Triangle X Squared O

From 1996 to 2007, nearly my every thought revolved around pro wrestling. But it wasn’t just the TV shows that had my attention. I was way into the action figures. The video games, as you know if you frequent this channel, were a constant. But in 2007, heading into 2008, the tide was beginning to turn. My interest in professional wrestling wasn’t only fading, it was hanging on by a thread. I now had a PlayStation 3 and WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2008 was the first wrestling game to hit the console. With better graphics, an updated roster and ECW now crashing the party, this could be it. Even if the wrestling on TV was falling out of favor with me, this new game might be exactly what I needed to stay on course with my favorite hobby. Today on Triangle X Squared O: The Wrestling Game Retrospective Series, I’m diving deep, into WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2008... Featuring ECW.

WWF SmackDown released on the PlayStation in 2000. Do you know how many games use that exact title? Just this one. SmackDown is protected, SmackDown has always been protected, because the series has always been high quality. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right? But what about RAW? The original flagship program for the WWF, or, WWE. The original A show. We’re still looking at great TV ratings, huge stars still walk the hallowed grounds of the red brand, it’s not like RAW has fallen off a cliff. It’s still massive on television, still big in the real world. But we don’t talk about the real world on this show, do we? No, this series is about video games. In the digital realm, RAW hasn’t been so lucky. Today, in 2024, we’re rewinding time back 30 years to shine a light on WWF RAW. Welcome to Triangle X Squared O: The Wrestling Game Retrospective Series.

If you grew up around the time that I did, your wrestling game collection was probably awesome. SmackDown Here Shut Your Mouth, WWF No Mercy, we all had WCW Nitro or Thunder too, they couldn’t all be gold. But the Backstage Assaults and Hardcore Revolutions were easily washed away by Here Comes The Pain and WrestleMania XIX and… man, we really had it made, didn’t we? Everybody knows the kings of the ring, right? Well… Not everybody. There was one game, hidden in the shadows like Sting in the rafters, that was right up there with the absolute greats. That game was called Fire Pro Wrestling Returns. Today on Triangle X Squared O, I'll tell you all about it.

WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2008 released at a time were my interest in professional wrestling wasn’t just waning… it was on life support. I’d hoped that the first SVR game to hit the next generation of PlayStation consoles might revitalize my love for what was my favorite hobby for the majority of my life. Long story short: it didn’t get the job done. Today, we turn out sights to the sequel. Taking a look at it today, in 2024… was WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2009 just another forgettable slog like SVR ‘08? Or did I miss out a great installment in the series? Today on Triangle X Squared O: The Wrestling Game Retrospective Series, we find out.

On this show, I like to shine a light on professional wrestling video games. The all time greats are a joy to cover because we get to relive some of our favorite memories together, right? Even the lower end of the spectrum, they’re not good, but it doesn’t hurt to goof on the garbage once in a while, either. And while I’ll never celebrate a studio closure or rejoice that someone’s art crashed and burned… I do have to be honest in my criticism. And with honesty at the forefront, I have to tell you that today’s game, MTV’s Celebrity Deathmatch… might be the absolute worst piece of garbage I’ve ever covered on this show.

We’ve been through the ringer over the decades, but all things considered, the pro wrestling video g