{"id":34488,"date":"2026-10-29T22:30:05","date_gmt":"2026-10-29T19:30:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/console-classics.com\/?p=34488"},"modified":"2026-10-29T22:30:06","modified_gmt":"2026-10-29T19:30:06","slug":"aj-styles-picks-the-best-wrestling-game-in-pro-wrestling-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/console-classics.com\/ru\/retrogaming\/aj-styles-picks-the-best-wrestling-game-in-pro-wrestling-history\/","title":{"rendered":"AJ Styles Picks the Best Wrestling Game in Pro Wrestling History"},"content":{"rendered":"

AJ Styles names his best wrestling game ever, praising deep customization, accessible mechanics, and classic Nintendo 64 grappling.<\/em><\/p>\n

A Wrestling Favorite With a Soft Spot for Games<\/h2>\n

When a wrestler has spent decades inside the ring, his favorite wrestling game carries a little extra weight. AJ Styles\u2019 choice isn\u2019t the obvious modern blockbuster\u2014it\u2019s a Japanese Nintendo 64 title built around creativity, timing, and the joy of making your own superstar.<\/p>\n

Styles discussed his gaming preferences during an extended interview with Chris Van Vliet. Wrestling and video games have always been closely connected for him, and that relationship remains part of his life today through the Phenomenally Retro<\/em> podcast, where he talks about both hobbies and revisits the games that shaped his tastes.<\/p>\n

You can find the podcast here: https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=a584gIV-g44<\/a><\/p>\n

That combination makes Styles\u2019 opinion particularly interesting. He isn\u2019t simply picking a game because it has a famous roster or flashy presentation. His favorite comes from an era when wrestling games often relied on readable controls, flexible creation tools, and systems that rewarded players for learning the rhythm of a match.<\/p>\n

The Phenomenal One\u2019s Long Road to the Ring<\/h2>\n

Before looking at his game ranking, it helps to understand the career behind the opinion. AJ Styles, whose real name is Allen Neal Jones, is one of the best-known American wrestlers of his generation. He performs under the nickname \u201cThe Phenomenal One,\u201d a title that fits both his athletic style and his unusually long career at the top level.<\/p>\n

Styles began wrestling professionally in 1998. Over the years, he became widely recognized through major runs in TNA, Ring of Honor, and Japan\u2019s New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Each stop added another layer to his reputation, from high-flying offense to technical exchanges and dramatic championship matches.<\/p>\n

That background also explains why a game with strong mechanical foundations would appeal to him. A wrestler who has worked in several different styles and promotions may notice details that casual players overlook: how movement feels, how holds connect, how much freedom the player has once the opening bell rings.<\/p>\n

\n AJ Styles during his time wrestling in Japan
AJ Styles during his time wrestling in Japan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A Career Packed With Championships<\/h2>\n

Styles\u2019 r\u00e9sum\u00e9 includes major championship achievements across several promotions. During his time in NJPW, he won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship twice. In TNA, he captured the X Division Championship six times and became world champion on two occasions.<\/p>\n

He joined WWE in 2016 and continued adding major titles to his collection. Styles won the WWE Championship twice, the United States Championship three times, and also became Intercontinental Champion and Tag Team Champion.<\/p>\n

That list is worth remembering when considering his favorite wrestling game. Styles has experienced wrestling as an athlete, performer, and character, so his ideal game naturally leans toward more than spectacle. It needs to let players shape a wrestler and create the kind of match they want to see.<\/p>\n

The Best Wrestling Game, According to Styles<\/h2>\n

Styles placed Virtual Pro Wrestling 2: \u014cd\u014d Keish\u014d<\/a> at the top of his list. Released for the Nintendo 64 in 2000, the game was developed by Japan\u2019s AKI Corporation and officially released only in Japan.<\/p>\n

That detail alone gives the game a certain mystique. Many players encountered it through word of mouth, imported copies, or memories passed around by wrestling-game enthusiasts. It wasn\u2019t the kind of title that simply sat on every shelf beside the most familiar licensed releases. It had to be sought out, which tends to make players treasure it even more.<\/p>\n

\n Virtual Pro Wrestling 2: \u014cd\u014d Keish\u014d on Nintendo 64
Virtual Pro Wrestling 2: \u014cd\u014d Keish\u014d on Nintendo 64<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At first glance, a Japan-only release might sound like an awkward choice for the top spot. The presentation and roster are less immediately familiar to many English-speaking players, and the game doesn\u2019t have the same broad recognition as some licensed wrestling classics. Still, the more I think about Styles\u2019 reasoning, the more convincing it becomes. The real attraction is not simply the branding\u2014it\u2019s the toolbox underneath.<\/p>\n

Why Customization Matters So Much<\/h2>\n

The major strength Styles highlighted is Virtual Pro Wrestling 2<\/em>\u2019s character creation and customization system. Players could build their own wrestler almost from the ground up, adjusting attributes and selecting a personal move set.<\/p>\n

That level of control made it possible to recreate real wrestlers even when their official licenses were missing. In an era when rosters could age quickly and downloadable updates were not part of the experience, that flexibility was a huge advantage. A creative player could fill gaps, invent new characters, or construct a roster that better matched personal preferences.<\/p>\n

This is where old wrestling games often showed their personality. Modern games can offer enormous amounts of content, but older titles frequently asked players to do more of the imaginative work themselves. You weren\u2019t just selecting a finished character; you were deciding how that character moved, fought, and felt.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a simple elegance to that approach. Give players a strong wrestling system, then let them build the cast. It\u2019s rather like handing someone a box of action figures and a wrestling ring, then stepping back while the afternoon disappears.<\/p>\n

