WWE '12: The 12 Coolest Things Unlocked in WWE's Newest Game

WWE '12, the newest wrestling video game from THQ's wrestling franchise, has now been out for an entire week. Thousands and thousands of wrestling fans have been playing feverishly ever since getting their hands on it. From the long Road to WrestleMania to the new Universe mode, there are multiple entertaining ways to watch a match. Entrance movies and arenas are able to be created by players, making it more personalized than ever. The new gaming engine and realistic TV camera angles make matches look more realistic than ever.

There are also countless unlockable things for fans to earn by doing various things. From superstars to attires and even arenas, there is so much to discover by playing WWE '12. Judging from the unlockable content, here are 12 (guess where I got the number from?) of the coolest things to unlock in this new wrestling game. I will also explain how they can be unlocked.

Brock Lesnar

It was certainly a big thing when The Next Big Thing was announced as being in the game. Brock Lesnar may never wrestle in WWE ever again, but this is certainly just as good for WWE fans.

The roster has drastically changed in the time that Lesnar has been away. Put it this way—an upstart John Cena was feuding with Lesnar during his peak. Lesnar's last match was at WrestleMania XX, before Cena had even been a world champion.

All you need to do to unlock Lesnar is win a match in Universe mode. That's it. He then comes out and attacks that winning wrestler. For me, it was Daniel Bryan. Just imagine that feud. I'm excited at the idea of it.

Kevin Nash

Want to see Kevin Nash wrestle well? Unless you have a time machine that goes back to 1999, WWE '12 has your back.

Nash is in impressive form in this game. He can wrestle with the best of the roster. More importantly, he can walk well. Even in his role in the Road to WrestleMania storyline, Nash actually does some of his better mic skills of his entire career. If Nash was half the guy that he is in this game...wait, never mind. He is half the guy he is in this game.

Nash is officially unlocked during the Outsider part of the Road to WrestleMania story after Nash slams Triple H into lockers backstage. Sounds kind of familiar, right?

WWE Attitude Era Championship

It's hard not to have fond memories about this classic belt. This classic look was the then-WWF Championship belt during the infamous Attitude Era. This belt is so beautiful, probably because fans have been staring at the ugly incarnation we currently have for way too long.

Once unlocked, fans can use that belt as their world championship if they so choose. All that needs to be done is for "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, another unlockable character, to win the WWE Championship. In order to unlock Austin, you just need to control the WWE Champion and successfully defend the title.

WWE European Championship

I know that this belt was rather gimmicky and that it never truly had a place in the company, but it is still fun to see a belt return from "the good old days."

The European Championship hasn't been seen since the merger with WCW pushed the title out in favor of keeping the United States and Intercontinental Championships. The belt makes a return during the Road to WrestleMania story in a pretty cool way. It almost seems like the way that the belt would have been brought back for a short time in the real-life WWE.

This belt gets earned when it is first introduced in the story, with Sheamus being the first recipient. I don't want to put too many spoilers into these slides for those who haven't gotten so far into the story just yet.

"Dashing" Cody Rhodes

Sure, the "Dashing" gimmick was a little goofy for Cody Rhodes, but it gave him cheap heat and the first inklings of a following. It then lead to him no longer being dashing, where his talent was on full display and his legend was born. It all comes back to the goofy smile and the obsession with mirrors. Besides, his current character seems to be a blend of the two previous incarnations. Unlock this version of Rhodes, attach his addicting new theme and you have a future world champion on your game console.

To unlock him, players just need to get to face Rhodes in the Road to WrestleMania Villain story when Sheamus faces Rhodes early on.

Hooded Undertaker Entrance

The hood upon the head of The Deadman was something noticeably missing to some people, but it is an attire in WWE '12.

This one is rather simple. Have The Undertaker as one of the participants in a match at WrestleMania. Not only will the hood be seen in the entrance, but that attire will be unlocked in the game.

Clash of Champions Arena

Arenas seem to be a big selling point in WWE '12, which debuts the Clash of the Champions arena in WWE games. Originally an NWA event that became one for WCW, Clash of the Champions took place 35 times. It was essentially WCW's version of Saturday Night's Main Event. Having been broadcast on TBS through its existence, the last Clash of the Champions was done in Nashville, Tennessee in 1997. Needless to say, this kind of came out of nowhere, but it is a welcome addition to the game.

The venue comes up in the Hero Story during a cutscene and becomes unlocked from there.

Goldust

You can never really forget the name of Goldust, mainly because he won't let you.

Goldust is a rather popular superstar, even today, and he has developed a rather strong following. Team Goldie members can be thrilled with unlocking the superstar, especially in the way that it happens.

For Goldust to be unlocked, Cody Rhodes needs to win a match. After Rhodes wins, he will attack his opponent after the match and his bizarre half-brother will slide in for the save. From the push that Goldust is trying to muster to have him fight Cody at WrestleMania, that could wet your whistle potentially for a matchup that thousands of fans are clamoring for.

The United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is a faction that is the focal point for the first part of the Road to WrestleMania storyline. I tried to keep away from many spoilers, but it is hard to tiptoe past this slide. The heel faction was developed in the storyline when Drew McIntyre, Wade Barrett, Sheamus and William Regal all banded together to fight for their fellow countrymen. They develop a strong stranglehold over the rest of WWE for a time and their plans get to be rather elaborate at times. Regardless, it seems like a faction that would have been fun to see in real life.

The faction's entrance movie and theme become unlocked following the TLC pay-per-view during the Villain story in the Road to WrestleMania.

Booker T

A six-time world champion and current Smackdown color commentator, Booker T is a playable character in WWE '12 as well.

Booker T appears in the Road to WrestleMania during the Hero story. Once your hero—a guy created by the player, but automatically given the name of Jacob Cass—is created, Booker T appears during Cass' match against Husky Harris. From that point, Book Ends and Spinaroonies can be had by all.

Eddie Guerrero

Another unlockable character during the Hero story is the late Eddie Guerrero. The Hall of Fame wrestler appears during the Hero story in a flashback match with Rey Mysterio.

Obviously, due to his death, Guerrero couldn't be included as a regular part of the story without completely blurring the line between reality and fantasy. Still, it is cool to play a match as Eddie and earn his character from doing so.

Nitro Arena

What a difference a year makes. This arena was also available in Smackdown vs. RAW 2011, but it was only there as a part of a DLC pack. Now, one year later, the Nitro arena is free to the masses.

All that needs to be done to enjoy the arena is to win a match in the arena during the tail end of the Hero story. After that, you can enjoy your own Monday Night Wars with the Nitro arena.

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