Def Jam Vendetta - When Pro Wrestling Meets Hip Hop

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Def Jam Vendetta, a game that mixed the world of professional wrestling with the world of hip hop, was released in 2003 for Playstation 2 and Gamecube. Vendetta was developed by AKI corporation using some leftovers from WCW 2000 / WCW Mayhem 2, a game that was cancelled due to the WWF purchasing World Championship Wrestling.
When WCW Backstage Assault wasn't well received, EA looked for a new developer to make the next WCW game. Because the WWF were now in partnership with Yukes, AKI were free to once again develop non WWF wrestling games and the plan was to bring AKI back to WCW with Mayhem 2 (known in development as WCW 2000). When EA lost the WCW license due to Vince McMahon purchasing the company, EA decided to partner with Def Jam Recordings and this resulted in AKI developing a wrestling game featuring rappers and hip hop artists. Vendetta allowed players to control characters such as Method Man, DMX, WC, Ludacris and Redman while battling out to a soundtrack supplied by Def Jam Records. On paper, it doesn't sound like the best idea, but Def Jam Vendetta turned out to be an excellent wrestling game that surprised a lot of critics. So good was Def Jam Vendetta that a sequel was green lit afterwards, the critically acclaimed Def Jam: Fight For New York.
#Wrestling #Retrogaming #DefJam
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[@WrestlingBios]

Hey everyone! Hope you like this one! The Def Jam: Fight For NY video has already been put together. I'll upload to the channel next week after giving it a few checks.

[@donniedarko8023]

I am a Metal Head Since 1998 and still I Loved that game

[@donniedarko8023]

Sometimes I think WCW might be the reason why I became a Metalhead. I Loved the hard Metal Riffs when the WCW wrestlers entered the ring

[@donniedarko8023]

Just realized that I Had the New York Version for ps2

[@johnstamos5948]

The video we've all been waiting for

[@lordeowstheking]

Can't wait till you do fight for NY. That's my top five game of all times

[@Larry]

Shame EA managed to completely destroy the franchise with DejJam ICON.

[@CLM1987]

The decline of Madden over the years is proof of that

[@jasond2831]

Lol no joke Larry! I remember buying icon expecting an improvement over fight for NY or at least better graphics with the same gameplay. Nope!!! I was treated to a game that ran as fast as molasses in the middle of dead winter.

[@LA-ze1os]

& Madden

[@ApexBeatsArchive]

That's not the half did you see that POS Def Jam Rapstar yikes

[@ApexBeatsArchive]

@HEADOFTHETABLE I agree to that fullest

[@Chris-nw8fb]

one of the most underrated wrestling games ever. like the fact that a version of this engine was to be WCW Mayhem 2

[@tysoncarpenter8628]

I don't ever remember feeling like this game was underrated. Everyone I knew either had this game or had already beaten it.

[@EliteEasyE]

@@tysoncarpenter8628 The rapper aspect scared a lot of people away. All I cared about whats the A K I.

[@MrVenom973]

Dude damn near everybody loved this game nowhere near underrated

[@EliteEasyE]

@Jeff The people that say, "man, I would have liked it if it were metal, etc"

[@owenkorando9595]

@@EliteEasyE that would have been cool as well tbh

[@jeremywilliams5141]

I had the PS2 edition of this game and I absolutely enjoyed it. 1. Vendetta was great 2. Fight for NY was awesome 3. Icon. Stay away

[@EliteEasyE]

If it ain't AKI it ain't good!

[@janlemmens1885]

Small correction: Iceberg technically isn’t an Ice-T rip-off although they probably put him in as an Ice-T ”replacement”. Iceberg Slim was a real life pimp on whom Ice-T based his persona.

[@SoloSeason]

Big facts!! One of the best documentaries out there the life of iceberg slim

[@SoloSeason]

But let’s be real the fact that they have a real iconic pimp in the game stop it stop it stop it stop it

[@joseortega7815]

Fight for NY had the BEST create a player. With all the bling, brand name apparel, and tattoos. Sooo good.

[@CoralCopperHead]

I remember when I first played the story and (spoilers for a 10+ year old game for anyone who cares) during the part when your fighter had to switch teams and was clearly upset about it, I imagined the crowds turning on him as well so I went as far as swapping all my high-end bling for crappy steel stuff so I'd get less support during the fights. Made the playthrough a _bitch_ until that arc ended.

