Fightful Magazine Archives: A Winner is You: Looking Back on “Pro Wrestling” for the NES (Patreon)

The Nintendo Entertainment System was a landmark video game console. Not only did it revive the video game industry following its crash in 1983, but it introduced the world to multiple series that have stood the test of time. Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, and Metroid were just a few examples of landmark NES titles. Nostalgia tied to the system will vary from gamer to gamer. For many that have played the NES during their youth, pro wrestling was where their nostalgia was especially potent.

Think back to the mid-to-late 1980s; there were few forms of entertainment as prevalent as professional wrestling. Whether it was Hulk Hogan passionately telling children to say their prayers and take their vitamins, or “Macho Man” Randy Savage cutting a promo in his trademark voice, pro wrestling felt like a real-life comic book series. This moment marked one of the hottest eras in wrestling. There were countless pro wrestling games, of which the NES had no shortage. Perhaps the best aged, not to mention most memorable, is the aptly named Pro Wrestling.

Published by Nintendo, Pro Wrestling   was developed internally by its development team, Nintendo R&D3. They were responsible for developing other NES titles, including Punch-Outand Star Tropics, peripherals such as the Nintendo 64 Rumble Pak and GameCube Memory Card, and even hardware ranging from the Wii to the 3DS.

Furthermore, Pro Wrestling was designed and programmed by one man: Masato Masuda. Following his departure from Nintendo, Masuda would go on to create Fire Pro Wrestling, a series that continues to this very day.

Starting with the roster of characters, Pro Wrestling gets things right. It features six playable wrestlers, each with distinct backgrounds, personalities, and fighting styles. Many are inspired by real-life wrestlers, too. For example, Fighter Hayabusa seems to take inspiration from New Japan Pro Wrestling founder, Antonio Inoki. Not only is this due to the notable chin structure but his signature move, the Back Brain Kick, which is similar to Inoki’s enzuigiri. Sporting long, blonde locks, King Slender is a dead ringer for “The Nature Boy,” Ric Flair, the limousine-riding, jet-flying 16-time World Heavyweight Champion.

However, perhaps the two most notable characters of Pro Wrestling are Starmanand The Amazon.Both wrestlers are more in line with comic book characters, and they don’t seem to possess many notable similarities to real-life wrestlers. Their colorful, distinct designs have made them endearing figures from the 8-bit era. Overall, thePro Wrestling roster is not only memorable but fitting for the time. Not one wrestler from that roster would look out of place fighting stars from the era, like Hogan, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper,or King Kong Bundy.

From a gameplay standpoint, Pro Wrestling is relatively straightforward. The game features two modes: single-player and two-player. In the single-player mode, which is likely to be used most, the player fights through a gauntlet of wrestlers to win the Video Wrestling Association Championship. Once the player has won the VWA Title, they will continue to the Video Wrestling Federation Championship, held by the Great Puma. When it comes to final bosses of the NES era, the Great Puma is often considered one of the most challenging. He is known for testing the player’s skills that they’ve amassed up to that point.

Masuda was more than just a video game designer and programmer. He enjoyed pro wrestling in both Japan and North America, and this influence is present throughout various aspects of Pro Wrestling. It’s important to note that Pro Wrestling was one of the Sports Series titles from the NES “Black Box” collection. This series, which consists of 11 NES titles, share similar features, the most notable being title theme music. Looking back on the Sports Series across all titles, Pro Wrestling is among the most remembered and aged best.

Where Pro Wrestling truly shines is its presentation during gameplay. In 1988, Computer Gaming World awarded Pro Wrestling its Best Sports Game award of the year, declaring that it was “the only wrestling game that really understands what it is simulating.” After a few minutes of gameplay, it’s easy to see why. Not only is Pro Wrestling fast-paced, requiring the use of a series of strikes and well-timed moves to wear down opponents, but it also replicates the wrestling event experience better than any other NES title.

A crowd that cheers the action on, a referee who calls the match, announcers calling from ringside, and a cameraman documenting everything are in full view in Pro Wrestling. These are impressive additions that show Masuda’s attention to detail. The referee’s logic is especially notable, as he will take his time to get into position to count pinfalls. This delay adds another layer of strategy, which becomes integral in more difficult matches later on.

Today, Pro Wrestling is known by most gamers, regardless of age, for a specific phrase. At the end of each victorious match, a screen will display statistics, including the number of matches won, lost, and the time it took to complete the previous bout. However, it also featured a well-meaning yet comedically-translated quote: “A Winner is You.” This quote went on to achieve meme status with the advent of the digital age. Outside of re-releases on services, such as Nintendo Switch Online, Pro Wrestling has gone largely overlooked, which is unfortunate given its potential.

Would it be far-fetched to assume that Pro Wrestling could make a return, maintaining the same charm while implementing more contemporary graphics, better sound, and refined gameplay? If the series remains dormant, one would think that Starman, The Amazon, or any other Pro Wrestling character would be a prime candidate as a DLC fighter for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Imagine seeing one of them pull off their trademark techniques or execute a Final Smash that brings them to the VWA ring for a colossal beat-down.

Even if it continues to remain in the 8-bit era, Pro Wrestling is a solid achievement. Train up, work your way up the rankings, and become the tandem VWA or VWF Champion you are destined to be!