WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2006introduced General Manager mode to the franchise, allowing fans to live out their WWE fantasy booking dreams by booking their own WWE shows. The mode returned inWWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007with some improvements, though the best version of it appeared inWWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008. Unfortunately, General Manager mode disappeared after that, with subsequent entries in the series abandoning it entirely.
General Manager mode was left out of WWE video gamesuntil it finally returned inWWE 2K22as MyGM mode.WWE 2K22’s MyGM has been appreciated by fans for the simple fact that it brings General Manager mode back at all, but many have also felt let down by what it brings to the table. Fans have been waiting 15 years for General Manager mode to make a comeback, only for it to be a relatively shallow and undercooked experience.
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The nature of these WWE video games likely means that fans won’t be able to expect Visual Concepts to release any substantial updates for MyGM to change how it functions now, but if the developer gets the chance to makeWWE 2K23, next year’s entry should take inspiration fromWWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008to deliver a more well-rounded and entertaining take on MyGM than what’s present inWWE 2K22.
WWE 2K22 MyGM Limited Match Options
One ofWWE 2K22MyGM’s biggest issues is the limited match options. WhileWWE 2K22MyGMplayers have a nice selection of match stipulations to choose from, they are limited to strictly singles and tag team matches. They also aren’t able to assign managers to wrestlers, so instead of simply having tag team partners supporting each other to help continue tag team feuds, they always have to rely on booking run-ins instead.
In contrast,WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008lets players book all kinds of different matches, allowing them to build up to Triple Threat and Fatal-4-Way matches as well as other unique match types. This gaveWWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008General Manager players more freedom than those playing MyGM inWWE 2K22, who are limited to booking tag team and singles feuds with no options for other match types. These limitations extend to championships, as each brand only has two singles titles to work with, one for women and one for men, with no tag team or midcard titles to speak of.
WWE 2K22also has a feature whereTriple Htasks players with completing special objectives each week in exchange for bonuses. This is fine on paper, and usually it works great by challenging players to think outside the box, but sometimes Triple H’s requests make the game even more restrictive than it would be otherwise because he has some bizarre demands. This includes asking the player not to book their champion on a pay-per-view event or tasking them with booking a Hell in a Cell match in the very first week of TV before any rivalries have been established.
WWE 2K22 MyGM Pay-Per-Views Aren’t Special
Just like in real-life WWE,WWE 2K22MyGM is designed for players to build from one month to the next. Players book matches and promos on their weekly shows, which ultimately culminate in pay-per-view encounters. The pay-per-views inWWE 2K22MyGM have some issues, like bizarrely having three promo spots instead of focusing squarely on matches, and the fact that none of them are special or stand out from one another.
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InWWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008, some of the pay-per-views were treated as big-time special events that allowed for unique booking opportunities. For example, whenever theRoyal Rumblerolled around, players were able to throw in some of the superstars from their roster to participate in the match. There were similar gimmicks with other pay-per-views like WrestleMania that allowed for cross-brand action and made these pay-per-views feel special. Every pay-per-view inWWE 2K22MyGM is handled exactly the same, and so none of them stand apart or are memorable in the slightest.
WWE 2K22 MyGM Only Allows for 2 Players
WhenWWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008released, the landscape of the world’s largest wrestling company was quite different. At the time, WWE had three brands in Raw, SmackDown, and ECW, and this was reflected by the General Manager mode. Up to three players were able to duke it out for ratings supremacy across the three brands, which made for quite the fun time. In modern day WWE, there are even more brands available, withWWE 2K22offering Raw, SmackDown, NXT, and NXT UK to players, but the mode is limited to just two people. It would be great ifWWE 2K23took some inspiration fromSmackDown vs. Raw 2008and upped the number of players to match the number of brands.
WWE 2K22 MyGM Only Lasts 1 Season
The most egregious problem withWWE 2K22MyGM is the fact that it only lasts one season. Players start up a year of MyGM, play it through toWrestleMania, and then that’s it. If they want to keep playing, they have to start a new save from scratch instead of having another draft and keeping their champions. This seriously hurts the replay value ofWWE 2K22MyGM, as players will feel like they’ve invested a lot of time in the mode only for what they’ve built to get tossed aside.
InWWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008, the General Manager mode did not end after one season. Instead, players were able to draft superstars again and continue playing after WrestleMania and indefinitely. There are modes likeWWE 2K22Universe Mode that allow for this kind of endless replayability, so it’s a shame that it doesn’t apply to MyGM.
WWE 2K23 MyGM Could Fix the Issues in WWE 2K22
These are all issues that could be addressed in a potentialWWE 2K23, but the jury is still out on whether or not WWE will be giving 2K Sports and Visual Concepts the opportunity to make the game. Insider reports suggest that WWE was not happy with the disastrous launch ofWWE 2K20and the mixed reviews thatWWE 2K Battlegroundsreceived, to the point where it has supposedlyhad meetings with EA about making WWE video gamesinstead.
If WWE were to jump ship from 2K Sports to EA, it would mean that all the hard work onWWE 2K22was wasted, as the developers won’t be given the opportunity to build on what they made in the new game. This would be a shame because while the game certainly has flaws,WWE 2K22reviewsindicate that the latest entry in the long-running wrestling franchise is a massive step forward and helps lay the groundwork for future entries to be something even more incredible.
WWE 2K22nails the in-ring action, but there are modes, like MyGM, that need a little work before they can reach their full potential. AssumingWWE decides to stick with 2K Sports forWWE 2K23, then next year’s game could make the necessary changes to take modes like MyGM to the next level. Imagine ifWWE 2K23MyGM allows for multiple match types, lets players play beyond their initial season, and looks toWWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008for inspiration to deliver the proper General Manager mode that fans have been waiting years to play.
WWE 2K22is out now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
