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The ''WWE 2K'' series of professional wrestling video games began in 2000 with the release of ''WWF [=SmackDown=]!'' for the PlayStation console. The series can be categorized into four separate sub-series/eras:
* The ''[=SmackDown!=]'' series (2000-2003); a PlayStation-exclusive series produced by {{THQ}} and Yuke's with fast arcade-like gameplay.
* The ''[=SmackDown=] vs. Raw'' series (2004-2010); continuation of the THQ/Yuke's partnership. Originally cashing in on the brand warfare theme, it later became known for its GenreShift from arcade-like gameplay to simulation, becoming a yearly institution in the vein of the ''Madden NFL'' games. The series went multi-platform, appearing on the Xbox 360, with the release of ''[=SmackDown=] vs. Raw 2007''. ''[=SmackDown=] vs. Raw 2008'' added the Wii to the list of platforms. The era was also known for suffering with CapcomSequelStagnation.
* The ''WWE'' series (2011-2012); the final era from THQ. A major {{retool}} of the series gameplay-wise for next generation consoles exclusively, a brand new engine and quite a number of changes made in the latter parts of the ''[=SmackDown=] vs. Raw'' era reverted.
* The ''WWE 2K'' series (2013-); the result of THQ's bankruptcy and the pre-meditated selling of their WWE licence to Creator/TakeTwoInteractive. Published under the 2K Sports label, Yuke's will remain to develop the games with the additional help from Visual Concepts.
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!!'''Tropes associated with this series include:'''
* AdaptationDecay: The real Championship Scramble's main draw is that the title can potentially change hands multiple times before the end of the match. In the game, the AI will just break up every pinfall when after the third superstar[=/=]diva enters the ring, meaning that unless there was a pinfall early on, the title probably won't change hands.
* AllJustADream: 2007's "Uh oh, It's Magic" storyline was a result of this.
* AndNowForSomeoneCompletelyDifferent: The Road to [=WrestleMania=] mode for '12 is played out this way, starting with {{Sheamus}}, followed by TripleH and finally a character of the player's choosing. There are also brief parts playing as JohnCena, RandyOrton, WadeBarrett, and others.
* AnInteriorDesignerIsYou: 2006 and 2007 gave you the ability to design your own locker room.
** '12 introduced the longly-awaited Create-An-Arena mode, while '13 will allow the player to edit the stage for the first time.
* AnnouncerChatter: And it tends to vary on how good or bad it can be, with the worst cases getting match type wrong and addressing wrestlers who are not even in the game. WWE 12 has improved on it greatly making it the best in quite some time.
* ArtifactTitle: In ''WWE 12'', "Road to {{WrestleMania}}" is no longer a three month path to the WWE's Pay Per View spectacle, & instead has the player play through three consecutive storylines occuring concurrently, the time period covering no less than ''three'' {{WrestleMania}} shows. The final nail comes when you realise the final match doesn't even occur at the event, instead [[spoiler:coming at a revived WCW's "Starrcade" Pay Per View instead]].
* ArtificialStupidity: The AI, due to bad programming, will end up in a 1-vs-1 match with 2 AI's. Another person runs down while one has the other in a pin to distract the referee. Due to the way the game works, the one guy that's pinning won't stop the pin, the one guy that's getting pinned won't kick out, and the guy that runs out (occasionally) won't stop distracting the referee, leaving you caught in an '''INFINITE FUCKING LOOP.''' The only way to stop this infinite loop is to stop the match in some way.
* ArtisticLicenseGeography: The Road to [=WrestleMania=] mode in '''12'' features an EvilBrit PowerStable called the "United Kingdom" consisting of two Englishmen in WadeBarrett and William Regal, a Scotsman in Drew [=McIntyre=] and an Irishman in {{Sheamus}}. Nobody told the storyline writers that Sheamus is from the Republic of Ireland, which is separate from the UK.
** Somewhat related, but apparently the UK is only made of England, Scotland and Ireland. This is despite the fact that the roster includes Welshman Mason Ryan.
* AttitudeEra: All over the shop.
** The first three or four games took place during the era, with ''Shut Your Mouth'' current to mid 2002 after the draft and brand expansion. Since then classic wrestlers and storylines would be offered up. The Legends Tour in 2006 for example was a ''New Generation''\Attitude storyline, specifically the MontrealScrewjob, HulkHogan and [[DwayneJohnson The Rock]] teaming up and the legendary Hell in a Cell with TheUndertaker and [[MickFoley Mankind]].
** For several years challenges would be offered that included matches from Rock 'n Wrestling to the PG era, which included the Rock 'n Sock Connection, the BretHart\StoneColdSteveAustin match at WrestleMania XIII, the Brothers of Destruction and the Rock\Austin match at WrestleMania XVII.
** ''WWE 13'' replaces "Road to {{WrestleMania}}" mode with "AttitudeEra" mode, which allows the player to relive the highlights of the period.
* TheBadGuyWins: Edge and Randy Orton's 2010 Road to Wrestlemania.
** Also, Chris Jericho's 2011 Road to Wrestlemania, somewhat. See BittersweetEnding below.
*** Maybe, Sheamus counts in WWE '12 but Triple H's story started with HHH beating up Sheamus.
* BeatThemAtTheirOwnGame: Many installments allow wrestlers to add insult to injury by giving them the ability to use their opponent's finishing maneuvers against them.
* BerserkButton: The game treats gaining a signature or finishing move, or gaining the comeback mechanic, as this. It will do whatever it has to do, no matter how much it has to cheat, to prevent you from using it.
* BettingMiniGame: The PSP version of 2006 featured a number of console-exclusive minigames, including a Poker game.
* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler: ChrisJericho's]] [=RtWM=] in 2011, where even after you win at [=WrestleMania=] [[spoiler: TripleH]] ultimately attacks you and stands tall. [[spoiler:Considering your actions up to Wrestlemania, this could fall under LaserGuidedKarma.]]
** The "Villain Story" in WWE '12, starring Sheamus. [[spoiler: He manages to win every title in WWE by beating your former peers in the United Kingdom, only for TripleH to beat Sheamus up and win the WWE Title off of him.]] Interestingly, this is the transition point into the "Outsider Story" portion of [=RtWM=].
* ButThouMust:
** In the earlier [=SmackDown=] games losing during storylines had some actual effect on the storyline being told creating different scenarios, now in the newer games version of Season Mode losing forces you to either rematch or quit the mode.
** After your final match in the Season Mode of ''Shut Your Mouth'' (at [=WrestleMania=] 2004), Mr. [=McMahon=] comes out and disrespects your performance. You are given three options to choose from: [[TitleDrop "Shut Your Mouth!!", "Shut Your Mouth!!", and "Shut Your Mouth!!"]]... all of which result in a vicious beatdown on Vinnie Mac from you and your WM opponent.
* CallBack: In JohnCena's Road to [=WrestleMania=] in '11, he and MVP are forced to fight in a tag match under Better-Than-Utopian rules [[spoiler:Now known as "Age of Orton" rules]], a ruleset MVP had created to use against Cena back in the '09 edition of [=SvR=].
** ShawnMichaels' Road to [=WrestleMania=] in 2010 had JBL play a farewell tribute video for HBK, that included clips from Know Your Role, Shut Your Mouth, [=SvR=] 2007 and [=SvR=] 2009.
* CannonFodder: The battle royals in 2009 and 2011 in which the player has to eliminate an army of masked men and "lost soul" druids respectively.
* CanonDiscontinuity: ''WWE '13'' retells the story of the AttitudeEra. In the game's version, the first incarnation of DGenerationX consisted of HBK, HHH and ''[[{{Wrestling/Chyna}} nobody]] [[{{Wrestling/RickRude}} else]]''.
* CashCowFranchise: Every game in the series to date has ended up on Greatest Hits lists.
* {{CAWs}}: Half the game is this, with everything from StreetFighter to Franchise/StarTrek to FinalFantasy to Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion to Franchise/ResidentEvil to SoulCalibur to StarWars to KimPossible to Franchise/MassEffect being used as fodder for...
* CharacterCustomization: With truly a ludicrous amount of detail available the series is the standard bearer for wrestling games, perhaps in all video games. It has a budding community that produces thousands of works that you could download to the game in recent years.
* CostumeCopycat - In Wrestling/MickieJames' 2010 Road to Wrestlemania, Natalya dresses up like her.
** Especially amusing, as Mickie gets really annoyed. But how did Mickie debut properly in the WWE? Oh yeah, by being the Natalya to Trish Stratus. She even lampshades this.
* CreatorCameo: Game designer Bryan Williams makes one in 2009, providing the voice for John Cena's soldier friend Tony.
* CutsceneIncompetence: Loads of egregious examples in ''WWE 12'''s Road to WrestleMania mode , where you could be plowing through your opponent, then end up losing the match during the cutscene.
* DaddySystem: The PlayStation2 served as this for the series from 2007 to 2011.
* DecoyProtagonist: The [=RtWM=] in ''WWE '12'' starts with the player controlling John Cena & walking him through the backstage area to the ring, until Sheamus jumps him on the stage.
* DownloadableContent: Introduced with 2009 which allows players to download extra wrestlers, arenas, or costumes.
* DoubleStandard: In '''''any''''' match starting with 2010, it's okay for a Diva to attack a Superstar, but a Superstar attacking a Diva is an automatic DQ, even if it's accidental.
** Even better - when your opponent has a manager, attack them. If they even so much as reverse the move, your opponent will be [=DQed=].
* DownerEnding: If you fail to beat TheUndertaker in his storyline in 2011, [[spoiler:he turns your character into a druid.]]
* EasilyDistractedReferee: May be prevalent in all games, but in '13, if a challenge is to pin someone in 10 seconds and that person has a manager at ringside, be ready for much rage, as that manager will make the referee stop counting [[IdiotBall for some reason]], get up and have the referee try to keep that person out.
* EvilBrit: '12 has a PowerStable full of them called the "United Kingdom", featuring the English William Regal and WadeBarrett, the Scottish Drew [=McIntyre=] and the Irish {{Sheamus}} ([[BritainVersusTheUK despite Sheamus hailing from Dublin, the capital of the part of Ireland that isn't part of the UK]]).
* EvilCripple: TheMiz becomes one in ''WWE 12'' after a career-ending leg injury. [[spoiler: Or so it seems.]]
* FanService: 2006 introduced the Fulfill Your Fantasy Mode essentially a cosplay version of the Bra & Panties mode with some slight tweaks.
** The previous game had various divas dancing during the menu screens.
** ''Shut Your Mouth'' had an unlockable video: footage from the divas' swimsuit photoshoot.
* FailureIsTheOnlyOption: In 2010 and 2011 some of the [=RtWM=] storylines dictate that your character get beaten up resulting in a loss or something close to it.
* FleetingDemographicRule: Mickie James's [=RtWM=] in 2010. Her [=RtWM=] involves Natalya as her crazy stalker, a part Mickie herself played against Trish Stratus when she arrived at WWE.
** 2007 has a storyline with Wrestling/StephanieMcMahon that is very close to the "Higher Power" angle, with Wrestling/RoddyPiper taking the place of Wrestling/TheUndertaker. Both involve Wrestling/VinceMcMahon aligning with someone he was feuding with to rescue his kidnapped daughter, and [[spoiler:Vince]] is the mastermind of both kidnappings.
* FunWithAcronyms: If you choose a created superstar for the Road to [=WrestleMania=] mode in '12, his name will be Jacob Cass, i.e. '''C'''reate '''A S'''uper '''S'''tar.
* GameplayAndStorySegregation: Multiple cases, but here's one of the more {{egregious}} ones. When playing through {{Sheamus}}' "Road To [=WrestleMania=]" in ''WWE 12'', you find yourself in a tag team match against JohnCena and ReyMysterio. You can beat the hell out of Cena to the point where you're just seconds away from hitting him with your finisher...and then before the match ends it goes to a cutscene where you're getting ready to hit ''Rey'' with a finisher and Cena (who seems to be in no pain at all) stops you before you can.
* GangUpOnTheHuman: Triple threat or fatal 4 way matches usually end up just a glorified handicap match, to the point where in a triple threat match if you are pinned the third CPU opponent will happily stand by and lose, [[WeWinBecauseYouDidnt just so long as you do as well.
* HeadSwap: Both played with straight and inverted in the first two [=SmackDown=] games with the Create-A-Superstar mode. You can use existing heads, torsos or legs from existing characters.
* HostileShowTakeover: WWE '12 [[FleetingDemographicRule rehashes]] the 2001 {{WCW}} invasion storyline. Strangely enough, the storyline features WCW acting [[NewWorldOrder nWo-like]] such as spraypainting WWE title belts, which is ironic considering the nWo did the exact same thing to WCW in the 1990s.
* GlassJawReferee: Somewhat averted in recent games whereby you can still knock down the referee but now he can't be targeted and he no longer stays down for very long.
* GroinAttack: Be honest, the first thing you did with the Create-A-Finisher mode was make a move that consisted of 10 consecutive low blows...
* GuestFighter: The series has seen quite a number of guest fighters, notably the inclusions of legends since HCTP. Although the series has seen a few other non-legendary guests:
** [[LimpBizkit Fred Durst]] in ''Shut Your Mouth''
** The [[MalevolentMaskedMen Masked Man]] ([[spoiler:aka RandyOrton and/or Mr. Kennedy]]) and John Cena's soldier friend Tony in 2009
** [[AscendedExtra Green]] and [[TheRival Red]] in 2010
** Undertaker's Druid in 2011
** BrockLesnar in ''WWE '12''
** Mike Tyson in ''WWE '13''
** Wrestling/UltimateWarrior in ''WWE [=2K14=]''
* InterfaceSpoiler: The Hero story in ''WWE '12'' - [[spoiler:Kevin Nash & Rey Mysterio have defeated Jacob Cass & Triple H at {{WrestleMania}}, bringing back {{WCW}}]]... And then the credits roll. The astute player will notice that the [[MostWonderfulSound achievement/trophy unlock]] hasn't pinged to let you know you've unlocked the "Complete Hero Story" achievement[=/=]trophy, and then [[spoiler:the credits are interrupted by Kevin Nash in the Nitro ring]].
* {{Jerkass}}: In [=RtW=] in 2011, everyone you talk to backstage (storylines aside) treats you like crap.
* KarmaHoudini: In [=RtW=] Edge and Randy Orton in 2010. Subverted with [[spoiler: Chris Jericho in 2011]].
* LampshadeHanging: See LeaningOnTheFourthWall below.
