WRESTLING VIDEO GAMES EVOLUTION [1983 - 2023]

The evolution of wrestling video games between 1983 and 2023
#wrestling #wwe #wrestlingvideogames #VideoGamesEvolution
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CHAPTERS
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0:03 1983
0:14 1984
0:24 1985
1:04 1986
1:14 1989
1:54 1990
2:23 1991
3:04 1992
4:03 1993
4:54 1994
5:33 1995
5:54 1996
6:13 1997
6:44 1998
7:34 1999
8:44 2000
10:24 2001
11:23 2002
12:34 2003
13:33 2004
14:34 2005
15:44 2006
15:54 2007
16:13 2008
16:33 2009
16:53 2010
17:14 2011
17:33 2012
17:44 2013
17:54 2014
18:04 2015
18:23 2016
18:34 2017
18:53 2018
19:04 2019
19:23 2020
19:34 2021
19:43 2022

[@johnanderson9765]

I played quite a few of these, but you left out one that I played a lot. It was a Nintendo game called called Pro Wrestling, and it came out in 1987 (in the US). No real wrestlers, just characters like Starman, Giant Panther, Kin Corn Karn and King Slender. I can't be the only one who remembers this game.

[@beezies2613]

STAR MAN, AMAZON, KING SLINDER…THAT WAS MY CHILDHOOD

[@odiumgeneris729]

"Fighter Hyabusa," Babaaay! And the music that drove my mom crazy: Bukata, bukata, BUKAT-BUKATA, do do do do d-da do do doo...

[@michaelmcintyre1155]

I watched it to see if they mentioned Pro Wrestling. Disappointing for sure. Loved that game

[@beastmaster415]

No John Anderson... You're not the only one kind sir...👍🏾💯

[@angrydalailama6089]

Wait. You're telling me that Kin Corn Karn wasn't a real wrestler?

[@bigbossman2810]

There are a few notable releases you left off: 1986: Pro Wrestling (NES) 1988: The Main Event (Arcade) 1989: Champion Wrestler (Arcade) 1989: Wrestle War 1989: Tecmo World Wrestling (NES) 1990: HAL Wrestling (Gameboy) 1990: Cutie Suzuki no Ringside Angel (Sega Mega Drive) 1992: Thunder Pro Wrestling Retsuden (Sega Mega Drive) 1993: Onita Atsushi FMW (SNES) 1994: Natsumi Championship Wrestling (SNES) 1994: Hammerlock Wrestling (SNES) 1995: Stardust Suplex (SNES) 1995: Power Move Pro Wrestling (PS1) 2004: Galactic Wrestling: Featuring Ultimate Muscle (PS2) That's just to name a few. I'm sure there were many more

[@steverapos3904]

There was a great arcade game called Taito's Champion Wrestler Arcade Game I spent quite a few quarters on too!

[@revelurayoan]

TNA for DS and PSP are a different game to the Impact realese for TV Consoles

[@miguelbayonrivera2467]

World Wrestling was very fun to play.

[@raptorxxxx-dd1fh]

without this one 1986: Pro Wrestling (NES). the video is farce. It's like missing out on NES hockey if you do a list for hockey evolution or double dribble if you did a list on basketball

[@robertcoggeshall3071]

The Main Event was great! I was the Hogan character Conan the great, and my brother was El Condor, sort of a blue blazer/ultimate warrior mix.

[@miguelbayonrivera2467]

Does anybody remember Tecmo's World Wrestling for the NES? That game had cut scenes for some of the big moves, like the back suplex and the airplane spin. Kinda an underrated gem, if you ask me.

[@orionassante3386]

Yes, fantastic game. Loved it as a kid, just wished it had tag team.

[@miguelbayonrivera2467]

@@orionassante3386 I thought the same thing back then. I wondered why it didn't had tag team matches.

[@teamquirky4908]

Im so glad someone else remembers this game

[@frank68x]

Loved that one! Definitaly my favorite on the NES. They also forgot Tag Team Wrestling on NES..I guess it was covered by the arcade version.

