Liv Morgan, Ruby Riott & Sarah Logan
NXT standout Ruby Riott was included as DLC for 2K18 shortly before her real-life promotion to Smackdown, but there was no such reward for stablemates Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan. WWE 2K19 sees that oversight made good, with both heel ladies earning deserved series debuts.
Mandy Rose, Paige & Sonya Deville
Norwich brawler Paige is a 2K series mainstay, but on her return from a long injury lay-off last year she brought with her two upstarts from NXT to form ‘Absolution’. Mandy Rose has the aura of a young Trish Stratus, while Sonya Deville boasts a legitimate MMA background – and the ‘push’ given to both since debuting guarantees each a place in WWE 2K19.
Maryse
A popular readmission to the roster for WWE 2K18, Maryse seems once more entrenched in WWE, from both a fantasy and real-life perspective. She returned to Smackdown shortly after the birth of daughter Monroe Sky with husband Mike 'The Miz' Mizanin, and the pair now have their own show on the WWE Network called Miz & Mrs.
The Miz
Echo what I wrote about Maryse above. The Miz has appeared reinvigorated by his wife's return to WWE TV, and shared one of the summer's best feuds with long-time nemesis, and former NXT protege, Daniel Bryan. Miz & Mrs is well worth a watch for anyone who subscribes to the WWE Network.
Mojo Rawley & Zack Ryder
The tandem known as Hype Bros, formed in Rawley's NXT days, were never considered likely to have much of a shelf life on the main roster – but they managed to eke things out for two years until Rawley turned on Ryder in November 2017. That should have led to a sustained, bloody feud between the two, but instead WWE lost interest in both. Shame.
Mustafa Ali
Unquestionably the most exciting grappler not to have yet won WWE's Cruiserweight Championship, Ali proved his worth across a series of electrifying bouts against Buddy Murphy on 205 Live, and a magnificent tilt for the then-vacant belt with Cedric Alexander at WrestleMania 34. His supremely athletic moveset makes him one of WWE 2K19's best new faces.
Natalya
Nattie looked set for a heel turn on friend Ronda Rousey throughout the summer, but the passing of her father, Hart Foundation favourite Jim Neidhart, caused WWE to change direction around Summerslam. Rightly so, as no crowd would have wished to boo her in such circumstances. She remains the women's division's most reliable hand.
Naomi
It’s been a largely forgettable year so far for Smackdown’s fan of ‘feeling the glow’, with one colossal exception: her victory in the inaugural WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal. As is too often the case in WWE that huge win has had precious little follow-up, with Naomi often lost in the mix on a show also featuring Asuka, Charlotte and Becky Lynch.
Nia Jax
2018 should have been a landmark year for Jax after she captured the Raw Women’s Championship from Alexa Bliss at WrestleMania. However, a rushed feud with Ronda Rousey sent mixed messages to fans about whether she should be considered a face or heel, and resulted in her dropping the belt back to Bliss. A second reign now seems unlikely.
Nick Miller & Shane Thorne
Miller and Thorne, then known as TM-61, were the biggest surprise of all on the WWE 2K18 roster – not least because when the game hit the latter was out with long-term knee injury. Few took notice when the Aussie tandem returned last January, so they've since turned heel and renamed themselves 'The Mighty' – though it's likely their old name and entrance which will be present in 2K19.