** Also in Shawn Michaels' 2010 [=RtWM=], his "highlights" are done in graphics from the appropriate previous installments
* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: In 2010's Create-A-Superstar's Road to Wrestlemania storyline, Santino points out that the wrestler is "like something some loser would make in a video game". He also [[AsideGlance looks dead on at the camera]].
** Pushed to even further levels in 2011 with Edge and Christian:
-->'''Edge:''' "Dude, we totally fooled the player into thinking we weren't going to reunite."
-->'''Christian:''' "I know, we totally ... wait a minute? Player? What player?"
-->'''Edge:''' "You see that weirdo staring at us through the TV?"
--> ''[Edge & Christian both look directly into the screen, with Edge waving at the player]''
-->'''Christian:''' "No, but I'll take your word for it."
** There's also a scene where TheMiz and John Morrison insult TripleH, saying how only losers play games.
** For that matter, there's a scene in WWE'12 where The Miz insults Triple H. The Game speaks for us all.
-->Man I wish we weren't in the PG era right now.
** WWE 12 answers the fan reaction of how much MichaelCole is pushed by making him a full on GodModeSue, wrestling for the World Title every night.
* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters: For most fighting games, having fifty characters is an incredible feat. Using the latest WWE 13 as an example, that's how many custom characters you can have, and with all the superstars and divas that you can buy, download and unlock the roster is nearly double that.
* {{Loads and Loads of Loading}}: Mainly in ''2010'''s Create a Storyline mode, after each cutscene, there's a lot of loading.
** One of the few complaints of ''2006'', made worse if playing with created wrestlers.
** ''[=SmackDown=] 2: Know Your Role'' was this series' first offender of this trope. Compared to the original ''[=SmackDown=]'', not only it took its' time to load the arena during the Anywhere Fall matches, it has also reloaded the backstage scenery and the wrestlers despite all that data has already been seen in a cutscene ''right'' before that. As if that wasn't enough, in a RoyalRumble, each wrestler had to load after the countdown. This has to be done in its predecessor, but the loading times were even shorter. In fact, they took a couple of seconds. [=SmackDown=] 2's loading took roughly 7 seconds each.
* MaddenCurse: A variation: everyone that feuds with the Undertaker has had something bad happen. At the extreme end is the aforementioned Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit tragedies; in more recent editions the Phenom seems content with getting people injured, suspended or fired.
** Played straight from 2006 to 2008 & 2010, with someone on the cover of the game getting injured for a period of time in the year following the release. Notably, 2008 had Wrestling/BobbyLashley, Wrestling/JohnCena & the Undertaker on the cover & all three of them suffered notable injuries in the following year.
** An interesting variant occurred with the first [=SvR=], which featured not a wrestler but an authority figure on its cover, in this case [[VinceMcMahon Mr. McMahon]]. A few months after the game's release, [=McMahon=] slid into the ring and ''tore both quads'' at the 2005 ''Royal Rumble''.
* MagicWand: The infamous "Uh-Oh It's Magic" storyline in 2007 where Candince Michelle is in possession of a magic wand, [[GenderBender turning the player's character into a woman]] (which attracts Viscera on the way), [[MarySue giving herself perfect attribute points]] and turning Edge into the Boogeyman with Daivari's voice.
* MindScrew: 2007's "Uh oh, It's Magic" storyline mentioned above.
** 2011's ''Vs. Undertaker'' storyline features its own moments [[spoiler: like having an entire battle royal replaced with a ZergRush situation vs. Taker's druids, and the arena audience all replaced with druids.]]
* MirrorMatch: ''WWE '13'' features the ability to play as the past and present incarnations of certain superstars. Some examples include:
** JohnCena (Doctor of Thuganomics and Cenation Commander-In-Chief)
** TheUndertaker (Attitude Era, Ministry of Darkness (goatee) DLC and The Last Outlaw)
** {{Edge}} and {{Christian}} (E&C and The Rated-R Supertar/Captain Charisma)
** MarkHenry (Nation of Domination and the World's Strongest Man)
** ChrisJericho (Y2J and The Best In The World At What He Does)
** TripleH (Hunter Hearst Helmsley, D-Generation X & The King of Kings)
** TheBigShow (As both Paul Wight circa Attitude Era and modern-day Big Show)
** Kane (Full masked and Double masked)
** Mick Foley (As Dude Love, Mankind and Cactus Jack)
** Bradshaw (Acolytes/A.P.A and John Bradshaw Layfield)
** TheRock (The Most Electricfying Man In Sports Entertainment & The Most Electricfying Man in All of Entertainment.)
** {{Lita}} (Team [[XtremeKoolLetterz eXtreme]] & Rated-R)
* MontrealScrewjob: How do you win the final challenge in the first [=SmackDown=] vs. Raw? By having ShawnMichaels make BretHart tap out to the Sharpshooter. Several future installments would play with the incident, from referencing the screwjob to reenacting it being an achievement. WWE 13, concentrating on the AttitudeEra, covers a little of the controversy. You can also play as a special referee and have the option of screwing a wrestler when they're in a submission.
* {{Munchkin}}: The first thread on a new game is usually, "When are the CAWs for JohnCena from WWE 13 going to be up? And the ones from WWE 12, 2011, 2o1o, 2oo9, the one from WrestleMania, the one where he rapped against [[DwayneJohnson The Rock...]]" However the second thread is usually, "yo what R all teh unblockable glitched cheat moves? I go tke my 100 perfect CAW online to pwn U noobs lolz."
** In other words, half the players online think [[EddieGuerrero if you're not cheating, you're not trying.]]
* MundaneMadeAwesome: Give your created wrestler a really lame finish and SVR (starting from 06) will "sell" the move like it's the awesome most thing ever. Watch as the game goes into slow motion with dramatic "whoosh" sound effect when your created wrestler does his finisher... [[FingerpokeOfDoom an eye poke.]]
* MythologyGag: Christian's [=RtWM=] in 2011 is filled with these.
** WWE '12 also features a short reference to the infamous FingerpokeOfDoom Incident.
* ObviousBeta: The last few games suffered from this. No patch was ever released to fix the bugs.
** The glitches and restrictions of the [=SmackDown=] games. For example, in [=SvR=] 2010, you can download wrestlers, but not edit their moves or entrances. Have fun with that Hulk Hogan that has an improper move set and entrance. Somewhat justifiable as the downloaded CAW comes with whatever custom finisher given to them. The same, however, cannot be said about the custom tracks used as a CAW's entrance theme, leaving him/her without any music once uploaded.
*** No Rumble matches or any match with six competitors for Divas. My head hurts.
*** It's been stated that, while there are still no Superstar vs. Divas matches, Divas could now participate in any match type in 2011 (save for six-person matches due to graphical issues).
*** Any match with a ladder. You can place a ladder at the entrance in a match that doesn't need it and the AI will limp from the ringside announce tables to get it. [[PunctuatedForEmphasis No. ]]''[[PunctuatedForEmphasis Matter]]''. '''''[[PunctuatedForEmphasis WHAT]]'''''.
*** Becomes a Game Breaking Glitch in Money In The Bank Ladder matches - You can take one ladder, and leave it on the stage and every single one of the AI opponents will run after it, and start fighting over it, whilst you get the ''other'' ladder & start unhooking the briefcase.
** Hurricane being in as an NPC in 2011 for whatever reason and not a full fledged playable character.
** Interference is a pain in the ass in [=SvR=] 2011. When someone interferes on your opponent's behalf, the ref will totally ignore your pinning attempts entirely and actively seek out the interfering party. To spell it out, in a Falls Count Anywhere match, you can be wrestling someone in the entrance and someone runs out to interfere. Never mind the fact that they'll run past you and head for the ring, but if you pin your opponent, the ref will ''run to the ring and be "distracted"''.
** The ability to download and upload creations is great, there's just one problem: '''''[[PunctuatedForEmphasis IT. DOES. NOT. WORK.]] THE. GAME. WILL. NOT. GO. ONLINE.'''''
** Don't even think about messing around with the save game, it will corrupt and you'll lose all your data.
* OriginalGeneration: In ''WWE 12'', one of the three Road to WrestleMania stories centers on a new character named Jacob Cass.
* PaletteSwap: Superstars Threads is literally a mode built around this trope.
** Red and Green is a more straight-forward example.
* PerfectPlayAI: Often, the AI will become an unstoppable reversing machine for no rhyme or reason.
* PowerStable: The United Kingdom and [[TheMiz the Mizfits]] in ''[='12=]''.
* ProWrestlingIsReal
* PyrrhicVictory: Sheamus's branch of [=RtWM=] in ''WWE '12'' ends with him winning every title at {{WrestleMania}}, only for RoyalRumble winner TripleH to make his return & promptly beat Sheamus for the WWE title.
* RecycledSoundtrack: ''[[VideoGame/TonyHawksProSkater Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2]]'' initially had a couple of songs in its' really large arsenal, ''When Worlds Collide'' and ''Bring the Noise'', which then were reused in the first ''[=SmackDown=] vs. Raw'' game. Of course, the songs are served exactly the same way here as they were served in the actual Tony Hawk series...
** Then the entire ''[=SvR=]'' soundtrack was (re-)recycled for the first ''Day of Reckoning''.
* RelationshipValues: A plus and minus personality system was used for created wrestlers in the earlier [=SmackDown=] games that would determine match interference. The system was revived and revamped for 2010, now involving every wrestler in the game. It would also play a major part in 2011's WWE Universe mode.
* RubberBandAI: In 2010 especially, acquire a finisher and your opponent goes into full on berserk, GodModeSue, TheComputerIsACheatingBastard mode and will do anything, '''''anything''''', to prevent you from using it. Of course this is in line with at real events a wrestler might bail out of the ring to collect themselves if they are being badly beaten, but good luck trying that yourself. [[TheComputerIsACheatingBastard The computer has no problems doing this.]]
** After a few wins in WWE 12 the computer will see fit to give your opponent a finisher whenever it is losing, and take away the kickout meter virtually guaranteeing a loss.
* ShownTheirWork: The 2006 game especially had lots of little nods and touches to make the game just like a live broadcast. Everything from a jab at Mohammed Hassan to someone in the crowd laughing at Mick Foley ''just'' like at a real event to references to the Montreal Screwjob.
* ShoutOut: One fan in [=SvR=] 2006 loves to yell out [[TheKarateKid "Johnny, you're a cream puff!"]] every now and then.
** Some of the items you can give a created wrestler fall under this category. For instance, you can give your character a hood that's not unlike [[GIJoe Cobra Commander's]].
** On that note THQ's wrestling games made it pretty easy to create characters from other games. They clearly realized this as one of the default custom wrestlers in the original [=SmackDown=] vs. Raw was an {{Expy}} of Chun Li from StreetFighter.
* SoundEffectBleep: Of sorts. In WWE '13's Attitude Era mode, possibly stemming from using archive audio, whenever the original WWF initals or the full name of the company are spoken, the "F"/"Federation" part will be muted out.
* SpitefulAI: The game mechanics are thus: do well enough to build momentum most of the way and you get a signature move, hit it and you get a much more powerful finisher. In recent years the computer hates this and will go all out to stop you hitting the signature move.
** If you are trying to beat the clock, especially to fulfill an objective, the game '''''will''''' use the longest, most time wasting moves in their arsenal.
* StockSubtitle: From ''[=SmackDown=] 2'' to ''[=SmackDown=] vs. Raw''. It was joked at the time of the rebranding that they were running out of catchphrases to use, and they couldn't exactly call the game ''WWE [=SmackDown=]: [[JohnCena You Can't See Me]]''.
** ''[=SmackDown=] 2: [[DwayneJohnson Know Your Role]]''
** ''[=SmackDown=]: [[DwayneJohnson Just Bring It]]''
** ''[=SmackDown=]: [[DwayneJohnson Shut]] [[TakeThatCritics Your]] [[RuleOfThree Mouth]]''
** ''[=SmackDown=]: [[BrockLesnar Here Comes The Pain]]''
* SubsystemDamage
* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: After almost a ten year tenure, Green and Red were PutOnABus for WWE '12 and replaced in the create modes with two generic wrestlers with black and red trunks. Guess which of the two is getting beat up in the Create-A-Moveset mode? Yeah, it's the red one.
* TakeThat: Against your character in Road to Wrestlemania, who has to do everything from fight in handicap matches in a stupid outfit chosen by Vince [=McMahon=] to being forced to wear a chicken suit. Santino against the player, heck, even the game itself regards you as a loser.
--> ''While your work attire might be a paper hat and smock, VinceMcMahon wears luxurious suits.''
--> The actual in-game text describing Mr. [=McMahon=]'s business suit attire.
** At Unforgiven during Attitude mode in WWE '13, [[JimRoss Good Ol' JR]] will soundly tear apart Eric Bishoff over his real life statement that StoneColdSteveAustin would never make it in the wrestling business. Later, when MickFoley wins his first championship, the game brings up the TakeThat from WCW that spectacularly failed and essentially killed the company.
* TakeThatCritics: After ''Just Bring It'' was heavily criticised by fans & critics alike over the heavily outdated roster[[note]]None of the WCW[=/=]ECW superstars introduced during the {{InVasion}} storyline ongoing that same summer were included in the game[[/note]] & several technical flaws[[note]]A story mode that lasted 3 matches ''at it's longest'', graphics that simply looked like a cleaner version of the prior year's ''[=SmackDown=] 2'' on the original {{PlayStation}} & requiring a save file that took ''over half'' of the space on the Memory Cards[[/note]], the severely improved follow-up released the next year was appropriately entitled ''Shut Your Mouth''.
* TauntButton: Which has the purpose of filling a superstar's "Adrenaline" a bit, in order to reach a point where they can use a signature manuever on an opponent.
* TheComputerIsACheatingBastard: Goes hand in hand with the RubberBandAI completely snapping
** For whatever reason in 2010's [=RtWM=] mode your opponent will always be cheap and difficult to beat even if you haven't touched the difficulty settings.
** The game is unashamedly a PerfectPlayAI, to the point where it will glitch to win. For example, immediately getting to it's feet from the ground. Not climbing up from the ground, but ''teleporting from flat on their back to on their feet''.
** In WWE '12, John Cena, Randy Orton, and Big Show were especially bad at this. On Normal difficulty, the three will all reverse a lot of your moves and have incredibly high durability. What this means? Due to the new feature where early in the match, your opponent will get right back up after grapples. Well, prepare to have that happen ''after you hit your Finisher''. And with the comeback specials, which mean your opponent can basically NoSell your offense just to set up for a finisher. Due to how bastardish this game can get, the AI will activate its comeback after you hit a signature move, just to prevent you from using your finisher on them.
