15 things we want to see in 'WWE 2K19'

Last week, it was announced that "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles will be the coverboy for "WWE 2K19," which is slated to release on major video game consoles in October. This first announcement will set off a string of revelations about the game over the next three months, which got us thinking - what are some things we would like to see in "WWE 2K19"?

Here is our wish list:

1. Mixed Match Challenge: WWE debuted a new, relatively interactive show exclusively on Facebook Watch this spring, which featured "mixed" tag team bouts (one male and one female superstar) in a single elimination tournament. The winning team allegedly gave a donation to a charity of their choice, which was a valiant cause. But the best thing that came out of the Mixed Match Challenge was the fun combination of men and women from RAW and SmackDown - teams like Finn Balor and Sasha Banks, Bobby Roode and Charlotte Flair, Braun Strowman and Alexa Bliss, and the eventual winners, The Miz and Asuka. Mixed tag has not been an option in WWE video games for years (likely due to the implications of men inflicting potential violence on women). Of course, as on WWE television, this mode could force teams to tag out so that only same-gender fighting could occur, but the inclusion of this new mode would certainly be a breath of fresh air into what feels, at times, like a stagnant formula.
2. Easier Alternate Attires: Previously, WWE games allowed players to customize superstars' attires in a simple and straight-forward manner. You'd just go into "Edit a Superstar," modify the color of their attire (even picking different colors for boots, kickpads, tights, shirts and accessories, if desired), and save your changes. You could usually save two or three alternate attires, and, although they would basically just be different colorways of the same single outfit, it was really easy to switch between those options. Now, alternate attires take up a Create-a-Wrestler slot and it's not very clear how to actually set the attire as an alternate. Simplify this process and free up our CAW slots, please.
3. Seamless Saving for Tag Teams: Currently, if you want to keep stables and tag teams up-to-date with WWE TV, you've got to create the faction in the "My WWE" section of the main menu, then create it all over again in "WWE Universe" mode, which is a real pain. There should be an option that asks, "Do you want to save this team in 'WWE Universe,' as well?" Simple yes/no. If you want your Universe mode to be a fantasy league of sorts, keep it that way. But give those of us who keep the default roster and the Universe roster current a break and don't make us do the same work twice.
4. More/Better Created Tag Team Entrances: Speaking of tag team creation, it's lame to use the same two or three generic entrances for created teams. I like that they have unique entrances for created teams, but there should be more options for generic "babyface" or "heel" stables to prevent things from getting too repetitive. Not every trio team wants to enter like Evolution.
5. Bring Back "Showcase Mode": One mode that was a bit of an acquired taste over the past few years was "Showcase Mode," which was a linear story mode that recreated classic moments in the WWE history. From the all-Stone Cold Steve Austin mode featured in "WWE 2K16" to the "Hall of Fame" and other miscellaneous storylines featured in several other games, "Showcase Mode" was a fun way for nostalgic fans to be a part of some of their favorite memories. The mode was not present in "2K18," and it would be nice to get it back in the fall.
6. Bring Back "GM Mode"/Superstar Draft: Another mode that we would really love to get back is "GM Mode," which was last used in "WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2008." It's been 10 years since players had this mode, which allowed a fantasy draft between SmackDown and RAW. The absence of a "draft" feature makes running a completely customized "Universe" mode a bit of a chore, and bringing it back would help more easily facilitate year-long dream match-ups between legends and the current active roster. WWE TV holds a "Superstar Shake Up" each year, and it's time that the video games allowed fans the same option again.
7. Ditch "MyCareer" Mode: WWE 2K has tried to copy their sister series NBA 2K by utilizing a "MyCareer" mode, which was meant to allow players to create an upstart wrestler and run them through the ranks of the WWE roster, from "jobber" status to headlining Pay-Per-Views. However, unlike the success of this mode in 2K basketball games, the "MyCareer" mode in "WWE 2K18" really, truly sucked. The mode, in general, seemed pretty cookie-cutter, essentially presenting two linear options (good guy/bad guy), restricting nearly all freedom of choice for the players. The worst offender was the dialogue, which was absolutely unbearable. It seemed like it was written by a 4th grader. Honestly. "MyCareer" was rarely touched by us, here at the Underground, and we firmly believe that it's time to either scrap it in favor of other modes or at least have the story written by someone who speaks fluent English.
