WWE 2k14: More Thoughts on the "30 Years of Wrestlemania" Mode - Wiggy's Blog

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WWE 2k14: More Thoughts on the "30 Years of Wrestlemania" Mode Stuck

Posted on August 30, 2013 at 10:10 AM.

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When I wrote an earlier piece about 10 matches that will likely appear in WWE 2K14's "30 Years of Wrestlemania" mode, I was just speculating on the possible match combinations and competitors that 2K might include in the game. Now that 2K has revealed the full roster as well as a trailer associated with it, it's much easier to make some informed speculation on what matches will be included in the mode.

For those that don't know, the roster for this mode is as follows:

Alberto Del Rio
Andre the Giant
Batista
Big John Studd
Big Show
Big Show (Retro)
Bret 'The Hitman' Hart
Brock Lesnar
Brock Lesnar (Retro)
Chris Jericho
Chris Jericho (Retro)
CM Punk
Diesel
Edge
Goldberg
Hulk Hogan
�Hollywood� Hulk Hogan
JBL
John Cena
John Cena (Retro)
Kane (Retro)
King Kong Bundy
Mick Foley
Randy Orton
�Macho Man� Randy Savage
Razor Ramon
Ric Flair
Ric Flair (Retro)
Ricky The Dragon Steamboat
Sergeant Slaughter
Shawn Michaels
Shawn Michaels (Retro)
�Stone Cold� Steve Austin
The Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase
The Miz
The Rock
The Rock (Retro)
Triple H
Triple H (Retro)
Ultimate Warrior
Undertaker
Undertaker (Retro)
Yokozuna

Right off the bat, there are some really fun inclusions in this roster. Yokozuna, who had long been cited by developers as a problem character to implement because of unique size, is now included, and this allows for some fun possibilities with him in the mode. It's also nice to see a few retro picks like Big John Studd and Ricky Steamboat, and this means we'll get to see the epic Wrestlemania III match between Savage and Steamboat, which is really cool. The most likely match for Big John Studd is his Wrestlemania I encounter with Andre the Giant, and it makes a lot more sense when the trailer shows Bobby "The Brain" Heenan in the game as well (he was Andre's manager at the time).

Another good addition is King Kong Bundy, and this makes sense since his Wrestlemania II main event steel cage match against Hulk Hogan seems like a natural fit for the mode. The only other logical addition for a Bundy 'Mania match is his Wrestlemania XI bout against The Undertaker, but I could see that match being one of the "extras" in the mode, as it was essentially a Taker squash match.

The inclusion of Miss Elizabeth -- a surprise, to be honest -- as well as Randy Savage, Hogan, Ted Dibiase and Andre means that there will be the Wrestlemania IV main event of Savage vs. Dibiase. The trailer shows the iconic shot of Savage hoisting Elizabeth and the belt over his shoulder with Hogan standing by their side. It's one of those iconic moments that wouldn't have made any sense without Elizabeth being there, so it's cool that they've been able to fully realize this particular moment.

It's also interesting to see Razor Ramon (Scott Hall) included in the game, which he had alluded to in a recent Twitter post. This opens up one obvious match: the ladder match between himself and Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania X. This was the first time that a ladder match had really been sold properly to a mainstream audience, and the fight still holds up today since both guys were such tremendous workers. The match also makes sense since Diesel is in the mode, and he was in Michaels' corner during the contest. It's hard to say where else they'll use Ramon in the mode, as his few other 'Mania matches involve lower-card talent that won't likely be included. In fact, the only other one would probably be his Wrestlemania X8 contest against Stone Cold.

As for other matches, Wrestlemania 21 seems ripe for this mode, as you've got Taker vs. Randy Orton, which will likely be included, as well as the main event of Batista vs. Triple H (w/ Ric Flair). The co-main event will also likely be included, as it was John Cena vs. JBL, who has also found his way into the mode. Wrestlemania XXVII also provides a few likely possibilities, with Edge vs. Alberto Del Rio, Randy Orton vs. CM Punk and The Miz vs. John Cena.

