9. WWF WrestleFest (Arcade, 1991, Technos Japan Corporation)
Without question, WWF Wrestlefest remains the best arcade wrestling title during the short stint the genre had in coin-ops. But if you remember playing it, you likely also remember how many quarters it sucked out of you, if just to recover your health on the fly or, more likely, to add more time to the clock. Not only were the graphics impressive for an early ‘90s title, but it had a great grappling system that cemented the idea that the grapple position could branch into other moves like suplexes and submissions, with additional moves unlocked as you knock your opponent’s health down.
Just as impressive are the incredible production values – audio commentary, the colorful and detailed sprites, and a roster chock-full of WWF wrestlers like Mr. Perfect, Ultimate Wariror, Hulk Hugan, Sergeant Slaughter, and Jake “The Snake” Roberts. Whether you selected the tag team championship, where you had to face The Legion of Doom with Hawk and Animal taunting you the whole way through, or the Royal Rumble (Battle Royale), the first of its kind and with up to six players onscreen at any one time, WWF Wrestlefest was an addictive cabinet that had players come back for more.
