SD! Here Comes The Pain: Season Mode Complete Guide

Here you can find the ultimate guide to SmackDown! Here Comes The Pain Season Mode. This guide explains all the storylines, key decisions, and unlock conditions month by month!

Season Mode Set-Up

Before you start Season Mode in SmackDown! Here Comes The Pain, you can customize the Rosters for Raw & SmackDown, the superstar alignments (Face & Heel), the Teams & Stables, and of course, pick the Superstar you want to use.

You can select any male Superstar in the HCTP Roster or a created wrestler, and you can decide to use the Superstar with his real-life attributes (Original) or start from the bottom and build up the attributes from scratch (Season).

The opportunity you get will depend on the popularity of a superstar (SP), which increases during the course of Season Mode (along with cash and experience points).

Backstage & GM Requests

At the beginning of each broadcast, you start at your Superstar's locker, where you can increase your attributes, check Superstar stats, edit stables, and buy unlockables.

Before each show, you can access 4 different backstage areas and interact with anyone who might be around, and optionally pick a fight with them.

You can also approach the General Manager, where you can request a Title Shot at various championships, depending on how many SP you have. Or if you’re not involved in a storyline and you're not a champion, you can request a Show Transfer.

Below, you find the full list of storylines you can encounter throughout the Season Mode, month by month:

April

Pay Per View: Backlash

Title Contender Storyline: Early Coronation

Unlock condition: Have 80+ SP, and JR will ask if you want a title shot. You can accept or refuse.

JR will approach you backstage at the very start of the season mode if you have chosen a high SP superstar, usually 80+.

The story will be about the cocky World/WWE Champion who will demand that the title match take place before the PPV, as they have bigger plans for it than defending against you.

The champion won't wait until Backlash, and you can win the title much earlier than usual.

If you win the match, then next week, the former champion will demand his rematch at the PPV in a Ladder Match.

Champion Storyline: SmackDown

Unlock condition: Be the WWE Champion in April (SmackDown). Simply pick the SmackDown champion at the start of the season mode to get this story right away.

The story will follow straight after WrestleMania, with your opponent at the show wanting a rematch for the title. You MUST pick the SmackDown champion to get this version of the April story at the start of the Season.

The WrestleMania opponent will join forces with a heel superstar on the roster.

Expect to get beat up... A LOT.

The story will continue no matter if you win or lose matches. There's no branching of any kind within this story.

The final match in the storyline will be a handicap match for the WWE championship.

Champion Storyline: Raw

Unlock condition: Be the World Champion in April (Raw). Simply pick the Raw champion at the start of the Season to get this story right away.

In this storyline, you will team up with the Intercontinental to face the contenders of both your title and theirs. This will lead to a match at Backlash with all the titles on the line.

The only true branching moment in this story is that there will be a scene of the Intercontinental champion getting beaten up. You can choose to help or not. Choosing either doesn't matter too much, but if you don't help Booker out here, then you will be left to defend yourself next week, and it doesn't go well.

• If Helped: No beating in Week 3!
• If You Didn't Help: Week 3 in this run will see you being beaten up for not helping the IC champion last week.

It's up to you what to do! Shaking the champ's hand is the best option, however.

Both titles are on the line at Backlash in this RAW exclusive story.

No Storyline

If your superstar has low SP, you will not be given any specific storyline in April.

However, you can always pick a fight with someone backstage, or convince the General Manager to book you in matches so you can build up tour experience and SP.

May

Pay Per View: Judgment Day

Title Contender Storyline: Thrown Off The Stage

Unlock condition: Have a high SP, and Vince McMahon will offer you a title match, which you can accept or refuse.

Accept McMahon's title shot offer to get this contender storyline in May. Make sure to have a high SP for this to trigger.

Once you accept Vince McMahon's title shot offer, you will get the "Thrown Off The Stage" storyline.

In this story, the champion will refuse to give you the title match unless you can win a match in under 3 minutes. Winning this under 3 minutes is mandatory to see the rest of the story play out.

The easiest way to win this match within the 3-minute limit is to put a table in the corner of the ring, stand near it, and wait for your opponent to hit you into the table. Once you're leaning on the table, about 90% of the time, your opponent will grapple you, which leads to them putting you through the table and getting themselves DQ'd. Easy.

After the match, you will be thrown off the stage.

The following week, it will be announced that this was Vince's evil plan all along. He says you are in the hospital, and the title match won't be happening. There's now an important branch to choose.

