WWE 2K26 rumors suggest WWE 2K25's The Island mode is returning and new match types are coming — including Inferno, I Quit, & 3 Stages of Hell matches

Hot off the heels of WWE 2K26's first gameplay details surfacing, Insider Gaming has quickly managed to find more intel on the next upcoming entry for WWE's flagship wrestling video game franchise.

First of Insider Gaming's scoops (reported on January 16, 2026), claim that WWE 2K26 will receive four new match types: I Quit, Inferno, 3 Stages of Hell, and Dumpster.

Several of these match types have been in previous WWE games, but haven't been used for quite some time. The I Quit match and Inferno match were last seen in 2013's WWE 2K14, and the 3 Stages of Hell match hasn't been seen fully since the WWE Raw vs. SmackDown series from the late 2000s to early 2010s (WWE 2K15 did 3 Stages of Hell, but it was locked behind its Showcase Mode).

The Dumpster match is so far the only completely-new match type that's being added to WWE 2K26. The match type report from Insider Gaming also says that Intergender Matches from WWE 2K25 will return and that they'll be integrated into the MyFACTION mode.

Welcome To The Island | Official WWE 2K25 Reveal Trailer | 2K - YouTube

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Up next on Insider Gaming's WWE scoops (reported on January 20, 2026) is that WWE 2K25's The Island mode is supposedly returning in WWE 2K26.

The Island was an online-only game mode where you create a character and wrestle competing players and NPCs for exclusive cosmetic items, fame, and a chance to earn the favor of the Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns.

WWE 2K26's The Island mode follows the conclusion of WWE 2K25's The Island mode, where Roman Reigns has been dethroned, and the position of Tribal Chief is now empty.

As a result, three factions are now fighting for control of the Island of Relevancy, and the player will be caught in the middle of this power struggle.

I get to relive the Attitude Era with Inferno matches? Sign me up!

FULL MATCH: The Undertaker vs. Kane | Inferno Match: WWE Unforgiven: In Your House 1998 - YouTube

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Now it's always important to remember to take rumors and supposed "leaks" with a grain of salt until the developers officially confirm or debunk them.

If these rumors are true, my feelings are mixed. On the one hand, I never really cared for WWE 2K25's The Island mode. A grand majority of its cosmetics were locked behind expansive microtransactions, its online servers were unstable, which made playing online a pain, and it was locked exclusively for Next-gen consoles, so PC and last-gen users couldn't even use it.

On the other hand, I'm excited for the new reported match types coming in WWE 2K26. I have nostalgic memories of The Undertaker and Kane's Inferno matches from the Attitude Era of WWE, so I would love to relive them in a video game with next-gen tech providing cool fire effects on Xbox.

Plus, it's cool to see the 3 Stages of Hell make a return to WWE video games.

I loved watching Drew McIntyre & Cody Rhodes' recent 3 Stages of Hell match on WWE SmackDown, so I can't wait to try one for myself in WWE 2K26 while making each match stipulation even more ridiculous than theirs were.

Are you excited for these new match types? How do you feel about The Island mode possibly returning in WWE 2K26?

If you have any thoughts on the matter, let us know in the comments below.

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