'WWE Universe', the mode in which players participate in matches and storylines that are booked automatically, returned from the previous year with additional cutscenes. Players also have the ability to target specific limbs during matches and perform submissions through a new 'Breaking Point' submission minigame. New 'wake up taunts' bring a downed opponent to their feet for a finishing move (such as Randy Orton pounding on the ground before his RKO finishing maneuver). A new feature called 'Dynamic Comebacks' gives players on the verge of losing the opportunity to successfully hit a combination of moves to gain two finishing moves. In addition, the ability to store finishing moves has returned. The game's artificial intelligence has also been adjusted to prevent players from overusing the same move. Similarly, the pinning meter from the past games has been reworked to make it more difficult to kick out as a wrestler takes more damage. Players now have a window of opportunity to attack while still in a downed state and can also interrupt moves and Royal Rumble eliminations with attacks.
Characters now perform different moves based on their opponent's current physical state. The weak/strong grapple system from the past games has been removed.