Simple to Start, Difficult to Master<\/h2>\n

Styles also considers an important design principle central to a good wrestling game: the basic mechanics should be easy for newcomers to understand while still leaving room for experienced players to improve.<\/p>\n

That balance is harder to achieve than it sounds. If every move is complicated, new players lose interest before they even understand the match. If everything happens automatically, veterans quickly run out of reasons to keep playing. The sweet spot sits somewhere in the middle, where the controls feel approachable at first but reveal extra depth over time.<\/p>\n

Virtual Pro Wrestling 2<\/em> appealed to Styles because its customization supports that philosophy. A beginner can understand the basic idea of entering a match and performing moves, while a more dedicated player can spend hours refining a wrestler\u2019s abilities and move list.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll admit my first reaction was that a Japan-only wrestling game from 2000 would feel too specialized to sit above more familiar choices. But the emphasis on accessible mechanics and player-created fighters changes the picture. A game doesn\u2019t need the biggest roster to remain memorable; sometimes it needs a foundation that lets players keep making new reasons to return.<\/p>\n

The Runner-Up: WWF No Mercy<\/h2>\n

Styles placed WWF No Mercy<\/a> second. It was also developed by AKI for the Nintendo 64 and is widely regarded by wrestling-game fans as one of the genre\u2019s high points.<\/p>\n

The connection between the two games is clear. Virtual Pro Wrestling 2<\/em> \u0438 WWF No Mercy<\/em> share a similar AKI gameplay foundation, even though they differ in their rosters and some of their available features. Players familiar with one can recognize the family resemblance in the other: the emphasis on timing, reversals, grappling exchanges, and a match flow that feels more deliberate than button-mashing.<\/p>\n

\n Classic Nintendo 64 wrestling gameplay
Classic Nintendo 64 wrestling gameplay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Putting No Mercy<\/em> in second place is hardly a rejection of it. In fact, the ranking suggests that Styles values the underlying wrestling engine more than the fame of the license attached to it. No Mercy<\/a> may be the more recognizable name for many players, but Virtual Pro Wrestling 2<\/em> offers the creative freedom he seems to value most.<\/p>\n

There is, however, one small drawback to Styles\u2019 top choice: a powerful creation system can demand patience. Building a wrestler is rewarding, but not everyone wants to spend an evening adjusting attributes and selecting moves before starting a match. For some players, that preparation is the main event. For others, it\u2019s the part standing between them and the opening bell.<\/p>\n

Third Place Goes Back to the NES<\/h2>\n

Styles\u2019 third choice was Pro Wrestling<\/a> for the 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System. Compared with the two Nintendo 64 titles above it, this is a much older and more stripped-down experience.<\/p>\n

That contrast makes the ranking more interesting. Styles didn\u2019t limit himself to games with advanced customization or more elaborate mechanics. Pro Wrestling<\/em> represents an earlier, simpler form of the genre, where the focus is placed more directly on recognizable moves, distinct characters, and the basic pleasure of controlling a wrestling match.<\/p>\n

Its inclusion suggests that nostalgia plays a role, although it would be unfair to reduce the choice to nostalgia alone. Older wrestling games often had to communicate character and impact with limited resources. A small animation, a familiar move, or a clear reaction from the opponent had to do a lot of work.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not completely certain that every modern player would enjoy returning to that style today. The simplicity can feel refreshing, but it can also seem restrictive after spending time with the deeper systems of later games. Still, the choice makes sense beside Styles\u2019 other picks: all three games put the match itself ahead of excess decoration.<\/p>\n

What Styles\u2019 Ranking Says About Wrestling Games<\/h2>\n

Taken together, the three choices reveal a consistent preference. Styles appears drawn to games that understand the fundamentals of wrestling: timing, readable actions, character identity, and the feeling that the player\u2014not the presentation\u2014is directing the contest.<\/p>\n

Virtual Pro Wrestling 2<\/em> leads because it combines a strong base with extensive creation tools. WWF No Mercy<\/em> follows with a similar AKI foundation and a famous roster. Pro Wrestling<\/em> rounds out the list by showing how much can be achieved with a simpler design.<\/p>\n

The ranking also offers a useful reminder about retro games. Bigger doesn\u2019t always mean better. A game can have fewer characters, fewer modes, and less visual polish while still offering a more satisfying core experience. Sometimes the old cartridge has one trick, but it knows that trick cold.<\/p>\n

For Styles, that trick appears to be making the player feel involved in the match. You aren\u2019t just watching wrestlers perform a sequence of moves. You\u2019re building the competitor, choosing the tools, and learning how to make the action work.<\/p>\n

Final Bell<\/h2>\n

AJ Styles\u2019 best wrestling game pick is a thoughtful one. Virtual Pro Wrestling 2: \u014cd\u014d Keish\u014d<\/a> may not be the most obvious title in the conversation, but its character creation system and accessible-yet-deep mechanics explain why it stands above even the celebrated WWF No Mercy<\/em>. His second and third choices also show an appreciation for wrestling games that understand the ring before worrying about spectacle.<\/p>\n

Which game would you place at the top of your own wrestling-game hall of fame?<\/p>\n

\u0427\u0410\u0421\u0422\u041e \u0417\u0410\u0414\u0410\u0412\u0410\u0415\u041c\u042b\u0415 \u0412\u041e\u041f\u0420\u041e\u0421\u042b<\/h2>\n