• Roster Confirmation: Joe Hendry is officially joining the WWE 2K26 roster as a pre-order/special edition bonus.
  • Customization Overhaul: Visual Concepts is doubling the available slots for Create a Superstar and Create an Image.
  • Pre-Order Content: The "Joe Hendry Pack" includes the playable character, a MyFACTION EVO card, a shirt cosmetic, and the "Spin Island" Emote.
  • The Island Returns: Developers confirmed the return of the controversial "Island" feature.

Say His Name: Joe Hendry Hits the Official Roster

We’ve been screaming it from the rafters, and Visual Concepts finally listened. After being the undisputed king of the Community Creations tab in WWE 2K25, Joe Hendry has officially transitioned from a fan-made favorite to a core part of the WWE 2K26 roster. It’s a move that feels long overdue given his meteoric rise across TNA and his massive pops at the 2025 Royal Rumble and WrestleMania, where he stood toe-to-toe with Randy Orton.

Our take? This is a massive win for roster authenticity. Last year, the lack of an official Hendry model felt like a glaring hole in the game's "Forbidden Door" partnership with TNA. Creative Director Lynell Jinks admitted that keeping up with the viral nature of the business is a constant struggle, stating, "We always have our work cut out for us." This time, they didn't miss. If you want to play as the man who helped skyrocket TNA's visibility, you’ll need to look toward the Joe Hendry Pack, which is locked behind pre-orders or the game’s three special editions.

More Than Just a Meme: The Pro-Wrestler Built by Video Games

During a recent hands-on session at WWE HQ, we caught up with Hendry, who dropped a fascinating bit of lore for us long-time gamers. It turns out he isn’t just a character in the game—he’s a product of it. Hendry credits the classic Smackdown titles for steering him toward the squared circle.

"I remember being a young teenager playing the Smackdown games, being obsessed with them, kind of creating my own story lines... creating my own wrestlers," Hendry told us. He even admitted to using the in-game creation suite about five years ago to prototype his current look and wrestling gear. Seeing a superstar go from the CAS (Create a Superstar) menu to a motion-capture suit brings the whole experience full circle.

Tech Upgrades: Doubling Down on Customization

The tech side of WWE 2K26 is looking beefy. For the power users who spend more time in the menus than the ring, the news that Visual Concepts is doubling the slots for Create a Superstar and Create an Image is huge. CAS enthusiasts have been hitting the "memory wall" for years, so this expansion is a much-needed QoL (Quality of Life) buff that should keep the Community Creations scene thriving well into the game's life cycle.

The Joe Hendry Pack Breakdown

If you’re planning on picking up one of the special editions, here is exactly what’s included in the Hendry-specific content drop:

  • Playable Joe Hendry: Fully modeled with his iconic entrance.
  • Joe Hendry Shirt: A cosmetic item for your custom stars.
  • MyFACTION EVO Card: Essential for those grinding the card-collecting meta.
  • Spin Island Emote: Capturing the spirit of his viral theme song.

The Island and the Meta

It’s not all sunshine and memes, though. We’ve confirmed that "The Island" is returning in WWE 2K26. While it remains one of the more divisive features from the previous entry, its inclusion suggests Visual Concepts is sticking to their guns on certain gameplay systems. We'll be watching closely to see if they've tweaked the mechanics to address the community's previous gripes, or if it's going to be another year of polarizing discourse on the forums.