This past Saturday, THQ revealed the entire roster for WWE ‘12. Many fans were overjoyed to see their favorite Superstars make the cut, but others were disappointed to learn that some of the most recognizable Legends from WWE history didn’t make it into the WWE ‘12.

We are well aware that games like WWE All-Stars are catered towards delivering an experience that pits WWE Legends against modern-day Superstars, but those games only include a handful of wrestlers from both sides. WWE ‘12 provides an opportunity to pit different eras against each other in a more realistic environment (i.e. they’re not all built like action figures).

That’s why I’ve taken the liberty of creating a list of ten legendary wrestlers that should have been added to the roster — and still could be added to via downloadable content. There are also a few Superstars that have yet to be announced, and hopefully some of them are residing on our list.

So without any more delay, here is a list of the top ten legendary wrestlers that should be in WWE ‘12.

When people ask for a list of some of the most entertaining heels in WWE history, Rowdy Roddy Piper’s name is sure to come up. The Hot Rod had been involved with wrestling in the WWE since 1984, and has been with the company nearly every year since. Roddy is best known for his segment called Piper’s Pit — a place where fights often broke out due to RRP’s insensitive demeanor towards his guests.

Rowdy Roddy Piper is one of the most well-known faces in WWE history, and it’s hard to think of a superstar who is as loud and obnoxious as The Hot Rod — and that’s why he comes in at number 10.

The Ultimate Warrior was one of the most energetic Superstars to ever grace the WWE. He would run full sprint all the way to the ring, and violently shake the ropes — a move that would get the fans worked up into a frenzy. At WrestleMania VI, Warrior defeated Hulk Hogan in a legendary match to win both the Intercontinental and WWE Championships.

The Ultimate Warrior appeared in the over-the-top WWE All-Stars video game, and it would be great to seem him return in a playable form in WWE ‘12.

The second this man’s music hits, everyone knows who is about to emerge from behind that shower of pyrotechnics on the entrance ramp. Bill Goldberg made a name for himself in WCW, where he dominated other wrestlers with his brutal Spear and Jackhammer signature moves. He is also known for his infamous winning streak of 174 consecutive matches.

Word was circling that the former wrestler and WWE were negotiating at one point to use Goldberg’s likeness and name for products and video games, so if the two could come to a deal then it would be great to see how well he’d fare against the likes of modern-day Superstars.

Before establishing himself as a powerhouse in the UFC, Brock Lesnar was one of the biggest wrestlers in Sports Entertainment. The former Superstar even defeated The Rock to become the youngest WWE Champion in history, which is by no means an easy feat. He had his last match for the WWE in 2004 at WrestleMania XX against Goldberg.

Many probably think there’s no way that Lesnar could appear in a WWE game because UFC would never allow it, but the two companies have actually been in communication with one another recently. An unannounced licensing deal has been made between the two regarding Brock Lesnar, and it could really only be for one thing…

Mick Foley is one of the most hardcore wrestlers to ever step into the squared-circle, and because of this he was given the nickname “The Hardcore Legend.” Foley has multiple personas that he has used throughout the years, with the most popular being Mankind, Dude Love, and Cactus Jack — and we can’t forget about the lovable Mr. Socko.

Mick Foley officially became a free agent on June 5th this year, and the likeliness of his return to the world of WWE is certainly plausible — if not an inevitability.

“The Eighth Wonder of the World” was the first giant in the industry, and he opened up the way for above averagely-sized Superstars such as The Bigshow. Andre the Giant was an athlete of great historical importance in the WWE, and helped shape the company into the powerhouse it is today.

Andre was a lot more than just Fezzik from The Princess Bride, and he deserves to appear in WWE ‘12 just as much (if not more so) than every other wrestler on this list.

This man is considered by many to be the very face of wrestling, and he is debatably the most popular wrestler of all time. Hogan has garnered the support of all the Hulkamaniacs by “Hulking Out” and decimating foes nearly twice his size — including a career defining body slam against Andre the Giant at WrestleMania.

Without the Hulkster, WWE wouldn’t be where it is today, and that is reason enough to include one of the greatest wrestlers to ever compete in WWE ‘12, brother.

Bret Hart is considered by many to be one of the technical greats in the business, and he’s reconfirmed that every time he’s ever locked-in his signature Sharpshooter. The Superstar from Calgary, Albert, Canada is so well-known and respected in his hometown that they even named a hockey team after him.

Bret has reappeared recently with WWE after patching things up with McMahon following the events of the infamous “Montreal Screwjob” incident. He even appeared on the Canadian cover of WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2011, so he’ll likely appear in this year’s installment as well.

The Macho Man lit up the WWE in the mid-80’s with his over-the-top persona, and his entertaining segments inside and outside of the ring. Savage would win the WWE Championship several times throughout his career, and even form a tag team with Hulk Hogan called the Mega Powers.

“Macho Man” Randy Savage appeared in WWE All-Stars as one of the playable members of the game’s roster and, given his untimely passing earlier this year, there couldn’t be a better way to honor his legacy than by allowing gamers to lace up the boots as the legend one more time.

The Heartbreak Kid was one of the most popular wrestlers ever, and it was borderline shocking to see that his name wasn’t listed as one of the playable characters in WWE ‘12. Shawn Michaels has been called “The Showstopper” and “Mr. WrestleMania” due to his ability to electrify audiences and put on some of the best matches ever seen. His role in the group Degeneration-X, alongside Triple H, pushed his popularity through the roof in the last couple years prior to his retirement in 2010.

Shawn Michaels has to appear in the upcoming wrestling game, and if he doesn’t then there are going to be a lot of disappointed fans — myself included.

There are so many great wrestlers to choose from, and making a list of ten that should be in WWE ‘12 is a feat in and of itself. Some honorable mentions go to Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka, Sgt. Slaughter, Sting, Chris Jericho, and Mr. Perfect. All of these Superstars helped shape the very business, and hopefully THQ and the developers at Yuke’s realize this - and plan to honor them by making them all playable characters.

THQ has shown that they care about what the fans think in the past, and have proven it by allowing them to vote on whether they want The Rock or John Cena to be featured as the WWE ‘12 Collector’s Edition poster boy. Clearly the devs are listening, so let your voices be heard below in the comments section below.

What do you think of our list of WWE Legends? Which WWE Superstars do you think should have made the cut?

WWE ’12 will be available on November 22nd for Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii.

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