7 New Match Types That Should Be In WWE 2K25

Summary

• Bringing back classic match types like “I Quit” offers new challenges and excitement for players in WWE 2K25.
• The addition of unique match types like Bull Rope and Inferno matches would add a new level of entertainment and strategy.
• Including fan-favorite match types such as First Blood and Three Stages of Hell in WWE 2K25 would enhance gameplay diversity.

The WWE’s move to Netflix has created a considerable amount of hype for the world’s most famous sports entertainment company. The first Raw event took place on January 6th, with a bumper line-up taking the streaming world by storm, including the much-anticipated grudge match between Liv Morgan and Rhea Ripley, and the tribal combat match between Solo Sikoa and Roman Reigns.

With all the new eyes discovering the WWE for the first time, and those rediscovering WWE for the first time in years, now is a great time to get into the world of wrestling with a bumper roster and exciting matches to watch. One way that the WWE keeps things fresh is with its match types. Fans have been amazed by Hell in a Cell and TLC matches for years. And gamers can always get excited that when a match type is used, they can head to the WWE 2K franchise and recreate them. However, some match types have either been removed or never featured in the franchise, so what new match types should be in WWE 2K25?

7

“I Quit” Match

After A Stellar Display Between Cody Rhodes And AJ Styles, “I Quit” Matches Should Return

• The “I Quit” match does exactly as the name implies, only ending when one competitor gives up
• In 2024, WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and AJ Styles played out a classic in an “I Quit” match.

The “I Quit” match last featured in WWE 2K14 and is well overdue for a comeback. Over the years, there have been many classic “I Quit” matches, such as John Cena vs. JBL at Judgement Day in 2005 and Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Bret Hart at WrestleMania 13.

Similar to a submission match in many regards, adding “I Quit” matches to WWE 2K25 would allow players to use all the dirty tricks available to get the win, from submission moves to all the illegal items under the ring, creating carnage in the name of entertainment.

6

Bull Rope Match

Two Wrestlers Tied Together With A Bull Rope

• Two wrestlers are attached at the wrist by a 14ft Bull Rope with the aim of getting a pin or submission.
• Drew McIntyre and CM Punk put on a great Bull Rope match at Bash in Berlin 2024

What happens when two wrestlers are tied together by a 14ft Bull Rope and told to either submit or pin their opponent, pure unadulterated entertainment. The Bull Rope match was first brought to the WWF as part of their In Your House PLE in 1996 with Savio Vega facing Stone Cold Steve Austin.

Making waves at Bash in Berlin this year, Drew McIntyre and CM Punk put on an all-time classic Bull Rope match, although it was called a strap match on the night, reigniting interest in the match type. If added to WWE 2K25, the Bull Rope match could allow players to use the rope in unique ways to terrorize opponents and give matches a real close-quarters feel.

5

Inferno Match

A Ring Engulfed In Fire May Not Be Safe In Real Life But In WWE 2K Anything’s Possible

• The Inferno Match was a favorite of WWE Hall of Famer, Kane, with him competing in five from 1998 to 2013
• The match was retooled for Bray Wyatt vs. Randy Orton in 2020 titled the Firefly Inferno Match.

What can be more entertaining than two top performers in the ring? Setting the ring on fire. That’s the basic premise of the Inferno match. It’s the same as any other, but the action only stops when one competitor is set on fire.

Over the years, Kane has been involved in five of the six Inferno matches broadcast by the WWE, with stunning visuals and maximum entertainment guaranteed. The Inferno match type was last featured in WWE 2K14, with its comeback being well overdue. Maybe WWE 2K25 is the perfect time for its reintroduction.

4

First Blood Match

The First Wrestler To Open Up Their Opponent Is The Winner

• First Blood matches were last featured in Smackdown vs. Raw 2011
• The last First Blood Match in the WWE took place in 2008 between John Cena and JBL

Despite not featuring in the WWE since 2008, the First Blood match has remained popular in other wrestling organizations such as TNA. Nine First Blood matches took place within the WWE, with classics taking place at King of the Ring in 1998 between Kane and Stone Cold Steve Austin, and at Fully Loaded in 1999 between Stone Cold and The Undertaker.

The First Blood match type last appeared in a WWE game in Smackdown vs. Raw in 2011 and its addition would be welcomed with open arms by players in WWE 2K25.

3

Bloodline Rules

Similar To A No Holds Barred Or Street Fight Match, Maximum Chaos In The Ring

• Headlining WrestleMania 40’s second night the Bloodline Rules match between Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns became an all-time classic
• A match in which anything goes, including multiple interferences, weapons, and no count-outs

When the second night of WrestleMania 40s Main Event was announced, almost every fan said the same thing: What is a Bloodline Rules match? On WrestleMania night two all the questions were answered in a No Holds Barred match with many of wrestling’s most famous faces returning to aid Cody Rhodes in finishing his story.

The addition of a Bloodline Rules match type would increase the creativity allowed in My GM and My Universe mode. What better way to either topple or solidify the Bloodline in WWE 2K25 than with a Bloodline Rules match?

2

Dumpster Match

Taking Out The Trash

• The dumpster match is similar to a casket match with the winner closing the dumpster lid on the loser.
• The dumpster match returned in October 2024 when Michin took on Chelsea Green.

The WWE dumpster match is a no-disqualification or count-out match which concludes when a wrestler is put into a dumpster and the lid is closed. First appearing at Wrestlemania 14 and then appearing sporadically since 1998, the dumpster match allows for trash-based chaos to ensue in and outside the ring.

The dumpster match was unused from 2017, before returning with a clash in October 2024, between Michin and Chelsea Green that provided lots of drama. The dumpster match has never featured in a WWE 2K game and would make a great addition to WWE 2K25.

1

Three Stages Of Hell

A Best Of Three In Different Match Types

• Last featured in Smackdown vs. Raw 2006
• Five matches have taken place within the WWE, with the most recent in 2019

Finally, the Three Stages of Hell match type rolls three match types into one, in a best-of-three format. The last Three Stages of Hell match took place in August 2019 between Johnny Gargano and Adam Cole with the two wrestlers competing in a normal match, followed by a street fight, and then a steel cage match.

This would allow players to combine multiple different match types into one with the aim of winning in different formats. This would make an interesting addition to WWE 2K25, especially when it comes to managing wrestlers’ stamina in My GM mode, and would be its first feature in a WWE game since Smackdown vs. Raw 2006.