Professional wrestling has long captured the attention of its fanbase by being able to combine live displays of athleticism and story-telling in one vibrant package. The sport includes a number of different match types to add an extra layer of drama to the action, including Ladder Matches, Hell in a Cell, and the fabled Royal Rumble.
One of the popular match types making a return in WWE 2K24 is the Special Guest Referee Match, which allows players to take control of the match official in a one-on-one bout. It is up to you as the referee to decide if you want to call the contest down the middle or favor one competitor over another, but either way, you'll need to know all the controls for Special Referee Matches in WWE 2K24 to get the job done.
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All Special Referee Controls in WWE 2K24
In the Special Guest Referee Match, you have the opportunity to take the helm of the match official, either as one of the active referees in WWE today or as any of the personalities in the game's stacked roster. With this role, you have the responsibility of keeping the match under control, managing pin and submission attempts, and have a hand in determining the overall winner of the match. Regardless of whether you try to be a clean or dirty ref, there are a number of controls you need to keep in mind to avoid being replaced by management backstage.
How to Count a Pin or Count-out
The most common way that a wrestler or tag team will pick up the victory in a match is via pinfall, which is not possible without a referee - something that has been a turning point in many an iconic match. As such, knowing how to count a pin is essential in completing your duties as the third person in the match.
To count a pinfall, you need to complete the following steps:
- When an athlete goes for a pin, flick the right stick down to check the pin.
- Press the X/A button to count the pin.
- If either wrestler is touching the ropes, you can call a rope break using the Circle/B Button
The speed at which you both react to a pin attempt and count the pin are taken into consideration when you are being graded. Clean referees want to have a fast response and leave a small pause between counts, whereas dirty referees may alter the speed according to who is being pinned.
Similarly, referees are also tasked with monitoring activity outside the ring by way of a 10 count. If one or both competitors are outside the ring, you can begin the count by pressing the X/A button. You can also use Square/X to warn them to come back inside the ring.
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How to Check a Submission
Aside from pinfalls, submissions are the other common way that a match can be won. The frequency of submissionattempts will largely depend on the athletes competing, as big names like Bret Hart made their name by being exceptional submission specialists, whereas the likes of Hulk Hogan relied on their brute force and striking.
Checking and calling a match via submission is a relatively simple process that doesn't differ much from pinfall attempts. Once a competitor attempts a submission, you, as the referee, can check it by flicking the right stick down. After that, you can press the X/A button to end a match via submission when a wrestler taps out, or hold down the button before they tap to perform a screwjob, which is a reference to an infamous match between Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels.
How to Warn and Argue with a Wrestler
Sometimes wrestlers will perform underhanded and borderline illegal actions in an attempt to get the upper hand in the match. If you are a dirty referee, you may let some of these actions fly under the radar. However, if you are trying to call a match directly down the middle, then you will want to hold those responsible accountable for their actions.
If this is the case, you have the option to warn a competitor about their misdeeds with the Square/X button. If they persist, you can also argue with them to really push your authority on them by pressing the up button on the D-pad.
How to Switch Between Wrestler and Referee Mode
For players looking to take a more "hands-on" approach to their officiating duties, you now have the option to switch from "referee" mode to "wrestler" mode, which changes what your character will do according to the buttons you press. In standard referee mode, for example, pressing X/A will allow you to count a pin, whereas the same button in wrestler mode will have you attack one of the participants.
Switching between wrestler and referee mode is a simple matter of pressing the view button on Xbox or the touchpad on PlayStation. This will immediately switch your perspective, which will be evident by the way your superstar is standing. If they are in a defensive stance, then they are in wrestler mode and are free to attack any of the competitors.
Attacking a competitor is considered cheating, so be aware that excessively assaulting one of the wrestlers will result in you being replaced. This, however, does not apply to managers, as they are not officially part of the match.
How to Replace Turnbuckles
If your match includes one or more managers, then you can be certain that they will make any and all attempts to distract you and their opposing wrestler in a bid to help their client pick up the victory. One of the most common ways they will do this is by exposing one of the top turnbuckles, making it a more dangerous and painful element in the ring.
If a turnbuckle has been removed in the match, you can replace it by approaching the affected corner and pressing the L1/LB button. It should be noted, however, that replacing the pad is a relatively time-consuming process, so you may miss out on a submission or pin attempt while fixing it, which doesn't bode well with your officiating approval meter.
How to Eject Managers
An exciting and somewhat entertaining addition to Special Guest Referee Mode is the ability to eject managers from a match for interfering with the contest - or, you can simply eject them for no reason at all. If you are unhappy with the imbalance caused by a manager or simply have warned them too many times about getting involved, you have the option to boot them out of the arena and cease to have any involvement in the match.
To eject a manager, you will need to do the following:
- Walk to the side of the ring the manager is standing on.
- When prompted, hold the X/A button to notify them that they are ejected.
- After a short argument, the manager will begin leaving the arena.
Aside from them leaving the ring, you will also be able to see that your ejection is successful through the "Ejected" notice under the manager's name at the bottom of the screen.
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How to Avoid Being Replaced As Referee
While you have the option to bend the rules to your liking as a WWE referee, there is a limit to how much you can get away with. If management backstage deems that you are being too unfair in your refereeing duties, then you will be promptly replaced as the official for the match. To avoid getting replaced, you need to ensure that the approval meter in the top-left corner of your screen doesn't run out. The more red you see in your approval meter, the better you are doing.
If you want to keep your job as an official, you will want to ensure you are doing the following;
- Appropriately responding to count outs, pin attempts, and submission attempts.
- Not being too fast or slow with pinfalls or count outs.
- Ensuring the turnbuckles are not exposed for extended periods of time.
- Avoiding attacking either competitors, at least not to an excessive degree.
You will frequently receive feedback on the top-left as you complete actions that either increase or decrease your approval. Should your approval meter run out, you will be notified that a replacement referee is coming, after which you have one final chance to keep the new meter from running out or will be relieved of your duties and free to interfere as a manager of sorts in the match.
WWE 2K24
- Released
- March 8, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Visual Concepts
- Publisher(s)
- 2K
- Franchise
- WWE 2K
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Sports, Fighting