[@bellarobustarecords1774]

That was a great game

[@robertcatania1120]

I remember getting so excited over Royal Rumble for the SNES because the wrestlers finally got "finishing moves" like their real life counterparts.

[@SimonJones265]

Kinda weird how Super Wrestlemania on the Genesis had finishing moves but the SNES version didn't. Royal Rumble was a great game.

[@robertcatania1120]

@@SimonJones265 as a SNES owner growing up and not a Genesis...yes this was frustrating

[@FunkyGOB]

I remember being so psyched for RAW when it came out on SEGA. Then laughed my ass off at Luna Vachon’s grunts of pain when you hit her. I loved how you could just listen to the theme songs on the select menu. Made for more realistic entrances when my wrestling toys came out to their actual themes and marched into that old blue WWF ring.

[@briancochran3309]

My fav wrestling game of all time. Def not the best, just brings back so many memories. Loved it for snes and sega

[@johnanderson9765]

@@SimonJones265 The Genesis was slightly more advanced than the Super Nintendo. I played Fatal Fury on both systems and they were quite different.

[@jeddis92]

Yeah, list is incomplete without 1987's NES Pro Wrestling. I still consider that the best wrestling game ever made.

[@354allday]

Only reason I clicked...Pro Wrestling was on another level

[@shizzam5000]

Facts!!

[@feralcyborggaming1531]

Yup.

[@matthewmagda4971]

Highly agreed!

[@milkcarton6654]

It was great at the time and I had it but that's some pretty intense case of rose-tinted glasses to call it the best wrestling game ever made. That or you never plated a wrestling game past 1990 😛 Just on nes Tecmo Wrestling was better.

[@joshuasteele4498]

Had a lot of fun playing those WCW titles from THQ on the N64 in the late 90’s! Several of us played the heck out of those. Made for some inexpensive evenings, while in college

[@WGW2007]

@Antionitonio Bianchinitio idk if this opinion will get ppl mad. It keep in mind it’s a opinion wwe 2k19 is one of the best 2k wwe games besides 2k14

[@danbelenkov7140]

I blame the WWF/WCW for dropping out of school

[@robertcatania1120]

I dumped a ton of quarters into Wrestlefest (the sequel which you labeled it incorrectly in your video as WWF Superstars which was the first game and was also in your video) in the arcades when I was a kid! Also, no NES Pro Wrestling???? That was one of the VERY few wrestling games on home consoles worth owning in the 80s.

[@PontFlair]

"Mat Mania" and "Mania Challenge" look like AWESOME Pro-Wrestling video games.

[@matthews.3812]

WWE SMACK DOWN SHUT YOUR MOUTH WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITE WRESTLING GAMES AS A KID ON THE PS2.

[@kincamell2]

WCW Revenge and Wrestlemaina 2000 were 2 of the best games , ever. Ps Much Gratitude

[@gregheaney6731]

You forgot a real gem of wrestling games; "Pro Wrestling" for the NES (1987). Six fictional characters with a unique set of moves, and a final "boss" that was the most supreme of wrestlers.

[@RAMCO840]

I'll be good enough with Technos WWFs Wrestlefest Arcade game, PERIOD.

[@CrazyBunny123]

When I was like 6 or 7, I remember watching the older kids playing WWF Superstars in the arcade in awe because I never had the guts to challenge them in the match.

[@juanvaldez2921]

That's because you didn't have quarters to play. 🤣

[@stevens7525]

4 you forgot: Pro Wrestling on NES, Tecmo World Wrestling, Def Jam Vendetta, and Rumble Roses. Awesome video though 💪🏽

[@ryanb.31funky]

Someone loves the Undertaker!

[@MixtapeKilla2004]

Hold On A Minute PLAYA! You Going One On One With...The Undertaker! 😎😎😎

[@jacocombrinck543]

Was very subtle, but I did pick up on it. He also apparently likes beating up women. Not sure what thats about.

