Ken Masters, a mainstay in the Street Fighter universe, is often seen as an open book. His motivations are clear, his personality transparent. Even his brief stint as Violent Ken is easily explained by Bison’s manipulation. This straightforwardness makes characters like Ken, or even comic relief figures, difficult subjects for deep lore analysis. They lack hidden depths, making theory crafting a challenge.
This lack of complexity, however, hasn’t stopped fans from imagining richer narratives. The fan film Street Fighter: Psychosis, focusing on Violent Ken, demonstrates this desire to explore darker facets of even seemingly simple characters. It highlights a fan yearning for depth, even where the official canon might not explicitly provide it. You can watch the fan film here: https://youtu.be/-pkMi9nUd8g
While Capcom doesn’t always delve into these darker interpretations, fan-created content often fills the void. One particular moment in the Street Fighter series perfectly exemplifies this fan-driven expansion of character lore: the iconic face-off between Alex and Hugo. This moment, a fan favorite, is rooted in a real-life wrestling legend.
Alex and Hugo face off in Street Fighter III
This powerful pose, capturing the intensity between Alex and Hugo Street Fighter, resonates deeply with fans of Street Fighter III. It’s directly inspired by the legendary stare-down between Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant at Wrestlemania III.
Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant face off at Wrestlemania III
This iconic wrestling pose opens up intriguing possibilities for Hugo Street Fighter and Alex. However, exploring their potential storyline raises a crucial question: where could Capcom realistically take these characters? Neither Alex nor Hugo are currently defined by deeply intricate backstories. Alex is often solitary, and arguably, his friend Tom possesses more explicit connections to the wider Street Fighter lore.
Tom has been a recurring figure in fan theories. He was central to a theory proposing he was responsible for shooting Nash in Street Fighter Alpha 2, and also featured in a discussion about the “Holy Grail” within the Street Fighter universe. You can explore these theories here:
- The Alex and Tom Hyper Bomb: https://manestreetblog.com/2019/02/20/the-alex-and-tom-hyper-bomb/
- The Street Fighter Code: https://manestreetblog.com/2020/11/17/the-street-fighter-code/
Reviewing these theories highlights that neither character, Alex nor Hugo Street Fighter, has been extensively developed. Alex’s narrative is currently quite vague. Gill, intrigued by Alex, envisions transforming him into a being of perfect balance, as seen in Gill’s Third Strike ending.
Gill transforms Alex in Street Fighter III
The Udon Comics expand on this, suggesting Alex’s deceased parents were Illuminati members and that Alex himself was considered a potential messianic figure for the organization. Further details can be found on the Street Fighter Wiki: https://streetfighter.fandom.com/wiki/Alex#UDON_comics
In the canonical storyline, Alex seemingly defeats Gill, avenging Tom, and then seeks out Ryu, driven by a quest to understand the true meaning of fighting. However, these narrative threads haven’t coalesced into a significant, ongoing storyline for Alex, leaving his future open.
The same applies to Hugo Street Fighter. Initially a member of Mad Gear, he transitioned into professional wrestling under Poison’s management. His Second Impact ending revolves around forming a tag team, with potential partners ranging from Ryu to Necro, Gill, or Elena, depending on player choices. Notably, Alex is not among these potential partners. The canonicity of these endings remains unclear, contributing to the ambiguity surrounding Hugo’s future narrative.
Both Alex and Hugo Street Fighter stand at a crossroads, their stories ripe for development. A compelling direction, suggested by many fans, is to unite them as a tag team.
This pairing offers mutual benefits. Alex, in search of identity, could learn ambition from Hugo, while Hugo Street Fighter could gain humility and an understanding of familial bonds from Alex, who values his relationships with Tom and Patricia, contrasting with Hugo’s primary connection to Poison.
But a tag team is just the beginning. What purpose would it serve within the larger Street Fighter narrative? Examining Hugo’s Third Strike ending provides a potential answer: the Huge Wrestling Army (HWA). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VUY9EbWiUA
Hugo leads the Huge Wrestling Army (HWA)
The HWA, led by Poison, aims to become the world’s premier wrestling organization. Hugo’s ending depicts numerous Third Strike characters, including Ryu, Ken, Ibuki, and Twelve, joining the HWA after losing to Hugo Street Fighter.
Members of the Huge Wrestling Army (HWA)
The HWA boasts over 50 members, and a closer look reveals a familiar New York wrestler among their ranks.
Alex’s presence in the HWA in Hugo’s ending makes a potential tag team between Alex and Hugo Street Fighter not only plausible but narratively consistent. However, the HWA’s composition raises a question: many of its members are not wrestlers. This could be addressed by incorporating the numerous wrestlers already present in the Street Fighter universe. Characters like Zangief, Rainbow Mika, El Fuerte, Laura, and even Mike Haggar could realistically join the HWA, alongside wrestlers from games like Saturday Night Slam Masters and Iwashigahama Japan Women’s Pro-Wrestling.
The Udon Comics explored this wrestling crossover in Street Fighter: Wrestlepalooza, showcasing fights between these characters.
While individual matches are entertaining, a unified purpose could elevate these wrestlers’ roles in the overarching Street Fighter narrative.
Street Fighter 6 is theorized to feature faction-based storylines, with different groups vying for global influence. Factions like the Illuminati, Shadaloo remnants, Neo Shadaloo, and the Kanzuki Zaibatsu are already established. The HWA could become another faction, albeit with more benevolent intentions. They, along with the Kanzuki Zaibatsu, could represent a more positive force in the power struggles of the Street Fighter world.
However, recruiting wrestlers to the HWA could also introduce compromised elements. Previous theories suggest characters like E. Honda and Hakan might already be under external influence, potentially connected to G. You can read more about this theory here: https://manestreetblog.com/2019/08/06/the-truth-about-e-hondas-arcade-mode-ending/
This raises the intriguing possibility that the Huge Wrestling Army, while seemingly positive, could be unknowingly entangled with G’s schemes. This adds layers of complexity and potential conflict to the future of Alex, Hugo Street Fighter, and the entire HWA faction within the Street Fighter universe.
