# There’s a total of 16 different front grapples that every wrestler can perform. Depending on which direction you are pressing (and then which direction you press a second time), your combatant can use four moves each of signature, submission, power, and quick grapple types.

# Previously announced grapplers Nunzio and Johnny Stamboli were pulled from the design schematic when it was realized that their gimmicks and character models would not be completed by ship time. Now fans of Chuck Polumbo can be pissed that the entire FBI is missing.

# Legends will not have their original entrances and will instead travel down to the spotlight in the WrestleMania VI mini-rings. Though it is possible to change these animations in the “Create-A-Character” menu.

# Female wrestlers, whether they’ve been created or are previously-made, will not be able to be busted open or bleed.

# Jerry Lawler and Jim Ross are playable characters that can tag with your wrestler in season mode only. They will not be selectable in any of the exhibition match types, and may end up computer controlled-only in season mode by the game’s final release. On a related note, Jonathan Coachman shows up from time to time to help direct your character.

# The final list of titles are: WWE Championship, World Heavyweight Championship, WWE Tag Team Championship, World Tag Team Championship, Intercontinental Championship, U.S. Championship, Hardcore Championship, Cruiserweight Championship, and Women’s Championship. None of the belts can be defended during an exhibition match.

# Create-A-belt and Create-A-PPV, two features that were planned to be implemented in the original specs, did not make it past the planning stage and will not be included when the game is released.

# Recent gimmicks that have been added just in time for season mode include the Unmasked Kane and Evolution. Thankfully, Mae Young giving birth to a hand has been left out for the fifth year running.

# Match types include Single, Tag, 6-Man Tag, Handicap, Hardcore, Royal Rumble, Survival, 3 Stages of Hell, Bra & Panties, Cage, Elimination Tag, First Blood, Hell in a Cell, Iron Man, Ladder, Last Man Standing, Lumber Jack, Slobber Knocker, Special Referee, Submission, Table, TLC, and Elimination Chamber.

# Speaking of the Elimination Chamber, THQ plans to allow players to break the glass in this particular match-up. Though we haven’t been able to do this in our copy as of yet (representatives were unsure if the feature was active in our build).

# Damage taken in ambushes, regular matches, or hardcore bouts affect your health and stamina in later matches if you wrestle more than once on the same night.

# You can get screwed out of a the World Championship title and the Tag Team belts. No word yet on whether or not it can happen with other belts as well.

# The complete arena list is as follows: Smackdown A, Smackdown B, RAW A, RAW B, Velocity, Heat, Royal Rumble 2003, No Way Out 2003, Wrestlemania XIX, Backlash 2003, Judgment Day 2003, Bad Blood 2003, Vengeance 2002, Summer Slam 2002, Unforgiven 2002, No Mercy 2002, Survivor Series 2002, Armageddon 2002, Rebellion 2002, ad Insurrextion 2002.

# With the exception of the improved body morphing and interface. Create-A-Character is nearly identical to last year’s version — right down to the same original songs, nicknames, and introductions (even their number assignments are the same). THQ does plan to add a few more new ones before going final.

# Smackdown will keep track of every wrestler’s Win/Loss/Draw record, the types of matches they wrestled, who they beat/lost too, and how many times they’ve won a particular title. The match history, however, is only limited to 200 bouts per character before it starts overwriting old matches.

# Existing wrestlers can have their move sets and entrances altered by the player, but gamers still won’t be able to edit their appearances.

# And finally, concerning “The Big Secret” that’s been floating around the Internet like a spirit possessed — THQ has officially gone on record with IGN to state that it has “No idea where this rumor started or where it comes from”, but they’ve assured us that there isn’t any grand conspiracy or ultimate treasure to be revealed outside of what we’ve already covered in the previous weeks. Depending on who you are and what you we’re expecting, take that news as painfully as you like.