Ringside Interview / Wubba Dubba Dubba That True?
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About
Ringside Interview, also known as Wubba Dubba Dubba That True?, refers to a series of fan animations and spoofs of the minigame Ringside in the 2011 rhythm game Rhythm Heaven Fever. The minigame consists of a reporter interviewing a wrestler after a match, with the wrestler nodding and posing to the rhythm. Originating from Niconico, the trend achieved viral popularity on YouTube in late 2011 and had a lasting presence on the platform, experiencing a resurgence in 2022 and 2023.
Origin
On July 21st, 2011, rhythm video game Rhythm Heaven Fever was released.[1] The 1st Rhythm Game of Stage 4, Ringside, revolves around a wrestler being interviewed by a reporter.[2] The player is tasked with answering, flexing muscles and striking poses for the reporters to the rhythm of the song.
On July 22nd and 23d, Niconico[3][4] users クローバー and かべ少佐 made uploads of the perfect playthrough of the level which received over 139,000 and 236,000 views in 12 years, respectively. On February 12th, 2012, YouTube[5] user Pablo Acevedo uploaded the video of a perfect playthrough of the level. The upload accumulated over 3.4 million views in 11 years (shown below, left; Japanese version shown below, right).
Wubba dubba dubba, that true?
Whoa, you go, big guy!
Pose for the fans!
On July 27th, 2011, Niconico[6] user かがり＠じゃがりP uploaded the earliest found edit of the video, a Hetalia: Axis Powers version that gained over 81,000 views in twelve years (shown below, left). On August 29th, 2011, user えむくろ uploaded[7] a Ricardo Milos version of the meme that received over 750,000 views in the same period (shown below, right).
Spread
From Niconico, the trend spread further to YouTube as multiple viral versions were posted in 2012. For example, on December 10th, 2011, YouTube[8] user FullCap posted a Zelda CD-i version that garnered over 600,000 views in 12 years (shown below, left). On November 27th, 2021, YouTuber[9] DakkPasserida posted a Team Fortress 2 meme that accumulated over two million views in 11 years (shown below, right).
The format maintained limited presence on YouTube through 2010s. For example, on February 12th, 2018, YouTube[10] user peep posted a Steamed Hams version of the meme that gained over 183,000 views in five years (shown below, left). On March 9th, 2019, YouTuber[11] AmazingCanisLupus posted a The Pelones version of the meme that accumulated over 4.5 million views in four year (shown below, right).
On May 31st, 2022, artist Rolobi (@DrRiolu) tweeted[12] a cat meme based on the format that received over 78,000 views, 3,100 retweets and 9,200 likes on Twitter in one year (shown below).
The clip was widely circulated and re-edited, prompting a surge in meme's popularity in late 2022 and early 2023.
— Rolobi (@DrRiolu) May 31, 2022
Various Examples
Search Interest
External References
[1] Wikipedia – Rhythm Heaven Fever
[3] Niconico – みんなのリズム天国 レスラー会見
[4] Niconico – 興奮しすぎちゃったレスラー会見 シングル
[5] YouTube – [Rhythm Heaven Fever] ~ Ringside
[6] Niconico – 【APヘタリアMMD】イモラー会見２
[7] Niconico – Ass-drum Fever [A masturbation interview]
[8] YouTube – Pony Heaven – Fluttershed interview
[9] YouTube – Rhythm Fortress – Heavy Interview
[10] YouTube – Steamed Hams but it's Ringside from Rhythm Heaven Fever
[11] YouTube – Steamed Hams but it's Ringside from Rhythm Heaven Fever
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