** And that's not the worst thing possible here. The computer will sometimes '''CANCEL OUT YOUR COUNTER TO THEIR FINISHERS.'''
** The game seems to determine who wins and loses before a match. If fighting the CPU and you want them to win (say you want to boost their popularity) it will switch They Just Didnt Care mode on to 11 and you will be hard pressed to get a decent match out of them, much less pick up the victory. If the game wants the player to lose then it will ignore counters and damage, the computer will gain finishers willy nilly and the kickout meter will be delayed giving little if any chance of escaping a pin. Either way if a wrestler is slated to lose you would be hard pressed to do anything to say otherwise.
** It might accurately represent wrestling, but you can be soundly beating your opponent, they get two moves in, sudden finisher, no kickout meter, you lose.
** Just how far will the game cheat? Play a championship scramble match and it might not only prevent you from being able to pin or submit, ''the referee himself will attack you.''
** For once justified in WWE 13. In a match with [[Wrestling/DwayneJohnson The Rock]] and Ken Shamrock, once you fulfill the objectives the match doesn't end. Instead Shamrock becomes totally invincible, cheating on a scale the previous game could only dream of. That's actually in line with the real match, as Rocky did lose, and the game carries on afterwards.
** Certain actions in the game will gain a signature or finisher move. At times when you do so the game will [[SarcasmMode conveniently]] forget to give you one. If any other evidence is needed this is it: [[PunctuatedForEmphasis THE. GAME. CHEATS.]]
** An occasional glitch in WWE 13 is during a contest you are suddenly warped into a pin.
** The game has a tendency to crash if you win or are winning. ''The game crashes. If you win or are winning'' '''It's like you are not allowed to beat the game at times.'''
** Observant players might realize that when using a strike the CPU will immediately use an appropriate counter, so it reads your inputs. Sometimes during a grapple it will pause for the briefest of moments to work out what move you are trying to use and react accordingly.
* TheComputerShallTauntYou: During Wrestling/ChrisJericho's [=RtWM=] in the 2011 game, you have to wrestle a match with Triple H sitting in on commentary and continually talking about what a joke you are, providing incentive to go after him later on.
* TheDevTeamThinksOfEverything: Not ''quite'' of everything, but the expansions made in the ''WWE'12'' commentary are interesting, to say the least:
** If you pit [[Wrestling/BryanDanielson Daniel Bryan]] against Wrestling/CMPunk, the commentary will make note of both as being former indy stars, and that this match will be one that internet fans will love. Also, pitting Daniel Bryan against Wrestling/WilliamRegal will also yield dialogue about both mens history as student and teacher.
** Wrestling/MichaelCole is seen as TheScrappy and CreatorsPet. If you download him in WWE 12 every single show in Universe will place him in a main or high ranking title match. Change the match so he does not take part and nine times out of ten the next card will be changed to feature him.
** On an episode of NXT Wrestling/TrishStratus criticized the practice of adjusting tights during a match. In the game when there's a break in the action she might very well adjust her tights.
** Universe mode has this. One time a wrestler in a stable accidently kicks her teammate, sending them off the apron and into the announce table. After the match the victim lays down a vicious beating before she becomes a monster heel. Some months later another Diva worms their way into a match with another member of the stable and they work so well together she is accepted with open arms. Some months later the original Diva who attacked her teammate runs out during a match and lays a beatdown on both competitors, turning heel. Then another Diva turns and joins her.
** Michael Cole and Jerry "The King" Lawler are available as both commentators and playable characters. Guess what will you get [[NoFourthWall when both are in the ring and at the announcers table?]]
* TyrantTakesTheHelm: Randy Orton in ''2011'', [[spoiler:The Miz and Kevin Nash]] in ''[='12=]''.
* UnexpectedCharacter: Due to the possibility of the roster being out of date resulting from earlier cutoff dates, there are some characters that appear despite no longer being in the WWE. There are also straighter examples within each installment (i.e. Vance Archer in 2011)
** [[Music/LimpBizkit Fred Durst]] in ''Just Bring It''.
** Wrestling/RobVanDam in 2011 may be the most triumphant example, let alone as one of the Legends, due to his debuting in {{TNA}} earlier in the year. This was largely down to the decision to include RVD & signing the deal to get him in the game happened before his TNA debut.
** Wrestling/BrockLesnar in WWE '12, especially since Brock hadn't been seen in a WWE ring again for nearly 8 years.
** WWE '13 has MikeTyson reprising his role as the enforcer of the Wrestling/{{WrestleMania}} XIV main event; and Gangrel, since no-one expected THQ & WWE to license the character's name from [[TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade White Wolf]] for the sole purpose of including him as DLC.
** WWE [=2K14=] has Wrestling/UltimateWarrior and considering the bad blood between him and WWE it's definitely a surprise. Also it includes Wrestling/HulkHogan who's been a part of TNA for a few years now.
* VaguenessIsComing: After a main event in 13's universe mode one possible scene is the message ''The End is Coming'' as the competitors look freaked out. Get ready for someone on the roster to get a ''big'' push.
* VillainProtagonist
** in [=SmackDown=] vs Raw 2006 [[spoiler: it can be you]] at the end of the [=SmackDown=] season.
** Edge and Randy Orton in 2010.
** Chris Jericho [[spoiler:(and possibly [[FaceHeelTurn Rey Mysterio]])]] in 2011.
** Sheamus in WWE '12.
* ViralMarketing: WWE '13 did this with [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQzXcrVH8iA "A Revolution Is Coming" viral videos]] popping up on WWE.com, with many people thinking it was going to be a new wrestler or event. As it turned out, it was the announcement of WWE '13 with the revolution part tying in with CMPunk as the game's cover star.
* VersusTitle: [=SmackDown=] Vs Raw 2005-2011 (2004 was the first game and didn't have the year on it)
* VideoGameCaringPotential: [[SincerityMode Yes.]] In earlier games with GM mode where wrestlers were more vocal about being mistreated, or Universe mode you can to some degree control how they are utilized. Naturally you'd want your favorites to gain momentum but you might want to give someone who is crapped on for real a push, or help build the tag team and Diva divisions. And some of the earlier scenes where you are fighting to save a Diva, or get in a relationship with one, or you go to them (or better yet, they come to ''you'' on Valentine's Day, especially if you made a CAW you dearly love,) [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming DAWWWWWW.]]
* WhatTheHellHero: [=SvR=] 2011, [[spoiler:Rey Mysterio throughout his [=RtW=] get these from Superstars and Divas, stating that he's NotHimself. Justified as he's been in a car accident and has since been hanging with [[PoisonousFriend Jack Swagger]], the person behind the accident in the first place.]]
* WolverinePublicity[=/=]CoversAlwaysLie: BretHart is front and center on the Canadian cover for ''2011'', but is not in the game.
** Not unless you download him from Xbox Live / the Playstation Network.
* WouldHitAGirl: For most of the series, you could put divas in the ring against the men. Many pre-SvR games could even extend the female characters' rights by making them either male or genderless. ''WWF [=SmackDown=]: Shut Your Mouth'', in turn, had no other option of putting a female CAW into the Career Mode rather than [[AmbiguousGender choosing the second option]]. As of ''2010'', there is no more intergender competition other than Mixed Tag Team matches - someone in THQ management thought that the possibility of the girls beating the guys devalued the guys.
** This changed also came about as WWE banned man-on-woman violence post-2008 as part of the process of cleaning up the company's image.
The ''WWE 2K'' series of professional wrestling video games began in 2000 with the release of ''WWF [=SmackDown=]!'' for the PlayStation console. The series can be categorized into four separate sub-series/eras:
* The ''[=SmackDown!=]'' series (2000-2003); a PlayStation-exclusive series produced by {{THQ}} and Yuke's with fast arcade-like gameplay.
* The ''[=SmackDown=] vs. Raw'' series (2004-2010); continuation of the THQ/Yuke's partnership. Originally cashing in on the brand warfare theme, it later became known for its GenreShift from arcade-like gameplay to simulation, becoming a yearly institution in the vein of the ''Madden NFL'' games. The series went multi-platform, appearing on the Xbox 360, with the release of ''[=SmackDown=] vs. Raw 2007''. ''[=SmackDown=] vs. Raw 2008'' added the Wii to the list of platforms. The era was also known for suffering with CapcomSequelStagnation.
* The ''WWE'' series (2011-2012); the final era from THQ. A major {{retool}} of the series gameplay-wise for next generation consoles exclusively, a brand new engine and quite a number of changes made in the latter parts of the ''[=SmackDown=] vs. Raw'' era reverted.
* The ''WWE 2K'' series (2013-); the result of THQ's bankruptcy and the pre-meditated selling of their WWE licence to Creator/TakeTwoInteractive. Published under the 2K Sports label, Yuke's will remain to develop the games with the additional help from Visual Concepts.
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!!'''Tropes associated with this series include:'''
* AdaptationDecay: The real Championship Scramble's main draw is that the title can potentially change hands multiple times before the end of the match. In the game, the AI will just break up every pinfall when after the third superstar[=/=]diva enters the ring, meaning that unless there was a pinfall early on, the title probably won't change hands.
* AllJustADream: 2007's "Uh oh, It's Magic" storyline was a result of this.
* AndNowForSomeoneCompletelyDifferent: The Road to [=WrestleMania=] mode for '12 is played out this way, starting with {{Sheamus}}, followed by TripleH and finally a character of the player's choosing. There are also brief parts playing as JohnCena, RandyOrton, WadeBarrett, and others.
* AnInteriorDesignerIsYou: 2006 and 2007 gave you the ability to design your own locker room.
** '12 introduced the longly-awaited Create-An-Arena mode, while '13 will allow the player to edit the stage for the first time.
* AnnouncerChatter: And it tends to vary on how good or bad it can be, with the worst cases getting match type wrong and addressing wrestlers who are not even in the game. WWE 12 has improved on it greatly making it the best in quite some time.
* ArtifactTitle: In ''WWE 12'', "Road to {{WrestleMania}}" is no longer a three month path to the WWE's Pay Per View spectacle, & instead has the player play through three consecutive storylines occuring concurrently, the time period covering no less than ''three'' {{WrestleMania}} shows. The final nail comes when you realise the final match doesn't even occur at the event, instead [[spoiler:coming at a revived WCW's "Starrcade" Pay Per View instead]].
* ArtificialStupidity: The AI, due to bad programming, will end up in a 1-vs-1 match with 2 AI's. Another person runs down while one has the other in a pin to distract the referee. Due to the way the game works, the one guy that's pinning won't stop the pin, the one guy that's getting pinned won't kick out, and the guy that runs out (occasionally) won't stop distracting the referee, leaving you caught in an '''INFINITE FUCKING LOOP.''' The only way to stop this infinite loop is to stop the match in some way.
* ArtisticLicenseGeography: The Road to [=WrestleMania=] mode in '''12'' features an EvilBrit PowerStable called the "United Kingdom" consisting of two Englishmen in WadeBarrett and William Regal, a Scotsman in Drew [=McIntyre=] and an Irishman in {{Sheamus}}. Nobody told the storyline writers that Sheamus is from the Republic of Ireland, which is separate from the UK.
** Somewhat related, but apparently the UK is only made of England, Scotland and Ireland. This is despite the fact that the roster includes Welshman Mason Ryan.
* AttitudeEra: All over the shop.
** The first three or four games took place during the era, with ''Shut Your Mouth'' current to mid 2002 after the draft and brand expansion. Since then classic wrestlers and storylines would be offered up. The Legends Tour in 2006 for example was a ''New Generation''\Attitude storyline, specifically the MontrealScrewjob, HulkHogan and [[DwayneJohnson The Rock]] teaming up and the legendary Hell in a Cell with TheUndertaker and [[MickFoley Mankind]].
** For several years challenges would be offered that included matches from Rock 'n Wrestling to the PG era, which included the Rock 'n Sock Connection, the BretHart\StoneColdSteveAustin match at WrestleMania XIII, the Brothers of Destruction and the Rock\Austin match at WrestleMania XVII.
** ''WWE 13'' replaces "Road to {{WrestleMania}}" mode with "AttitudeEra" mode, which allows the player to relive the highlights of the period.
* TheBadGuyWins: Edge and Randy Orton's 2010 Road to Wrestlemania.
** Also, Chris Jericho's 2011 Road to Wrestlemania, somewhat. See BittersweetEnding below.
*** Maybe, Sheamus counts in WWE '12 but Triple H's story started with HHH beating up Sheamus.
* BeatThemAtTheirOwnGame: Many installments allow wrestlers to add insult to injury by giving them the ability to use their opponent's finishing maneuvers against them.
* BerserkButton: The game treats gaining a signature or finishing move, or gaining the comeback mechanic, as this. It will do whatever it has to do, no matter how much it has to cheat, to prevent you from using it.
* BettingMiniGame: The PSP version of 2006 featured a number of console-exclusive minigames, including a Poker game.
* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler: ChrisJericho's]] [=RtWM=] in 2011, where even after you win at [=WrestleMania=] [[spoiler: TripleH]] ultimately attacks you and stands tall. [[spoiler:Considering your actions up to Wrestlemania, this could fall under LaserGuidedKarma.]]
** The "Villain Story" in WWE '12, starring Sheamus. [[spoiler: He manages to win every title in WWE by beating your former peers in the United Kingdom, only for TripleH to beat Sheamus up and win the WWE Title off of him.]] Interestingly, this is the transition point into the "Outsider Story" portion of [=RtWM=].
* ButThouMust:
** In the earlier [=SmackDown=] games losing during storylines had some actual effect on the storyline being told creating different scenarios, now in the newer games version of Season Mode losing forces you to either rematch or quit the mode.
** After your final match in the Season Mode of ''Shut Your Mouth'' (at [=WrestleMania=] 2004), Mr. [=McMahon=] comes out and disrespects your performance. You are given three options to choose from: [[TitleDrop "Shut Your Mouth!!", "Shut Your Mouth!!", and "Shut Your Mouth!!"]]... all of which result in a vicious beatdown on Vinnie Mac from you and your WM opponent.
* CallBack: In JohnCena's Road to [=WrestleMania=] in '11, he and MVP are forced to fight in a tag match under Better-Than-Utopian rules [[spoiler:Now known as "Age of Orton" rules]], a ruleset MVP had created to use against Cena back in the '09 edition of [=SvR=].
** ShawnMichaels' Road to [=WrestleMania=] in 2010 had JBL play a farewell tribute video for HBK, that included clips from Know Your Role, Shut Your Mouth, [=SvR=] 2007 and [=SvR=] 2009.
* CannonFodder: The battle royals in 2009 and 2011 in which the player has to eliminate an army of masked men and "lost soul" druids respectively.
