Wrestler appearances in other video games

Developer: Hudson Soft
Year: 1990






Gameplay-wise, Maniac Pro-Wrestling is not your standard Wrestling game. Like WCW World Championship Wrestling (NES) or WWF Micro League Wrestling on the home
computers, moves are performed by an turn-based RPG style, where players select attacks from a list of techniques.



Every attack, grapple and reversal has it's own specific move animation, accompanied by ringside commentary to let players know whether their moves connected or not.



The most interesting aspect of Maniac Wrestling is the game's story mode. For a Wrestling title that was released in 1990, I can't think of an older Wrestling game
that featured an interactive scenario.


The trainer in picture #2 looks like he could be based on Karl Gotch - without the moustache.

Stylistically, Maniac Pro-Wrestling's story mode looks quite similar to Champion Road from Super Fire Pro-Wresling Special. Albeit, Special was released
four years after Maniac Pro-Wrestling.

While I don't have player names at the moment, I can at least show everyone the Wrestler portraits I encountered so far:



The player-controlled character is a Japanese Wrestler that eventually learns the Wheel Kick, German Suplex and other special techniques.
If I were to guess, this Wrestler is based on Akira Maeda, who was a prominent UWF star at the time.

The weakest opponent supports an 80's moustache. My first guess would be Yoshiaki Fujiwara.



Opponent number 2. looks like a mix between Genichiro Tenryu and Osamu Kido. The latter being a UWF veteran.



Those eyes.... there are two notable black Wrestlers that were featured as foreigners in the UWF: Maurice Smith and Norman Smiley.
I ruled out Ernesto Hoost, since Hoost didn't make headlines in Japan until 1993 (specifically, Hoost's involvement with the K1 promotion).



I was stumped with this next opponent until I realized this opponent's Lariat takes out insane amounts of damage.
I'm guessing this Wrestler is supposed to be based on Stan Hansen (just without the moustache).




This next opponent has added dialogue that interrupts the match. His finisher seems to be a Backdrop.



The red and blue tights remind me of Dynamite Kid. Though, I wouldn't be surprised if I was far off. I also noticed a second commentator during this match.
The commentator looks like NJPW trainer Kotetsu Yamamoto.

At the moment, I am getting my butt kicked by the above opponent/rival. Luckily, the game still awards you with stat points even if you lose a match. So,
I've entered into another RPG trope ...grinding.