THQ's wrestling series that began on the Nintendo 64 leaps onto the GameCube with the exclusive release of WWE WrestleMania X8. New to this version are pro wrestlers Booker T, Rob Van Dam, DDP, and The Hurricane to go along with the entire roster of the WWE. Six authentic venues are available to choose from, each allowing up to seven characters in or around the ring at once: WrestleMania, Raw, SmackDown!, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble, and Pay Per View.
Wrestlers are rendered with an estimated 3,500 polygons apiece and feature multiple signature moves as well as TitanTron video introductions set to individual theme music. A career mode entitled Champion Road allows rookie grapplers to slowly rise up the ranks until they stand alone as Heavyweight Champion. Other modes include Hell in the Cell, where battles take place in an enclosed cage, and TLC, an acronym for tables, ladders, and chairs. Tornado tag, hardcore, triple threat, fatal four-way, and handicap matches are also available.