* CanonDiscontinuity: ''WWE '13'' retells the story of the AttitudeEra. In the game's version, the first incarnation of DGenerationX consisted of HBK, HHH and ''[[{{Wrestling/Chyna}} nobody]] [[{{Wrestling/RickRude}} else]]''.
* CashCowFranchise: Every game in the series to date has ended up on Greatest Hits lists.
* {{CAWs}}: Half the game is this, with everything from StreetFighter to Franchise/StarTrek to FinalFantasy to Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion to Franchise/ResidentEvil to SoulCalibur to StarWars to KimPossible to Franchise/MassEffect being used as fodder for...
* CharacterCustomization: With truly a ludicrous amount of detail available the series is the standard bearer for wrestling games, perhaps in all video games. It has a budding community that produces thousands of works that you could download to the game in recent years.
* CostumeCopycat - In Wrestling/MickieJames' 2010 Road to Wrestlemania, Natalya dresses up like her.
** Especially amusing, as Mickie gets really annoyed. But how did Mickie debut properly in the WWE? Oh yeah, by being the Natalya to Trish Stratus. She even lampshades this.
* CreatorCameo: Game designer Bryan Williams makes one in 2009, providing the voice for John Cena's soldier friend Tony.
* CutsceneIncompetence: Loads of egregious examples in ''WWE 12'''s Road to WrestleMania mode , where you could be plowing through your opponent, then end up losing the match during the cutscene.
* DaddySystem: The PlayStation2 served as this for the series from 2007 to 2011.
* DecoyProtagonist: The [=RtWM=] in ''WWE '12'' starts with the player controlling John Cena & walking him through the backstage area to the ring, until Sheamus jumps him on the stage.
* DownloadableContent: Introduced with 2009 which allows players to download extra wrestlers, arenas, or costumes.
* DoubleStandard: In '''''any''''' match starting with 2010, it's okay for a Diva to attack a Superstar, but a Superstar attacking a Diva is an automatic DQ, even if it's accidental.
** Even better - when your opponent has a manager, attack them. If they even so much as reverse the move, your opponent will be [=DQed=].
* DownerEnding: If you fail to beat TheUndertaker in his storyline in 2011, [[spoiler:he turns your character into a druid.]]
* EasilyDistractedReferee: May be prevalent in all games, but in '13, if a challenge is to pin someone in 10 seconds and that person has a manager at ringside, be ready for much rage, as that manager will make the referee stop counting [[IdiotBall for some reason]], get up and have the referee try to keep that person out.
* EvilBrit: '12 has a PowerStable full of them called the "United Kingdom", featuring the English William Regal and WadeBarrett, the Scottish Drew [=McIntyre=] and the Irish {{Sheamus}} ([[BritainVersusTheUK despite Sheamus hailing from Dublin, the capital of the part of Ireland that isn't part of the UK]]).
* EvilCripple: TheMiz becomes one in ''WWE 12'' after a career-ending leg injury. [[spoiler: Or so it seems.]]
* FanService: 2006 introduced the Fulfill Your Fantasy Mode essentially a cosplay version of the Bra & Panties mode with some slight tweaks.
** The previous game had various divas dancing during the menu screens.
** ''Shut Your Mouth'' had an unlockable video: footage from the divas' swimsuit photoshoot.
* FailureIsTheOnlyOption: In 2010 and 2011 some of the [=RtWM=] storylines dictate that your character get beaten up resulting in a loss or something close to it.
* FleetingDemographicRule: Mickie James's [=RtWM=] in 2010. Her [=RtWM=] involves Natalya as her crazy stalker, a part Mickie herself played against Trish Stratus when she arrived at WWE.
** 2007 has a storyline with Wrestling/StephanieMcMahon that is very close to the "Higher Power" angle, with Wrestling/RoddyPiper taking the place of Wrestling/TheUndertaker. Both involve Wrestling/VinceMcMahon aligning with someone he was feuding with to rescue his kidnapped daughter, and [[spoiler:Vince]] is the mastermind of both kidnappings.
* FunWithAcronyms: If you choose a created superstar for the Road to [=WrestleMania=] mode in '12, his name will be Jacob Cass, i.e. '''C'''reate '''A S'''uper '''S'''tar.
* GameplayAndStorySegregation: Multiple cases, but here's one of the more {{egregious}} ones. When playing through {{Sheamus}}' "Road To [=WrestleMania=]" in ''WWE 12'', you find yourself in a tag team match against JohnCena and ReyMysterio. You can beat the hell out of Cena to the point where you're just seconds away from hitting him with your finisher...and then before the match ends it goes to a cutscene where you're getting ready to hit ''Rey'' with a finisher and Cena (who seems to be in no pain at all) stops you before you can.
* GangUpOnTheHuman: Triple threat or fatal 4 way matches usually end up just a glorified handicap match, to the point where in a triple threat match if you are pinned the third CPU opponent will happily stand by and lose, [[WeWinBecauseYouDidnt just so long as you do as well.
* HeadSwap: Both played with straight and inverted in the first two [=SmackDown=] games with the Create-A-Superstar mode. You can use existing heads, torsos or legs from existing characters.
* HostileShowTakeover: WWE '12 [[FleetingDemographicRule rehashes]] the 2001 {{WCW}} invasion storyline. Strangely enough, the storyline features WCW acting [[NewWorldOrder nWo-like]] such as spraypainting WWE title belts, which is ironic considering the nWo did the exact same thing to WCW in the 1990s.
* GlassJawReferee: Somewhat averted in recent games whereby you can still knock down the referee but now he can't be targeted and he no longer stays down for very long.
* GroinAttack: Be honest, the first thing you did with the Create-A-Finisher mode was make a move that consisted of 10 consecutive low blows...
* GuestFighter: The series has seen quite a number of guest fighters, notably the inclusions of legends since HCTP. Although the series has seen a few other non-legendary guests:
** [[LimpBizkit Fred Durst]] in ''Shut Your Mouth''
** The [[MalevolentMaskedMen Masked Man]] ([[spoiler:aka RandyOrton and/or Mr. Kennedy]]) and John Cena's soldier friend Tony in 2009
** [[AscendedExtra Green]] and [[TheRival Red]] in 2010
** Undertaker's Druid in 2011
** BrockLesnar in ''WWE '12''
** Mike Tyson in ''WWE '13''
** Wrestling/UltimateWarrior in ''WWE [=2K14=]''
* InterfaceSpoiler: The Hero story in ''WWE '12'' - [[spoiler:Kevin Nash & Rey Mysterio have defeated Jacob Cass & Triple H at {{WrestleMania}}, bringing back {{WCW}}]]... And then the credits roll. The astute player will notice that the [[MostWonderfulSound achievement/trophy unlock]] hasn't pinged to let you know you've unlocked the "Complete Hero Story" achievement[=/=]trophy, and then [[spoiler:the credits are interrupted by Kevin Nash in the Nitro ring]].
* {{Jerkass}}: In [=RtW=] in 2011, everyone you talk to backstage (storylines aside) treats you like crap.
* KarmaHoudini: In [=RtW=] Edge and Randy Orton in 2010. Subverted with [[spoiler: Chris Jericho in 2011]].
* LampshadeHanging: See LeaningOnTheFourthWall below.
** Also in Shawn Michaels' 2010 [=RtWM=], his "highlights" are done in graphics from the appropriate previous installments
* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: In 2010's Create-A-Superstar's Road to Wrestlemania storyline, Santino points out that the wrestler is "like something some loser would make in a video game". He also [[AsideGlance looks dead on at the camera]].
** Pushed to even further levels in 2011 with Edge and Christian:
-->'''Edge:''' "Dude, we totally fooled the player into thinking we weren't going to reunite."
-->'''Christian:''' "I know, we totally ... wait a minute? Player? What player?"
-->'''Edge:''' "You see that weirdo staring at us through the TV?"
--> ''[Edge & Christian both look directly into the screen, with Edge waving at the player]''
-->'''Christian:''' "No, but I'll take your word for it."
** There's also a scene where TheMiz and John Morrison insult TripleH, saying how only losers play games.
** For that matter, there's a scene in WWE'12 where The Miz insults Triple H. The Game speaks for us all.
-->Man I wish we weren't in the PG era right now.
** WWE 12 answers the fan reaction of how much MichaelCole is pushed by making him a full on GodModeSue, wrestling for the World Title every night.
* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters: For most fighting games, having fifty characters is an incredible feat. Using the latest WWE 13 as an example, that's how many custom characters you can have, and with all the superstars and divas that you can buy, download and unlock the roster is nearly double that.
* {{Loads and Loads of Loading}}: Mainly in ''2010'''s Create a Storyline mode, after each cutscene, there's a lot of loading.
** One of the few complaints of ''2006'', made worse if playing with created wrestlers.
** ''[=SmackDown=] 2: Know Your Role'' was this series' first offender of this trope. Compared to the original ''[=SmackDown=]'', not only it took its' time to load the arena during the Anywhere Fall matches, it has also reloaded the backstage scenery and the wrestlers despite all that data has already been seen in a cutscene ''right'' before that. As if that wasn't enough, in a RoyalRumble, each wrestler had to load after the countdown. This has to be done in its predecessor, but the loading times were even shorter. In fact, they took a couple of seconds. [=SmackDown=] 2's loading took roughly 7 seconds each.
* MaddenCurse: A variation: everyone that feuds with the Undertaker has had something bad happen. At the extreme end is the aforementioned Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit tragedies; in more recent editions the Phenom seems content with getting people injured, suspended or fired.
** Played straight from 2006 to 2008 & 2010, with someone on the cover of the game getting injured for a period of time in the year following the release. Notably, 2008 had Wrestling/BobbyLashley, Wrestling/JohnCena & the Undertaker on the cover & all three of them suffered notable injuries in the following year.
** An interesting variant occurred with the first [=SvR=], which featured not a wrestler but an authority figure on its cover, in this case [[VinceMcMahon Mr. McMahon]]. A few months after the game's release, [=McMahon=] slid into the ring and ''tore both quads'' at the 2005 ''Royal Rumble''.
* MagicWand: The infamous "Uh-Oh It's Magic" storyline in 2007 where Candince Michelle is in possession of a magic wand, [[GenderBender turning the player's character into a woman]] (which attracts Viscera on the way), [[MarySue giving herself perfect attribute points]] and turning Edge into the Boogeyman with Daivari's voice.
* MindScrew: 2007's "Uh oh, It's Magic" storyline mentioned above.
** 2011's ''Vs. Undertaker'' storyline features its own moments [[spoiler: like having an entire battle royal replaced with a ZergRush situation vs. Taker's druids, and the arena audience all replaced with druids.]]
* MirrorMatch: ''WWE '13'' features the ability to play as the past and present incarnations of certain superstars. Some examples include:
** JohnCena (Doctor of Thuganomics and Cenation Commander-In-Chief)
** TheUndertaker (Attitude Era, Ministry of Darkness (goatee) DLC and The Last Outlaw)
** {{Edge}} and {{Christian}} (E&C and The Rated-R Supertar/Captain Charisma)
** MarkHenry (Nation of Domination and the World's Strongest Man)
** ChrisJericho (Y2J and The Best In The World At What He Does)
** TripleH (Hunter Hearst Helmsley, D-Generation X & The King of Kings)
** TheBigShow (As both Paul Wight circa Attitude Era and modern-day Big Show)
** Kane (Full masked and Double masked)
** Mick Foley (As Dude Love, Mankind and Cactus Jack)
** Bradshaw (Acolytes/A.P.A and John Bradshaw Layfield)
** TheRock (The Most Electricfying Man In Sports Entertainment & The Most Electricfying Man in All of Entertainment.)
** {{Lita}} (Team [[XtremeKoolLetterz eXtreme]] & Rated-R)
* MontrealScrewjob: How do you win the final challenge in the first [=SmackDown=] vs. Raw? By having ShawnMichaels make BretHart tap out to the Sharpshooter. Several future installments would play with the incident, from referencing the screwjob to reenacting it being an achievement. WWE 13, concentrating on the AttitudeEra, covers a little of the controversy. You can also play as a special referee and have the option of screwing a wrestler when they're in a submission.
* {{Munchkin}}: The first thread on a new game is usually, "When are the CAWs for JohnCena from WWE 13 going to be up? And the ones from WWE 12, 2011, 2o1o, 2oo9, the one from WrestleMania, the one where he rapped against [[DwayneJohnson The Rock...]]" However the second thread is usually, "yo what R all teh unblockable glitched cheat moves? I go tke my 100 perfect CAW online to pwn U noobs lolz."
** In other words, half the players online think [[EddieGuerrero if you're not cheating, you're not trying.]]
* MundaneMadeAwesome: Give your created wrestler a really lame finish and SVR (starting from 06) will "sell" the move like it's the awesome most thing ever. Watch as the game goes into slow motion with dramatic "whoosh" sound effect when your created wrestler does his finisher... [[FingerpokeOfDoom an eye poke.]]
* MythologyGag: Christian's [=RtWM=] in 2011 is filled with these.
** WWE '12 also features a short reference to the infamous FingerpokeOfDoom Incident.
* ObviousBeta: The last few games suffered from this. No patch was ever released to fix the bugs.
** The glitches and restrictions of the [=SmackDown=] games. For example, in [=SvR=] 2010, you can download wrestlers, but not edit their moves or entrances. Have fun with that Hulk Hogan that has an improper move set and entrance. Somewhat justifiable as the downloaded CAW comes with whatever custom finisher given to them. The same, however, cannot be said about the custom tracks used as a CAW's entrance theme, leaving him/her without any music once uploaded.
*** No Rumble matches or any match with six competitors for Divas. My head hurts.
*** It's been stated that, while there are still no Superstar vs. Divas matches, Divas could now participate in any match type in 2011 (save for six-person matches due to graphical issues).
*** Any match with a ladder. You can place a ladder at the entrance in a match that doesn't need it and the AI will limp from the ringside announce tables to get it. [[PunctuatedForEmphasis No. ]]''[[PunctuatedForEmphasis Matter]]''. '''''[[PunctuatedForEmphasis WHAT]]'''''.
*** Becomes a Game Breaking Glitch in Money In The Bank Ladder matches - You can take one ladder, and leave it on the stage and every single one of the AI opponents will run after it, and start fighting over it, whilst you get the ''other'' ladder & start unhooking the briefcase.
