Unlock Super Ace Free Play: A Step-by-Step Tutorial to Master the Game

The first time I booted up the latest wrestling management sim, I was hit with that familiar wave of creative possibility. Drafting superstars, crafting intricate rivalries that would unfold over months—it’s the digital equivalent of being a head writer for your own wrestling promotion. But this time, something was different. A new layer had been added to the already complex systems of popularity and stamina: the skill level mechanic. It’s this very system, I’ve come to realize, that holds the key to unlocking what I now call "Super Ace Free Play"—a state where your chosen superstar becomes not just popular, but an undeniable, ring-generating engine of success. Let me walk you through how I learned to master this.

I’ve always been a booker who leans into long-term storytelling. Pushing a new talent from the bottom of the card to the main event over the course of a virtual year is my kind of fun. Previously, that journey was largely governed by two metrics: popularity and stamina. You’d book someone in winning feuds to boost their popularity, and you’d manage their stamina to ensure they didn’t burn out. It was effective, but it sometimes felt a bit one-dimensional. The introduction of individual skill levels changed everything. Now, each superstar has a separate progression track that measures their actual in-ring ability. You don’t just improve this by having them win; you improve it by having them work. Putting them in matches, week after week, is what levels them up. And as they level up, they literally unlock new match types for your entire show. This creates a fascinating triage of priorities. Do you book your rising star in a squash match to protect their stamina and guarantee a popularity boost from a win? Or do you throw them into a 15-minute classic with a veteran to grind that precious skill experience, even if it risks a loss?

This was the puzzle I faced with Tiffany Stratton. I saw something in her—the charisma, the look, the potential. So I decided to strap the proverbial rocket to her, as they say. My initial approach was cautious. I gave her short, dominant matches against lower-card talent. Her popularity saw a modest increase of about 12 points over the first month, and her stamina was always in the green. But her skill level was stagnant. She was stuck at level 3, and our show was limited to standard singles and tag matches. I wasn't feeling the "Super Ace" potential. The "Free Play" aspect—that feeling of fluid, dynamic, and rewarding gameplay—was missing. So I changed my strategy. I started booking her in longer, more demanding matches. I had her lose a hard-fought 20-minute bout against a former champion. Her popularity took a small hit, dropping by 5 points, but her skill level jumped. She unlocked the "Submission Match" and "Falls Count Anywhere" match types for the entire brand almost immediately. The payoff was immense.

Suddenly, my creative options exploded. I could now build a months-long feud around a submission specialist, culminating in a brutal "I Quit" match. The stories I could tell became richer and more varied. Tiffany’s value was no longer just about her win-loss record or her merch sales. She was making the entire show better. Her in-ring work improved, which in turn made her more popular in a more organic, credible way. The fans started to see her as a true workhorse. Within three in-game months, her overall value to the show had increased by a staggering 40%, translating to a direct monetary reward of nearly $150,000 in increased ticket sales and broadcast deals for that quarter. The synergy was undeniable. The skill system forced me to think like a real-world booker. You don't get better by only facing easy opponents; you get better by being tested.

Now, I structure my entire roster around this philosophy. I have my "skill grinders"—talents I'm actively developing through challenging matches—and my "popularity anchors"—established stars I use more sparingly to maintain ratings. It’s a delicate balancing act, but when it clicks, it’s the most satisfying experience in sports gaming. The game stops feeling like a spreadsheet and starts feeling like a living, breathing universe where your decisions have tangible, multi-faceted consequences. For any player struggling to feel that sense of mastery, I’d advise this: stop focusing solely on the "W." Pick one superstar you believe in, ignore their popularity for a few weeks, and just put them in the ring with your best technical wrestlers. Let them lose a few. Watch their skill bar fill up. The match types they unlock will revolutionize your booking and open up a new dimension of "Free Play" you didn't know was possible. That's the real secret to becoming the best weekly product in the WWE machine. It’s not just about who is the most famous; it’s about who can make your entire show must-see TV.