Nukes and Knives™: Let's Get Ready To Wrestle

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)

Image remained exclusive to insert coin.

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.

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.