8 Cancelled Wrestling Video Games

6. WWE Brawl

TNA Impact 2
Richard Lyons

At the start of the 2010s, THQ devised a multi-branched strategy for their WWE video games in an attempt to broaden the appeal of the potentially lucrative license. In addition to complementing the standard simulation of the WWE SmackDown vs. Raw series with the arcade action of WWE Legends of WrestleMania, the studio also set about developing something right out there - an open-plan brawler in the same mould as Sega's cult classic PowerStone.

WWE Brawl was almost identical in concept to WWE Titans - and ultimately suffered the same fate. Just as in Next Level Games' rejected treatment, WWE superstars past and present were given an exaggerated comic book overhaul, with the pugilism whisked out of the ring and into an array of personalised home arenas.

The game's slogan eerily echoed the awful WCW Backstage Assault: "No ring. No ref. No rules." Unfortunately, Kodiak's dreadful behind-the-curtain brawler actually hit shelves, whilst THQ's infinitely more intriguing scrapper was suddenly scrapped, despite the company funnelling resources into the project - and even designing around the possibility of an animated TV series.

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WWE Brawl
 
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Editorial Team
Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.