Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Trending
  • Pokemon Winds and Waves
  • New Games for 2026
  • GamesRadar+ Replay
  • Mario Day deals
Don't miss these
A brightened screenshot from Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes.
Metal Gear Modders achieve Kojima's original vision for Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain by fully integrating Ground Zeroes
Best Ps5 games
Games Best PS5 games: The 25 greatest PlayStation 5 games in 2026, ranked
Mass Effect 2 - Garrus
Adventure Games The 25 best video game stories of all-time
WWE 2K26
WWE 2K WWE 2K26 locker codes (March 2026) for free MyFaction rewards
Best PSP games: A screenshot of someone playing GTA on a PSP.
Games The 25 best PSP games of all time
Chelsea green raises a belt as she enters the ring in WWE 2K26
WWE 2K WWE 2K26 review: "Outstanding action in the ring grapples with overly-monetized rewards, which feels like a work"
PS3 photo taken by Future Studios
Games The 25 best PS3 games of all time
WWE 2K26
WWE 2K The full WWE 2K26 Ringside Pass unlockables list
Best PS1 Games: a picture of a PS1 console next to a collection of games.
Games The 25 best PS1 games of all time
Chelsea green raises a belt as she enters the ring in WWE 2K26
WWE 2K WWE 2K26 replaces traditional DLC with battle passes, and fans are already worn out with the grind
WWE 2K26
WWE 2K Full WWE 2K26 roster guide with every confirmed wrestler sorted by brand
WWE 2K25
WWE 2K WWE 2K25 locker codes (March 2026) for free MyFaction cards
Official art of Pikachu from Pokemon Yellow in front of a blurred background
Pokemon Coming back to Pokemon Yellow 30 years later is like coming home – and playing it in 2026 is even better than when I was a kid
A PS2 games console standing next to some of the best PS2 games and a black controller.
Games The 25 best PS2 games of all time
Best single player games: Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 2.
Games The 25 best single-player games to play in 2026
  1. Games
  2. Sports Games
  3. WWE 2K
  4. WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain

After 23 years, WWE SmackDown Here Comes the Pain's hellishly obscure story mode is getting the guide it should've had from the start thanks to one dedicated fan: "Better late than never"

News
By Scott McCrae published 17 February 2026

Here comes the brain

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Steve austin in here comes the pain
(Image credit: WWE | THQ)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
0
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Get the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter

Beloved 2003 wrestling game WWE Smackdown! Here Comes The Pain doesn't have a single guide, and one fan is determined to change that.

When the question "What's the best wrestling game ever made?" comes up, you'll typically be given two answers: the N64's WWF No Mercy or the PS2's WWE Smackdown! Here Comes The Pain. And while I'm personally in the WWE Smackdown! vs. Raw 2006 camp, it's undeniable that Here Comes The Pain is an all-timer – it's not like there are any other wrestling games that let you jump off a helicopter onto your opponent.

But ThisGenGaming, who creates WWE Games content on YouTube, noticed the peculiar fact that, "even though WWE Smackdown Here Comes The Pain will be 23 years old this year that there is no storyline guide for season mode anywhere." However, that's soon to change, as they decided to be the person who will right this wrong, saying its been "23 years too long! But better late than never" to provide a storyline guide.

You may like
  • AJ Lee strides forward during her entrance in WWE 2K26 WWE 2K26 preview: Makes a fantastic entrance thanks to theatrical and tactical evolutions that have me pumped to play
  • WWE 2K26 CM Punk fan in disbelief as WWE 2K26 immortalizes the bracelet she gave the superstar 2 years ago: "WHAT IS MY LIFE"
  • Chelsea green raises a belt as she enters the ring in WWE 2K26 WWE 2K26 review: "Outstanding action in the ring grapples with overly-monetized rewards, which feels like a work"

I've noticed that even though WWE Smackdown Here Comes The Pain will be 23 years old this year that there is no storyline guide for season mode anywhere.I'm going to write one up on here, in detail and then one will finally exist!23 years too long! But better late than never.February 16, 2026

Over the course of one day, ThisGenGaming published four in-depth guides on Twitter covering Smackdown's season modes from April until November, going over recommended choices, storylines, and secrets you can find in the game, which can even depend on how popular your chosen wrestler is.

ThisGenGaming also confirmed that they will write detailed guides for Smackdown's December to March seasons later today, and they plan to post all the information in a text-only format. So in the span of one day and some change, we've gone from no guides for one of the best wrestling games ever to having an expansive multi-part epic. You won't see this kind of dedication for some of the more mid entries like 2K18, that's for sure.

