SmackDown vs. Raw 2007, the popular wrestling game created over fifteen years ago, now has one of today’s most villainous stables represented, thanks to a creative fan. This representation can be found in SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 in the form of a custom character wearing a Bloodline shirt, sporting both the leader Roman Reigns, and the goofy but popular manager, Heyman.
Nowadays, wrestling fans have an abundance of choices when it comes to customization. Recently, fans were able to create the brand new World Championship Belt in WWE 2K23, just weeks after it was revealed on Monday Night Raw. This type of customization was not possible back when SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 was released. SvR 2007 did have customization options, but the tools that were available were more basic when compared to today.
When it comes to adding new merch in older wrestling games, fans know it’s not as simple as waiting for a new patch update. To see a new fan favorite in an old wrestling game, that fan will have to do the dirty work themselves. This is exactly what Reddit user CAWstalgic did when they used the create-a-wrestler feature in SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 to make a custom Bloodline shirt.
Creating a custom shirt with such detail in a game as old as SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 is no easy feat. The Reddit user explained that Carlito’s apple was used during the creation of Heyman’s head in the top right corner of the shirt. With SvR2007, it's impossible for fans to download custom superstars like in WWE 2K23, but creating a shirt that looks this cool might be even more impressive.
Bloodline is a group managed by Heyman that's headlined by Roman Reigns and features his real-life cousins Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso. Although WWE fans may be split on how they feel about Roman Reigns and the group itself, most fans are thoroughly impressed with this custom Bloodline shirt, the workaround used to create Heyman's head being the star attraction. Some fans in the comments even claimed that they would buy this shirt if WWE made it.
Custom creations like this are a good reminder of how far wrestling games have come over the last few decades. Even though newer WWE games let fans customize virtually everything, including the wrestler’s personality and the reactions from the crowd, it’s always nice to see how creative people can get when they have fewer tools to use.
SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 is available for PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360.