WWE 2K games have delivered some of the most exciting and immersive wrestling experiences for fans. Over the years, the series has evolved with improved graphics, realistic physics, and deep gameplay mechanics. However, with each iteration, certain gameplay mechanics and movements have led to overpowered or “broken” combos that make matches unfairly one-sided. These exploits often become infamous among the community and sometimes force developers to release patches to restore balance. Here’s a look at some of the most broken combos in WWE 2K history.
1. The Infinite Stun Lock (WWE 2K20)
One of the most notorious exploits in WWE 2K20 was the infinite stun lock, which allowed players to repeatedly stun their opponent without giving them a chance to recover. By chaining quick strikes with specific grapple moves, players could keep their opponent permanently dazed, effectively preventing them from mounting any sort of comeback. This exploit was heavily used in online matches, where players would trap their opponents in an endless cycle of stuns and quickly win matches without taking any damage.
2. Overpowered Running Grapples (WWE 2K15 – WWE 2K18)
In WWE 2K15 through WWE 2K18, certain running grapple moves were overpowered to the point where they became the go-to strategy for competitive play. Moves like the running DDT, running bulldog, and the infamous running knee strike could be spammed relentlessly. Since they were difficult to counter and could be chained into finishers, many players would use this tactic to dominate their opponents in both offline and online matches.
WWE 2K22 The Finisher Loop (image via Getty)3. The Superkick-Spam Glitch (WWE 2K19)
WWE 2K19 introduced an issue where certain superkick animations could be spammed to create a near-invincible offensive strategy. By performing the superkick in quick succession and timing it correctly, players could repeatedly knock down their opponents before they could even stand up. This made superkick-heavy wrestlers like Shawn Michaels, The Young Bucks (via community creations), and Dolph Ziggler incredibly overpowered. The lack of a proper stamina drain made this tactic even worse, as players could continue spamming kicks with no real penalty.
4. Reversal Spam Abuse (WWE 2K16 – WWE 2K20)
While reversals are a fundamental part of WWE 2K gameplay, certain titles, especially WWE 2K16 to WWE 2K20, had a major issue where skilled players could abuse the reversal system to never take damage. By mastering perfect reversal timing, players could counter nearly every attack, making matches incredibly frustrating for their opponents. This led to some players exploiting this mechanic to create endless counter loops, effectively stalling matches indefinitely.
5. The Finisher Loop (WWE 2K22)
WWE 2K22 saw the return of more fluid gameplay, but it also introduced a broken combo where players could loop finishers with minimal risk. By using moves like Brock Lesnar’s F5 or Roman Reigns’ Spear, players could trigger quick animations that prevented opponents from rolling away or countering. Additionally, some finishers had a quick recovery time, allowing players to immediately go for another finisher as soon as their opponent got up.