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Not every sports entertainer, however, has been quite so lucky. Some wrestlers, whether due to relative unpopularity or early release, have only made a single appearance in a video game. On the other hand, a few were actually immensely popular. For one reason or another their depiction in WWE video games have been undeniably sparse.
10 Bruno Sammartino: WWE 2K14
For decades, Bruno Sammartino was perhaps the most iconic wrestler of his generation. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s Sammartino was a beloved babyface for millions of fans and was particularly admired in his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He holds the distinction of being the longest-reigning WWE Champion in the industry’s history, just a little over 2,800 consecutive days.
It’s surprising to point out that, despite his massive popularity, Sammartino has only been depicted in a single WWE game where fans can actually play as him. WWE 2K14 included Sammartino as part of the roster, although his DLC needed to be purchased first.
9 Steve Williams: WWF Attitude
Also known as “Dr. Death,” Steve Williams experienced some tough times in the WWE. In 1998, his career with the company looked promising until he was booked in the infamous “Brawl for All” tournament. The point of the “Brawl for All” was that, unlike the regular product, it was meant to be unscripted. The result was a spate of nasty injuries of which Steve Williams was a victim.
His popularity in the WWE was never given the chance to materialize. Williams did, however, make the cut for WWF Attitude’s release in 1999. It was a disappointing end for a performer who had experienced much success in other promotions prior to his tenure with the WWE.
8 Ultimo Dragon: Smackdown! Here Comes The Pain
A popular lucha libre wrestler, Yoshihiro Asai performed under the name “Ultimo Dragon” for over three decades. He wrestled for New Japan Pro Wrestling for a time before hitting it big with WCW in the mid-1990s. Ultimo Dragon would go on to win the WCW Cruiserweight Championship on multiple occasions.
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Although depicted several times in WCW video games, Ultimo Dragon only made one appearance in a WWE game. From 2003-2004 Ultimo Dragon wrestled for the WWE but was unable to replicate his earlier popularity. Nevertheless, he was still featured in the widely acclaimedSmackdown! Here Comes the Pain.
7 Mae Young: WWF No Mercy
Mae Young, without a doubt, was a trailblazer for women in professional wrestling. Debuting in 1939, she was a fixture of the National Wrestling Alliance throughout World War II and well into the 1950s and early 1960s. During the WWE’s “Attitude Era” Young’s career experienced a resurgence, where she often provided comic relief alongside her friend The Fabulous Moolah. Despite being in her late seventies Young continued to participate in dangerous stunts, like when she was put through a table on an episode of Raw.
Like Bruno Sammartino, it’s surprising that Mae Young has only made one appearance in a WWE game, despite her long tenure with the company. In WWF No Mercy she plays a role in the Women’s Championship storyline and serves as an unlockable character.
6 Marc Mero: WWF Attitude
Marc Mero played a memorable villain during his time in the WWE. As a former Golden Gloves tournament winner, Mero incorporated a boxing style in his professional wrestling career. He combined it with an insufferable, chauvinistic persona in the late 90s that made him easy to hate (which was the point). Fans also likely remember his valet, Sable, who would eventually attain a high level of popularity in her own right.
Mero, despite being a company stalwart for quite a while, was included in only one video game title. Marc Mero departed the WWE in 1999 — the same year that WWF Attitude was released. He has never been seen in a WWE game since then.
5 The Blue Meanie: WWF Wrestlemania 2000
Brian Heffron, who wrestled under the name “The Blue Meanie,” is best known for his comedic gags in ECW and the WWE. One of Heffron’s more memorable stints was as a member of the bWo, or Blue World Order. It was a spoof on the popular WCW faction the nWo (New World Order).
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The Blue Meanie’s only appearance in a video game came in WWF Wrestlemania 2000. Ironically, Heffron didn’t even appear in a match during the actual Wrestlemania 2000 pay-per-view event. Unsurprisingly, the Blue Meanie hasn’t been seen in a WWE game for a long time.
4 Joy Giovanni: Smackdown! vs. Raw 2006
In the early and mid-2000s the WWE conducted a series of “Diva Search” contests in an effort to expand the female roster. Similar to a reality show, contestants would be regularly eliminated until only one remained. The winner would become part of the roster. In 2004, despite losing the competition, Joy Giovanni was signed to the WWE.
Giovanni was never a serious WWE competitor in the technical sense. Nevertheless, she was included in WWE: Smackdown! vs. Raw 2006, despite having left the company shortly before the game’s release.
3 Jerry Lynn: Smackdown! Just Bring It
Jerry Lynn’s tenure in the WWE was often very brief and sporadic. Fans are much more likely to remember Lynn from his time in ECW during the late 1990s and early 2000s. While there, he managed to capture the ECW World Heavyweight title and participated in a memorable feud with Rob Van Dam.
When ECW was purchased by the WWE in 2001 Lynn came along for the ride. His stint with the company was short, although he did manage to win the Light Heavyweight Championship at one point. It was enough to get Lynn included on the roster of WWF Smackdown! Just Bring It, where he can be encountered in Season Mode.
2 Rodney Mack: Smackdown! Here Comes The Pain
Like many other wrestlers in the WWE, Rodney Mack’s career was a brief one. When the brand extension was implemented in 2002 Mack was assigned to Raw, alongside his real-life partner Jazz. There, he often wrestled as part of tag teams or stables, never quite able to break out as a singles superstar.
His only WWE video game appearance came in Smackdown! Here Comes the Pain, where he holds one of the lowest overalls in the game at 65. For created superstars in Season Mode, Rodney Mack most likely serves as one of the player’s first opponents if the Raw brand is chosen.
1 The Mean Street Posse: Smackdown! 2 Know Your Role
In 1999, as Shane McMahon became more of an on-screen personality, the Mean Street Posse was brought in to back him up. As a stable, they actually consisted of three men: Pete Gas, Rodney, and Joey Abs. Their whole gimmick consisted of a veiled joke. They came from the supposedly “mean streets” of Greenwich, Connecticut.
The three of them were given roster placements in the 2000 release of WWF Smackdown! 2: Know Your Role. Like other characters in the Season Mode the Mean Street Posse is unlocked once a particular storyline triggers. In their case it involves challenging for the Hardcore Championship.
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