WWE Turned Down Approach For Blue Meanie Video Game
Meanie was approached to star in his own version of Pepsiman.
The Blue Meanie has revealed he was so very nearly the focus of a video game back in 2000.
Employed by the then-WWF at the time, Meanie was approached about lending his likeness to an American spin on the Pepsiman game. While he himself was clearly keen to sign on for this project, Vince McMahon's sports entertainment juggernaut put the kibosh to such plans as they refused Meanie permission to get involved with the game.
This all came to light after a Pepsiman sign was spotted in the crowd on this past Friday's AEW Rampage. For those not aware, Pepsiman is the name by which the devilishly delightful Danhausen refers to CM Punk.
Spotting this sign on Rampage, Blue Meanie was inspired to share his story.
True Story. In 2000 I had been approached about doing a video game based on the Blue Meanie that would be an American version of a Japanese game called Pepsi Man. I was all set to do it and was told by WWF I couldn't. I was released a couple months later. https://t.co/iJvEMXjkuD
Advertisement— Brian Heffron aka The Blue Meanie (@BlueMeanieBWO) November 6, 2021
Nah. It was early talks. Had a proposal sent to me. That's as far as it went. Once I was told I couldn't that was that
— Brian Heffron aka The Blue Meanie (@BlueMeanieBWO) November 6, 2021
Released on PlayStation in 1999, Pepsiman saw players control the titular character - the Japanese mascot for Pepsi - who was forever running and had countless obstacles thrown in his path. An extremely simple premise, the game proved hugely popular to the point that there were plans afoot to develop a US version of the release.
Sadly, that release never came, and more sadly for Blue Meanie, he was released by the WWF only a few months after he was approached about doing this video game.