THQ taking three new WWE games to the mat

Days after announcing better-than-expected financials, THQ announced part of its plan to keep its cash flow steady--namely, make more wrestling games! The company has already published over a dozen best-selling titles based on the enduringly popular phenomenon known as World Wrestling Entertainment (formerly the World Wrestling Federation).

Joining the previously announced, GameCube-exclusive WWE Day of Reckoning, which is due in the retail ring this fall, are two other WWE games. WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw, will (obviously) combine characters from the WWE's Smackdown! and Raw franchises. Like the previous three SmackDown! games, SmackDown! vs. Raw will be for the PlayStation 2, exclusively developed by Japan-based Yuke's. Currently, it is scheduled to ship this holiday season.

The other title THQ announced, WrestleMania 21, confirmed February reports that Studio Gigante was working on a WWE title for the Xbox. Word first broke that the Tao Feng developer was involved when WWE trainer and personality Dr. Tom Pritchard let slip he was consulting on the then-unnamed game. Scheduled for release in "early 2005," WrestleMania 21 will use "the power of the Xbox" for its "stunning" visuals, and will feature several game modes not seen in previous WWE games.

Last up is the WWE Survivor Series, the first WWE title for the Game Boy Advance since 2002's WWE Road to WrestleMania X8. According to THQ, Survivor Series will "feature a variety of match types with top WWE Superstars" when it grips Nintendo handhelds this fall. GameSpot will have more information on all three titles when it becomes available.