd didn't know who to cheer for.
• WrestleMania VIII: Bret Hart vs. Roddy Piper.
• WrestleMania X: Razor Ramon vs. Shawn Michaels. The ladder match. This one is a pain in the neck to complete because of the ladder mechanics, but the unlockables are worth it.

The Attitude and Ruthless Aggression Eras

Things get a bit spotty here. We get the heavy hitters, but the transitions feel faster.

• WrestleMania 13: Bret Hart vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin. This is the submission match that changed everything.
• WrestleMania X-Seven: Stone Cold vs. The Rock. Arguably the peak of the Attitude Era.
• WrestleMania XX: Eddie Guerrero vs. Kurt Angle.
• WrestleMania 21: Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels. Personally? Best match in the whole mode. The objectives are actually fun here.
• WrestleMania 25: The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels. Perfection.

The Modern Era

• WrestleMania 31: Randy Orton vs. Seth Rollins (The Curb Stomp into an RKO spot).
• WrestleMania 31: Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar (plus the Seth Rollins heist).
• WrestleMania 35: Becky Lynch vs. Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte Flair. The first women’s main event.
• WrestleMania 36: "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt vs. John Cena. This is the "Firefly Fun House" match. It is weird. It is psychedelic. It barely feels like wrestling, but it's a trip.
• WrestleMania 38: Stone Cold vs. Kevin Owens.
• WrestleMania 39: Rhea Ripley vs. Charlotte Flair.
• WrestleMania 39: Bianca Belair vs. Asuka.
• WrestleMania 39: Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes. The one where Cody didn't finish the story (yet).

The "Homework" Problem

Let’s talk about the objectives. This is where most players get frustrated. To unlock the cool stuff—like the WrestleMania 30 arena or the 1997 version of Stone Cold—you can't just pin your opponent.

You have to follow specific prompts. "Damage your opponent in the ring." "Perform a Light Combo." "Irish Whip them into the bottom-left turnbuckle."

If you miss one? No unlock.

It feels a bit like being an actor on a movie set where the director is screaming instructions at you while you’re trying to remember your lines. You'll be mid-match, having a blast, and then realize you have to pause the game to figure out how to do a specific "Grab Combo" just to move the progress bar 5%. It kills the momentum.

Pro tip: Just put the game on Easy. Seriously. There is no trophy or achievement for doing Showcase on Legend difficulty. The AI can be incredibly annoying when you're trying to set up a specific objective, reversing your moves right when you need to trigger a cutscene. Save yourself the headache.

What You Actually Get for Your Trouble

Is it worth the grind? Sorta.

If you’re a fan of the MyFaction mode, the WWE 2k24 showcase matches are a goldmine. Completing the "Bonus Match" (the All-Star Royal Rumble at the end) gives you a bunch of Ruby and Sapphire cards that can carry you through the early months of the game.

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But for most of us, it’s about the legends and the arenas. You want that retro WrestleMania III vibe? You gotta beat Hogan and Andre. You want the nWo version of John Cena? You’re going through the Firefly Funhouse.

The Mystery of the "Missing" Legends

People always ask: "Where is the Rock vs. Hogan from Mania 18?" or "Why isn't Undertaker vs. Kane here?"

The truth is usually boring: Licensing.

If WWE doesn't have the rights to a specific wrestler's likeness for that year, or if there’s a legal dispute, that match simply cannot exist in the game. It sucks, but it’s the reality of modern sports gaming. Also, 2K tends to lean on matches they already have the assets for from previous years to save time.

The Final Verdict on the Mode

The Showcase of the Immortals is a love letter that’s a little bit too obsessed with its own footnotes. It’s beautiful to look at and the historical context provided by the voiceovers (often featuring Cory Graves or the superstars themselves) adds a lot of weight to the matches.

But as a gameplay experience? It’s stiff.

If you're a completionist, you’ll spend about 6 to 8 hours knocking these out. If you just want to play a wrestling game, you might find yourself skipping the cutscenes and wishing for the old "Season Mode" from the PS2 era.

Step-by-Step for Maximum Efficiency

If you're just starting, do this:

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1. Toggle the Difficulty: Go to the main settings and drop it to Easy. The AI won't reverse your objective-based grapples as often.
2. Focus on the HUD: Keep your eye on the top-left corner. The objectives change constantly. Don't waste your finishers until the game specifically tells you to use one.
3. Check the Move List: If an objective asks for a "Heavy Combo," pause the game, go to the move list, and look up the specific button sequence. It’s faster than guessing.
4. Finish the Bonus Match: Don't stop after the Roman/Cody match. The final "mashing of eras" match is where the biggest MyFaction rewards are hidden.

What to do next

Go into the Showcase menu and start with the Steamboat vs. Savage match. It's the shortest and gives you a feel for how the "Slingshot" transitions work before you get into the longer, more complex matches like the WrestleMania 35 Triple Threat. Be sure to check your rewards in the "Edit Roster" section afterward to make sure your legends actually unlocked.