The SmackDown Fist Will Be In A WWE Game For The First Time In 15 Years
Sophia Edwards WWE 2K revealed the first official details about WWE 2K23 this week. Confirmation that John Cena will be its cover star and that some of the 16-time World Champion's most famous losses will be the focus of its showcase. The matches included in that showcase mean something fans love dearly will be returning to WWE games for the first time in a long time. The SmackDown Fist.
The SmackDown Fist In WWE 2K23
Pointed out by The SmackDown Hotel, in a trailer detailing Cena's showcase, a short look at the in-game version of his debut match against Kurt Angle shows the iconic arena. Cena can be seen flexing on the turnbuckle with the well-loved stage in the background. The same stage Cena emerged from when he was seen by WWE fans for the very first time in 2002.
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Also according to The SmackDown Hotel, the arena's inclusion in WWE 2K23 will mark the first time the SmackDown Fist has been a default arena in a wrestling game since SmackDown vs. Raw 2008. So 15 years since fans were able to recreate iconic moments from the blue brand's history with what might well be the most popular arena of all time as the backdrop.
Unique Arenas Are No More
Arenas like the one in which the SmackDown Fist was the star have long been a thing of the past in WWE. It is now the done thing to use what is effectively a giant screen so the colors and theme of a particular show, or a wrestler making their entrance, can be played upon it. The only exception tends to be WrestleMania which usually gets its own unique stage, plus the odd big show like Royal Rumble or SummerSlam.
Fans of the SmackDown Fist will be able to play WWE 2K23 in that arena when the game launches on March 17, 2023. Or three days earlier if you pre-order either the deluxe or icon versions of the game. AEW Fight Forever is also presumably coming soon in what will be a busy year for wrestling games, although apparently an ESRB rating issue is holding up its arrival.
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