Unless there is some reconciliation between the Legend and the WWE, which feels unlikely, then it’s likely that WWE 2K26 will be the last game in the franchise to feature the iconic Three Faces of Foley. Mick Foley (including his Personas—Cactus Jack, Dude Love, and Mankind) is currently slated to appear in WWE 2K26 as a playable superstar and as a general manager in MyGM.
The Three Faces of Foley have appeared in a significant number of WWE games over the years. His first appearances as Mankind, Cactus Jack, and Dude Love date back to WWF War Zone on Nintendo 64, with his characters being playable in most WWE main series games ever since. Conservative estimates suggest that he’s appeared in roughly 30 video games overall, spanning main releases, spin-offs, mobile titles, and so forth across two+ decades.
In WWE 2K26, Mick Foley is slated to appear as a General Manager in MyGM Mode, as well as a playable character in Cactus Jack, Dude Love, and Mankind. Mankind has a respectable 86 Overall Rating, likely due to the incredible bumps he’s taken over the years, and Dude Love comes in at 81. Cactus Jack’s Overall Rating has not been revealed as of this writing. Overall, it’s clear that The Three Faces of Foley has a long history in WWE video games and continues to have a solid presence, but WWE 2K26 is likely to be the last game with these Legendary names.
Why WWE 2K26 Marks the Last Appearance of The Three Faces of Foley
In December 2025, Mick Foley announced to his 600K+ Instagram followers that he would be “parting ways with WWE.” Foley was a vocal critic of President Donald Trump during the election season, voicing his support for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, and thereafter. He opened this announcement by saying he’s been “concerned about WWE’s close relationship with Donald Trump for several months,” especially amid the president’s ongoing “cruel and inhumane treatment of immigrants (and pretty much anyone who ‘looks like an immigrant’).” The final straw from Foley was that President Trump commented, mocked, and otherwise belittled the death of Hollywood director Rob Reiner.
Rob Reiner was a critic of President Trump, a fact not likely distinct from the President’s comments. Trump said that Reiner’s death was “reportedly due to the anger he caused by others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME.” Trump also said he was a “tortured and struggling, but once very talented movie director and comedy star.”
In the fallout of these comments, Foley said that he “no longer wish[es] to represent a company that coddles a man so seemingly void of compassion as he marches our country towards autocracy.” He informed WWE talent relations that he would not make any appearances for the company as long as President Trump remains in office and that he would not be signing a new Legends deal in June. “I love WWE, will always treasure my time with them, and I am deeply appreciative for all the opportunities they afforded me. But, in the words of Popeye the sailor, ‘I stands all I can stands, and I can’t stands no more.'”
Mick Foley’s Departure Timeline
- Foley announces he is parting ways with WWE
- WWE 2K26 releases in March 2026
- Foley’s Legends deal expires in June 2026
- WWE 2K26 likely to release in March 2027
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Easy (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)
Mick Foley Won’t Sign a New Legends Deal
Foley’s Legends contract expiring in June is the key player here for WWE 2K26‘s roster. Because it has not yet expired, he can appear in this year’s game. Everything changes after that. In WWE, contracts and deals between superstars and Legends involve a licensing agreement that, while incredibly complicated, can be summarized as the legal right to use a wrestler’s name, image, and likeness in games, merch, promotions, and so forth. For fans of the product, these deals and their associated work often include the pseudonyms of superstars, which is why those coming from other wrestling products have to change their names. It’s why, for example, Powerhouse Hobbs became Royce Keys and Mariah May became Blake Monroe. Few superstars own their own “brands,” so to speak, with AJ Styles being a notable exception.
When those agreements/contracts expire, WWE generally loses the legal right to use that person’s likeness in new products (although it obviously does not affect older products). In simple terms, Foley’s Legends contract is likely tied to his licensing agreement, and without that, he cannot appear in future games. The simplest result is that WWE 2K27 will not feature Mick Foley or any of his faces, ending a streak and an era for the Legend.
It’s worth noting that there are theoretically ways to avoid this outcome. Without a Legend’s contract, WWE could (in theory) negotiate a new, separate licensing agreement with Foley. It’s possible that the Legends contract, or previous deals, extend the right to his likeness for a residual period of time. Both of these are highly, highly unlikely, either due to their nature, Foley’s stance toward WWE, or the development pipeline for WWE 2K26/WWE 2K27.
This Will Have a Deep Impact on WWE 2K Games
When Foley’s contract expires and WWE cannot secure any rights, the Three Faces of Foley will be unusable for future WWE games. Foley did state in his announcement that he would not make any appearances for the company as long as Trump remains President, so reconciliation may take place sometime in the future. That’s uncertain, however.
And while it’s minor in the grand scheme of things, Foley’s removal from the roster could have a deep impact on the direction of the games. Think back to WWE 2K23 when John Cena was the cover star. Because WWE did not have the rights to CM Punk at the time, his loss-focused Showcase Mode suffered because it missed out on one of the biggest moments of his career: his loss to CM Punk at Money in the Bank 2011. Fingers crossed that WWE 2K26‘s CM Punk Showcase mode includes this match.
Mick Foley has had a historic career, competing in amazing matches against The Undertaker, The Rock, Triple H, and Stone Cold Steve Austin, among so many more. He has also tagged with several popular WWE superstars over the years, and without a contract, all of these moments would have to be skipped, like John Cena vs. CM Punk at MITB 2011. WWE games have done in the past with controversial figures or figures they did not have rights to, but it’s always noticed by fans. And with one of WWE 2K26‘s special editions being the Monday Night War edition, the irony should not be lost on fans.