If you’ve spent any time in the corner of the internet where people argue about work rates and "getting the rub," you know Adam Ryland’s name. For over two decades, he has been the shadow architect of the wrestling industry’s most addictive simulation. Total Extreme Wrestling 2020 (TEW2020) is the culmination of that obsession. It isn't a game about pressing buttons to land a moonsault. It’s a spreadsheet-heavy, soul-consuming exercise in ego and logistics. Honestly, it’s basically "Excel: The Professional Wrestling Edition," but with more backstage politics and fewer pivot tables.
People get intimidated. They see the UI and bail. The buttons look like they were designed for Windows 95, and the sheer volume of data is enough to give a casual gamer a migraine. But here is the thing: TEW2020 is the only game that actually understands how wrestling works. It knows that a 5-star match doesn't mean anything if your champion has the charisma of a wet paper bag. It understands that your locker room will implode if you hire two guys who dated the same person in 2014. It's messy. It’s chaotic. It’s perfect.
The Learning Curve Is a Brick Wall (And That's Good)
Most sports sims hold your hand. TEW2020 slaps it away. When you first boot up the game, you’re greeted with a screen that asks you to choose your database. If you stay with the default "CornellVerse," you’re entering a fictional world Ryland has curated for years. It’s deep. It has history. But most players immediately head to forums like Grey Dog Software or Be THE Booker to download real-world mods.
Why? Because we all think we’re better than Triple H or Tony Khan. We want to see if we can save WCW in 2001 or make sure Stone Cold never has to retire.
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But then the reality hits. You have to manage drug testing policies. You have to negotiate broadcast deals with networks that don't want your "edgy" product. You have to deal with "Creative Control" clauses where your top star refuses to lose to a rising talent because it "doesn't work for him, brother." This isn't just a game; it's a lesson in human psychology and corporate frustration.
Total Extreme Wrestling 2020 and the Myth of the Five-Star Match
There is a massive misconception among new players that the goal is to just book the best wrestlers. You think, "I’ll just sign Bryan Danielson and Kenny Omega and have them go 30 minutes." In TEW2020, that might actually bankrupt you.
The game operates on a "Product" system. If your promotion is a "Pop-over-Performance" company (like WWE in various eras), the fans literally do not care if the wrestling is technical perfection. They want storylines. They want promos. If you put on a technical masterclass in front of a crowd that wants "Crash TV," they will get bored. The game punishes you for not understanding your own audience.
- The "Worker" Psychology: Every wrestler has hidden stats. Some are "Flashbulbs" who look great but can't wrestle a lick. Others are "Generals" who can carry a literal broomstick to a 3-star match.
- Chemistry is Everything: You can have two of the best in the world, but if the game rolls "negative chemistry," the match will stink. There’s no way to predict it. It’s just bad luck, much like in real life.
- Size Matters: The "Small vs. Big" penalty is real. If you try to book a cruiserweight to dominate a giant, the fans in a traditional territory-style save will revolt.
The Backstage Environment: Where Dreams Go to Die
Managing the locker room in Total Extreme Wrestling 2020 is arguably harder than booking the shows. Every worker has a personality type. You’ve got your "Models" who are just there for the paycheck, your "Leaders" who help keep the peace, and your "Toxic" influencers who will ruin the morale of everyone they touch.
I once had a save where my world champion got caught in a scandal involving illegal substances just three days before my biggest pay-per-view. In any other game, you’d just ignore it. In TEW2020, if you don't suspend him, your locker room morale drops. If you do suspend him, your main event is ruined and your buy rate craters. You are constantly choosing between the lesser of two evils.
The "Handshake" system and "Pre-show Speeches" were expanded in this 2020 iteration. You can try to inspire the troops, but if your leadership stat is low, they’ll just roll their eyes. It’s humbling.
