WWE and UFC Stars Anchor Practical Combat in New ‘Street Fighter’ Movie

The latest live-action adaptation of the iconic Capcom franchise, Street Fighter, officially arrives in U.S. theaters today, October 16, 2026. Produced by Legendary Pictures, the film attempts to solve the long-standing challenge of translating arcade physics into cinema by leaning heavily on the physicality of professional wrestling and mixed martial arts icons.

Directed by Kitao Sakurai, the film is a period piece set in 1993. The narrative follows Chun-Li as she recruits fighters Ryu and Ken Masters to participate in the inaugural World Warrior Tournament. To capture the weight and impact of the game’s signature combat, the production cast several high-profile athletes from the WWE and UFC to portray its most recognizable brawlers.

WWE Superstar Cody Rhodes takes on the role of the American military hero Guile, while his real-world rival Joe “Roman Reigns” Anoa’i portrays the formidable Akuma. The cast also features UFC Champion Alexander Volkanovski, who makes his feature film acting debut as the character Joe. These athletes are joined by a broader ensemble including Jason Momoa as Blanka, David Dastmalchian as the villainous M. Bison, and 50 Cent as the heavyweight boxer Balrog.

Bridging Practical Combat and Special Moves

A significant portion of the film’s creative strategy rested on stunt coordinator Jon Valera, who was tasked with grounding the “Street Fighter” combat style in reality without losing the flashy essence of the source material. Valera’s choreography focuses on balancing practical martial arts techniques with the visual effects required for moves like the Hadouken and the Sonic Boom.

By utilizing professional wrestlers and MMA fighters, the production aimed to ensure that the foundational movements—the grapples, high kicks, and strikes—retained a sense of momentum and impact that digital doubles often lack. This approach is intended to bridge the gap between the heightened “arcade” aesthetic and the 1990s-inspired gritty production design.

Gaming Crossovers and DLC

The theatrical release of Street Fighter is being supported by a significant cross-promotion within the gaming industry. While the film features specific wrestlers in character roles, a separate collaboration is coming to the digital ring later this month.

On October 28, 2026, a “Street Fighter Elite Pack” DLC is scheduled to launch for the video game WWE 2K26. This digital expansion will include “Street Fighter”-inspired skins for a different set of WWE personalities, including The Rock, Rey Mysterio, and Bianca Belair. This allows fans to engage with the crossover across both the film and gaming platforms, though the specific wrestlers featured in the movie and the game DLC remain distinct from one another.

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