Gear Check: The Cena Farewell Tee, 2K26, and WrestleMania 41 Essentials

The Road to Vegas Demands Good Gear

We are just weeks away from WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas, and the merch machine is working overtime. With John Cena wrapping up his legendary run and Cody Rhodes preparing to defend the WWE Championship, our wallets are taking a beating. Add in the looming AEW Dynasty show next week, and it is officially the busiest season to be a wrestling fan.

But not everything on the WWE Shop or your local game store is worth the premium price tag. I have been putting the latest drops through the wringer. Let us separate the must-haves from the cash grabs.

John Cena "Farewell Tour" Authentic Tee

If you are heading to Allegiant Stadium next month to see Cena tie up his boots, this is the uniform. The heavyweight cotton is legitimately good, and the back graphic hits every major milestone of his career. It survived three cycles in my terrible apartment washing machine without the colors fading.

A word of warning though, the fit is completely different from the boxy Cena shirts of the 2010s. This is an athletic cut. If you want a looser fit, size up. Good luck finding one if you wait until the week of the show, because they sell out the second he touches a microphone on Raw.

Cody Rhodes "American Nightmare" Adult Weight Belt

This is the ultimate flex for the ringside fans. The leather construction feels premium, and the stitching holds up exactly like the one Cody throws into the crowd. It is highly adjustable, which is a relief for those of us who do not have a wrestler's physique.

However, this thing is surprisingly heavy. If you are buying this for a younger fan to wear around a four-hour premium live event, they are going to get tired of it. Also, the pristine white leather scuffs the second it touches the floor of an arena. Keep it clean.

WWE Elite Collection Series 126 Roman Reigns

If you browse r/WrestlingFigures, you already know collectors have been losing their minds over this one. The TrueFX face-scan technology is eerie, and it finally includes the Ula Fala necklace. The articulation makes it perfect for setting up a spear on your shelf.

The problem? You cannot find it. Scalpers have made it impossible to grab at the $22.99 retail price. If you do manage to snag one, be careful with the tiny accessories, because that necklace will disappear into your carpet forever.

WWE Encyclopedia of Sports Entertainment New Edition

This is the ultimate argument settler. The updated edition covers the massive landscape shifts of the 2025 season and features stunning photography across over 1,100 superstar profiles. It is an incredible coffee table book.

But it is literally a massive piece of furniture. It is incredibly heavy and does not fit on standard bookshelves. At $57.00, it is a steep investment compared to standard biographies, but the sheer volume of information justifies the price for diehards.

WWE 2K26 Standard Edition (PS5)

Let us be real about this year's video game entry. The CM Punk career showcase is a deeply emotional trip through his dominant 2025 run, and the new Dumpster Match physics are hilarious. The roster is absolutely massive.

Over on r/WWEGames, the consensus is clear: the launch has been a mess. The online servers crash constantly if you try to play with friends. Worse, the new Ringside Pass monetization feels incredibly aggressive for a full-priced game. Wait for a patch before jumping into the online modes.

The Verdict on the Spring Drops

If you only have the budget for one piece of merch before WrestleMania 41, get the Cena Farewell tee. It is a piece of history that you can actually wear. If you are a collector, the Roman Reigns figure is the crown jewel, assuming you can find it without paying a markup. Skip the 2K26 online modes until they fix the server stability.