Realism vs. Sandbox
One of the most debated aspects of the game is the "Fog of War" or "Scouting" feature. In previous versions, you could see every stat. You knew exactly how good a wrestler was. Now? You have to scout them. You might hire a guy who looks like the next big thing, only to realize after three matches that he has zero stamina and can't cut a promo to save his life.
It adds a layer of genuine scouting that was missing before. It makes the "Real World" mods feel more authentic because even if you know a wrestler is great in real life, your in-game avatar might not have the "scouting clarity" to be sure.
Why the 2020 Version Split the Fanbase
When TEW2020 launched, the community was... let's say, vocal. The interface was a radical departure from TEW2016. It moved to a more widescreen-friendly layout, but it changed where everything was located. For veterans who had spent a decade clicking the same spots, it was jarring.
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But the technical upgrades under the hood were massive.
- The game handles multi-player much better.
- The AI booking improved significantly. In older versions, the AI would make nonsensical decisions. Now, rival promotions will actively try to outbid you for talent and counter-program your shows.
- The "Attributes" system replaced the old, rigid traits. Now, a wrestler can have dozens of specific quirks—like being a "High Flyer" who is also "Scared of Heights" or a "Prankster" who annoys everyone backstage.
These aren't just cosmetic. They change the math of the simulation.
Breaking the "Meta" of Booking
If you want to actually succeed in Total Extreme Wrestling 2020, stop trying to win. That sounds counter-intuitive, but the players who have the most fun are the ones who lean into the stories.
Don't just look at the numbers. If a worker has a "stink" on them because they lost too much, don't just fire them. Turn it into a "Loser Leaves Town" storyline. Use the "Narratives" feature in the editor to create world events that shake up the industry. Maybe a rival company goes out of business, or a certain style of wrestling becomes trendy.
The game is a story generator. If you treat it like a math problem, you’ll get bored in two in-game months. If you treat it like a living, breathing world, you’ll still be playing the same save in 2028.
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Key Mistakes to Avoid
- Over-hiring: You do not need 50 wrestlers for a one-hour show. You will go bankrupt. Your workers will get mad they aren't being used. Start small.
- Ignoring the Medical Facility: Skimping on your medical team is a death sentence. Your stars will get injured, and without a good rehab team, they’ll be out for a year instead of three months.
- Neglecting the "Importance" Stat: You can have the best show in history in a tiny gym in Delaware, and it won't matter. You have to run shows in regions where you need to grow your "Importance" to reach the next size level.
The Actionable Path to TEW Mastery
If you’re sitting there with a fresh install and feeling overwhelmed, here is exactly how to start without quitting in frustration.
Start with a "Local" sized company. Don't jump into WWE or AEW. There are too many moving parts. Start a tiny indie promotion in the CornellVerse. Hire five or six guys. Run one show a month. Learn how the "Match Aim" system works—understand the difference between a "Work the Crowd" match and a "Steal the Show" match.
Use the "Auto-Booker" as a template.
If you're stuck, let the AI book a show for you. Then, look at what it did and change it. It’s a great way to see how the game logic pieces segments together.
Invest in "Broadcasting." In the 2020 version, the way you distribute your content is the biggest factor in growth. If you can't get a TV deal, start a tiny streaming service. It’s a slow burn, but it’s the only way to move from a "Small" promotion to "Medium."
Download the "Pictures" separately. Because of legal reasons, most mods come without worker images. You have to download "People," "Logos," and "Belts" packs and put them in the correct folders. It’s a pain, but playing with "blank" avatars kills the immersion.
Total Extreme Wrestling 2020 isn't just a game; it's a hobby. It requires patience, a bit of imagination, and a willingness to see your best-laid plans ruined because your main eventer decided to show up to the arena "in no condition to perform." That’s wrestling. That’s TEW.
Next Steps for Your Save:
- Check your "Product" settings immediately; ensure your match lengths match what your fans expect.
- Set up a "Developmental" territory as soon as you hit "Big" size to ensure a pipeline of future stars.
- Audit your "Backstage Rules" to find the balance between a happy locker room and a disciplined one.