Here’s a fun game. Make a predictions list of characters you DON’T want or would be disappointed by. (Serious inquires only please. i.e. they have to have somewhat of a chance.)
For me, if FPV2 was
1. Crash
2. Shantae
3. Rayman
4. Steve
5. Geno
6. Waluigi
I’d feel like I wasted my money on the pass. To the point I’d seriously contemplate calling Nintendo for a refund. (Knowing that absolutely nothing would come of it.)
While I disagree with you with Crash Bandicoot and to a somewhat lesser extent Rayman as their inclusions I feel are more warranted, We do share similar taste in who we don't want and should be a fun way to let off some steam.
All right, Time to piss some people off !!!
But in all seriousness I'll try to keep it somewhat tame.
1. Geno:
I really can't understand the hype behind him, I personally think he is the most overrated and overblown character that gets way more attention than he really deserves and seems like one of those characters that should just be forgotten or lost in time, Don't like his design either looks like a cross between pinocchio and a scarecrow, Why should we care about a secondary character from a one time spinoff where Mario was the star of the game? People treat it like it's "Geno RPG not Mario RPG", Probably the thing that annoys me the most is how many Youtubers shoehorn him front and center on their video thumbnails next to more iconic video game characters acting like he's on the same level of those picks during their character prediction videos. Popularity is the only thing he seems to have going for him and is feels like such a bandwagon pick. You can have your choosing of almost any significant/iconic video game character to join Smash and for whatever reason people latch on to this very obscure one off and is viewed and treated like the biggest thing since sliced bread.
2. Shantae
I don't hate the character and I can see the appeal of the games as they look fun and enjoyable and have an appealing artstyle, Then again platformers are my favorite genre. But my main gripe with her is just like Geno people treat her as a way bigger deal than she really is, The series is very niche and was never really a big deal, notable or a big seller , Sure she's been around for a while on Nintendo platforms, But she was just always there in the background for most of it's history, A type of game series that you would find in the back of the game aisle or shelf past all the 1st Party and major 3rd party games hanging around the smaller, niche or terrible games that no one really pays attention to, Though she has garnered somewhat more attention in recent years, But if other major more notable and successful indies like Shovel Knight and Cuphead barely made it in as minor cameos what makes people think she has a shot? Maybe because I really have no interest indies other than Yooka-Laylee, But even I don't believe they should make it in either, I'd rather have much bigger names in that genre such as Crash, Spyro and Rayman.
3. Sora
This is more of a Disney thing, But I absolutely hate the idea of Disney invading Smash and their monopolization of everything in entertainment and shoving it in my face, The Fox buyout irritated me the most because I'm a fan of a lot of their programming mainly the Simpsons and annoys me to know that they own that now and pretty much getting their greedy hands into every major property, But back to Smash, Sora/Kingdom Hearts feels like a double edge sword, I don't want Mickey and friends invading Smash and Disney would be hell to work with regarding their IP's and if you don't include them then you take away what I assume the selling point and what the series is know for and would feel neutered, Plus was never a fan of the series anyways and not too crazy of another swordsman in Smash as that archetype for me personally is getting pretty tired some.
4. Steve
I buried this feud/rivalry once Banjo-Kazooie made it in and was ready to move on, But I'll dig it out of it's grave one last time.
Minecraft is a big piece in gaming and definitely made in impact in gaming without question so regarding that I can see why it gets brought up regarding Smash, But me personally don't like it and Steve has a very unappealing and wonky design, Doesn't help that some haters came in the Banjo-Kazooie thread in the past to harass us as that something I will never do and did for characters I hate and it left a bad taste in my mouth. If we have to have content from them then I would think a stage or assist would be more fitting. Plus if we get another Microsoft rep I would prefer Master Chief.
5. Fortnite
Ugh... pretty much the new edgier Minecraft that all the hip cool young preteen/teen kids are playing and watching on YouTube that's cringey. Don't want it near Smash.
I'm sure there is a couple of more ,But these stick out the most for me.