Pro Wrestling ( Nintendo Entertainment System ) Pro Wrestling is a Nintendo Entertainment System game , as well as a Family Computer Disk System game for one or two players first released in 1986 . The game was the second wrestling game on the Nintendo Entertainment System ( after " M . U . S . C . L . E . " ) and was ranked 172 on Nintendo Power ' s Top 200 Nintendo Games Ever . Gameplay . The player chooses a wrestler with unique skills and presses various combinations of buttons to use different wrestling moves . It is possible to leave the ring ; however , a player who does so must re - enter the ring before the referee ' s 20 - count . Failure to do so results in a loss ( via count - out ) or a draw ( double count - out ) , if both wrestlers fail to re - enter in time . ( Note : The referee ' s count is broken only after both wrestlers have re - entered the ring . That is , as long as at least one wrestler is outside the ring , the referee ' s count continues . Moreover , it is possible for a wrestler to be counted out while executing a Plunger if he has crossed the ring ropes by the count of 20 . ) The game was one of the first wrestling games to feature an in - ring referee . The referee in the game is fairly accurate . For example , whenever a pinfall is attempted , the referee must run to where the two wrestlers are , lay on his stomach , and begin the three count . In effect , if the referee is on the other side of the ring when an opponent initiates a pin , the player will have additional time to try and escape . The game was also the first wrestling title to feature a cameraman at ringside ( though he does not interact with the wrestlers ) . Single player . Single player mode consists of two parts . First , the player fights in matches against increasingly difficult CPU opponents . After winning five matches , the player fights King Slender , the Video Wrestling Association ( VWA ) Champion . If the player has selected King Slender for play , then he will face Giant Panther for the VWA Championship , though some versions of the game have a bug requiring King Slender to win more than the usual five matches before being granted the title shot . After winning the VWA Title , the second stage of gameplay begins . As the VWA Champion , the player has to defend the title . Making ten successful title defenses ( two against each of the five remaining characters ) will result in a title match against the Great Puma , champion of the Video Wrestling Federation . Defeating Puma will make a player the interpromotional VWA / VWF Champion and end the game . It is worth noting that some Nintendo aficionados consider the Great Puma to be one of the most difficult boss characters to ever appear on the NES . Two players . The two player mode in " Pro Wrestling " features essentially the same gameplay as single player , though without the championship quest . Each player selects a wrestler and then proceed directly into the match . The game prevents the same character from being chosen for both players . Unlike the single player mode , each match is a best - of - three - falls match . " A winner is you " . When the player wins a match , the game displays the message , " " A WINNER IS YOU " " . The incorrect grammar of this phrase suggests it is the result of poor translation from Japanese to English . The unintentional comedic effect makes this a popular example of Engrish . In internet subculture , the phrase a winner is you has become a popular meme , denoting success with or without a note of irony . This transition from mistranslation to meme is similar to the phenomenon of the " all your base are belong to us " quote , in that instance taken from the European version of the Sega Mega Drive port of the arcade game " Zero Wing " . The message has been referenced in games such as " Pokémon Diamond " and " Pearl " , " Pokémon HeartGold " and " SoulSilver " , " Pokémon Gold " and " Silver " , " Kingdom of Loathing " , " Mario & Luigi : Bowser ' s Inside Story " and " Red Faction " . Development . Masato Masuda thought up the game system and was the sole programmer . At the time , Masuda was working for TRY , which later became Human . Masuda later worked on Human ' s popular Fire Pro Wrestling series . US copyright records list " Try Company , Ltd . " as the author . Reception . " Famitsū " reported that " Pro Wrestling " was the # 1 video game in the United States for about two months .