You can either fight injured or give up the title shot, so you don't have to fight injured.

If You Refuse

Choosing to give up will end the story right there and then.

If You Return

Choosing to fight while injured will cause you to get damaged body parts much quicker.

In future matches during this storyline, you will gain body damage extremely quickly. For example, the following week you are put in a handicap match by Vince McMahon for returning instead of giving up.

After being hit once, there's yellow body damage. You have to be careful in these next matches.

After getting through this match, it will be announced that at the PPV, you will have 3 matches. For me, in this run, I had to face:

• Test
• Ric Flair
• Triple H - Special Guest Referee: Vince McMahon (Title match)

Hopefully, it's triple pay for this PPV.

Champion Storyline: Booked to Lose

Unlock condition: Be the WWE/World Champion

Vince McMahon will choose a low SP/ranked contender for you.

When you are the champion in May, you will get a storyline with Vince McMahon choosing a random low SP/low-ranked superstar from the roster. There are no big choices to make in this story other than the match at the PPV.

No matter what, you'll have to take the embarrassing loss, which also costs you 3 SP for losing, even though there's nothing you can do about it.

Optional Storylines

These optional stories can be played any time from May to August (see below for details), and are offered after last month's Pay Per View.

• Tag Title Contender Storyline
• Tag Title Champion Storyline
• New Manager Storyline

June

Pay Per View: Bad Blood

Champion Storyline: Choose Your Contender/s

Unlock condition: Be the WWE/World Champion

This storyline is pretty basic: just be the champion during the month of June, and you'll get a storyline with some similarities to the non-title story.

First, you will need to pick your next contender; it will be between 2 people, you can choose either or both of them if you're feeling daring.

Helping JR or staying out of it doesn't matter too much. There is a bonus tied to helping JR, though. If you help him, you will get a 15% stamina boost for your PPV match. This is confirmed at the PPV when JR meets you backstage.

Non-Title Storyline: Save JR

Unlock condition: Refuse Tag Title Shot & Don't Be The World/WWE Champion

Note: Playing this storyline on Smackdown will swap Eric Bischoff with Vince McMahon, and Vince McMahon with Stephanie McMahon.

If you follow these requirements, you will see JR approach you backstage. He will talk about being happy to be back in his hometown tonight. You can either be friendly and encourage him or be dismissive. Being dismissive about his return home will cause the entire storyline to end, so unless you don't want this story to take place, then make sure to pick the first option.

Make sure to be nice to JR, well, unless you want to miss out on an entire story!

If you picked the first option, then you will see a promo with Eric Bischoff, who will go on to attack JR. You will automatically save JR, and the rivalry with Bischoff will begin.

Over the next few weeks, you'll be attacked and put at a disadvantage in matches. In the final week, you're about to be fired, but Vince McMahon stops this from happening.

A match will be made for Bad Blood, you vs. Eric Bischoff in a cage match!

After the Bad Blood match is over, you are free to choose your way of revenge on Bischoff to end the storyline. PUNISH HIM!

Optional Storylines

These optional stories can be played any time from May to August (see below for details), and are offered after last month's Pay Per View.

• Tag Title Contender Storyline
• Tag Title Champion Storyline
• New Manager Storyline

July

Pay Per View: Vengeance

Title Contender Storyline: From Partners to Rivals

Unlock condition: You must have enough SP at the start of July to get this story.

You and another superstar are looking to become the next World/WWE title contender, but you'll have to form an unlikely alliance to do so.

You will face the World/WWE champion on RAW/SmackDown. After the match is over, a superstar will run out and attack you. They will claim they are the rightful #1 contender.

Next week, the GM will announce that there will be a tag team tournament leading up to the PPV, with you and the person who attacked you last week having to team up. The winners of the tag tournament will face each other on the last RAW or SmackDown before the PPV. The winner of the match advances to the PPV.

You can be a friendly team mate or be like everyone who played this storyline and keep beating up your new but temporary tag partner.

Champion Storyline: Sign The Contract... Or Not

Unlock condition: Be the WWE/World Champion

July's championship storyline will all be about re-creating the 2001 storyline between Triple H and Stone Cold. Two heated rivals, but this time with a title on the line. The rivalry gets too much for the GM, so they will have to step in and order a contract to be signed that will stop them from fighting each other until the PPV.

During this contract signing, you can sign the contract or pretend to sign it.

