Street Fighter created one of its first memes with Evo Moment #37 in 2004. Daigo Umehara's epic parry against Justin Wong (who has since started a gaming clinic with GameStop) is inarguably one of the most iconic moments in the history of competitive fighting tournaments. Even those with a passing interest in the scene when Evo rolls around may have heard of this event.
A franchise this long in the tooth has the potential to create all sorts of epic memes. After scouring the internet, we believe that this list represents the best of the best. Finding these memes may be the most important day in your life, but to us, it was Tuesday!
10 Don't Press Buttons On Wakeup
No matter how many times they may try not to, Street Fighter players will often forget they shouldn't mash buttons on wakeup. If you make this mistake against an experienced player, you can expect to get punished.
The only notable exception is if your opponent is trying a "meaty" attack to take advantage of the first frames of your wakeup. In some cases, you can make them pay for this aggression with a well-timed input.
9 The Perfect Painting
Raul Julia's performance as M. Bison in the original Street Fighter movie is known for its over-the-top moments. What better way to memorialize than a meme that features this painting from the 1994 movie?
If you're unfamiliar with the painting, the original is Napoleon Crossing the Alps. This artwork is one of five equestrian oil paintings that feature the famous Frenchman. But let's be honest and admit that Raul Julia is an even better fit for this piece of art!
8 Does Your Mom Play SFV?
This meme makes excellent use of a famous scene from Terminator 2: Judgment Day to take a jab at Street Fighter's infamous netcode (which Capcom agreed to fix in 2020 after the uproar from fans). In the movie, Arnold Schwarzenegger asks questions to reveal that the T-1000 has already killed John Connor's foster parents.
While the movie focuses on using the dog to reveal the true identity of who is on the phone, Street Fighter is the key to this meme. While it has shown some improvement since launch, many players suffered through long periods of rough matchmaking.
7 Your Record Is...
Stepping outside of your comfort zone in Street Fighter can be a rewarding experience. However, the announcer just won't let you keep your pride while slogging through losses online.
It's easy enough to lose your cool while playing a fighting game without his nuisance. Thankfully, you can turn this option off during your attempts to find a new alt or main. This option remains buried in the settings, but it's worth using if you're getting your feet wet with a new character.
6 SF5 vs SFV
It's astonishing how something as simple as not using a roman numeral can make gamers feel uncomfortable. Even casual fans of the series may feel an odd shudder when they see the top half of this meme.
While most gamers have grown used to seeing the roman numerals in recent years, fans of Street Fighter Alpha 2 or Street Fighter Alpha 3 may differ. In 1996, Capcom broke away from its traditional titles for the first time with the release of the former.
5 Dan Hibiki In Every Fight
For the uninitiated, Dan Hibiki is a joke character with a long reputation for being the worst. This character started as a jab at rival developer SNK, but to this day, anyone trying to beat the game with him may not have a good time.
Strangely enough, some of the legends of the Street Fighter competitive scene insist that Dan is now a top-tier character. According to Justin Wong, his V-skill is strong enough to forced changes in how players think. For those who are curious how this could be true, take a look at our character breakdown for the Saikyo-Style master.
4 See You Tomorrow
After a long session playing Street Fighter, it's only natural to blow off some steam before logging off. While your fighting game friends will understand, outsiders may wonder why you continue to subject yourself to what looks like complete misery.
After hours spent getting your digital butt kicked, you may find yourself saying thanks in less traditional ways. This Curb Your Enthusiasm format perfectly captures the positive and negative feelings anyone can feel after playing Street Fighter.
3 Stop Jumping
One of the most common newbie mistakes in Street Fighter involves jumping around the stage too much. These kinds of moves make it easy for even an intermediate player to punish characters with an uppercut.
If you're only starting to play, get comfortable early with keeping your feet on the ground. It may feel tempting to close gaps with jumps, but you need to mix up your approach to avoid getting crushed like the black cat in this meme.
2 It Was A Tuesday
One of the coldest moments from M. Bison in the 1994 movie is his response to Chun-Li's speech. She tells him that her father died saving their village from him and his goons, to which he replies by telling her he doesn't even remember the event.
This moment from the movie mixes beautifully with the classic Scumbag Steve meme. If you went to college with M. Bison, this could have been how he looked.
1 You've Blocked My Hundred Hand Slap
E. Honda's Hundred Hand Slap move is notoriously difficult to block in most iterations of the Street Fighter franchise. Trying to defend against it has likely resulted in more than its fair share of broken controllers since 1991.
If you're tired of losing out to this move, each character has their own way to counter this flurry of slaps. Some have more tools than others, however, so you'll want to spend some time digging through forums to find answers with your main.