** Hurricane being in as an NPC in 2011 for whatever reason and not a full fledged playable character.
** Interference is a pain in the ass in [=SvR=] 2011. When someone interferes on your opponent's behalf, the ref will totally ignore your pinning attempts entirely and actively seek out the interfering party. To spell it out, in a Falls Count Anywhere match, you can be wrestling someone in the entrance and someone runs out to interfere. Never mind the fact that they'll run past you and head for the ring, but if you pin your opponent, the ref will ''run to the ring and be "distracted"''.
** The ability to download and upload creations is great, there's just one problem: '''''[[PunctuatedForEmphasis IT. DOES. NOT. WORK.]] THE. GAME. WILL. NOT. GO. ONLINE.'''''
** Don't even think about messing around with the save game, it will corrupt and you'll lose all your data.
* OriginalGeneration: In ''WWE 12'', one of the three Road to WrestleMania stories centers on a new character named Jacob Cass.
* PaletteSwap: Superstars Threads is literally a mode built around this trope.
** Red and Green is a more straight-forward example.
* PerfectPlayAI: Often, the AI will become an unstoppable reversing machine for no rhyme or reason.
* PowerStable: The United Kingdom and [[TheMiz the Mizfits]] in ''[='12=]''.
* ProWrestlingIsReal
* PyrrhicVictory: Sheamus's branch of [=RtWM=] in ''WWE '12'' ends with him winning every title at {{WrestleMania}}, only for RoyalRumble winner TripleH to make his return & promptly beat Sheamus for the WWE title.
* RecycledSoundtrack: ''[[VideoGame/TonyHawksProSkater Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2]]'' initially had a couple of songs in its' really large arsenal, ''When Worlds Collide'' and ''Bring the Noise'', which then were reused in the first ''[=SmackDown=] vs. Raw'' game. Of course, the songs are served exactly the same way here as they were served in the actual Tony Hawk series...
** Then the entire ''[=SvR=]'' soundtrack was (re-)recycled for the first ''Day of Reckoning''.
* RelationshipValues: A plus and minus personality system was used for created wrestlers in the earlier [=SmackDown=] games that would determine match interference. The system was revived and revamped for 2010, now involving every wrestler in the game. It would also play a major part in 2011's WWE Universe mode.
* RubberBandAI: In 2010 especially, acquire a finisher and your opponent goes into full on berserk, GodModeSue, TheComputerIsACheatingBastard mode and will do anything, '''''anything''''', to prevent you from using it. Of course this is in line with at real events a wrestler might bail out of the ring to collect themselves if they are being badly beaten, but good luck trying that yourself. [[TheComputerIsACheatingBastard The computer has no problems doing this.]]
** After a few wins in WWE 12 the computer will see fit to give your opponent a finisher whenever it is losing, and take away the kickout meter virtually guaranteeing a loss.
* ShownTheirWork: The 2006 game especially had lots of little nods and touches to make the game just like a live broadcast. Everything from a jab at Mohammed Hassan to someone in the crowd laughing at Mick Foley ''just'' like at a real event to references to the Montreal Screwjob.
* ShoutOut: One fan in [=SvR=] 2006 loves to yell out [[TheKarateKid "Johnny, you're a cream puff!"]] every now and then.
** Some of the items you can give a created wrestler fall under this category. For instance, you can give your character a hood that's not unlike [[GIJoe Cobra Commander's]].
** On that note THQ's wrestling games made it pretty easy to create characters from other games. They clearly realized this as one of the default custom wrestlers in the original [=SmackDown=] vs. Raw was an {{Expy}} of Chun Li from StreetFighter.
* SoundEffectBleep: Of sorts. In WWE '13's Attitude Era mode, possibly stemming from using archive audio, whenever the original WWF initals or the full name of the company are spoken, the "F"/"Federation" part will be muted out.
* SpitefulAI: The game mechanics are thus: do well enough to build momentum most of the way and you get a signature move, hit it and you get a much more powerful finisher. In recent years the computer hates this and will go all out to stop you hitting the signature move.
** If you are trying to beat the clock, especially to fulfill an objective, the game '''''will''''' use the longest, most time wasting moves in their arsenal.
* StockSubtitle: From ''[=SmackDown=] 2'' to ''[=SmackDown=] vs. Raw''. It was joked at the time of the rebranding that they were running out of catchphrases to use, and they couldn't exactly call the game ''WWE [=SmackDown=]: [[JohnCena You Can't See Me]]''.
** ''[=SmackDown=] 2: [[DwayneJohnson Know Your Role]]''
** ''[=SmackDown=]: [[DwayneJohnson Just Bring It]]''
** ''[=SmackDown=]: [[DwayneJohnson Shut]] [[TakeThatCritics Your]] [[RuleOfThree Mouth]]''
** ''[=SmackDown=]: [[BrockLesnar Here Comes The Pain]]''
* SubsystemDamage
* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: After almost a ten year tenure, Green and Red were PutOnABus for WWE '12 and replaced in the create modes with two generic wrestlers with black and red trunks. Guess which of the two is getting beat up in the Create-A-Moveset mode? Yeah, it's the red one.
* TakeThat: Against your character in Road to Wrestlemania, who has to do everything from fight in handicap matches in a stupid outfit chosen by Vince [=McMahon=] to being forced to wear a chicken suit. Santino against the player, heck, even the game itself regards you as a loser.
--> ''While your work attire might be a paper hat and smock, VinceMcMahon wears luxurious suits.''
--> The actual in-game text describing Mr. [=McMahon=]'s business suit attire.
** At Unforgiven during Attitude mode in WWE '13, [[JimRoss Good Ol' JR]] will soundly tear apart Eric Bishoff over his real life statement that StoneColdSteveAustin would never make it in the wrestling business. Later, when MickFoley wins his first championship, the game brings up the TakeThat from WCW that spectacularly failed and essentially killed the company.
* TakeThatCritics: After ''Just Bring It'' was heavily criticised by fans & critics alike over the heavily outdated roster[[note]]None of the WCW[=/=]ECW superstars introduced during the {{InVasion}} storyline ongoing that same summer were included in the game[[/note]] & several technical flaws[[note]]A story mode that lasted 3 matches ''at it's longest'', graphics that simply looked like a cleaner version of the prior year's ''[=SmackDown=] 2'' on the original {{PlayStation}} & requiring a save file that took ''over half'' of the space on the Memory Cards[[/note]], the severely improved follow-up released the next year was appropriately entitled ''Shut Your Mouth''.
* TauntButton: Which has the purpose of filling a superstar's "Adrenaline" a bit, in order to reach a point where they can use a signature manuever on an opponent.
* TheComputerIsACheatingBastard: Goes hand in hand with the RubberBandAI completely snapping
** For whatever reason in 2010's [=RtWM=] mode your opponent will always be cheap and difficult to beat even if you haven't touched the difficulty settings.
** The game is unashamedly a PerfectPlayAI, to the point where it will glitch to win. For example, immediately getting to it's feet from the ground. Not climbing up from the ground, but ''teleporting from flat on their back to on their feet''.
** In WWE '12, John Cena, Randy Orton, and Big Show were especially bad at this. On Normal difficulty, the three will all reverse a lot of your moves and have incredibly high durability. What this means? Due to the new feature where early in the match, your opponent will get right back up after grapples. Well, prepare to have that happen ''after you hit your Finisher''. And with the comeback specials, which mean your opponent can basically NoSell your offense just to set up for a finisher. Due to how bastardish this game can get, the AI will activate its comeback after you hit a signature move, just to prevent you from using your finisher on them.
** And that's not the worst thing possible here. The computer will sometimes '''CANCEL OUT YOUR COUNTER TO THEIR FINISHERS.'''
** The game seems to determine who wins and loses before a match. If fighting the CPU and you want them to win (say you want to boost their popularity) it will switch They Just Didnt Care mode on to 11 and you will be hard pressed to get a decent match out of them, much less pick up the victory. If the game wants the player to lose then it will ignore counters and damage, the computer will gain finishers willy nilly and the kickout meter will be delayed giving little if any chance of escaping a pin. Either way if a wrestler is slated to lose you would be hard pressed to do anything to say otherwise.
** It might accurately represent wrestling, but you can be soundly beating your opponent, they get two moves in, sudden finisher, no kickout meter, you lose.
** Just how far will the game cheat? Play a championship scramble match and it might not only prevent you from being able to pin or submit, ''the referee himself will attack you.''
** For once justified in WWE 13. In a match with [[Wrestling/DwayneJohnson The Rock]] and Ken Shamrock, once you fulfill the objectives the match doesn't end. Instead Shamrock becomes totally invincible, cheating on a scale the previous game could only dream of. That's actually in line with the real match, as Rocky did lose, and the game carries on afterwards.
** Certain actions in the game will gain a signature or finisher move. At times when you do so the game will [[SarcasmMode conveniently]] forget to give you one. If any other evidence is needed this is it: [[PunctuatedForEmphasis THE. GAME. CHEATS.]]
** An occasional glitch in WWE 13 is during a contest you are suddenly warped into a pin.
** The game has a tendency to crash if you win or are winning. ''The game crashes. If you win or are winning'' '''It's like you are not allowed to beat the game at times.'''
** Observant players might realize that when using a strike the CPU will immediately use an appropriate counter, so it reads your inputs. Sometimes during a grapple it will pause for the briefest of moments to work out what move you are trying to use and react accordingly.
* TheComputerShallTauntYou: During Wrestling/ChrisJericho's [=RtWM=] in the 2011 game, you have to wrestle a match with Triple H sitting in on commentary and continually talking about what a joke you are, providing incentive to go after him later on.
* TheDevTeamThinksOfEverything: Not ''quite'' of everything, but the expansions made in the ''WWE'12'' commentary are interesting, to say the least:
** If you pit [[Wrestling/BryanDanielson Daniel Bryan]] against Wrestling/CMPunk, the commentary will make note of both as being former indy stars, and that this match will be one that internet fans will love. Also, pitting Daniel Bryan against Wrestling/WilliamRegal will also yield dialogue about both mens history as student and teacher.
** Wrestling/MichaelCole is seen as TheScrappy and CreatorsPet. If you download him in WWE 12 every single show in Universe will place him in a main or high ranking title match. Change the match so he does not take part and nine times out of ten the next card will be changed to feature him.
** On an episode of NXT Wrestling/TrishStratus criticized the practice of adjusting tights during a match. In the game when there's a break in the action she might very well adjust her tights.
** Universe mode has this. One time a wrestler in a stable accidently kicks her teammate, sending them off the apron and into the announce table. After the match the victim lays down a vicious beating before she becomes a monster heel. Some months later another Diva worms their way into a match with another member of the stable and they work so well together she is accepted with open arms. Some months later the original Diva who attacked her teammate runs out during a match and lays a beatdown on both competitors, turning heel. Then another Diva turns and joins her.
** Michael Cole and Jerry "The King" Lawler are available as both commentators and playable characters. Guess what will you get [[NoFourthWall when both are in the ring and at the announcers table?]]
* TyrantTakesTheHelm: Randy Orton in ''2011'', [[spoiler:The Miz and Kevin Nash]] in ''[='12=]''.
* UnexpectedCharacter: Due to the possibility of the roster being out of date resulting from earlier cutoff dates, there are some characters that appear despite no longer being in the WWE. There are also straighter examples within each installment (i.e. Vance Archer in 2011)
** [[Music/LimpBizkit Fred Durst]] in ''Just Bring It''.
** Wrestling/RobVanDam in 2011 may be the most triumphant example, let alone as one of the Legends, due to his debuting in {{TNA}} earlier in the year. This was largely down to the decision to include RVD & signing the deal to get him in the game happened before his TNA debut.
** Wrestling/BrockLesnar in WWE '12, especially since Brock hadn't been seen in a WWE ring again for nearly 8 years.
** WWE '13 has MikeTyson reprising his role as the enforcer of the Wrestling/{{WrestleMania}} XIV main event; and Gangrel, since no-one expected THQ & WWE to license the character's name from [[TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade White Wolf]] for the sole purpose of including him as DLC.
** WWE [=2K14=] has Wrestling/UltimateWarrior and considering the bad blood between him and WWE it's definitely a surprise. Also it includes Wrestling/HulkHogan who's been a part of TNA for a few years now.
* VaguenessIsComing: After a main event in 13's universe mode one possible scene is the message ''The End is Coming'' as the competitors look freaked out. Get ready for someone on the roster to get a ''big'' push.
* VillainProtagonist
** in [=SmackDown=] vs Raw 2006 [[spoiler: it can be you]] at the end of the [=SmackDown=] season.
** Edge and Randy Orton in 2010.
** Chris Jericho [[spoiler:(and possibly [[FaceHeelTurn Rey Mysterio]])]] in 2011.
** Sheamus in WWE '12.
* ViralMarketing: WWE '13 did this with [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQzXcrVH8iA "A Revolution Is Coming" viral videos]] popping up on WWE.com, with many people thinking it was going to be a new wrestler or event. As it turned out, it was the announcement of WWE '13 with the revolution part tying in with CMPunk as the game's cover star.
* VersusTitle: [=SmackDown=] Vs Raw 2005-2011 (2004 was the first game and didn't have the year on it)
* VideoGameCaringPotential: [[SincerityMode Yes.]] In earlier games with GM mode where wrestlers were more vocal about being mistreated, or Universe mode you can to some degree control how they are utilized. Naturally you'd want your favorites to gain momentum but you might want to give someone who is crapped on for real a push, or help build the tag team and Diva divisions. And some of the earlier scenes where you are fighting to save a Diva, or get in a relationship with one, or you go to them (or better yet, they come to ''you'' on Valentine's Day, especially if you made a CAW you dearly love,) [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming DAWWWWWW.]]
* WhatTheHellHero: [=SvR=] 2011, [[spoiler:Rey Mysterio throughout his [=RtW=] get these from Superstars and Divas, stating that he's NotHimself. Justified as he's been in a car accident and has since been hanging with [[PoisonousFriend Jack Swagger]], the person behind the accident in the first place.]]
* WolverinePublicity[=/=]CoversAlwaysLie: BretHart is front and center on the Canadian cover for ''2011'', but is not in the game.
** Not unless you download him from Xbox Live / the Playstation Network.
* WouldHitAGirl: For most of the series, you could put divas in the ring against the men. Many pre-SvR games could even extend the female characters' rights by making them either male or genderless. ''WWF [=SmackDown=]: Shut Your Mouth'', in turn, had no other option of putting a female CAW into the Career Mode rather than [[AmbiguousGender choosing the second option]]. As of ''2010'', there is no more intergender competition other than Mixed Tag Team matches - someone in THQ management thought that the possibility of the girls beating the guys devalued the guys.
