MyRise mode in the WWE 2K games is a story mode that puts you in the shoes of a player-created WWE Superstar looking to ascend the ranks and become the top talent on the roster. This year, WWE 2K25 is injecting some new flavor into MyRise, combining both the Women’s and Men’s Division characters stories into one.

Earlier today, the first 19 minutes of the upcoming MyRise mode in WWE 2K25 was showcased through IGN, alongside commentary from Visual Concepts’ Sean Conaway and Andrea Listenberger. The mode begins with WWE Chief Content Officer and soon-to-be Hall of Famer Triple H talking about the “new era” in WWE, and how it will be spearheaded by the player-created main character, whom he predicts will be the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming WWE Draft.

In the video walkthrough, Conaway and Listenberger choose the female Superstar to be the main character, though they warn players that the male counterpart will come into play later on in the story (and vice versa if you select the male Superstar). After choosing which Superstar to be, you will also have the option of choosing one of the four following options as their backstory:

• A top competitor on Raw
• A top competitor on SmackDown
• A top star for another promotion
• A former champion in MMA

After choosing between these options, players will be directed to the character creation suite where they will build their WWE Superstar from scratch. This will include choosing their general appearance, ring gear, and — for the first time — casual attire for when they’re not in the ring.

After that, Troy Simpkin — a returning character from past MyRise modes — will direct your player-created wrestler to the Performance Center where you’ll be tasked with participating in some tune-up matches to get you ready for the main roster. Whether or not this scenario changes based on which backstory you choose, I don’t know. But this will be the first time you’ll be exposed to intergender wrestling in MyRise, with Shinsuke Nakamura being one of the optional opponents, alongside Shayna Bazler and the recently released Sonya Deville.

After the Performance Center match against an opponent of your choosing, time will move forward a week to the WWE Draft. The player-created character will have an interview with WWE backstage interviewer Cathy Kelley, which will determine your character’s personality type (think babyface or heel). They can be any of the following three options:

• Scheming and calculated
• Comedic and fun
• Bold and brash

According to the developers, this choice will determine a lot about one’s experience in MyRise, be it the stories that are accessible or your character’s voice lines.

I’m not sure if it’s randomized which brand has the first pick, but in IGN’s walkthrough, SmackDown is given the No. 1 draft pick. To nobody’s surprise, the player-created wrestler is selected by the Blue Brand. But during the celebrations, the arena’s Titantron is hijacked, the name “Lardon” flashes on the screen, and your Superstar is ambushed by somebody in disguise.

After being attacked, the player-created wrestler runs into WWE veteran and Prodigal son CM Punk backstage, who warns them that the attack could be the result of a deeper plot against them.

The following weak, the main character has a squash match on SmackDown to better introduce themselves to the WWE Universe. After quickly dispatching of a local talent, they are again attacked by “Lardon.” Only this time, the main character is prepared and thwarts the attack. In the cutscene, Lardon is unmasked. But to avoid spoilers, IGN cuts the video here, though we are shown a brief cutscene of Punk saying that someone high up within the company organized the attack.

Overall, it’s not a bad start. And I’m intrigued. I’ve made my issues with recent MyRise modes known in the past. But with this little tease, I can see how this mode will be fun to play through, so long as the pacing is good, decisions matter, and I don’t spend every waking second chasing main event status only to have the experience end one I get there.

We will continue to offer updates pertaining to WWE 2K25 and MyRise mode as we get closer to its release date.