[@joseortega7815]

@@CoralCopperHead lol Oh no! 😂😂😂 That's when you have to go full, flashy heel. haha Great times though.

[@evanhanley6437]

This and Fight For New York were truly ahead of their time. Love the opening. I absolutely adore them. There is a Def Jam Discord that still play the games to this day. I spoke to the executive producer of the series and he told me TONS of stuff about them and things we never knew about.

[@CHRISPYakaKON]

Like? 👀

[@tericottaclay9462]

Link me to the discord please

[@etheridge862]

Facts

[@ZaMorant1733]

@@tericottaclay9462 word lol

[@ian-wy5fw]

that "boys are back in town" moment got me

[@pablodelgado7919]

This game and Fight for NY were absolute classics of the PS2 era. How i would love to see a remake of those 2 games or at least a remaster.

[@KingJadInfiniteHope]

I would too, FFNY is my second favorite game of all time, but neither of these games will ever get remade. it’ll be too difficult with all the licenses. i’ve come to peace with it tho lol, i already own both on the GameCube.

[@zoltanwilson4277]

@@KingJadInfiniteHope Awesome to know.

[@itypethetruthnobshere8975]

They need to remake this

[@vvstreetfightervv]

💯

[@bsm1th99]

If they ever did a remake of this game, i can only imagine how awesome this would be. More characters. Different story lines with each character.

[@1983jcheat]

Hopefully

[@eddierivers3250]

Man I’m saying bro it would do amazing it would probably get game if the year hands down

[@LemarSpacely]

Wow, you deadass just gave me a whole new perspective on this game as a wrestling game. Always consider it an overall fighting game

[@MosheXX]

Yea me too. Mind blown

[@Wellnow123123]

they shifted more towards fighting games with fight for new york

[@sachinisthegod2824]

Def Jam Fight for New York is my favorite fighting game of all time. Sean Paul's taunts still make me laugh.

[@All_Hail_Chael]

U gunna cry when I fratter you!

[@daimo_4750]

Sean Paul can taunt all he wants, Henry Rollins is the real gangsta.

[@All_Hail_Chael]

@@daimo_4750 You spelt Danny Trejo wrong.

[@daimo_4750]

@@All_Hail_Chael Touché!! 😂

[@Chrislittle223]

I'm playing Def Jam Fight For NY on my laptop through the emulator as we speak lol this is so dope

[@VIGLounge]

I'm really glad the Def Jam games are bieng covered on Wrestling Bios. I love playing Def Jam, which I started playing this year as I didn't play it when it first came out. I loved the challenge of Vendetta's storymode and I just had a blast as it is essentially what a game after No Mercy should have been.

[@shermikeman]

I loved this game in high school. It felt like when a kid plays with wrestling action figures.

[@Kajemyster]

I ALWAYS used Joe Budden! Hitting an opponent with 'Representin Jersey' was pure joy for me because it had the stunner in it!!!

[@slanderman3296]

Best wrestling game of all time tbh. It was soooooo cool to see all these hip hop legends in one spot. RIP DMX

[@MWE1013]

I will always love Def Jam Vendetta and Fight For NY! Them two were the best wrestling/fighting games I have played in a long time!

[@hubertblack1485]

One interesting thing about Iceberg, Ice T refers to himself as Iceberg in texts in story mode in Fight For New York and it makes me wonder if he was meant to be in the first game and they just replaced the Iceberg character with him in Fight For New York.

[@kylewhitehead5417]

I absolutely loved this game. Very high replay value, challenging and in my opinion still holds up today.

[@dend1]

RIP DMX, he was awesome in this game

[@jessy1652]

@@kidz4p509 probably dmx

[@KingTone510]

Loved this game! Fight for NY was the best wrestling game ever!

[@bsm1th99]

I still have that game. One of my favorites

[@crushthecrusher1265]

Me too My one my favorite

[@aceassn716]

Vendetta is the wrestling game Fight for NY is more the fighting game

[@KingTone510]

@@aceassn716 I think they're both hybrids that are close enough to each genre to be labeled as either, or.

[@KingJadInfiniteHope]

New York’s not a wrestling game, you can’t even pin people. it’s close tho.

