Read this if the game doesn't load.
Introduction to WWF WrestleMania Challenge (NES)
I still remember the first time I loaded up WWF WrestleMania Challenge back in the day. The roster felt like the who’s who of wrestling royalty: Hulk Hogan’s classic leg drop, Randy “Macho Man” Savage’s flying elbow, and The Ultimate Warrior’s insanely fast offense. You could also step into the ring as The Honky Tonk Man, Ted DiBiase, Big Boss Man, or even the Hart Foundation duo, each with their own signature moves and animations. It wasn’t hyper-realistic by modern standards, but the personality of each superstar really shone through in those blocky sprites and flashy finishing moves.
Matches come in all shapes and sizes here—singles, championship bouts, and even tag team showdowns that felt surprisingly dynamic for the era. Controls were straightforward: a couple of buttons for strikes, grapples, and the occasional top-rope splash, with a combination of directional pad moves to mix things up. There’s a basic stamina bar to keep track of, and knowing when to strike or tie up with your opponent is key. Playing against a friend always led to hilariously close falls, especially when someone kicked out at the last second.
It’s that simplicity that makes WrestleMania Challenge so endearing even now. There’s no complicated move list to memorize, just pure button-mashing mayhem mixed with a dash of strategy. The crowd noises, cheesy commentary snippets, and that iconic horn when it’s time to brawl all add to the nostalgic charm. Sometimes it’s fun to boot it up with friends and see who really deserves to be crowned champion—just don’t expect any deep simulation elements or grappling realism. It’s all about the fun rush of landing that big elbow or suplex at the perfect moment.