The best option is to pretend to sign it, whether you attack him or not, as if you don't pretend to sign the contract, he will be the one to pretend to sign! And that means you'll get beat up... A LOT!

Optional Storylines

These optional stories can be played any time from May to August (see below for details), and are offered after last month's Pay Per View.

• Tag Title Contender Storyline
• Tag Title Champion Storyline
• New Manager Storyline

August

Pay Per View: SummerSlam

Champion Storyline: Mystery Attacker

Unlock condition: Be the WWE/World Champion

Other than the optional storylines mentioned before, there's only a Championship storyline in August.

This one sees you being attacked backstage by a mystery attacker. Your contender will be suspiciously very upset over the attack and will go full detective mode to try to find who did it.

He will find out who did it, but there was someone who was driving that car, also. I wonder who it was?

Optional Storylines

These optional stories can be played any time from May to August (see below for details), and are offered after last month's Pay Per View.

• Tag Title Contender Storyline
• Tag Title Champion Storyline
• New Manager Storyline

Optional Storylines (May-August)

Smackdown Here Comes The Pain season mode has optional stories that are offered to you at the end of each PPV from June to August, as long as you're not the current WWE/World Champion.

Tag Team Contender Storyline

Unlock condition: Don't be the WWE/World Champion, and don't be a Tag Team Champion

This storyline will be offered unless you're already a tag team champion.

In this story, you will be paired with a heel on the roster you are currently on. The story will follow a similar path to the Rock & Sock Connection team back in 1999, with similar storylines.

Throughout this storyline, you can either be nice or be a jerk to your tag partner; it won't have much effect other than different dialogue until later on in the story.

First, you will be offered to check out your new partner's autobiography. Throwing it away will be mentioned at a later date if you do this. Other than that, there's no consequence.

The big decision will be made when your tag partner throws an in-ring birthday celebration for you. (It isn't your birthday) One of three scenarios can be chosen here.

First of all, you will be asked to join your tag partner in the ring, which you can refuse to do.

• If You Don't Show Up: If you choose not to show up when the option shows up, then the match will be called off for the tag titles at the PPV.
• If You Attack Your Partner: Caking your tag partner will not only end the partnership, but you'll be facing off at the PPV in a cage match. No cakes allowed!
• If You Remain Loyal To Tag Partner: The match will go ahead at the PPV, though you can choose the stipulation!

If you win at the PPV, all will be forgiven, and you and your tag partner are now on the same side as tag champs.

After the PPV is over, you will be offered to defend your tag titles to unlock the next optional story.

Tag Team Champion Storyline

Unlock condition: Be a Tag Team Champion

In this storyline, Vince McMahon will hand-select your next contenders for the tag titles, and it appears as if he's going to do anything to get them the belts.

Your tag partner corners McMahon after a match on RAW or SmackDown and proceeds to attack him with a chair. This leads to him being suspended until after the PPV, which means you'll have to defend the titles alone in a handicap match.

New Manager Storyline

Unlock condition: Don't be the WWE/World Champion

And last up, you will be offered the services of a manager. You are able to pick from the divas' roster.

Throughout the weeks, you will have options which are pretty much to keep things professional between you and your manager or turn it into a romantic relationship.

Some options are there to anger your manager, like picking her rival diva over her or being more interested in her rival. If you pick the bad options, you will be slapped at the end of the story. (If your manager wins the final match, more on that later.)

This storyline will have many choices each and every week.

Later on in the story, a random superstar will let you know that he's interested in your manager too. He will trick you into accepting a challenge at the PPV, with the winner getting, in this case, Torrie as their permanent manager.

You will think that he was talking and you vs him at the PPV, but in fact he meant himself vs. Torrie at the PPV!

You will not control the manager in the match; you will control your own character as a manager. The good thing is that this match is no DQ, so you can run in and help as much as you possibly can to help your manager win! It will take time, but it can be done!

If You Win: Assuming you picked the good choices in the storyline, if your manager wins, you will need to choose between kissing her or just celebrating the victory. If you had picked the bad choices, then you would get a deserved slap in the face.

Celebrating will end the scene with a normal celebration. If you kiss her, then the scene will mimic the Matt Hardy and Lita kiss moment from RAW in 2001.

If you picked the kiss option, the scene will end at the top of the stage with another kiss to end the manager story.

If You Lose: If you allow your rival to win the match against your manager, then an alternative cutscene will be shown with the rival taking your manager away. You have now lost your manager.

