WWE 2K esports has grown into a competitive battlefield where players search for the most effective strategies to dominate opponents. While skill and tactics play crucial roles, some moves in the game are outright broken—offering unfair advantages, minimal counterplay, and excessive damage output. Whether it’s an overpowered finisher, a lightning-fast strike, or an inescapable submission, certain moves have caused frustration among competitive players.
Let’s explore five of the most broken moves in WWE 2K esports, detailing why they’re overpowered, how they impact matches, and how players exploit them for victory.
1. The Running Knee Strike
The running knee strike, often associated with superstars like Triple H and Kenny Omega (in custom creations), has become a nightmare in WWE 2K esports. The move is notorious for its sheer speed and damage output, allowing players to spam it repeatedly with minimal risk.
Why It’s Broken:
- High Priority: The move often out-prioritizes slower attacks, giving aggressive players an unfair edge.
- Fast Recovery: Unlike heavier strikes, the running knee has a quick recovery, making it difficult to counter.
- Easy to Chain: Players can chain this move with other quick strikes, creating nearly unstoppable combos.
2. Superkick (Standing & Running Variants)
The superkick is a staple in WWE 2K, used by countless superstars like Shawn Michaels, The Usos, and Dolph Ziggler. While visually satisfying, its execution in esports competition often feels unbalanced.
Why It’s Broken:
- One-Hit Knockdowns: In some cases, the superkick stuns or knocks down opponents instantly, breaking the pacing of the match.
- Unpredictable Range: The standing variant has deceptively long reach, making it hard to avoid.
- Spammable: Many players abuse the move due to its fast animation and lack of proper counterplay.
3. Kimura Lock Submission
Submission mechanics in WWE 2K games have always been a hot topic, and the Kimura Lock, made famous by Brock Lesnar, stands out as one of the most broken submission holds in the game.
Why It’s Broken:
- Hard to Escape: Even at full health, escaping the Kimura Lock is incredibly difficult, especially when executed by high-rated superstars.
- Quick Execution: Unlike slower submissions, this one applies pressure immediately, giving the opponent little time to react.
- Overpowered Against Lower-Rated Opponents: Less experienced or lower-rated players stand no chance once locked in, leading to frustratingly one-sided matches.
German Suplex Spam (Image via 2K Sports)4. German Suplex Spam
German suplexes have long been a powerful move in WWE 2K games, particularly when used by powerhouse wrestlers like Brock Lesnar and Kurt Angle. While effective in real-life wrestling, in esports competition, it becomes a game-breaking exploit when spammed repeatedly.
Why It’s Broken:
- Difficult to Reverse: The move executes so quickly that reversals are inconsistent, allowing for easy repetition.
- Guaranteed Stamina Drain: Each suplex heavily drains the opponent’s stamina, making them vulnerable in longer matches.
- Minimal Recovery Time: Unlike other power moves, German suplexes allow the user to stay on the attack immediately after execution.
5. Rope-Hung DDT
A variation of the standard DDT, the rope-hung version (often used by Randy Orton) is not just flashy but also unfairly advantageous in competitive play.
Rope-Hung DDT (Image via 2K Sports)Why It’s Broken:
- High Damage Output: This move deals more damage than it should, considering its speed and ease of use.
- Exploitable Animation Delay: The opponent remains stunned for an extended period, allowing for easy follow-ups.
- Difficult to Reverse: Because of the move’s animation sequence, reversal windows are tricky to time, making it an effective weapon for competitive abuse.