Whether you're a fan or not, theatrical fantasy proved to be extremely influential.
Ever since 1983 arcade Tag Team Wrestling, video games never looked back.
We all know about Final Fight's Andore (Hugo in Street Fighter) paying homage to André the Giant, but the Red Cyclone was based on Victor Zangief.
Instead of suplexing licensed games, I'm here to pin down how likeness of household names were largely blatantly stolen.
With or without 'alterations', most are obvious and some aren't, but bear enough resemblance to warrant ring participation.
This is so intense, it'll make you sweat buckets.
Tecmo World Wrestling (NES)
Akira Dragon vs Antonio Inoki
El Tigre vs Tiger Mask
Pat Gordon vs Lou Thesz
Rex Beat vs Hawk
Jackie Lee vs Riki Choshu
Boris Chekov vs Stan Hansen
Mark Rose vs Ric Flair
Julio Falcon vs Hulk Hogan
Randy Gomez vs Harley Race
Dr, Guildo vs Big Van Vader
Blue King Demon vs Blue Demon
Championship Wrestling (C64)
Colonel Rooski vs Steve Austin
K.C. Colossus vs Hulk Hogan
Zeke Weasel vs Earthquake
3 Count Bout (Neo Geo)
Leo Bradlay vs Ricky Morton
Roy Wilson vs Bruiser Brody
Terry Rogers vs Lex Luger
The Red Dragon vs The Great Muta
Master Barnes vs Warlord (Powers of Pain)
The Main Event (Arcade)
El Condor vs Mil Máscaras
Conan the Great vs Hulk Hogan
Maui Mauler vs Haku
Kamikaze Ken vs Ricky Steamboat
San Antonio Smasher vs The Tonga Kid
Saturn Six vs Ax (Demolition)
Bigfoot Joe vs King Kong Bundy
Alan the Empire vs André the Giant
Saikyō Takada Nobuhiko (Super Famicom)
? vs ?
Yeah, unfortunately I can't speak and/or read Japanese.
Or...
Big Van Vader vs Gary Albright
Ha ha ha!
Big Bang Pro Wrestling (Neo Geo Pocket)
Deitz vs The Undertaker
Mike vs Bill Goldberg
Abadede (Streets of Rage 2, Mega Drive) vs The Ultimate Warrior
Spike (Violent Storm, Arcade) vs Hawk
Shadow Warriors (Arcade) vs The Road Warriors
Samurai Shodown's Earthquake may look nothing like his wrestling namesake, but face paint may have been inspired by Warlord (Powers of Pain).
Thunder Pro Wrestling Retsuden was exclusive to Japan and the only entry from the Fire Pro Wrestling series to appear on Mega Drive.
? vs Riki Choshu
? vs Big Van Vader
? vs Jushin 'Thunder' Lieger
Fire Pro Gaiden: Blazing Tornado (Arcade)
Bullnoi vs Bray Wyatt
Lucha libre is a form of wrestling developed in Mexico.
Here throws.
Firebird vs Fray Tormenta
Hayate vs Super Strong Machine
Saturday Night Slam Masters (Arcade)
El Stinger vs Lizmark
Street Fighter IV's El Fuerte was also conceived with somebody in mind.
Scorpion vs Tinieblas
Biff Slamkovich vs Kerry von Erich
Jumbo Flapjack vs Barbarian (The Powers of Pain)
Grater vs Big Van Vader
Big Bear (Fatal Fury 2) and original persona Raiden also clang a masked bell.
Ring of Destruction: Slam Masters II (Arcade)
Ortega vs Superstar Billy Graham
Saber vs Owen Hart
Fatal Fury bonus stage vs Barbarian
King (Tekken series) vs Tiger Mask
Wrestle War (Arcade)
Bruiser Brody (top left) and Jason the Terrible (top right)
Mil Máscaras (middle left) and Hawk (middle right)
Oh, and Titan Morgan as Hulk Hogan.
When converted to Mega Drive in 1991, you'll notice North American/European cover art is 'slightly' different to its Japanese counterpart.
Can't think why?
Before referee calls time, here's more from the Hulkster.
Unsurprisingly, others took it upon themselves to copy iconic vest rip.
Ever since 1983 arcade Tag Team Wrestling, video games never looked back.