** This changed also came about as WWE banned man-on-woman violence post-2008 as part of the process of cleaning up the company's image.
to:
The ''WWE 2K'' series of professional wrestling video games began in 2000 with the release of ''WWF [=SmackDown=]!'' for the PlayStation console. The series can be categorized into four separate sub-series/eras:
* The ''[=SmackDown!=]'' series (2000-2003); a PlayStation-exclusive series produced by {{THQ}} and Yuke's with fast arcade-like gameplay.
* The ''[=SmackDown=] vs. Raw'' series (2004-2010); continuation of the THQ/Yuke's partnership. Originally cashing in on the brand warfare theme, it later became known for its GenreShift from arcade-like gameplay to simulation, becoming a yearly institution in the vein of the ''Madden NFL'' games. The series went multi-platform, appearing on the Xbox 360, with the release of ''[=SmackDown=] vs. Raw 2007''. ''[=SmackDown=] vs. Raw 2008'' added the Wii to the list of platforms. The era was also known for suffering with CapcomSequelStagnation.
* The ''WWE'' series (2011-2012); the final era from THQ. A major {{retool}} of the series gameplay-wise for next generation consoles exclusively, a brand new engine and quite a number of changes made in the latter parts of the ''[=SmackDown=] vs. Raw'' era reverted.
* The ''WWE 2K'' series (2013-); the result of THQ's bankruptcy and the pre-meditated selling of their WWE licence to Creator/TakeTwoInteractive. Published under the 2K Sports label, Yuke's will remain to develop the games with the additional help from Visual Concepts.
-----
!!'''Tropes associated with this series include:'''
* AdaptationDecay: The real Championship Scramble's main draw is that the title can potentially change hands multiple times before the end of the match. In the game, the AI will just break up every pinfall when after the third superstar[=/=]diva enters the ring, meaning that unless there was a pinfall early on, the title probably won't change hands.
* AllJustADream: 2007's "Uh oh, It's Magic" storyline was a result of this.
* AndNowForSomeoneCompletelyDifferent: The Road to [=WrestleMania=] mode for '12 is played out this way, starting with {{Sheamus}}, followed by TripleH and finally a character of the player's choosing. There are also brief parts playing as JohnCena, RandyOrton, WadeBarrett, and others.
* AnInteriorDesignerIsYou: 2006 and 2007 gave you the ability to design your own locker room.
** '12 introduced the longly-awaited Create-An-Arena mode, while '13 will allow the player to edit the stage for the first time.
* AnnouncerChatter: And it tends to vary on how good or bad it can be, with the worst cases getting match type wrong and addressing wrestlers who are not even in the game. WWE 12 has improved on it greatly making it the best in quite some time.
* ArtifactTitle: In ''WWE 12'', "Road to {{WrestleMania}}" is no longer a three month path to the WWE's Pay Per View spectacle, & instead has the player play through three consecutive storylines occuring concurrently, the time period covering no less than ''three'' {{WrestleMania}} shows. The final nail comes when you realise the final match doesn't even occur at the event, instead [[spoiler:coming at a revived WCW's "Starrcade" Pay Per View instead]].
* ArtificialStupidity: The AI, due to bad programming, will end up in a 1-vs-1 match with 2 AI's. Another person runs down while one has the other in a pin to distract the referee. Due to the way the game works, the one guy that's pinning won't stop the pin, the one guy that's getting pinned won't kick out, and the guy that runs out (occasionally) won't stop distracting the referee, leaving you caught in an '''INFINITE FUCKING LOOP.''' The only way to stop this infinite loop is to stop the match in some way.
* ArtisticLicenseGeography: The Road to [=WrestleMania=] mode in '''12'' features an EvilBrit PowerStable called the "United Kingdom" consisting of two Englishmen in WadeBarrett and William Regal, a Scotsman in Drew [=McIntyre=] and an Irishman in {{Sheamus}}. Nobody told the storyline writers that Sheamus is from the Republic of Ireland, which is separate from the UK.
** Somewhat related, but apparently the UK is only made of England, Scotland and Ireland. This is despite the fact that the roster includes Welshman Mason Ryan.
* AttitudeEra: All over the shop.
** The first three or four games took place during the era, with ''Shut Your Mouth'' current to mid 2002 after the draft and brand expansion. Since then classic wrestlers and storylines would be offered up. The Legends Tour in 2006 for example was a ''New Generation''\Attitude storyline, specifically the MontrealScrewjob, HulkHogan and [[DwayneJohnson The Rock]] teaming up and the legendary Hell in a Cell with TheUndertaker and [[MickFoley Mankind]].
** For several years challenges would be offered that included matches from Rock 'n Wrestling to the PG era, which included the Rock 'n Sock Connection, the BretHart\StoneColdSteveAustin match at WrestleMania XIII, the Brothers of Destruction and the Rock\Austin match at WrestleMania XVII.
** ''WWE 13'' replaces "Road to {{WrestleMania}}" mode with "AttitudeEra" mode, which allows the player to relive the highlights of the period.
* TheBadGuyWins: Edge and Randy Orton's 2010 Road to Wrestlemania.
** Also, Chris Jericho's 2011 Road to Wrestlemania, somewhat. See BittersweetEnding below.
*** Maybe, Sheamus counts in WWE '12 but Triple H's story started with HHH beating up Sheamus.
* BeatThemAtTheirOwnGame: Many installments allow wrestlers to add insult to injury by giving them the ability to use their opponent's finishing maneuvers against them.
* BerserkButton: The game treats gaining a signature or finishing move, or gaining the comeback mechanic, as this. It will do whatever it has to do, no matter how much it has to cheat, to prevent you from using it.
* BettingMiniGame: The PSP version of 2006 featured a number of console-exclusive minigames, including a Poker game.
* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler: ChrisJericho's]] [=RtWM=] in 2011, where even after you win at [=WrestleMania=] [[spoiler: TripleH]] ultimately attacks you and stands tall. [[spoiler:Considering your actions up to Wrestlemania, this could fall under LaserGuidedKarma.]]
** The "Villain Story" in WWE '12, starring Sheamus. [[spoiler: He manages to win every title in WWE by beating your former peers in the United Kingdom, only for TripleH to beat Sheamus up and win the WWE Title off of him.]] Interestingly, this is the transition point into the "Outsider Story" portion of [=RtWM=].
* ButThouMust:
** In the earlier [=SmackDown=] games losing during storylines had some actual effect on the storyline being told creating different scenarios, now in the newer games version of Season Mode losing forces you to either rematch or quit the mode.
** After your final match in the Season Mode of ''Shut Your Mouth'' (at [=WrestleMania=] 2004), Mr. [=McMahon=] comes out and disrespects your performance. You are given three options to choose from: [[TitleDrop "Shut Your Mouth!!", "Shut Your Mouth!!", and "Shut Your Mouth!!"]]... all of which result in a vicious beatdown on Vinnie Mac from you and your WM opponent.
* CallBack: In JohnCena's Road to [=WrestleMania=] in '11, he and MVP are forced to fight in a tag match under Better-Than-Utopian rules [[spoiler:Now known as "Age of Orton" rules]], a ruleset MVP had created to use against Cena back in the '09 edition of [=SvR=].
** ShawnMichaels' Road to [=WrestleMania=] in 2010 had JBL play a farewell tribute video for HBK, that included clips from Know Your Role, Shut Your Mouth, [=SvR=] 2007 and [=SvR=] 2009.
* CannonFodder: The battle royals in 2009 and 2011 in which the player has to eliminate an army of masked men and "lost soul" druids respectively.
* CanonDiscontinuity: ''WWE '13'' retells the story of the AttitudeEra. In the game's version, the first incarnation of DGenerationX consisted of HBK, HHH and ''[[{{Wrestling/Chyna}} nobody]] [[{{Wrestling/RickRude}} else]]''.
* CashCowFranchise: Every game in the series to date has ended up on Greatest Hits lists.
* {{CAWs}}: Half the game is this, with everything from StreetFighter to Franchise/StarTrek to FinalFantasy to Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion to Franchise/ResidentEvil to SoulCalibur to StarWars to KimPossible to Franchise/MassEffect being used as fodder for...
* CharacterCustomization: With truly a ludicrous amount of detail available the series is the standard bearer for wrestling games, perhaps in all video games. It has a budding community that produces thousands of works that you could download to the game in recent years.
* CostumeCopycat - In Wrestling/MickieJames' 2010 Road to Wrestlemania, Natalya dresses up like her.
** Especially amusing, as Mickie gets really annoyed. But how did Mickie debut properly in the WWE? Oh yeah, by being the Natalya to Trish Stratus. She even lampshades this.
* CreatorCameo: Game designer Bryan Williams makes one in 2009, providing the voice for John Cena's soldier friend Tony.
* CutsceneIncompetence: Loads of egregious examples in ''WWE 12'''s Road to WrestleMania mode , where you could be plowing through your opponent, then end up losing the match during the cutscene.
* DaddySystem: The PlayStation2 served as this for the series from 2007 to 2011.
* DecoyProtagonist: The [=RtWM=] in ''WWE '12'' starts with the player controlling John Cena & walking him through the backstage area to the ring, until Sheamus jumps him on the stage.
* DownloadableContent: Introduced with 2009 which allows players to download extra wrestlers, arenas, or costumes.
* DoubleStandard: In '''''any''''' match starting with 2010, it's okay for a Diva to attack a Superstar, but a Superstar attacking a Diva is an automatic DQ, even if it's accidental.
** Even better - when your opponent has a manager, attack them. If they even so much as reverse the move, your opponent will be [=DQed=].
* DownerEnding: If you fail to beat TheUndertaker in his storyline in 2011, [[spoiler:he turns your character into a druid.]]
* EasilyDistractedReferee: May be prevalent in all games, but in '13, if a challenge is to pin someone in 10 seconds and that person has a manager at ringside, be ready for much rage, as that manager will make the referee stop counting [[IdiotBall for some reason]], get up and have the referee try to keep that person out.
* EvilBrit: '12 has a PowerStable full of them called the "United Kingdom", featuring the English William Regal and WadeBarrett, the Scottish Drew [=McIntyre=] and the Irish {{Sheamus}} ([[BritainVersusTheUK despite Sheamus hailing from Dublin, the capital of the part of Ireland that isn't part of the UK]]).
* EvilCripple: TheMiz becomes one in ''WWE 12'' after a career-ending leg injury. [[spoiler: Or so it seems.]]
* FanService: 2006 introduced the Fulfill Your Fantasy Mode essentially a cosplay version of the Bra & Panties mode with some slight tweaks.
** The previous game had various divas dancing during the menu screens.
** ''Shut Your Mouth'' had an unlockable video: footage from the divas' swimsuit photoshoot.
* FailureIsTheOnlyOption: In 2010 and 2011 some of the [=RtWM=] storylines dictate that your character get beaten up resulting in a loss or something close to it.
* FleetingDemographicRule: Mickie James's [=RtWM=] in 2010. Her [=RtWM=] involves Natalya as her crazy stalker, a part Mickie herself played against Trish Stratus when she arrived at WWE.
** 2007 has a storyline with Wrestling/StephanieMcMahon that is very close to the "Higher Power" angle, with Wrestling/RoddyPiper taking the place of Wrestling/TheUndertaker. Both involve Wrestling/VinceMcMahon aligning with someone he was feuding with to rescue his kidnapped daughter, and [[spoiler:Vince]] is the mastermind of both kidnappings.
* FunWithAcronyms: If you choose a created superstar for the Road to [=WrestleMania=] mode in '12, his name will be Jacob Cass, i.e. '''C'''reate '''A S'''uper '''S'''tar.
* GameplayAndStorySegregation: Multiple cases, but here's one of the more {{egregious}} ones. When playing through {{Sheamus}}' "Road To [=WrestleMania=]" in ''WWE 12'', you find yourself in a tag team match against JohnCena and ReyMysterio. You can beat the hell out of Cena to the point where you're just seconds away from hitting him with your finisher...and then before the match ends it goes to a cutscene where you're getting ready to hit ''Rey'' with a finisher and Cena (who seems to be in no pain at all) stops you before you can.
* GangUpOnTheHuman: Triple threat or fatal 4 way matches usually end up just a glorified handicap match, to the point where in a triple threat match if you are pinned the third CPU opponent will happily stand by and lose, [[WeWinBecauseYouDidnt just so long as you do as well.
* HeadSwap: Both played with straight and inverted in the first two [=SmackDown=] games with the Create-A-Superstar mode. You can use existing heads, torsos or legs from existing characters.
* HostileShowTakeover: WWE '12 [[FleetingDemographicRule rehashes]] the 2001 {{WCW}} invasion storyline. Strangely enough, the storyline features WCW acting [[NewWorldOrder nWo-like]] such as spraypainting WWE title belts, which is ironic considering the nWo did the exact same thing to WCW in the 1990s.
* GlassJawReferee: Somewhat averted in recent games whereby you can still knock down the referee but now he can't be targeted and he no longer stays down for very long.
* GroinAttack: Be honest, the first thing you did with the Create-A-Finisher mode was make a move that consisted of 10 consecutive low blows...
* GuestFighter: The series has seen quite a number of guest fighters, notably the inclusions of legends since HCTP. Although the series has seen a few other non-legendary guests:
** [[LimpBizkit Fred Durst]] in ''Shut Your Mouth''
** The [[MalevolentMaskedMen Masked Man]] ([[spoiler:aka RandyOrton and/or Mr. Kennedy]]) and John Cena's soldier friend Tony in 2009
** [[AscendedExtra Green]] and [[TheRival Red]] in 2010
** Undertaker's Druid in 2011
** BrockLesnar in ''WWE '12''
** Mike Tyson in ''WWE '13''
** Wrestling/UltimateWarrior in ''WWE [=2K14=]''
* InterfaceSpoiler: The Hero story in ''WWE '12'' - [[spoiler:Kevin Nash & Rey Mysterio have defeated Jacob Cass & Triple H at {{WrestleMania}}, bringing back {{WCW}}]]... And then the credits roll. The astute player will notice that the [[MostWonderfulSound achievement/trophy unlock]] hasn't pinged to let you know you've unlocked the "Complete Hero Story" achievement[=/=]trophy, and then [[spoiler:the credits are interrupted by Kevin Nash in the Nitro ring]].
* {{Jerkass}}: In [=RtW=] in 2011, everyone you talk to backstage (storylines aside) treats you like crap.
* KarmaHoudini: In [=RtW=] Edge and Randy Orton in 2010. Subverted with [[spoiler: Chris Jericho in 2011]].
* LampshadeHanging: See LeaningOnTheFourthWall below.