CM Punk fan in disbelief as WWE 2K26 immortalizes the bracelet she gave the superstar 2 years ago: "WHAT IS MY LIFE."

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
Scott McCrae
Scott McCrae
Social Links Navigation
Contributor

Scott has been freelancing for over three years across a number of different gaming publications, first appearing on GamesRadar+ in 2024. He has also written for the likes of PC Gamer, Eurogamer, VG247, Play, TechRadar, and others. He's typically rambling about Metal Gear Solid, God Hand, or any other PS2-era titles that rarely (if ever) get sequels.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Read more
AJ Lee strides forward during her entrance in WWE 2K26
WWE 2K26 preview: Makes a fantastic entrance thanks to theatrical and tactical evolutions that have me pumped to play
 
 
WWE 2K26
CM Punk fan in disbelief as WWE 2K26 immortalizes the bracelet she gave the superstar 2 years ago: "WHAT IS MY LIFE"
 
 
Chelsea green raises a belt as she enters the ring in WWE 2K26
WWE 2K26 review: "Outstanding action in the ring grapples with overly-monetized rewards, which feels like a work"
 
 
Chelsea green raises a belt as she enters the ring in WWE 2K26
WWE 2K26 replaces traditional DLC with battle passes, and fans are already worn out with the grind
 
 
WWE 2K25
The best WWE 2K25 CAWs you have to download right now
 
 
WWE 2K25 MyFaction
WWE 2K25 MyFaction tips for unlocking Oddities, Persona cards and MFP
 
 
Latest in WWE 2K
Chelsea green raises a belt as she enters the ring in WWE 2K26
WWE 2K26 replaces traditional DLC with battle passes, and fans are already worn out with the grind
 
 
WWE 2K26
WWE 2K26 locker codes (March 2026) for free MyFaction rewards
 
 
Chelsea green raises a belt as she enters the ring in WWE 2K26
WWE 2K26 review: "Outstanding action in the ring grapples with overly-monetized rewards, which feels like a work"
 
 
AJ Lee strides forward during her entrance in WWE 2K26
WWE 2K26 preview: Makes a fantastic entrance thanks to theatrical and tactical evolutions that have me pumped to play
 
 
WWE 2K26
The full WWE 2K26 Ringside Pass unlockables list
 
 
WWE 2K26
CM Punk fan in disbelief as WWE 2K26 immortalizes the bracelet she gave the superstar 2 years ago: "WHAT IS MY LIFE"
 
 
Latest in News
Key art for Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen showing Venasaur against a swirling green background, cropped for a header image
Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen have been on Switch for over a week, but many players are still stuck in Oak's Lab
 
 
Big Walk
"Complicated feelings on our end": Indie devs behind new Peak-like co-op understand you think it's friendslop
 
 
A Na'vi draws a bow in Avatar: Fire and Ash
James Cameron says Avatar 4 is still "very likely", despite Fire and Ash making $870 million less than The Way of Water
 
 
Ghost of Yotei Legends
"Mark my words. You cannot win without 4 players," Ghost of Yotei multiplayer lead warns of Legends' "hardcore content"
 
 
Dragon Age 2
Dragon Age 2 was originally planned to be "much bigger" before EA made other demands, says series lead
 
 
A soldier holding a gun and running through a battlefield with a group, showing the strong multiplayer elements and crisp visuals of Battlefield 6.
Battlefield 6 devs reportedly hit with layoffs after what EA called "the biggest launch in franchise history"
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Key art for Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen showing Venasaur against a swirling green background, cropped for a header image
    1
    Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen have been on Switch for over a week, but many players are still stuck in Oak's Lab trying to get shiny starters: "I'm going to cry"
  2. 2
    James Cameron says Avatar 4 is still "very likely", despite Fire and Ash making almost a billion dollars less than The Way of Water
  3. 3
    How to make and move duckweed in Pokemon Pokopia
  4. 4
    "Complicated feelings on our end": Indie devs behind new Peak-like co-op understand you think it's friendslop, but "it's a slight bummer that the other half of the term is the 'slop'"
  5. 5
    "Mark my words. You cannot win without 4 players," Ghost of Yotei multiplayer lead warns of Legends' "hardcore content," all but guaranteeing a flood of players trying to prove Sucker Punch wrong

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...