The Ladder Match is one of the most popular gimmick matches in professional wrestling. It gained fame through classic bouts featuring Razor Ramon against Shawn Michaels and Edge facing Eddie Guerrero. Additionally, it has inspired variations like the Tables, Ladders, and Chairs (TLC) matches, which have included legendary teams such as the Dudleys, the Hardy Boys, and Edge and Christian.
You can recreate these matches in WWE 2K25, but these matches can be challenging when you don't know how to use the ladder as a weapon or win the minigame to pull the belt or the briefcase from its restraints when it is hanging above the WWE ring. This guide will demonstrate the creative ways to defeat your opponent and win a Ladder match in WWE 2K25.
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How To Climb The Ladder In WWE 2K25
Ladders are already set up outside the ring, and you can grab more from underneath the ring using the weapon wheel select mechanic.
- Press L1/LB to grab the ladder.
- If you're outside the ring, hold the LT/L2 + L stick toward the ring button to slide it under the ropes.
- Walk to the desired position and press A/X to set the ladder in place.
- Reposition and swivel the ladder by holding the LB/L1 button + R-stick.
- To climb the ladder, press RB/R1.
- If you want to perform a diving attack, Press RB/R1 again when the wrestler stops climbing to stand atop the ladder.
- You can perform diving attacks on standing and downed opponents from this position.
Preventing Your Opponent From Climbing The Ladder
- When your opponent starts climbing, press the B/Circle button at the side of the ladder to push it over.
- Climb the ladder on the opposite side of your opponent with LB/L1 and strike them at the top of the ladder with X/Square, or grab them with B/Circle.
- If you have a finisher stored at the top of the ladder, press RT/R2 + A/X.
- If the opponent already has their hands on the briefcase or belt hanging from the ceiling, push the ladder out from under them. Then grab them from the hanging position and slam them down with a powerbomb.
Use The Ladder As A Weapon In WWE 2K25
Attack With The Ladder
Wrestlers can strike each other with the ladder by using the X/Square button. However, the ladder does not have the same range as a chair or a kendo stick, so the opponent must be close for the attack to connect. Additionally, players cannot use the ladder to attack grounded opponents.
To obtain more ladders, players can press the LB/L1 button while at the ringside apron and select a new one from the weapon wheel.
Slam Your Opponent Onto The Ladder
If the ladder is down on the floor, press the B/Circle to grab your opponent and press X/Square or A/X to perform a light or strong grapple move on the ladder. However, the move you perform depends on your WWE wrestler's move set.
Corner Attacks With The Ladder
- Grab the ladder with the LB/L1 button.
- Walk to the corner and when the prompt appears, press the A/X button to perch it onto the corner.
- Use an Irish Whip with the B/Circle button to run the opponent into it.
- With an opponent leaning on the ladder, perform a running attack or strike them.
Running Dive Attacks With The Ladder
- Pick up the ladder with LB/L1.
- Carry the ladder to the ropes.
- When the prompt appears, press the A/X button to lean it on the top rope.
- Throw the opponent outside with an Irish Whip.
- Run toward the ladder with LT/L2 + X/Square to run up the ladder and dive off.
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Create A Ladder Bridge In WWE 2K25
- Go outside the ring opposite the announcer's table.
- Stand near the ring apron and press RT + LB/R2 + L1 at the prompt to pull out a long ladder and create a bridge between the ring and the announcer's desk or guard rail.
Diving Ladder Bridge Attacks
With the ladder in the bridged position, you can perform attacks with it.
- Grab your opponent outside the ring and Irish Whip them into the bridged ladder or use the drag mechanic to position them against the bridge.
- When the opponent is leaning against it, press up the R stick the lay them on top of the ladder.
- Press the strike button to build their stun meter.
- Or if you're inside the ring, Irish Whip toward the bridged ladder. The opponent will flip over the ropes and land back-first on the ladder.
- Climb the turnbuckle or climb to the top of a ladder to perform a flying attack through the ladder.
Slam Through The Ladder
- With the opponent leaning on the ladder, grab them with the B/Circle button and press X/Square or A/X to perform a slam through the ladder.
- To use a carry attack, grab with the B/Circle button, then RB/Circle + R Stick up. Carry the opponent to the ladder and press the X/Square button at the prompt.
Winning The Ladder Match In WWE 2K25
The Ladder Match minigame has changed in WWE 2K25. You're no longer required to perform a frustrating and tedious pinball game to pull the belt or a briefcase from its restraints above the ring. Instead, you have to make timed button presses at the prompt. The fastest way to win the Ladder Match is to have multiple finishers stored. When you activate a finisher (RT + A/R2 + X) during the minigame, it'll bypass the timed button presses and pull the briefcase/belt from the restraints to win the match.
However, even though the minigame is less challenging in WWE 2K25, you still shouldn't go for the win too early. Try to wear down your opponents, using the above attacks with the ladder to wear them down and damage their health and stamina.
WWE 2K25
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 80 /100 Critics Rec: 87%
- Released
- March 14, 2025
- ESRB
- Teen // Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Visual Concepts
- Publisher(s)
- 2K Sports
WHERE TO PLAY
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op, Local Multiplayer, Local Co-Op
- Prequel(s)
- WWE 2K24
- Franchise
- WWE 2K
- Number of Players
- 1-8
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Unknown
- PC Release Date
- March 14, 2025
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- March 14, 2025
- PS5 Release Date
- March 14, 2025
- Genre(s)
- Wrestling, Sports
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
- Local Co-Op Support
- Yes
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
