Check out behind-the-scenes footage of the work that went into creating WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game in 1994.
The YouTube channel associated with the Insert Coin documentary has released new footage of Scott Hall, aka Razor Ramon, doing motion-capture work to be digitized into the 1995 video game. The documentary is all about Midway games and the creation of games like NBA Jam and Mortal Kombat.
Much like the previously released video of Shawn Michaels' work with Midway, this video has no sound. However, you can see that Scott Hall absolutely understood the assignment and the need to be over-animated in video games. There is footage of Hall taking several back bumps, including ones where he spins around beforehand for dramatic effect.
There is also footage of Razor performing spin-back kicks, which don't make it into the game for his character, and even footage of him briefly holding up a steel chair. He can also be seen performing a Neckbreaker on the invisible man and lying on a wooden board to simulate being lifted into the Gorilla Press position.
One of the highlights of the arcade game is the hyperbolic endings. The wrestlers would receive via text boxes after the final gauntlet was completed. In Razor's case, he becomes a motivational speaker in Cuba until he's attacked by thugs, beaten within an inch of his life, and then falls in hard times before disappearing and living out his life running a small Chilean pawn shop.
Below, you can read Razor Ramon's ending:
Razor took the World Wrestling Federation gold back to Cuba with him. He showed the good people there what America has to offer to anyone who is willing to work hard to make their American dream come true. Razor became an inspiration to all as he toured the world as a motivational speaker, talking about his American dream-come-true and showing them "the gold." One night after a seminar, while walking back to his car, Razor got jumped by four thugs who beat him to an inch of his life and ran off with "the gold." All of it, including the stuff around his neck and his now broken fingers. After that incident, Razor's spirit was shattered, and he fell into a state of deep depression. He wallowed in musty sea-side taverns and slept on benches in train stations until one day, he just disappeared. He wasn't seen for three years. Recent records indicate "The Bad Guy" is alive and well and running a small pawn shop in Chile.
"WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game" was released for Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, Sega 32X, Sega Saturn, PC, and the Sony PlayStation.
The game was succeeded by "WWF In Your House" in 1996. WWE previously released footage of several stars performing motion capture for that video game. Learn more here.
