During the game's roster reveal in 2022, an image for WWE Superstar Elias featured him in an outfit that he had never been seen in. At the time, Elias had not been seen in WWE for 9 months as they had planned to re-package him in a new gimmick, but the new gimmick was deemed, "too Macho Man" and was scrapped. The render was likely made during this time, and shows what his outfit would have atleast looked like.

This render would eventually be changed in the final game, with him still using his musician gimmick. Elias would later return to WWE as "Ezekiel" (the younger brother of Elias) with a clean shaven face, shorter hair, and the same outfit seen in this early render.

Although WWE had released Bray Wyatt on July 31st, 2021 due to "budget cuts" (8 months before the release of the game), it seems Visual Concepts had put significant work into him in WWE 2K22 before his release as new entrance motions, championship victory motions, and nameplates for both Bray Wyatt and The Fiend can be found in game.

The entrance motions can still be selected in Create an Entrance as "Funhouse Friend" and "Fiendish", while the championship victory motion is also listed in Create a Victory as "Fiendish" (though the "Fiendish" championship victory is listed twice in game, both motions are the exact same). The nameplates however are hidden in the game files.

In the files of WWE 2K22 can be found base dialogue and social media interactions for a scrapped female MyRISE storyline that would have seen Bray Wyatt possess Dana Brooke and turning her into “The Shiend”, to get revenge on his former associate Alexa Bliss. The storyline would have included a Hell In a Cell match between Alexa Bliss and "The Shiend", and a "Elimination Chamber of Horrors" match. A "Firefly Funhouse set" area can also be found in the game's files that would have presumably been used in some of this story's cutscenes.

This storyline was ultimately scrapped as Windham Rotunda (Bray Wyatt) was released from WWE on July 31st, 2021 due to "budget cuts".

A scrapped graphic for a match between Rey Mysterio vs. Jushin Thunder Liger from WCW Starrcade 1996 can still be found in the game's code suggesting the match was originally meant to be featured in the game's Showcase mode focusing on Rey Mysterio's career. The match was likely scrapped due to licensing issues with Jushin Thunder Liger.

Although the match was scrapped; Jushin Thunder Liger's mask can still be found within the game's Create a Superstar, and WCW Starrcade 1996 Rey Mysterio was released as DLC.

Despite being mentioned in various promotional material for the game, the 2006 Royal Rumble match is not featured in WWE 2K22's Showcase mode.

Whether this was a mistake or it was originally planned to be included is unknown.

37 superstars featured in WWE 2K22 were no longer with WWE when the game released, many due to "budget cuts" by WWE during the game's development. Usually a released superstar would be removed from the game prior to it's release, however most were kept in the game because they were included in the initial submitted roster list that was approved by WWE. While superstars like Billie Kay, Peyton Royce, and Kalisto would still be in the game despite being released as early as April 2021, superstars such as Aleister Black, Ruby Riott, Bray Wyatt, and Adam Cole released later in the year would not be included in the game.

The decision to keep certain superstars ultimately came down to the relationship between them and the WWE, whether or not they were still on good terms.

Outside the venue in the Wrestlemania 9 arena, the Sega logo can be found on a nearby building. Why the logo is included in the game is unknown, as SEGA has no involvement with the game.