Developed by Beam Software and released in 1985, Rock’n Wrestle (also known as Bop’n Wrestle on some platforms) was among the first wrestling games to appear on home computers, including the Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum. Unlike arcade titles, it offered a deeper grappling system where players executed moves through directional inputs and button combinations, making it more simulation-oriented for its time.

Players could perform a wide variety of wrestling techniques, from body slams and piledrivers to submission holds, giving it a more authentic feel than many contemporaries. Matches were presented with large character sprites on a side-view ring, though animations were stiff due to hardware limitations. The game also incorporated stamina management, where repeated moves drained energy and left wrestlers vulnerable.

While its complexity was divisive—some praised the depth while others found it cumbersome—it paved the way for wrestling simulations beyond the arcade’s simplicity. Its reputation today is as a cult classic, notable for being one of the first attempts at a realistic wrestling engine on home systems and for appealing to fans seeking something more technical than pure button-mashing.