Every wrestler in WrestleMania X8 is capable of a wide variety of moves that can be used in different situations. Some moves are exclusive to particular wrestlers, like the diving attacks to the outside, performed only by the more daring athletes. Consult the game's create-a-wrestler feature for individual wrestler's repertoires under the "customize" section. Your manual states the basic controls of the game, as well as which button needs to be pressed for a particular action. It's imperative to master the control scheme to pull off your desired moves at will.
The controls are half the battle, but it's also important to know what situation you need to be in and how an opponent needs to be set up to pull off a particular move. Here's a run-through of WrestleMania X8's moves and how you can perform them.
Standing:
Attack
Weak 1: basic starting attack
Weak 2: alternate basic attack, with control stick in any direction
Combination [2]: second in basic chain of attacks
Combination [3]: second in basic chain of attacks
Combination [finish]: last move in basic chain combo
Strong attack 1: hold down button for a longer period
Strong attack 2: hold down button for a longer period with control stick in any direction
Front Grapple
Front grapple 1: control stick neutral
Front grapple 2: with control stick up
Front grapple 3: with control stick down
Front grapple 4: with control stick left
Front grapple 5: with control stick right
Rope-down grapple: used against an opponent leaning on the ropes
Back Grapple
From a position where you are facing the opponent, you can execute back grapples by pressing A and X.
Back grapple 1: control stick neutral
Back grapple 2: with control stick up
Back grapple 3: with control stick down
Back grapple 4: with control stick left
Back grapple 5: with control stick right
Ground:
Attack
Attack 1: face-up prone opponent
Attack 2: face-down prone opponent
Running 1: running strike to face-up prone opponent
Running 1: running strike to face-down prone opponent
Head Submission
Submission 1: grapple at head of face-up prone opponent
Submission 2: grapple at head of face-down prone opponent
Side Submission
Submission 1: grapple at side of face-up prone opponent
Submission 2: grapple at side of face-down prone opponent
Leg Submission
Submission 1: grapple at feet of face-up prone opponent
Submission 2: grapple at feet of face-down prone opponent
Running:
Attack
Running attack 1: running strikes against standing opponent
Running attack 2: running strikes against standing opponent, with more distance or a bounce off ropes
Front Grapple
Running front grapple: grapple while running at an opponent
Back Grapple
Running back grapple: grapple while running at an opponent's back
Flying:
Attack
Attack to outside: from within the ring, press control stick to outside and press B
Springboard attack: run to ropes and then press control stick toward ring and press B
Attack from turnbuckle 1: climb turnbuckle and press B with neutral control stick
Attack from turnbuckle 2: climb turnbuckle and press B with control stick in any direction
Running Attack
Diving attack to outside 1: short running start, then press B
Diving attack to outside 2: longer running start, then press B
Irish Whip:
Attack
Irish-whip attack 1: press B after Irish-whipping an opponent
Irish-whip attack 2: press B with control stick after Irish-whipping an opponent
Grapple
Irish-whip grapple 1: press A after Irish-whipping an opponent
Irish-whip grapple 2: press A with control stick after Irish-whipping an opponent
Turnbuckle:
Attack
Turnbuckle striking: just hit the opponent at the turnbuckle
Lower striking: against a prone opponent at turnbuckle
Running Attack
Running turnbuckle attack: run at the opponent in the turnbuckle
Running lower striking: run at the prone opponent in the turnbuckle
Front Grapple
Front turnbuckle grapple 1: grapple an opponent at the turnbuckle
Front turnbuckle grapple 2: grapple an opponent at the turnbuckle with control stick
Lower grapple: grapple a prone opponent at the turnbuckle
Top of turnbuckle: grapple an opponent standing on top of the turnbuckle
Back Grapple
Back turnbuckle grapple 1: grapple an opponent's back at the turnbuckle
Back turnbuckle grapple 2: grapple an opponent's back at the turnbuckle with control stick
Top of turnbuckle: grapple an opponent's back at the top of the turnbuckle
Apron:
Attack
From apron to outside: stand on the ring apron
Grapple
Grapple to apron: grab an opponent as he or she stands on the apron at ringside
Grapple from apron: grab an opponent as you're standing on the apron
Interruption:
Attack
Cut attack: stops the action in tag team/multiplayer matches; either a pin attempt or submission move
Running cut attack: stops action in tag team/multiplayer matches with extra momentum
Double Team:
Grapple
Front moves: both wrestlers grapple in front of opponent
Back moves: both wrestlers grapple from behind opponent
Sandwich moves: get both wrestlers to grapple from opposite sides of opponent
Counter
Irish-whip moves: both members of the team should be facing a whipped opponent as he or she comes in so that they can pull off this move.
Special
Specials are executed by pressing the A and B buttons at the same time, once you've accumulated enough adrenaline to fill up one of your three available blocks. Note that attempted finishers that are countered still drain one of your blocks!
Taunts
Serve no real purpose in the game except to show off. Use at your own risk!
