Earlier than the primary bell of Wrestlemania XL has even rung, WWE has a brand new champion.
As a part of this week’s WWE World fan occasion, the wrestling promotion held a particular WWE 2K24 event in Philadelphia. The competitors paired six Superstars up with celebrities, who fought in digital tag group matches to earn the shiny 2K Championship. It was a a lot friendlier kickoff to this weekend’s heated occasion, which incorporates avenue fights and ladder matches.
Greater than that, it acted as a superb reminder of why the 2K sequence’ present iteration works in addition to it does. In only a few quick matches, the event gave solution to some pure in-ring storytelling that had a crowd of followers gasping and cheering. All of it ended with a dramatic conclusion that gave Wrestlemania weekend its first championship coronation — even when it was a Philadelphia Screwjob.
Getting pumped
The WWE World occasion, housed within the Pennsylvania Conference Heart this weekend, is a multiday fan occasion stuffed with interactive actions and merch. The present has a essential stage that hosted a number of occasions this week, together with a panel with Rey Mysterio and an look by Cody Rhodes. The WWE 2K24 event would shut out Thursday night time after a Q&A session with The Rock (who confirmed up two hours late, claiming he was delayed after watching movies of the Philadelphia Eagles’ playoff loss).
As the group impatiently waited for the Closing Boss’ arrival, I caught up backstage with the WWE expertise available who received in some pre-tournament matches. Opponents included Kofi Kingston, Johnny Gargano, The Miz, Jey Uso, Zelina Vega, and Bayley. Every was paired with celebrities, from Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias to rapper Wale. Kinda Humorous’s Greg Miller served as a suitably grumpy referee for the occasion, too, enjoying the a part of a loudmouth heel convincingly.
This was my life once I was a child!
Whereas the WWE 2K sequence is an escapist fantasy for many gamers, it’s extra like a job simulator for the precise performers featured in it. Once I requested wrestlers available what it felt prefer to play a recreation like this from the opposite aspect, “surreal” was a recurring reply.
“It’s virtually surreal,” R-Fact (who served as a coach for his Superior Fact tag group accomplice, The Miz, in the course of the event) tells Digital Traits. “I do play video games with my children at dwelling and I get pleasure from enjoying as a result of my character is within the recreation. To see the place it’s began from to the place it’s at now with the whole lot right down to the graphic detailing of tattoos and eyebrow rings and piercings, it’s phenomenal.”
Whereas R-Fact notes that it’s onerous for a online game to really seize the spirit and emotion of performing in entrance of an enormous reside viewers, he praises the 2K sequence for capturing the nuances of WWE wrestling. The New Day’s Xavier Woods, who hosted the event alongside Tyler Breeze, agrees with that energy. For him, the surreal half comes from seeing his actual persona come to life alongside his customized creations.
“This was my life once I was a child!” The New Day’s Xavier Woods says. “Enjoying these video games, and making myself, and creating tales and the way you win the championship. Now, I’m legitimately within the recreation. However what’s much more intense for me is that they took my Create-a-wrestler and put him within the recreation this 12 months … It’s cool to have me and what my precise persona is in wrestling, after which the childhood me of what I believed I used to be going to be in wrestling.”
So, what’s essentially the most lifelike factor about WWE 2K24 in accordance with a wrestler? “The frustration of not having the ability to beat Roman Reigns,” Woods says.
No mercy
After a protracted delay due to The Rock, the event lastly kicked off on Thursday night time. The setup was easy: The six groups have been cut up right into a three-match tag-team bracket, with the three winners all going through off in a last elimination match. As quickly because the opening matches kicked off, I used to be reminded of what makes the sequence particular. There’s emergent storytelling that comes out of its matches, which mirrors the true product surprisingly nicely.
Within the first match of the night time, The Miz and his accomplice punched their ticket to the finals in a vigorous opening bout towards Staff Bayley. That win shortly set Miz up as a babyface for the event with a respectful victory. The second match had a completely completely different narrative, as Johnny Gargano beat Jey Uso and Wale in mere seconds after Wale couldn’t kick out of a direct submission try (the rapper would place the blame on useless controller batteries). That might paint Gargano, the present “champion” of Xavier Woods’ UpUpDownDown YouTube gaming channel, because the fearsome pressure to beat.
In file time! #TeamJohnnyGargano progresses within the #WWE2K24 Showdown Match!@JohnnyGargano @fluffyguy @WWEUsos @Wale pic.twitter.com/488nCs3BDS
— UpUpDownDown (@UpUpDwnDwn) April 4, 2024
When a WWE 2K match is working as deliberate, it could produce some surprisingly thrilling outcomes. The third match would pit Zelina Vega and Kofi Kingston towards each other within the closest match of the night time. The digital match, working underneath Twister Tag guidelines, was a tense backwards and forwards, full with clutch reversals and razor-thin pinfall makes an attempt. It received the group on its ft, who hooted and hollered on the legitimately dramatic moments. In the long run, the trash-talking Kingston, alongside accomplice Robbie Fox of Barstool Sports activities, would come out on prime, setting him up because the event’s cocky heel.
Essentially the most cogent little bit of storytelling occurred earlier than the finale, when The Miz challenged Johnny Gargano for a shot at his UpUpDownDown title in a one-on-one match. Gargano begrudgingly obliged, resulting in a spirited bout that created the proper lead-in for the right event ending. The three groups joined up for an elimination-style match, the place the final particular person standing would win it for his or her group. Each Miz and Gargano’s superstar buddies went out first, leaving the 2 at an obstacle towards Kingston and Fox.
Maybe nonetheless feeling the steam from their final match, Miz and Gargano would go at each other. That allowed Staff Kofi to select the bones of their weakened opponents and stroll away with a clear victory. It’s the form of well-scripted win-ring story you’d see in a WWE match, one which naturally emerged via play. The truth that the viewers ate it up like an actual match speaks volumes to the simulator’s present energy.
After all, it wouldn’t be a wrestling event with out one final swerve. The 2K Championship just isn’t a tag belt; it’s a solo championship. In a shock twist, Kingston and Fox must go head-to-head to find out the true champion. Greg Miller joined, controlling Cactus Jack because the in-game referee. A brewing stage with Kingston in the course of the present performed out in-game, as Miller intentionally screwed Kingston over throughout a pinfall with a quick three depend for Fox.
And so, Wrestlemania XL weekend received its first champion: Robbie Fox.
And your winner of the @wwegames #WWE2K24 Showdown is @RobbieBarstool! pic.twitter.com/HOaQNsbMtd
— UpUpDownDown (@UpUpDwnDwn) April 4, 2024
Whereas it was a stunning final result, it was logical reserving throughout the small digital universe the rivals wove over two hours. I might hint the characters and storylines, having fun with the chaotic event as a spectator sport. It’s the identical purpose I’ve spent numerous hours watching simulated matches in MyGM mode over the previous couple of years; even computer-controlled fights produce some real leisure. That’s the surreal pleasure that R-Fact factors to.
WWE 2K24 is obtainable now on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Sequence X/S, and PC. When you’re seeking to watch some actual matches, tune in to Wrestlemania XL this weekend, streaming reside on Peacock.
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