** Also in Shawn Michaels' 2010 [=RtWM=], his "highlights" are done in graphics from the appropriate previous installments
* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: In 2010's Create-A-Superstar's Road to Wrestlemania storyline, Santino points out that the wrestler is "like something some loser would make in a video game". He also [[AsideGlance looks dead on at the camera]].
** Pushed to even further levels in 2011 with Edge and Christian:
-->'''Edge:''' "Dude, we totally fooled the player into thinking we weren't going to reunite."
-->'''Christian:''' "I know, we totally ... wait a minute? Player? What player?"
-->'''Edge:''' "You see that weirdo staring at us through the TV?"
--> ''[Edge & Christian both look directly into the screen, with Edge waving at the player]''
-->'''Christian:''' "No, but I'll take your word for it."
** There's also a scene where TheMiz and John Morrison insult TripleH, saying how only losers play games.
** For that matter, there's a scene in WWE'12 where The Miz insults Triple H. The Game speaks for us all.
-->Man I wish we weren't in the PG era right now.
** WWE 12 answers the fan reaction of how much MichaelCole is pushed by making him a full on GodModeSue, wrestling for the World Title every night.
* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters: For most fighting games, having fifty characters is an incredible feat. Using the latest WWE 13 as an example, that's how many custom characters you can have, and with all the superstars and divas that you can buy, download and unlock the roster is nearly double that.
* {{Loads and Loads of Loading}}: Mainly in ''2010'''s Create a Storyline mode, after each cutscene, there's a lot of loading.
** One of the few complaints of ''2006'', made worse if playing with created wrestlers.
** ''[=SmackDown=] 2: Know Your Role'' was this series' first offender of this trope. Compared to the original ''[=SmackDown=]'', not only it took its' time to load the arena during the Anywhere Fall matches, it has also reloaded the backstage scenery and the wrestlers despite all that data has already been seen in a cutscene ''right'' before that. As if that wasn't enough, in a RoyalRumble, each wrestler had to load after the countdown. This has to be done in its predecessor, but the loading times were even shorter. In fact, they took a couple of seconds. [=SmackDown=] 2's loading took roughly 7 seconds each.
* MaddenCurse: A variation: everyone that feuds with the Undertaker has had something bad happen. At the extreme end is the aforementioned Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit tragedies; in more recent editions the Phenom seems content with getting people injured, suspended or fired.
** Played straight from 2006 to 2008 & 2010, with someone on the cover of the game getting injured for a period of time in the year following the release. Notably, 2008 had Wrestling/BobbyLashley, Wrestling/JohnCena & the Undertaker on the cover & all three of them suffered notable injuries in the following year.
** An interesting variant occurred with the first [=SvR=], which featured not a wrestler but an authority figure on its cover, in this case [[VinceMcMahon Mr. McMahon]]. A few months after the game's release, [=McMahon=] slid into the ring and ''tore both quads'' at the 2005 ''Royal Rumble''.
* MagicWand: The infamous "Uh-Oh It's Magic" storyline in 2007 where Candince Michelle is in possession of a magic wand, [[GenderBender turning the player's character into a woman]] (which attracts Viscera on the way), [[MarySue giving herself perfect attribute points]] and turning Edge into the Boogeyman with Daivari's voice.
* MindScrew: 2007's "Uh oh, It's Magic" storyline mentioned above.
** 2011's ''Vs. Undertaker'' storyline features its own moments [[spoiler: like having an entire battle royal replaced with a ZergRush situation vs. Taker's druids, and the arena audience all replaced with druids.]]
* MirrorMatch: ''WWE '13'' features the ability to play as the past and present incarnations of certain superstars. Some examples include:
** JohnCena (Doctor of Thuganomics and Cenation Commander-In-Chief)
** TheUndertaker (Attitude Era, Ministry of Darkness (goatee) DLC and The Last Outlaw)
** {{Edge}} and {{Christian}} (E&C and The Rated-R Supertar/Captain Charisma)
** MarkHenry (Nation of Domination and the World's Strongest Man)
** ChrisJericho (Y2J and The Best In The World At What He Does)
** TripleH (Hunter Hearst Helmsley, D-Generation X & The King of Kings)
** TheBigShow (As both Paul Wight circa Attitude Era and modern-day Big Show)
** Kane (Full masked and Double masked)
** Mick Foley (As Dude Love, Mankind and Cactus Jack)
** Bradshaw (Acolytes/A.P.A and John Bradshaw Layfield)
** TheRock (The Most Electricfying Man In Sports Entertainment & The Most Electricfying Man in All of Entertainment.)
** {{Lita}} (Team [[XtremeKoolLetterz eXtreme]] & Rated-R)
* MontrealScrewjob: How do you win the final challenge in the first [=SmackDown=] vs. Raw? By having ShawnMichaels make BretHart tap out to the Sharpshooter. Several future installments would play with the incident, from referencing the screwjob to reenacting it being an achievement. WWE 13, concentrating on the AttitudeEra, covers a little of the controversy. You can also play as a special referee and have the option of screwing a wrestler when they're in a submission.
* {{Munchkin}}: The first thread on a new game is usually, "When are the CAWs for JohnCena from WWE 13 going to be up? And the ones from WWE 12, 2011, 2o1o, 2oo9, the one from WrestleMania, the one where he rapped against [[DwayneJohnson The Rock...]]" However the second thread is usually, "yo what R all teh unblockable glitched cheat moves? I go tke my 100 perfect CAW online to pwn U noobs lolz."
** In other words, half the players online think [[EddieGuerrero if you're not cheating, you're not trying.]]
* MundaneMadeAwesome: Give your created wrestler a really lame finish and SVR (starting from 06) will "sell" the move like it's the awesome most thing ever. Watch as the game goes into slow motion with dramatic "whoosh" sound effect when your created wrestler does his finisher... [[FingerpokeOfDoom an eye poke.]]
* MythologyGag: Christian's [=RtWM=] in 2011 is filled with these.
** WWE '12 also features a short reference to the infamous FingerpokeOfDoom Incident.
* ObviousBeta: The last few games suffered from this. No patch was ever released to fix the bugs.
** The glitches and restrictions of the [=SmackDown=] games. For example, in [=SvR=] 2010, you can download wrestlers, but not edit their moves or entrances. Have fun with that Hulk Hogan that has an improper move set and entrance. Somewhat justifiable as the downloaded CAW comes with whatever custom finisher given to them. The same, however, cannot be said about the custom tracks used as a CAW's entrance theme, leaving him/her without any music once uploaded.
*** No Rumble matches or any match with six competitors for Divas. My head hurts.
*** It's been stated that, while there are still no Superstar vs. Divas matches, Divas could now participate in any match type in 2011 (save for six-person matches due to graphical issues).
*** Any match with a ladder. You can place a ladder at the entrance in a match that doesn't need it and the AI will limp from the ringside announce tables to get it. [[PunctuatedForEmphasis No. ]]''[[PunctuatedForEmphasis Matter]]''. '''''[[PunctuatedForEmphasis WHAT]]'''''.
*** Becomes a Game Breaking Glitch in Money In The Bank Ladder matches - You can take one ladder, and leave it on the stage and every single one of the AI opponents will run after it, and start fighting over it, whilst you get the ''other'' ladder & start unhooking the briefcase.
** Hurricane being in as an NPC in 2011 for whatever reason and not a full fledged playable character.
** Interference is a pain in the ass in [=SvR=] 2011. When someone interferes on your opponent's behalf, the ref will totally ignore your pinning attempts entirely and actively seek out the interfering party. To spell it out, in a Falls Count Anywhere match, you can be wrestling someone in the entrance and someone runs out to interfere. Never mind the fact that they'll run past you and head for the ring, but if you pin your opponent, the ref will ''run to the ring and be "distracted"''.
** The ability to download and upload creations is great, there's just one problem: '''''[[PunctuatedForEmphasis IT. DOES. NOT. WORK.]] THE. GAME. WILL. NOT. GO. ONLINE.'''''
** Don't even think about messing around with the save game, it will corrupt and you'll lose all your data.
* OriginalGeneration: In ''WWE 12'', one of the three Road to WrestleMania stories centers on a new character named Jacob Cass.
* PaletteSwap: Superstars Threads is literally a mode built around this trope.
** Red and Green is a more straight-forward example.
* PerfectPlayAI: Often, the AI will become an unstoppable reversing machine for no rhyme or reason.
* PowerStable: The United Kingdom and [[TheMiz the Mizfits]] in ''[='12=]''.
* ProWrestlingIsReal
* PyrrhicVictory: Sheamus's branch of [=RtWM=] in ''WWE '12'' ends with him winning every title at {{WrestleMania}}, only for RoyalRumble winner TripleH to make his return & promptly beat Sheamus for the WWE title.
* RecycledSoundtrack: ''[[VideoGame/TonyHawksProSkater Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2]]'' initially had a couple of songs in its' really large arsenal, ''When Worlds Collide'' and ''Bring the Noise'', which then were reused in the first ''[=SmackDown=] vs. Raw'' game. Of course, the songs are served exactly the same way here as they were served in the actual Tony Hawk series...
** Then the entire ''[=SvR=]'' soundtrack was (re-)recycled for the first ''Day of Reckoning''.
* RelationshipValues: A plus and minus personality system was used for created wrestlers in the earlier [=SmackDown=] games that would determine match interference. The system was revived and revamped for 2010, now involving every wrestler in the game. It would also play a major part in 2011's WWE Universe mode.
* RubberBandAI: In 2010 especially, acquire a finisher and your opponent goes into full on berserk, GodModeSue, TheComputerIsACheatingBastard mode and will do anything, '''''anything''''', to prevent you from using it. Of course this is in line with at real events a wrestler might bail out of the ring to collect themselves if they are being badly beaten, but good luck trying that yourself. [[TheComputerIsACheatingBastard The computer has no problems doing this.]]
** After a few wins in WWE 12 the computer will see fit to give your opponent a finisher whenever it is losing, and take away the kickout meter virtually guaranteeing a loss.
* ShownTheirWork: The 2006 game especially had lots of little nods and touches to make the game just like a live broadcast. Everything from a jab at Mohammed Hassan to someone in the crowd laughing at Mick Foley ''just'' like at a real event to references to the Montreal Screwjob.
* ShoutOut: One fan in [=SvR=] 2006 loves to yell out [[TheKarateKid "Johnny, you're a cream puff!"]] every now and then.
** Some of the items you can give a created wrestler fall under this category. For instance, you can give your character a hood that's not unlike [[GIJoe Cobra Commander's]].
** On that note THQ's wrestling games made it pretty easy to create characters from other games. They clearly realized this as one of the default custom wrestlers in the original [=SmackDown=] vs. Raw was an {{Expy}} of Chun Li from StreetFighter.
* SoundEffectBleep: Of sorts. In WWE '13's Attitude Era mode, possibly stemming from using archive audio, whenever the original WWF initals or the full name of the company are spoken, the "F"/"Federation" part will be muted out.
* SpitefulAI: The game mechanics are thus: do well enough to build momentum most of the way and you get a signature move, hit it and you get a much more powerful finisher. In recent years the computer hates this and will go all out to stop you hitting the signature move.
** If you are trying to beat the clock, especially to fulfill an objective, the game '''''will''''' use the longest, most time wasting moves in their arsenal.
* StockSubtitle: From ''[=SmackDown=] 2'' to ''[=SmackDown=] vs. Raw''. It was joked at the time of the rebranding that they were running out of catchphrases to use, and they couldn't exactly call the game ''WWE [=SmackDown=]: [[JohnCena You Can't See Me]]''.
** ''[=SmackDown=] 2: [[DwayneJohnson Know Your Role]]''
** ''[=SmackDown=]: [[DwayneJohnson Just Bring It]]''
** ''[=SmackDown=]: [[DwayneJohnson Shut]] [[TakeThatCritics Your]] [[RuleOfThree Mouth]]''
** ''[=SmackDown=]: [[BrockLesnar Here Comes The Pain]]''
* SubsystemDamage
* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: After almost a ten year tenure, Green and Red were PutOnABus for WWE '12 and replaced in the create modes with two generic wrestlers with black and red trunks. Guess which of the two is getting beat up in the Create-A-Moveset mode? Yeah, it's the red one.
* TakeThat: Against your character in Road to Wrestlemania, who has to do everything from fight in handicap matches in a stupid outfit chosen by Vince [=McMahon=] to being forced to wear a chicken suit. Santino against the player, heck, even the game itself regards you as a loser.
--> ''While your work attire might be a paper hat and smock, VinceMcMahon wears luxurious suits.''
--> The actual in-game text describing Mr. [=McMahon=]'s business suit attire.
** At Unforgiven during Attitude mode in WWE '13, [[JimRoss Good Ol' JR]] will soundly tear apart Eric Bishoff over his real life statement that StoneColdSteveAustin would never make it in the wrestling business. Later, when MickFoley wins his first championship, the game brings up the TakeThat from WCW that spectacularly failed and essentially killed the company.
* TakeThatCritics: After ''Just Bring It'' was heavily criticised by fans & critics alike over the heavily outdated roster[[note]]None of the WCW[=/=]ECW superstars introduced during the {{InVasion}} storyline ongoing that same summer were included in the game[[/note]] & several technical flaws[[note]]A story mode that lasted 3 matches ''at it's longest'', graphics that simply looked like a cleaner version of the prior year's ''[=SmackDown=] 2'' on the original {{PlayStation}} & requiring a save file that took ''over half'' of the space on the Memory Cards[[/note]], the severely improved follow-up released the next year was appropriately entitled ''Shut Your Mouth''.
* TauntButton: Which has the purpose of filling a superstar's "Adrenaline" a bit, in order to reach a point where they can use a signature manuever on an opponent.
* TheComputerIsACheatingBastard: Goes hand in hand with the RubberBandAI completely snapping
** For whatever reason in 2010's [=RtWM=] mode your opponent will always be cheap and difficult to beat even if you haven't touched the difficulty settings.
** The game is unashamedly a PerfectPlayAI, to the point where it will glitch to win. For example, immediately getting to it's feet from the ground. Not climbing up from the ground, but ''teleporting from flat on their back to on their feet''.
** In WWE '12, John Cena, Randy Orton, and Big Show were especially bad at this. On Normal difficulty, the three will all reverse a lot of your moves and have incredibly high durability. What this means? Due to the new feature where early in the match, your opponent will get right back up after grapples. Well, prepare to have that happen ''after you hit your Finisher''. And with the comeback specials, which mean your opponent can basically NoSell your offense just to set up for a finisher. Due to how bastardish this game can get, the AI will activate its comeback after you hit a signature move, just to prevent you from using your finisher on them.
** And that's not the worst thing possible here. The computer will sometimes '''CANCEL OUT YOUR COUNTER TO THEIR FINISHERS.'''
