WWE 2K26 brings one of the most story-driven career modes the franchise has ever attempted. MyRISE: The Comeback puts you in the boots of "The Archetype," a returning superstar who must claw their way back to the top after a multi-year absence. Every press conference answer, every personality choice, and every match rating you earn shapes both the story you experience and the rewards you walk away with. This guide breaks down every unlockable character, arena, championship, and CAS item across both the Men's and Women's Division stories, plus the full RISE Rewards star milestone table.
WWE 2K26 MyRISE Guide: All Unlockables and How to Get Them
What Is MyRISE in WWE 2K26?
WWE 2K26 redesigns its career mode around a two-division branching narrative called The Comeback. You play as "The Archetype" in either the Men's or Women's Division, returning to WWE after a hiatus and immediately running into Paul Heyman, who has positioned his hand-picked champions, Bron Breakker (Men's) or Jordynne Grace (Women's), as the obstacles standing between you and the top.
The story spans seven chapters and branches dramatically based on two key alignment choices: Fan Favorite (Face) or Rule Breaker (Heel). These paths deliver different rivalries, different rewards, and different endings, so a full completion requires at least two playthroughs per division.
What Are RISE Matches?
Rather than functioning as optional side content, RISE Matches are now fully woven into the main career progression path. Every match you play is rated on a scale of 1 to 5 stars, and those stars accumulate in the RISE Rewards menu. The higher your match quality, the faster you hit the star thresholds that unlock legendary characters and exclusive arenas. A perfect 5-star match earns 5 stars, so consistency at the top level is the fastest route to the best rewards.
If you dislike the match type or opponent assigned to you, the Rebook option lets you swap it out, provided you have a rebook available.
How Does the Branching Story Work?
Your first major choice arrives during the opening Press Conference, where you declare yourself a Fan Favorite or a Rule Breaker. This sets Chapter 1 onto either the Brick By Brick (Face) or Burning Bridges (Heel) path. Additional decision branches appear throughout the story at key moments:
- After Chapter 2: Choose NXT or SmackDown
- After Chapter 4: Team with your ally for tag gold or go solo
- After Chapter 5: A final chance to switch alignment
- After Chapter 6: Take out Paul Heyman or become his client
The Chapter 7 ending ("Alone at the Top" or "Souled Out") is determined entirely by that final Heyman decision.
WWE 2K26 MyRISE Guide: All Unlockables and How to Get Them
WWE 2K26 MyRISE Chapter-by-Chapter Rewards
Men's Division Story
Chapter 1: Brick By Brick vs. Burning Bridges
| Path | Story Beat | Key Rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Face (Brick By Brick) | Performance Review | Hector Flores, Justine, Justine '99, MyFaction Card: Justine '99 (Emerald), 100 RXP |
| Heel (Burning Bridges) | Surpassing The Limits | Hector Flores, Tavish, Chosen, La Cangrejita Loca, MyFaction Card: La Cangrejita Loca (Emerald), Archetypal Gym Arena |
Chapter 2: Indie Excursion vs. Archetype Underground
| Path | Story Beat | Key Rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Face (Indie Excursion) | TBD Plans | Slade, Geneva Rose, Barron Blade, TBD Arena, TBD Championship, MyFaction Card: Slade (Gold) |
| Heel (Archetype Underground) | Leveling Up | Psycho Sally, Archetypal Gym 2.0 Arena |
Chapter 3: Respect The Process vs. Reject The System
| Path | Story Beat | Key Rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Face (NXT) | NXT Steps | NXT Live Arena, 100 RXP |
| Heel (SmackDown) | R-Truth or Consequences | Rikishi, Main Event R-Truth, Archetype Shovel (Weapon), MyFaction Card: Main Event R-Truth (Sapphire) |
Chapter 4: Through The Ringers vs. Belt and Betrayal
| Path | Story Beat | Key Rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Face | It's Getting Dusty in Here | Dusty Rhodes '89, MyFaction Card: Dusty Rhodes '89 (Sapphire) |
| Heel | Tag or Bag | Road Dogg (Current), MyFaction Card: Road Dogg (Sapphire), MyFaction Card: Road Dogg (Emerald) |
Chapter 5: Side By Side vs. Standing Alone
| Path | Story Beat | Key Rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Face (Tag with Hector) | It's a New Day | New Day Pancake Tray (Weapon) |
| Face (Tag continuation) | Jacob's Ladder | Survivor Series MyRISE Arena |
| Face (Royal Rumble) | Royal Stumble | Royal Rumble Chair (Weapon), 100 RXO |
| Heel (Solo) | The Wyatt Seven | Hector Flores (Wyatt Sicks), MyFaction Card: Hector Flores Wyatt Sicks (Sapphire), 100 RXP |
Chapter 6: Face To Face vs. On the Heels of Greatness
| Path | Story Beat | Key Rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Face | The Archive Gambit | Men's "Beware of the Dog" Jacket (CAS), Archetype Universal Championship |
| Face (continuation) | No Turning Back | Second Wind Payback, Bron WrestleMania Singlet (CAS), WrestleMania MyRISE Arena, 250 RXP |
| Heel | Breakking Bad | Cody Rhodes Suit (CAS) |
| Heel (continuation) | Hey-Man Nice Shot | Spirit Breaker Payback, Bron WrestleMania Singlet (CAS), WrestleMania MyRISE Arena, 250 RXP |
Women's Division Story
The Women's path mirrors the Men's structure but features different opponents and a handful of unique unlockables.