[@matthewmagda4971]

All of the Benoit appearances are cringe.

[@yeoedwin1619]

Worth mentioning: Tecmo Pro Wrestling (NES), Pro Wrestling (NES), 3 Counts Bout (Neo Geo), Big Bang Pro Wrestling (Neo Geo Pocket), Knuckle Bash (Arcade), Blazing Tornado (Arcade) , The Main Event (Arcade), Ring Rage (Arcade), Power Move Pro Wrestling (PS1) Champion Wrestler (Arcade - Taito)

[@uxm4life94]

And Wrestle War for Megadrive/Genesis

[@matthewmagda4971]

Facts.

[@milkcarton6654]

Yeah Tecmo Wrestling if you were in the west was the best one in the 8 bits era. And Pro Wrestling by Nintendo was the one everyone who cared about wrestling had in 87-88 just cause it was the most widely available.

[@HankYamamoto]

Simpsons also did a wrestling one

[@pizzaking7878]

1986's Mania Challenge was so fun as a kid, and still holds up well against all that came after.

[@doug2731]

For true fans of wrestling video games this timeline gets so sad right as 2011 comes.

[@animal1nstinct394]

why

[@KevSmithMusic]

@@animal1nstinct394 Quite. Since then we've seen 2K14, which was awesome and 2K22 which was the best one in years. Plus, we have Fire Pro Wrestling World which is also great.

[@matthewmagda4971]

Wrestling died in 2002.

[@charlesmoore3654]

I just realized that I have played all of these and a few that were left out. Thanks for making this video. Brought back some cool memories 😎

[@leoangeloflores841]

Nostalgia, those were the times when life was just plain and simple..

[@thewingedavenger1007]

One of the best wrestling games is Konami's 1988 arcade game "The Main Event".

[@robertcoggeshall3071]

Yup! Conan the great, El Condor, Bigfoot Joe, all with images looking just like wwf wrestlers.

[@phillnorman]

Bring back alot of memories, but you forgot "The Main Event". That one was in the arcades during the late 80's

[@dabr3302]

Loved this video, brought back a lot of memories. If you ever do an updated video in the future, can you include Tecmo World Wrestling? Came out for the NES in 1989/1990 and was a great game.

[@SmarkAngel]

Good wrestling games are so hard to do man. A truly great game has to be a satisfying fighter, a fun sports game AND be a fun storytelling tool...while also having robust creation systems for every facet of a show. The modern expectations of a wrestling game are a LOT to live up to.

[@Daniel-lq5qq]

Such a wonderful nostalgic Video i played Like 35% of the Games i Loved SmackDown series, Kingdom of Wrestling 2, fire pro Wrestling 2, days of reckoning so much memories i played for hours ❤❤❤❤

[@mayank4156]

WWF Smackdown PS1 was my first. I got randomly interested in WWE because of it. I still remember that move names were displayed during execution in-game. I watched WWE and found that most moves were called the same by the commentators. Found it fun somehow lol

[@MrVariant]

Yeah smackdown 2 was better and here comes the pain on ps2 was my favorite. N64 was good with no mercy and wrestlemania 2000 and GameCube ultimate muscle had far better announcing and graphics than ps2 crap version. Shame it died nowadays with wwe minigames and other dumb glitches like action arcade wrestling. Create a wrestler was always fun I admit. AEW looked pretty bad for the game though women of wrestling has cheap camera work and loops intros over good presentation, titantron and fireworks to enter. 4:13 yay Saturday night slam masters, glad capcom arcade 2nd stadium let you buy the arcade version individually for $4 though no netplay. 8:03 lol

[@bbpratt]

You missed Pro Wrestling in the Master system. It was the first game I bought when I got my Sega in 1987. I loved that game.

[@collinsingleton6899]

I still have Mat Mania(1985) on my PS5 and Fire Pro Wrestling. Mat Manias graphics and gameplay was better than half the wrestling games that came after.

