The landscape of professional wrestling video games saw a significant shift with the release of WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009. Known among the community for its heavy emphasis on tag team wrestling and the introduction of the first-ever DLC packs in the franchise, the SvR 2009 roster serves as a time capsule for the late 2000s era of sports entertainment. The game features a diverse selection of talent spread across three distinct brands, along with a pioneering set of downloadable additions and unlockable personalities.

In this era of the series, roster placement was strictly divided by the brand split, influencing the storylines available in the season modes and the specific championships characters could pursue. This breakdown provides a comprehensive look at every playable slot available in the game, categorized by their respective shows and specialized roles.

The Raw Brand Roster

The Raw brand in the late 2000s was often considered the flagship show, and the SvR 2009 roster reflects this with a high concentration of heavyweight talent and main-event regulars. The character models for Raw superstars typically featured high attribute points in strength and charisma, aligning with the brand's presentation at the time.

Raw Superstars

  • Batista: A powerhouse character with high grapple defense.
  • Chris Jericho: Featured in his short-haired heel persona, a pivotal character for the game's central narrative.
  • Chuck Palumbo: A powerhouse/brawler hybrid.
  • CM Punk: Representing the rising stars of the era with a technical/high-flyer move set.
  • Cody Rhodes: Making one of his early appearances in the series.
  • Hardcore Holly: A veteran presence with a focus on brawling.
  • JBL: A high-impact character often used as a primary antagonist in season modes.
  • John Cena: The face of the brand with balanced attributes across the board.
  • JTG: One half of the Cryme Tyme tag team.
  • Kane: A powerhouse character with significant reach and high strike power.
  • Kofi Kingston: A high-flyer specializing in agility-based offense.
  • Lance Cade: Often paired with other heavyweights for tag team play.
  • Mr. McMahon: A playable character usually unlocked through the Road to WrestleMania mode.
  • Paul London: A cruiserweight-style character known for high-risk maneuvers.
  • Randy Orton: A technical specialist with a focus on precision strikes.
  • Rey Mysterio: The primary high-flyer for the brand.
  • Santino Marella: A character with a unique move set reflecting his entertainment-heavy role.
  • Shad: The powerhouse half of Cryme Tyme.
  • Shawn Michaels: A showman character with high technical and stamina ratings.
  • Snitsky: A brawler focused on high-damage strikes.
  • William Regal: A technical grappling specialist.

Raw Divas

The Raw Divas division in the game included several key players who defined the era's feminine combat style. These characters generally focused on speed and technical submissions.

  • Ashley
  • Beth Phoenix: Noted as the most powerful female character in the game with a "Powerhouse" fighting style.
  • Candice Michelle
  • Jillian Hall
  • Layla
  • Melina
  • Mickie James

The SmackDown Brand Roster

During the development of SvR 2009, SmackDown was known for its deep technical wrestling and varied character archetypes. The roster for the blue brand offered a mix of massive giants and high-intensity brawlers.

SmackDown Superstars

  • Big Daddy V: One of the heaviest characters in the game, categorized as a powerhouse with specialized ground attacks.
  • Big Show: A giant-class character with high resistance to strikes.
  • Brian Kendrick: A high-flyer/technical hybrid character.
  • Carlito: Known for his balanced speed and grappling.
  • Curt Hawkins: Designed specifically for tag team synergy with Zack Ryder.
  • Edge: A technical opportunist with high environmental grappling ratings.
  • Festus: A unique character model with high power stats.
  • The Great Khali: The tallest character in the game with restricted speed but maximum strike damage.
  • Jeff Hardy: A high-flyer whose move set emphasized high-risk outdoor diving attacks.
  • Jesse: A speed-based character often used in tag team scenarios.
  • Jimmy Wang Yang: A dedicated high-flyer.
  • Mr. Kennedy: A brawler with specialized microphone-based taunts.
  • MVP: A technical brawler with high agility for his size.
  • Ric Flair: Featured as a legend-tier playable character within the active roster.
  • Shelton Benjamin: An athletic specialist with high grappling and agility ratings.
  • Trevor Murdoch: A brawler with a focus on traditional power moves.
  • Triple H: A powerhouse/brawler with some of the highest overall ratings in the game.
  • Umaga: A powerhouse with high speed, making him a unique threat in gameplay.
  • Undertaker: A legendary presence with high strike power and specialized submission moves.
  • Zack Ryder: Part of the Edgeheads duo, specializing in tag team mechanics.

SmackDown Divas

  • Maria
  • Michelle McCool: A technical character often used as the centerpiece of the SmackDown Divas division.
  • Victoria: A veteran brawler with high strength ratings for the Divas category.

The ECW Brand Roster

SvR 2009 continued the inclusion of the ECW brand, which featured a smaller but highly specialized roster. These characters were often utilized in the game's extreme rules matches, which were a hallmark of the ECW inclusion.

ECW Superstars

  • The Boogeyman: A character with unique animations and a focus on brawling.
  • Chavo Guerrero: A technical/high-flyer hybrid who often held the ECW Championship in season modes.
  • Elijah Burke: A brawler with high strike speed.
  • Finlay: A technical specialist who could utilize his shillelagh through specific interactions.
  • John Morrison: An agility-based character with a parkour-inspired move set.
  • Mark Henry: A powerhouse with maxed-out strength attributes.
  • Matt Hardy: A balanced character with a focus on technical grappling.
  • The Miz: A brawler who, in this game, was primarily a tag team specialist.
  • Tazz: A technical submission specialist, also serving as a commentator in the game.
  • Tommy Dreamer: The heart of the ECW roster, specializing in weapon-based combat.

