With the next entry in the WWE 2K series still assumed to have a release date this year, many wrestling fans expect news from developer 2K soon. It's already been an exciting few months for fans of wrestling video games, with several AEW games in development and multiple indie-wrestling titles hitting the market. WWE 2K22 may serve to be a make-or-break title following WWE 2K20's massive disappointment due to its massive amount of bugs, instability and lack of fan-requested features.
Match types are often one of the most requested features. Many of these match types were fan-favorites from previous games, most notably from the Smackdown Vs. Raw series. If these five match types from previous WWE games made a long-awaited return in WWE 2K21, they might just serve to help redeem the 2K series in the eyes of fans.
Inferno Match
The Inferno Match has many similarities to deathmatch wrestling, as both feature a persistent source of danger that the performers have to both avoid and try to use against their opponent. In the games, the Inferno match last appeared in WWE 2K14 and functioned similarly to an over-the-top-rope elimination match. Players had to navigate their opponent to either of the ring's flaming sides and play a button-mashing minigame to push them through the fire and out of the ring.
It's a simple enough variation on a battle-royale match, though a lot of the Inferno match's love comes from its presentation. In WWE 2K14, the fire surrounding the ring would have a short burst in intensity any time a wrestler was slammed into the mat. With the 2K series always emphasizing its graphics and lightning engine, an Inferno match in WWE 2K22 could look better than it ever has.
Slobberknocker / Gauntlet Match
The Slobberknocker, or Gauntlet match, appeared last in WWE 2K Battlegrounds, meaning that it hasn't been absent from wrestling games for as long as other matches on this list. Gauntlet matches involve one wrestler trying to defy the odds by beating three opponents, one after another. WWE 2K20 did allow for three-on-one handicap matches, though they don't quite have the same dramatic appeal as the Slobberknocker match.
Gauntlet matches are unusually used in wrestling to show a character's determination, such as when Kofi Kingston had to defeat several wrestlers in a row to try and secure a match at WrestleMania 35. These matches could be used in a WWE video game for similar storytelling reasons in Universe Mode or a potential GM Mode. They could also serve as a fun challenge for players, much like the Beat The Streak mode from 2K14 or the match against Golden AJ Styles in WWE 2K19.
I Quit Match
The I Quit match is an incredibly popular match type that functions as a slight twist on the traditional Submission match. Wrestlers have to try and get their opponents to say "I Quit" into a microphone to win. This usually leads to a series of submission holds being mixed in with a hardcore match's brutality. The I Quit match was last featured in WWE 2K14, despite how popular it is in the games and with wrestling fans.
The lack of a proper I Quit match is even more confusing when looking at how previous incarnations have worked. In most wrestling games, the I Quit match is usually just flavored as a hardcore submission match where players can ask their opponent if they quit at any point. This feels like it'd be fairly easy to reimplement, especially with how fun these kinds of matches can be.
Casket Match
The Undertaker's Casket matches with the likes of Kane, Yokozuna and Shawn Michaels helped propel this match type into immense popularity. This match's goal is for one wrestler to get their opponent into an open casket that usually resides outside of the ring. The Casket match is often considered The Undertaker's signature match, giving it even more reason to return in WWE 2K22.
The Undertaker fully retired his 30-year long career with the WWE in June of 2020, so it wouldn't be a surprise if there was an Undertaker-themed tribute mode in WWE 2K22. This gives 2K a perfect reason to bring back this fan-favorite match type that was prominently featured in the Smackdown Vs. Raw series of games. When fans talk about the match types they would like to see make a return to the series, the Casket match is frequently brought up.
Special Referee
The Special Referee match may be one of the most requested match types for a WWE 2K game. Special Referee matches are when a wrestler replaces the referee for a match. In the games, this usually means that the player can assume the referee's role and officiate a match. This means that players can try to keep to the rules as much as possible, or they can let everything devolve into chaos by relentlessly attacking a wrestler they don't want to see win.
To help players have control over the match, they're able to count pin-falls as fast or slow as they'd like and even freely use weapons. Certain renditions of this match have added a mechanic where players need to balance their rule-breaking behavior with actual officiating, or else they risk being kicked out of the arena. It's not hard to see why the Special Referee match's return could potentially redeem the WWE 2K series in the eyes of many fans.