Wrestlemania 23 has a couple of likely matches, with title fights between Taker and Batista as well as Shawn Michaels and John Cena. Big Show could make an appearance with his Wrestlemania XXV match where he and Edge jobbed out to John Cena in a triple-threat match for the World Heavyweight Championship. Wrestlemania XXVIII has a couple of options, as CM Punk faced Chris Jericho and Kane went up against Randy Orton.

A couple of the big boys in the mode -- Brock Lesnar and Goldberg -- have only a couple of possibilities, but Lesnar's Wrestlemania 29 fight against Triple H (with Paul Heyman and Shawn Michaels in the corners) might the most likely. Since Kurt Angle won't be in the mode, they can't use Lesnar's mania match against him, but Goldberg vs. Lesnar from the very next year seems pretty obvious.

There are plenty of other possibilities, and I'd recommend you check out this article to explore every possible match that they could include based on the announced roster. I do find it odd that they wouldn't leverage the current talent that could fill out some of the matches (Ryback, Daniel Bryan, Sheamus), as it would allow for many more possibilities for the last 10 or so Wrestlemania events. Maybe they will do that for some of the "extra" matches, but it's hard to say. With the roster they have picked, it seems like they are focusing on major matches from each 'Mania.

Either way, the mode looks like it could be very promising.

Comments

# 1 ajaxab @ Aug 30

This mode won't fail if original commentary isn't included in some way, but I have to say that the Attitude Era mode in '13 went over the top because of the way Yukes included audio directly from the broadcasts when the matches occurred. It would be great to hear Gorilla Monsoon or Vince McMahon do play-by-play and Jesse Ventura adding color. I haven't seen anything that would suggest they are included, but it would add an important layer of authenticity if they were.

# 2 scottyp180 @ Aug 30

I wish they had owen hart and lex luger. It would be awesome to play out the events of wrestlemania x(?) Owen vs bret, luger vs yokozuno, bret vs yokozuna. And while this is unlikely I hope they bring back some of the attitude era wrestlers from last year that arent included in this mode. Lod, the rest of dx, and ken shamrock come to mind...id hate for these guys to be excluded afterbeing playable last year.

# 3 poloelite @ Aug 30

I managed to play the Steamboat vs. Savage, Razor vs. Michaels and Hulk vs. Warrior matches at the Vegas Expo Wednesday and they were all EPIC. The only flaw in presentation is there announcer's table is there with Lawler and Ross doing the commentary. But the game is extremely fluid in comparison to last year, the foot planting seems to be more realistic and the balance was almost perfect. And YES 2 counts are back and help build the momentum of the match. The WM mode works similar to the AE mode last year with hitting objectives and hidden objectives. What's really good about the presentation is the screen filters really help bring the nostalgia feeling back to the original matches. If anyone has any questions feel free to ask or PM me. I also have some video I took that I can upload as well.

# 4 thesillyputty1 @ Aug 30

Good read! But Diesel was in Michaels corner not Razor's

# 5 Wiggy @ Aug 30

Quote:


	thesillyputty1 @ Aug 30 (13 Minutes Ago) Good read! But Diesel was in Michaels corner not Razor's

Good point! Corrected.

# 6 SHAKYR @ Aug 30

Any news on Factions being in the game? I wish the wild Samoans, Papa Shango, and Ivan Putski were in the game too.

# 7 Wiggy @ Aug 30

Quote:


	SHAKYR @ Aug 30 (56 Minutes Ago) Any news on Factions being in the game? I wish the wild Samoans, Papa Shango, and Ivan Putski were in the game too.

Well, I don't think they're going to deviate much from what they've had before, which is to have certain wrestlers affiliated in stables and as managers.

Indeed, Papa Shango's wallet also wishes he was in the game.