WWE 2K25 marks the debut of NXT's Underground mode, and it might be the closest we'll ever get to recreating that Def Jam magic here's why I'm desperate to play moreTech17:00, 08 Feb 2025Wouldn't like to tackle this lot in an Underground match(Image: 2K)WWE 2K25 launches in just a few weeks on March 14, and with WrestleMania getting closer, the 2K team is sharing new updates.We've already seen Showcase mode and experienced chain wrestling in our extensive hands-on preview from earlier this week, but one of the things I couldn't talk about until now is the Underground mode.This match type sees the ring ropes removed, and the glitz of the arena dimmed, swapped for a grungier, more dangerous vibe. Around the outside of the ring are bunch of random NPCs, and whole thing has a sort of "kid-friendly Fight Club" feel to it.Still, as I pulled off a curb-stomp to send Jacob Fatu to a TKO (there are no pinfalls here), I couldn't help but feel like this is the closest we'll get to a sequel to Def Jam: Fight For NY. Walk with me, dear reader, not along the Road to WrestleMania, but down memory lane.As we mentioned in our list of best and worst wrestling games, there was a time where EA released it's own grappler, Def Jam Vendetta. Swapping superstars for hip-hop stars, it was great fun, but narrow in scope.Its sequel, Fight For NY, opened things up to offer more surprising locations and match types, like bars, alleyways, and more, and also added characters including Carmen Electra, Sean Paul, Snoop Dogg and punk legend Henry Rollins.It's bizarre, but it played brilliantly, with a system that meant wearing down an opponent would open an opportunity to unleash a finisher that could KO them instantly.A small sampling of the Fight For NY rosterv(Image: EA Sports )WWE 2K's new Underground match type is nowhere near as grisly as that (it always felt a bit grim throwing Busta Rhymes in front of a moving car), but there's some of that DNA here.With no pinfalls, your chosen Superstar has no choice but to whittle down their opponent's health and go for the tapout, or unleash a finisher to, well, 'FINISH THEM'.After both players are absolutely battered, it could lead to some incredibly tense counters, as you know you don't have the safety net of a kickout. Will you pull the trigger first, or let your opponent attempt their own finisher so you can counter it into your own?Damian Priest could certainly handle himself in the Underground (Image: 2K)In my preview, I found running finishers were particularly useful because a quick boost of acceleration followed by, say, an Uso spear, is a great way to catch an unaware opponent off-guard.Article continues belowWhile 2K25 will feature more match types than you'll know what to do with, this is how I'll be settling my feuds.For more on WWE 2K25, check out WWE Superstar Natalya's complaint about her character model, and the full list of grapplers on the roster so far.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.