Reversals

Understanding and getting a solid feel for reversal timing is crucial. Even if you take control early against the AI or a human opponent, there are built-in ways for characters to escape and gain some level of advantage over an opponent. To combat the out-and-out “perfect” whippings that have plagued beginning players in fighting games over the years, the WWE franchise has incorporated some fairly straight-forward abilities like “Comeback” and “Ring Escape” to help level the playing field. Those are handy, but this section of the guide will address improving your skills as a gamer rather than using escape abilities. Get a solid grasp on reversals and you can own your opponent.

Reversals are a key component to winning in the ring. Many factors come into play for a successful reversal: a Superstar’s attributes, how much damage has been taken, the game difficulty settings, and (of course) your ability to press the button in the correct timeframe. Performing a successful reversal requires you, the player, to press the reversal button while the reversal timeframe is open. When your opponent strikes at you or attempts a grapple or Irish whip, you will have a certain amount of time to reverse the attack. The maximum time for a fresh, unhurt Superstar with a strong defense attribute is roughly a quarter of a second. As the match clock wears on and your Superstar takes damage, the time allowed for successful reversals gets shorter. Regardless of damage, there is always at least a slight opportunity to reverse an attack; the reversal timeframe never slams shut all the way.

Some reversals tend to be easier to execute than others. Often, it is easier for human players to visually anticipate a strike or a kick from an approaching AI. Executing a reversal in other situations, such as a chain grapple from a hold, tends to be more dependent on “feel” and experience.

After three reversals alternate from the initial strike or grapple, the Superstars will push off and revert to a neutral state.