** The game seems to determine who wins and loses before a match. If fighting the CPU and you want them to win (say you want to boost their popularity) it will switch They Just Didnt Care mode on to 11 and you will be hard pressed to get a decent match out of them, much less pick up the victory. If the game wants the player to lose then it will ignore counters and damage, the computer will gain finishers willy nilly and the kickout meter will be delayed giving little if any chance of escaping a pin. Either way if a wrestler is slated to lose you would be hard pressed to do anything to say otherwise.
** It might accurately represent wrestling, but you can be soundly beating your opponent, they get two moves in, sudden finisher, no kickout meter, you lose.
** Just how far will the game cheat? Play a championship scramble match and it might not only prevent you from being able to pin or submit, ''the referee himself will attack you.''
** For once justified in WWE 13. In a match with [[Wrestling/DwayneJohnson The Rock]] and Ken Shamrock, once you fulfill the objectives the match doesn't end. Instead Shamrock becomes totally invincible, cheating on a scale the previous game could only dream of. That's actually in line with the real match, as Rocky did lose, and the game carries on afterwards.
** Certain actions in the game will gain a signature or finisher move. At times when you do so the game will [[SarcasmMode conveniently]] forget to give you one. If any other evidence is needed this is it: [[PunctuatedForEmphasis THE. GAME. CHEATS.]]
** An occasional glitch in WWE 13 is during a contest you are suddenly warped into a pin.
** The game has a tendency to crash if you win or are winning. ''The game crashes. If you win or are winning'' '''It's like you are not allowed to beat the game at times.'''
** Observant players might realize that when using a strike the CPU will immediately use an appropriate counter, so it reads your inputs. Sometimes during a grapple it will pause for the briefest of moments to work out what move you are trying to use and react accordingly.
* TheComputerShallTauntYou: During Wrestling/ChrisJericho's [=RtWM=] in the 2011 game, you have to wrestle a match with Triple H sitting in on commentary and continually talking about what a joke you are, providing incentive to go after him later on.
* TheDevTeamThinksOfEverything: Not ''quite'' of everything, but the expansions made in the ''WWE'12'' commentary are interesting, to say the least:
** If you pit [[Wrestling/BryanDanielson Daniel Bryan]] against Wrestling/CMPunk, the commentary will make note of both as being former indy stars, and that this match will be one that internet fans will love. Also, pitting Daniel Bryan against Wrestling/WilliamRegal will also yield dialogue about both mens history as student and teacher.
** Wrestling/MichaelCole is seen as TheScrappy and CreatorsPet. If you download him in WWE 12 every single show in Universe will place him in a main or high ranking title match. Change the match so he does not take part and nine times out of ten the next card will be changed to feature him.
** On an episode of NXT Wrestling/TrishStratus criticized the practice of adjusting tights during a match. In the game when there's a break in the action she might very well adjust her tights.
** Universe mode has this. One time a wrestler in a stable accidently kicks her teammate, sending them off the apron and into the announce table. After the match the victim lays down a vicious beating before she becomes a monster heel. Some months later another Diva worms their way into a match with another member of the stable and they work so well together she is accepted with open arms. Some months later the original Diva who attacked her teammate runs out during a match and lays a beatdown on both competitors, turning heel. Then another Diva turns and joins her.
** Michael Cole and Jerry "The King" Lawler are available as both commentators and playable characters. Guess what will you get [[NoFourthWall when both are in the ring and at the announcers table?]]
* TyrantTakesTheHelm: Randy Orton in ''2011'', [[spoiler:The Miz and Kevin Nash]] in ''[='12=]''.
* UnexpectedCharacter: Due to the possibility of the roster being out of date resulting from earlier cutoff dates, there are some characters that appear despite no longer being in the WWE. There are also straighter examples within each installment (i.e. Vance Archer in 2011)
** [[Music/LimpBizkit Fred Durst]] in ''Just Bring It''.
** Wrestling/RobVanDam in 2011 may be the most triumphant example, let alone as one of the Legends, due to his debuting in {{TNA}} earlier in the year. This was largely down to the decision to include RVD & signing the deal to get him in the game happened before his TNA debut.
** Wrestling/BrockLesnar in WWE '12, especially since Brock hadn't been seen in a WWE ring again for nearly 8 years.
** WWE '13 has MikeTyson reprising his role as the enforcer of the Wrestling/{{WrestleMania}} XIV main event; and Gangrel, since no-one expected THQ & WWE to license the character's name from [[TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade White Wolf]] for the sole purpose of including him as DLC.
** WWE [=2K14=] has Wrestling/UltimateWarrior and considering the bad blood between him and WWE it's definitely a surprise. Also it includes Wrestling/HulkHogan who's been a part of TNA for a few years now.
* VaguenessIsComing: After a main event in 13's universe mode one possible scene is the message ''The End is Coming'' as the competitors look freaked out. Get ready for someone on the roster to get a ''big'' push.
* VillainProtagonist
** in [=SmackDown=] vs Raw 2006 [[spoiler: it can be you]] at the end of the [=SmackDown=] season.
** Edge and Randy Orton in 2010.
** Chris Jericho [[spoiler:(and possibly [[FaceHeelTurn Rey Mysterio]])]] in 2011.
** Sheamus in WWE '12.
* ViralMarketing: WWE '13 did this with [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQzXcrVH8iA "A Revolution Is Coming" viral videos]] popping up on WWE.com, with many people thinking it was going to be a new wrestler or event. As it turned out, it was the announcement of WWE '13 with the revolution part tying in with CMPunk as the game's cover star.
* VersusTitle: [=SmackDown=] Vs Raw 2005-2011 (2004 was the first game and didn't have the year on it)
* VideoGameCaringPotential: [[SincerityMode Yes.]] In earlier games with GM mode where wrestlers were more vocal about being mistreated, or Universe mode you can to some degree control how they are utilized. Naturally you'd want your favorites to gain momentum but you might want to give someone who is crapped on for real a push, or help build the tag team and Diva divisions. And some of the earlier scenes where you are fighting to save a Diva, or get in a relationship with one, or you go to them (or better yet, they come to ''you'' on Valentine's Day, especially if you made a CAW you dearly love,) [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming DAWWWWWW.]]
* WhatTheHellHero: [=SvR=] 2011, [[spoiler:Rey Mysterio throughout his [=RtW=] get these from Superstars and Divas, stating that he's NotHimself. Justified as he's been in a car accident and has since been hanging with [[PoisonousFriend Jack Swagger]], the person behind the accident in the first place.]]
* WolverinePublicity[=/=]CoversAlwaysLie: BretHart is front and center on the Canadian cover for ''2011'', but is not in the game.
** Not unless you download him from Xbox Live / the Playstation Network.
* WouldHitAGirl: For most of the series, you could put divas in the ring against the men. Many pre-SvR games could even extend the female characters' rights by making them either male or genderless. ''WWF [=SmackDown=]: Shut Your Mouth'', in turn, had no other option of putting a female CAW into the Career Mode rather than [[AmbiguousGender choosing the second option]]. As of ''2010'', there is no more intergender competition other than Mixed Tag Team matches - someone in THQ management thought that the possibility of the girls beating the guys devalued the guys.
** This changed also came about as WWE banned man-on-woman violence post-2008 as part of the process of cleaning up the company's image.
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** WWE [=2K14=] has Wrestling/UltimateWarrior and considering the bad blood between him and WWE it's definitely a surprise. Also it includes Wrestling/HulkHogan who's been a part of TNA for a few years now.
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* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: After almost a ten year tenure, Green and Red were PutOnABus for WWE '12 and replaced in the create modes with two generic wrestlers with black and red trunks. Guess which of the two is getting beat up in the Create-A-Moveset mode?[[hottip:*:Yeah, it's the red one.]]
to:
* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: After almost a ten year tenure, Green and Red were PutOnABus for WWE '12 and replaced in the create modes with two generic wrestlers with black and red trunks. Guess which of the two is getting beat up in the Create-A-Moveset mode?[[hottip:*:Yeah, mode? Yeah, it's the red one.]]
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* VersusTitle: [=SmackDown=] Vs Raw ([[hottip:2005-2011:2004 was the first game and didn't have the year on it]])
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* VersusTitle: [=SmackDown=] Vs Raw ([[hottip:2005-2011:2004 2005-2011 (2004 was the first game and didn't have the year on it]])it)
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* The ''WWE 2K'' series (2013-); the result of THQ's bankruptcy and the pre-meditated selling of their WWE licence to Creator/TakeTwoInteractive. Published under the 2K Sports label, Yuke's will remain to develop the games with the additional help of Visual Concepts.
to:
* The ''WWE 2K'' series (2013-); the result of THQ's bankruptcy and the pre-meditated selling of their WWE licence to Creator/TakeTwoInteractive. Published under the 2K Sports label, Yuke's will remain to develop the games with the additional help of from Visual Concepts.
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* The ''[=SmackDown=] vs. Raw'' series (2004-2010); continuation of the THQ/Yuke's partnership. Originally cashing in on the brand warfare theme, it later became known for its GenreShift from arcade-like gameplay to simulation, becoming a yearly institution in the vein of the ''Madden NFL'' games. The series went multi-platform, appearing on the Xbox360, with the release of ''[=SmackDown=] vs. Raw 2007''. ''[=SmackDown=] vs. Raw 2008'' added the Wii to the list of platforms. The era was also known for suffering with CapcomSequelStagnation.
to:
* The ''[=SmackDown=] vs. Raw'' series (2004-2010); continuation of the THQ/Yuke's partnership. Originally cashing in on the brand warfare theme, it later became known for its GenreShift from arcade-like gameplay to simulation, becoming a yearly institution in the vein of the ''Madden NFL'' games. The series went multi-platform, appearing on the Xbox360, Xbox 360, with the release of ''[=SmackDown=] vs. Raw 2007''. ''[=SmackDown=] vs. Raw 2008'' added the Wii to the list of platforms. The era was also known for suffering with CapcomSequelStagnation.
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* The ''[=SmackDown=]'' series (2000-2003); a PlayStation-exclusive series produced by {{THQ}} and Yuke's with fast arcade-like gameplay.
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* The ''[=SmackDown=]'' ''[=SmackDown!=]'' series (2000-2003); a PlayStation-exclusive series produced by {{THQ}} and Yuke's with fast arcade-like gameplay.
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That seems to be reaallllllyyy strecthing it, and very assumptious. Why does it necessarily have to be a \"take that\" at Kurt Angle, when it\'s an impressive and noteworthy feat in itself?
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** A subtle one in ''WWE 13.'' When playing as {{Lita}} JerryLawler will say what a {{Determinator}} she is in how she came back from a broken neck. This is true, but KurtAngle used to brag about winning his Olympic gold medal ''with a broken freaking neck,'' and now that he's in TNA the WWE would want to show that one of their divas, who at one time was their most hated heel and is currently beloved as a former superstar, is just as good if not better than he is.
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** Played straight from 2006 to 2008 & 2010, with someone on the cover of the game getting injured for a period of time in the year following the release. Notably, 2008 had Bobby Lashley, JohnCena & the Undertaker on the cover & all three of them suffered notable injuries in the following year.
to:
** Played straight from 2006 to 2008 & 2010, with someone on the cover of the game getting injured for a period of time in the year following the release. Notably, 2008 had Bobby Lashley, JohnCena Wrestling/BobbyLashley, Wrestling/JohnCena & the Undertaker on the cover & all three of them suffered notable injuries in the following year.
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** This changed also came about as WWE banned man-on-woman violence post-2008 as part of the process of cleaning up the company's image.
** And [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1j9-wuc7-Y averted again]] due to a [[GoodBadBugs programming oversight]] in ''2011''.
** And [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1j9-wuc7-Y averted again]] due to a [[GoodBadBugs programming oversight]] in ''2011''.
to:
** This changed also came about as WWE banned man-on-woman violence post-2008 as part of the process of cleaning up the company's image.
** And [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1j9-wuc7-Y averted again]] due to a [[GoodBadBugs programming oversight]] in ''2011''.image.
** And [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1j9-wuc7-Y averted again]] due to a [[GoodBadBugs programming oversight]] in ''2011''.
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Changed line(s) 43 (click to see context) from:
* {{CAWs}}: Half the game is this, with everything from StreetFighter to Franchise/StarTrek to FinalFantasy to Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion to Franchise/ResidentEvil to SoulCalibur to StarWars to KimPossible to MassEffect being used as fodder for...
to:
* {{CAWs}}: Half the game is this, with everything from StreetFighter to Franchise/StarTrek to FinalFantasy to Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion to Franchise/ResidentEvil to SoulCalibur to StarWars to KimPossible to MassEffect Franchise/MassEffect being used as fodder for...
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** 2007 has a storyline with Wrestling/StephanieMcMahon that is very close to the "Higher Power" angle, with Wrestling/RoddyPiper taking the place of Wrestling/TheUndertaker. Both involve Wrestling/VinceMcMahon aligning with someone he was feuding with to rescue his kidnapped daughter, and [[spoiler:Vince]] is the mastermind of both kidnappings.
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I kinda like \"Shut Your Moth\" better, honestly.
Changed line(s) 164 (click to see context) from:
* TakeThatCritics: After ''Just Bring It'' was heavily criticised by fans & critics alike over the heavily outdated roster[[note]]None of the WCW[=/=]ECW superstars introduced during the {{InVasion}} storyline ongoing that same summer were included in the game[[/note]] & several technical flaws[[note]]A story mode that lasted 3 matches ''at it's longest'', graphics that simply looked like a cleaner version of the prior year's ''[=SmackDown=] 2'' on the original {{PlayStation}} & requiring a save file that took ''over half'' of the space on the Memory Cards[[/note]], the severely improved follow-up released the next year was appropriately entitled ''Shut Your Moth''.
to:
* TakeThatCritics: After ''Just Bring It'' was heavily criticised by fans & critics alike over the heavily outdated roster[[note]]None of the WCW[=/=]ECW superstars introduced during the {{InVasion}} storyline ongoing that same summer were included in the game[[/note]] & several technical flaws[[note]]A story mode that lasted 3 matches ''at it's longest'', graphics that simply looked like a cleaner version of the prior year's ''[=SmackDown=] 2'' on the original {{PlayStation}} & requiring a save file that took ''over half'' of the space on the Memory Cards[[/note]], the severely improved follow-up released the next year was appropriately entitled ''Shut Your Moth''.Mouth''.
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Added DiffLines:
** This changed also came about as WWE banned man-on-woman violence post-2008 as part of the process of cleaning up the company's image.
