Luckily, I found out playing the web browser version of Rowdy Wrestling actually
does save your progress. So, I've been sitting through
ads trying to unlock all the characters.
On top of the 45 Wrestlers that I mentioned, I also noticed the Road Warriors, Demolition and Nacho Libre. But they aren't appearing in the character
selection menu (just yet). I'm hoping they are unlockable, too. So, to hold you all over until then. Let's take a look at:
Super City
Released in 2016 by infamous indie game developer M Dickie. Super City is a free-to-play brawler with a cast of 150 characters - all based on real-life
likenesses. I was able to download a version to my Android device.
The roster is split into four sections. Heroes, villains, sides that are neutral and a "deceased" section for characters that die in the story.
Each character has two forms. Regular and a transformed superhero state.
The first Wrestling likeness is C Man - who transforms into John Cena!
Block Buster is Dwayne The Rock Johnson with nods to Johnson's portrayal in the G.I. Joe movie.
This next reference goes back to Hulk Hogan's early days when the Hulkster was known as Terry Boulder.
God of War is Ultimate Warrior. War's human form is the real-life Warrior Jim Hellwig.
Little Dragon is Bruce Lee with a nod to Lee's portrayal in the Green Hornet as Kato.
Maskara is Sin Cara
Just for the heck of it, I'm throwing in Moonwalker who is obviously based on Michael Jackson.
Microman is supposed to be Ant Man. I'm just throwing this one in to show just how wacky and creative the roster for Super City is.
There's giant and microscopic characters to choose from.
World Warrior is a reference to Street Fighter Ryu. The name World Warrior is derived from Street Fighter II: The World Warrior.
The one game credited with starting the fighting game boom in the early 1990's.
As we've already discussed, Ryu is based on real-life karateka legend Mas Oyama.
Tapout is Ronda Rousey.
When I saw this next likeness while browsing the app store, I knew I had to download it. Thunder Tiger is Jushin Thunder Liger.
Whack Ax uses the same character as Bret Hart from previous M Dickie games, if I recall.
Like Parts Craft in Fire Pro, some characters use actual images for their head sprites. Aftershock is WCW's The Shockmaster.
Blood Brother is Gangrel.
Seeing characters like this makes me want to get back into designing Parts Craft pieces in Fire Pro again.
Blender is The Shredder.
Cross Fit isn't listed on the MDickie Wiki page, but I'm pretty sure he's supposed to be Seth Rollins Shield era.
Have you ever wondered what would happen if Street Fighter's Vega, Tiger Mask IV and Rapper Xzibit had a baby?
Neither have I; but, now you can control such a questionable combination with Flying Feline!
I'm pretty sure Maverick is supposed to be the game developer M. Dickie himself. The name even sounds similar.
Even has M. Dickie's logo on both attires (complete with the Ultimate Warrior's facepaint).
M. Dickie provides another deep reference. Nightshift is the Undertaker. Though, Nightshift's human form is even more interesting.
Notice The Punisher T-Shirt? Well, before he was known as The Undertaker, one of Mark Callaway's early gimmicks was a masked
Wrestler known as "The Punisher".
Meltdown is another character who isn't listed in the MDickie Wiki page. The attire reminds me of a recoloured Kane without the mask.
It's moments like these where I'm glad this thread exists. Savage is Spawn with his human form as none other than
Big Papa Pump Scott Steiner!
Undisputed is Brock Lesnar.
Ultra Bull is another obscure reference to Big Van Vader's early "Baby Bull" gimmick.
The only other game that I can think of that referenced this gimmick is an extremely obscure Wrestling game from Japan on the 3DO
console known as Royal Pro-Wrestling (which we've talked about in the past within this thread).
Vulture is Sting. The name Vulture is a reference to The Crow - the movie character Sting's Crow vigilante gimmick was based off of.
General Genecide is a mix up between Sgt. Slaughter and the name is a nod to Mean Gene Okerlund.