WWE Day of Reckoning 2 (Gamecube) 2005
If it wasn't already clear that the title of "best backup game to Smackdown" had shifted over to the Gamecube, Day of Reckoning 2 put the final nail in the coffin. Taking what the first game had already done so well, Reckoning 2 improved the graphics, included a new submission system and an even better career mode. The momentum style and tactical grappling system from the first game remained and it also implemented a new stamina meter to go along with it, which depleted over time. As mentioned, the new submission system let you choose between four different styles of grapple with different ones letting you regain or drain stamina and momentum. Create a Wrestler was once again great allowing for up to 9 finishers, one for each position that they could be performed from. In a move not done before, story mode takes place immediately after the ending from the first game, though it does assume that you played through the first game on the Raw chapter of the story. Since the first game, your character has lost the title back to Triple H and lost his place in the main event. What follows it a quest to regain the belt, though your player somehow ends up framed for stealing the belt, fired from Raw and drafted to Smackdown. It was another fun story mode to play and although it didn't change on a second playthrough, the gameplay made other modes a treat in terms of longevity. It still didn't have as many stars and as much storyline depth as the Smackdown games did but Day of Reckoning 2 was a very good game and easily cemented itself as the second best series available at the time due to the disappearance of Raw and subsequent disappointment of Wrestlemania 21 on Xbox.