Released in October 2009 by THQ and developed by Yuke's, WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 arrived at a time when the promotion's brand split was in full swing. The game defined an era of virtual sports entertainment, balancing active Raw, SmackDown, and ECW rosters with iconic legends. Looking back at the WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 roster reveals a snapshot of professional wrestling history that captured both veteran superstars and rising talents just as the PG era took firm root.
If you're trying to remember who made the cut, which legends required unlocking, or how the brand divisions were structured, this complete breakdown covers every playable wrestler, division split, and hidden character.
Raw Brand Roster
The flagship Monday night show featured some of the industry's heaviest hitters and most entertaining characters during the late 2000s. The Raw division in the game blended main-event staples with mid-card technicians.
- John Cena: The face of the company and one of the core cover athletes.
- Randy Orton: Operating at the peak of his vicious "Viper" heel run.
- Triple H: Leader of D-Generation X and a constant championship fixture.
- Shawn Michaels: Near the twilight of his legendary in-ring career.
- Big Show: The giant presence anchoring multi-man feuds.
- Kofi Kingston: Sporting his vibrant early singles run and United States Championship ambitions.
- The Miz & John Morrison: Tag team excellence before their eventual singles splits.
- Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase Jr.: Representing Legacy alongside Randy Orton.
- Santino Marella: Providing comedic relief paired with serious in-ring dedication.
- MVP, Carlito, Primo, Chavo Guerrero, and Evan Bourne: Rounding out a deep mid-card class characterized by high-flying action and technical flair.
SmackDown Brand Roster
The Friday night show brought an entirely different flavor, featuring stiff competition for the World Heavyweight Championship and some of the most technical matches on the card.
- The Undertaker: A constant presence on the promotional materials and a terrifying force in the ring.
- Edge: The Ultimate Opportunist, featured prominently on the game's global cover.
- Batista: Raw power personified, clashing regularly with top-tier opponents.
- CM Punk: Embracing his straight-edge savior persona during a career-defining heel run.
- Chris Jericho: Delivering elite microphone work and technical mastery as World Tag Team Champion.
- Rey Mysterio: The ultimate underdog and high-flying icon holding down the Intercontinental division.
- John Morrison, Dolph Ziggler, Finlay, R-Truth, Shad Gaspard, JTG, and Matt Hardy completed a versatile weekly television lineup.
ECW Brand Roster
Though ECW was nearing its final years as a standalone brand, its inclusion in the game provided a distinct gritty alternative filled with hardcore veterans and hungry newcomers.
- Christian: Returning to WWE prominence and leading the ECW brand.
- Tommy Dreamer: The heart and soul of extreme wrestling.
- Shelton Benjamin: Showcasing unmatched athletic prowess in every outing.
- Vladimir Kozlov & Ezekiel Jackson: Imposing powerhouses who dominated opponents with brute force.
- Goldust & William Regal: Bringing decades of veteran psychology to the third brand.
Divas Division Roster
The women's division featured a mix of traditional wrestling talents and modern superstars who helped bridge the transition into the modern era.
- Mickie James: A central focal point of the women's division and Road to WrestleMania storylines.
- Michelle McCool: Dominant as Women's Champion during this era.
- Maryse: Reigning as Divas Champion with calculated heel tactics.
- Beth Phoenix: Unmatched physical strength and dominance.
- Gail Kim, Kelly Kelly, Eve Torres, and Brie Bella rounded out the competitive women's roster across brands.
Unlockable Legends and Secret Characters
Unlike modern sports games that often place historic wrestlers behind downloadable content, this title required players to grind through the Road to WrestleMania mode or enter specific cheat codes to unlock legendary names.
- The Rock: Unlocked by completing Edge's Road to WrestleMania story.
- Stone Cold Steve Austin: A major unlockable legend representing the Attitude Era.
- Trish Stratus: Unlocked through Mickie James's storyline.
- Cowboy Bob Orton & Dusty Rhodes: Tied up in specific historical match conditions during Randy Orton's campaign.
- Ted DiBiase Sr.: Available by fulfilling specific post-match requirements at WrestleMania.
- Bret Hart: A prized unlockable legend for classic match enthusiasts.
Gameplay Innovations That Defined the Roster
Having a great lineup meant little if the engine couldn't support it. This iteration introduced the WWE Story Designer, allowing players to script their own television shows, assign superstars to custom angles, and control every variable of a match. Furthermore, the overhaul to the creation suite—including the Highlight Reel and custom entrance movies—meant you could slot custom wrestlers directly alongside the official disk characters without losing frame rate or visual fidelity.
For detailed historical data on how THQ managed roster licensing during this period, you can look through archives at IGN or check community records on GameFAQs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you still unlock characters without cheat codes?
Yes. Every unlockable legend, alternate attire, and arena can be acquired organically by playing through the Road to WrestleMania campaigns and fulfilling specific match objectives, though entering main menu cheat codes provides an instant shortcut.
Which platforms featured this roster?
The game launched across Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo Wii, and Nintendo DS, though feature sets like Story Designer varied significantly between hardware generations.
Was the ECW brand still active in WWE when the game released?
Yes, ECW was still operating as WWE's third official weekly television brand in late 2009, though the show was officially canceled and replaced by NXT early the following year.