September-November

Decision: Singles Superstar or Faction

August will end with a pretty big decision to make: you can either form a faction or continue your path as a singles superstar. Both choices will set off major storylines that will last for the next 3 months.

Singles Storyline: Car Showdown

First, we'll start with the singles superstar option.

September

Pay Per View: Unforgiven

If you choose to be a singles superstar, the first storyline you will get is a month-long story about who has a better car, you or this other guy on the roster. Sounds basic, right? But it will lead to some of the craziest cutscenes in the entire game.

If you ignore his comment about your car at the start of the storyline, the entire story will be dropped. So, unless you don't want to see this story, then make sure to attack him.

Don't let him get away with that comment about your car!

Things get insane... really insane!

You'll get your revenge. Neither of you will have cars anymore, but hey, at least you get to pick the match type at the end of the story!

Singles Storyline: Refuse Vince

October

Pay Per View: No Mercy

After the car storyline, you'll be locked into the next big storyline, which sees you either joining Vince McMahon and turning heel, or you can remain a face and go against Vince. First, let's look at the refusal side of this story.

Vince will have a new right-hand man to try to take you out after attacking him last week. This will lead to a PPV match between the two of you.

At the PPV, there will be a steel cage match between you and Vince's new right-hand man. Winning the first match will cause a cutscene to play showing both you and your opponent escaping at the same time.

It's rematch time!

Win or lose, you will be down and out to end the PPV. With Vince and his new sidekick standing tall.

November

Pay Per View: Survivor Series

To start out the month, Vince will not be around, so he leaves his lackeys to do his evil bidding, like putting Jerry Lawler in a handicap match. You can either help him out and make it a tag match or leave him to it.

Leaving him to go into the handicap match alone will see him getting beaten up after the match is over.

The following week, you'll be arrested after Vince McMahon says that you have an arrest warrant.

You won't be in jail for long, as you'll be back next week. A match is made for the Survivor Series PPV. You vs. Vince McMahon.

Before the PPV, a contract signing will take place, and Vince will sign the contract in your blood. This story isn't over just yet, however.

Singles Storyline: Join Vince

October

Pay Per View: No Mercy

Now, let's look at what will happen if you join up with Vince. Well the first month will be about giving you a bunch of easy-to-win matches. It crosses the line when Vince puts you up against someone on the Divas roster, and a superstar calls you out for it, leading to a match at the PPV.

The month ends with you and Vince celebrating at the PPV after the match. It doesn't matter if you win or lose here, your opponent will be beaten down whilst you two both have your hands raised.

November

Pay Per View: Survivor Series

The story continues into November, and nothing much happens throughout this part of the story. You will get easier matches until the roster has had enough.

Vince wants you as the new champion and to prove yourself to the roster and the fans. Eric Bischoff says he has an idea for a match. This ends up being the debut of the Elimination Chamber match at Survivor Series.

Win the match, and you are the new World Champion. (If you weren't already, that is)

And that is the end of the Join/Refuse Vince McMahon storyline... kinda. Next up is the Faction storyline.

Faction Storyline

September

Pay Per View: Unforgiven

If you choose the Faction Storyling, the first month will all be about building your new Faction. You will be asked who you would like as your first member. If you choose someone who is the opposite of your alignment, so if you're a face and choose a heel, then it will be teased if they will join or not. If you choose your own alignment superstar then they will join instantly.

You will also have to pick a member of the Divas roster to join your group, and then to complete the Faction, there will be a 4th member announced at the PPV. A random superstar will request to join Raw or SmackDown before the PPV, and you will have to make your mind up at the PPV.

You can accept them in, or you can refuse and pick someone else from a list of superstars. The show will end with your Faction complete and named.

October

Pay Per View: No Mercy

October will be all about the rise of Vince's new Corporation that he builds to go against your Faction.

In the first week, 3 random superstars will attack you after your match, with Vince announcing that this is his new Corporation. A heel diva will join the following week to have an even 4 vs. 4 Faction war.

The war is mostly with you on the receiving end of the Corporation's attacks, including them blowing up your Faction's bus.

The No Mercy PPV will be the leader of your Faction (you) vs. the leader of the New Corporation. Whether you win or lose this match, the same cutscene of a surprise 5th person joining the Corporation will play out.

