Chapter 2: Fighting Styles

WWE Smackdown vs. RAW 2008 separates each superstar and legend into primary and secondary fighting styles. Each fighting style features several unique abilities to differentiate each superstar. In general, fighting styles are associated with a superstars' particular rating. For instance, a superstar with the Hardcore fighting style has a high hardcore rating. A superstar with the Showman fighting style has a high charisma rating.

Upon selecting your superstar, you can choose one of two different fighting styles given to that superstar. Abilities that require a stored fighting style icon—the fighting styles' primary abilities—are unique to each style; otherwise a superstar can use the secondary abilities from both styles.

This section provides details on each fighting style and its unique abilities. Also, we reveal each superstar's fighting style (as well as the superstar's fighting style) and vital ratings, including the superstar's overall rating and the rating most associated with the specific fighting style.

Brawler

Superstars with the Brawler fighting style generally strong superstars that excel with strike attacks. Each of the Brawler's unique abilities features strike attacks, such as the unblockable Wreck Shop and multiple strikes from the Fists of Fury.

The table below reveals each WWE superstar or legend that features the Brawler fighting style. You'll see these superstars other fighting styles, overall rating, and strength statistic.

The table below reveals the Brawler fighting style's unique abilities.

Dirty

Superstars with the Dirty fighting style bend the rules. Eye pokes, ref shields, turnbuckle removal—it is all fair game to the dirty wrestler. These superstars are generally heels, superstars you love to hate.

Dirty wrestlers bend, or break, the rules. Abilities include using the ref as a shield or stripping the guard off of the turnbuckle.

There's no specific rating associated with the style. These superstars run the gamut from Brawlers and Technical specialists to Hardcore and charismatic Showmen. The table below reveals the superstars with the Dirty fighting style as well as that superstar's other fighting style and overall rating.

The table below reveals the Dirty superstar's unique abilities.

Hardcore

Superstars with the Hardcore fighting style excel with foreign objects like chairs, clubs, and sledgehammers—anything that can be used to pummel your opponent into submission. A Hardcore superstar actually gains benefits from being busted open!

A superstar with the Hardcore fighting style also possesses a high hardcore rating (as you see from the table below, all are above 91), which means these superstars can dish out greater damage with item and environmental attacks. The table below reveals the superstars with the Hardcore fighting style as well as that superstar's other fighting style, overall rating, and hardcore rating.

The table below reveals the Hardcore superstar's unique abilities.

Submission

Superstars with the Submission fighting style excel with submission maneuvers that target specific body parts. Concentrating your maneuvers on a specific body part can cause your opponent to tap out or submit to one of the Submission superstars damaging submission moves. There are only three superstars in WWE Smackdown vs. RAW 2008 that feature this fighting style.

The Recovery Hold ability allows the Submission wrestler to recover limb damage when using struggle submission moves.

The table below reveals all superstars with the Submission fighting style as well as the superstar's other fighting style, overall rating, and submission rating.

The table below reveals the Submission superstar's unique abilities.