| Chapter | Face Rewards | Heel Rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Ch. 1 | Moreno, Justine, Justine '99, Meilee "Fanny" Fan, MyFaction Cards | Tavish, Chosen, La Cangrejita Loca, Archetypal Gym Arena |
| Ch. 2 | The Captain, Geneva Rose, Barron Blade, TBD Championship | Psycho Sally, Archetypal Gym 2.0 Arena |
| Ch. 3 | NXT Live Arena | Rikishi, Archetype Shovel (Weapon) |
| Ch. 4 | Dusty Rhodes '89 | Road Dogg, Road Dogg MyFaction Cards |
| Ch. 5 | Raquel Body Suit (CAS), Survivor Series Arena | Moreno (Wyatt Sicks), MyFaction Card |
| Ch. 6 | Archetype RAW Women's Championship, Jordynne Grace WM Attire (CAS) | Becky Lynch Casual Bundle (CAS) |
WWE 2K26 MyRISE Guide: All Unlockables and How to Get Them
RISE Match Star Rewards
This is the big one. The RISE Rewards system is where the most coveted legendary characters live, including CM Punk Retro, The Fiend Bray Wyatt (Burned), DDP, and Juggernaut Grace. Accumulate stars by putting on high-quality matches, and check the RISE Rewards menu to track your progress.
| Stars Required | Reward |
|---|---|
| 10 | Buzz, MyFaction Card: Buzz (Gold), BCW Arena |
| 13 | Cole Quinn |
| 22 | CM Punk Retro, MyFaction Card: CM Punk Retro (Gold) |
| 25 | CAS: Liv Morgan Jacket |
| 31 | Red, Tre, MyFaction Cards for both, Motion Capture Studio Arena |
| 34 | CAS: Naomi "Caution" Outfit |
| 37 | Josie Jane, MyFaction Card: Josie Jane |
| 43 | MyRISE 2K22 Female Player, MyRISE 2K22 Male Player, MyFaction Cards for both, Law Arena |
| 46 | Chase, MyFaction Card: Chase |
| 51 | El Mago Jr, MyFaction Card: El Mago Jr, Arena Estatal |
| 57 | El Ordinario, MyFaction Card: El Ordinario, Mexico Plaza |
| 60 | CAS: Elimination Chamber '02 Pants (HBK) |
| 63 | Paragon Jay Pierce, MyFaction Card: Paragon Jay Pierce |
| 69 | The Lock, MyFaction Card: The Lock, Japan Dome |
| 72 | Gabriel Slade, MyFaction Card: Gabriel Slade |
| 75 | CAS: Finn Balor WM40 Mask, CAS: Finn Balor WM40 Jacket |
| 81 | LJ, MyFaction Card: LJ, Japan Hall |
| 84 | Odyssey Rift, MyFaction Card: Odyssey Rift |
| 87 | CAS: Jamaican Jacket |
| 90 | Carly Prime, MyFaction Card: Carly Prime |
| 98 | Alundra Blayze, MyFaction Card: Alundra Blayze, Wrestling Convention Arena |
| 103 | Scott Steiner '03, MyFaction Card: Scott Steiner '03 |
| 108 | Michelle McCool |
| 116 | CAS: No Way Out '01 Singlet (Undertaker) |
| 124 | DDP |
| 140 | The Fiend Bray Wyatt (Burned), MyFaction Card: The Fiend Bray Wyatt (Burned) |
| 150 | The Dark Horse, MyFaction Card: The Dark Horse, CAS: Shield Mask, CAS: Reigns RAW Shirt |
| 175 | Bronze Breakker, MyFaction Card: Bronze Breakker |
| 200 | Juggernaut Grace, MyFaction Card: Juggernaut Grace |
What Unlockables Come From Story Chapters vs. RISE Rewards?
It helps to understand the two distinct unlock systems at work here:
Story Chapter Unlocks are tied to specific narrative decisions. Characters like Dusty Rhodes '89, Road Dogg, Rikishi, Main Event R-Truth, Hector Flores (Wyatt Sicks), and Moreno (Wyatt Sicks) are only obtainable by reaching the correct chapter on the correct alignment path. Missing a branch means missing those rewards until you replay.
RISE Rewards Unlocks are purely performance-based and path-agnostic. Any star you earn in any RISE Match counts toward the cumulative total, regardless of which division or alignment you're playing. This means you can stack stars across multiple playthroughs to push toward the 200-star Juggernaut Grace unlock faster.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of MyRISE
- Plan your first playthrough alignment carefully. The Face path in Chapter 2 unlocks Slade, Geneva Rose, and Barron Blade while the Heel path only gives Psycho Sally. If character collection is your priority, Face first is the stronger opening run.
- Never skip a RISE Match. Every match is a star-earning opportunity. Even a 3-star performance adds progress toward the 200-star grind.
- Use Rebook strategically. If you're handed a match type you struggle with, swap it out rather than risk a low-rated performance.
- Chase 5-star matches. The difference between averaging 3 stars and 5 stars per session dramatically shortens the time needed to reach the high-end rewards like The Fiend (Burned) at 140 stars and Bronze Breakker at 175 stars.
- Replay for New Game Plus content. After completing the story, the post-championship loop introduces random encounters and hidden challengers. If you lose the title, specific RISE Matches let you earn a rematch, effectively extending the mode into a second comeback arc.
Get more news, tips, tricks, and guides for WWE 2K26 here.
