Watch 90 minutes of footage, featuring Yokozuna and Mr. Fuji, that showcases the work that went into creating WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game in 1994.
The YouTube channel associated with the "Insert Coin" documentary has released new footage of Yokozuna performing motion-capture work to be digitized into the 1995 video game. The documentary is all about Midway games and the creation of games like NBA Jam and Mortal Kombat.
Much like the previously released video of Shawn Michaels' work with Midway, this video has no sound. However,
you can see the former WWE Champion performing the actions that would make it into the video game, including suplexes, body slams, uppercuts, and more. You can also see the WWE Hall of Famer lying down on the crash pad and waving his arms frantically, simulating what would happen if you were in a Gorilla Press position.
There's also footage of him carrying the salt bucket that he used to bring to the ring. Separately, he is seen making a jabbing motion as though he is hitting his opponent with a weapon. Similarly, the video of Razor Ramon doing motion capture featured him holding a steel chair. Ultimately, no weapons are utilized in the game.
As a bonus, the video's ending features motion capture of Mr. Fuji, Yokozuna's legendary manager. He can be seen waving a stick around. Fuji doesn't appear in the game outside of a brief moment before a match, where Yokozuna is the player's opponent, and Fuji can be seen briefly holding up a Japanese flag.
One of the highlights of the arcade game is the hyperbolic endings. The wrestlers would receive via text boxes after the final gauntlet was completed. In Yokozuna's case, once he captures the WWE Championship, it leads to the collapse of American civilization as productivity slowly disintegrates, and people begin to wallow in depravity because Yokozuna has stripped the United States of its dignity.
Below, you can read Yokozna's ending:
With Conquest comes the honor for Yoko. He has accomplished his mission to defeat the greatest of the world's wrestlers and to prove that his Sumo style of wrestling is superior to all others. By stripping the United States of its championship belt and its dignity, Yokozuna will be revered as one of his country's greatest champions,
The consequences of this victory will no doubt be the undoing of American culture as we know it: There will be years of adversity, American productivity will disintegrate. Industries will collapse. The people will wallow in mindless depravity, mere Shadows of their former selves.
Oh, well. It was bound to happen eventually anyway
"WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game" was released for Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, Sega 32X, Sega Saturn, PC, and the Sony PlayStation.
The game was succeeded by "WWF In Your House" in 1996. WWE previously released footage of several stars performing motion capture for that video game. Learn more here.
