9 Wrestling Gimmicks Ripped Off From Video Games

6. Evil Uno (Video Games In General)

Article lead image — Tabercil [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]/Nintendo

Although their work has never been anything less than superb, it's fair to say the Dark Order got off to a bit of a rocky start in AEW. Their generically creepy gimmick, replete with tongue-wiggling initiates, never had a hope of getting over - not least because there wasn't any particular explanation for their awkward antics.

Things have improved since, with the grope-a-dope gradually stripped back as they embark upon a new direction with a series of subtle vignettes. It could have been so much simpler had the pair of Evil Uno and Stu Grayson simply retained their pre-AEW gimmick - even if it was stupendously indie-tastic.

Formerly known as the Super Smash Bros., the two - then known as Player Uno and Player Dos - performed a routine as video game characters come to life. A NES controller was printed across Uno's attire; if an opponent hit the pause button, he'd stop moving entirely - and wouldn't sell moves until he became unpaused. Dos' pants beared the console itself, with his particular fighting style for the night dictated by whichever cartridge was 'plugged in' to him.

Unfortunately, this would never have worked on national television, lest it inspire the outagre of certain industry luddites. Speaking of whom...

Benjamin Richardson

Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.

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