[@theoggamingnoob1944]

I remember playing this back on the PS2 and loving every bloody min of it

[@martynodonnell8467]

Another awesome upload from the greatest wrestling channel on the planet! I never got round to playing this one back in the day. U have heard awesome reviews about Def Jam, over the years. It’s great to have a video dedicated to the game so I can see what it was all about, does look awesome

[@StarPunchproduction]

I'm glad i subbed to this channel...cause now whenever i hear that one blazin' theme playing this game all that comes into my mind is "DAVEY BOY SMITH CHINLOCK!" on repeat throughout until it ends.

[@shadowdramon01]

This seems like a chance of pace. I like it. I remember my brother had, I think Fight for NY back in the days. It was a really good game.

[@vvstreetfightervv]

Still turn this game on, to this day. Awesome wrestling game, that never was, or Pit Fighter on steroids... Either way, this one's a classic.

[@travahnb.896]

When you factor in the Def Jam games, along with NBA/NFL Street and the SSX games, EA Big might have had the best run in the whole 00's decade.

[@freddiejohnson6137]

Still have this on my Gamecube and it it one of the best multiplayer games on of the time and for the longest time the best wrestling game on the system. Kind of wish WCW stuck around just long enough for AKI to have made this the final game so this had more expanded options and modes that were wrestling related but still a great game no doubt.

[@abridgedgoku]

The memories man... can't wait for your Def Jam NY videos.

[@KidGravityBeyond]

If they ever did a 3rd installment, Master P and the “No Limit Soldiers” should have been playable characters

[@Chrislittle223]

They did it was called ICON it was trash

[@vvstreetfightervv]

^YEP^

[@KidGravityBeyond]

@@Chrislittle223 I don’t count that

[@johnstamos5948]

@@KidGravityBeyond lmaooo

[@vvstreetfightervv]

@@KidGravityBeyond ditto... ~L O L~

[@JuanPerez64215]

I can still remember Pee Wee saying "Let's mix it up" while playing on PS2 back in the day as a kid, good times Def Jam Vandetta.

[@thedanielstraight]

I had no idea the Def Jam game ran on AKI's engine. That fact alone is enough to make me try them.

[@calvinfolan1736]

Pro wrestling and Hiphop, as a fan of both, this is fantastic!

[@toreywatson6508]

Yep wrestling & hip hop was ahead of there time then 💯

[@Thegreatone-tx1yl]

Hip hop is garbage

[@Mr2KOOL4LYFE]

The trash talk before & after the match was 1 of the best things ever. That & the blazing moves. I think WWF attitude had people talk trash before a match but seeing rappers do it just was so dope to me.

[@cfairfax85]

Always loved the def jam games. We need a remastered version asap.

[@PapaSmurfJuju]

Loved the fact you did this video. Especially since I heard the blazing music during the Davey Boy Smith Chin locks of Death of reliving the war. Also at once time I had this or smackdown Here comes the Pain to choose from. Childhood memories!! 💪🏾✊🏾

[@jaymichael3079]

I love everything about this game! Loved it in 2003. Nothing's changed in 2021.

[@davidford3968]

I know I can't be the only one that was wating to hear "DAVEY BOY SMITH CHINLOCK" at 0:39. Great stuff sir I remember playing this game all the time as a teenager

[@AlexanderKahrs]

Great video as always! Loved this game for the GameCube back in the day. And I agree, stay away from the photos everyone!

[@TheRealFandjango]

You hit the nail on the head, as I absolutely loved this game as a teenager. Loved Fight for New York even more so than original. Also bought Def Jam Icon but we don’t talk about that. Def Jam Fight For New York was the masterpiece of an already great game. I still remember watching a how it was made video on mtv before it came out with Keith Murray, on how the game developers actually gave some of the rappers creative freedom to design their own blazing moves. Which till this day is fun to watch alot of the ridiculous moves. I actually wouldn’t mind a current Def Jam game.

[@BrandanTheBroker]

Seeing that so many on Def Jam were WWF fans and grew up on wrestling, I'm shocked there hasn't been a WWF vs Def Jam game, or even all the wrestlers today vs all the rappers today, that could be a good game.

[@georgeespinoza245]

Thanks for taking me back man its been years since I seen this game back then my cousins played this game and it was fun as hell I hope you release another video about the sequel someday

[@gsignaturemessage]

Yes! Man Vendetta was so huge for us in high-school but when Fight or NY came out, we threw Vendetta out with the quickness lol. Had no idea No Mercy 2 was planned.