8. More Coherent Promo System: Another feature that was recently introduced but could really use an overhaul is the Promo system. Both "MyCareer" and "Universe" modes allowed wrestlers to occasionally cut promos on the mic, which sounded like a great idea on paper, but the execution was botched harder than a bad match in NXT. Supposedly, players were to assess the characteristics of the crowd (or something) as they cut their promos, but, unless you Googled how to do this effectively, it was pretty much a guessing game. Here, again, the dialogue was pretty juvenile and surely could have been presented more clearly. It just didn't make much sense and it wasn't intuitive at all. Come on, 2K. Iron this out and come back stronger next year. Cutting promos should be fun, not tedious. (Check out the G.O.A.T. Chris Jericho cutting the first of his classic "List of Jericho" promos here.)
9. Clearer Money in the Bank Cash-in Process: WWE's "Money in the Bank" Pay-Per-View is one of the most exciting shows of the year. The winner of the MITB ladder match gets possession of a briefcase that can be cashed-in for a championship match anytime, anywhere. While this concept exists in "Universe" mode, granting the winner similar privileges, the cash-in process is muddy, at best. We would explain to you how to cash-in the briefcase, but we don't really know. Randomly, the player will be asked if they want to cash-in their briefcase after a championship match, but when can this be done? Only at the end of a PPV? Only at Wrestlemania? Like WWE TV, Mr. and Mrs. Money in the Bank should be able to cash-in at will, with the press of a button - not just at a time that the game deems to be convenient.
10. Additional Match Options for Universe Rivalries: "Universe" mode consists of a rolling calendar that gives players the power to book matches for RAW, SmackDown, NXT, custom/created shows and their associated PPVs. Along the way, superstars can develop rivalry storylines (both singles and tag teams), which is great. But the part that needs to be fixed is that rivalries, as presently constituted, must be head-to-head. For instance, if you are running a rivalry between Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura, every match for the duration of the rivalry must be those two wrestlers fighting against each other. Why not give us the option to have Orton fight Jinder Mahal, with Nakamura as a "guest commentator"? It would be fun to have an option to make Randy and Shinsuke be tag team partners for a week, which is not uncommon on television? Or how about Nakamura versus Bobby Rude, with Orton causing a mid-match distraction? Having to pit the rival competitors against each other for 8 straight SmackDowns, only then to make them fight again at the PPV isn't realistic and just doesn't make any sense.
11. More Versatile Commentary: If I have to listen to Michael Cole spout off the same lines he's been using for the past four years one more time, so help me... "And the sound of human flesh on the ground echoes throughout the arena..."
12. Gauntlet Matches: WWE TV has been loving the Gauntlet match lately, having prominent gauntlets run on both RAW and SmackDown. Gauntlet matches typically involve four or more competitors, with two wrestlers starting in the ring. When one superstar pins, submits or is disqualified, another competitor will enter the match, and the process repeats itself until the last fighter is left standing. Seth Rollins recently lasted an hour in a Gauntlet match on RAW, so you would think that this match type would be on 2K's radar for next year. Gauntlet matches have been featured in the past (either as "Gauntlet" or "Slobber Knocker" matches), but if you wanted to do something along these lines in "2K18," you'd have to go into the new "Match Creator" feature, which was an underwhelming addition to the game, at best. Just give us the straight-up Gauntlet match without requiring any additional effort on the part of the gamer.
13. Women's Royal Rumble: With the WWE's crusade for gender equality over the past couple of years, the option to run a Women's Rumble has got to be in "2K19," right? WWE held the first-ever Women's Royal Rumble in January, so failure to introduce this game mode would be a tremendous oversight.
14. Hulk Hogan: It's time to welcome him back to the WWE. Please give us a Hulkster and a Hollywood Hogan so we don't have to create him ourselves. Thank you.
15. Periodic - FREE - Content Updates: "NBA 2K" does it. "MLB The Show" does it. "Madden" does it. Heck, every major sports franchise gives free roster updates. If a player changes his number or gets traded to a different team - even sometimes if a player makes a noticeable change to his appearance - the company will update the character model in the game to keep the content accurate. Such is not the case with wrestling. They do have a "season pass" that will offer (not for free) additional characters that were not included at the time of the release, but if, say, Matt Hardy completely changes his gimmick, as he did this past calendar year, TOO BAD. We're stuck with the "Hardy Boyz" model and we have to rely on some talented CAW perfectionist to create the "Woken" attire. Why doesn't 2K patch the game and allow this content, free of charge?

Oh yeah. To make sure that we are forced into buying the game next year.

-_- (Sad, neutral-faced emoji)

"WWE 2K19" launches on October 9, 2018. Hopefully somebody at 2K is reading this blog and will include solutions to all of our suggestions. That would be WONDERFUL (*Woken Matt Hardy voice*). Pre-order the game to play as Rey Mysterio.