Key Highlights
WWE Superstar Roman Reigns has officially been cast as Akuma in the eagerly anticipated Street Fighter movie. Speculation has been rife among fans regarding Reigns’ portrayal of the iconic Capcom villain, but the wait for confirmation is finally over.
- First look at Roman Reigns as Akuma delivered—the image is terrifying
- Cody Rhodes unveiled his Guile look the same day—here’s that too
- When the Street Fighter movie drops and why this cast has fans hyped
On December 11, Reigns took to social media to unveil a stunning image of himself transformed into Akuma, and the result is nothing short of menacing.
This striking image originates from the first trailer of the Street Fighter movie, which was unveiled during The Game Awards. In the shot, Reigns embodies the “Master of the Fist” with remarkable accuracy. He sports Akuma’s signature long, spiked hair, glowing red eyes, and is adorned with heavy beads and rope around his neck, all while wearing a sleeveless gi featuring stylized kanji on the back.
What Does Roman Reigns Look Like As Akuma?
The depiction is a faithful nod to the game, capturing the exaggerated, dramatic visual style that Street Fighter enthusiasts cherish. From the fiery eyes to the demonic aura and imposing silhouette, Reigns’ transformation is compelling. He doesn’t merely appear to be playing Akuma; he looks as though he could unleash a Raging Demon at any moment.
Fans are hopeful that Reigns has infused some elements of his WWE moves into the choreography of Street Fighter’s action sequences. The trailer offers an enticing glimpse of what’s to come.
I’m hoping Reigns has incorporated some aspect of his WWE moveset into the choreography for the Street Fighter action scenes. Here’s a look at the trailer.
The casting makes sense when you think about it. Reigns has spent years playing a larger-than-life character in WWE. The Tribal Chief persona already carries that boss-level energy. Akuma is just the video game equivalent—a final boss who radiates power and menace. Director Kitao Sakurai clearly saw the crossover potential.
I’ve covered the evolution of Street Fighter’s most popular characters over the years, and Akuma has always been a fan favorite. He’s dark, mysterious, and terrifyingly powerful. Reigns embodies all of that in this first look.
I don’t know about y’all, but it’s Akuma > M.Bison for me.
What Does Cody Rhodes Look Like As Guile?
Not to be outdone, WWE Champion Cody Rhodes—Reigns’ co-star in the film—also unveiled his look the same day. Rhodes plays Guile, and the Street Fighter official account shared the image.
For the uninitiated, Guile is the patriotic, flat-topped American soldier known for his Sonic Boom and Flash Kick. Rhodes already has the blonde hair and the All-American persona from his WWE character, so the fit is natural.
Seeing him in full military gear with that iconic hairstyle is going to hit different for fans who grew up mashing buttons trying to land Guile’s combos.
The WWE-to-Street Fighter pipeline is wild, but it works. Both guys have the physicality and the charisma to pull off these larger-than-life characters. If the rest of the cast is this committed to the source material, we might actually get a good video game movie.
When Does The Street Fighter Movie Come Out?
The film is slated for release in Fall 2026. That gives fans almost two years to dissect every trailer, analyze every casting choice, and debate whether this will finally be the video game adaptation that breaks the curse.
When Street Fighter 6 dropped in 2023, it reinvigorated the franchise.
The game was a hit with both casual players and the fighting game community. A movie that captures that same energy could do big numbers—especially with a cast that includes two of WWE’s biggest names.
Reigns has always had crossover appeal. I covered his sneaker game during his Raw return and his approach to fan engagement over the years. This feels like the next logical step—taking that presence to the big screen in a role that lets him be a villain in a completely different universe.
The release of these images helps to add some fuel to the hype machine ahead of the film’s release in the Fall 2026. Let’s hope this one is better than the Jean Claude Van Damme version.