November

Pay Per View: Survivor Series

The final month of the Faction storyline will all be about how everything builds up to the big Elimination Chamber match at Survivor Series. With the match being every man for himself.

In the first week, you will once again find yourself being beat up after a match. This time,, however, you will be saved by a RAW or Smackdown (Depending on the opposite brand you are on) superstar who has jumped ship to help you out, as they were sick of seeing Vince do this to you and your Faction.

The next week, the superstar who jumped ship will say he's not looking to join the Faction, but felt helping out was the right thing to do.

You will then see this superstar being beaten up; you can decide to save him or not. If you save him, he will join your faction. If you don't save him, then he won't join, and he won't be seen again.

Vince will then announce in Week 3 that there will be a Chamber match at Survivor Series. It's every man for himself, but the stipulation is that no one from your Faction can be in this match.

You can also completely avoid the Elimination Chamber match stipulation by asking for another match when Vince offers the Chamber option. This will lead to a fairer 6-man tag team match at the PPV.

In the last week before the PPV, you'll get some final revenge before the story comes to a close. In this cutscene, you will be seen interrupting The New Corporation in the ring by driving a milk truck to the ring and spraying everyone with milk. Kurt Angle would be proud.

The faction war is over! (but the story is far from over)

December

Pay Per View: Armageddon

These next two months are the most interesting by far, as they have very specific story unlock conditions that make them have a high chance of being missed, so I will make sure to include the unlock conditions. Let's start with the title contender storyline first.

Please note that there might be other unlock conditions possible. These ways that are mentioned are the ways that I got them, so I can 100% verify you will get these stories by following my story paths.

Title Contender Storyline: The Present/Box Story

Unlock condition: Faction storyline, picked Elimination chamber match at Survivor Series, won the Chamber match, wasn't champion, and was offered a WWE/World title shot by JR backstage after Survivor Series. I also had a very high SP of 97.

JR will offer you this storyline at the end of Survivor Series. Make sure to accept his offer!

In the first week of this story, Vince McMahon will announce a title contender tournament to take place tonight. You must win 3 matches in one night to become the #1 contender for the title.

After completing the first two matches, a random heel superstar will run out during the finals and force his way into making this a triple threat match. To ensure the storyline happens, make sure to win this match and lock yourself in as the #1 contender.

The following week, you will face the champion in a match, and after the match, he will attack you. The week after that, he will say he has a gift for you in the ring as an apology. You can either open it up or walk away.

Unless you want to get beaten up, it's best to leave this gift for someone else.

Due to the champ's cheap tactics, he will be put in a Hell In A Cell match at Armageddon. It's payback time!

And the NEW champion!

Champion Storyline: Vince's New Challenger

Unlock condition: Join with Vince and win the title in the Elimination Chamber match.

The story will begin with Vince denouncing you as the World/WWE champion and stating that he has a better choice in mind for a champion. He will introduce a random heel superstar from that roster.

After a match with Vince's new chosen one, you'll give that superstar an extra beating post match. This causes them to be stretchered out of the ring.

The contender will return the following week in a wheelchair, and it looks like they will be out of the title match at the PPV.

That is, until they reveal that they aren't actually injured and will be at the PPV match.

You will then have the match at the PPV as planned.

Non-Title Storyline: Become the Chairman

Unlock conditions: Don't join up with Vince and continue the story. Being the champion does not matter here, but you won't defend the title throughout this story.

The start of this story will be the continuation of the refuse Vince option from all the way back in October.

In the first week, it will look like the big rivalry with Vince is over. They shake hands, and as you're walking up the ramp, Vince will straight up just fire you.

However, your firing won't last long as you'll be back the following week, but this time as the new Chairman of the WWE. This was due to Stephanie announcing that Vince had been suspended as Chairman due to his unfair actions as of late.

This means you can control what Vince does on the shows for a little while, you can choose to book him in handicap matches, and you can also demand that he drives you around.

The storyline will come to an end when you face off against Vince at the PPV (You can choose a ladder or table match), with the winner becoming the new chairman of WWE. Even if you win this match, you'll just sign over the chairman role back to Vince, as you want to get back to wrestling, which ends this 3-month rivalry.

The 3-month rivalry with Vince is over. It's Road to WrestleMania time.

January

Pay Per View: Royal Rumble

Champion Storyline: Six-Man Showdown

Unlock condition: Be the WWE/World Champion

The January title defense can go in two different ways. It all depends on what happens in the #1 contender 6-man elimination match. To spice things up, you are entered into the #1 contender 6-man match, and if you win, you won't have to defend the title at the Royal Rumble. So let's split this up into two sections.