[@TheViper4Life]

Thanks for this, didn't even know it was on PS5. Just bought it. 🙂

[@collinsingleton6899]

@@TheViper4Life I have exactly 100 games on my PS5. I would say around 27 are old school games from the 80's/90's. The best ones I have are Sega Genesis Classics(over 40 games). Capcom Arcade Stadium(forgot the amount of games, but it's a lot.). Atari Flashback Classics Vol. 1 & Vol 2. These games have late 70's early 80's games. Don't get Vol. 3 it's a lot of repeat titles and obscure crappy games...enjoy!

[@regnadelba119ogrivmoglam2]

The Undertaker has been in the most games of all time for wrestling. Taker should get a Guinness world record award.

[@Rob_Cahill]

God this made me feel sssooo old lol Kinda surprised you didn't toss in Rumble Roses to mix on this. Still all those old memories of the 80's and 90's playing arcade machines losing quarters, such a lost era when those places vanished.

[@TheGreatLKHS]

I am disappointed that the Rumble Roses games were not included. Wazupwitdat!? 🤷

[@Rob_Cahill]

@@TheGreatLKHS I only played XX and I enjoyed it. Wished they did a third one (Xbox player)

[@KAHILIAULANI]

I had most of these WWF/WCW/ECW games. But I wish I knew about the old school mid to late 90’s Japan wrestling games. They look amazing for the era.

[@JulianJohnston919]

One Christmas, my parents bought me Mat Mania stand up arcade machine. I truly thought I was the luckiest kid in the world, and actually I was, to have two parents who would do anything to make the holidays special!

[@kokocaptainqc]

smackdown 1 and 2 had the BEST season mode ever made since it would just go on forever

[@NTSYNVK]

My favorite ones were on SNES, N64 and PS2. WCW/NWO Revenge, WWF No Mercy, Smackdown - Here comes the pain, are my top 3.

[@sixburgh64ss]

'WWF Superstars' arcade version is definitely my favorite, despite the absence of Savage which i never understood. 'WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game' (ironically never actually in arcades) was fun too. I played 'WWE All Stars' a bit with my friends son when he was a kid and really enjoyed the over the top, cartoon-like style of it as well.

[@audioplugg5310]

I use to play WWF Superstars all the time in the arcade. Big Boss Man was my favorite.

[@vincentleone4021]

Not having NES pro wrestling is basically not including Larry Bird or Magic Johnson in top 80s BBall players.

[@craneywatch]

So far, nothing will beat Wrestlemania Arcade.

[@BruceWayne-ns7tv]

I remember WWF 1989 as clear as day lmao.. Me and my cousin playing it. I could not figure out how to get on the ropes .

[@thegadflygang5381]

What happened to "BOP N WRESTLE"? We all loved that game as little kids

[@RAMCO840]

@ 2:44 min ( epic video scene 👍)

[@williamc4309]

Imagine someone watching this in 2060 thinking what horrible graphics the 2023 games have , the way we think of the 80s games now in 2024

[@tylernanni2692]

The good old days still love the old wrestling games good times can anyone feel the nostalgia in the air?

[@danbelenkov7140]

No not really. Every time I play a game out of nostalgia, I only end up playing for 10 min before the limitations are too apparent. Though I can still play some of the Nintendo games. Mario World aged very well as did the Zelda games

[@odiumgeneris729]

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Where is Pro Wrestling from the NES? Anyway, it's always great to see the beginning of these videos and just see programmers trying to do their best. Just to make a game that they would want to play themselves.

[@alepanhol]

Where is Pro Wrestling from te Master System too

[@nickbrooks2408]

I was just about to say this. No Starman.....no watch!👎🏾

[@354allday]

I had to rewind thinking I missed it...Pro Wrestling was ahead of its time

[@tedturner3945]

That was cool. Ill def have to check out the games I never heard of. Thanks!

[@mitchelmodine9197]

I was a legend on Mania Challenge at my local arcade back in the day. I once won 32 matches vs CPU on one quarter. That beats Taker’s Wrestlemania streak by 11.

