Ethan Crossfield 
Annual sports franchises rely on regular content drops to keep large rosters and long-term modes active between major releases. WWE 2K26 is continuing that approach with the next Ringside Pass update, which launches on September 9 and adds several wrestlers, an alternate Randy Orton persona, and new Bianca Belair gear.
September 9 update expands the WWE 2K26 roster
Ringside Pass Season 5 will introduce four new playable wrestlers: Danhausen, Brie Bella, Bam Bam Bigelow, and AAA wrestler Pagano. The group covers multiple eras and wrestling scenes, combining established WWE names with talent associated with modern wrestling and international audiences.
The update also adds Randy Orton’s 2005-era Legend Killer persona. Rather than being a completely new roster slot, this version gives players a career-specific interpretation of an existing WWE star. Bianca Belair is receiving a visual addition as well, with gear based on her appearance at WrestleMania 41.
The premium Ringside Pass track costs $9.99. According to the announced details, all four new wrestlers are unlocked on its first tier, while MyFaction cards for the Season 5 additions will also be available through the premium progression.
A substantial addition to an already broad roster
WWE 2K26 launched with more than 400 wrestlers, spanning legends such as Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage alongside current stars including Cody Rhodes and Oba Femi. That scale gives Visual Concepts and 2K room to build updates around several different parts of wrestling history rather than focusing only on current WWE programming.
The base game has also received notable mode changes, including the addition of the WWE Draft in Universe mode and a reworked MyRise story. The Season 5 content therefore arrives as part of a wider strategy: continue expanding the roster while giving players more ways to use its existing stars.
Recent DLC points to a continuing content cycle
Season 5 follows several other major additions. The WrestleMania 42 DLC pack introduced new personas for Cody Rhodes and Alexa Bliss, along with arenas based on both nights of the event. The previous Ringside Pass season added Matt and Jeff Hardy, musician Jelly Roll, and AAA wrestler Lady Shani.
Visual Concepts has also outlined what comes after Season 5. The next Ringside Pass is expected to add Earthquake and Typhoon, the two members of the Natural Disasters team, as well as Royce Keys and Octagon Jr. The developer is also expected to continue exploring classic personas tied to specific periods in wrestlers’ careers, although further character details have not been confirmed.
Key points
- Ringside Pass Season 5 launches on September 9.
- Danhausen, Brie Bella, Bam Bam Bigelow, and Pagano join the roster.
- Randy Orton’s 2005 Legend Killer persona and Bianca Belair’s WrestleMania 41 gear are included.
- The premium track costs $9.99 and includes MyFaction cards for the new wrestlers.
Expert View
The update reinforces WWE 2K26’s position as a live content-driven sports game rather than a release that ends its support at launch. The combination of new wrestlers, era-based personas, cosmetic gear, and MyFaction rewards gives different parts of the community a reason to return. For roster-focused players, Danhausen and Pagano broaden the game’s representation of wrestling beyond WWE’s current lineup, while the 2005 Randy Orton persona targets fans interested in historical versions of major stars. With one more Ringside Pass already teased, the franchise still has a clear route for maintaining attention through additional roster reveals and character-focused content.