If You Lose The 6-Man Match:

This will lead to a very similar storyline that takes place on RAW after WrestleMania with you and the mid-card champion teaming up to defend both of your titles in a tag team match vs. the two contenders.

The big difference is that the US champion isn't as hostile as the IC champion was in that storyline. You can't disrespect the US champion either. It's a friendly tag team storyline with no branch-offs. It's safe to say that winning the 6-man match is the more interesting option.

If You Win The 6-Man Match:

You will no longer have to defend your title at the Royal Rumble, but the person who comes in second place will not be happy about this at all. The superstar will shout at the ref, and then be seen attacking the ref after the match is over.

The following week, the referee will announce that, due to the attack by this superstar, the WWE is no longer safe for referees and that they are going on strike.

This leads to matches without refs for a few weeks, which means you can use weapons without issue for this entire storyline! No refs, no rules!

Eventually the refs will return, as a referee will be seen running down the ramp on week 4 to hand you a chair, and announces they will ref your match at the PPV.

The PPV match can either be a title match or a non-title match; it's your choice due to winning that 6-man match weeks earlier.

Royal Rumble Match

Unlock condition: Don't be the WWE/World Champion

At the end of the Armageddon PPV, if you are not a champion, then you'll be approached by Stephanie McMahon backstage, who will ask if you would like to be in the Royal Rumble match. Of course, you will say yes!

There will be a Fatal 4 Way match, with the winner being able to pick their entry number in the Royal Rumble match.

Even if you win the match and you try and pick your number, usually you would pick the highest one. Vince will say it's unfair to give you that number and wants to give it to the loser instead.

For you, now it will be the alternative option, which is getting your Royal Rumble number from the entry number wheel.

Buying The #30 Royal Rumble Entry Spot

There is also an alternative option to all of this, as you are able to buy the #30 spot from a random superstar backstage.

To get this cutscene to pop, you MUST have over $100,000, or it will not show up. The cutscene is also RNG-based, so even having $100K won't guarantee it, so make sure to make a save before week 3 begins.

I can confirm it's RNG based, as I got #27 the first time with $100K stored away, and did NOT get the cutscene. I reloaded my save, spun the wheel again and got #28 along with the purchase #30 cutscene straight after.

February & March

Champion Storyline: Road To WrestleMania

Unlock condition: Be the WWE/World Champion

February

Pay Per View: No Way Out

In week 1, the winner of the Royal Rumble will let you know that he is coming for you at WrestleMania.

After your match, Vince McMahon will pretty much say he doesn't want you going to WrestleMania as champion and will make your Road to WrestleMania complete hell. So he announces that you have two contenders to face at the next PPV.

The following week, you will be in a tag team match against the two contenders, but you'll find out that your planned tag partner has been attacked.

It looks like you'll be facing the two contenders in a handicap match until your WrestleMania opponent appears on the stage to team with you and the tag match is back on.

Later in the storyline, there will be a choice to make. Do you face both contenders in a handicap match, or will you have a double header match? Pick your preferred option, win at the PPV, and then it's time for the final month of season mode.

Whilst picking the double-header match might look easier, Vince McMahon will be an unfair referee in the 2nd match of the double header.

After the final match, you can get some revenge on Vince McMahon.

March

Pay Per View: WrestleMania

In this storyline, prepare to get beaten up a whole lot, as in the first week, you will be punched by the Royal Rumble winner. And then the next week, you will be attacked by a random superstar in a post match attack. Your so called friend who was attacked backstage will make their return to "help" you.

Instead of helping you, however, they will attack you and declare that they want to fight you at WrestleMania. The person who was attacking you also wants to fight you at WrestleMania.

The Royal Rumble winner is rightfully annoyed with these 2 superstars trying to take his title shot at WrestleMania. The Rumble winner will call you out with an interesting proposal. If you two team up, and beat those 2 attacking superstars then you vs. the Rumble winner is fully locked in for WrestleMania.

• If You Accept: The tag match will happen, and if you win, the match between you and the Royal Rumble winner will go ahead as planned.
• If You Don't Accept: Then a tournament will be announced for WrestleMania:
  • You vs. one of the attackers
  • Royal Rumble winner vs one of the attackers

Most of the time, it will lead to the original planned match of you vs. the Royal Rumble winner.

