10 Landmark Wrestling Video Game Firsts

10. Fully-Licensed WWF Game (WWF WrestleMania, 1989)

Despite being the market leader in terms of real-life pro wrestling for years beforehand, the World Wrestling Federation didn't have a licensed video game until 1989. That title turned out to be WWF WrestleMania, released exclusively for the NES. The chance to play a fully-licensed WWF product on the Nintendo console must have been a joy for gamers.

Unfortunately, the game hasn't exactly aged well, but it's still a pioneer in terms of licensed products from the juggernaut company. A prior WWF game called MicroLeague Wrestling had been released in 1987, but it wasn't fully kitted out with the proper licensing, even if the cover did boast that the game was an official WWF product.

WWF WrestleMania only featured six different wrestlers (Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, Ted DiBiase, Andre The Giant, Bam Bam Bigelow and The Honky Tonk Man), and players could only fight in one-on-one matches.

The full WrestleMania branding was wheeled out to try and make the game appear more appealing, but it's not one that many modern gamers would enjoy going back to.

Nonetheless, it takes pride of place as the first ever official WWF game.