WWE 2K26 Teases Trish Stratus ’00 Variant for Next Update

As WWE 2K26 continues to build its roster through ongoing updates, Visual Concepts and 2K are leaning hard into nostalgia—starting with a fresh throwback character reveal. The latest tease: a new Trish Stratus variant tied directly to her 2000 WWE debut.

A new Trish Stratus, built around her 2000 debut

WWE 2K26 has officially revealed a brand-new version of Trish Stratus on its social media channels. The variant is based on Stratus’s appearance from her WWE debut year in 2000, including a snakeskin-style dress that mirrors the outfit she wore around her in-ring debut.

That look is specifically tied to her early WWE storyline, when Stratus teamed up alongside Test and Prince Albert against The Hardy Boyz and Lita. According to the announcement, Stratus personally selected the outfit for this WWE 2K26 variant, aiming to capture what she described as the beginning of her WWE journey.

While the reveal confirms the character’s arrival, it does not provide a specific release date in the announcement itself. However, the tease suggests the new Trish Stratus ’00 variant may land with the next Ringside Pass, which is scheduled to begin in July.

Why this variant fits WWE 2K26’s wider roster strategy

This Trish Stratus throwback is part of a broader pattern for WWE 2K26’s roster presentation. The game includes a wide selection of recognizable WWE superstars—featuring major names such as Hulk Hogan, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, and John Cena.

Beyond the headline roster, WWE 2K26 also emphasizes career-spanning variations. Players can encounter different versions of certain wrestlers based on their past eras and storylines—like Hollywood Hogan from his NWO period and multiple distinct characters for Mick Foley.

In that context, Stratus ’00 follows a familiar formula: instead of just adding another classic figure, the game is using a historically grounded costume and debut-year identity to make the character feel like an event. The result is a more curated “history of WWE” approach, rather than a purely incremental character drop.

Other women’s legends and what’s next after this tease

Trish Stratus isn’t the only female legend getting attention in WWE 2K26. Lita is available as a playable character in the base game, giving players another key name from the earlier women’s wrestling landscape.

The game’s update pipeline has also included more women through downloadable content. Ringside Pass Season 3 added Torrie Wilson, while the 1997 version of Chyna is included as part of WWE 2K26’s Attitude Era edition.

Looking ahead, WWE 2K26’s ongoing Ringside Pass seasons continue to expand the roster. Season 4 launching in July is set to add Matt and Jeff Hardy, musician Jelly Roll, and Lady Shani. Later seasons are also planned to include additional modern WWE names, including Danhausen in Season 5 and Royce Keys in Season 6.

Taken together, the Trish Stratus ’00 tease signals that WWE 2K26’s post-launch plan is still focused on both era-specific nostalgia and consistent, season-by-season momentum.

Key points

• WWE 2K26 teased a new Trish Stratus variant based on her WWE debut in 2000.
• The outfit is modeled on her early-ring look, including a snakeskin-style dress from that era.
• The announcement doesn’t confirm an exact date, but it may arrive with the next Ringside Pass in July.
• The roster strategy continues with other women’s legends like Lita, plus planned additions across upcoming Ringside Pass seasons.

Expert View

This tease suggests WWE 2K26 is doubling down on “era fidelity” as a differentiator in a crowded wrestling game space. By tying character variants to specific debut-year visuals and coupling them with a steady Ringside Pass cadence, Visual Concepts and 2K are reinforcing a long-term engagement loop—one that encourages players to keep coming back for legacy-accurate additions rather than one-off roster updates.