New match types and gameplay changes in WWE 2K25
There’s a reasonable expectation that each new WWE 2K game will bring something fresh to matches, be they new types or ways to experience them. This year’s game offers a bit of both. For new match types, you’ll find the unique Underground matches make their debut. These matches remove ropes from the ring and tend to play out in a more MMA-style. Bloodline Rules matches will also debut this year, and the team figured out a way to differentiate this match type from the many other iterations built on a no-disqualification framework.
Bloodline Rules matches will allow up to six run-ins per match, three per side, and these run-ins can be performed like a finisher, by filling a meter and then spending the earned credit like you’re popping an ult in a MOBA–and what is pro wrestling if not a massive battle arena of its own, right? Effectively, a Bloodline Rules match will start one-on-one and end four-on-four, cleverly combining different aspects of WarGames and hardcore matches.
Intergender matches can also happen for the first time in the series. Though these are rarely on WWE programming, it seems the team has finally added the ability to pit men and women against each other (beyond the already available mixed tag matches) because people really want to have Rhea Ripley beat up Dominik Mysterio. Finally, they can do that beginning in WWE 2K25. You can even have mixed Royal Rumble matches, so it seems R. Truth was just ahead of his time.
With the game finally offering intergender matches, MyRise story mode now ditches the separate male and female storylines in favor of one storyline that will have your created superstar competing against both divisions as they make their way to the top of the WWE locker room. The story focuses on an attempted takeover of NXT from superstars like Bayley, Kevin Owens, and more. Players may make allies out of wrestlers such as Jey Uso, Bianca Belair, Seth Rollins, and more through the branching paths of MyRise mode.
As for gameplay changes that will affect these and other match types, chain wrestling mechanics have returned to the game this year, and players can perform new barricade dives.