[@gochasingwaterfalls9970]

I absolutely loved listening to all these guys growing up it’s cool they had some lesser known guys to non rap fans. I loved Keith Murray and Noreaga growing up and played this game with a lot of people who had no idea who they were

[@liquidgeorge]

The War Report is a CLASSIC 90’s album.

[@Juwellz18]

This and Fight for NY are two games that need to be remastered for today's console's. I loved each game, more so FFNY because of the story and the music. But both are so great. Thanks for sharing this with us.

[@quentondrake92844]

Dude I would love that!!

[@Andrewlang90]

Def Jam NY was a game I played a lot!!! Brought back so many memories and fun times. Thanks for the memory refresh

[@demetriusb.7885]

One of the greatest wrestling games of all time Vastly Underrated A Hidden Gem.

[@captainn2094]

I remember playing the hell out of these games when they first came out. I always hoped they came out with a Rock version of this type of game. It was a nice cross over

[@MLee0584]

This was one of the best games and an awesome video from you. Great job

[@pjrodgers8101]

this and FFNY needs to be remastered, still one of the most underrated games series. (we gonna forget about dj icon, horrible)

[@Goomyx1492]

Never played Vendetta, but man I LOVED Fight for New York. Can't wait for next week's video!

[@MrVan77]

Glad I picked up a copy of FFNY on the Xbox about 5 yrs ago before prices got out of hand. Both games are great, and a great representation of what you could get away with in games back then.

[@kev_whatev]

I never played Vendetta, but FFNY is probably still my favorite wrestling game of all time. Can’t wait to see that video!

[@redexalt3637]

Loved this review. Didn't realize this was supposed to be a WCW game. I'm glad we got this though. I absolutely can't wait for the Fight for New York review. One of my favorite games to go back to every couple years.

[@BirdGang6]

Rap and wrestling?? My favorite things growing up, I was hooked instantly

[@NemesisOkoye]

I loved Def Jam Vendetta games! The first game came out the week of my birthday! I was just talking to a friend about this a couple of months ago. You confirmed what he had told me about WCW.

[@ginofrancejr555]

The def jam games are some of the best in wrestling game history

[@At0micPunk90]

The game that introduced me to DMX. "Y'ALL REALLY THINK THIS CAT CAN HANDLE THE DOG?!"

[@kumohara_319]

Need a revival of this series with Malcom Bivens in the D-Mob role

[@Insanebeastbear]

I still love the story about how Ghostface Killah was mad they removed his gold watch from the sequel.

[@EliteEasyE]

He wanted his eagle to fly too

[@anthonyrousseau8050]

@@EliteEasyE He wanted his eagle to litterally rip off the opponent's arms too. Should've asked to guest-star in Mortal Kombat instead lmao.

[@whidoineedthis]

YYYYOOOOO🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 THE TRIBE HAS SPOKEN thanks for doing this for us @wrestlingbios

[@TomGorian]

I'm so gutted I didn't play this more

[@chiseledadonisreacts]

I still have & play this game TIL THIS DAY!! We were spoiled with wrestling games in the 2000s, it was BANGER after ABSOLUTE BANGER year after year!

[@rileykazama3145]

This game is on my bucket list and rip dmx

[@greatwestern_footballshirt298]

One of my most played games that I owned on the GameCube along with Mario Kart Double kart and World cup 2002. Def Jam Vendetta was really that good !

[@MrKylelee18]

This is bringing back so many memories. Wrestling and hip hop were two of my favorite things that I didn’t know could be fused together. It’s like peanut butter and chocolate mixed together.

[@crissayago6070]

Fun Fact: Def Jam sent some of their artists on a month long tour to promote the game.

[@challen117]

I LOVED these games! Great review! Seriously looking forward to The Fight For New York Review!

[@crimealley1986]

Fantastic video mate. Cannot wait for the fight for New York video.

[@NickPR87]

This was the best possible use of the AKI engine on a non-wrestling game. This was another absolute hitter from EA Sports Big. I still have my original copy of the game!

[@LibertyJefferson]

Man, me and my best friend at the time used to play this game on Gamecube for entire weekends. Lol! Nostalgia trip for sure.

