Removed/Unused Wrestlers#
Several wrestlers were scrapped for various reasons.
Wrestler |
Reason for removal |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
Billy Gunn |
Released from WWE in November 2004 |
Gunn has a placeholder character select picture, AI, entrance and cutscene data for career mode and crowd signs but no model |
Boxhead |
Unknown |
Possible debugging character as there is only a model present |
Brock Lesnar |
Left WWE after WrestleMania XX (March 2004) |
Lesnar has a placeholder character select picture, no AI data, crowd signs or model |
Goldberg |
Left WWE after WrestleMania XX (March 2004) |
Goldberg is the most complete wrestler in WM21 with a placeholder character select picture, AI data, model and sparkler pyro data but no crowd signs |
Hardcore Holly |
Unknown |
Holly has a hidden unlockable ShopZone titantron video and AI data but no placeholder character select picture, crowd signs or model |
Rikishi |
Released from WWE in July 2004 |
Rikishi has a placeholder character select picture and AI data but no crowd signs or model |
Steve Austin |
Was inactive in the WWE post WrestleMania XX (March 2004) |
Austin has a placeholder character select picture but no AI data, crowd signs or model |
Theodore Long |
Unknown |
Long has an empty entry in the superstar soundbank, which is where all sound (i.e. crowd chant, entrance music and move impact sound descriptors) are located. No other omitted wrestler has an entry in the sound bank. |
Victoria |
Unknown |
Victoria has a hidden unlockable ShopZone titantron video but no AI data, crowd signs or model |
Vince McMahon |
Unknown |
McMahon has two placeholder character select pictures (one for his wrestling attire and another for his suit attire), AI data and models but no crowd signs |
Unused Wrestler Titantrons#
The titantron videos for WWE wrestlers Victoria and Hardcore Holly are located in the "ShopZone" folder of the game directory, though neither appears in-game. Both wrestlers have their time-accurate titantron videos.
Unused Early Menu Splash Screen#
Unused Character Selection Pictures#
Multiple unused placeholder/alternate character select pictures exist in the game
Unused Early Wrestler Names#
Miss Jackie and JBL are referred to internally as Jackie Gayda and Bradshaw within the game's files, respectively
References to Absent Wrestlers Within Create Modes#
Several filenames for CAW parts and textures reference wrestlers who were not featured on the final roster. These include then-active WWE talent such as Paul London, Goldust, Ultimo Dragon, and Kane (with hair), as well as Legends like Ultimate Warrior, Hulk Hogan, Roddy Piper, Classic Ric Flair, Missing Link, Mr. T, Macho Man, Sid Vicious, Akeem "The African Dream", Honky Tonk Man, Demolition, Blue Blazer, Tatanka, Slick, Masked Undertaker, Sting, Road Warrior Hawk, and Kamala. With the exception of Rikishi, there is no conclusive evidence—such as character models, selection portraits, AI data, crowd signs, or animations—to suggest these wrestlers were ever planned as playable. It's possible these references were included simply for internal development purposes.
Unused Goldberg Model#
There is an Goldberg model in the WrestleMania 21 files. Curiously, the dummy model used in-game to preview wrestling moves in the Moveset creator is the same model of Goldberg but with all green textures. There exists a mod for WrestleMania 21 that restores the Goldberg model to a playable state, adds alternate attires for in-game wrestlers and enables NPCs in exhibition mode. This mod can only be played with a modded original Xbox, modded Xbox 360 or PC emulator. The mod can be downloaded through the XBMC app on Xbox from the Downloader utility.
