It is part of the WWE SmackDown vs. Raw video game series . The game is the ninth edition of the long-running WWE SmackDown vs. Raw video game series based on the professional wrestling promotion World Wrestling Entertainment ( WWE ) . It is the sequel to 2006 's WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 , succeeded by WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 , and is the first WWE game to include the promotion 's ECW brand .