That probably goes without saying, but don’t forget that in the real world of Determined Outcome Grappling, SmackDown as a brand was basically The Rock’s spinoff show. 7-6-5: A Triple Threat Match of The Rock's Catchphrasesīefore we move on to the next few picks, I want to remember how stupidly popular The Rock was in the Attitude Era. It’s nice to see a guy whose better days you remember. So to sum up, Wet Hunter 2007 in the number eight spot is like the time Diamond Dallas Page entered the Rumble to promote his yoga program. It seems like that nostalgia could’ve been the tie-breaker between this game and the games that finished eleventh or twelfth, just a percentage point or two behind it. In retrospect it isn’t spectacular for anything more notable than being our first chance to play WWE games on 7th gen consoles. Raw made this list feels like more of a testament to something being the first. In fact, the game might’ve gotten bonus points in our Face-Off for being a bigger highlight for wrestling fans than the actual wrestling happening in 2007. It was a sticky, greasy time for the WWE in those days and “soggy Triple H” as the cover image for this game makes the most sense. This may be my own bias, but nothing says “2007 in the WWE” quite like a soaking wet Triple H screaming on the apron, baby oil from his hair streaking down either side of his chest, having undoubtedly just spit half a bottle of Crystal Geyser onto the front row. Perhaps the most realistic part of the game though is how wet Triple H is on the cover. The analog control system introduced in the game made the action more realistic where important grappleman tactics like throwing a guy into the audience are concerned. Landing on the Xbox 360, it’s the first WWE game for a 7th generation console, and immediately took advantage of those sweet, sweet joysticks. This is a game that would’ve had 2 memorable spots during a Royal Rumble before getting dumped over the ropes by the 15th entrant immediately, so landing at number nine on our list feels right.įor our eighth pick with a 65.8% win rate that’s not even a full percentage point higher than our number 10, we jump ahead to the 2007 edition of WWE SmackDown! Vs. I think I got injured just watching the TLC matches with The Dudley Boyz, The Hardyz and Edge and Christian.Īll that to say, it’s a solid enough way to kick off a new series. What are we even doing if, at the height of the Attitude Era, we don’t have unimpeded violence on the menu. On a personal note, however, the hardcore and steel cage match were an absolute must of an inclusion. With no commentary, you had to wrestle to a bizarre mix of stock house-adjacent music and a steady hum of fan noise (it was honestly a little stressful.) while the bizarre non-entrances for the wrestlers in front of matches felt like a wonky corner-cutting measure more than a creative choice. SmackDown! is also a little notorious for the things it got rid of. 9: WWF SmackDown! (2000) - 65.6%Ĭounting down to number nine, we go back to Y2K and the beginnings of what became the WWE 2K series, with WWF SmackDown! It was a welcome change from previous entries on the PlayStation that went back to the more arcade style action we knew from the N64 games which, not to give too much away, might do a run in and attack this list with a chair here in a few spots. Raw at number 10 feels like the new guy in the promotion that lasts for a respectable run in the ring, but ultimately you forget he was there by the next pay-per-view. The Royal Rumble of WWE games, SmackDown! Vs. You could also create your own belt in a Create-a-Championship mode for when creating yourself in a wrestling game just isn’t enough. Meanwhile, the stare down and test of strength style mini-games, including a bra and panties match spanking mechanic that snuck in at the tail end of the Attitude Era's influence, offered a little more of what the live wrestling events featured on TV. The Clean and Dirty mechanic was a weird little blast as well, giving even the kayfabe-iest fans a chance to lean into a gimmick and be rewarded for it. Meanwhile, the brand split between Raw and SmackDown that happened just a few years prior was popular enough to gamble on rebranding the SmackDown series of games. The Attitude Era was coming to an end and the silly Invasion storyline was getting smaller in the rearview mirror. The game represents a fairly major shift for WWE as well. At number 10 with a win percentage of 65% in our Face-off, we find ourselves in the heady days of the mid-aughts with 2004’s WWE SmackDown! Vs.
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