[@sarcasticblack9640]

How could you forget Pro Wrestling for NES? Came out 86

[@HHMGBOSS]

How you leave out Pro Wrestling and Tecmo Wrestling for the NES??? Both are bona-fide classics.

[@Bowdon]

I liked the video. Though a few additions, Rock 'n' Wrestle on C64 1985, The Main Event on the Arcade in 1988, and WCW Nitro on PC in 1998.

[@The_OiGAMER]

The first Wrestling Game in my collection in 1990 was wwf Wrestlemania for the NES. Since them I collected Wrestling Games for every plattform 😁 and 32 years later I have a lot of them 😅😅😅

[@mjdf122]

Amazing thanks for all the evolution videos lucky I’m old and blessed to have seen it all so far in gaming

[@VGE]

You're welcome. We need real gamers to witness the evolution of video games

[@mjdf122]

@@VGE of course such great games players and times

[@robertnolan623]

What I loved about wrestle-mania 2000 was that it was dedicated to Owen Hart.

[@vibeofthee80s_]

1:14 My dad bought me This game for my b-day back in 89 4/25/24

[@LikeMadCops]

ECW & Smackdown games were my absolute favorites. I would play them for hours and hours.

[@mr8883]

OMG M.U.S.C.L.E, I still got this game. Is in my garage with all the other NES stuff. I just remembered. Miss playing that game

[@niXity9000]

Fond memories of playing MUSCLE on a NES multicart as a child

[@brianmfpaul115]

WWF No Mercy is GOAT of Pro Wrestling video game Long Live AKI Wrestling Games

[@matthewmensah481]

Thursday night wars 🔵- late 90s/early 00s WWE- SmackDown!- UPN WCW- Thunder ⚡- TBS

[@joegai7824]

Another omission was WWF Microleague Wrestling in 1987, which had actual digitized match footage as gameplay.

[@christophermoody6840]

Skipped a Good chunk of time between 1986 and 1989 and missed some absolute classics like Wrestle War by Sega, Tecmo Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling on the NES

[@casperueckermann938]

Some classic wrestling games. Still play some of them

[@michaeldavis2066]

Just remembering playing most of these games as a kid at the arcade back in the 80's

[@TheThetrimby1973]

I worked at an animal hospital just so I could buy a Nintendo system, and WWF Wrestlemania was the first game I bought. I played it all the time.

[@TheJimmyDonut]

nice edit @3:43 (elbow smash from one game to the next with Undertaker)

[@2LIVEGAMES]

came A long way! wwe 2k22 is very realistic sometimes. I'm excited for 23 and etc.

[@jonathanturbide2232]

That thumbnail is A+++++! 👍🏻

[@KurisuBlaze]

No 'A Winner Is You' NES Pro Wrestling, or Tecmo World Wrestling, but at least we get to see some Fire Pro and Slam Masters representation.

[@tboy2531]

No

[@user-de8hs6ep2k]

Superstar 1990 graphics was ahead of it’s time

[@Uniqueguy222]

Here comes the pain 🥲

[@DrVenture45]

How many of us played these game in the era of their origins and thought..."Damn, these graphics are incredible!" 😂

[@ljmack3625]

Royal Rumble 1993 was my fav back when I was a 9 it's the only wrestling game I've ever liked.

[@emperomassinencambio...9941]

There must be a sign in the fact that wrestling games reached their pinacle at the exact half mark of the video with No Mercy. The best wrestling game ever, top 10 of the entire N64 library and must be in any top 500 of all time games of all consoles.

[@jetla22]

I was still playing it when smackdown 3 came out. The gameplay was too great, and the AI made it too fun

[@animal1nstinct394]

fire pro wrestling world imo outdid no mercy

[@crimsondeath84]

Only downside about No Mercy is the Championship mode was too short. It didn’t live up to Road to Wrestlemania from Wrestlemania 2000 N64

[@matthewmagda4971]

Wrestling itself was already dogshit though.

