The game introduced a more traditional grappling system while retaining the series’ fast gameplay. This new grappling system also included were body damage meters, individual character scales that consisted of stats such as strength, endurance and speed, and submission meters for both the person applying the move and the person breaking out of the move. As well as the ability to break the submission hold when being close to the ropes.

In addition, the game does away with the audio commentary feature that was used in its predecessors WWE SmackDown! Just Bring It and WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth as well as eliminate ring announcers. The only in-game voice featured is the ref's voice, which is the same for both Earl Hebner and Mike Chioda. It would be the last game to not feature voice-over of any kind until it was fully implemented in its successor WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw.

This would be the final SmackDown! game that featured Brock Lesnar(until WWE 12), Val Venis, and Rikishi, as well as the only WWE licensed game to feature Ultimo Dragon and Sean O'Haire as playable characters. It is also the first game in the SmackDown! series to have John Cena, Batista, Chavo Guerrero and Rey Mysterio as playable characters. This also marks the final time that Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock would appear in a SmackDown! game as non-legends, as well as the first and only game in the series to show The Rock's new tattoo until WWE '12. Aside from the Smackdown! series, The Rock does sport his tattoo in WWE WrestleMania XIX and WWE Day of Reckoning for the Nintendo GameCube. This is also the first and final game of the SmackDown! series to have Goldberg as a playable chracter due to his contract expiration.

The development version, though, featured Jeff Hardy, Hulk Hogan (along with his alter-ego Mr. America) and Ultimate Warrior. Hardy was removed when he left WWE for TNA. Hogan and his Mr. America character were also deleted when he left the company. Warrior was removed after he threatened the WWE with a lawsuit.