ECW Divas

  • Kelly Kelly: Primarily a speed-based character with high agility.

Unlockable Characters and Special Additions

SvR 2009 featured several characters that were not available from the start. These were typically earned by completing specific challenges in the "Road to WrestleMania" (RTWM) mode or other single-player objectives.

  • Masked Man: A mystery character model used in specific storylines.
  • Tony: A specialized character model appearing in the RTWM storylines.
  • Ric Flair: While he appears in the SmackDown section, he is often considered an unlockable legend depending on the console version.
  • The Boogeyman: Unlockable through the ECW Road to WrestleMania.
  • George "The Animal" Steele: Available in specific versions as a classic legend.

The First-Ever DLC Roster Packs

SvR 2009 made history as the first game in the series to offer Downloadable Content (DLC) on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. This allowed the developers to add talent that debuted or rose to prominence after the game's disc-lock date.

DLC Pack 1 & 2 Highlights

  • Evan Bourne: A high-flyer whose inclusion was highly requested by the community.
  • Ted DiBiase Jr.: Added to complete the "Legacy" faction storylines alongside Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes.
  • Charlie Haas: Included with his impersonator gimmick attire.
  • Super Crazy: A cruiserweight addition for the SmackDown or ECW brands.
  • The Bushwhackers (Butch and Luke): Classic tag team legends added to bolster the tag team theme of the game.
  • Doink the Clown: A legendary character with a unique, erratic move set.
  • Earthquake: A massive powerhouse legend.
  • Vader: A heavyweight powerhouse known for high-impact strikes and aerial ability.

The Significance of Fighting Styles on the Roster

In SvR 2009, the roster was not just a list of names but a collection of "Fighting Styles." Each character was assigned two styles that dictated which special abilities they could perform during a match. This made the choice of character more tactical than in previous iterations.

  1. Powerhouse: Characters like Batista and Big Show could perform powerful Irish whips and were resistant to strikes.
  2. Technical: Specialists like Chris Jericho or Ric Flair could reverse moves more easily and had specialized ground grappling.
  3. High-Flyer: Rey Mysterio and Jeff Hardy could perform springboard attacks and had higher movement speed.
  4. Brawler: Characters like JBL or Umaga could perform a flurry of strikes that were difficult to block.
  5. Submission: Tazz and Finlay could target specific limbs more effectively to force a tap-out.
  6. Showman: Shawn Michaels or Mr. Kennedy could gain momentum faster by performing taunts and interacting with the crowd.
  7. Hardcore: Tommy Dreamer specialized in using chairs and tables, dealing more damage with environmental objects.
  8. Dirty/Clean: These styles affected how characters interacted with the referee and their ability to perform illegal moves or gain sudden momentum boosts.

Road to WrestleMania: The Roster-Driven Narratives

The "Road to WrestleMania" replaced the traditional season mode and was built around specific roster members. This gave players a deep dive into the characterizations of specific stars:

  • Triple H Storyline: Focused on the power struggle within the main event scene.
  • CM Punk Storyline: Highlighted the rise of the ECW brand.
  • The Undertaker Storyline: Involved supernatural elements and high-stakes matches.
  • John Cena Storyline: A classic hero's journey narrative.
  • Chris Jericho Storyline: A complex heel narrative involving a search for a mystery attacker.
  • Batista and Rey Mysterio Co-op: The first-ever co-op storyline, emphasizing the game's tag team mechanics.

Non-Playable Characters (NPCs) and Managers

The atmosphere of the game was further enhanced by several non-playable characters who filled roles as managers, referees, and commentators. While you couldn't control them in a match, their presence was vital to the roster's authenticity.

  • Hornswoggle: Appears as a manager and an interference character for Finlay.
  • Stephanie McMahon and Shane McMahon: Featured in cutscenes and as authority figures in the RTWM mode.
  • Vickie Guerrero: A key figure in the SmackDown storylines.
  • Commentary Teams: Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler (Raw), Michael Cole and Mick Foley (SmackDown), and Tazz and Joey Styles (ECW).

The Legacy of the 2009 Roster

When looking back at the SvR 2009 roster, it stands out for its balance. It arrived at a time when WWE was transitioning into a new era, allowing the game to feature established legends like Ric Flair and Shawn Michaels alongside the "New Breed" like CM Punk and Kofi Kingston. The inclusion of the ECW brand provided a variety of match types and characters that were distinct from the standard Raw and SmackDown offerings.

Furthermore, the introduction of DLC changed the way wrestling games were consumed. Previously, if a superstar debuted in late summer, fans would have to wait an entire year to play as them. With the 2009 roster, the inclusion of Ted DiBiase and Evan Bourne via download proved that the roster could be a living, breathing entity.

For those revisiting the game today, the roster offers a deep pool of talent that excels in the game's improved tag team AI and the refined grappling system. Whether you are seeking the powerhouse dominance of Batista or the high-flying acrobatics of Rey Mysterio, the SvR 2009 lineup remains one of the most mechanically diverse in the history of the series.