[@joemomma3208]

King Slender & Giant Panther 4 life!

[@surrealistidealist]

War Zone, Attitude & Smackdown 1 & 2 were my main 4 back in the day.

[@BMK_KING]

When I was a kid superstars was the end all be all, followed by wrestlefest because nothing at home was close. I remember renting an n64 from blockbuster to play the crap out of wcw nwo world tour, becaus I was a PlayStation guy. Then I eventually got one just for revenge and no mercy.

[@xxxjordandangerouslyxxx]

💪🏼Muscle. I haven't been reminded of that game till now. Awesome game and good job with the list💪🏼

[@vanealmorrow6024]

My all time favorite was WCW versus NWO for N64

[@mista2smooth1]

Taito Champion Wrestler definitely should be on here.

[@traviskoontz4796]

Fantastic retrospective

[@stormykeep9213]

Forgot Tecmo World Wrestling...My favorite on the NES. Still fire that one up every now and then.

[@dr.loomis4221]

Powerslam 4 and Wrestlefest Kingdom are goated

[@luna_kits2345]

I was just smiling through the rest of the videos and reminiscing on playing most in the list.

[@fahadbeats]

I played all of thoae gamez 💔

[@kl8455]

the 83 Tag Team game was a lot of fun. wasted quite a few quarters at Flipper McCoy's playiing it with friends.

[@stephen9302]

Wrestling has been UNWATCHABLE FOR YEARS (let alone the video games)

[@JUSTGOEXTREME]

1983:some good wrestling games that some. Company's don't exist 1999:some nice ECW and WWF games 2000-2022:All WWE

[@Maik-i]

The 1993 WWF Royal Rumble is my 'All-Star'!❤

[@rubatahmed353]

Nice complete collection

[@lewissmith6086]

Undertaker is there the whole time

[@BrianMcGuinness]

Missing Tecmo Wrestling too. Great game. Otherwise great video.

[@josephberryman4106]

I used to love all these games when I was a kid but the best WWE game out has to be WWE smackdown vs raw 2008

[@user-ih4ip1rq7h]

언더테이커 최다 출연~! 자기관리가 엄청난 레슬러.. 역시 레전드

[@eggroll20xd6]

Great list of games and I'm guessing you were only counting licensed ones that had actual rosters. One that deserves mention even though it is not licensed is Wrestling Empire (2021?). It is one of the best wrestling games on the market with an open world and booking options. It may look like it is from the N64 Era, but it is very deep.

[@mattdoylemedia]

WCW vs. The World is under-appreciated IMO. Same goes for Pro Wrestling on the SEGA Master System from 1986. Weird box art on that one though.

[@jasonwillaims9691]

Oh wow! I'm an 80's baby, but I didn't even know that half these games existed!

[@briantheiss629]

No “Main Event” by Konami. You had several arcade games early in the list. This an okay one that you missed. Was 4 players at a time.

[@rickjames2.0]

I was just about to mention that one. Still playing it these days too

[@robertcoggeshall3071]

Serious brain damage! Stomping...stomping. Conan the great and El Condor were me and my brothers tag team supreme!

[@vanthdreadstar8039]

There was one for Atari. I got it from Toy R uS in California back in the day. Couldnt figure out how to play it, though. Edit: It was "Title Match Pro Wrestling" for Atari 2600 from 1987

[@randallcobb6406]

Ohhhh man that 5-1 TV game takes me back too the good days

[@oneelrockwell79]

Starman, King Slender, the Fighting Habusee, Pro Wrestling on Nintendo was awesome.

[@rice_goat80]

My favorites growing are 92 WWF Super Wrestlemania Genesis,93 WWF Royal Rumble Genesis,95 WWF Wrestlemania Arcade Game Genesis,96 WWF In Your House PlayStation,2000 WWF Smackdown PlayStation,2000 WWF Smackdown 2 Know Your Role PlayStation,2001 WWF Smackdown Just Bring It PS2, You forgot to show Pro Wrestling and Tecmo World Wrestling for NES