Champion Storyline: Ric Flair Version

Unlock condition: Be the World Champion on the RAW Brand

Pay Per View: No Way Out & WrestleMania

You can only get this version of the storyline on the RAW brand, with the injured former ally being replaced with Ric Flair instead. He will make the save and attack you.

It's the only superstar exclusive storyline in the entire game, with the commentary making specific references to Ric Flair holding "that title," that being the World Title on RAW. As you can see, the lines are unique to Ric Flair only.

The Royal Rumble winner will want a match with Flair one on one to fully lock in who will go to WrestleMania as the #1 contender.

You are then given the choice to either ref the Flair vs #1 contender match. If you 100% want Flair at WrestleMania, then it makes sense to be the referee here.

In the final week before WrestleMania, you will be given the option to choose the match type for the match against Flair.

There is no unique ending for this version.

Royal Rumble Winner Storyline

Unlock condition: Win the Royal Rumble

February

Pay Per View: No Way Out

If you win the Royal Rumble match, then you will get this storyline were the person who was 2nd place in the Rumble match will accuse you of cheating to win the Rumble. His reason is that when both of you went over the top rope, your feet touched the ground first.

He will present his evidence, and then the GM will organize a debate to take place backstage. The rules of the debate are that neither of you can fight or else you will forfeit your right to a WrestleMania title match. You do have the option to hit him, but you will actually lose your WrestleMania title match and can't get it back, so I wouldn't advise doing that.

This will lead to a Last Man Standing match at the No Way Out PPV. The match is completely unwinnable as when your opponent is out for the count, a cutscene will play of the lights going out, the ref being down and Vince McMahon appearing.

You are hit with a chair, and are counted out with your opponent winning. The story continues into the next month.

March

Pay Per View: WrestleMania

This storyline continues straight after No Way Out with the now new #1 contender boasting about his victory at the PPV.

He will be interrupted by Stephanie McMahon who announces a rematch to take place tonight with the winner going to WrestleMania after the new #1 contender cheated at the PPV.

If you win that match you will get another punish Vince McMahon cutscene after the match ends. The post match beating will not go unpunished as next week, Vince McMahon will announce that you are under arrest for that attack last week.

You can't just keep beating up Vince McMahon and expect to get away with it!

In week 3, Vince and the champion will be in the ring to announce that the WrestleMania match will now be cancelled due to our superstar being in jail, before he can cancel it however, we will be seen driving down the ramp in a soda truck. We will then spray Vince and the champ with soda. The match is back on.

The final week before WrestleMania, you will be face to face with the champion. He will challenge you to a Hell In A Cell match at WrestleMania. You can either refuse or accept it.

If you don't accept the match, it will just be a regular singles match.

Note: WrestleMania Perks

Answer with the most positive responses during the pre-WrestleMania interview to earn a free finisher for the WrestleMania match.

If you want the special WrestleMania entrance cutscene, then make sure to accept The Coach's offer backstage before WrestleMania.

Season Endings

Ending 1: Title Defense

You win and celebrate the victory with your opponent after a long, hard double victory night.

Ending 2: Title Victory

The big WrestleMania ending heel turn!

If you win the title at WrestleMania as the challenger, you will be seen celebrating with the now former champion until you sneak attack him and turn heel to end WrestleMania.

Ending 3: WrestleMania Loss

In Ending 3, you lost the title match at WrestleMania and will talk to the GM backstage about the loss.

Ending 4: No WrestleMania Match

If not getting booked was bad enough, it's time to go for dinner with The Coach.

The worst possible ending. You didn't get booked on WrestleMania for the World or WWE Title, so now you have to go out for dinner with The Coach.

Multiple Seasons

In the Season Mode of WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain (HCTP), you can continue playing after the first year concludes at WrestleMania.

After finishing the final pay-per-view, you can start a new season while carrying over your current superstar's stats, championship titles, and win/loss records.

You can play through multiple seasons for as long as you want to keep playing.

While you can continue into the second year and beyond, the storylines will begin to repeat. The game's storyline cycles (e.g., specific events in May or July) will likely be the same as the first year, although having a title can change some scenarios.

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The End

Goodbye SmackDown! Here Comes The Pain Season Mode... for now.

Thank you for checking out my WWE SmackDown! Here Comes The Pain season mode guide. It took nearly 23 years to get one, but I'm happy that we now finally have one on the internet.