[@evolvedcopper2205]

This game was my jam, one of my top 3 from the 2000s 🙌🏽

[@daimo_4750]

I LOVED this game on the PS2. Good enough to make me occasionally turn off Vice City, Tiger Woods PGA Tour, PES and Fight Night to play a few games. Also, Henry Rollins was an absolute gangster in this.

[@joeykorleone6161]

I was the same with every one of those games lol

[@buddy0li]

I know they weren’t with Def Jam anymore at that time, but it would’ve been freaking awesome to have the guys from Slayer included in the game 😃😃😃🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@freeparking301]

Seeing this made me think of a seventy something year old Johnny Cash coming out to the ring to “Hurt.”

[@capthitmarkah4902]

I loved the 3 on 1 handicap match in the story.

[@roperflint8544]

Bring back lot of memories. Thanks for going over this game. I remember lot people at the time not really taking it too serious but still thought it was fun game

[@EliteEasyE]

That magazine article is actually about WCW Backstage Assaults which came out in 2000. Those screens are mock ups of the different stages that ended in up BSA and the cover refers to "WCW 2000." You can even see that the mock up pictures don't have rings like in WCWBSA. There's a video on youtube labeled WCW Mayhem 2 were the unfinished character models of WCW wrestlers actually match the Def Jam Vendetta art style.

[@ZaMorant1733]

This a CLASSIC .. man we need this remastered or a new version ASAP man 😭😭

[@keshawnmusic6043]

Thank you for showing love to this game .. in all the top list for fighting games or even PS2 games it seems to be left out a lot of the time.. probably due to the hip hop element.. however this game is and FFNY are incredible games . Great cover man 🔥💯

[@Cameron_611]

Ok,I wasn't expecting this. Great job!

[@jugghead82]

Looking at this video brings back so many memories. Def Jam Vendetta an it's sequel were amazing games I never played the 3rd one Icon but it was way different than the other two. I have to say it would have been amazing if WCW was around a little longer to see what could of been. Keep your stamina stay away from those photos 😂 Awesome Video as always

[@MrBlockice22]

Man please!! This was great memories!! Those games was my sh**!! RIP DMX, One Love!!

[@Littlebigdan]

Used to love this game back in the day

[@liquidgeorge]

I always loved the fact they added GFK’s eagle bracelet to his character model! I know they weren’t all on Def Jam, but I would loved to have seen all the core members of Wu-Tang in this game; it would’ve felt like a huge update to their PS1 title.

[@igardnergb]

Loved Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style.

[@phantomsoldier87]

I really wish I could shake your hand for this 💯 truly appreciate it

[@magmatt813]

I picked this up many years ago for $3.99 for the gamecube. I enjoyed it so much. I loved the aki games on N64 and was not disappointed at all.

[@johndemler838]

I'll play this again just to get my Redman & Method Man fix. Great video man, it was a well done review.

[@donutpredator4945]

I actually enjoy those games and still play them to this day

[@danners873]

I remember playing this back in the day and I loved it but fight for NY was just out of this world when it came out. Thanks for this video, love this channel

[@fowof]

My man,I love this channel.

[@rvndyjonx2701]

Yoo you a real one for this love the channel saying this before I watch cuz I know it's gonna be good

[@alexcarriere199]

I remember Vendatta as it first came out when I was 8, played through so many times. Just like this video though, Fight for New York took it to another level. Xzibit was my guy

[@BrazilBoi55]

I used to love playing this game on my older brothers ps2 that dmx menu theme still gives me goosebumps till this day!! Def jam vendetta is an absolute gem and fight for ny is one of the goat fighting games I still got my gamecube copy too lol

[@luismagana9784]

Thanks bro for all of these game reviews bless ya wrestling bios!!!!

[@paddyblah887]

GAMECUBE!!! my dude!! I absolutely loved my Gamecube! and my Dreamcast!!

[@cyonisboxbraids]

Dabo and S-word are Japanese MC'S rappers and were the 1st Artists to sign with Def jam Japan. Not only that, those two are in the same hip-hop group named NMU (Nitro Microphone Underground)

[@JeromeDoyle]

the story mode of both def jam titles! *chefs kiss*

[@tonware]

Great point about Def Jam being an alternative to the WWE games back then. Nowadays gaming-wrestling fans are starving for some good games, as the 2K games aren’t cutting it and the AEW game is a long time away. Crazy to think how we got this and Smackdown:HCTP in the same year.

[@steelcurtain187]

These games were great. Good call on covering them