Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

The immediate draw here is straightforward: the Collector’s Edition includes WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2009 featuring ECW on PlayStation 3. For a wrestling fan, that means the game is still the centerpiece, not an afterthought buried beneath collectibles.

What distinguishes this edition is that it does not ask you to treat the game as the whole purchase. Once you are done playing, the Blu-ray gives you another route back into the same WWE period, with 2.5 hours of Best of WWE 2008 programming alongside it. That is a more substantial bonus than a token extra, especially if you enjoy revisiting wrestling outside the ring.

There is also a practical dividing line. Buy this version because you want the game and value the surrounding WWE material; do not buy it merely because the word “Collector’s” is on the box. The included game is the same named release, while the reason to pay attention to this package is the physical box and Blu-ray content.

Graphics

The most concrete visual flourish is the miniature ring packaging. It turns a normal shelf case into a display piece, which will either be charmingly on-brand for your collection or take up more room than you want it to.

Story

This edition’s strongest sense of context comes from its bonus disc rather than a newly added narrative. Best of WWE 2008 is billed as 2.5 hours of WWE programming, so it gives you a sizeable dose of the company’s 2008 output alongside the game.

Beyond the Ring, the THQ documentary, is the more focused extra. It offers a behind-the-scenes companion piece instead of simply adding more match footage, and that makes the package feel aimed at fans interested in the people and work around a WWE game.

Together, the two Blu-ray features give the box a useful arc: watch WWE material from the era, then dig into a documentary connected to the game’s publisher. It is not essential to enjoying the game, but it is the part of this edition that gives it a reason to exist years later.

Overall Experience

WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2009 (Collector’s Edition) is a focused collector package. The miniature ring box makes a clear first impression, but the Blu-ray is what carries the value: 2.5 hours of Best of WWE 2008 and the Beyond the Ring documentary are meaningful additions for the right fan.

There is little reason to dance around the recommendation. If you are building a WWE collection, enjoy 2008-era programming, or like publisher documentaries, this is a pleasing version to own. If you only intend to play WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2009 featuring ECW, the extra packaging and disc are unlikely to change your decision.

The payoff is in having a small time capsule rather than a radically expanded game. As a piece of wrestling memorabilia with a full game at its center, it has more character than a standard case and enough bonus viewing to justify genuine interest.

Retro Replay Score

7/10