Instead of suplexing licensed games, I'm here to pin down how likeness of household names were largely blatantly stolen.
With or without 'alterations', most are obvious and some aren't, but bear enough resemblance to warrant ring participation.
This is so intense, it'll make you sweat buckets.
Tecmo World Wrestling (NES)
Akira Dragon vs Antonio Inoki
El Tigre vs Tiger Mask
Pat Gordon vs Lou Thesz
Rex Beat vs Hawk
Jackie Lee vs Riki Choshu
Boris Chekov vs Stan Hansen
Julio Falcon vs Hulk Hogan
Dr, Guildo vs Big Van Vader
Blue King Demon vs Blue Demon
Championship Wrestling (C64)
Colonel Rooski vs Steve Austin
K.C. Colossus vs Hulk Hogan
Zeke Weasel vs Earthquake
Leo Bradlay vs Ricky Morton
Roy Wilson vs Bruiser Brody
Terry Rogers vs Lex Luger
The Red Dragon vs The Great Muta
Master Barnes vs Warlord (Powers of Pain)
The Main Event (Arcade)
El Condor vs Mil Máscaras
Maui Mauler vs Haku
Kamikaze Ken vs Ricky Steamboat
San Antonio Smasher vs The Tonga Kid
Saturn Six vs Ax (Demolition)
Bigfoot Joe vs King Kong Bundy
Alan the Empire vs André the Giant
Saikyō Takada Nobuhiko (Super Famicom)
? vs ?
Yeah, unfortunately I can't speak and/or read Japanese.
Or...
Big Van Vader vs Gary Albright
Ha ha ha!
Big Bang Pro Wrestling (Neo Geo Pocket)
Deitz vs The Undertaker
Abadede (Streets of Rage 2, Mega Drive) vs The Ultimate Warrior
Spike (Violent Storm, Arcade) vs Hawk
Shadow Warriors (Arcade) vs The Road Warriors
Samurai Shodown's Earthquake may look nothing like his wrestling namesake, but face paint may have been inspired by Warlord (Powers of Pain).
Thunder Pro Wrestling Retsuden was exclusive to Japan and the only entry from the Fire Pro Wrestling series to appear on Mega Drive.
? vs Riki Choshu
? vs Big Van Vader
? vs Jushin 'Thunder' Lieger
Fire Pro Gaiden: Blazing Tornado (Arcade)
Bullnoi vs Bray Wyatt
Lucha libre is a form of wrestling developed in Mexico.
Here throws.
Firebird vs Fray Tormenta
Hayate vs Super Strong Machine
Saturday Night Slam Masters (Arcade)
El Stinger vs Lizmark
Street Fighter IV's El Fuerte was also conceived with somebody in mind.
Scorpion vs Tinieblas
Biff Slamkovich vs Kerry von Erich
Grater vs Big Van Vader
Big Bear (Fatal Fury 2) and original persona Raiden also clang a masked bell.
Ring of Destruction: Slam Masters II (Arcade)
Ortega vs Superstar Billy Graham
Saber vs Owen Hart
Fatal Fury bonus stage vs Barbarian
King (Tekken series) vs Tiger Mask
Wrestle War (Arcade)
 |
| Image remained exclusive to insert coin. |
Mil Máscaras (middle left) and Hawk (middle right)
Oh, and Titan Morgan as Hulk Hogan.
When converted to Mega Drive in 1991, you'll notice North American/European cover art is 'slightly' different to its Japanese counterpart.
Can't think why?
Before referee calls time, here's more from the Hulkster.
Unsurprisingly, others took it upon themselves to copy iconic vest rip.
 |
| Wrestling Superstars (8 bits) |
 |
| Saturday Night Slam Masters |
 |
| Street Fighter III 2nd Impact: Giant Attack and Third Strike For some reason, Alex wasn't given the privilege in 1997 original New Generation. |
 |
| Bullfight Ring no Hasha (PC Engine) |
 |
| Fatal Fury bonus stage |
 |
| Baron Kaiser (Hammerlock Wrestling, SNES) |
 |
| Muscle Power (World Heroes series, Neo Geo) |
 |
| Super Fire Pro Wrestling 2 (Super Famicom) |
 |
| Tom Anderson (Burning Fight, Neo Geo) |
 |
| Hawk (Vendetta, Arcade) |
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