WWE 2K25 Review: 11 Ups & 3 Downs

8. Fun New Match Types

WWE 2K25 Underground Pete Dunne Bronson Reed — 2K Games

The ambulance match - which is once again included here - was a daft amount of fun when it was introduced in WWE 2K24 as a brand-new match type, and WWE 2K25 has brought a couple of other new matches to the table.

Firstly, the Underground match is here, with that meaning no ropes, no pinfalls, wins only by knockout or submission, and a dark, dank setting where crazed onlookers bang on the ring mat as they watch two opponents knock the crap out of each other. And much like the ambulance match, Underground is a lot of daft fun, complete with dramatic intros for each competitor and a raucous party atmosphere as and when someone finally wins.

If Undergound is fun, the Bloodline Rules match is absolute chaos in the best possible way. Pulling inspiration from the brilliantly bonkers overbooked finale of Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40 - as in, appearances from the Usos, Solo Sikoa, John Cena, Rock, and Undertaker - this match offers each competitor the chance to have up to three run-ins for them.

For example, when doing a Jey Uso vs. Gunther match, the Ring General had Ludwig Kaiser run down to interfere. That was countered by Sami Zayn on Jey's behalf, which was followed by Jimmy Uso, only for Tama Tonga and Jacob Fatu to come down and help Gunther fend off Jey, Sami, and Jimmy - which in itself was followed by none other than the Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns, coming out to even the odds.

So yes, you can have up to six computer-controlled players brawling in and around the ring with all kinds of weapons, mirroring the chaotic nature of WrestleMania 40's Night 2 main event. Even better, it's up to you as and when you want to trigger each of your run-ins, with a simple two-button combo leading to someone running down to ringside. It's also nice that Bloodline Rules will have your allies help you out or your rivals help out your opponent.

One other match type that deserves a mention here is the Backstage Brawl. Now, that's not a new mode, but it has been nicely expanded to include some brilliant WWE Archive locations. As in, you'll be backstage in rooms full of so many great WWE Easter eggs, such as the classic SmackDown fist. And let's face it, who doesn't want to gloriously throw somebody from the top of that fist and then dive onto them?

Andrew Pollard

Senior Writer

Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main day job, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks, Jamie Hayer, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg. Where his beloved Wrexham AFC is concerned, Andrew is co-host of the Fearless in Devotion podcast, which won the Club Podcast of the Year gong at the 2024 FSA Awards.

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